McPherson County Conservation District
Upcoming Events
Our next events are in the works, check back soon, we are busy planning events for you!
Pollinator Pandemonium
Bee Baths - 4-H Education
Recently the McPherson County Conservation District staff provided education to the Prairie Rustlers, Willing Workers and Cloverbud 4-H groups on the importance of pollinators. These groups then were able to make some bee baths to place in their gardens or flower beds as a place for bees to wash their legs, bodies and wings.
Contests
Arbor Day Poster Contest
Three 5th grade students participated in the 2024 Arbor Day Poster Contest. Students (L to R): Hadessa Wipf (2nd place), Kaija Gross (1st place) and Jaxen Wipf (3rd place). The winner's poster was chosen to go further on to the state competition, a chance at a monetary prize for themselves and their teacher. The top 12 posters at the state level also get created into a calendar for 2025. Good luck to Kaija at the state level! Special thank you to their teacher, Mrs. Wurtz!
Past Events
'Importance of Water Quality' - Winter Workshop - February 12th, 2024
Fall Field Tour- August 25, 2023
Tree Planting & Forage Seeding Bus tour
McPherson County Conservation District hosted their fall Field Tour on Friday, August 25, 2023. Tour attendees engaged in conversations to learn tips and tricks to establish a successful grass seeding or tree planting. The tour stopped at four locations on the eastern portion of the county. Tree sites visited were Grassland Colony, Wayne Breitag, and Derek Deraad along with a grass seeding put in for Steve Dutenhoffer. All tour sites spoke to the quality of work performed by the Conservation District. Partner staff were also on the tour to answer questions regarding funding possibilities. The event wrapped up with fellowship during lunch provided by the Conservation District.
If you are interested in planting some trees or would like to hire the District’s drill for seeding, please call the office at (605)-439-3336.
Winter Workshop- January 18, 2023
Managing Soil Salinity
On February 12th, 2024 Robin Salverson with SDSU extension spoke to producers on the importance of water quality for your livestock. Water quality was recognized as a high priority resource concern at our previous winter workshop. Robin informed producers on what to watch for in their water sources and how to easily test their water at home or in their local communities. Chris Goldade also spoke to stakeholders regarding the technologies available for farmers and ranchers through the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition.
Producers were also asked to complete a survey at the workshop to identify their top resource concerns. Information will be organized and communicated with our partners in order to better serve the producers in our area.
The McPherson County Conservation District hosted their annual winter workshop on January 18, 2023, at the Long Lake Bar and Café. The evening brought local farmers and ranchers together to learn more about soil salinity. These white salts are found on the soil surface after water has evaporated away, binding valuable nutrients that plants need to grow.
Presenter Lee Briese, an agronomist from Jamestown, ND, explained to producers that the only way to remove these salts is to flush water through the soil. After a demonstration, he shared that this could take anywhere from 24-36 years, given our annual rainfall. Lee and Cristin Weber, a Pheasants Forever Precision Ag and Conservation Specialist who also presented, agreed that planting corn or soybeans on saline acres is not economical. Cristin gave examples to producers showing how the high input prices of corn and soybean seeds, fertilizers, and chemicals, reduce the overall return on investment for that field. Both presenters encouraged producers to discontinue planting cash crops in saline acres and instead focus on getting roots in the soil to increase water infiltration. What plants grow in these acres will depend on the level of soil salinity. For acres that are extremely affected, Lee told producers not to be afraid to let the kochia grow as it is one of the most salt tolerant plants. However, the kochia should be managed to avoid spreading seeds to other farmable acres. Other options for salt tolerant crops are barley, rye, sunflowers, and sugar beets. Aside from establishing roots in these acres, the presenters recommended utilizing high residue plants to keep the soil covered, slowing evaporation, and avoiding tillage on these acres. While tilling the salt acres can make the white crust on top disappear, soil tests show that it increases the salt concentration. Overall, Lee and Cristin reiterated the fact that improving soil health in these areas takes years of management and there is no quick fix.
Cristin’s presentation encouraged producers to analyze their farms’ income and expenses. Through Pheasants Forever, Cristin helps farmers and ranchers utilize a program called Every Acre Counts. Farmers and ranchers submit their farm data and then experts analyze the data before Cristin meets with the producer to go over options of how they can increase field and farm profit. Every Acre Counts is a free program, available to all producers by visiting the Pheasants Forever website and contacting Cristin.
Attendees enjoyed the evening visiting with other producers and listening to the knowledge shared by presenters. The district was excited to have a great turn out for the event after not being able to hold a winter workshop the previous few years. The public is welcome to contact the Conservation District to learn more about the topic or share resource concerns.
Menoken Farm Bus Tour- July 26, 2022
Local agriculture and garden enthusiasts participated in a tour of the Menoken Farm on Tuesday, July 26 sponsored by the Campbell, Edmunds, McPherson, and Walworth County Conservation Districts. Participants toured the 150-acre demonstration farm near Menoken, ND funded by the Burleigh County Conservation District. The farm is structured around the goal of promoting soil health practices such as soil cover, limited soil disturbance, living roots year-round, diversity, and livestock integration. By improving the quality of the soils, the health and well being of all plants and animals improves as well.
Menoken Farm Manager, Darrell Oswald, showed the group around the farm, sharing the different soil health techniques implemented on the farm and the outcomes of these production models. One of the methods involved planting corn in 60-inch rows rather than the common 30 inch spacing. After the corn stand was established, a diverse mix of cover crops were planted in between the rows to develop a living soil cover. The cover crops make the soil more resistant to wind and water erosion, while also adding organic nitrogen to the soil. The farm also tried increasing the spacing between rows of oats while maintaining the population to observe the effects on yield, plant health, and soil health.
Following the principles of soil health, livestock are integrated on crop ground. Cattle will graze the cover crops after the corn has been harvested, extending their grazing season, and fertilizing the field. The cattle feed on perennial grasses in a high intensity rotation where they are moved each day during the summer months.
Another aspect of the farm includes using a variety of soil health practices on a smaller scale in high tunnel and outdoor gardens. The gardens utilized companion planting to increase soil health and use natural pest management along with keeping the soil covered. The gardens helped participants understand that conservation is important at all levels, including their own backyard gardens.
Throughout the day, the conversation focused on the impact conservation methods play in creating a more sustainable environment. These practices are important for carbon sequestration and climate change, providing clean water, and even reducing energy costs. Demonstrations showed how water infiltrates or erodes and runs off soil differently depending on how that soil has been managed. Overall, the participants were able to learn about different methods of farm production and ways to reduce erosion and soil loss to create a more sustainable parcel of land for generations to come.
