Lenawee Conservation District
"Your Land, Your Water, Your Michigan"
A Twilight Crop Tour was held on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 as an alternative to the annual Center for Excellence Field Day, which had been cancelled due to the Covid-19 crowd restrictions. The event, with a crowd limit of 100, had 75 attendees.
The tour began at 4:30pm at Bakerlads Farm in Clayton with the following concurrent sessions:
Program Part 1
-- Planting No-till into Tough Cover Crop Situations: Blaine Baker
-- Technology to Make No-till Better: Ryan Oehler, Ag Leader Territorial Mgr.
-- Soybean Research in Michigan: Mark Seamon, Soybean Promotion Committee
Program Part 2 moved to Raymond & Stutzman Farms in Morenci with the following concurrent sessions:
-- Cover Crops for Soil Health: Jim Hoorman
-- Planter Clinic, Technology for Precision Planting & Nutrient Mgmt: Josh Beaverson, Precision Ag Services, Case IH
-- Industrial Hemp Production in Michigan: Theresa Sisung, Farm Bureau Crops & Field Technician
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, Michigan on highly erodible soil demonstrates various tillage systems and a closed loop waste water wetland sub-irrigation system. The farm in Morenci, Michigan 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 2019 Center for Excellence Field Day was held on Wednesday, August 14th. Approximately 350 people have attended this event in past years, and it has become the largest agricultural event in southeast Michigan.
The morning Field Day line-up at Bakerlads Farm in Clayton, Michigan included concurring sessions and trailer tours hosting a variety of new conservation technology stops.
The afternoon portion of the Field Day moved to Raymond and Stutzman Farms in Morenci, Michigan where, following lunch and a guest noontime speaker, additional sessions were held, including equipment demonstrations.
The Field Day was also an approved MAEAP Phase I meeting, and RUP and CCA credits were awarded.
However, the 2019 Crop Day was cancelled due to lack of reporting data and reduced funding. Scheduled every January, this follow-up to the field day usually brings demonstration plot yield information, as well as a variety of speakers to the agricultural community. The dismal spring 2019 spring had a huge impact on the demonstration plots and their results.
A printed report was mailed out in early February 2020 to Field Day attendees. To request a printed report, fill out the appropriate name and address in the contact form to the right and submit.
For More Information or to RSVP
For More Information or to RSVP
