The 30th Milan No-Till Field Day offered ample evidence of the value of conservation tillage.
The 30th Annual Milan No-till Field Day offered ample evidence for why 96 percent of Tennessee farmers have adopted conservation tillage practices over the past two decades.
Attendees saw first-hand how no-till practices help hold moisture in the soil, limit runoff and erosion and increase soil organic matter.
Presentations featured research on cover crops, precision agriculture, weed, disease and pest management, equipment, variety trials, and new technology.
See also: The good, bad, and ugly of farming with precision technologies.
Blake Brown, director of The Research & Education Center at Milan, said the 30th Milan Field Day was a good one.
“Weather was good. We always say we get the hottest day of the year for the field day. Today was pleasant. Attendance numbers look good. We had a good program and a lot of interest.”
Brown said no-till and conservation till system adoption has been exceptional.
A new push, he added, is use of cover crops. “We’ve used cover crops for years, but not the kinds of mixes we’re researching today.”
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A shop and farm equipment, reflected in a pond on the UT Research & Education Center at MIlan, home of the annual Milan No-Till Field Day.
Tennessee Commissioner of Ag
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Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Jai Templeton chats with Kevin Brown at the VIP Breakfast before the Milan No-Till Field Day.
Cotton Tent
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The cotton tent was a busy place during the Milan-No-Till Field Day.
Field Day Ferry
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Tractor-pulled wagons ferried folks to and from Milan No-till Field Day presentations.
For 30 Years
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Milan Sign: For 30 years, the Milan No-Till Field Day has been the place to hear and discuss everything about no-till farming.
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Mustache Man: Nothing may run like a Deere, but nobody at the Milan No-Till Field Day had a mustache quite like Bumpus Mills, Tenn., farmer Gary Hutchison
Even the Parking is no-till
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Even the parking lot is created in no-till fashion at the Milan No-Till Field Day.
Old Crop Residue
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Old-crop residue reduces erosionl, improves moisture retention and adds organic matter to the soil—key benefits of no-till production.
This Old Plow
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Old Plow: The UT Research and Education Center in Milan, Tenn., houses a host of antique farm implements including this horse-drawn, one-row plow manufactured by the Vulcan Plow Co., Evansville, Indiana
Conducting Interviews
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Blake and Ron: Farm Press Senior Content Director Ron Smith interviews Blake Brown, director of the UT Research & Education Center in Milan, Tenn., during this year’s Milan No-Till Field Day.
Lunch Hostess for 25 years
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Ruth Shoaf: It’s easy to see what crop is the fabric of Ruth Shoaf’s life. She and her family have hosted a lunch for friends, businessmen, politicians, and farmers at their home during the Milan No-Till Field Day for 25 years.
Proper Sampling Method
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Heather Kelly, UTIA soil pathologist, demonstrates the proper method of collecting soil and soybean cyst nematode samples during the Milan No-till Field Day.
Dicamba Issues
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Larry Steckel, Tenn., Extension weed scientist, discusses the issues that could jeopardize re-registration of dicamba herbicides.
VIPs Gather for Breakfast
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The Milan No-Till Field Day VIP breakfast included politicians, UTIA leadership and various other ag industry representatives.
Portable Sawmill
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Mizer Saw Mill: A representative from Wood-Mizer showcases a portable sawmill during the field day activities at Milan, Tenn.