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Soil management helps weather the storm

A corn farmer from southwestern Wisconsin says no-till and strip-till practices help his fields weather the extremes.

Mike Burgett tells Brownfield fields absorb water better when there are excessive rains.

“And when it’s too dry, we’re getting better yields in dry weather events because the soil is holding the water.”

Burgett says he is exploring the use of different cover crops.

“Our county agent has a lot of test plots out. He’s tried what they call frost seeding in the spring and other things. I picked up on a few new varieties I didn’t know were available.”

That includes canola, oats and rye.

Brownfield interviewed Burgett at the Commodity Classic earlier this month.