JUDA, Wis. — In the middle of the growing season, Farmers of the Sugar River are hosting a field day on Tuesday, August 21st to show the importance of improving the health of soil and have a discussion about cover crops. The field day will be held at the Jerry and Barb Daniels farm at W2340 Hwy 11 & 81, Juda. Registration will begin at 9:30. The program will start at 10. A soil pit will be dug into a standing corn field. Attendees will be able to see how the corn roots make their way toward water and nutrients. Francisco Arriaga from UW Madison will guide everyone through the details of the pit. How deep do corn roots grow? You can find out in this soil pit!

Natural Resources Conservation Service and Land and Water Conservation staff will use a rainfall simulator demonstration to help farmers understand the impacts of tillage and cover crops to the soils’ ability to infiltrate water. Degraded soil isn’t able to soak in as much rain as healthy soil. Healthy soil is also protected from rain drops, so soil particles can’t detach and erode as easily.

Lunch will begin around noon and there will be time for farmers to talk to each other. At 1PM, there will be a chance for farmers to discuss cover crops and get their questions answered. Cover crops are a popular way to help protect and “feed” the soil. Cover crop booklets will be available to interested farmers as guides to understanding all of the choices of species they have.
Preregistration is preferred to aid in planning for lunch. Contact Tonya Gratz with the Green County Land and Water Conservation Department at 608-325-4195 extension 121 or email Tonya.Gratz@wi.nacdnet.net to register or get more information. All area farmers and interested individuals are invited to attend and learn together. The field day and lunch are provided by the Farmers of the Sugar River, a producer- led watershed group funded by DATCP.

— Green County Land and Water Conservation Dept

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