Summer Camp Webinar: Cover Crops - Nature’s Undervalued Rock Stars

Soil health is rooted in promoting diverse and active soil biological communities. Continued use of cover crops to feed soil organisms during non-production times of the year can foster many soil health benefits, from increased nutrient availability to reduced soil compaction. Jamie will talk about cover crop species commonly used in Wisconsin – their potential benefits and challenges and where they can fit in row crop and vegetable crop production systems.

This Summer Camp series is an opportunity to join women landowners from across the state who share your passion for stewarding the land and connect with expert advice, resources, and opportunities around the virtual campfire.

Whatever your background, from beginners to experts, all women are welcome and we want to hear your story.  Feel free to bring your lunch. S’mores optional. Wisconsin Women in Conservation is hosting four sessions from May through August on the last Thursday of the month. 

WiWiC Host: Mercedes Talvitie

Content Expert: Jamie Patton, NRCS

Landowner Share: Kassandra McKinnon

Jamie Patton is the Wisconsin Soil Health Coordinator for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. In her role she provides education, outreach, and technical guidance to farmers, agronomists, and agency and industry professionals across the state on land management practices to promote soil health and water quality.  Jamie earned her soil science degrees from Iowa State and Oklahoma State Universities.  Prior to joining the NRCS, she worked in educational roles with Northwest Missouri State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Kassandra McKinnon is a WiWiC Conservation Coach in the North West Region.  She grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska and discovered her love of nature early on. However, it wasn’t until her twenties that she discovered farming through working at a Biodynamic seed farm and homesteading in Wyoming. After a major drought in 2012, Kass was concerned about her ability to manage her farm and returned to school to finish her bachelors in Rangeland management to gain more knowledge about plants, soils and animal health. After finishing her degree, she moved to Wisconsin to start a family and seed business called Cultivating the Commons. Kass also works for River Country RC&D & loves writing grazing plans that focus on conservation and regeneration.

Event Details:

• Event is free to attend.
• Women, all who identify as such, are welcome to attend – from  landowners to farmers to conservationist enthusiasts –  whatever your background, from beginners to experts!

About Wisconsin Women in Conservation

WiWiC is a state-wide collaborative effort led by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in partnership with Wisconsin Farmers Union, Renewing the Countryside and Marbleseed (formerly MOSES).  A five-year multi-faceted project funded by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), WiWiC brings together Wisconsin women landowners, farmers, farmworkers, urban growers and conservationists to connect and learn about conservation practices, resources, and funding opportunities.

WiWiC Disclaimer

While the Wisconsin Women in Conservation (WIWiC) project strives to make the information provided to individuals as timely and accurate as possible, we make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of our webinars. The information presented is solely the speakers’ expressed views and WiWiC expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents. WiWiC also does not recommend any of the businesses that may come up in the course of the presentations.