1/9/2012 Koepke Koepke Farms, Inc Far Inc. Overview of Farm Operation Koepke Farm Koepk Farms, Inc. s, Inc. Family dairy business operated in • partnership with Jim, Alan, David, and John Farm, Site and Study Design Koepke Southeast Wisconsin near Oconomowoc in • Waukesha and Dodge counties Ashippun Creek sub watershed, which • drains towards the Rock River Eventually flows into the Mississippi • River Located within 25 miles of Milwaukee • suburbs Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Farms, Inc Far Inc. Far Farms, Inc Inc. Overview of Farm Operation Overview of Farm Operation Upland fields have low permeability soils • Each partner has his own duties • Farm also employs 8 full ‐ time employees and • Fields lower in the landscape tend to have • 10 part ‐ time employees seasonally high water tables Landscape is gently sloping glaciated ground • Some fields have subsurface tile drainage • moraine comprised of loam and silt loam soils systems installed deposited over glacial till Manage ~ 1000 acres of corn grain, corn • 1 ‐ 10 percent slopes on soils with medium to high • silage, soybeans, winter wheat and alfalfa moisture holding capacity Semi ‐ solid dairy manure is hauled throughout • Water for the facilities is supplied by groundwater • the year, surface applied to corn fields Farm irrigates some cropland in times of limited • Milk 320 registered Holsteins 3 x daily • rainfall 1
1/9/2012 Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Farms, Inc Far Inc. Far Farms, Inc Inc. Overview of Farm Operation Soil Conservation and Nutrient Management Have a no ‐ till farming system Sand bedding is used in the freestall barns • • Cropping practices driven by desire to • reduce sediment loss and improve soil Manure generated during milking is stored in • quality a short ‐ term concrete manure pit Long term no ‐ till cropping has improved Bulls, steers, and heifers are kept on a • • soil aggregation and created a macropore bedded pack system, creating solid manure structure Average 30,000 lbs. of milk per cow • Partners have each attended UWEX Nutrient • Management Education classes and have Has a cow that holds the world record for • developed their own nutrient management plan lifetime milk production – “Granny” which meets the NRCS 590 Standard Farm has a soil and water conservation plan • that maintains soil loss below tolerable levels Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Far Farms, Inc Inc. Far Farms, Inc Inc. Soil Conservation and Nutrient Management Farm Selection Other conservation and water quality practices: • UW Discovery Farms worked with Koepke • Farms, Inc. on two special projects Low manure application rates • Short, targeted on ‐ farm research • Current with whole farm soil sampling • designed around topics producers identify as needing immediate attention Areas of concentrated flow have grassed • waterways 1. Wisconsin Buffer Initiative Both special project sites on the farm focused • on monitoring water quality to better Plant cover crops • 2. UW ‐ Discovery Farms Special Project understand the impact of surface applied manure in no ‐ till cropping systems with tile Barnyard runoff system • drainage in this area of southeast WI Feed management • 2
1/9/2012 Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Far Farms, Inc Inc. Farms, Inc Far Inc. 1. Wisconsin Buffer Initiative 2. UW Discovery Farms Special Project, 2005 ‐ 2009 Water quality monitoring equipment was • 1 of 5 WI farms participating with UW ‐ Madison • installed to compare two tile drainage systems scientists to monitor surface water runoff, and one associated surface water basin researching the effectiveness of riparian buffers Provided information on • Two sites were equipped at Koepke’s to measure • Surface water and tile drainage flow • runoff water volume, soil sediment loss and periods and durations in SE Wisconsin phosphorus loss Sediment and nutrient loss under different • Water quality data, along with crop management • crop management and weather details from all 5 participating farms helped provide initial field calibration data for the UW ‐ Discovery Farms conducted this project in • SNAP ‐ Plus and PALMS software partnership with Sand County Foundation A non ‐ profit conservation organization • More info found at: • based in Madison, WI http://nelson.wisc.edu/people/nowak/wbi/index.php Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Koepke Farms, Inc Far Inc. Farms, Inc Far Inc. Surface and Tile Monitoring Site Layout Outreach Monitoring equipment was placed at juncture of two • The goal was to provide the research and • adjacent basins (east and west) divided by a drainage ditch data to producers, agency and conservation 0 ‐ 4 percent slopes • professionals to get them involved in the Brookston silt loam and Theresa silt loam • identification of environmental Basins each had subsurface tile discharging to the • management decisions compatible with ditch production agriculture West basin monitoring sites: 28 acres • KP3: surface water monitoring site • A field day in September 2008 drew 140 KP2: tile water drainage monitoring site • • attendees to Koepke Farms All fields managed by the farm • Crop rotation: corn silage, corn grain, soybeans, corn • silage, alfalfa Discovery Farms staff presented water • quality results and discussed practices East basin monitoring site: 81 acres • to help producers reduce nutrient and KP1: tile water drainage monitoring site • sediment losses Most fields managed by farm, but not all • Crop rotation: alfalfa, corn grain, corn silage, soybeans • 3
Recommend
More recommend
