Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
Northern Sunrise County is excited to announce its Soil Health Workshop set to take place is about six weeks on Nov. 27.
Environmental Program coordinator Katie Bartman says the workshop will be held at the St. Isidore Cultural Centre starting at 8:30 a.m. and running until 3 p.m. Registration starts first thing in the morning, with the presentation set to commence at 9 a.m.
“This is a collaboration between Northern Sunrise County and SARDA Ag Research,” she notes.
“We will have a short presentation and update regarding SARDA and soil experts, Vivigro Sustainable Solutions, will lead the workshop,” she adds.
Bartman says the workshop is a great opportunity for the County to help local farmers adopt sustainable practices to help improve their soil health.
“Soil degradation, erosion, and declining fertility threaten local agriculture and long-term farm productivity,” explains Bartman.
“This workshop aims to provide farmers with tools and knowledge to protect and enhance soil quality, ensuring the sustainability of local food systems and supporting the agricultural economy.”
Bartman urges farmers, landowners, gardeners, agricultural advisors, and anyone interested or involved in land management, to attend the workshop. She says anyone who is looking to improve crop yields, reduce input costs, and adopt regenerative agricultural practices will find the workshop extremely valuable.
“Participants will learn practical, actionable strategies to improve their soil’s health,” Bartman says.
“This can lead to better crop performance, greater resilience against environmental stresses, and reduced reliance on costly inputs. Healthy soil also enhances water retention, reduces erosion, and increases biodiversity, which are all critical for long-term farm success and environmental stewardship,” she adds.
The workshop will cover topics like soil biology, the role of organic matter, cover cropping, no-till farming, and methods to reduce soil erosion. Participants will learn how to assess their soil health and receive guidance on creating customized soil improvement plans.
“We encourage participants to bring their soil test results for a personalized interpretation,” she notes.
“Experts from Vivigro Sustainable Solutions will help attendees analyze their results and understand how different soil elements like micro and macronutrients interact within their soil.”
Vivigro Sustainable Solutions CEO Yasir Sayed and regional territory manager Usman Afzal will lead the workshop.
“Both presenters are dedicated to promoting sustainable farming practices and helping producers develop management plans that enhance soil health while minimizing the need for synthetic inputs,” Bartman says.
“Healthy soils lead to stronger, more sustainable farms, which in turn benefit the local economy and environment,” she adds. “Better soil health reduces the need for chemical inputs, improves water quality, reduces soil losses to erosion, and can increase biodiversity in the area. Overall, it promotes resilience and enhances food security in the community.”
Items that will be discussed include soil formation and quality, soil sampling protocol, soil test results interpretation, soil rejuvenation and productivity.
The free event is open to all interested parties. Please pre-register by calling Bartman at (780) 322-3831.
“We hope this workshop will provide attendees with valuable education on reducing input costs while promoting productive, sustainable agriculture,” says Bartman.
“Our goal is to help build a strong, thriving agricultural community,” she concludes.