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THE DIRT ON SOIL HEALTH: INVESTING BELOW THE SURFACE

Extension Education

Michael Estadt
CIRCLEVILLE

Abstract

Soil health is an increasingly important topic of interest to agricultural producers in Ohio.  The Ohio State University Extension Agronomics Crops Team educational committee planned and delivered virtual programming on this subject.  But if you ask a farmer what good soil health means the responses may include an array of characteristics ranging from biological, chemical, and physical properties.


Program objectives were: 1) Define and increase the awareness of good soil health 2) Convene a diverse group of experts and practitioners to share research and practical methods to improve soil health. 3) Give participants a toolbox of resources, methods and testing methodology to assess soil quality


Eight weekly webinars were conducted. Speakers included university soil scientists, ag engineers, farmers, consultants, and soil conservationists. Topics included soil quality research, soil compaction, farmer experiences with establishing and managing cover crops and data relating to the economics of soil health and soil carbon. 


A voluntary program evaluation was distributed to participants at the conclusion of each program. Program evaluations will be submitted through the end of March 2021. Currently, 556 evaluations have been completed and indicate that the programs met educational objectives.


2,858 participants from 72 Ohio counties, 20 US States, and 9 nations registered for the webinar series. 1,517 attended live sessions with 1,055 views of the recorded sessions. On the program evaluation, 95.3% of respondents reported that they learned new information because of attending, and 88.7% reported that they plan to use the information they learned to improve soil health on their farms.


Qualitative information was also collected on the most useful thing learned from the program as well as how OSU Extension can better serve clientele in the future.  Responses will be used to guide research and outreach efforts of the Soil Health Committee in the future.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted only for display at AM/PIC. Poster is not to be judged, but the abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: M. Estadt, M. Badertscher, F. Barker, C. Brown, A. Chanon, R. Cochran, T. Corboy, S. Culman, B. Fisher, J. Fulton, M. Griffith, J. Hartschuh, E. Hawkins, S. Karhoff, G. LaBarge, B. Moneymaker, N.L. Neal, S. Noggle, L. Nye, B. Scheckelhoff, C. Zoller
  1. Estadt, M. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43133
  2. Badertscher, M. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43326
  3. Barker, F. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43050
  4. Brown, C. Program Manager, FAES-Horticulture and Crop Science, Ohio, 44691
  5. Chanon, A. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 44035
  6. Cochran, R. Extension Associate, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45879
  7. Corboy, T. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45385
  8. Culman, S. Associate Professor, FAES-School of Environmental and Natural Resources, Ohio, 44691
  9. Fisher, B. Extension Associate, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45875
  10. Fulton, J. Professor, FAES-Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Ohio, 43210
  11. Griffith, M. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43140
  12. Hartschuh, J. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 44820
  13. Hawkins, E. Field Specialist, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45177
  14. Karhoff, S. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43506
  15. LaBarge, G. Field Specialist, The Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43140
  16. Moneymaker, B. Extension Associate, The Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45895
  17. Neal, N. Extension Educator, The Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45130
  18. Noggle, S. Extension Educator, The Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45879
  19. Nye, L. Extension Educator, The Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45177
  20. Scheckelhoff, B. Extension Educator, The Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45875
  21. Zoller, C. Extension Educator, The Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 44663