SEPTEMBER 2025

COVER CROP OPTIONS

Harvesting small grains, processing crops and corn silage can give us some opportunities to establish cover crops with some growing degree days to obtain biomass cover prior to a killing frost. Extension has some great resources to help you determine which cover crop options and blends might best match your goals. Check them out by using the links below.

COVER CROPS 101

COVER CROP OPTIONS AFTER SMALL GRAINS AND PROCESSING CROPS

CORN SILAGE DRY DOWN OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUE!

Check out the Regional Ag Website for all corn silage dry down events and results for the 2025 season. Access resources for making the most of your corn silage harvest using the links below!

ACCESS REGIONAL CORN SILAGE PAGE HERE - BOOKMARK FOR DRY DOWN RESULTS

EXTENSION CORN SILAGE RESOURCES

INCORPORATING OFF FARM WASTES IN NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING

Nutrient Management Plans guide nutrient applications and conservation practices on farms that mechanically apply nutrients to cropland and pasture. While the Nutrient Management Performance Standards in WI chapter NR 151 and the USDA NRCS 590 Nutrient Management Practice Standard provide direction for manure and commercial fertilizers. However, the standards do not provide guidance for application of industrial wastes, municipal sewage sludge or septage. A new guidance document regarding these sources is available using the link below.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

BEYOND BMR: SECURING THE FUTURE OF HIGH-QUALITY CORN SILAGE

Brown midrib (BMR) corn hybrids have been a key tool for growers focused on producing high-quality corn silage. BMR corn hybrids are valued for their higher fiber digestibility levels, due to their lower lignin levels, when compared to conventional corn. These hybrids are a major forage component for many dairy herds across Wisconsin. Recent announcements from Corteva indicate that farmers need to plan for the eventual phase out of BMR products from the associated companies no later than the 2030 growing season. Check out the full article to get strategies to navigate through this change.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

NEW TOOL: CORN SILAGE CUTTING HEIGHT CALCULATOR

Increasing cutting height during harvest is an alternative producers may use to improve corn silage nutritive value - since silage harvested at greater cutting heights have greater starch concentrations and NDF digestibility. However, this can also result in reduced yield. This tool can help growers estimate how changes in cutting height affect the nutrient composition and dry matter yield of corn silage to make harvest management decisions.

ACCESS THE TOOL HERE

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION & REGISTER

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

UPCOMING BADGER CROP CONNECT EPISODES

SEPTEMBER 11 - A LOOK AT NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT - 12:30 - 1:30 PM

Manure Management Application Considerations & Safety - Kevin Erb
Implications of Manure on Water, Hydrology & Soil Organic Matter - Dr. Francisco Arriaga
Manure Application Restrictions in SNAP Plus - Dr. Hava Blair

FOND DU LAC COUNTY CLASSIC SOCIAL & SALE

SEPTEMBER 13 - LEDGEROCK DISTILLERY

6 P.M. - TOUR

7 P.M. - SALE

Join the Fond du Lac County Holstein Breeders for the Fond du Lac County Classic. Click the link below for more information.

MORE INFORMATION

UPCOMING BADGER DAIRY INSIGHT WEBINAR - 11 A.M. - NOON

SEPTEMBER 16 - BOOSTING FERTILITY OF DAIRY COWS THROUGH BETTER SEMEN HANDLING - Heather Schlesser & Ryan Sterry

FULL AGENDA & REGISTER TODAY!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 12

An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements.

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