Join Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) and Tama Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) for What’s the Scoop on Soil Health, Cover Crops and Economics? This free event will explore the relationships between plants, soil and biology, a concept which is key to soil health and improved water quality. It will be held on Thursday, August 23 at the Tama County Nature Center at Otter Creek Lake & Park, 2283 Park Road in rural Toledo, Iowa. The event will begin at 9:00 a.m. and a complimentary lunch will conclude at 1:00 p.m. Featured speaker will be Keith Berns, Nebraska farmer and entrepreneur, on “Carbonomics.” Keith takes a unique approach to looking at the big picture of soil health by comparing the economy of a country to the underground economy of the soil. Economic fundamentals of supply, demand, currency, capital, energy, resources, infrastructure and defense will be applied to the bustling subterranean economy of a healthy soil system. The role of carbon as the currency that facilitates interactions between plants, soil, and biology in this system will be closely examined. Other presentations will include Adam Nechanicky, a Tama County farmer and livestock producer from Buckingham, Iowa, highlighting growing cover crops for livestock forage. Another Tama County farmer, Jack Boyer of rural Reinbeck, will share his cover crop learning experiences as a PFI research partner and as a producer adding cover crops to a farming operation. Neil Sass of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will share soil health demonstrations and the key principles of soil health. An RSVP is required for this event. Contact Melody Bro by Wednesday, August 15 by calling 641-484-2702, ext. 305 or emailing melody.bro@ia.nacdnet.net. Persons needing accommodations to participate in this event should contact 641/484-2702, ext. 305, TDD# or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 or melody.bro@ia.nacdnet.net at least 48 hours prior to the event. Tama SWCD operates in cooperation with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State of Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. All programs and services are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap. USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider, and lender. USDA programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability.