JACKSON — Farmers, ranchers, researchers, agricultural business operators and conservationists are invited to participate in a forum on cover crops and soil health, hosted by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service at 9 a.m., Feb. 18, at the Adams County Extension Office, 75 Carthage Point Road in Natchez.

The forum will be facilitated by Wesley Kerr, area conservationist in Hattiesburg.

This local session is one of more than 225 forums taking place throughout the country in concert with the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health in Omaha, Neb., sponsored by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

In addition to providing a venue to discuss local cover crop and soil health opportunities, benefits and barriers, the forum will feature live-streaming video of the national conference opening session featuring presentations by Howard G. Buffett of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, NRCS Chief Jason Weller, Ray Gaesser, Iowa Farmer and President of the American Soybean Association, and a panel of four leading cover crop and soil health farmers.

To participate in the local forum, contact Walter Jackson, state agronomist at 601-965-4139, ext. 2164 or email to walter.jackson@ms.usda.gov by Feb. 14.