Low-disturbance Manure Application in the Rat River Watershed

In September 2022, Lydell Pethke, one of our Rat River Farmer Champions, hired Buttles Custom Ag to complete a low-disturbance manure (LDM) application on 89.95 acres at a rate of 12,000 gallons/acre after harvesting his corn. After applying the manure, Lydell used a no-till drill to plant the same 89.95 acres in his first round of cover crops (a rye and radish cover crop seed mix) at a rate of 61 lbs/acre. Lydell is minimizing his soil disturbance and preventing nutrient loss due to surface water runoff by implementing the practice of LDM and cover crops on his farm. This is part of a Fox-Wolf soil health project funded through a GLSNRP grant. Check out the photos below from Winnebago County Land and Water Conservation Department to see how it works!