Aaron Augustian

Participant in the Door-Kewaunee Watershed Demonstration Farm Network, Kewaunee, Wi.

CLASSROOM #11: Building a More Sustainable, Profitable No-Till Dairy Operation

For Aaron and Todd Augustian, running a dairy farm the traditional way isn’t the answer anymore. Through the help of various agencies and partners they’re establishing several new conservation practices that are making their 1,100-acre operation more profitable and environmentally sustainable.

The Kewaunee, Wis., growers — who manage 1,200 cows and young stock and are participants in the DoorKewaunee Watershed Demonstration Farm Network — shares how they’ve successfully implemented no-till and cover crop practices on their farm, including interseeding alfalfa into corn. They also share the results of their cover crop and low-disturbance manure application program and comparative data they’ve generated with a water-monitoring station as they seek to mitigate the risk of groundwater and surface water contamination.