Solar Sources, Inc., will open its Shamrock Mine site near Ireland in Dubois County to anyone who wants to learn how to turn reclaimed mine land into productive land again. A one-day field day on surface mining soils and reclamation is slated for June 27.
The field day is unique – not many field days are held just to help farmers concentrate on how to improve and make the best of land once they get it back after it has been mined and put back in the condition as prescribed by law.
The field day will start at 9 a.m. EDT and run until 4 p.m. The mine and field day site is located west of Ireland and part way to Otwell. Soil and water Conservation Districts in the area will have directions to the exact field day site. You are encouraged to pre-register. Registration cost is $10 per person, and will be handled through the Pike County SWCD. Registration is due by June 19.
To learn more about the field day you can call Bob Jones at 812-665-2207. He is with the Indiana Division of Reclamation. Or you can contact George Boyle with Solar Sources, Inc., at 812-354-8776. You can also email him at George@solarsoruces.com.
Speakers include: Jane Hardisty, the Indiana State Conservationist now serving NRCS in Washington, D.C.; Jordan Seger of the Indiana Department of Agriculture will talk about Indiana's on-farm network, a farmer-run testing program, and how it can be of special benefit in reclaimed land areas; Mike Plumer, a cover crop specialist from Illinois will discuss how cover corps could fit into improving these types of soils; Barry Fisher of NRCS will discuss why soil health is especially important to these soils; and a panel discussion with a wide range of experts and a tour of reclaimed land will conclude the program.