Field Day in Wisconsin

  • September 13, 2018: Participatory Corn Breeding Project Field Day: The Mandaamin Institute has been breeding high yielding corn varieties that are nutrient dense, nitrogen efficient (fixing) and perform well in low-input organic farms. They are also adding cross incompatibility traits that limit contamination from genetically engineered corn pollen. The higher nutritional value of the corn (approx. 30% more methionine, 16% more protein) enables this corn to reduce the need for soybean meal and synthetic methionine in rations for poultry, This year, they are testing these and other hybrids together with organic farmers in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, and researchers at the University of Illinois. This is part of a larger-scope project called Corn and Soil Health (CASH) that is organizing a network of farmers, agronomists, private and public corn breeders to provide relevant information to members. Research is on hybrids, soil health, corn quality, and identification of potential markets. Some farmers participate by doing strip trials, and others are participating in an educational network. On September 13th (8:30 to 11:30 AM) they are hosting a field day in East Troy, Wisconsin, where they willl show you the strip trial planted by farmer Graham Asdit and his colleagues, and other yield trials. We will discuss our research with SARE grant funding and USDA on hybrids, nutritional quality, and nitrogen uptake. And we will introduce the CASH network. A special listening session afterwards will get your input on what kind of organic seed you need. This event will be combined with lunch at noon and viewing a small hybrid production field on the Rohrer Enterprises farm located in East Troy. If you are interested in attending, please contact the organizers in advance-more information and contact details can be found in this invitation. 

Funding