The Changing Landscape of Soil Health

Part of the University of Maine’s Spring 2021 Climate & Ag Webinar Series.

Register for this individual webinar here.

Developing state soil health initiatives – Tom Gordon, MPA 

Tom Gordon is a conservation specialist in the Commissioner’s Office of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry. His focus areas include: soil health policy, Soil & Water Conservation Districts coordination, climate issues for natural and working lands, and drought response.

Maximizing the soil carbon sink:  factors impacting carbon sequestrations and greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural operations – Andrew Carpenter, MS

Andrew Carpenter is a certified soil scientist, certified crop advisor and certified nutrient management planning specialist.  Andrew has been developing recycling programs for organic matter-based by-products since 1992. He founded Northern Tilth, LLC an environmental consulting firm focusing on organic waste management and building soil health, in 2003.

A grower perspective on soil health – Rick Belanger 

Rick Belanger owns and operates R. Belanger & Sons Farms, a 3rd generation farm in Lewiston. He and his sons grow mixed vegetables on 200 acres, and sell to local vegetable stands, restaurants, colleges, and Hannaford. They are actively pursuing practices to improve soil health on their farm, including cover cropping, lengthening their rotation, and reducing tillage.