05/27/2026
Test Plot Crop Walk 🚶
Since 2009, Jackson Electric has generously donated eight acres of land behind its headquarters to the Black River Falls FFA Test Plot Cooperative. The cooperative operates much like a real-world co-op, where current FFA members contribute a one-dollar membership fee and earn patronage dividends through their participation.
Yesterday marked the start of this year’s test plot, with Max Hart planting soybeans for the students. The plot is scheduled to be fertilized next week.
You may notice a familiar face involved again. Retired agricultural teacher and FFA advisor Brad Markhardt has returned temporarily to assist with the program. He shared details about this year’s project: “We will conduct a population trial in our Enlist soybean planting. Max planted the headlands and upper field at 140,000 seeds per acre (one bag per acre). He then planted four 10-foot passes at varying populations: low (~100,000 seeds per acre), normal (~140,000 seeds per acre), and high (~180,000 seeds per acre). We’ll mark where each population changes in the field.”
The group will set dates for summer crop walks at their next meeting on Tuesday, May 19.
