MONROE - Producers are adopting a variety of conservation practices to reduce the risk of soil erosion. Cover crops are gaining in popularity, but not all farmers have tried them.
One local dairy farm is hosting a cover crop plot and will apply manure at different times to learn the answer to that question. The cover crop field day will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 15 south of Monroe at a plot east of Wisconsin 69, on Clarno Road, north of Town Center Road and south of Melvin Road.
McGuire & Sons Farm Inc. is a dairy farm operated by brothers Tom, Dave and Ed McGuire. They have planted oats in the past with limited success due to planting too late in the season after applying manure. They are interested in finding a cover crop that will work in their farming system that includes applying manure.
The seeds planted after corn silage harvest were oats, spring wheat, cereal rye, winter triticale, spring barley and radish. There will be a discussion of advantages and disadvantages of the covers that were planted, an infiltration demonstration and tips on making soil more resilient to erosion, drought and excess water.
Part of the plot will have manure recently applied so participants can see the effect of manure applied on a cover crop. Some plants will not be killed by frost, so are a potential forage source the following spring.
For more information, contact Tonya Gratz at the LWCD office at 608-325-4195, ext. 121.
One local dairy farm is hosting a cover crop plot and will apply manure at different times to learn the answer to that question. The cover crop field day will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 15 south of Monroe at a plot east of Wisconsin 69, on Clarno Road, north of Town Center Road and south of Melvin Road.
McGuire & Sons Farm Inc. is a dairy farm operated by brothers Tom, Dave and Ed McGuire. They have planted oats in the past with limited success due to planting too late in the season after applying manure. They are interested in finding a cover crop that will work in their farming system that includes applying manure.
The seeds planted after corn silage harvest were oats, spring wheat, cereal rye, winter triticale, spring barley and radish. There will be a discussion of advantages and disadvantages of the covers that were planted, an infiltration demonstration and tips on making soil more resilient to erosion, drought and excess water.
Part of the plot will have manure recently applied so participants can see the effect of manure applied on a cover crop. Some plants will not be killed by frost, so are a potential forage source the following spring.
For more information, contact Tonya Gratz at the LWCD office at 608-325-4195, ext. 121.
