Make plans now to join farmers and ranchers at the 2018 Farming Evolution event on February 13 & 14, 2018.  The event will be held at the Phillips County Event Center in Holyoke, CO.  Plan to come if you have interest in and questions about no-till, cover crops and grazing livestock on cropland.
    The headline speaker will be Allen Williams.  Allen specializes in whole farm & ranch planning for a healthy agricultural system.  He has consulted with more than 4200 farmers and ranchers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and South America.  He is also a board member of the Grass Fed Exchange.   Allen is featured in the YouTube video series Soil Carbon Cowboys (www.soilcarboncowboys.com).  
    Allen will walk the audience through the complexity and diversity of soils. He’ll use experiences from across the country to show that what we do on the soil surface has a tremendous effect on what happens below the surface.  
    He’ll share how to get better water infiltration and water holding capacity in soils.  More soil water means more organic matter and healthier plants.  This, in turn impacts the plants, livestock, insects, birds, wildlife, etc., and eventually humans. It all starts with the soil and our management of it.
    Allen want to have an open and honest conversation with the audience.  Do you question no-till, soil health, cover crops or grazing cropland ideas?  He wants to address your objections and questions.  So, bring your hard questions to the Farming Evolution!
    Joining Allen will be Jonathan Lundgren.  Jon is the founder of Blue Dasher Farms which focuses on cutting edge science.  Here they pair “hands-on” experience with frontline information and demonstration projects.  Jon will look at why having a diversity of plants and insects is important.  Once we know why bad ones are present, then we can use biodiversity to control their populations.  
    Tying directly into the topic of biodiversity will be Julie Peterson, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Julie’s research looks at the impacts of beneficial insects on Colorado and Nebraska cash crops.  In particular, she has looked at the Western Bean Cutworm and Western Corn Rootworm. She believes her findings will help create robust and profitable agroecosystems.  
    On day two, Allen will get to the ‘brass tacks’ of how to implement these ideas on the farm.  This will be a working session, to help producers figure out ‘how can I do this?’  This is your chance for a personalize consultation!  If desired, Allen will discuss how to access the value added grassfed market.
    The registration website, www.farmingevolution2018.eventbrite.com is up and running.  

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