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Soil Salinity Resources
In the sweeping, often unforgiving landscape of the James River Valley, where the land's scars run deep with the marks of past practices and present challenges, Growing Resilience offers a wellspring of hope—an opportunity for renewal. This resource hub is a collection of voices, some from the quiet study of soil scientists like Kent Cooley, the seasoned wisdom of agronomists Matt Hubers, Kent Vliger and Shan Jordan and the practical know-how of crop consultant Lee Briese, all tempered by the experience of real farmers—Scott and Jeff Hamilton—who have seen the land's struggles firsthand and decided to act. Together, these voices weave a compelling narrative, each offering insights into the causes of salinity, the strategies for mitigation, and the quiet resilience of nature when tended with care. From the roots of cover crops to the deep veins of perennial systems, these conversations invite you to reflect on the balance between human stewardship and the earth’s enduring capacity for recovery.
Dive into this dialogue, click the links below, and gain not just knowledge but a deeper understanding of the land’s needs. In the hands of those who respect its history, salinity need not be the end, but the beginning of a new chapter—a chapter that transforms depleted soils into living, thriving fields once again.
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Discover how the Hamilton brothers tackled salinity on their farm through innovative vegetation strategies and farming practice changes, transforming once unproductive land into thriving acres.
Join Kent Vlieger as he explores the Cain Creek Project’s
success in radically reducing soil salinity. With real data and years of progress, see how innovative strategies are
restoring productivity to the land.
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Discover the dramatic transformation of salinity-affected soil at the Cain Creek Project. Kent Vlieger shares detailed salinity and sodicity data from 2015 to 2023, revealing how strategic revegetation restored productivity and soil health.