The Tree
T h e U W D i s c o ve r y Fa r m s N e w s l e t t e r
Fall 2013
YAHARA PRIDE FARMS, MORE FARMER-LED SOLUTIONS IN WISCONSIN WATERSHEDS
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ahara Pride Farms is a non-profit, farmer-led organization dedicated to improving the water quality of the lakes, streams, and wetlands of the Yahara River watershed in South Central, Wisconsin. They are a privately funded, non-governmental organization implementing their goals through an incentivized certification program, education, new technologies and cost-share programs. All of these programs assist in the efforts to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen runoff into the waterways of the Yahara watershed. Like UW Discovery Farms’ watershed projects in Jersey Valley and Dry Run Creek, Yahara Pride Farms shares similar methods for identifying and documenting farms’ strengths and weaknesses. They also offer cover crop cost share and use USGS monitoring for unbiased, reliable water data. There are three major components in which Yahara Pride Farms focuses its efforts; the Farm Certification continued on page 7
INSIDE
Yahara Pride Farms, More Farmer-Led Solutions in Wisconsin Watersheds................................................................................... 1 Discovery Farms New Logo........................................................... 1 Directors’ Columns.............................................................. 2 Watershed Monitoring Projects......................................... 3 UW Discovery Farms Winter Conference Set for Dec 11.... 4 Multi-State Tour Recap and Future Activities.................. 5 UW Discovery Farms Hosts Field Day at Herricks Farm.... 6
DISCOVERY FARMS NEW LOGO
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ome people get a new hair cut or new wardrobe to help represent change in their lives. Here, at UW Discovery Farms, we have received a bit of a “face lift” ourselves. We have recently refreshed our logo to symbolize the evolution and transition we are going through. Just like the tree, this program has strong roots in providing farmer-led solutions. The flowing water continues to represent our focus on water quality. And the new fields signify that our work is directly connected to agriculture, made possible by agricultural relationships sustained since our beginnings in 2001. We look forward to continually working, learning and growing with you!
Directors’ Columns Amber Radatz
Eric Cooley
Change isn’t always easy, but it usually gives us some valuable perspective. In the past three years my husband Tim and I bought our first house, had our first child, experienced the loss of family members and friends, and celebrated retirements of some of our closest friends, family, and colleagues. It is amazing to think about the evolution we’ve gone through based on changes that take place over a period of time.
I have had a passion for agriculture from an early age. My father was a veterinarian who owned his own large and small animal practice. I would ride along with him any chance that I would get on farm calls. Although I was probably more of a hindrance than a help, I would try and assist him in any way I could. As I grew-up into middle and high school, I spent most summers baling hay, helping to milk and feed cows, and performing other work on local farms. I also had to tend our family garden that was a few acres of a variety of crops. Because the two communities that I grew-up in had a strong agricultural industry (Sturgeon Bay and DeForest, WI), summer work was always easy to find. I am thankful to have been able to work those jobs growing-up because they instilled the values and work ethics that I carry today.
When Tim and I welcomed our son Wilson into the world last year, we gained a whole new sense of what it means to really be totally responsible. We had largely been responsible for ourselves for a few years through college and the first couple years of marriage, but this was very different. We find ourselves putting everything into raising Wilson knowing the time and effort we put in will translate into the hopes, dreams, and accomplishments of our little one. In a lot of ways, the same goes for our work with UW Discovery Farms.
When I graduated high school, I was undecided on what I wanted to be, so I joined the US Navy. I served a 6-year enlistment as a nuclear reactor operator and water chemist onboard a guided missile cruiser. After completing a degree in nuclear engineering from Thomas Edison State College, and knowing this was NOT what I wanted to do for a living, I found my calling in soil science at UW-Madison. There, I finished a bachelor’s degree in soil and water conservation and a master’s degree in soil physics.
