NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT EDUCATION YIELDING RESULTS

SITUATION
In order to promote stewardship of our state soil and water resources, Wisconsin law (effective January 1, 2008) requires nearly all farming operations to have a qualified nutrient management plan. Additionally, plans are required whenever producers; 1) accept cost-share dollars for nutrient management, 2) accept cost-share for installing manure storage, 3) participate in farmland preservation, 4) are regulated under permit (over 1,000 animal units), and 5) are regulated under county ordinance. Many producers however, have been reluctant to develop plans due to the cost and time involved, and a fear of future unknown costs. Some have also expressed a dislike for having government more directly involved in their farm management decisions. 

RESPONSE
In 2006, personnel from the Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department (CPZ), approached Wildeck about the need for UW-Extension’s help with the nutrient management education. This made sense on several levels; 1) large, permitted, and cost-share program farms were already in compliance and now attention was needed for remaining farms, 2) the educational curriculum used for producers to develop their own “qualified” plan was created largely by UW-Extension specialists, 3) the Technical College had been hired in the past for this education, but was not available due to staffing cuts, and 4) focus groups and the Partnership for Progressive Agriculture (PPA) had indicated nutrient management education was vital to the continued success of dairy operations.  Wildeck helped plan the educational response with other partners, including Northcentral Technical College, NRCS, PPA, and CPZ. Maria Bendixen (backfill for Wildeck) delivered the first couple of programs in 2006 and then Wildeck taught in 2007. The 2007 series included 5 sessions at each of three locations.  Twenty-four farms were enrolled at a cost of $126 each. Farms averaged two participants, which was helpful when entering data into SNAP-Plus nutrient management software. In addition to the formal classes, two other Nutrient Management Roundtable programs were planned and delivered with UWEX and other agency partners.  Fifty-three people participated in those programs which covered local and state regulations, producer benefits, and related topics. Wildeck raised additional awareness of the issue by writing articles in the AgLink newsletter (reaching 1350 producers and agribusiness people), direct-mail pieces, newspapers, and on the web.

RESULTS
As a result of efforts from Wildeck and other team members in 2007, 24 more farms have a “qualified” nutrient management plan. This includes the crediting for the N, P, and K nutrients that are applied from manure...something that most producers were not doing prior to developing a plan. Through the collective efforts of local agribusiness and agriculture agencies (including UWEX) there are 110,430 acres of cropland under a qualified nutrient management plan in Marathon County. That ranks first, of all Wisconsin counties for total acres, and third for the highest percentage of cropland in nutrient management planning. There is also more than $160,000 in grant dollars which will be used locally for cost sharing on specific practices, such as adopting a new qualified plan.

EVIDENCE
Two surveys were conducted in the nutrient management classes. The first assessed a change in practices from “pre-workshop” (completed 11/07) through 2008. Survey results will be gathered by March 2008 and will determine changes in purchased fertilizer costs, and the impact on net income when producers take nutrient credits from manure and other local sources. The second survey gave instructors feedback on the class itself. Wildeck and co-presenters wanted to know how to better meet student needs in the future. All of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they will make changes to their manure and/or fertilizer applications as a result of taking this course.

Mike Wildeck, Director/Dairy Agent - 2007 Success Story

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