In collaboration with the University of Wisconsin’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Center, the Department of Soil Science and UW-Extension, the Institute has launched an effort to improve estimates of soil erosion reduction achieved with cover crop use. We are measuring canopy development and biomass production of several cover crops in multiple cropping systems in on-farm trials […]

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute researchers have long conducted research on farming practices that build healthy, biologically active soils, and our policy team has supported policies that create incentives for their inclusion in farming systems. A recent opinion piece in the on-line news group Food Tank speaks to the many reasons healthy soils matter so much […]

Conversations with farmers, crop consultants and crop insurance providers lead us to the conclusion that prevented plant will be claimed on significant acreage in 2019, especially since the full coverage crop insurance deadline for corn has passed. While this situation is difficult, especially in the current farm economy, it’s important to plan ahead and use […]

Two newly published research briefs: “Sequential cover crops: do synergies or antagonisms exist between species?” and “Do cover crops pay? Positive yield response reduces net cover crop cost” are available on Michael Fields Institutes website. These concise publications summarize original Wisconsin Research and are intended to provide research results and related recommendations in a user-friendly […]

MFAI is working with others in Wisconsin and elsewhere to explore the possibilities of creating a program in Wisconsin similar to one created in Iowa in 2017 that offers a crop insurance premium subsidy for farmers who plant cover crops.  We are circulating a very brief farmer survey to assess the value to farmers and […]

Perry Brown, Executive Director, of Michael Fields Agricultural Institute along with Devon Hamilton, one of MFAI’s Policy staff, discuss sustainable agriculture….including cover crops, urban agriculture, youth work, genetic contamination, and industrial hemp. MFAI focuses on sustainable agriculture research, policy, youth work, urban farming, and farmer-led watershed conservation. Recorded: January 14, 2019, 7-8pm Listen to MFAI’s […]

Interested in learning more about the incredible work being done by the members of the Iowa County Uplands Watershed Group? Visit our new website at www.uplandswatershedgroup.com to find out! The website features the history of the group, as well as our connection with fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico, and includes resources and information about […]

Two newly published research briefs: “Sunn hemp response to planting date and mixes” and “Does cover crop radish supply nitrogen to corn?” are now available. These concise publications summarize original Wisconsin Research and are intended to provide research results and related recommendations in a user-friendly manner. These and future briefs can be found under the […]

February 20, 2018 Holiday Inn, Steven’s Point, WI Information and Registration Farmers and ag professionals from around the state are coming together again to share and learn about all things cover crops. Whether you’re a seasoned cover crop expert or an absolute beginner, there will be something for everyone! Topics will include managing manure with […]

MFAI and Iowa County’s Uplands Watershed Group invite you to a field day on Wednesday morning, October 24, 2018 on the Southwest Wisconsin dairy farm of Ryan Dolan and family. The topic: “Does Conservation Pay?” Come discuss the economics of conservation. (Bring your own examples and experiences to share.) Location: Dolan Farms, 5443 County Rd ZZ, […]

Last week, several former top USDA research officials in both Republican and Democratic administrations held a nationally broadcast webinar to explain their concerns with a Trump Administration proposal that would both politicize and weaken the research apparatus at USDA. MFAI’s Margaret Krome wrote an editorial about this concern in early September. Link to Krome’s editorial […]

After a cool, wet spring we are finally in full farming mode with our field crop research initiatives. Like many of you, we had a late spring snow the third week in April and soil temperatures did not start to rise above 50 degrees until the middle of May. Finally, on May 29th we were […]

Cover crops are grown for several of their benefits, ranging from protecting and enhancing soil to pest suppression. What about using them to sequester atmospheric carbon to counter climate change, which could serve as an income source from carbon credits? While carbon credits aren’t a current reality, once a cap and trade system is in […]

People often ask what we do during the winter and the answer is easy, there’s never on off-season, just a different nature to the work. In fact, winter is often just as hectic as work during the growing season and this winter’s activities bear that out. On the outreach side, we held the 5th annual […]

There’s still time to register for the fifth annual Wisconsin Cover Crop Conference “Investing in Your Farm’s Future” but space is limited. The conference will be held February 27th at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center, Stevens Point. Preregistration is required and will be open through February 20th but will close when we reach 300 […]

This FREE webinar series will highlight the latest Wisconsin research on cover crops and soil health. The series will be 6 weeks long, every Wednesday from 12pm-1pm (except for the week of February 7 – that webinar will be 12pm-1:30pm). Connection information for the webinar will be provided upon registration available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wisconsin-cover-crop-and-soil-health-research-webinar-series-registration-41224772404 Participants will […]

The fifth annual Wisconsin Cover Crop Conference “Investing in Your Farm’s Future” will be held February 27th at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center, Stevens Point. Barry Fisher, Central Region Leader of the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Soil Health Division will deliver the keynote address “Soil Health Principles: Using cover crops and reduced tillage to […]

The fifth annual Wisconsin Cover Crops Conference “Investing in Your Farm’s Future” will be held February 27 at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center, Stevens Point. This conference is geared toward helping Wisconsin farmers more successfully use cover crops on their farms. There will be something for everyone, from farmer’s that have never tried cover […]

The 2017 conference, co-sponsored by the Institute, was held in late November in Madison. This year’s theme was “continuous living cover: bridging the gaps with livestock” and participants enjoyed numerous related general and breakout presentations delivered by a range of speakers from farmers to researchers. Subthemes of continuous living cover included perennial forage, perennial grains, […]

MFAI works on this project, funded by a USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) partnership program grant, evaluating the returns to cover crop use to help sell the practice to non-cover crop users without using cost-share programs.

Saturday, November 4, 2017, 10:30 am – Noon A SPECIAL FALL FIELD DAY PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY AND GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF LAND Jim Stute, Research Director at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, will guide the tour of the new research fields, conservation buffers, waterways, and pollinator habitat. This farm has been designed to decrease nutrient and soil run-off to as […]

The 2017 conference, our fourth, was held on October 4th in Washington and Ozaukee Counties, near Wisconsin’s Eastern shore. The theme of this year’s conference was “The Role of Cover Crops in Soil and Water Quality”, chosen because the location falls in the Milwaukee River Watershed which is classified as impaired by the Environmental Protection […]

Over 100 people showed up for a cover crops farm tour Monday, October 9, held on farms in Iowa County’s Uplands Watershed group, which MFAI sponsors. “I learned more today than at any event I can remember,” one workshop attendee told us. Whether it was the stunning morning sun backlighting John Middleton as he described […]

A Tour Examining the Role of Cover Crops in Soil and Water Quality – Join us October 4, 2017 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm in Jackson, WI. The conference will kick off at the Jackson Town Hall in Jackson, WI and will be followed with a tour that will include three different farmer sites, each with different demos and cover crop practices. Register today! […]

SAVE THE DATE – Monday, October 9, 2017, Wisconsin Conservation Farming with Gulf Seafood! Join Iowa County’s Uplands Farmer-Led Watershed Group for a farm tour followed by brats and seafood. Starts at 9 am […]