SRPF News & Events
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Press Release - February 23, 2024 - Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers exchange innovative ideas at annual meeting
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On-Farm Field Trial Compares Cover Crops Interseeded into Twin Corn Rows & Single Corn Rows
Nearly 30 farmers, ag businesses, and community members atended the Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers (SRPF) soil health field event in early September. The atendees learned about an on-farm field trial comparing cover crops interseeded into 45-inch twin rows and 30-inch single corn rows, along with a presentation from Michael Borucke, owner of Black Box Soil Lab. SRPF members, Mark and Joe Loehr of Loehr Dairy, hosted the event.
Loehr Dairy performs a number of field trials to help achieve their farm goals of finding forages to improve the cow’s diet while continuing to conserve the soil. The field trial consisted of two 90-foot strips, 45-inch twin corn rows and 30-inch single corn rows with cover crops interseeded in between the rows. The field was planted in wheat last year and no-till planted this past spring. Molasses and manure applications were the only fertilizer applied to the field.
The 45-inch twin corn rows strip was planted with a modified four-row corn planter pulled behind a 15- foot no-till drill. This technique provided a one tractor, one pass opportunity. The 30-inch single corn rows strip was planted and drilled the same day with separate passes. The 97-day corn was planted with a cover crop population range of 28,000 to 32,000.
The dry season this year created a challenge for crop emergence but Loehr believes this field held moisture beter than other fields on his farm.
“I think we got more benefit from our cover crop,” said Mark Loehr. “We are excited to chop this field versus our other fields.”
The soybean crop remaining in the field after harvest will provide nitrogen for next year’s crop along with feeding the microbiology in the soil.
Michael Borucke, owner of Black Box Soil Lab, presented a microscopic view of the micro livestock in the soil. The slides compared a tilled corn field to the field day trial field. Atendees learned the good guys are the aerobic protozoa and fungi. A brief presentation showed the soil food web involving plants, organic mater, protozoa and bacteria. The take home message showed conservation practices support soil health, along with having the microbiology in the soil work for you.
Brody Stapel of Double Dutch Dairy hosted a field event on June 8 to show planting green into rye and roller crimping the rye for termination. Hear about his experience in this video.
Brody Stapel at field day held on his farm - June 8, 2023
Press Release —
Farmer proves it's never too late to learn new practices
2022 survey results
Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers
gives back through scholarship program
2023 Scholarship Winners
See press release
Press Release —
Farmer proves it's never too late to learn new practices
2022 survey results
Press Release - Exploring soil health through a new lens
Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers hold annual meeting - February, 2023
Check out these brief videos from our meeting presenters.
Dr. Lee Briese
Shawn Wesner
Dan Smith
Article - A-OK Farms improves soil health through conservation practices
Article - Loehr Dairy trials multi-species planted in between corn rows
Nick Klieber discusses the soil conservation practices he uses on his farm north of Plymouth, Wisconsin during the Soil Health Event on June 22, 2022
Press Release —
Congratulations to Our 2022 Scholarship Winner
Claire Mulder
Farm family carries on conservation legacy
Press Release - April 13, 2022
Press Release - Keeping soil where it belongs — under crops
Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers hold annual meeting - Feb, 2022
See our 2020 SRPF Member Survey Results
Press Release - We must work together with the earth
Analysis shows Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers making a difference
Press Release - August 31, 2021 Field Day
Farmers explore forage 'cocktail mixes' for soil health and profitability
Congratulations to Our 2021 Scholarship Winners
Brianna Breunig, Ashton Haack, and Alisha Klemme
See press release
Press Release - April 21, 2021 Field Day
Thank you to everyone who attended our Field Day.
Special thanks to our speakers Dan Smith, UW-Madison Nutrient & Pest Management and
Tony Peirick, President Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil & Healthy Water farmer-led group and to
Joe Wagner for hosting the event.
Press Release - February, 2021
Farmers' efforts benefit Sheboygan River Basin water quality
Press Release - October 23, 2020 Field Day
October 23, 2020 at Hodorff Second Look Holsteins
Field day at Eden, Wisconsin dairy farm. Clint Hodorff planted a multi-species cover crop mix following wheat harvest.
The soil infiltrated 4" of rain that we received over a 24-hour period prior to field day.
The mix included grasses, legumes, and brassicas and was seeded at 30lbs/acre.
WFRV-TV interview with SRPF board member Travis Luedke
Press Release - August 28, 2020 Field Day
August 28, 2020 Field Day at Loehr Dairy
Annual conservation practices survey: A look at the numbers
By Steve Richter, agricultural strategies director, The Nature Conservancy
Members of Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers complete a survey each winter to gauge interest in soil health practices. It's an annual recap of the number of farmers using conservation practices on their fields and a tally of total acres of each practice. In this article, I'll share some highlights from 2019. In your next newsletter, I will talk more specifically about how the practices farmers are using are keeping soil and phosphorus from entering our waters.
Congratulations to Our 2020 Scholarship Winners
Dallas Kreisa, Morgan Phipps and Kalista Hodorff
See press release
Farmer-led group demonstrates new approaches
to conservation during annual field day
See Full Article in Wisconsin State Farmer or PDF
Photos from the 3rd Annual Field Day - June 2, 2020
