MONROE — Successful farmers are typically always improving their operation. Some have adopted no till while others are getting more comfortable with cover crops. The Farmers of the Sugar River are planning to host a showcase of equipment that will plant cover crops on August 7. In one field there will be as many as eight different planting methods, ranging from a drone to vertical tillage to several brands of drills, for the same cover crop mix after wheat. Nick Faessler is hosting the field day at his farm at W3095 County FF, Monroe. 

The event will start at 11 a.m. with a discussion on cover crops. Potted cover crops have been grown for attendees to see a variety of cover crops’ structures like upright, short or viney and the root qualities — taproot or fibrous. Attendees will learn when certain species should and shouldn’t be planted. How a mix is created and why someone would want to have more than a couple plants growing at once.

Lunch will be served around 12:30 p.m. with time to network with other farmers and learn about several local programs to help cost share planting of cover crops. After lunch, there will be planting demonstrations with the variety of equipment on hand. Attendees will be able to chat with farmer owners of the equipment to learn the pros and cons of them. This is an opportunity for farmers looking to upgrade or change something on their drills to see how others work. The drills expected are a Landoll, Sunflower, Case IH, Great Plains and two John Deeres. There will be two vertical till machines — Mcfarlane and Kuhn. A drone will also fly the cover crop mix onto the harvested winter wheat field. The field day is expected to conclude by 3 p.m.

The field day is free to attend, interested farmers and others should register with Tonya Gratz for the meal count. To register, contact her at 608-325- 4195 ext 121, text her at 608-426-2218 or email at Tonya.Gratz@wi.nacdnet.net by August 5.