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OUTREACH

One goal of the Oka’ Institute is to provide technical assistance to landowners in watershed areas who desire to improve soil health, control undesirable vegetation, and improve forage and crop quality and production. This is accomplished by providing site visits, communication for recommended best management practices, assistance with grazing management, and coordination of prescribed burns. 

The Oka’ Watershed Coordinator is partnering with experts from the Chickasaw Nation, Noble Research Institute, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Oklahoma Prescribed Burn Association, and Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture. Projects in the Lake of the Arbuckles watershed are currently underway and projects in the Blue River watershed are in the works. 

If you are interested in receiving more information, please contact Alan Peoples at (405) 590-2581.   

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Soil Health

Rapidly Rebuild Your Soil Health Part 1: How Healthy Soil Works
01:42:37

Rapidly Rebuild Your Soil Health Part 1: How Healthy Soil Works

For farmers and individuals alike to rapidly rebuild your soil health, you first need to know how healthy soil works. Learn from the pros! ✅ EXTENDED SALE! Sign up today and get 45% off our Soil Regeneration Classes 👉 https://promo.soilfoodweb.com/ In this webinar, we’ll be looking at the biology that nourishes and protects your plants and crops. We’ll be exploring some of the many benefits that healthy soils offer, like: increased yields, protection against pests and diseases and resistance to drought and flood. You’ll learn about the interactions between soil microorganisms and plants, and you’ll be introduced to some of the amazing ways in which the natural world functions in the soil beneath our feet. Let’s learn how to rapidly rebuild your soil health! Panelists: Brian came from a background in IT and now runs a successful consultancy (Sprouting Soils) in California. Dr. Adam Cobb's passion for agriculture emerged during his several months of volunteer work on organic farms in New Zealand. His time in graduate school cultivated a broad vision for the restoration of living soils, as well as the power of research and community engagement to address global food production challenges. He joined the Soil Food Web School in 2021, following his dream to help regenerate soils, improve human nutrition, and heal our planet. Dr. Ingham has advanced our knowledge about the soil food web for over 4 decades. Widely recognized as the world’s foremost soil biologist, she’s passionate about empowering ordinary people to bring the soils in their community back to life Follow the Soil Food Web Blog: https://www.soilfoodweb.com/blog/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilfoodwebschool/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soilfoodwebschool ---------- The Soil Food Web School’s mission is to empower individuals and organizations to regenerate the soils in their communities. The Soil Food Web Approach can dramatically accelerate soil regeneration projects by focussing on the soil biome. This can boost the productivity of farms, provide super-nutritious foods, protect and purify waterways, and reduce the effects of Climate Change. No background in farming or biology is required for our Foundation Courses. Classes are online & self-paced, and students are supported by highly-trained Soil Food Web School mentors. Over the last four decades, Dr. Elaine Ingham has advanced our knowledge of the Soil Food Web. An internationally-recognized leader in soil microbiology, Dr. Ingham has collaborated with other scientists and with farmers around the world to further our understanding of how soil organisms work together and with plants. Dr. Ingham is an author of the USDA's Soil Biology Primer and a founder of the Soil Food Web School. 00:00 Introductions to Series & Panelists 07:17 The Four Key Groups of Microorganisms in Healthy Soil 31:31 Thriving Benefits of a Thriving Soil Ecosystem 45:50 Q&A With the Panelists #SoilHealth #HealthySoil #SoilRegeneration

Soil health and water sustainability are interconnected. Soil health is increasingly becoming a topic of discussion for landowners in Oklahoma. Due to this growing awareness, farmers and ranchers are implementing no-till, cover crops, nutrient management, and land management by prescribed burning and other practices. 

Prescribed Burns

© Laura Brigger
Prescribed burning

Prescribed burning

Watch Now

Land Management Through Fire

 

There are a number of Ecological Benefits of Prescribed Fires:

  1. Systematic part of almost every ecosystem on Earth.

  2. “Natural” part of the process.

  3. Controls woody and non-desirable plant species.

  4. Lessens impacts of wildfires.

  5. The best tool for improving soil health and water quality.

Image by Lucas Santos

The Evils of Eastern Red Cedar

 

The Eastern Red Cedar is an invasive species of cedar that has an astonishing rate of encroachment, but more importantly, an alarming rate of water consumption. It's ability to multiply creates real challenges for our water conservation efforts. 

 

In Oklahoma, estimates of juniper coverage in 1950 was 1.5 million acres. Then it started increasing.

  1. 1985 – 3.5 million acres

  2. 1996 – 6.0 million acres

  3. 2002 – 8.0 million acres

  4. 2015 – 11.6 million acres.

Current estimates are reaching 762 acres per day!

Check out these best practices tips provided by OSU extension to join our efforts in water sustainability for us all. 

Always check burn conditions prior to any burn

Recommended Reading

Eastern Red-cedar: Positives, Negatives and Management

by Steven Smith

1 Acre Every 2 Minutes!

Resources

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