Kansas Grazing Schools Promote Soil Health and Water Quality

By Scout Nelson

The Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition (KGLC) is organizing a series of free one-day workshops to support better grazing practices and environmental protection. These workshops will take place from June 15 to June 18 in different locations across northeast Kansas. The selected locations include Overbrook, Leavenworth, Soldier, and Riley.

Each workshop will begin with registration at 9:00 a.m., followed by sessions starting at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will also be provided for all participants. These training sessions are designed to help improve soil health, manage grazing systems effectively, and protect water quality. The programs will also focus on increasing farm and ranch profitability through better land management.

Participants will learn about a variety of important topics. These include soil health improvement, proper grazing techniques, and the use of cover crops. Cover crops play a key role in maintaining soil structure, reducing erosion, and increasing fertility. The sessions aim to provide practical knowledge that can be applied in daily farm operations.

The workshops will feature experienced speakers with strong backgrounds in agriculture and soil science. One of the speakers has worked for more than 32 years as a soil scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. After retirement, he continued his work in agricultural science and operated a large livestock grazing system. Another expert is a soil health specialist with over 31 years of experience who now helps landowners adopt better farming practices through their own consultancy.

These workshops highlight the importance of using sustainable methods in agriculture. By applying improved grazing strategies, farmers and ranchers can maintain healthy soil, protect water resources, and increase long-term productivity. The training also encourages participants to adopt environmentally friendly approaches while maintaining economic success.

Those interested in attending must register in advance. Registration can be completed by emailing mary@kglc.org or calling (785) 562-8726 before June 9. Participants should provide their names and the number of attendees while registering.

These workshops offer a valuable opportunity to gain knowledge, connect with experts, and improve agricultural practices for a better future.

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