72nd SWCS International Annual Conference July 30-August 2, 2017 Madison, WI

1. Farmers of Mill Creek
Watershed Project
2016
THE FARMERS OF MILL CREEK IN COOPERATION WITH UW-EXTENSION AND
PORTAGE AND WOOD COUNTY LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION DEPTS.

2. 47 miles long
165 sq. mi.
105,600 acres

3. Farmers of Mill Creek Goals
 Educate ourselves and our neighbors on phosphorus best
management practices with the goal of improving water
quality in Mill Creek.
 Focus on adopting more environmentally friendly farming
practices to ensure clean water and healthy soils for future
generations.
 The ultimate goal of the Farmers of Mill Creek Watershed
Council is to be stewards of environmental sustainability for
our land and water in our watershed.

4. 2016
Conservation Practices
Farmers of Mill Creek
Addressing the Issue

5. Conservation
Field Day June 26, 2016

6. Too Much
Phosphorous
PACRS
Lake Petenwell Visit
August 19, 2016

7. August Cover Crop
Field Day

8. Cover crop variety
demo plots
6 Weeks After Planting
16 Weeks After Planting
Educate ourselves and our
neighbors on phosphorous
best management practices.

9. Cover Crop
Research Trials
2 Months Growth
 Continuous
measurement
Soil moisture
Soil temperature

10. Wet to Dry
• Control
• Clover
• Rye
• Oats/Radish
• Oats
• 52o to 54o

11. Planting winter barley and rye
for fall cover. October 4, 2016
6 weeks growth

12. Fall Cover Crop Field Tours Dec. 8

13. 2016 Accomplishments!
300 acres no-till cost-shared
300 acres single species cover crops
120 acres multi-species cover crops
7 acre cover crop variety demo plot
13 acres waterway buffer strips
On-farm research plots (3 locations)
Hosted 3 educational field days

14. The Farmers of
Mill Creek Watershed
Farmer-Led Innovation and
Public Education