Digging Into Soil Health

The Sumner County Conservation District recently hosted internationally recognized speaker and educator Jill Clapperton, who presented “Getting to the Root of Soil Health” at the Raymond Frye Complex in Wellington.

The event drew a number of local farmers and ranchers interested in learning more about building healthier, more productive soil. Clapperton discussed practical strategies for improving soil health, including the use of companion crops and how to identify the right forage, cover, or pollinator crop for specific environments.

With an MSc in fungal ecology and a PhD in plant ecophysiology, Clapperton brings a deep understanding of “the interconnectedness of all life on Earth and the power of plants to create resilient farming systems.”

She has worked around the globe in fruit and vegetable production, irrigated grain cropping, and vineyards. Her current focus is close to home: developing soil-building, nutrient-rich forage crops to support grassfed cattle in south-central Kansas.

“It’s important to understand the characteristics of healthy soil, as well as the practices that foster it,” Clapperton explained.

She frequently consults with individual farmers, corporations and agencies—helping them implement strategies tailored to their specific needs, whether family-based operations, community-scale projects, or market-driven systems.

“There’s a link between healthy soils and the production of nutrient-dense food,” Clapperton said. “It includes whole-system planning for crops and livestock, or integrated crop and livestock systems.”

To learn more about her work, visit rhizoterra.com.