I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of the UW Discovery Farms Program since 2004. I couldn’t be more proud of the evolution that this program has undergone, under the direction of Dennis and Fred. I will admit, though, that I didn’t understand what it really felt like to be someone that was responsible for helping carry out the mission and vision of the farmer leaders and past directors. Now, three months into the most important job I’ve ever had outside of parenting, I feel that responsibility. I feel the pride of knowing that all we put into the program is worth it. I cherish the relationships I’ve gained through this work and know there will be many more.
After college, my first job was with the Door County Soil and Water Conservation Department where I specialized in nutrient management planning, soil testing and Global Information System mapping. I then worked for a short period at the UW - Environmental Resources Center where I interviewed farmers about their nutrient management plans to determine how the plans were working for them. In 2004, I was hired by UW Discovery Farms as an outreach specialist and field technician. I was advanced to a research coordinator position in 2008 and have worked as such until my transition into co-director.
Dennis and Fred were not only mentors for me, but close friends too. They’ve given Eric and I all the tools we need to be prepared for this challenge. I truly believe in the legacy they’ve started. I am invested in the mission and vision of the Discovery Farms Program, and I know Eric is too. We’re dedicated to continuing to help Wisconsin farmers communicate the positive practices they are using on their farms, and will always be working to help improve agriculture’s environmental impact. We trust that farmers actively engaged in the discussion and decision making will result in innovative partnerships and solutions.
On a personal note, I consider myself to be a tried and true “cheese head” and avid Packer fan that married into season tickets. I somehow figure a way to incorporate cheese into almost every meal...everything is better with cheese. In my spare time, which isn’t much these days with a wife and two young children, I enjoy fishing and hunting.
I guess all of this is to say, Discovery Farms has been through some changes in the past few years too. We’ve gained valuable perspective with each twist and turn, and are ready and willing to continue on the great path that has been paved. Please feel free to contact us anytime, we’d be glad to hear from you.
I am very proud of the work that the program has accomplished since its inception. Because of the success of the Wisconsin Discovery Farms program, three other states have developed similar programs. I will continue to serve the farmers of Wisconsin and please feel free to contact me if you ever have any questions or concerns.
Amber
Eric 2 The Tree-Fall 2013
WATERSHED MONITORING PROJECTS IN THE DRIFTLESS REGIONS OF MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN The Root River Watershed consists of three project watersheds, South Branch Headwaters, Crystal Creek and Bridge Creek. The Jersey Valley watershed is currently the only project in the larger Kickapoo watershed. Due to topography and proximity, we anticipate similar results from the Bridge Creek and Jersey Valley projects.
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ver the past few years, Minnesota and Wisconsin have started similar watershed monitoring projects. Both projects provide a comprehensive assessment of water quality across a large agricultural area. In watershed projects, researchers conduct monitoring at multiple scales in order to identify the amount and sources of runoff and nutrient loss. Gathering information at multiple locations, at the edge of agricultural fields and within streams, provides a better understanding of how different land use practices and management affect the health of local rivers and streams. Project partners are addressing the following key questions:
in size. In-stream monitoring sites are located at the outlet of a small watershed and capture water from an area of 2,000–5,000 acres.
99 What is the range of sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus losses from agricultural fields? 99 How effective are new and existing agricultural conservation practices?
The nutrient and sediment losses observed at each scale will provide valuable information about how nutrients and sediments are transported from the edge-offield to the in-stream outlet. Significant differences in losses measured at these scales (edge-of-field vs. instream) will provide information about how sediment and nutrients are stored or assimilated on the landscape. It will also provide insight into non-agricultural contributions from the wooded or urban portions of the watersheds.
99 What are the long-term trends and relationships between specific farming practices and water quality? At the core of watershed projects is a nested monitoring design. This includes edge-of-field monitoring sites “nested” within a sub-watershed (or placed at strategic positions throughout). Edge-of-field sites provide information about the amount of soil and nutrients moving off a given field into an adjacent waterway. Each site captures water from an area between 10 and 100 acres
Information gathered from these watershed projects is similar to the core Discovery Farms. This includes farm management information, climatic data as well as data on runoff volume sediment, phosphorus and nitrogen loss. Summary of the first few monitoring seasons are available on-line at: www.mda.state.mn.us/cwf/rrpartnership and http://www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org/CurrentProjects/JerseyValleyWatershed.aspx.
Root River Field to Stream Partnership Fillmore, Mower and Houston counties in southeast Minnesota (Sampling began in 2010)
Monitoring stations: 4 within agricultural fields, 1 sub-surface drainage tile, 3 within streams, 1 within an area of the intermittent stream Partners: Farmers, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center (MAWRC), Houston, Fillmore and Mower County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Nature Conservancy, and Monsanto.
There are many similarities between landscape characteristics, farming practices and monitoring approaches between projects in Wisconsin and Minnesota. This allows us to learn from each other and collaborate on monitoring and data interpretation. This is important because of the amount of data generated and the complexity of understanding all the factors that influence water quality across a landscape. These projects are some of the first of their kind and we are excited to be working together on this challenging work. §
Jersey Valley Watershed Monroe and Vernon counties in western Wisconsin (Sampling began in 2010) Monitoring stations: 4 within agricultural fields, 1 in a non-cultivated wooded area, 1 within a culvert that drains water from a portion of the city, 1 within an area of the intermittent stream, 1 in an area of the perennial stream Partners: Farmers, University of Wisconsin Discovery Farms, Monroe and Vernon County Land Conservation Departments, Walton Family Foundation, and the City of Cashton. 3
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UW DISCOVERY FARMS WINTER CONFERENCE SET FOR DEC 11 Ag at the Head of the Table: Innovative Partnerships to Address Water Quality Targets December 11, 2013 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Wilderness – Glacier Canyon Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI Registration Fee is $60 (pay at door or register online) Registration begins at 9:00 am Perspectives and Experiences related to adaptive management Randy Herwig, Department of Public Works, City of Lodi; Pat Morrow, MSA Professional Services; Kurt Calkins, Columbia County Land & Water Conservation Department
The City of Lodi has begun work on an adaptive management project that will involve the local land conservation department, a local engineering company, and area farmers. Their experience in the beginning stages of a project meant to address water quality targets in real world situations is invaluable to farmers, conservation personnel, and other wastewater treatment operators that may be involved in similar projects in the future. Developing partnerships and working together to share responsibility for water quality among point and non-point sources is crucial to protection of our natural resources and a vibrant agricultural economy! History and experiences with developing and using risk assessment tools to address water quality goals Andrew Sharpley, University of Arkansas Department of Crop, Soil, & Environmental Science
Dr. Sharpley has been integral in the development of risk assessment tools and the body of research used to develop and verify these tools. Andrew will help us understand the history and science behind some of the tools we are familiar with here in Wisconsin, like the Phosphorus Index (PI). For your farm business, it’s important to understand how to use model results for management recommendations and protecting water quality. Considerations for water quality agreements David Crass, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
You often work with agreements and contracts in your farm business for a variety of products and services. One that you may not have worked with yet is a water quality agreement. David will show us what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to navigate these new partnerships. Farmer groups address water quality locally Jeff Endres, Yahara Pride Farms
Yahara Pride Farms is organized for farmers, by farmers, as one of the first groups of its kind to address water quality and agricultural sustainability. This group of farmers is bringing innovative management practices and ideas onto the agricultural landscape of Southern Wisconsin. Their take on partnering with local businesses to encourage and support proper land management is proof that breaking tradition can yield outstanding results. The value of true partnerships on a county level Jack Herricks, Dairy Farmer, Cashton, WI; Bob Micheel, Monroe County Land Conservation Department
