New York Soil Health Specialist Training (2020-2021)
The 2020-2021 New York Soil Health Specialist Training (Round 2) built off the success of the first NYS Practical Soil Health Specialist Training Program (Round 1; 2018-2020) that was led by American Farmland Trust and funded by NE-SARE. The 2020-2021 NYS Soil Health Specialist Training was led by the New York Soil Health Initiative in collaboration with American Farmland Trust, Cornell Soil Health Laboratory, Cornell University, NRCS, New York Department of Ag and Markets, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Small Farms Program, Soil & Water Conservation Districts, agri-businesses, and farmers.
The second cohort of the New York Soil Health Specialist Training consisted of a group of 29 agricultural professionals from across the state. The second cohort consisted of SWCD, CCE, NRCS, Non-Profit, Private Companies, and one stellar farmer.
Contact:
- Joseph Amsili, Extension Associate Cornell Soil Health Program, jpa28@cornell.edu
- Aaron Ristow, New York Agricultural Stewardship Manager: Aristow@farmland.org
Workshop 1: Soil Health Principles, Cover Crops, and Cropping Systems
- Soil health principles – David Wolfe, Cornell University (video)
- Life in soil – Janice Thies, Cornell University (video)
- Comprehensive assessment of soil health test methodologies – Kirsten Kurtz, Cornell University (video)
- Soil health management planning scenarios – Bob Schindelbeck, Cornell University
- Cover crops for organic systems – Matt Ryan, Cornell University (video)
- Double cropping – Quirine Ketterings, Cornell University
- Addressing soil health through cover crops – Thomas Bjorkman, Cornell University
- Nitrogen credits from cover crops – David DeGolyer, Western New York Crop Management Association
Project Resources for Workshop 1:
- Soil health specialist training orientation
- Workshop 1 Agenda
- 2020-2021 NYSH SH Specialist Training Participant and Presenter Bios
Workshop 2: Adaptive Nutrient Management and Reducing and Eliminating Tillage for Soil Health
- Soil health, nitrogen and carbon management: bringing the pieces together – Harold van Es, Cornell University
- Management of weeds in reduced tillage systems, NYS herbicide resistant weeds survey, and SH impact of electrical weeding – Lynn Sosnoskie, Cornell University
- Inside Morning Star Farms and their soil health journey – Dave Magos, Morning Star Farms
- SH Economics, assessment, and cover crop trial at Morning Star Farms – Aaron Ristow, Joseph Amsili, Dave Magos
- Reducing tillage in vegetable systems – Ryan Maher, Cornell Small Farms Program
- Reducing tillage in organic grain systems – John Wallace, Penn State University
- Farmer panel: managing nutrients and cover crops in the reduced-till/no-till environment – John Macauley, Macauley Farms; Meghan Hauser and Jeffrey Jordan, Table Rock Farms; Emmaline Long, CY Farms/YARA
Project Resources for Workshop 2:
Workshop 3: Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and SOC Sequestration
- Introduction to agricultural greenhouse gas emission and mitigation potential – A New York case study applicable to the Northeast – Jenifer Wightman, Cornell University
- Examining net greenhouse gas impacts of soil health practices – Five Key Takeaways – Peter Woodbury, Cornell University
- Controls on soil organic carbon levels and effects of management – Joseph Amsili, Cornell University
- Introduction to biochar: Benefits for climate, soil health, and waste conversion – Debbie Aller, Cornell University
- Using Quality Residuals To Build Soil: Compost quality and application – Jean Bonhotal, Cornell University
Project Resources for Workshop 3: