Precision farming isn”t just for the big guys. A field day at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Marshfield Agricultural Research Station will explore current and future management techniques for grains and forages, with a focus on central Wisconsin operations.

“Producers in central Wisconsin probably think precision farming won”t apply to their smaller operations, figuring it”s mainly for the big operators. In some respects they are right, because there is an economy of scale if one buys all the toys. However, and most importantly, this technology is about information. I believe that I can show them how to improve productivity and profitability with smaller investments and some specific management decisions,” says UW-Madison soil scientist Dick Wolkowski.

Wolkowski will show how to integrate information, such as yield-monitor data or grid soil sample data, with management techniques. He has mapped grid soil test data from the Marshfield station, which shows a fair amount of nutrient variability. He will show how farmers can take advantage of the information with manure application, starter fertilizer rates, and liming.

UW-Madison soybean research specialist John Gaska will talk about soybean seeding rates. Joe Lauer, UW-Madison extension corn specialist, will explore “Corn Row Width: How Narrow Can We Go?” Assistant Marshfield superintendent Dan Wiersma will discuss what”s new with corn silage.

New Technologies Field Day will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17. The program is free. The Marshfield station is 2 miles east of U.S. Highway 13 (turn on 29th St.). For more information on the field day, contact the station at (715) 387-2523.