Making and Using Biochar

Date: Friday, June 23, 2023
Time: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location: UI Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center, 10881 N Boyer Road


Logging and thinning slash must usually be treated or removed to keep fire risk (“slash hazard”) within acceptable limits. Much of this is typically done by piling and burning slash, which costs time and money, and generates greenhouse gases.

Slash treatment costs could be off-set by converting slash to biochar, defined as “a solid material obtained from thermochemical conversion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment.” Biochar can improve soil nutrient and water-holding capacities and contribute to many other benefits on both forest and agricultural lands. Biochar is relatively stable and can persist in the soil for hundreds or even thousands of years – aiding carbon sequestration.

This program is designed to give foresters, forest owners, and agriculturists an introduction to biochar in forestry and agriculture and an opportunity to see demonstrations of biochar production.


The program can accommodate a limited number of people, so please return the registration form on the back of this flyer as soon as possible, to assure your place and help us plan. A $20 registration fee includes a program handouts and refreshments. For registration questions, contact the UI Extension Office in Bonner County at (208) 263-8511.

Program Agenda - 2023

Time	Subject
8:00 am	Check-in
8:15 am	Why BioChar? Chris Schnepf, University of Idaho Extension
8:30 am	Biochar Applications in Forestry Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mtn. Research Station
9:20am	Biochar Applications in Agriculture Doug Finkelnburg, University of Idaho Extension
10:10 am	Break
10:20 am	Making Biochar — Simple to Sophisticated Erik Makinson, Resource Synergy
11:10 am	Air burners, Carbonators, and the CharBoss Deborah S. Page-Dumroese
11:20 am	Barriers to Biochar Production and Use Nate Anderson, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mtn. Research Station
12:00 pm	Lunch (on your own)
1:30 pm	Depart for Field Activities Ag Biochar application field site (TBD) Biochar creation demos
5:00 pm	Close

Credits: Society of American Foresters CFE: TBD Idaho Master Forest Stewards: 7 credits Idaho Pro-Logger: 7 credits For registration and/or program questions, contact the UI Extension Office in Bonner County at (208) 263-8511. Co-sponsored by: University of Idaho Extension USDA — Forest Service Idaho Department of Lands The University of Idaho and Washington State University are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and Educational Institutions University of Idaho, Washington State University, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating