About the Plots

In 2013, the Conservation District established conservation plots in a fallow field next to the office. The total size of the plots are equal to about an acre. These plots are an educational tool that the District uses to:

1. Experiment with different seed mixtures and cover crop establishment dates
2. Showcase seed mixtures and track success rates and soil health mixtures
3. Educate the general public on agricultural crops and the purpose of cover crops
4. Host farmer meetings and field days to share knowledge gained through these demonstrations
5. Promote the importance of pollinators 

The plots contain different seed mixes sown in different ways. They change year by year in order to maximize our understanding of soil health. In the past, some plots were tilled while others utilized the Districts no-till drill. Some plots were planted and maintained organically while others were taken care of with the use of herbicides alongside other modern day farming practices. Data is collected to better understand how these differences affect soil health, yields, and environmental sustainability

 Present and Future

 Today, the District focuses on showcasing plots that use our no-till drill and inter-seeder to mimic what farmers could expect to see in their own fields. The District attempts to push the envelope so to speak. We have the ability to test yields on different plots and take risks that farmers would not be willing to take on their own fields. These plots offer information that could help farmers who are skeptical to develop confidence that soil health practices such as no-till and cover cropping can increase productivity and make their livelihood more sustainable.

Importance

Soil and water conservation is our specialty at the Clinton County Conservation District. The plots are a means of connecting with the public to discuss issues and solutions to develop healthier soils. waterways, and ecosystems. The plots allow us to exhibit hands-on, trial and error type results that are observable and relatable to both those in the field of agriculture and those who want to learn more about agronomy.