Agriculture-related careers represent 11% of Wisconsin’s workforce – that’s nearly 1 in 9 Wisconsin jobs involved in agriculture. Sustainability matters from the farmer’s gate to the consumer’s plate. Each step of the supply chain has their own priorities when it comes to preserving resources and ensuring success for the next generation.
Crop Consultants offer advice to farmers about crops, fertilizer, manure application and more. They support sustainability by promoting best management practices to efficiently use inputs for the best outcomes.
Hear from Owner of Much Crop Consulting, Inc., Kyle Much, about his role and how sustainability impacts his work with farmers.
Name: Kyle Much 
Hometown/County: Larsen/ Waupaca County
Job Title: Owner of Much Crop Consulting Inc.
Summary of job description: I work with area dairy, beef and grain farmers in Northeast Wisconsin providing scouting and writing nutrient management plans. I give recommendations for spreading manure and fertilizer based off of soil tests I take for the farm. The crops I work with are: Alfalfa, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Oats, Sorghum, and Barley. I meet with clients in the winter to plan for the upcoming crop year. Together, we figure out what to plant in each field and where best to spread the manure on the farm. Once plants emerge, scouting occurs weekly to look for weeds, insects and diseases to control during the crop growing season. Based off what is observed, I give recommendations for which herbicide, insecticide, and fungicide to use. I want my clients to succeed with growing the best crops possible while also being environmentally sustainable to allow the farm to be passed on to the next generation.
How do you help farmers be more sustainable? With having a nutrient management plan, it is easier to see how the cropping sequence affects soil loss. We do not want to lose soil so we use cover crops to help keep the soil in place. I have had farmers plant cover crops between the corn rows while the corn is short and after corn harvest the cover crop is already established and continues growing.
What terms/words do you associate with sustainability in the field? Soil Health, Variable rate technology for fertilizer and seed (VRT), sustainable-want to pass on to the next generation.
Thank you, Kyle, for your commitment to Wisconsin agriculture!
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