IXONIA, Wis. – Wisconsin legislators, state agency representatives and local officials attended an on-farm field day to learn about sustainable farming practices through the Sustainable 4RWI partnership on August 17. Sustainable 4RWI focuses on the 4R approach to nutrient stewardship – using the right nutrient source, at the right rate, at the right time, in the right place – that allows for the achievement of cropping system goals including enhanced environmental protection, increased farmer profitability and improved sustainability.
The field day was hosted by the Griswold family of Taglane Dairy in Ixonia as a partnership between Jefferson County Farm Bureau and Insight FS. Highlights of the day showcased precision planting practices, nutrient management planning, precision nitrogen application and cover crop development, all implemented with 4R principles.
“We value our partnership with Insight FS and are grateful for the opportunity to highlight our shared sustainability goals with legislators and community leaders,” shared Kevin Griswold, owner of Taglane Dairy.
“It is important for everyone to work together to be good conservationists,” said Scott Schultz, Jefferson County Farm Bureau Board member. “We have come a long way and are proud to showcase the great work we are doing.”
Representative Mark Spreitzer, who sits on the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, attended the event.
“It’s great to see what farmers are doing with conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till and precision nitrogen application,” shared Rep. Spreitzer. “These practices help to reduce runoff, improve soil health and improve a farmer’s bottom line.”
One goal of these events is to have these conversations on the farm, while looking directly at the technology, collaborations and the planning that goes into these practices.
“Insight FS is proud to partner with Jefferson County Farm Bureau and the Griswold family to showcase sustainability for our legislators,” said Ben Huber, General Manager of Insight FS. “It is so important to engage elected officials to showcase what we do and why, which is why we collaborate on Sustainable 4RWI.”
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Photos from the event are available here.
About Sustainable 4RWI:
Sustainable 4RWI is a collaborative project between the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and Insight FS to showcase how farmers and ag retailers can work together to sustainably manage crop nutrients using the 4R method. The project is led locally by the host farmer, county Farm Bureau representatives and Insight FS field staff.
About Insight FS:
Insight FS is headquartered in Jefferson, Wis., serving patrons in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Insight FS is an agricultural cooperative with annual sales of $450 million providing agronomy, energy, feed, turf and agri-finance products and services, as well as grain marketing. Insight FS is part of the GROWMARK System. More information is available at insightfs.com.
About Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation:
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization
representing farms of different sizes, commodities and management styles. The organization is made up of voting members and associate members. Members belong to one of 61 county Farm Bureaus, run by a board of directors made up of people working in production agriculture. Farm Bureau prides itself on being a grassroots organization. Each year, county voting members set the policy that guides WFBF on local, state and national affairs.