By Chris Galbraith
Michigan State University Extension is pleased to offer an evening field day event designed for vegetable and field crop growers on Sept. 13, 2023, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Monroe County. Tools at Twilight will help participants enhance their understanding of conservation agricultural practices like cover cropping, conservation tillage and field drainage. This event is being held in partnership with the Monroe County Conservation District and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). The event will count as a MAEAP Phase I event and will count towards two RUP credits.
This exciting educational program will feature speakers with experience and insight into different farming practices that boost yields, soil health and environmental quality. Matt Burkholder is a farmer advocate with the Nature Conservancy and owner of Burkholder Healthy Farms, who has seen firsthand the benefits of integrating no-till practices and cover crops into his operation. Daniel Brainard is an associate professor and Extension specialist with MSU who has conducted research on strip tillage, cover crops and other aspects of sustainable agriculture. Madelyn Celovsky is a conservation agronomist educator with MSU Extension with experience in cover cropping and best practices for improving soil quality. Ehsan Ghane is an associate professor and Extension specialist at MSU with expertise in agricultural management systems and water quality. These featured presenters will share their knowledge and experience with participants interested in conservation ag practices.
The event will take place at 12444 Dixon Rd., Dundee, MI 48131 in a field owned by Horkey Brothers, a family farm in southeast Michigan that has been growing high-quality vegetables for their community for generations. The event will include a catered dinner for participants.
Source : msu.edu