Farmers, ag professionals and ag educators are invited to attend a Cover Crop Field Day at Arlington Agricultural Research Station on Oct. 8 to learn more about cover crop research conducted by University of Wisconsin-Extension and UW-Madison throughout Wisconsin.

Cover crops can be used effectively to reduce soil erosion, reduce the need for herbicides and other pesticides, protect water quality by limiting nitrogen leaching, and increase soil organic matter.

The event will include morning presentations, lunch with a farmer panel, and an afternoon tour of on-farm cover crop research trials.

Attend the UW Cover Crops Field Day Oct. 8 at Arlington

Topics and presenters for the morning presentations include:
• Cover crops use and adoption in Wisconsin; Virginia Moore, UW Agroecology and Agriculture and Applied Economics

• Soil health, erosion, and tillage considerations with cover crops; Matt Ruark and Francisco Arriaga, UW-Madison/Extension soil scientists

• Using cover crops in corn and soybeans: Aerial seeding and other possibilities; Jim Stute, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

The afternoon field tour will cover the following topics:

Cover crops after Corn silage:
•Winter cereal rye: Cover crop or early season forage, Kevin Shelley, UW Nutrient and Pest Management program

•Termination of cereal rye following corn silage, Dan Smith and Vince Davis, UW-Madison Agronomy and Weed Science Extension

•Alternatives to rye: Yahara Pride Farms demonstration plot results, Heidi Johnson, UW-Extension Dane County

Cover crops after Small Grain and Vegetable Crops:
•Summer-seeded legumes: Berseem clover and crimson clover following winter wheat, Mike Ballweg, UW-Extension Sheboygan County and Richard Proost, UW Nutrient and Pest Management program

•Berseem clover, oats, and red clover following winter wheat, Gregg Sanford, UW Agronomy and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center

•Tillage radish following winter wheat: Results from on-farm trials, Matt Ruark, UW-Madison/Extension soil scientist

Integrated Pest Management considerations:
•Herbicide carryover and rotational restrictions: Impact on cover crop establishment and use as supplemental forage, Liz Bosak, Dan Smith, and Vince Davis, UW-Madison Agronomy and Weed Science Extension

•Insect pest considerations when using covers, Bryan Jensen, UW Integrated Pest Management program

Rolling/Crimping:
•Using rolled cover crops in organic and conventional soybean production, Erin Silva, UW-Madison/Extension plant pathology

Registration is $10 in advance and $15 for day-of registration and includes all printed materials, refreshments and lunch. To register in advance, go to http://uwcovercropfieldday2014.eventbrite.com or call the UW-Extension Dane County office at 608-224-3700.

For more information and updates, go to http://fyi.uwex.edu/covercrop.

The Arlington Agricultural Research Station is located on Hwy. 51, about 5 miles south of Arlington and 15 miles north of Madison. GPS coordinates are 43.300467, -89.345534.

This event is sponsored by University of Wisconsin-Extension and North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.

Source: UW Extension