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 Field Day
The 2026 UW–Madison Forage and Cover Crop Field Day is July 13 in Marshfield! See our agenda and tour stop list below. Walk-ins are welcome, but please register in advance to guarantee your dinner. 2.0 CCA CEUs (1.5 crop management, 0.5 nutrient management) will be available at the event.
2026 Event Information
DATE
July 13
COST
$25 per person
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 grazing and dairy production systems
- Learn novel management strategies in alfalfa, corn silage, and other forage crops
- Hear about how forages, cover crops, and manure management affect nutrient cycling and availability, as well as soil health
- Build community – spend the evening 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 crop management
UW Forage and Cover Crop Field Day Agenda
4:00 – 4:20 p.m.
Registration
4:20 – 4:30 p.m.
Load Wagons
4:30 – 5:15 p.m.
Grazing and Animal Nutrition
Using Shade in Grazing Systems with Dr. David Jaramillo
Animal Nutrition with Daniel Vieira and Carlos Camisa Nova
Pasture Weed Management and Herbicide Updates with Dr. Mark Renz
5:15 – 6:00 p.m.
Manure Management
Rye Cover Crops in Dairy Production Systems: Where Does the Nitrogen Go? with Dr. Matt Ruark
Effect of Manure Application Techniques Versus Nitrogen Fertilizer on Cool-Season Perennial Grasses with Dr. Matt Akins
Side-Dress Manure Application on Corn Silage with Dr. Eric Young
6:00 – 6:45 p.m.
Improving Forage Crops
Red Clover Variety Trials with Tomás Tubritt
Improvements to Hairy Vetch with Jasmin Buffenn
Perennial Grasses with Tomás Tubritt
Improving Alfalfa for Interseeded Systems with Lewis Haught
6:45 – 7:30 p.m.
Alfalfa Management
Winterkill in Alfalfa with Luana Dantas and Dr. Matt Siebers
Effects of Machinery Traffic on Alfalfa with Dr. Marta Kohmann and Dr. Brian Luck
Effects of Machinery Traffic on Soil with Dr. Francisco Arriaga
7:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Dinner
Walk-ins are welcome, but please register in advance to guarantee your dinner.
Interested in Sponsoring?
Please read our sponsor support letter and contact Josh Kamps at 608-673-0680 or by email at josh.kamps@wisc.edu if you are interested in sponsoring this event.
We look forward to seeing you at the second UW Forage and Cover Crop Field Day. Thank you for your consideration in contributing to this Wisconsin Extension program!
Past Agenda (2025)
| 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 |
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.