Published: July 12, 2008 09:17 pm         

Nationally-known authority to talk about impact of no-till and cover crops

CAYUGA — Jill Clapperton, nationally known authority on the impact of no-till and cover crops on soil quality, will speak at the Bi-State Notill Seminar on July 30 in the Cayuga Christian Church.

Clapperton is from Florence, Mon., where she helps manage a 3,000-acre family crop and timber ranch. She recently worked out of the Lethbridge Research Center in Lethbridge, Alberta where she specialized in studies of the long-term effects no-till farming has on the soil and the microbiology within the soil profile.

Her presentations will take you underground for a glimpse of the impact earthworms and other beneficial organisms have on organic matter and the general till condition and health of the soil structure. She was one of the keynote speakers at the National No-Till Conference in January. Because of the recent local flooding, she will discuss using no-till and cover crops to bring flood-damaged soils back to life.

Other speakers include Barry Fisher, Indiana State agronomist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, who will discuss the use of cover crops in a no-till system; Jane Frankenberger of Purdue University, discussing making drainage water management part of a sustainable system; long-term no-till farmer Ray McCormick of Knox County, who will talk about making no-till work from a farmer’s view; and Zack Cain, Montgomery County, Indiana farmer, who will share his experience in using technology in no-till.

Registration for the seminar will begin at 8:15 a.m. with the program at 9. Cost of registration is $12 per person, which will include a catered lunch and refreshments. For those who are interested, CCA points are available for an additional cost. If you would like to make reservations, contact the Vermillion County, Indiana Soil and Water Conservation District at (765) 492-3705 or send an e-mail to tyler-martin@

iaswcd.org by July 23.