Local farmers hoping to learn something new about the soil beneath their feet no longer have to travel across the state for the information.
Shawano County officials are bringing the information closer to home.
“There are a lot of different organizations offering events like field days where they talk about soil health,” said Bill Koepke, Shawano County conservation agronomist. “Unfortunately, most are in southwestern Wisconsin, Madison or the Fox Valley, so people in the northern part of the state have a tough time taking off a day to get there.”
Koepke and others in the county’s Land Conservation Department decided to offer a workshop much closer to home.
The “Healthy Soils, Healthy Farms: Better profits from the ground up” winter farmer workshop is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main St. A free lunch will be provided.
The speakers will address soil issues, no-till farming, cover crops, and county programs available to farmers to improve their soil or being a new farming technique.
No-till farming is a method of growing crops without disturbing the soil through plowing. This technique can reduce soil erosion, improve soil health and increase crop yields.
Cover crops are plants grown to improve soil health and water quality between cash-crop plantings. They are often left to die and decompose, adding organic matter to the soil.
“Everything comes from the ground up,” Koepke said. “It all comes down to that.”
Koepke said the workshop is not just for farmers with hundreds of acres. “Even the owner of a hobby farm of 10-15 acres can benefit.”
Speakers will also address cost-sharing and cost-effective ways to improve soil and increase profits.
“We’re not going to tell anyone what to do; we are gong to give them information on how to try something new that can help them,” Koepke said.
Speakers will be Chris Bandura, University of Wisconsin-Extension; Jamie Patton, Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Dani Heisler, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Reservations are required by Feb. 14 by contacting Koepke at 715-526-4797 or bill.koepke@shawanocountywi.gov.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
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