Farm Ops Supports Veteran Attendance to the 2024 Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Field Days

Soil biology, urban soil health, soil amendments, biochar applications, crop rotation, cover crops, pest and weed management, reduced tillage—these were just some of the topics covered during this year’s New York Soil Health Field Days. No matter what farmers were growing—vegetables, field crops, grains, or fruit—there was an event somewhere in New York State to help them refine their soil health practices.

These field days were organized by the New York Soil Health Team in collaboration with partner organizations. Among the attendees were four veterans who participated with support from Farm Ops, which provided scholarships and a stipend to cover their costs. For them, the experience proved invaluable.

One veteran shared, “This event was an outstanding experience. As a relatively recent landowner of a large parcel, I am in the nascent phases of both general land management education and formulation of potential ways forward to use the land. I was completely unaware former used/overused corn fields could be transformed into a thriving pasture in an optimistically short time. The field demonstrations depicting water infiltration from the extremely concerning ‘cropped ground with no cover’ to the preferred ‘rotational grazing pasture’ were profoundly educational. The perception change from a ‘soil runoff problem’ to a ‘soil penetration problem’ helps frame ecological land management and the potential to mitigate flooding and keep nutrients intact.”

Another participant, who had already been implementing rotational grazing, found confirmation and new inspiration: “Having taken and attended rotational grazing presentations and pasture walks, this workshop on Rotational Grazing and Silvopasture Soil Health and Climate Resiliency further confirmed my techniques and procedures on bale grazing, winter outfeeding, and fencing. I even purchased a new poly bale feeder after attending the field day, which saved me $496! I am very happy with that alone.”

For some, the event provided critical connections and insights for future farm planning. “Having just attended the soil health conference, I found the content and community to be invaluable to my homesteading and to help me form clearer plans for my future farm. I connected with many fellow farmers and several Cornell researchers who have already helped point me in a more clear direction. I learned that orchard soil health is among the poorest of all farm soils, and I was able to brainstorm ways to remedy this.”

These field days demonstrated the importance of soil health in building resilient, productive farms. Thanks to Farm Ops’ support, these veterans left with new knowledge, connections, and actionable strategies to enhance their land management and agricultural practices.

For more information on soil health events and research, visit the New York Soil Health Team’s website: https://www.newyorksoilhealth.org/fielddays/