Montana Soil Health Symposium 2027 Agenda

Tuesday, Feb. 2: Preconference

12 pm - 1 pm | Registration open

1 pm - 3 pm | A More Complete Analysis of the Relationships Between Insects, Plants, and Brix - Tom Dykstra

☕ 3:00 - 3:15 pm | BREAK 

3:15 pm - 5 pm | A More Complete Analysis of the Relationships Between Insects, Plants, and Brix (continued) - Tom Dykstra 

Evening Events 

🥣 6:30 pm | Speaker dinner (closed event)

Wednesday, Feb. 3

7:30 am | Registration opens  

🥣 7:30 am - 8:30 am | Breakfast 

8:30 am - 8:45 am | Welcome 

🌱 8:45 am - 10:00 am | The Living Soil Beneath Our Feet - Matt Powers, keynote

☕ 10:00 am - 10:30 am | BREAK

10:30 am - 11:45 pm  |  Breakout Session 1 

• Electrical Conductivity of the Soil - Tom Dykstra

• Mob Grazing and Virtual Fence in Montana - Luke Peterson

• 🍃 Nutrient Density, Regeneration, and Rural Revitalization - Erin Martin

• 🍃 Testing Soil Health in Crop and Grazing Systems - Lance Gunderson

🥣 11:45 pm - 12:45 pm | LUNCH

🌱 12:45 am - 2:00 pm | Beyond the Label: Understanding Nutrient Density and the Science Behind It - Stephen van Vliet, keynote

☕ 2 pm - 2:30 pm | BREAK

2:30 pm - 3:45 pm  |  Breakout Session 2 

• 🍃 Begin to Heal Soils (and Cycle More Nutrients) with Carbon Additives - Dani Kusner

• 🍃 Nutrient Density, Regeneration, and Rural Revitalization - Erin Martin

• Making Grazing Work: Terrain, Water, and People - Jim Spinner 

• Rangeland Soil Health Monitoring: From Findings to Management - Kendall Morgan

☕ 3:45 pm - 4:15 pm | BREAK

4:15 pm - 5:30 pm  |  Breakout Session 3 

• 🍃 Rethinking Pests and Insects: Taming the Pest, Reclaiming the Garden- Regenerative Gardening Strategies for Plant Immunity and Nutrient-Density - Patti Armbrister

• 🍃 Beyond the Fence: New Ideas and Ranch Opportunities - Holly Stoltz

• 🍃 Testing Soil Health in Crop and Grazing Systems - Lance Gunderson

• Prescribed Burning: Production, Plant Communities, and the Producer Perspective - Erik Peterson and Lance Vermeire

Evening Events 

5:30 pm - 8 pm | Reception

• hors d'oeuvres and beverages

Thursday, Feb. 4

🥣 7:30 - 8:30 am | Breakfast

8:30 am - 9:45 am  |  Breakout Session 4

• The Effect of Grazing and Finishing Practices on the Nutrient Density of Beef - Stephan van Vliet

• 🍃 Beyond the Fence: New Ideas and Ranch Opportunities - Holly Stoltz

• 🍃 Rethinking Pests and Insects: Taming the Pest, Reclaiming the Garden- Regenerative Gardening Strategies for Plant Immunity and Nutrient-Density - Patti Armbrister

• 🍃 Begin to Heal Soils (and Cycle More Nutrients) with Carbon Additives - Dani Kusner

☕ 9:45 am - 10:15 am | BREAK

🌱 10:15 am - 11:30 am | Grazing for Healthy Soil - Doug Peterson, keynote

🥣 11:30 am - 12:30 pm | LUNCH

12:30 pm | Symposium adjourns - Safe travels home!