Guilette Farms is a third-generation family farm operating in both Door and Kewaunee Counties. The farm consists of Debbie and Allen, their children Nick and wife Jessica (Hunter, Logan, and Trevor), Aaron (Bella), Sarah and husband Ryan (Colton and Dylan). The farm grows corn, soybeans, winter wheat, and cover crops and also does custom combining. Guilette Farms is a proud member of Peninsula Pride Farms.
How has being a member of PPF helped you accomplish your conservation goals?
Being a member of PPF has allowed Guilette Farms to participate in programs like cost share and gain valuable knowledge through events like the Conservation Conversations. By having extra dollars to spend on cover crop seeds and field days to learn more about “out of the box” conservation ideas, we have pushed the envelope farther on our conservation goals.
2) What new conservation practices did you try in 2020 and why?
We tried no-till planting green some of our corn fields this year. By seeing and hearing about other farms’ experiences through PPF, we gained knowledge and comfort in the practice. We wanted to try this practice to save time, minimize erosion and build soil health.
What improvement in the soil have you seen on your farm since implementing a conservation practice? What practice was it?
We have seen an improvement in the ability to no-till plant corn after winter wheat when we use cover crops to condition the soil after winter wheat harvest.
How long have you been implementing conservation practices on your land and why did you start?
We have been implementing nutrient management planning and conservation tillage since the early 2000’s and likely even before then. Nick became a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) in 2004 and through continuing education requirements he has been learning more about the importance of soil health.
How has PPF helped you understand conservation practices?
PPF allows farmers and others to come together and learn from each other through field days and other learning opportunities (relevant meetings and Conservation Conversations). Having agronomy professionals working closely with farmers in the area has been instrumental in the adoption of conservation practices across the landscape.
Why is it important for you to have a sustainable farm?
At Guilette Farms, we want to improve our soil and by doing so we will also have beneficial outcomes for the environment and our farm’s profitability.
If there is anything else you would like to add?
It is encouraging to see the results that PPF and the Door-Kewaunee Demonstration Farms Network are having in promoting conservation practices in Northeastern Wisconsin. Guilette Farms is also proud of Nick’s involvement with PPF and the Door-Kewaunee Demonstration Farms Network and being selected to be the inaugural American Society of Agronomy’s CCA Conservationist of the Year in 2019.