The purpose of the Governor's Agricultural Summit is to bring together leaders in business, finance, education, government and production agriculture to demonstrate agriculture's comparative advantages and discuss ways to harness the industry's potential for economic development.

The Summit is a free event that is open to anyone who is interested in the ways agriculture impacts South Dakota.

FEATURING:
-Joshua Dukart of Seek First Ranch, Hazen, ND
-Brett Nix of Nix Ranch,
BENEFITING
Area producers who want to learn about grazing and managing their resources with intention and a focus on the future, not just the present.

We appreciate an RSVP by July 5th to ensure adequate numbers for meal preparation:
RSVP to:  Valerie Feddersen at (605) 669-2404 Ext. 3 or  Shannon (Kulseth) Iversen at (605) 295-2296 for further information.

Please contact Cindy Zenk at (605) 280-4190 or sdsoilhealth@gmail.com for more information or to express your interest in attending our meeting!

REGISTRATION

To ensure dinner, RSVP by Friday, July 5, by calling the Morton County SCD office at 701-667-1163, ext. 3, or e-mail Valerie at valerie.frohlich@usda.gov. If registering children, include their ages.

Dave and Holly Ollila have been using the principles of Holistic Management for nearly 20 years. Using sheep and cattle as tools they have seen remarkable changes in the health of the land.
With Holistic Planned Grazing and the tools of grazing, animal impact and recovery time they have:
• Increased diversity of plants and wildlife.
• Increased the stocking rate on the land resource.
• Created resilience during drought years
• Birds, beetles and other beneficials are on the increase

Registration is free to all members of the South Dakota Grassland Coalition – or $30 for nonmembers (which include a complementary one year membership). Contact Dave Ollila - (605) 569-0224

Tour Discussion Topics/Activities
 Introduction to the ranch operation
 Benchmark data for grazing livestock
 Livestock mineral program
 Prescribed fire for new native grass seedings
 Seeding native grasses

Snacks will be provided after Tour: Contact Dave Steffen- (605) 830-9112

Soil Health – A Global Imperative is the theme for SHI’s 2019 Annual Meeting, reflecting just how critically imminent it is that we safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of soils to address food, water, climate, wildlife, fiber, fuel and other global issues.

Visit https://soilhealthinstitute.org/event/annual-meeting-2019/ for more information!

Organized by the Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN), supported by conservation districts in eastern South Dakota through a grant from NRCS. No obligation, just an opportunity to learn from your peers and local professional women conservationists.

THE AGENDA
Coffee, sign-in, resource sharing at 8:30--meeting begins promptly at 9 a.m.

Free lunch and afternoon field tour. The field tour will involve a short walk into a field, so please bring appropriate footwear and clothing.

Return to meeting site for evaluation, dessert and wrap–up by 3 p.m.

Please register at https://www.nolosd.org/learning-circle-meetings

Directions: From 3 miles South of Frankfort, SD on 396th Ave; 1 mile East on 176th St. and 1 Mile South on 397th Ave.

Rain or shine-outdoor attire is recommended, including water resistant footwear, jacket, and umbrella if raining. Please RSVP by July 11th to Judge at (605) 280-0127 or jljessop@kennebectelephone.com.

-Cross-fencing to improve rotational grazing
-Grazing management-drought management
-Pollinator plot for ranch operation benefits
-Tree and riparian management
-Ranching for wildlife

For additional information, contact Isaac Full, Pheasants Forever Biologist, 817-701-6707 or Nathan Grueb, NRCS District Conservationist, 605-365-5179 Ext. 3, or Timber Lake Field Office, 605-865-3522.