Paige Filice, Watershed Technician, Clinton Conservation District
On August 18th more than 165 farmers came from across Michigan to attend the “What’s New with Poo” field day held at Providence Agriculture in Carson City. The field day included bus tours of four dairy farms in Clinton and Gratiot Counties. Presentations were given by expert researchers and farmers utilizing innovative manure management practices and technologies that enhance farm operations and protect water quality. The tour featured farms utilizing manure separation and treatment, harvestable buffers, and a unique rotation of cover crops. The bus tour also included presentations by regional experts on mortality management, MAEAP, energy conservation, and winter application of manure. Lunch included a presentation about on-farm water quality research efforts underway in Wisconsin by Amber Radatz, co-director of the University of Wisconsin’s Discovery Farms Program. This field day was the first event put on by Michigan Innovations in Agriculture, a renewed partnership between the Clinton Conservation District and Michigan State University Extension aimed at promoting innovative and environmentally sound agricultural practices and technologies. The event was sponsored by the Clinton Conservation District, Michigan State University Extension, Clinton and Gratiot Farm Bureau offices, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, AIS Construction Equipment, and Providence Agriculture. Stay tuned for more events from Michigan Innovations in Agriculture!
