Wisconsin is called America’s Dairyland for a reason. We have a lot of rolling land throughout the state – especially Sheboygan County – that is really conducive to producing the crops that we use to feed our cows.
Taking care of the soil is a huge responsibility for farmers. We need healthy soil to be able to grow the crops that feed our cows. Alfalfa is a great crop that really helps defend the soil. It protects the soil from erosion and also maintains the integrity of the soil. When alfalfa is planted on a field, it keeps the soil fully covered, keeping nutrients within the soil.
We do a lot of crop rotation here. Crop rotation means that we change the crops that are planted on the fields from year to year. The amount of time one crop spends on a field varies. It is dependent on several factors – the soil type, the crop, the topography, and others.
Crop rotation is another one of the ways that we care for the soil. It is another way that we reduce soil erosion. It also increases soil fertility and crop yield, and it gives different nutrients to the soil. Different crops use different nutrients in the soil. By alternating the crops, we’re able to replenish the nutrients that were used by the previous crop.
Using cover crops is another common way to help maintain soil health during the harsh Wisconsin winters. We are really new to cover crops, still in the research and data phase. Right now, we’re trying to build organic matter in the soil. The main functions of cover crops are preventing soil erosion and maintaining nitrogen in the soil.
To be able to grow the crops that we need to feed our cows, we need healthy soil. The soil has to be alive – more earth worms, more aeration, and a lot of biological activity – and we have to do everything we can to keep the soil healthy.