This Environmental Professionals Network (EPN) Program brings together myriad soil science and health professionals and experts to celebrate the first annual Ohio Soil Health Week. The event includes a morning breakfast with planned talks from soil health researchers, farm managers from across Ohio, and representatives from OEFFA. Mainly, the speakers will present on the theme of soil health in diverse landscapes in Ohio, including on production agriculture fields, gardens, livestock grazing paddocks, prairies and grasslands, and lawns and landscaped areas.
The speakers will discuss how healthy soils hold more water, reduce run-off, and protect water quality. They’ll describe how healthy soil practices build soil fertility reducing the need for fertilizer and providing a positive return on investment for farmers. Additionally, the event will educate attendants both in-person and online (through a YouTube livestream) about how healthy soil practices can sequester carbon to mitigate harmful greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and build on-farm resilience.
All participants, regardless of in-person or virtual attendance, must register online. The cost of attendance for non-students is $25, $5 for students, and free for all virtual livestream participants. The price of in-person registration includes a coffee bar and a breakfast buffet.
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7:15 a.m. | Doors open at Ohio State 4-H Center; Coffee served for in-person attendees.
7:40 a.m. | Breakfast buffet served for in-person attendees.
8:00 a.m. | Livestreaming service begins for virtual attendees.
Welcome video from the 2024 American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting featuring Jim Ippolito, PhD, Rattan Lal Endowed Professor of Soil Health and Soil Fertility, The Ohio State Univeristy, and Sakthi Kumaran Subburayalu, PhD, associate professor, Central State University.
8:10 a.m. | Tim Haab, PhD, director, Ohio State’s School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) provides welcome remarks.
8:15 a.m. | Gary Pierzynski, PhD, associate dean for research and graduate education and director of the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at Ohio State, connects the Land Grant Mission to soil health.
8:25 a.m. | Randall Reeder, executive director of the Ohio No-Till Council, presents A tribute to the legacy of Dave Brandt.
8:30 a.m. | Manbir Rakkar, PhD, assistant professor of soil fertility and nutrient management, SENR, reviews the mechanics of healthy soils.
8:40 a.m. | Amalie Lipstreu, conservation regional hub director, California Climate and Agriculture Network, moderates a panel dialogue on the Ohio Soil Health Initiative with soil health advocates, including:
Amanda Hernandez, grassroots local food system advocate.
Jim Linne, White Clover Farm in Highland County, Ohio.
Bridget Burgess, Hirzel Farms in Wood County, Ohio.
Chris Brandt, Brandt Family Farm in Fairfield County, Ohio.
Milo Petruziello, policy director, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA).
9:10 a.m. | Audience in-person and virtual question and answer session.
9:25 a.m. | Lauren Hirtle, grassroots policy organizer, OEFFA, reviews forthcoming soil health events.
9:30 a.m. | Dr. Haab concludes the EPN Breakfast program component. Livestreaming service concludes for virtual attendees. Networking session for in-person guests.
10:00 a.m. | Mary Turocy, director of policy and government relations for The Nature Conservancy Ohio, addresses the policy implications for soil health following the 2024 federal and state election cycle. This session is for in-person audience only.
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Lal Carbon Center - Farm Science Review exhibits (2023 how to feel the soil to learn about soil health, no-till, manure applications); Maggie Willis and Klaus Lorenz (2024 game about guessing the carbon in the soil and practices that created the conditions); explaining the C-FARM
Sonam Rustagi - student poster
Glorified Dirt, LLC - composting strategies
Debra Knapke
Blending Oak Farm - permaculture exhibit
Henry Peller, Rose Hill Farm in Muskingum County, Ohio
Mandy Darrington - soil print exhibit
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There are no unordinary challenges expected for participants to join the EPN program (i.e., no challenging terrain, little walking required, no computer/internet required). We strive to host events that are inclusive and accessible to everyone. If participants have a disability and require accommodations to fully participate in this activity, they can please reach out to Hallie Stelzle (stelzle.2@osu.edu). Requests made five business days in advance will generally allow us to provide seamless access. However, we will make every effort to meet requests made after this time frame. Requests will be addressed by someone from our staff to discuss specific needs. Masks are optional for all event attendees at this event, in accordance with Ohio State’s Safe and Healthy Protocols as of this date. In-person attendees will be expected to follow Ohio State protocols regarding the prevention of COVID-19 transmission.
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Environmental Professionals Network: epn@osu.edu | (440) 708-4985