ALBANY — Farmers and other interested individuals are invited to attend the annual meeting of the Farmers of the Sugar River, a producer-led watershed protection group. The annual meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Albany Lions Club. 

This year’s meeting will have a variety of guest speakers. There will be time for networking with other farmers and a hot lunch provided by the Lions Club. The doors open at 9:30 a.m. for registration and the program will start at 10 a.m. The day will conclude by 3:15 p.m. The cost is $10 at the door. 

The day is full of a variety of topics. It will start out the morning hearing about how high oleic soybeans might fit into a dairy ration, then talk about the movement of nitrate and other contaminants in the groundwater, and learn from two farmers who are using virtual fencing with collars to graze their livestock. After lunch, attendees will learn about living with beavers, the good they might do and what a beaver deceiver is. To wrap up the day, they will hear about the statewide cover crop data network and their five years of collecting cover crop information from farmers.

RSVP with Tonya Gratz at the Green County Land and Water Conservation Department either by email Tonya.Gratz@wi.nacdnet.net phone 608-325-4195 ext. 2684 or text 608-426-2218 by Feb. 13 so an accurate lunch count can be provided.

The Farmers of the Sugar River board organizes this annual meeting to create a space for farmers to get together, learn new things to use on their land, or understand more about the world they live in. The group also offers field days, an annual shop talk, opportunities to network with other farmers and incentive payments for conservation practices that promote soil health, which in turn improve the water quality. The group has received annual grants from the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to support their work.