Division of Extension
Livestock handling has the potential to make or break a grazing operation. So, developing good stockmanship skills and thoughtfully designing grazing infrastructure (fences, lanes, water, etc.) to accommodate low-stress animal handling should be a top priority for each farm.
On the sixth and final episode of the BMPs of NMPs, Landon Baumgartner and Dan Smith discuss the trends that they have seen in their home area of southwestern Wisconsin’s driftless area. They highlight the importance of farmer innovation, particularly in the area’s steep slopes, in forwarding the goals of nutrient management, including no-till planting, cover crops, and variable rate applications. While emphasis on reducing phosphorus losses from soil runoff and manure management remain key in the area, new attention is being paid to nitrogen loading, especially with the proximity of the Mississippi River.
This fifth episode of the BMPs of NMPS offers a deep dive into the nuances of Nutrient Management Planning (NMP) and soil health, led by Chris Bandera and Jamie Patton. Emphasizing that while soil fertility is a core component of a high-functioning soil system, it is not synonymous with the broader concept of soil health.
In this fourth episode of the BMPs of NMPs, Hava Blair and Andrea Topper join host Landon Baumgartner to unpack how Wisconsin’s diverse soils and sensitive land features shape farming practices. They explore the unique challenges of regions like the Driftless Area, Central Sands, and Silurian bedrock zones, and explain common restrictions such as setbacks near water bodies, wells, and wetlands.
Rodrigo Werle, Extension Weed Scientist and Daniel H. Smith, Nutrient and Pest Management Program Manager, demonstrate where weed seeds hide in a combine and how to clean a combine for weed seed management.
Most farmers are familiar with the benefits of cover crops: they reduce erosion, improve soil health, and help suppress weeds. Cover crops are often incorporated into fields as part of crop rotations, but they can also be planted in the aisles between cash crop beds, providing cover during a time of year when the soil is typically bare. These “living aisles” add additional advantages, such as reducing mud during rainy periods, allowing farmers to access beds when the ground is wet, and keeping harvest bins cleaner. Depending on the species used, living aisles may also be allowed to grow into beds after harvest to provide winter cover.
Most farmers are familiar with the benefits of cover crops: they reduce erosion, improve soil health, and help suppress weeds. Cover crops are often incorporated into fields as part of crop rotations, but they can also be planted in the aisles between cash crop beds, providing cover during a time of year when the soil is typically bare. These “living aisles” add additional advantages, such as reducing mud during rainy periods, allowing farmers to access beds when the ground is wet, and keeping harvest bins cleaner. Depending on the species used, living aisles may also be allowed to grow into beds after harvest to provide winter cover.
Most farmers are familiar with the benefits of cover crops: they reduce erosion, improve soil health, and help suppress weeds. Cover crops are often incorporated into fields as part of crop rotations, but they can also be planted in the aisles between cash crop beds, providing cover during a time of year when the soil is typically bare. These “living aisles” add additional advantages, such as reducing mud during rainy periods, allowing farmers to access beds when the ground is wet, and keeping harvest bins cleaner. Depending on the species used, living aisles may also be allowed to grow into beds after harvest to provide winter cover.
Most farmers are familiar with the benefits of cover crops: they reduce erosion, improve soil health, and help suppress weeds. Cover crops are often incorporated into fields as part of crop rotations, but they can also be planted in the aisles between cash crop beds, providing cover during a time of year when the soil is typically bare. These “living aisles” add additional advantages, such as reducing mud during rainy periods, allowing farmers to access beds when the ground is wet, and keeping harvest bins cleaner. Depending on the species used, living aisles may also be allowed to grow into beds after harvest to provide winter cover.
Dr. Shelby Ellison, Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences at UW-Madison, provides an update on the research priorities her lab is focused on related to hemp. Resources Midwest Hemp Database – High Cannabinoid Midwest Hemp Database – Grain and Fiber
In episode three of the BMPs of NMPs, Landon Baumgartner discusses soil conservation and nutrient management with Hava Blair and Andrea Topper. They explain the use of the SNAP Plus software, which incorporates the RUSLE2 equation to calculate soil loss, considering critical and predominant soil types.
Johnsongrass, a highly invasive perennial grass that invades and impacts agricultural and natural areas throughout the United States, is popping up in southern Wisconsin along roadsides, agricultural fields and recent restoration activities. Learn how you can help monitor the invasive species.
