By Wesley Gibson, NACD South Central Region Representative 

What if woody debris, crop residue, and other organic materials often treated as waste could instead become a tool for healthier soil, stronger crops, and more resilient farms? That possibility begins with a simple question: What is biochar? 

Biochar is a stable, carbon-rich material created by heating organic material, such as wood, manure, or other biomass, under low-oxygen conditions. Its porous structure can help improve soil structure, retain water and nutrients, and provide habitat for beneficial soil microorganisms. But biochar is not a one-size-fits-all product. Its performance depends on the material from which it was produced, how it was produced and prepared, the application method and rate, what it was blended with, and the existing soil and environmental conditions. 

Members of NACD’s South Central Region explored those questions during the 2026 Summer Conservation Forum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jessica Kusmiz, BioChar Specialist with American BioChar Company, led an informative discussion on how biochar is produced and how it can and has been put to work in agricultural production. 

Kusmiz’s extensive knowledge of the product moved the discussion beyond a general overview and helped attendees consider biochar use in their operations. Members learned about differences in biochar quality and consistency, granular and flowable products, field testing, application methods, current study plots, and the importance of properly blending or “charging” biochar with an amendment or nutrient source before application. This process fills the biochar’s pore space with nutrients that support soil biology and helps prevent nutrient tie-up after the material is applied. Beneficial biology may also be added through inoculation, but Kusmiz emphasized that inoculation should complement—not replace—charging biochar with a food source. The discussion also covered commercially produced biochar and smaller-scale production, with Texas Board Member Kent Batman and NRCS Regional Conservationist Jimmy Emmons helping attendees understand where biochar may fit within different agricultural operations and what conservation assistance funding may be available. 

For South Central Region members, the session was more than an introduction to a new product. It was an opportunity to ask practical questions, connect soil health principles to on-the-ground conservation, and consider how conservation districts could help producers evaluate biochar based on their soils, resource concerns, and production goals. 

“The Biochar presentation was truly eye-opening to the ongoing research being developed to assist the producers in improving their operations. I highly encourage conservation communities to solicit biochar companies within their area for presentation on the use, benefits, and costs with this product as it’s a potential game changer,” said Phil Campbell, NACD South Central Region Executive Board Member. 

Conservation Districts Advance Biochar Beyond the Region 

Looking beyond the South Central Region meeting, conservation districts in other parts of the country are also finding ways to advance biochar. Their work shows that biochar can be more than a soil amendment; it can become part of a broader strategy for addressing woody debris, wildfire risk, disaster recovery, watershed health, and rural economic development.

In North Carolina, conservation district leaders are examining biochar production as part of the long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene. The 2024 storm left enormous amounts of hardwood debris across western North Carolina, creating public safety, wildfire, transportation, and landfill concerns. Through the Good Neighbor Authority and partnerships involving the U.S. Forest Service, state agencies, private industry, and local conservation districts, that debris could instead become a resource.

Under the proposal, mobile production technology would process woody material closer to where it is collected, reducing the need to haul bulky debris long distances. The resulting biochar could support soil restoration and watershed protection while creating workforce and rural economic development opportunities. Although the project has not yet secured Good Neighbor Authority funding, district leaders continue working toward implementation and building the partnerships needed to move the idea forward. Its potential to connect disaster recovery, conservation, and rural economic development makes it an effort worth watching. 

“The Good Neighbor Authority isn’t about pilot projects; it’s about scale,” said Barbara Bleiweis, Chair of the North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Commission, when describing the vision behind the effort. “It allows us to move debris fast, reduce public safety risks, and turn disaster into lasting economic and conservation outcomes.” 

While North Carolina leaders continue working to bring their larger-scale vision to life, Minnesota’s Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District offers an example of biochar production already succeeding at a smaller, landowner-focused scale. Following a heavy snowstorm that left woody debris and increased potential wildfire fuel, the district used an Oregon-style flame-cap kiln to demonstrate how that material could be converted into biochar. The kiln used in the demonstration was made by students at Cromwell-Wright High School, adding an educational and community component to the project. 

The Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District also made kilns available for landowners to rent, giving woodland owners a way to explore biochar production on their own properties. The project paired forest management and wildfire risk reduction with the creation of a soil amendment that could be returned to the land. 

Bringing New Ideas Home 

Taken together, the South Central Region session and the examples from North Carolina and Minnesota tell a larger story about how new conservation ideas move toward local action. Jessica Kusmiz and the American BioChar Company provided members with the technical foundation to understand biochar quality, preparation, application, and potential uses. North Carolina’s developing effort demonstrates the partnerships and long-term vision needed to pursue biochar at a larger scale, while Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District shows how a district can introduce the technology to producers through a practical, locally focused project. 

For South Central Region members, the lesson is not to copy either project exactly, but to consider how the same principles could be used in their conservation districts. What organic materials are available? What soil or resource concerns could biochar help address? Which producers, technical experts, agencies, businesses, and funding programs could contribute? Because biochar products and applications vary, reliable information and site-specific guidance remain essential. 

The American BioChar Company presentation demonstrated the value of connecting industry knowledge with the locally led reach of conservation districts, and the district examples show where that connection can lead. By bringing together producers, biochar specialists, conservation agencies, and other partners, districts can help determine where biochar makes sense and how it can be used responsibly. Whether the starting point is agricultural production, storm debris, hazardous forest fuels, or soil restoration, those partnerships can help turn an underused material into a resource for farms, forests, watersheds, and rural communities. 

Tags: South Central Region