"Between 1992 and 2012, we lost nearly 31 million acres of farm land.  That's 175 acres an hour, or three acres every single minute.

Between 2007 and 2010, American farms and ranches lost more than 1.7 billion tons of topsoil to erosion."  Farms Under Threat, American Farmland Trust, May 9, 2018.

2024 EVENTS ARCHIVE

MICHIGAN CHAPTER SWCS

2024 ANR SEMINAR

Held March 8, 2024

AgroLiquid Conference Center

3055 W. M-21, St. Johns, MI 48879

Rural landscapes are complex environmental systems integrating crop, pasture, forest and other land uses, including riparian zones; all supported by soil and its complex physical, chemical and biological components. Soil management includes: crop rotations, nutrient cycling, balancing pests and pathogens, and other interactions. Many producers seek to redesign their cropping systems guided by agroecological principles whereby soil health and ecological services accumulate in mutually supportive ways. They are actively involved in devising, testing, and evaluating new and innovative practices on their farms to enhance biodiversity and beneficial interactions while improving resilience and mitigating risk. Attendees at this Seminar discovered practical and sustainable ways to manage rural landscapes. NOTE: If approved by individual presenters, pdf vdersions of their presentations will be posted below.

AGENDA, BIOS AND ABSTRACTS

HERE ARE THE PRESENTATIONS THAT PRESENTERS HAVE SHARED IN PDF FORMAT

2023 EVENTS ARCHIVE

MICHIGAN CHAPTER SWCS

ANNUAL MEETING

Held Friday, December 15, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST

SEE BELOW FOR "HANDOUTS" FROM THIS REQUIRED

ANNUAL CHAPTER BUSINESS MEETING

Anaerobic Digester Workshop:
The future of manure and food waste management

Held on Friday, September 15, 2023 from 1 to 4 PM

in and near Coopersville, Michigan

Description: Manure digesters are becoming an important part of Michigan's diverse portfolio of renewable energy production. These systems are providing farmers with opportunities for additional revenue streams through harvesting bio-gas produced by the anaerobic digestion of their farm's animal manure. However, these systems are complex, have multiple design options, and frequently include the potential for additional treatment options. When designed and operated correctly, anaerobic digesters produce bio-gas that is collected, cleaned, and sold as Renewable Natural Gas. As a bonus, the treatment process can significantly reduce manure bacteria levels, improve the availability of manure nutrients, and reduce manure odors.

Workshop participants learned the fundamentals of anaerobic digestion and toured a new anaerobic digester that is designed to treat manure from three large dairy farms and generate renewable energy from manure.

There was no fee for this Workshop.  See flyer and agenda, workshop presentation in pdf, and handouts below.

FOLLOWING ARE AVAILABLE SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS IN PDF FORMAT

Other presentations will be added as they become available.

2022 EVENTS ARCHIVE

WEBINAR WORKSHOP

Edge-of-field monitoring for tillage management impacts on water quality and quantity in St. Johns, Michigan

By Jeremiah Asher, Assistant Director

Institute of Water Research

Michigan State University

Presented 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Friday, December 16

"I mostly described the setup and monitoring we did at the site and what we found through that monitoring over three years. We were trying to understand the soil health impacts on water quality and quantity at the site. We made some good progress toward that goal, but still have unanswered questions. We also talked about different observations of soil health properties between the fields, etc."

This presentation is available here. The file is SWCS_Pres_480.mp4

MICHIGAN CHAPTER ANNUAL MEETING

Was held virtually 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday, December 16.

Held 9:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., Friday, March 11, 2022

AgroLiquid Conference Center

3055 W. M-21, St. Johns, MI

Rural landscapes are complex physical and biological systems integrating cropland, forestland and riparian zones, crop rotations and nutrient cycling, a balance of pests and pathogens, and other interactions. Many producers seek to redesign their cropping systems guided by agro-ecological principles whereby soil health and ecological services accumulate in mutually supportive ways. They are actively involved in devising, testing, and evaluating new and innovative practices on their farms to enhance biodiversity and beneficial interactions, improve resilience and mitigate risk. Attendees at this Michigan Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society Seminar discovered practical and sustainable ways to manage the rural landscape through five presentations.

