Soil Health/Soil Biology Training for the Northern Plains

Soil Health/Soil Biology Training for the Northern Plains

Summary

Objectives/Performance Targets

Accomplishments/Milestones

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The pre and post tests give a good realization of how well the short term outcomes were met. Over 85% showed improvement from the pre test which gave a strong indication of an increased awareness and understanding of soil health and the impact of good soil microbiological populations on soil health. Crop residues as a key component of food for soil microbes and the importance of a living root in increasing soil microbiological populations was well understood by the attendees. Comments from attendees ranged from being too challenging and needing to review the material for it to “sink in” (expressed by about ½ of attendees) to reactions of expecting more challenging material (very few). Requests for copies of the CD continue to be received indicating that awareness is spreading to non-attendees.

The intent expressed by the attendees overwhelmingly indicated the information would be used in programs for producers and in other more direct communication with producers. Some of the attendees had already initiated cover crop demonstrations prior to the training, but significantly more intended to begin these activities in the future. These intermediate outcomes, along with written newsletters and newspaper columns are evidence that intermediate outcomes are beginning to be addressed. Much of this intent came from the reaction evaluations which attendees submitted following the training completion.

Long term outcomes can be assessed after Phase 2 of the training, giving at least some initial indication of a change in mind-set and behavior changes filtering to producers.

An outcome which was sought from the evaluations was to determine where questions still existed and where voids in the training remained. This information will determine the scope and direction of the second phase of this training which will be entirely electronic. The evaluations gave a variety and abundance of questions and areas which are not understood, but a few general categories have emerged which will form the basis for the future training in this project.

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