One hundred three participants, including approximately 53 producers, attended the first Farmers for Healthy Soil-Healthy Water Field Day on Aug. 2nd at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. The Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil-Healthy Water have a mission of improving our community’s soil & water through conservation practices & education for the Rock River Watershed, which includes portions of Fond du Lac County. This group of farmers have started on-farm trials evaluating the best way to plant cover crops into current crop rotations.
Local farmers shared information and tips about some of their on-farm research trials that Dr. Loretta Ortiz-Ribbing is assisting them conduct in order to answer the questions they need to make using cover crops a success on their farm. In addition, UW-Extension researchers and educators (Drs. Jim Leverich, Heidi Johnson, and Loretta Ortiz-Ribbing) shared their insight and knowledge about cover crop species selection, seeding, no-till use, and economic framework for using cover crops and/or no-till.
Equipment and seed vendors shared ways to adapt and use implements for cover crops. Planting methods discussed throughout the day’s program included inter-seeding, verti-seeding, aerial seeding, and using a no-till drill.
UW-Extension is part of the Dodge County Alliance that helped host this event. Financial support was provided by the following agri-businesses: Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, Compeer Financial, Sam’s Well Drilling, Jung Seeds, Byron Seeds, Badgerland-Waldvogel Seeds, Foremost Farms-USA, and BMO Harris Bank.
Photo Courtesy of Don Heilman