On farms there are many advisors that offer technical expertise on a wide range of subjects. An advisor who can offer assistance with conservation efforts is an invaluable member of that group. Changes and tweaks to your conservation management system on an annual basis can add up to extensive improvements over time. Listen to Jack and Bob reflect on what they’ve been able to accomplish through mutual respect for each other’s experience on the land. Education and Engagement, Verification and Implementation: DF Watershed lessons Amber Radatz, UW Discovery Farms
Even though Discovery Farms has been studying farms and water quality for 13 years, assessing farms and water quality on a watershed scale was a new and unique challenge. Amber will share lessons about implementing farmer led solutions after four years of work in Jersey Valley and Dry Run Creek Watersheds. 4 The Tree-Fall 2013
HISTORY AND EXPERIENCES WITH DEVELOPING AND USING RISK ASSESSMENT TOOLS TO ADDRESS WATER QUALITY GOALS
scrutiny is now being directed towards the legacy of past land management practices, in terms of sinks and stores of P in the watershed. In particular, it has been suggested that conservation strategies have not adequately taken account of P legacy issues arising from past land management. This presentation will discuss this timeline of events and show;
Andrew Sharpley, Dept. of Crop, Soil, & Environmental Sciences, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR Dr. Sharpley has shared the abstract to his keynote speech for the Discovery Farms Conference on December 11.
99 P Indices are risk assessment tools designed to aid state agencies, farmers, and farm advisors to manage agricultural P with minimal P runoff and to help target and determine the most appropriate BMPs.
The Phosphorus (P) Index was developed in the 1990’s to describe and account for all processes determining the risk of P runoff from a given agricultural field. Partly as an alternative to soil test P thresholds being used to determine the risk of environmental P management in general, researchers demonstrated the sounder science behind P Indices for risk management and targeting; and in 2000 the USDA-NRCS and EPA adopted the approach to guide nutrient management planning as a part of the NRCS 590 Standard. Over the next 10 years, each State was tasked with developing a P Index to meet their specific agricultural needs. As a consequence there is now an array of “Indices” that range from simple additive accounting to fairly complex models. However, not all Indices were as rigorous or restrictive in assessing site risk and were labeled as becoming “farming friendly” by some Federal Agencies and environmental groups. In response, NRCS undertook a review and revision of all State P Indices with the intention of ensuring some commonality of management recommendations and risk assignment.
99 Models are useful tools to inform management decision; but they do not make management decisions by themselves. 99 There is uncertainty in the data used to feed risk tools and models as well as in the estimations that must be recognized. 99 Mobilization of legacy P may mask or delay the benefits of current management in reducing P runoff and biological response of receiving waters. Thus, legacy P sources must be accounted for relative to currently managed sources. 99 How the legacies of past management can have both positive and negative impacts on future water quality and what technologies are available to address legacy P. §
MULTI-STATE TOUR RECAP AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES
As water quality issues continue, renewed attention was focused on agricultural P management with several sophisticated models estimating agriculture to be the main source of nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Mississippi River Basin, and Great Lakes Basin. Doubt as to the validity of these estimations prompted agriculture and its stakeholders to proactively foster conservation practice adoption and implementation. Models can be useful tools for the synthesis and evaluation of our understanding of systems. As management tools, they can only begin to describe the variables specified per se in the model. Great care must be given to identifying the appropriate parameters to estimate and the measures to be applied to these parameters. The assumptions that enter into this definitional process are often as important as the science developed in an attempt to achieve the stated goals. Also, increasing
Tim Radatz
The annual Discovery Farms multi-state tour was hosted by Minnesota in August. Discovery Farms representatives from Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Arkansas, and Illinois were present for the tour. The tour showcased the efforts Minnesota farmers and farm organizations are making to protect and improve water quality. North Dakota hosted the multi-state Discovery Farms tour in 2011, Arkansas hosted in 2012, and Wisconsin will host 5
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the event next summer–watch for details on the 2014 event in upcoming newsletters.
intact, especially the farmer leadership aspect. Farmers need to be active participants and partners in the program and a Steering Committee, comprised of farmers and conservation professionals, needs to provide direction for the program.
The first day of the tour started out at the Minnesota Farm Bureau office, participants boarded a bus and proceeded to view bluffs along the Minnesota River and tour the Hager Discovery Farm, a swine and grain farm near Mankato. The second day started with a tour of the Gorans Discovery Farm, a turkey and grain operation near Willmar, and finished with a tour of the Meyer Discovery Farm, a dairy farm near Sauk Centre. The event was very well attended with about 40-50 participants at each tour stop.
Discovery Farms Minnesota is modeled after the Wisconsin Discovery Farms program. Currently, there are 11 Discovery Farm locations in Minnesota (discoveryfarmsmn.org). The Minnesota Agriculture Water Resources Center, a non-profit research and education organization dedicated to assisting Minnesota farmers in addressing water quality concerns (mawrc.org), leads the Discovery Farms effort in Minnesota. The program partners with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and local conservation organizations to collect water quality data on farms across the state. The University of Minnesota Extension Service leads the data collection effort at one of the Discovery Farm locations.
Throughout the tour, participants observed and discussed the three core principles of a Discovery Farms program: (1) farmer leadership, (2) credible research design and implementation, and (3) effective communication and outreach. The organizations that implement the Discovery Farms program vary from state to state but it is important for the core principles to remain
This winter, farmer representatives from states involved with Discovery Farms will meet to discuss each state’s approach to the program and core principles of the program. Increasing the coordination and farmer leadership at a multi-state level will help to ensure that the core principles of the Discovery Farms program remain intact into the future. §
UW DISCOVERY FARMS HOSTS FIELD DAY AT HERRICKS FARM Despite very warm weather, more than 50 attendees arrived to UW Discovery Farms’ Cashton Field Day on August 28th to discuss clay soils, cover crops and waterways. The event took place on Jack and Pat Herricks’ fields on Olive Road. Fred Madison, co-founder of UW Discovery Farms, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and UW-Extension staff presented findings of dense clay areas in Monroe and Vernon Counties. Attendees observed in-field soil core sampling and demonstrations on how cores are taken with a GeoProbe mounted to a skid steer to view the soil profile. While in Herricks’ field, recently planted cover crops were conversed by Matt Ruark, UW Department of Soil Science and UW Discovery Farms Faculty Facilitator. Joe Bragger, Independence farmer and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Board of Director, also shared his experience with planting radishes which has increased nitrate concentrations and organic matter in his soil. Bob Micheel from the Monroe County Land Conservation Department and attendees visited before and after examples of a waterway renovation at another Herricks field site. Waterway maintenance and repairing tips and tricks were covered, as well as ways to get started using owned equipment and local resources. It was recommended that farmers consider maintenance of one field or area per year to continue their conservation efforts. A special thanks to Jack and Pat Herricks for sharing their fields, Monroe and Vernon County Farm Bureaus for the sponsorship and volunteer efforts, Representative and Agriculture Committee Chair, Lee Nerison for his attendance, and all the presenters and agribusinesses that contributed to the discussion at the event! For more information on UW Discovery Farms and resources shared at this event, visit www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org.§ 6 The Tree-Fall 2013
continued from Yahara Pride Farms, More Farmer-Led Solutions in Wisconsin Watersheds on page 1
using cover crops is to prevent nutrient runoff and soil erosion. Also this fall, Yahara Pride Farms is offering a new preparation program that provides area farmers with a first-hand look and opportunity to test new, innovative technologies including strip tillage, vertical tillage and vertical manure injection. The goal of the field demonstration program is to introduce new, conservation efficient technologies to farmers at a risk-free, low to no cost expenditure, with the intent of future use of the technology. Education and Outreach The last component, education and outreach, is crucial to the success of Yahara Pride Farms’ efforts. This includes seminars with industry experts on nutrient management as well as tillage and field stormwater management. This winter they will be hosting a Yahara Pride Farms Technology Conference that will include presentations from industry leaders in nutrient management equipment and cover crop yield analysis. Implementing best management conservation practices will also be discussed.
