Soil health details matter – Dr. Lee Briese to use a yo-yo to teach at annual meeting

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Soil health remains a top-of-mind concern for many crop and dairy farmers in the Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers (SRPF) conservation group. SRPF invites the public to learn more about efforts to improve soil health and water quality from educational and entertaining speakers during its annual meeting from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Feb. 16.

Attendees will explore these topics through presentations by:

Dr. Lee Briese is an independent crop consultant from central North Dakota. He provides agronomic advice to help farmers build customized systems to grow and manage crops profitably. He specializes in helping farmers adopt practices to protect and improve their soil and local environment, including reduced-till, no-till, cover crops, crop rotation and increased plant and economic diversity. Briese earned his doctorate in plant health from the University of Nebraska. He will use a yo-yo to interact with farmers and agricultural professionals to discuss the importance of details in soil health.

Shawn Wesener, data collection specialist for Farmers for Sustainable Food, works directly with farmers to help track conservation practice outcomes. Wesener has a professional background in agriculture and public planning. As a certified crop adviser, he most recently served as a precision agriculture specialist for Country Visions Cooperative, based in Brillion, Wis. He is now supporting farmer-led groups in their conservation efforts by working directly with farmers and crop advisers to capture the data needed to drive sustainability projects and support continuous improvement. He will present the findings from SRPF's 2022 survey results on member conservation practices.

Daniel Smith is the southwest outreach specialist for the Nutrient and Pest Management Program. Daniel received bachelor's degrees in soil and crop science and agribusiness from UW–Platteville, as well as a master's in agroecology (weed science emphasis) from UW-Madison. He is responsible for supporting county-based UW-Extension, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and Land and Water department staff, producers, industry representatives and agronomists on nutrient and pest management to improve water quality while protecting farm profitability. Smith's key programming includes nutrient and pest management in the southwest region while assisting with statewide research and outreach on cover crops, particularly interseeding, herbicide resistance and waterhemp management. He will present an ongoing study about cover crop biomass and nutrient cycling.

Dan Smith will also moderate an interactive farmer panel. Farmers will discuss 'what's working and why, and what are our end goals'. Panel members include Lee Kinnard, Peninsula Pride Farms member; Bob Danes, Calumet County Ag Stewardship Alliance member; Matt Winker from Cedar Creek and Dale Theel, SRPF member. Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions and share successes and failures.

Details

Who: Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers

What: Annual meeting

When: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16

Where: The Manor at Pinehurst Farms, The Bull, Sheboygan Falls

Agenda

SRPF year in review: Brody Stapel, SRPF president
Details matter in soil health: Dr. Lee Briese, Centrol Ag Consulting
SRPF conservation outcomes 2022: Shawn Wesener, Farmers for Sustainable Food
Cover crop biomass and nutrient cycling: Dan Smith, UW-Madison Southwest Regional Specialist
Farmer panel – 'What's working and why, what are our end goals': Lee Kinnard, Bob Danes, Matt Winker, Dale Theel and moderator, Dan Smith