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Amir Kassam <[log in to unmask]>
Sun, 20 Nov 2016 10:34:24 +0000
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*Global CA-CoP* *CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE*

*for sustainable production intensification and land management*

Dear Subscribers,

Please see herebelow, the latest California Soil Health News from Jeff
Mitchell.

Apologies for cross-posting.

*Amir Kassam *

*Moderator*

e-mail: [log in to unmask]
URL: www.fao.org/ag/ca

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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: CA Soil Health Network <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, Nov 18, 2016 at 4:00 PM
Subject: Your California Soil Health News!
To: *|FNAME|* *|LNAME|* <[log in to unmask]>


The California Soil Health Network brings together the diverse agricultural
systems in our state through a producer-led network to share success and
challenges in soil health practices.
View this email in your browser
<http://us3.campaign-archive1.com/?u=e25e5a4fc7d159fa15de3d2ba&id=17b860d56a&e=f5363afa33>
California Soil Health Network

Updates from the Field

These past couple months have gone by in a flash, especially with the last
six weeks being chock full of soil sampling. So far this year, our team has
completed compost trials in over 15 sites across the state. Together, we
have been looking for changes in soil carbon, species composition,
microbial and nematode populations, etc. over time which can give those who
work with the land a better understanding of soil health.

We started off in Marin County then spent long days sampling in Sonoma
County and a couple sites in Yolo County.  Over the next few days, we
continued to sample at sites in Contra Costa, Solano, San Joaquin,
Stanislaus, and Alameda. We all took a short rest then headed back out on
the road to visit the Kaweah Oaks Preserve in Tulare County and then headed
down to Santa Barbara County. After spending a couple of days there, it was
off to San Diego County and then over to Kettleman City in Kings County. We
then we took a breather for a few days before heading to Browns Valley in
Yuba County and back to Santa Barbara the next week to help sample a set of
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) plots for the Silver and Schimel labs.

I was lucky enough to travel around with an amazing core group of folks for
this sampling tour—their attention to detail, awesome attitudes, and
adaptability were keys to this sampling tour’s success.

Our crew consisted of members from the Silver Lab at UC Berkeley and the
Schimel Lab at UC Santa Barbara who joined us in the field for collection,
and much of the sample processing as well.  Other participants have
included NRCS & RCD staff, UCCE Livestock Advisors, and Point Blue On-site
and Partner Biologists.  Additionally, several microbiologists including
Kelly Grauver, a postdoc at Arizona State, and Eric Dubinsky, a Guest
Scientist in the Ecology Dept. at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and a
nematologist Gisele Herren from Ghent University in Belgium along with her
crew, have accompanied us on the tour and have been helping while
simultaneously collecting samples for their research.  It should also be
noted that the compost is coming from one source, West Marin Compost, to
increase scientific integrity, per guidance from the Silver Lab.

I will be putting together a presentation about this baseline sampling tour
and the subsequent delivery and spreading for these compost field trials
where I will brag in greater detail about these folks, and I hope to
complete that and make it available to all of you in early 2017.

Over the past few weeks, we sampled a couple of more sites in Fresno and
Mendocino counties while we worked to secure the compost and plan the
logistics for the statewide spreading event happening at the end of this
month.  We will be simultaneously delivering and spreading compost starting
in a couple of weeks, so I’ll let you know how all that goes in December’s
newsletter.  Thanks again for reading, and Happy Turkey Day!

Best,
Jeff
The grass is always greener…when you’re veg sampling in April; a citizen
scientist staying focused at Rush Ranch in Solano County.
The grass is not-so-green anymore when you’re soil sampling in October;
this is a bunch of brilliant researchers getting ready to use some elbow
grease at a ranch in Marin County.
Ken Oster, NRCS Area Resource Soil Scientist, opts for the mini-excavator
instead of the pick axe when digging a bulk density pit in some tough soils
at a ranch in Yolo County.

News, Research & Publications!
Carbon Farming Trials
<http://eaststanrcd.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e25e5a4fc7d159fa15de3d2ba&id=9d7ebef1f1&e=f5363afa33>

The Marin Carbon Project (MCP) seeks to enhance carbon sequestration in
rangeland, agricultural, and forest soils through applied research,
demonstration and implementation. Check out their latest video
<http://eaststanrcd.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e25e5a4fc7d159fa15de3d2ba&id=fb1b38617a&e=f5363afa33>
live from a farm trial!
Boosting Soils With Phosphorus
<http://eaststanrcd.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e25e5a4fc7d159fa15de3d2ba&id=859975d1b5&e=f5363afa33>

An essential nutrient for healthy soil, phosphorus is ever important for
farmers to boost crop yields to stay ahead of rising food demands. Read
more here.
<http://eaststanrcd.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e25e5a4fc7d159fa15de3d2ba&id=a055982583&e=f5363afa33>

Soil Carbon & Climate Change
<http://eaststanrcd.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e25e5a4fc7d159fa15de3d2ba&id=639e816741&e=f5363afa33>

A rigorous study
<http://eaststanrcd.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e25e5a4fc7d159fa15de3d2ba&id=72dfb29f7b&e=f5363afa33>
published in the journal* Science *argues that soil alone cannot save us
from climate change.


Join Us At These Great Events!
Network Events
100 Year CCA & CCW Convention
December 1-4,2016.
Nugget Casino Resort
Sparks, Nevada

EcoFarm Conference
January 25-28, 2017
Asilomar Conference Grounds
Pacific Grove, California
https://eco-farm.org/conference
<http://eaststanrcd.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=e25e5a4fc7d159fa15de3d2ba&id=e895b2d66a&e=f5363afa33>
Partner Events
World Ag Expo
February 14-16, 2017
International Agri-Center
Tulare, California
http://worldagexpo.com/
<http://eaststanrcd.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=e25e5a4fc7d159fa15de3d2ba&id=b139def8f5&e=f5363afa33>

CalCAN Summit 2017
Feb 28th & Mar 1st, 2017
UC Davis Conference Center
Davis, California
I am grateful for what I am and have.  My thanksgiving is perpetual.
*-Henry David Thoreau*
*Copyright © 2016 East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District, All
rights reserved.*
Get the latest news on soil health on-farm demonstrations, field trials,
and research in California!

*Our mailing address is:*
East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District
3800 Cornucopia Way, Suite E
Modesto, CA 95358

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