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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260924T130000
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UID:9772-1790254800-1790254800@appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
SUMMARY:Healthy Soil for Healthy Crops Builds Better Growing Systems
DESCRIPTION:Healthy Soil for Healthy Crops will give farmers\, growers\, and gardeners practical\, science-based guidance to improve soil health and build more resilient growing systems. \nThe class will be held Thursday\, September 24\, 2026\, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the North Carolina Arboretum\, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way\, Asheville\, North Carolina. The in-person program is part of the Arboretum’s Adult Education offerings and will be taught by soil-health educator Mark Dempsey. \nUnderstanding How Healthy Soil Works\nThe workshop will begin with the fundamentals of soil and the biological and physical processes that influence crop performance. \nParticipants will examine the importance of organic matter\, how it affects soil function\, and why maintaining healthy soil can improve the long-term productivity of farms and gardens. The program will focus on practical steps growers can take to improve soil conditions rather than treating soil health as an abstract concept. \nThe Healthy Soil for Healthy Crops workshop is designed around research and real-world farm experience\, with an emphasis on strategies growers can put into practice on their own land. \n\nHealthy Soil for Healthy Crops and Soil Testing\nOne central topic will be soil sampling and nutrient testing. \nParticipants will learn how to collect a useful soil sample and how to interpret information from a nutrient test. Understanding soil-test results can help farmers and growers make better decisions about fertility\, amendments\, and overall soil management. \nThe workshop will also address steps producers can take after receiving test results\, helping connect laboratory information with practical field decisions. \nSoil Health\, Erosion and Farm Resilience\nThe program will explore ways better soil management can help reduce erosion and improve the resilience of farming systems. \nHealthy soils can play an important role in how agricultural land responds to heavy rainfall\, dry periods\, and other stresses. For Appalachian growers working on sloping ground or in areas that have experienced severe weather\, soil structure and erosion control can be especially important. \nHealthy Soil for Healthy Crops connects those broader concerns with practical soil-management strategies farmers and gardeners can use over time. \nExperienced Soil Health Instructor\nInstructor Mark Dempsey is a conservation specialist and soil health educator with the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. \nDempsey has more than 15 years of research and education experience involving soil microbiology\, no-till production\, cover crops\, and sustainable agricultural systems. His work focuses on practical approaches to improving soil function and long-term farm resilience. \nRegistration and Financial Assistance\nThe class is intended for adults and runs for approximately three hours. The North Carolina Arboretum offers a 10% registration discount for members and also provides a scholarship application for participants who may have difficulty covering the cost of a class. \nDate: Thursday\, September 24\, 2026Time: 1-4 p.m.Location: The North Carolina ArboretumAddress: 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way\, Asheville\, NC 28806Instructor: Mark DempseyFormat: In-person workshop \n  \nRead our full-length articles about educational opportunities here!
URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/event/healthy-soil-for-healthy-crops/
LOCATION:The North Carolina Arboretum\, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way\, Asheville\, NC\, 28806-9315\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education,Workshops & Seminars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/jonathan-kemper-healthy-soil-healthy-crops-featured.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="North Carolina Arboretum Adult Education":MAILTO:adulteducation@ncarboretum.org
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T000000
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UID:10066-1790294400-1790294400@appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
SUMMARY:Kentucky Conservation Funding Application Deadline
DESCRIPTION:Kentucky conservation funding is available to eligible farmers and landowners seeking financial and technical assistance to improve soil health and implement conservation practices on working lands. Submit applications for the current funding cycle through a local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office by September 25\, 2026. \nThe opportunity is available through the Soil Health for Urban and Rural Environments\, or SHURE\, project\, a Regional Conservation Partnership Program initiative led by Grow Appalachia\, a strategic initiative of Berea College. Grow Appalachia is working with the Organic Association of Kentucky and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to deliver the program. \n\n\nMore Than $3.8 Million for Kentucky Conservation\nThe SHURE project is bringing more than $3.8 million into Kentucky to help farmers and landowners adopt conservation practices that support healthier soil and more resilient agricultural operations. \nEligible participants may receive financial assistance and one-on-one technical support. Grow Appalachia and Organic Association of Kentucky staff can help producers identify conservation needs\, develop an on-farm conservation plan\, navigate the NRCS application process\, and understand how to implement approved practices. \nConservation practices supported through the project may include cover crops\, riparian forest buffers\, pollinator habitat\, and other measures designed to improve soil and natural resources. \nThe project emphasizes soil health and resilient agricultural practices. NRCS also says the SHURE initiative prioritizes small farms of 50 acres or less in Kentucky. \nFarmers Can Get Help With the Application\nFarmers do not have to develop a conservation plan or navigate the NRCS process alone. Technical assistance is available to help identify farm problems and opportunities\, evaluate resources\, and determine which conservation practices may be appropriate. \nProducers and landowners interested in the current funding cycle must submit their applications through their local USDA NRCS office by September 25\, 2026. \nNRCS accepts conservation program applications year-round\, but the September 25 cutoff determines which applications will be considered for the current Kentucky funding cycle. Applications submitted after that date will move to a future funding period. \nFarmers who applied for SHURE funding during the spring 2026 application period but were not funded may apply again during the fall funding cycle. \nHow to Apply for Kentucky conservation funding\nKentucky farmers and landowners interested in the program should contact their local USDA Service Center or NRCS field office before the deadline. Grow Appalachia and the Organic Association of Kentucky also offer conservation assistance to farmers who need help understanding available practices\, conservation planning\, or the application process. \nApplication deadline: September 25\, 2026\nWho may apply: Eligible Kentucky farmers and landowners\nProgram: RCPP Soil Health for Urban and Rural Environments (SHURE)\nApplication: Submit through a local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office \n  \nRead our full-length articles about grants and educational opportunities here!
URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/event/kentucky-on-farm-conservation-funding-application-deadline/
CATEGORIES:Grants & Deadlines
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/jeff-arnold-Kentucky-farm-Conservation-.jpg
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