BLANCHARDVILLE — The second annual summer field day organized by the Farmers of the Sugar River will be held Wednesday, Aug. 7 at Truttmann Dairy LLC, N9682 County J, Blanchardville. 

Registration begins at 10 a.m. and at 10:30 attendees will take a tour to see corn and soybean fields that were planted green and compost windrows. Fields of interest will include corn that was planted into standing rye and soybeans that were planted into standing triticale. The farm manages their manure by separating the solids from the liquid and then using the solids for bedding or composting. Pen pack manure is also composted, and the finished product is used as fertilizer.

Lunch will be provided by Jim’s Backyard BBQ. Jim Winn from Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance and Terry Loeffelholz, Lafayette County Land Conservation Department manager, will talk about the partnership they have formed in order to have the Southwest Wisconsin Groundwater and Geology Study conducted. Dan Truttmann will then explain what he’s doing to reduce the amount of fertilizer he puts on his crops including nutrient management plans and pre-sidedress nitrate testing. The day will generally end at 2 p.m. but for those that are interested, a tour of the dairy will be held at this time. 

Those interested in attending should RSVP by Aug. 2 to Tonya Gratz by email: Tonya.Gratz@wi.nacdnet.net or by phone 608-325-4195 extension 121. This event is free.

Farmers of the Sugar River is a producer-led watershed group of farmers that are working to encourage other farmers to adopt conservation practices like no till and cover crops that reduce sedimentation in our streams and rivers. They host events to educate other producers on how to adopt these practices and strive to educate the public as to why they do certain practices.