The Soil Revolution

David R. Montgomery is a MacArthur Fellow and professor of geomorphology at the University of Washington. He is an internationally recognized geologist who studies landscape evolution and the effects of geological processes on ecological systems and human societies.

An author of award-winning popular-science books, he has been featured in documentary films, network and cable news, and on a wide variety of TV and radio programs, including NOVA, PBS NewsHour, Fox and Friends, and All Things Considered. His books have been translated into nine languages.

He lives in Seattle, with his wife Anne Biklé and their black lab guide-dog dropout Loki. Connect with him at www.dig2grow.com or follow him on Twitter @dig2grow.

John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture, a plant nutrition and biostimulants consulting company. A top expert in the field of biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who are growing that supply. John is the host of the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, where he interviews top scientists and growers about the science and principles of implementing regenerative agriculture on a large scale.

Through intense study and the knowledge gleaned from many industry leaders, John is building a comprehensive systems-based approach to plant nutrition - a system solidly based on the sciences of plant physiology, mineral nutrition, and soil microbiology. He has a unique ability to simplify and clearly explain very complex concepts in the areas of soil and plant health. He skillfully discusses the larger social and environmental impacts of food, agriculture, and ecology. John’s mission is to provide support to the world’s farmers and globally impact our food supply.

As a farmer who grew up in and remains a part of the Amish community, John has a very special understanding of plants’ functional immunity. He sought out alternative approaches to prevent damage to his crops once they stopped responding to conventional pesticide treatments. With results proven on his own farm, John went on to found AEA to share his success and insight that healthy crops do not require chemical treatments or genetic modifications.

I grew up on a farm in Reno County Kansas running a 4010 John Deere tractor pulling a four-bottom plow. Since then I have come full circle in terms of my views towards soil health. I took my first Holistic Resource management course in the early 90s. I have been involved in, what I now see, as both the good and the bad of modern agriculture.

I owned a commercial spray business and ran a stocker/feeder calf operation. I currently work for Kauffman Seeds with a focus on forages, cover crop blends, and soil health. I also manage a pellet mill making range cubes for cows utilizing, in part, the screenings, or waste products, from the cover crop seeds that Kauffman Seeds produces.

My brother Stacy and I have a farming partnership and we biologically manage approximately 770 acres. We have a cow/calf operation and are focused on flex grazing to improve our soils. We flex graze several different kinds of forages including native range, improved cool season perennials, and diverse annual cover crop blends with a focus on improving the biology of the soil. We also have some alfalfa established that we use as a cash crop.

I currently serve on the board of directors for the Kansas Forage and Grasslands Council as well as the National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance. I live in Pretty Prairie, Kansas with my wife Carmon and our two high school age daughters Pepper and Gabi.

Why I believe soil health is important.

“The health and wellbeing of every living thing - our plants, livestock, wildlife, and even our own human health start with the biological health of the soil.”

What is keeping soil health from being utilized on every acre of farmland in the U.S.?

“A misperception and a misunderstanding of what a biological system means and what it can do for your own operation. Once you have an understanding of a biological system vs. a chemical system, it becomes a lot easier to make the transition.”

Dannele Peck is Director of the USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub, which strives to connect agricultural producers with science-based information to empower their weather-ready and climate-smart management decisions.

Prior to joining the USDA Agricultural Research Service in 2016, Dr. Peck conducted research, teaching and extension for 10 years at the University of Wyoming as an Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics.

Her research and outreach have focused on decision-making under risk and uncertainty, applied to two agricultural issues:

1. Drought preparedness and response in agricultural systems
2. Disease prevention and management in livestock and wildlife

Raised on a dairy farm in upstate New York, Dr. Peck is a first-generation college student and proud alumna of the McNair Scholars Program. She holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and an M.S. in Agricultural Economics, both from the University of Wyoming, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural & Resource Economics from Oregon State University.

Our Farm: Sugar beets, barley, winter wheat, pinto beans, sunflowers, and organic alfalfa

My Work: Wife, mom and farmer

My Hobbies: Coaching volleyball, reading, camping and watching my children play sports

Ask Me About: How our crops are grown and used in the local community

About Me: I live a fast-paced lifestyle by working on the farm, taking care of my three children and coaching volleyball. I also spend a lot of time working with my husband, Matt, on his racecar. We’re proud members of the Colorado Automobile Racing Club.

After an “aha” moment in 2007, Michael Moss left his 20-year career in hospitality and devoted himself to finding a better way to feed his friends, family and the local community. Many years of studies and hands-on learning later, Michael created his own organic vegetable farm; Kilt Farm, which is based in Niwot, CO and consists of 30 acres of Boulder County Open space.

Michael believes that in order to create nutrient-dense food, he must start have vibrantly healthy soil. Mineral amendments, organic matter, cover crops and compost tea are just a few ways he is rapidly building soil health on his properties. His mission is to build a thriving farm enterprise that leaves the land and communities he works with in a healthier state year after year.

