Farmers of the Sugar River to Hold Seminar

The economic forecast for farmers to make a profit this year is bleak and concerning. There are conservation practices that can be used to reduce costs and improve yield. If a farmer can no till this year’s crop, they will not only save money on fuel, labor and time inputs, but it will allow the soil to retain its structure that includes air, earthworm holes and roots from the previous crop, therefore better suited to infiltrate water. Planting cover crops is another conservation practice that farmers use to build organic matter in their soils, which retains water like a sponge. Higher organic matter levels help supply moisture when we hit a dry spell in the growing season. These are a few of the practices and advantages that will be discussed at the inaugural event on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, for the producer-led watershed group, Farmers of the Sugar River.
Dan Truttmann, a dairy farmer from west of New Glarus, is the lead farmer for the group. He sees the event as a way for area farmers to network with others and learn how others are farming in the watershed. Truttmann notes, “It is common knowledge that soil erosion is a bad thing, but does everyone realize the costs associated with that erosion? Nutrients leave our fields and go with soil into streams and rivers, nutrients that pollute the water and cost significant dollars to replace. If we can reduce soil erosion, not only do we enhance our bottom line, we will do our part to help clean up the rivers and streams in our watershed and beyond.”
The focus area for the watershed group is the Middle and Lower Sugar River. Farmers of the Sugar River project area covers the eastern side of Green County, a sliver of southern Dane County and the western tier of townships in Rock County. Truttmann’s farm is located on the west side of the watershed. To give one a better idea of the expanse of the project area - it includes cities and villages of New Glarus, Belleville, part of Brooklyn, Evansville, Monticello, Albany, Brodhead and part of Orfordville. Any interested farmers are invited to attend the meeting, whether or not they live in this watershed.
“Improving Your Soil to Improve Our Water” is the theme of the day-long event at the Albany Lions Club in Albany. On-site registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. The first speaker, Jamie Patton with the UW Nutrient and Pest Management Program, will educate farmers as to why it’s worth their while to pay attention to their soil’s condition. After a roast beef lunch, attendees will learn more about the watershed group, Farmers of the Sugar River, and what they can offer to others. The next planned speaker will be Lee Kinnard, who owns and operates Kinnard Farms in Casco, WI. He will be highlighting their farming practices that are based on science and a concept they refer to as “Smart Sustainability” that guides them for future planning. The second farmer to speak will be John Koepke, who farms near Oconomowoc, WI. He will show how he has made no till, cover crops and manure work together in a cropping system. The final time slot for the day will give farmers a chance to ask questions of each other in an open forum scheduled to wrap up at 3:30 p.m.
Registration is strongly advised as seating will be limited. Producers can register by emailing Tonya.Gratz@ wi.nacdnet.net or phoning Tonya Gratz at (608) 325-4195 ext 121. Attendees will be charged $10 for lunch at the door.