MSU Extension and Monroe Conservation District to host Tillage and Soil Health Field Day on September 9
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EmailThis field day will feature a tillage equipment demonstration to see strip tillage, vertical tillage and a high-speed disc in action.
Join Michigan State University Extension and the Monroe County Conservation District for the 2026 Tillage and Soil Health Field Day on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Setzler Farms in Monroe County, 12400 Strasburg Rd, La Salle, MI 48145. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. Pre-registration is required to reserve a meal.
Don’t miss this informative and hands-on field day featuring tillage equipment and soil pit demonstrations. Presentations from Michigan State University experts will highlight research-based and field-tested strategies that can help farmers achieve soil health, crop production and water quality goals.
Register for the Tillage and Soil Health Field Day
9:00 a.m. Check-In
9:30 a.m. Trends in Long-Term No-Till Cropping Systems
Speaker: Christine Charles, MSU Extension
Trends in long-term no-till cropping systems: Considerations to make when reducing tillage and trends observed from over 30 years of long-term research in no-till in West Michigan.
10:00 a.m. Conservation Drainage for Crop Production and Water Quality
Speaker: Ehsan Ghane, Michigan State University
Learn about considerations around conservation drainage for mitigating nutrient runoff and keeping fields productive.
10:30 a.m. Manure and Tillage
Speaker: Sarah Zeiler, MSU Extension
Discover how tillage can be used beneficially for soil health while using manure. In this session, we will discuss manure incorporation methods as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each.
11:00 a.m. PFAS in Cropping Systems
Speaker: Faith Cullens-Nobis, MSU Extension
Gain an understanding of PFAS considerations in agricultural cropping systems and what producers should know about this emerging issue.
11:30 a.m. Soil Pit and Tillage/Residue Management Demonstration
Tillage equipment demonstration will highlight a range of tillage tools designed to reduce soil movement and increase residue cover. Tools demonstrated include strip tillage, vertical tillage and high-speed disc in cooperation with Redline Equipment and Hutson’s, Inc.
Whether you're a farmer looking to improve your management practices, an agricultural professional looking to sharpen your recommendations, or simply interested in the latest conservation in crop production, this field day offers an excellent opportunity to learn directly from experts and see practices demonstrated in the field.
Mark your calendar and join us for a morning of practical information, expert discussion, and hands-on learning!
This field day is supported in part by the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) Pay-for-Performance Conservation Incentive Program, a bold new initiative led by Michigan State University’s Institute of Water Research in partnership with MSU Extension and local conservation partners to directly address phosphorus pollution in the Western Lake Erie Basin. This innovative program pays producers based on the actual performance of their conservation practices, measured in dollars per pound of phosphorus loss reduced.
Program enrollment will launch in August 2026 and extend through 2032.
For more information about the Pay-for-Performance program, reach out to David DeYoung (deyoun59@msu.edu) and Jeremiah Asher (asherjer@msu.edu).