By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

AUBURN, Ind. — The annual Tri-State Conservation Farming Expo is Feb. 15 this year, a couple weeks earlier than usual. What won’t change is the event’s focus on conservation practices, said Sharon Hall, program manager for the St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative (SJRWI).

“We’ll look at conservation farming and how that still works economically,” she said. “Last year, speakers talked about balancing inputs and profit. We’re continuing with that this year.”
The ninth annual expo is in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. Scheduled speakers include Chris Hurt, an agricultural economist from Purdue University, who will discuss the grain and livestock market outlook; and Joe Kelsey, director of Indiana’s State Department of Agriculture.

Also speaking will be Jill Clapperton, with Earthspirit Land Resource Consulting, who will discuss soil biology and improving sustainability and profitability. “Farmers know if they have healthy soil, they’ll have better crops,” Hall said.

She hopes attendees see the big picture when it comes to their impact on water quality.

“We want to help show the relationship between watershed acres, cropland and the drinking water in the city of Fort Wayne, and eventually, what’s happening at the Port of Toledo. What they do here is so important to what happens there,” she explained.
Continuing education credits for private applicators and certified crop advisers are available.

Other presentations will include discussion on nutrient and sediment loss, seed traits and cover crops.

The price is $20 and includes lunch and admission to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. The cost for the continuing education credits is $10. The pre-registration deadline is Feb. 5.

The expo begins at 7 a.m. with exhibits and registration, and ends at 4 p.m. Continuing education credit sessions run from 4-4:30 p.m.

For more information and for a registration form, call the SJRWI at 260-484-5848, ext. 3. Forms are also available from Soil and Water Conservation District offices in Allen, DeKalb, Noble and Steuben counties in Indiana, Hillsdale County in Michigan and Williams County in Ohio.

The Expo is still looking for sponsors and exhibitors. Contact Hall at SJRWI for more information.

Farmer network meeting
A conference on maximizing soil health and profitability is scheduled for Feb. 16, the day after the Expo, in Fort Wayne. The “Don’t Treat Your Soil Like Dirt” program will feature a farmer-led discussion on cover crops and no-till.

Also, Clapperton will present research findings on how soil biology and ecology interact with cropping and soil management systems.
The $15 registration fee includes a continental breakfast and lunch. The conference, at the Landmark Conference Centre, is 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information and to register, call the Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District at 260-484-5848, or visit www.ctic.org

The conference is sponsored in part by the Conservation Technology Information Center and the Northeastern Indiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts.