Jerry and Jean Kuhl, Conservation Farmers of the Year
Jerry and Jean Kuhl of Sharon Township. Photo courtesy of Wahtenaw Conservation District
reprinted with permission from the Washtenaw Conservation District's 2018 Annual Report
The Washtenaw County Conservation District is pleased to present the 2018 “Walter Wolfgang Memorial” Conservation Farmer of the Year Award to Jerry and Jean Kuhl of Sharon Township.
Jerry and Jean are longtime residents of the Manchester and Chelsea areas, growing up on their family farms just miles apart from each other. Together they continue the legacy of the Kuhl farm. Jerry is now the fourth generation to run the farm since its founding in 1865. Over the generations the farm focused on raising various livestock (dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, chickens and pigs), straw and other crops. Today, the Kuhls focus on a rotation of corn, soy and wheat.
Jerry is the first farmer in his family to introduce conservation practices. On a whim, fueled by curiosity and a desire to try new things, the Kuhls enrolled their land in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) in 2015. On the lovely rolling hills of the farm, the Kuhls incorporate a variety of best management practices into their farm schedule. In addition to focusing on no-till methods, Jerry has implemented new practices through CSP.
The Kuhls use a controlled traffic system to prevent compaction and restrict heavy load traffic to specific lanes. GPS targeted spraying helps Jerry reduce nutrient and sediment runoff and conserve purchased resources. Plant tissue testing and analysis helps Jerry to improve nitrogen management by targeting the nutrient needs of the crop. High level Integrated Pest Management, leaving grain unharvested for wildlife and planting high residue cover crop mixtures are also incorporated practices.
The farm is truly a family effort. Over the years, the Kuhls have brought in their two children to help with planting and harvests and still continue to do so.
Jerry is currently the President of the Washtenaw County Dairy and Livestock Agricultural Banquet. When their children were younger and active in 4H, Jerry also served as the Superintendent of the Chelsea Lamb Club. The Kuhls have trialed seed test plots and hosted field days for the MI Corn and Soybean Growers Associations.
More recently, Jerry’s desire to try new things led him to investigate solar energy and installing solar panels in order to generate all of the energy needed on the farm. Harvest Energy Solutions installed a 7 kw system and more recently a second 11 kw system. A meter attached to the panels on the house shows metering moving backwards when the panels supply energy to the grid. On a sunny day, the meter runs very quickly into the negative. With the exception of drying grain, all of their farm equipment can be run at the same time off of energy produced from the panels if needed.
In addition to working the farm, Jerry and Jean both maintain off-farm jobs. Jerry works at the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea and Jean works in accounting at Chelsea Lumber. As the holidays approach, the Kuhls feel grateful for having completed the 2018 harvest. Before digging into preparations for 2019, the Kuhl’s hope to take a short break and spend Christmas with the family.
Editors note: The Kuhl's will receive the award at the Washtenaw County Conservation District’s 71st Annual Meeting at 6 pm this Thursday, January 10, at the Washtenaw County Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road. The public is welcome to attend. A buffet dinner is available for a charge with advanced reservation. Call the District Office at: (734) 205-1219 or e-mail: megan.deleeuw@macd.org for more information.
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