The Wisconsin Cover Crop Conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 27 at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point.

This conference will be geared toward Wisconsin farmers interested in integrating cover crops into their livestock and grain cropping systems. Cover crops are growing in popularity due to their role in protecting the soil from erosion, cycling nutrients and improving soil health. Hear from Wisconsin farmers who are successfully using cover crops on their own farms and the lessons they have learned along the way.

The farmers and other conference presenters will also address the economics of cover crops and soil health.

Barry Fisher will serve as the keynote speaker. Fisher is a 32-year veteran of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and has assisted many producers looking to transition their operations from a conventional management system to conservation systems, focusing on practices such as no-till and cover crops. He also has experience working with veteran cover crop planners who are expanding their practices and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of conservation practices. Fisher is a certified crop adviser and uses his agronomy knowledge to make practical and economically feasible recommendations to growers. In addition, he operates a small “never-till” cash grain and livestock farm in Greencastle, Ind. Between his on-the-ground experiences working on his own land and his work with producers through NRCS, Fisher has a wealth of experience to share.

This conference will not only include presentations from farmers and other cover crop experts, but there will also be time built in for attendees to interact with each other. Farmers will have a chance to meet other farmers from across Wisconsin and from their own region. Hopefully this will form lasting networks that will help farmers continue learning about cover crops.

There are sponsorship opportunities available for the conference. Sponsors will have an opportunity to have an exhibitor table and interact with conference attendees.

More information and registration is available online, or call Heidi Johnson, Dane County Extension crops and soils agent, at 608-224-3716.

Source: University of Wisconsin Extension