Events

Last updated on October 3, 2024

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2024 Soil field days, workshops, and training

The Province is delivering a series of extension events on soil management to help farmers increase productivity, economic returns, and safeguard the environment. These extension events aim to share scientific knowledge that support producers to make informed management decisions for their farms and make their farms more resilient to climate change.

The Soil Specialists in the ministry are hosting field days, in-person workshops, and online webinars/workshops/training throughout the year on a wide range of soil-related topics to broaden producers’ soil knowledge. Topics to watch out for include:

  • Soil sampling and understanding soil test reports
  • Nutrient management tools
  • Soil moisture management
  • Soil health assessment and improvement
  • Cover cropping
  • Grazing management

Current year events 

SOIL 101: Foundation of Soil Management

Understanding soils and their management is crucial to any agricultural activities, particularly in crop production systems. Basic soil knowledge allows producers to know their soil's uniqueness and make informed management decisions appropriate to their fields. With this project, the ministry plans to train producers and demonstrate soil management practices that improve production resilience. This will be done through the delivery of a series of interactive soil management extension events with the associated hands-on field demonstrations to producers during in- and off-growing seasons.

Event schedule

Region

Event
details

Registration

Event name

Event focus

North Okanagan

October 07, 2024

10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Falkland Dairy Farm, Falkland

Register here

Assessing Your Soil

  • Soil sampling with common farm equipment for soil fertility management
  • Familiarization with a selection of soil indicators for soil health monitoring
  • Assessment and monitoring of farm soil health to identify where improvements are needed

Kootenay

October 8, 2024

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Grand Forks

Register here

 

Soil Road Show: Assessing Your Soil

  • Soil sampling with common farm equipment for soil fertility management
  • Familiarization with a selection of soil indicators for soil health monitoring
  • Assessment and monitoring of farm soil health to identify where improvements are needed

Kootenay

October 09, 2024

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Cranbrook

Register here

 

Soil Road Show: Assessing Your Soil

  • Soil sampling with common farm equipment for soil fertility management
  • Familiarization with a selection of soil indicators for soil health monitoring
  • Assessment and monitoring of farm soil health to identify where improvements are needed

Kootenay

October 10, 2024

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Blewett

Register here

 

Soil Road Show: Assessing Your Soil

  • Soil sampling with common farm equipment for soil fertility management
  • Familiarization with a selection of soil indicators for soil health monitoring
  • Assessment and monitoring of farm soil health to identify where improvements are needed

Lower Mainland

October 10, 2024

9:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Vyefield Farm, Abbotsford

Please check back

BC Dairy Living Lab Field Day

  • Familiarization with a selection of soil indicators for soil health monitoring
  • Cover cropping tool

All

November 19, 2024

10:00 am - 12:00 noon

Online

Please check back

Understanding Your Soil Test Report (Forage producers)

  • Understanding soil analysis reports and nutrient application recommendations
  • Understanding crop nutrient requirements and fertilizer application rates
  • Selecting fertilizer products and alternatives

All

November 20, 2024

10:00 am - 12:00 noon

Online

Please check back

Understanding Your Soil Test Report (Tree Fruit Tree producers)

  • Understanding soil analysis reports and nutrient application recommendations
  • Understanding crop nutrient requirements and fertilizer application rates
  • Selecting fertilizer products and alternatives

All

December 3, 2024

10:00 am - 12:00 noon

Online

Please check back

Understanding Your Soil Test Report (Berry producers)

  • Understanding soil analysis reports and nutrient application recommendations
  • Understanding crop nutrient requirements and fertilizer application rates
  • Selecting fertilizer products and alternatives

All

December 4, 2024

10:00 am - 1:00 noon

Online

Please check back

Understanding Your Soil Test Report (Vegetable producers)

  • Understanding soil analysis reports and nutrient application recommendations
  • Understanding crop nutrient requirements and fertilizer application rates
  • Selecting fertilizer products and alternatives

North Okanagan

June 18, 2024

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Coldstream Ranch, Vernon

Event has passed

Understanding phosphorus management and your soils

  • Soil sampling with common farm equipment for soil fertility management
  • Phosphorus management tool for your farm

Island

August 07, 2024

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Empress Acres, Nanaimo

Event has passed

Understanding phosphorus management and your soils

  • Soil sampling with common farm equipment for soil fertility management
  • Phosphorus management tool for your farm

North Cariboo

August 20, 2024

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Dragon Lake, Quesnel

Event has passed

Soil Road Show: Assessing Your Soil

  • Soil sampling with common farm equipment for soil fertility management
  • Familiarization with a selection of soil indicators for soil health monitoring
  • Assessment and monitoring of farm soil health to identify where improvements are needed
  • Use of soil moisture sensor to monitor and manage soil moisture to meet crop needs

Hwy 16

August 21, 2024

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Kori Community Pasture, Vanderhoof

Event has passed

Soil Road Show: Assessing Your Soil

  • Soil sampling with common farm equipment for soil fertility management
  • Familiarization with a selection of soil indicators for soil health monitoring
  • Assessment and monitoring of farm soil health to identify where improvements are needed
  • Use of soil moisture sensor to monitor and manage soil moisture to meet crop needs

Hwy 16

August 22, 2024

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Eskerhazy Farm, Telkwa

Event has passed

Soil Road Show: Assessing Your Soil

  • Soil sampling with common farm equipment for soil fertility management
  • Familiarization with a selection of soil indicators for soil health monitoring
  • Assessment and monitoring of farm soil health to identify where improvements are needed
  • Use of soil moisture sensors to monitor and manage soil moisture to meet crop needs

Lower Mainland

September 14, 2024

9:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Chilliwack

Event has passed

BC Hazelnut Growers Association Field Day

  • Soil sampling with common farm equipment for soil fertility management
  • Hazelnut value added options
  • Marketing hazelnuts

Note: You will receive the specific address upon registration for the event.

Nutrient management plan training

In B.C., requirements for Nutrient management plans (NMPs) are being phased in for farms based on their location, type of operation, and soil test values. Nutrient management plans are used to help farmers efficiently meet their production objectives and protect the environment. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food provides training for individuals to become a certified NMP planner. Course content focuses on how to build a NMP plan that meets the objectives laid out in the  Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management.

For information on training requirements, please visit our Nutrient management plan webpage.

Soil information finder tool

Find information about the soils and related properties on an interactive map: soil management begins with knowing this information.

Mapping tools

Find, view and download Terrestrial Ecosystem Information:on maps and data

Find maps and resources to determine if a parcel is within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) boundary:

Useful contacts

AgriService BC

Have a question?  Call or email and a staff person will assist you.

Telephone: 1 888 221-7141

E-mail: AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca