Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil and Healthy Water will explore the effect equipment has on soil health. The group will host an educational event in Columbus with several speakers as well as demonstrations. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 8. It is open to the public, and a meal will be provided. RSVP by Aug. 1: https://bit.ly/DCFAug8.
Explore soil health topics with the following experts:
Jodi DeJong-Hughes
Jodi DeJong-Hughes is a regional educator with the University of Minnesota Extension. Her focus includes tillage systems, soil compaction and improving soil health. DeJong-Hughes’ work focuses on reducing soil erosion and building soil health to improve the grower’s bottom line. It also focuses on minimzing the movement of soil and nutrients to our natural waterways. She enjoys working alongside growers, ag industry and government agencies to bring high-quality educational programs and research to the people of Minnesota and beyond. She will discuss what compaction is and why farmers are concerned about it.
Francisco Arriaga
Francisco Arriaga is a University of Wisconsin-Madison assistant professor and soil extension specialist. Arriaga directs the Sustainable Soil Management Laboratory and provides extension outreach. He does research in applied soil physics and water management. Arriaga also supports the development of management systems that promote crop success and soil and water conservation. He will be presenting on compaction sources – tillage, equipment and his current research.
Jake Kraayenbrink
Jake Kraayenbrink is the president and owner of Agribrink. He has worked with farmers to understand the effects compaction has on soil health. His passion for soil health and investigation of tire inflation/deflation technology led to the start of AgriBrink. With support from an engineer friend, he built the AgriBrink CTIS (central inflation/deflation system). The company has locations in Ontario, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK and Ames, Iowa.
AgriBrink CTIS allows farmers to widen their application window, reduce compaction, protect soil structure, lower fuel use, extend tire life and reduce yield loss. Kraayenbrink will share how tire pressure as well as other strategies can reduce equipment compaction.
Brian Luck
Brian Luck is an associate professor and extension specialist for UW-Madison. Luck directs the Wisconsin Machinery Extension Lab, which provides information about machinery and precision agriculture technologies. His research focuses on machine automation, data and image processing. He will perform a field demonstration with pressure mats as well as various compaction tools.
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