If you look closely enough, there is a whole ecosystem growing among the corn and soybeans that farmers are growing in their fields. According to Peninsula Pride Farms, more than 16,000 of its members’ acres have cover crops growing at some point during the course of the year, with farmers planting crops like corn and soybeans into 5,500 of those acres.

While cover crops like triticale and rye have become old standbys for some farmers, Barry Bubolz from the Natural Resources Conservation Service says test plots planted at the Peninsular Agricultural Research Station in Sturgeon Bay could unlock some different combinations that could yield even better results. The test plots are showcasing how different cover crop mixtures react with each other and with herbicides, in addition to being used with interseeding between rows of cash crops like soybeans and corn. Bubolz says they are always trying to learn how farmers can make their soil healthier and crop yields better while protecting their water quality.

Bubolz and State Agronomist Jamie Patton will discuss their findings at the Peninsular Agricultural Research Station in Sturgeon Bay on Wednesday at 5 p.m. as part of the Peninsula Pride Farms' Conservation Conversation.