FOLLOWING ARE COPIES OF PRESENTATIONS AND HANDOUTS IN PDF FORMAT

PRIOR YEARS EVENTS ARCHIVES

HELD DECEMBER 3, 2021

MICHIGAN CHAPTER SWCS ANNUAL MEETING

The Chapter Annual Meeting was held virtually through a Zoom portal.
The documents below were discussed during the meeting. 
Draft minutes of this meeting are also posted below.

Farming systems are complex physical and biological systems integrating fieldwork, crop rotations, nutrient cycling, pest regulation, and other interactions. Some producers are redesigning their cropping systems guided by agro-ecological principles whereby soil health and essential ecological services accrue in mutually supportive ways. They are actively involved in devising, testing, and evaluating new and innovative practices on their farms, not just adopting introduced technologies. Conference attendees will learn from university research and field experience; local intergovernmental organization project experience; and producer innovation and networking experience. SWCS connects Conservation Professionals, practitioners and partners.  Sponsored by the Michigan Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society and co-sponsored by MSU Extension.  The webinars were recorded and are now available on YouTube at these links.

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

MICHIGAN CHAPTER SWCS

WORKSHOP WEBINAR

Held Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Floating Wetland Treatment of Subsurface Drainage

Jeremiah Asher, Assistant Director

Institute of Water Research

Michigan State University

NOTE: See below for a complete recording of this webinar.

WATER QUALITY SCIENCE WEBINAR

Held Thursday, September 17, 2020

Presentations on two current water quality projects from Michigan State University's Institute for Water Research (IWR) were delivered 9/17/20. The first described a project in the River Raisin Watershed in which IWR is conducting tile drain monitoring and sharing the data with producers to inform conservation efforts on their fields. The second reviewed IWR's efforts to improve water quality and enhance groundwater recharge in the Maple River Watershed through an NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Each presentation was followed by a Q&A session. See below for a recording of the webinar, and the presentation abstracts.

Engaging River Raisin Farmers in a Sub-surface Water Monitoring Program:

A look into applicability, efficacy, and need

Alaina Nunn, Research Assistant

Institute of Water Research, Michigan State University

ABSTRACT: In the last decade, Lake Erie has seen increases in harmful algal blooms, driven primarily by excess nutrients from varying sources. Of these sources, subsurface drainage has been identified as one of the primary pathways for agricultural contributions of phosphorus to the basin. This study examines the implementation of a low-cost tile drain monitoring program in the headwaters of the River Raisin, where we explored the use of subsurface water quality data as a feedback mechanism for increasing farmer awareness of nutrient loss issues specific to their farm. Participants received water quality reports every three months, which included data such as tile flow, nutrient loading, major rain events (½ inch or more), and anonymous comparison of others’ tile drain discharge. Participants were then interviewed to gain a further understanding of the applicability, efficacy, and need for water quality data as it applies to engagement in conservation and improving the health of Lake Erie. During this webcast we will explore the methods used for this study, its applicability and reproducibility in other areas, and will discuss key learning points discovered during the participant farmer interviews.

Improving Stream Habitat

in the Maple River Watershed

Connor Crank, Project Coordinator

Institute of Water Research, Michigan State University

ABSTRACT: Many of Michigan’s streams are fed by groundwater, which provides them with a cool and steady baseflow. Several economically and ecologically important fish species in Michigan and the Great Lakes region require cool or cold water streams to thrive. Groundwater extraction competes for these flows and can also divert critical flows, negatively impacting fish populations. The increasing demands on agricultural production also have the potential to increase demands for irrigation and fertilizer inputs, further aggravating the challenges to groundwater quantity and quality. The Institute of Water Research at Michigan State University, in partnership with the USDA NRCS, are offering conservation funding through a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for agricultural practices in the Maple River watershed that increase groundwater replenishment and reduce sediment. Increasing infiltration on agricultural lands reduces surface runoff of sediment and nutrients from fields and provides more stable temperatures for fish in rivers and streams.

