Between the Lakes Demonstration Farm Network

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Between the Lakes Demonstration Farm Network

We are a network of farms that demonstrate the best conservation practices to improve soil and water.

05/29/2026

Want to see planting green in action?🚜🌱

Swing by Reichert Land & Cattle on June 2 between 9-10:30am for a live demonstration of planting beans into cereal rye.

📅June 2nd from 9-10:30am
📍N6972 County Rd JM, Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085

05/26/2026

Join us TOMORROW for a Fieldside Live at Dallmann East River Dairy LLC!

Stop by anytime between 1-2:30pm to watch corn being planted into harvested alfalfa and see how this approach fits into a dairy forage system.

📅 May 27th from 1:00-2:30PM
📍NW of Collins, WI on Cottonwood Rd (44.10731°N, 88.01728°W)

Come as you can - no formal program!

This fieldside live is in partnership with Between the Lakes Demonstration Farm Network and Seven Rivers Soil Cooperative Inc.!

05/14/2026

👀 Be on the lookout!

We have a planting green pop-up field day in the works with Chris & Jenny Reichert of Reichert Land & Cattle!

Attendees will get to watch corn being planted into standing cereal rye, check planter setup and adjustments, and dig into discussion about what's working, what to watch for, and why it matters.

📌 More details coming soon - date and time TBD!

05/08/2026

Ever wish you had more accurate weather and soil info for your area? That's where Wisconet - Wisconsin's Environmental mesonet - comes in.

Wisconet is a FREE network of weather and soil monitoring stations across WI - several of which are hosted by Demo farms! Each station collects updated info every five minutes, including things like air temp, rainfall, wind, soil temp and moisture, and more. Some stations even track ag-focused tools like evapotranspiration, cattle comfort index, and chill hours.

With nearly 80 station statewide, Wisconet helps capture our state's unique growing conditions and gives farmers another tool to support day-to-day decisions.

Curious to check it out? 👉 https://wisconet.wisc.edu/

04/30/2026

Then ➡️ Now 🌱

Last season, Dale Theel air seeded cereal rye at harvest by custom mounting a Valmar 1655 air seeder onto his combine. Fast forward to this spring, and the rye is up and looking good! A great example of how innovation can help make cover crops work in tight windows.

👉Check out the comment for more info on Dale's design!

04/27/2026

👀What's happening under that little shingle in the field?👀

Greendale Farms and Kleiber Grain Farm are teaming up with SlugNet, a statewide effort tracking slug activity in Wisconsin conservation cropping systems. This work with UW-Madison Division of Extension helps growers stay ahead of potential slug damage while helping to understand when, where, and why slugs become a problem.

Curious what's showing up around the state? SlugNet shares Weekly Slug Pressure Reports with county updates all season long! Follow along and learn more at the SlugNet website - https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/slugnet/

04/09/2026

🌱 We’re starting to see cover crops really green up and take off across the area.

As you’re getting closer to planting, termination timing is something to start thinking about. 🤔

Every field is a little different, but here are a few things we’re keeping in mind:

🌱 What species or mix are out there?
📏 How far along is the cover crop growth?
⛅️ What are weather conditions looking like over the next week or two?
💧 How might soil moisture be impacted if termination is delayed?
🪱 What are your goals, more biomass or getting the cash crop in sooner?

There’s always a balance between maximizing cover crop benefits and setting up the next crop for success. 💪🌽

What are you seeing out in your fields right now? Share in the comments below. 👇🏼

04/07/2026

The Dallmann's (Dallmann East River Dairy LLC) have built a systems approach to manure and nutrient management. Instead of relying on single practices, they use 6 components that work together to improve efficiency, protect soil and water, and treat manure as a resource.

The digester and leachate pit turn manure and nutrient-rich water into usable fertilizer and irrigation water; the underground pipeline ties the dairy to the fields; and tools like the 360 Rain, low disturbance manure application, and no till cover crops put those nutrients in the right place at the right time with minimal soil disturbance.

We sat down with Nick, and he walked us through each component of this system. Learn more in the article below!

And, for a more in-depth look at the 360 Rain satellite imagery and info, revisit our earlier post: https://www.facebook.com/BTLDemoFarms/posts/pfbid0RUGrmFiLLQzwfbXpAVTHdM7jA56TfZL5dcqwBA9R1B3KxsPETTUdxVabvBjKaWAHl

Nick Dallmann
Calumet County Land & Water Conservation Dept.
Manitowoc County Soil and Water Conservation Department
360 Yield Center

03/18/2026

Building Soil Health: No-Till Corn into Alfalfa in Calumet County 🚜

In 2025 Nick Dallmann no-till planted corn immediately after harvesting the first crop of alfalfa. While this may sound like a straightforward practice, it’s an excellent example of soil health principles in action. By planting corn without tilling, Nick minimizes soil disturbance, helping to preserve soil structure, organic matter, and microbial life. At the same time, this approach maximizes the presence of living roots in the soil, which support nutrient cycling, improve water infiltration, and feed beneficial soil organisms. 💪🌱💧🪱🐄

For those implementing this practice, careful attention is key. Farmers should monitor soil trench closures closely to ensure good seed-to-soil contact, which is critical for uniform germination. Additionally, farmers should keep an eye on pest pressures, because planting into living residue can sometimes create favorable conditions for certain insects or diseases. 🐛 With careful management, no-till planting corn after alfalfa can be a powerful tool for building long-term soil health while maintaining productive crops. 🌽

Nick Dallmann
Dallmann East River Dairy LLC
Calumet County Land & Water Conservation Dept.

03/04/2026

Driving Soil Health: Fall Cover Crops at Work 🏋️

The fall of 2025 offered a valuable window into the benefits of cover crops across our region. Conditions highlighted how different seeding methods, mixes, and management practices can shape establishment and reinforce the important role cover crops play in protecting soil and supporting long-term farm resilience. 💪

Libertyland Farms trialed aerial-seeding 15 and 30 lb/ac strips of a barley and winter wheat mix into their standing corn silage and soybeans. On the remainder of their acres, they broadcasted the same cover crop mix. After cover crops were planted, the fields received low-disturbance or surface-applied manure, helping the covers germinate. We were able to visually see how valuable a Fall manure application can be when establishing cover crops in a drier season. 📏🌱

Dallmann East River Dairy also broadcast cover crops across all their fields, including those acres that will be seeded to Alfalfa next spring. Their mixes featured wheat, rye, and barley. Although this fall’s conditions were ideal for drilling cover crops for best establishment, we’re looking forward to seeing more above-ground growth from the overwintering species in Spring. ☀️🌧️

Cover crops protect water quality by providing above-ground biomass that slows runoff and filters sediments, while their roots below ground improve soil structure and increase water infiltration, reducing nutrient loss to waterways. 💧 These farms are great examples of putting soil health principles into action by having permanent soil cover and continual living roots. 🤜🏽🤛🏼

Zak Kenneke
Libertyland Farms
Nick Dallmann
Dallmann East River Dairy LLC
Calumet County Land & Water Conservation Dept.
Manitowoc County Soil and Water Conservation Department

Address

Chilton, WI

Telephone

+19203233820

Website

http://www.BTLDemoFarms.org/

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