Program, New Technologies and their Education and Outreach Program. Farm Certification Program The Farm Certification Program, which began the summer of 2013, is meant to identify farm’s current conservation strengths and weaknesses, while providing a clear path for phosphorus reduction opportunities. As of September 2013, a variety of farms in the Yahara Watershed have been evaluated by the Yahara Pride Farms Conservation Resource Managers for a total of 3,711 acres. Sign-ups are currently taking place for their Certification Program and field evaluations will be conducted as the crops come off this fall and early winter. To sign up, farmers can contact Joe Connors at 608-444-4702.
In addition to the seminars and conferences, farm tours are hosted to inform the public of farm history, phosphorus and other nutrient reduction practices currently taking place, farm operations, USGS edge of field monitoring stations and nutrient management software. Their website, www.yaharapridefarms.org, also hosts this information and makes it easy for farmers to sign up for programs.
Yahara Pride Farms is working on putting the assessment information into a prioritized summary sheet that identifies the benefits and potential changes for each farm. The certification program will aid in the discussions about how to reduce nutrient and sediment loss because recommendations can be based on current information and not on assumptions or outdated information.
Jeff Endres, a farmer from Yahara Pride Farms, will be sharing his experiences at the UW Discovery Farms Winter Conference on December 11th. §
New Technologies This fall marks the second year of the Cover Crop Program, which is a segment of the new technologies offered to farmers in the Yahara Watershed. The Cover Crop program offers a variety of seed and seed mixes which are applied in various methods, soil conditions, and timings to help determine the best options for cover crop use in the watershed. Overall, the goal of 7 The Tree-Fall 2013
PIGEON FALLS, WISCONSIN 54760 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
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University of Wisconsin
PERMIT NO. 2
Cooperative Extension Trempealeau County Discovery Farms PO Box 429, 40195 Winsand Drive Pigeon Falls, WI 54760-0429
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For more information and to stay connected:
facebook.com/uwdiscoveryfarms fyi.uwex.edu/discoveryfarms twitter.com/DiscoveryFarms youtube.com/DiscoveryFarms This newsletter can be found on the web at: www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org Regarding the mailing list, call/e-mail 715-983-5668 or jgoplin@wisc.edu.
Co-Directors Eric Cooley 608-235-5259 etcooley@wisc.edu Amber Radatz 608-317-0001 aradatz@wisc.edu Outreach Specialist Kevan Klingberg 715-983-2240 kevan.klingberg@ces.uwex.edu Program Assistant Judy Goplin 715-983-5668 jgoplin@wisc.edu Research Specialist Aaron Wunderlin 920-839-5431 aaron.wunderlin@ces.uwex.edu Dry Run Watershed Coordinator Todd Prill 715-225-0862 discovery.farms.prill@gmail.com Communication Specialist Rochelle Ripp 608-692-1200 rochelle.ripp@ces.uwex.edu
UW Discovery Farms is a producer-led research and outreach program based out of the University of Wisconsin-Extension. The program is unique in that it conducts research on working farms located throughout Wisconsin, seeking to identify the impacts of production agriculture on water quality. The program is managed by faculty from the University of Wisconsin, along with oversight from a steering committee of producers, citizens and agency personnel representing a wide variety of non-profit and government organizations. Funding has been provided by the State of Wisconsin, UW-Extension, as well as a number of annual grants from producer groups and our federal partners. An EEO/Affirmative Action employer, University of Wisconsin-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA requirements. Request for reasonable accommodation for disabilities or limitations should be made prior to the date of the program or activity for which it is needed. Publications are available in alternative formats upon request. Please make such requests as early as possible by contacting the Discovery Farms office at 715-983-5668 so proper arrangements can be made.