Articles
Communicate more effectively with farmers about adopting practices to protect water quality based on these new social science research strategies
Professionals working with farmers to increase the adoption of water quality practices will benefit from insights provided by new social science research. Placing management recommendations into a social, psychological and economic context can help professionals customize communication to farmers to address their barriers and motivations to adopting practices.
Strategies to grow potatoes and reduce nitrate leaching in Wisconsin
Nitrate leaching occurs more easily in Central Wisconsin because of coarse-textured soils and the types of crops commonly grown in Central Wisconsin which generally receive large amounts of nitrogen. Soil nitrate can easily be lost to groundwater particularly after heavy rainfalls.
On-farm monitoring informs ag land management to keep phosphorus in place
As the quantity and quality of on-farm data increase over time, the understanding of how agriculture impacts water quality has evolved. As research and monitoring technology has progressed, the scientific community is looking at more than runoff and soil loss, but rather, different forms of phosphorus (P). In the past, total P was discussed, but now is broken down into particulate P and dissolved P.
Cover Crops and Nitrate Leaching
Nitrate loads to groundwater have increased statewide, with studies estimating that over 10% of private wells in Wisconsin exceed the health standard of 10 mg/L. Researchers are looking at cover crops as part of a solution.
Avoiding manure overapplication, one way to mitigate the risk of nutrient runoff
A recent study used data from 13 CAFOs in a Michigan watershed to increase understanding of how manure nutrients are used and how nutrient use efficiency can be increased to decrease the impact manure has on Lake Erie’s toxic algae blooms. The same issues affect many Wisconsin lakes.
Grassed waterways are fundamental in reducing erosion and impacting water quality
Grassed waterways play a critical role on the landscape by stabilizing areas of concentrated water flow. If grassed waterways are installed properly and have an adequate grass cover, they can significantly reduce sediment and nutrient losses. The roots of the growing grass help to keep sediment and nutrients in place. The grassed waterway helps to catch soil particles carried in runoff as it concentrates and leaves the field.
A simple approach for on-farm Nitrogen budgeting
The fate of N is highly affected by on-farm factors such as cropping system, management practices, soil type and hydrology, as well as external factors such as weather conditions. There are many pathways for N loss from a cropping system including:
Addressing Phosphorus water quality issues: Where we’ve been, where we’re going
According to the USDA Census of Agriculture, from 2007 to 2017, the amount of commercial phosphorus (P) fertilizer applied, and manure P generated, continued to increase in many states including Wisconsin; at the same time, farm acreage is shrinking. Over application of P contributes to both economic inefficiencies and environmental concerns, including harmful algal blooms and eutrophication of waterbodies.
Tile Drainage in Wisconsin: Maintaining Tile Drainage Systems
Tile drains play an important role in Wisconsin’s agricultural production systems. Regular maintenance of tile drains is an important management practice to ensure agricultural productivity on tile-drained land in Wisconsin.
Walking on Water: Essays for the Central Sands
This collection of essays represents the opinions of different authors and provides a framework for the presentation of varying points of view about water and agriculture-related issues in Central Wisconsin.