Learn more about the new conservation project in the Maple River watershed led by the Institute of Water Research at Michigan State University.

2020 SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS

MICHIGAN CHAPTER SWCS WORKSHOP

ENHANCING WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT -

NEW DISCOVERIES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Presented Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Speakers: Dr. Zachary Curtis, Hydrosimulatics Inc.; Paul Sachs, Ottawa County Planning Dept. and Megan Boos, Ottawa CD

Access three YouTube videos of the presentation here.

MICHIGAN CHAPTER SWCS ANNUAL MEETING

Held 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 28, 2019

This was the Annual Business Meeting for Michigan Chapter SWCS members.  Non-members were welcome to attend for information, but voting was limited to Michigan Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society members.

See below for documents that were discussed and approved at the Annual Meeting.

MICHIGAN CHAPTER

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION SOCIETY

FIELD TRIP

Quality Fruit Production, Processing and

Transition Organic Farming in Northern Michigan

Held Monday, October 28, 2019

1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

This was a tour of one of largest tart cherry farms (Cherry Ke) and processing facilities (Great Lakes Packing) in the country. We heard from the experts about quality fruit production and discussed the current pest/disease issues in the industry. We will also heard about Cherry Ke’s transition organic tart cherry farm in Acme MI. At the second stop, Great Lakes Packing, we learned about tart cherry processing and water use, recycling and disposal of water and how they take a waste material of cherry pits and turn them into a value added fuel source in Michigan.  This tour will started and ended at the MACD Convention site at Shanty Creek Resort, Bellaire, MI.

Speakers were: Dan Busby, MAEAP Verifier for MDARD, and Nels Veliquette and Company with Cherry Ke and Great Lakes Packing.

INFORMATION LINKS

Link to Great Lakes Packing http://www.greatlakespacking.com/

Link to Shoreline Fruit https://www.shorelinefruit.com/

Link to the Shoreline Fruit, Cherry Bay Orchards and Cherry Ke story https://www.shorelinefruit.com/grower-owned

Held Wednesday, March 6, 2019

AgroLiquid Conference Center, 3055 W. M-21. St. Johns, Michigan

Modern crop and livestock systems are complex, and the management of these systems requires continuous adaptation and change in practices and strategies. Many advances in agricultural technology offer opportunities to protect water quality and build soil health, yet farmers are often unable or unwilling to adopt new practices.

Farmers integrate all levels of information in the farming system to make informed decisions. A new technology can disrupt the farming system while the actual benefit is not always clear. Farmer participation and involvement are crucial in the process by which new practices are developed, evaluated, improved, and adopted. Farmers need the support of consultants, university and extension educators, technical service providers, and other farmers in developing flexible production alternatives.

There is a need for diverse approaches for targeting the educational and assistance needs of individual farmers. The goal of this conference was to discuss strategies to help farmers make sound decisions in evaluating and adopting technologies compatible with their existing farming practices. Conference speakers included national experts and experienced crop producers who shared experience and insights into how to develop and deliver specific assistance to individual farmers in a format that is compatible with their needs and capabilities.

PRESENTATIONS IN PDF FORMAT

MICHIGAN CHAPTER SWCS

TECHNICAL WORKSHOP

Held at Shanty Creek Resorts, Bellaire, Michigan

During the MACD Fall Convention

Title: Computer Assisted Nutrient Management Planning Program (CANMaPP); A discussion with developers, farmers and conservation field staff for tool integration, planning, support and conservation assessment.

