By Blake Jackson
The Kentucky Agriculture Training School (KATS), an initiative of the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Cooperative Extension Service, will host a hands-on soil properties workshop on Sept. 16, 2025, at Eastern Kentucky University’s Meadowbrook Farm in Richmond.
UK soil specialists Edwin Ritchey and John Grove, along with Steve Blandford, Kentucky’s USDA-NRCS state soil scientist, will guide participants through three soil pits, each with unique profile characteristics, to demonstrate how soils retain and deliver water and nutrients.
“This training will cover many fundamentals necessary for producing a successful crop,” said Ritchey.
Key topics will include soil texture, soil structure, nutrient distribution, soil organic matter, and plant-available water. Following lunch, classroom discussions will focus on soil test values, comparing laboratory analyses and recommendations, and examining how different management practices affect soil health.
The workshop is open to farmers, students, crop advisors, and others interested in soil science and its role in agriculture and resource conservation. Pre-registration is required by Sept. 9 at https://katssoilpropertiesrichmond2025.eventbrite.com/, and attendance is limited to 30 participants.
Certified Crop Advisor CEU credits are available: 4.5 in Soil and Water Management and 1 in Nutrient Management. For details, contact Lori Rogers at lori.rogers@uky.edu or 270-365-7541 Ext. 21317.
Photo Credit: pexels-binyaminmellish
Categories: Kentucky, Education, General