Field Days Highlight Soil Fertility On Organic Vegetable Farms
Farms are part of a two-state research and demonstration project
Two field days in November will highlight organic soil fertility
management for vegetables.
On Nov. 2, Michael Racette of Spring Hill Community Farm in Barron
County will discuss his system that involves annual cover crops,
extensive mulching and purchased fertility inputs. Spring Hill
Community Farm is located at 545 1½ Ave., Prairie Farm, Wis.
On Nov. 4, Larry O‘‘Toole of Growing Home’s Les Brown Memorial Farm
near La Salle, Ill.
will talk about his use of horse manure compost, cover crops and
tillage tools. The farm is located at 2539 N. 30th Road, Marseilles,
Ill.
Both events will run from 1-4 p.m.
These farms are participating in a two-state project examining the
costs and benefits of soil fertility management strategies on organic
vegetable farms. University specialists and project staff will be at
the field days to answer questions and discuss findings.
Brochures and directions to the farms are available at
www.cias.wisc.edu. For more information, contact John Hendrickson:
608-265-3704 or jhendric@wisc.edu.
The field days are sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s
Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS), with support from
the USDA North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and
Education.