Vanessa grew up Northeastern Colorado where her family has been involved in local agriculture for generations. She has a deep passion and appreciation for agriculture and the people who dedicate their lives to feeding the world. As an Agricultural Resource Specialist for Boulder County Parks & Open Space, Vanessa helps implement various aspects of the Cropland Policy including the Integrated Pest Management Program, pollinator protection, and soil health monitoring. She is passionate about working with our land steward and partner tenants to continue the agricultural heritage in Boulder County. Vanessa earned a BS in Soil and Crop Sciences at CSU and an MS in Agronomy at Iowa State University. Outside the office, Vanessa spends most of her time raising her three children with her husband of 17 years.

Mark Easter is a Senior Research Associate at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. His research focuses on greenhouse gas inventories and greenhouse gas decision support systems in agriculture and forestry.

Mark contributed analysis to multiple IPCC reports on greenhouse gas inventory methods, and has contributed to national-level inventories of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and forestry in the United States, Brazil, Kenya, Jordan, India, Spain and Italy. He is currently the project coordinators for the COMET-Farm and COMET-Global projects, and the technical lead for the Carbon Benefit Project.

He also contributes to the COMET-Planner project. COMET-Farm is a web-based decision support system for assessing the field-level and livestock herd-level greenhouse gas balance of agricultural conservation practices in the United States. COMET-Planner is a three-click tool supporting conservation planning efforts in U.S. agriculture. COMET-Global extends the COMET-Farm framework to land use and management systems in other parts of the world. The Carbon Benefits Project is funded by the United Nations Global Environment Facility, and provides decision support systems for assessing the greenhouse gas benefits of sustainable land use projects in developing nations.

Mark has been working on greenhouse gas inventories and decision support systems since 1999, and it remains a principal focus in his work. He earned a M.S. in Botany with an emphasis in Physiological Ecology at the University of Vermont in 1991.

Lauren Kolb is an agricultural resource coordinator for the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks department, overseeing 15,000 acres of agricultural land around Boulder. Prior to joining the City of Boulder six years ago, Dr. Kolb worked for the University of Maryland on no-till organic vegetable production and at the University of Maine on weed control in organic cereal grains. This is her third year hosting the Soil Revolution conference.

Mark Easter is a Senior Research Associate at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. His research focuses on greenhouse gas inventories and greenhouse gas decision support systems in agriculture and forestry.

Mark contributed analysis to multiple IPCC reports on greenhouse gas inventory methods, and has contributed to national-level inventories of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and forestry in the United States, Brazil, Kenya, Jordan, India, Spain and Italy. He is currently the project coordinators for the COMET-Farm and COMET-Global projects, and the technical lead for the Carbon Benefit Project.

He also contributes to the COMET-Planner project. COMET-Farm is a web-based decision support system for assessing the field-level and livestock herd-level greenhouse gas balance of agricultural conservation practices in the United States. COMET-Planner is a three-click tool supporting conservation planning efforts in U.S. agriculture. COMET-Global extends the COMET-Farm framework to land use and management systems in other parts of the world. The Carbon Benefits Project is funded by the United Nations Global Environment Facility, and provides decision support systems for assessing the greenhouse gas benefits of sustainable land use projects in developing nations.

Mark has been working on greenhouse gas inventories and decision support systems since 1999, and it remains a principal focus in his work. He earned a M.S. in Botany with an emphasis in Physiological Ecology at the University of Vermont in 1991.

Sylvia is a Soil and Range Conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservationist Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. She is passionate about helping landowners and land managers understand their land and assist in developing conservation plans to address resource concerns. In addition to these programs, she also assists in providing education and outreach to a variety of groups and schools about agriculture and conservation.

Christine Newton has worked in federal service for 12 years. After spending two years working for the USGS in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, she moved to NW Colorado to a pursue a career with the NRCS. Drawn to the agency by her desire to work hand-in-hand with agricultural producers and private landowners, Christine spent the next 8 years working as a Soil Conservationist in the Steamboat Springs field office. Christine currently serves as a Conservation Agronomist with the NRCS where her primary duties involve assisting in the development of State policies and procedures and providing technical guidance on NRCS projects on cropland across the state.

Brett serves as the city of Boulder’s senior climate and sustainability coordinator. His primary responsibility is the ongoing evolution of the city’s climate action initiatives. He is also a co-lead for the city’s resilience efforts.

As part of the city’s sustainability and resilience efforts, Brett coordinated a cross-department/multi-stakeholder ecosystems stewardship initiative. A primary focus in this work is development of a soil regeneration and sequestration research and development initiative.

Prior to working for the city, Brett worked across the western US in community-based sustainable development, working in both rural, Native American and other communities in transition across the western US. He also is the founder or co-founder of four non-profits and two for-profits including the Rogue River Institute for Ecology and Economy, Veterans Green Jobs, and Community Energy Systems.