UW Forage and Cover Crop Field Day
UW Forage and Cover Crop Field Day
Spend a day in the field with UW–Madison Extension’s forage-focused researchers, crops educators, statewide conservation cropping specialists to uncover new strategies for crop persistence, management, and pest management in forage systems.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Forage and Cover Crop Field Day
The 2025 UW–Madison Forage and Cover Crop Field Day takes place in July at the Arlington Ag Research Station (N633 Hopkins Rd Arlington, WI 5391). 2026 event information coming soon!
About this field day
This field day is designed for farmers, agronomists, crop consultants, students, and all interested in forages and cover crops to:
- Learn about the potential of integrating cover crops in dairy production systems
- Learn novel management strategies in alfalfa, corn silage, and Kernza crops
- Understand how to manage weeds and insects in alfalfa, forages, and cover crop stands
- Learn about pasture management for dairy success
- Hear about how forages, cover crops, and manure management affect nutrient cycling and availability, as well as soil health
- Understand the process of cover crop breeding – what are our goals? How do we decide on priorities?
- Build community – spend the day with others that manage forages and cover crops
- Ask questions and give feedback to our scientists to help establish near-future and long-term goals in forage and cover crops management
2025 Agenda
| Time | Event | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 8:45 – 9:00 a.m. | Registration | |
| 9:00 – 9:15 a.m. | Load wagons and move to first stop | |
| Stop 1: Forage Management | ||
| 9:15 – 9:30 a.m. | Cereal rye allelopathy in alfalfa | Dr. Marta Kohmann, Colin Van De Loo |
| 9:30 – 9:45 a.m. | Kernza management | Dr. Valentin Picasso, Priscila Pinto |
| 9:45 – 10:00 a.m. | Alfalfa weed management | Dr. Mark Renz |
| Stop 2: Forage Management II | ||
| 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. | Traffic field study | Beatriz Bizzuti, Dr. Brian Luck, Dr. Francisco Arriaga |
| 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. | How do I scout for insects? | Dr. Emily Bick |
| Stop 3: Cover Crop Breeding | ||
| 10:50 – 11:10 a.m. | Rye traits for forage and grain systems | Dr. Lisa Kissing Kucek, Jasmin Buffenn |
| Stop 4: Nitrogen Credits from Legume Forages, Corn Silage and Soil Health | ||
| 11:25 – 11:50 a.m. | Soil health, and nutrient credits from manure and alfalfa | Dr. Natasha Rayne, Dr. Steven Hall, and Chris Brandura |
| 11:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. | Corn silage management | Dr. Harkirat Kaur |
| 12:15 – 12:55 p.m. | Lunch | |
| 12:55 – 2:00 p.m. | Flash Talks | Enjoy an afternoon of indoor 5-minute research updates from Wisconsin’s forage and cover crop, animal nutrition and performance, and grazing experts |
| Extension Program Opportunities | ||
| 1:00 – 1:05 p.m. | What is the SHARE program, and how do I get involved? | Ashley Waggoner |
| 1:05 – 1:10 p.m. | What is the corn silage testing program, and how do I get involved? | Liz Gartman |
| Animal Nutrition and Performance | ||
| 1:10 – 1:15 p.m. | Cover crops for early lactating cows | Dr. Lizzie French |
| 1:15 – 1:20 p.m. | Corn silage for dairy cows | Dr. Luiz Ferraretto |
| 1:20 – 1:25 p.m. | Cover crops for dairy rations | Dr. Ken Kalscheur |
| Grazing Management | ||
| 1:25 – 1:30 p.m. | Pasture management | Jason Cavadini |
| 1:30 – 1:35 p.m. | Virtual fencing | Stephanie Bowers |
| 1:35 – 1:40 p.m. | Pasture vs. feedlot for heifer development | Carlos Camisa Nova |
| Novelties in Forage Work | ||
| 1:40 – 1:45 p.m. | Alfalfa winterkill | Dr. Matt Siebbers |
| 1:45 – 1:50 p.m. | Perennial grass breeder | Dr. Prabin Bajgain |
| 1:50 – 1:55 p.m. | Novel forage biomass monitoring tools | Dr. Matt Digman |
Quick Information
Forage and Cover Crop Field Day
Arlington Ag Research Station
2026 event information coming soon!
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.