This webinar is part of American Farmland Trust’s Soil Health Stewards Virtual Training held for entities in Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania on September 8, 9, & 10, 2021. The purpose of this session is to deepen understanding of how soil health is addressed in NRCS conservation plans/planning, how management and conservation plans can be used as a tool to engage landowners and producers around soil health, how leases can be used by non-operating landowners to encourage or incentivize practices that improve soil health, and the pros and cons of using easement deed terms and conditions to achieve conservation objectives.

Presenters include:

• Dan Ludwig, State Resource Conservationist, PA NRCS Office
• Mary Chambers, Agriculture Specialist, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
• Steph Tavares-Buhler, Senior Acquisition Specialist, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
• Sarah Everhart, Senior Research Associate and Legal Specialist, Carey School of Law, University of Maryland