International Soil Scientists Convention – North Dakota

Dr Jennifer Dungait and myself just returned from visiting Farmer Gabe Brown’s Ranch in North Dakota with a bunch of Ranchers and other International Researchers. Here Jenni is talking to Jay Fuhrer from USDA NRCS (NATIONAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE.) Big Tall man showing his back is Dr Jeff Baldock from CSIRO (Australia). Also in picture is Dr Sarah Collier, who has been testing our soils for Soil Carbon recently. Dr Ben Ellert the Canadian Soil Scientist on far left and alongside Sarah in Purple T Shirt is Dr Chuck Rice, Kansas State University, talking to Peter Donavan (Carbon Coalition) This has been a Who’s who in International Soil Carbon!

International Soil Scientists Convention - North Dakota

International Soil Scientists Convention – North Dakota

Other Photo show Gabe Brown showing his fantastic soils which only 20 years ago, water would only infiltrate with just over 1 cm of rain in an hour, but now can infiltrate with over 20 cm in an hour, These well managed soils would stop flooding even after most severe rainfall events!! This has been achieved by growing diverse plants, extended grazing rotations, long periods of rest, keeping soil covered with plants at all time, and using Cattle to trample in vegetation not eaten off!