Posted: 08.05.2011

Growers get a chance to see how things measure up during the annual Agronomy/Soils 
Field day – August 31st. 

There will be a major emphasis this year on growing switchgrass for biofuel. After more 
than three years of working on the biofuels challenge, researchers at UW-Madison 
want to share some of what they have learned. The many angles of growing switchgrass
for biofuel is the topic of the special session at the annual field event at the
Arlington Agricultural Research Station.

"Switchgrass, like many perennial grasses, translocates most of the nutrients in the
plant down into the crown after it flowers," says UW-Madison agronomist Josh Posner.
"Because it translocates so much of its nutrients back into the crown, switchgrass
really needs very little added nitrogen or phosphorous." 

UW-Madison soil scientist Matt Ruark, adds, "Harvest timing will be a critical 
management decision for growers and energy producers. Later harvest timings
reduce nutrient concentrations in the switchgrass which is better for burning, but 
the later harvest timing can result in decreased yields." 

Because perennial grasses have many positive attributes, Posner believes they may 
one day make it back onto Wisconsin farms, especially with the rising cost of fuel. It will
be a matter of balancing the difference between low input costs and possible returns
down the line, as this production system develops, he says.

The 2011 field day also presents producers with the opportunity to learn about 
the latest technology available to grow today’s crops. Topic-specific tours will depart
the Public Events Facility at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., with the biofuels
special session at 1:00. It’s possible to make three of the four tours -if you plan 
it just right. 

The corn and soybean tour offers the economics of seed and foliar fungicides in 
corn and soybeans, weed control with different tillage methods, corn yield estimates
and their predictive value, and the initial results of both our soybean decades
study and our soil quality study. 

Visitors on the forages tour will examine the nutritional status of Wisconsin alfalfa,
the search for higher alfalfa yields, and the latest on meadow fescue and how best
to grow it. Take the soils tour to learn about the use of FGD gypsum, nutrient
management in no-till production, corn hybrid effects on nitrogen and nitrogen 
use efficiency, and an update from the crop and soil diagnostic service.

Lunch will be available on the grounds. During lunch, David Moll, an extension
grain marketing outreach specialist in the UW-Madison Department of Agricultural 
and Applied Economics and the UW Renk Agribusiness Institute, will provide
a grain markets update starting at 12:15 p.m. 

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