by Jess Oaks

joaks@torringtontelegram.com

SCOTTSBLUFF – The Nebraska Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) met last week in Scottsbluff for the society’s Tech Talks and Tech Walks. The three-day meeting conducted technical tours also featured an awards banquet. 

“The planning committee has been focusing on important concerns which are in line with present conservation concerns and training needs. ‘Talk and Walk’ subjects include(d) greenhouse tours, Palmer amaranth control, cheatgrass control, soil health, and others,” SWCS said. 

On Tuesday, June 11, the society met at the North Platte Natural Resources District and toured the Geodesic Dome Greenhouse and on Wednesday (June 12), the group traveled to Meadowlark Hearth Farms for a tour. The society traveled to the Panhandle Research and Extension Center to discuss Palmer Amaranth and Cheatgrass as well as tour the test extension plots. 

The final day of the event, Friday, June 13, began with SWCS Foundation and Chapter meetings followed by soil health talks by Corey Brubaker.

During the awards portion of the meeting, held on Wednesday evening, The Business Farmer was awarded a merit award in recognition of published articles which helped crop and livestock producers with innovative conservation ideas, research results, weather forecasts, market outlooks, agriculture advertisements, and both sides of controversial issues. 

“SWCS is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization for anyone interested in natural resource management and conservation. Its mission is to advocate the protection, enhancement, and wise use of soil, water, and related natural resources,” SWCS said. 

There are five SWCS regions across the United States and Canada and those chapters provide educational opportunities for training and networking according to the SWCS. 

For more information please visit: https://www.swcs.org/get-involved/join/.