Farmers and industry professionals from across Minnesota packed the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center for the 20th annual Soil Management Summit . The event was organized by the University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Office for Soil Health.

The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) was a platinum sponsor. Gene Stoel, a longtime director, said checkoff support of the Soil Management Summit is helping provide growers with necessary resources to tackle complex issues.

“Everyone is asking questions about cover crops and regenerative ag and what that is all about, and the MSR&PC should be part of that conversation,” said Gene Stoel, United Soybean Board director and MSR&PC board member. “The main benefit is just getting the information out to (the farmers) as to what they can do to comply with what the public is asking for.”

The Summit covered various topics relating to soil health, including cover crops, tillage and manure management. Cover crop sessions were extremely popular with the attendees, and three different sessions were featured. Speakers were brought in from universities around the Midwest to run sessions, and farmers from across the state appeared on panels.

“As we look at how farmers are trying to adapt to various climate challenges, that figures into soil management,” said Mike Youngerberg, senior director of product management and commercialization at Minnesota Soybean. “Hopefully farmers learn things they can take back to their farm that helps them save money or build soil.”