Date:  Tuesday, October 30th, 2018

Time:  3:30pm – 5:00pm

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Michigan Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (MiSWCS) hosted a session at the Michigan Association of Conservation District (MACD) Fall Conference about a new tool that may be very useful to farmers and conservation field staff.  The Computer Assisted Nutrient Management Planning Program (CANMaPP) is an online tool, currently in-development, that assists with nutrient management plan implementation and documentation. More specifically, users can import existing nutrient management plans into CANMaPP and document the implementation of their plan in a consistent format suitable for review by various agricultural and conservation agencies. The tool is designed for use by farmers, field office technicians, Extension educators, agency personnel and other conservation professionals. This project is led and developed by the Michigan State University Institute of Water Research (IWR) and is supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 

This Fall MACD session presented an initial version of the CANMaPP tool and concluded with interactive and hands-on feedback. Part 1 of the session started with a panel that includes farmers discussing the challenges of performing nutrient management on their land. Part 2 was a discussion of the CANMapp Tool development and future goals by the NRCS State Office.  Part 3 ended with a discussion, led by developer Laura Young (IWR), covering the potentials of the CANMaPP tool and the project rollout.  The final CANMaPP tool will be available in summer 2019.

THE MICHIGAN CHAPTER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION SOCIETY FALL HIGHWAY CLEANUP WAS HELD FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018, ON US-127 NORTH, JUST SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 69, EAST LANSING, MI.  PARTICIPANTS WERE SWCS MEMBERS GAYLYNN KINTER, DAN KESSELRING, GREGG THOEN AND DIANE FIELDER; AND NON-MEMBERS CAROL WADE AND JOE CALUS.  ALL OF THEM RETIRED USDA-NRCS EMPLOYEES.

A Matter of Balance:
Managing Soil and Crop Nutrient Systems
to Protect Water Quality.

PRESENTATION PDFs

MICHIGAN CHAPTER 2017 ANR SEMINAR

Held March 3, 2017

East Lansing, MI

A Matter of Balance:
Feeding our Crops, Protecting the Waters of the Great Lakes

AGENDA, PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS AND SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

PRESENTATIONS IN PDF FORMAT

Dr. Kitchen recommended the book "dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations" by Dr.  David R. Montgomery.

MICHIGAN CHAPTER 2016 FALL WORKSHOP

Technological and Innovative Selection of Conservation Practices
Held 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., Monday, October 24, 2016

Shanty Creek Resort, Bellaire, MI

The IWR develops interactive tools that address real world problems such as nonpoint source pollution and water availability. Their suite of decision support, watershed analysis and networking tools transform complex modeling, mapping and assessment into accessible and freely available online applications.

Tool development at the IWR stems from collaborative partnerships and innovative research. They design their tools in close coordination with stakeholders and combine leading edge software development, modeling expertise and comprehensive training to provide holistic, practical and effective systems.

IWR has provided critical decision support tools that are being used to inform on-the-ground protection and restoration actions that are improving Michigan’s water resources for current and future generations.

WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS AND LINKS

(Not all presentations had visuals)

           "OVERVIEW/DEMONSTRATION"

            JEREMIAH ASHER'S PRESENTATION (ON-LINE)

            POST WORKSHOP INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO THAT SHOWCASES

            THE  USE OF THE GREAT LAKES WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

            SYSTEM IN THE FIELD.  (Password "tnc")

MARCH 4, 2016, ANR SEMINAR

A MATTER OF BALANCE

Systems Approaches to Managing Great Lakes Landscapes

SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS IN PDF FORMAT

MARCH 6, 2015, ANR SEMINAR

A MATTER OF BALANCE

FEEDING OUR CROPS AND PROTECTING OUR WATER
IN A CHANGING CLIMATE

PRESENTATIONS IN PDF FORMAT

The rest of the presentations were not made available to us for publication.

MARCH 7, 2014, ANR SEMINAR
A MATTER OF BALANCE:
APPROACHES TO SOIL HEALTH AND WATER QUALITY

PRESENTATIONS IN PDF FORMAT

MARCH 6, 2013, ANR SEMINAR

A MATTER OF BALANCE:

AFTER THE AFTERMATH - ADDRESSING NATURAL RESOURCES IN EMERGENCIES

PRESENTATIONS IN PDF FORMAT

MARCH 7, 2012, ANR SEMINAR

A MATTER OF BALANCE:

ENERGY, WATER AND WORKING LANDS

PRESENTATIONS IN PDF FORMAT

MARCH 9, 2011, ANR SEMINAR

A MATTER OF BALANCE:

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

PRESENTATIONS IN PDF FORMAT