For anyone involved in agriculture, soil productivity and health is directly related to crop yield and ultimately, economic viability and sustainability.  As oil and gas pipeline construction takes place across Wayne County farmland, many landowners have questions about the impact of that construction on the productivity of the pipeline easement land.  Are there management practices the landowner can implement to restore the construction easement to a productive soil?  What kind of time-line is necessary?  The Wayne County Extension office in collaboration with the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), the Wayne County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Wayne County Farm Bureau is holding a meeting entitled Pipeline Easement Soil Restoration on Monday evening, August 28.  The meeting will be held at OSU-ATI Skou Hall room 100 beginning at 6:30 pm and will conclude by 8:00 pm. 

Steve Culman, OSU Extension soil fertility specialist will cover what is known about pipeline construction impacts upon soil productivity, recovery times, construction practice effects on soil physical properties and possible steps to restore land productivity.  Adam Liston, Wayne County SWCD and John Knapp, Wayne County NRCS, will discuss some of the concerns/issues with the pipeline easements related to soil quality, and recommendations for protecting the soil after construction, including planting recommendations.  There will be time for questions, comments and “lessons learned” from participants to close the meeting.  There is no charge to attend the meeting but pre-registration to the Wayne County Extension office at 330-264-8722 is requested so that enough copies of handout materials are available.

OSU-ATI is located at 1328 Dover Rd, Wooster.  To get to Skou Hall on the ATI campus, turn into Garrison Drive off of SR 250 (Dover Rd).  For more information about the meeting, contact the Wayne County Extension office.