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Conference

2024 Western Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference

Event Date
July 22-25, 2024
Time
See Agenda (below)
Location
Missoula, MT
Topics
Photo of the Upper Blackfoot Geographic Area which is west of the continental divide and part of the Rocky Mountain Range. The area is characterized by mostly rolling hills and mountains that are underlain by various types of rock. High peaks are topped with volcanic rocks with areas of exposed rock.

Join us for the 2024 Western Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference!

11
Jun
Deadline

Registration

$275 – Regular Registration
$375 – Late (after June 11) or On-Site Registration

$50 – Student Registration

The 2024 Western Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference will be hosted by Montana State University and held in Missoula, Montana. The conference theme is: “Soilscapes to Landscapes: Focused Conservation for Reinvigorating Healthy Communities.”  

Call for Abstracts

Western Call for Abstracts

Committees

Western NCSS Committees

Co-Hosts

Nathan Parry
Acting State Soil Scientist
NRCS Montana
(p) 406-587-6834
(e) nathan.parry@usda.gov

Dr. Stephanie A. Ewing
Associate Professor, Soil Biogeochemistry
Montana State University
(e) stephanie.ewing@montana.edu

Liaison

Deb Harms
National Leader, Soil Survey Laboratory
USDA-NRCS
(p) 402-437-5324
(e) deb.harms@usda.gov

 

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Agenda

Monday, July 22 (Moderator: Quinn Lively)

10:00 am
Registration

MSU Conference Services

1:00 pm
Welcome and Housekeeping

State Soil Scientist

1:10 pm
Welcome from Montana NRCS

Tom Watson, State Conservationist

1:20 pm
Welcome from Montana State University

Stephanie Ewing

1:30 pm
Remarks from SPSD Leadership

Dr. David Lindbo, Director

1:50 pm
Update from Northwest Region

Eva Muller or representative

2:10 pm
Update from Southwest Region

Dr. Cynthia Stiles or representative

2:30 pm
Update from Alaska Region

Jessica Lene-Ashley or representative

2:50 pm
Break
3:05 pm
Federal Agency Reports

3:05 – USFS Regions 1 and 4 Report by Vince Archer, R1 Soil Scientist

3:25 – BLM by TBD

3:45 –NPS by TBD

4:00 pm
Concurrent Meetings

Cooperator/Partner Meeting
State Soil Scientist Meeting
Regional SPSD Staff Meeting

5:00 pm
Dinner (on your own)

Tuesday, July 23 (Moderator: Vince Archer)

8:00 am
Committee Meetings (5 concurrent)

Bylaws
Interpretations
Taxonomy
Technology
Coastal Zone Soil Survey (Subaqueous Soils)

9:00 am
Committee Meetings (5 concurrent)

Hydric Soils
Research
Soil and Ecosystem Dynamics
Standards
Urban

10:00 am
Committee Meetings (5 concurrent)

Bylaws
Interpretations
Taxonomy
Technology
Coastal Zone Soil Survey (Subaqueous Soils)

11:00 am
Committee Meetings (5 concurrent)

Hydric Soils
Research
Soil and Ecosystem Dynamics
Standards
Urban

12:00 pm
Lunch (provided)
1:00 pm
Coastal Zone Soil Survey

Greg Taylor

1:20 pm
Biochar

Dr. Deborah Dumroese

1:40 pm
Montana Focused Conservation

TBD

2:00 pm
Overview/History/Goals of the Blackfoot Challenge

TBD

2:30 pm
Community Ag in Montana

Brad Holiday

2:50 pm
Break
3:05 pm
Field Tour Primer

Jay Skovlin

3:25 pm
Soil Health Progress in Montana

Montana Soil Health Specialist

3:45 pm
Update to Technical Soil Services Handbook

Dee Peterson and Jennifer Smith

4:05 pm
Progress Reporting: Acres to Milestones

Debbie Surabian

4:25 pm
Digital Soil Mapping Updates/Highlights

Suzann Kienast, National GIS Specialist

4:45 pm
Wrap-Up and Questions
5:30 pm
Evening Social and Poster Session
7:00 pm
Dinner (on your own)

Wednesday, July 24

8:00 am
Tour of the Soils of the Blackfoot Valley

This full day bus tour will highlight soils within the glaciated terrain of the Blackfoot Valley in western Montana. Tour stops will feature forested and rangeland soilscapes ranging from outwash plains to beautiful knobby glacial moraines and interactions with water from the high stand of Glacial Lake Missoula. Stops will also include discussions on soil health with a local producer and studies on biochar application.

Brown bag lunch, drinks, and snacks are provided.

6:00 pm
Banquet Dinner, Awards Presentation, Keynote Speaker

Larry Smith, Retired Geomorphologist, Montana Tech

Thursday, July 25 (Moderator: Matti Osterman)

8:00 am
Research Presentations
12:00 pm
Lunch (provided)
1:00 pm
Committee Reports

Committee Chairs

3:00 pm
Break
3:15 pm
West NCSS Business Meeting, Voting, and 2026 Meeting Overview

State Soil Scientist and Amy Koch

3:45 pm
Closing Remarks

TBD

4:00 pm
Conference Adjourns