EAST LANSING, Mich. — Cover crops can play a very important role in a farm’s nutrient management regime, as well as providing soil conditioning benefits. In The Bay Way – Episode One, hear from Saginaw Valley farmer Dave Rupprecht of Zwerk & Sons Farms on the success their operation has had with cover crops. Learn how working to overcome challenges and implementing the use of cover crops has resulted in seeing benefits to the soil and yield on the farm.
This video is one of seven videos about water quality farming in the Saginaw Watershed. The educational videos are being produced by a collaborative team, including Michigan State University Extension, working to increase adoption of nutrient management practices in the Saginaw River watershed through a peer-to-peer farmer network, engaging existing farmer leaders in the watershed.
The project’s goal is to implement nutrient management practices on at least 7,800 acres, preventing at least 900 pounds of phosphorus leaving agricultural fields during the project period. The Saginaw Watershed Farmer Network is made up of groups of farmers and land managers from within the surrounding area that meet to exchange ideas. These groups are led by local leaders, driven by members, self-governed and independent from any particular organization or agency. Their primary focus is on collaboration and addressing the specific needs in the local watershed. These groups are local citizens coming together, helping one another, and taking pro-active steps to manage and protect their watershed.
Check out the Saginaw Watershed Farmer Network Facebook page or the MSU Extension article “Accelerating nutrient management adoption in the Saginaw River Watershed” to learn more.
— Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak, Michigan State University Extension
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