Lenawee Conservation District

Since its inception in 1996, the Center for Excellence has grown to become a familiar educational platform for agricultural technology and innovation.  On-farm demonstration plots show the economics of using conservation tillage and the latest technology available to farmers.  Two 40-acre family farms are used for demonstration during field day activities.  One in Clayton on highly erodible soil demonstrates various tillage systems and a closed loop waste water wetland sub-irrigation system.  The farm in Morenci demonstrates the newest technology available to landowners/farmers.  

A field day is hosted each August to view the in-field research and a Yield Results Crops Day is held in January to review data.  The Field Day is now held on the second Wednesday of August, one week earlier than in previous years, to avoid conflict with another agricultural event.

The 2018 Center for Excellence Field Day was held on Wednesday, August 8th.  Over 350 people attended, including Washington DC guests Bill Northey, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), Richard Fordyce, Farm Service Agency Administrator, and Leonard Jordan, Natural Resources Conservation Service Acting Chief.

The morning Field Day line-up at Bakerlads Farm in Clayton, Michigan included trailer tours, one hosting a variety of new conservation technology stops, and a second hosting woodlot management and wildlife habitat stops.

The afternoon portion of the Field Day moved to Raymond and Stutzman Farms in Morenci, Michigan where, following lunch and noontime speakers, a planter clinic, a Nitrogen Management with BioSolids session, and a trade show of equipment was held.

The Field Day was an approved MAEAP Phase I meeting, and RUP and CCA credits were awarded.

On Friday, January 5th, Crop Day will be held at the The Centre, 1800 West US 223 in Adrian, Michigan.  This follow-up to the field day will bring demonstration plot yield information, as well as a variety of speakers to the agricultural community.