Pastor walk in Luck

LUCK — The NW Wisconsin Graziers Network and University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension invite people to a multi-enterprise pasture walk hosted by Anathoth Community Farm near Luck in Polk County on Saturday, July 20, from 10 a.m to noon. This educational event will emphasize, clipping pastures of excess growth, bee and pollinator habitat, multi-species direct marketing, making baleage, grazing for meat production, regenerative agriculture and watershed protection.

The Anathoth Community Farm is home to Mike Miles, Barb Kass and their extended family. They raise fully pastured beef, poultry and pork and do retail sales directly to customers. The farm consists of about 60 acres on gently rolling lighter soils with pastures and wooded areas. Using temporary polywire fencing and portable animal paddocks, Miles moves animals up to three times per day, thereby creating better soil health, water infiltration and diversified animal nutrition. Short-term, high-stocking density grazing, out-wintering beef cattle and bale grazing will be discussed, along with answering any and all questions from pasture walk participants.

The farm has established key-line swales to harvest melted snow and rain water run-off which could otherwise cause erosion. The swale borders are planted with various perennials both trees and shrubs. Forages are grown in the alleys. Silvopasturing includes both partial clearing for grazing and establishment of trees in existing pastures.

A newly developed pollinator garden is being established, and honey bee production will be discussed. The farm features rotational beef grazing, pastured poultry, layers and broilers, pastured hogs and solar power that supplies electricity to the grid. The farm also uses a three-point, no-till seeder to inter-seed forage mixes and cover crops in heavy use areas.

The farm is located at 740 Round Lake Rd. south of Highway 48. From Luck, take Highway 48 east 8 miles, turn right or south on County Highway E, drive about 2 miles, then turn right on Round Lake Road. Drive about 2 miles to the farm. From Cumberland, take Highway 48 about 12 miles, then turn left or south on County Highway E. Watch for the signs.

For more information, contact Miles or Kass at 715.472.8721, Michael Geissinger, the regional UW-Madison Extension Nutrient Management specialist, at 608.640.0650 or Lynn Johnson, 715.225.9882, at NW Graziers.