DATCP: Soil and water conservation efforts remain strong across Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Division of Agriculture, Commerce and Shopper Safety’s (DATCP) Bureau of Land and Water Useful resource Administration has launched the 2021 Wisconsin Report on Soil and Water Conservation, which demonstrates the in depth state and native efforts to guard Wisconsin’s soil and water assets.

In keeping with DATCP’s evaluation, Wisconsin harnessed practically $80 million in state, federal, and different funds in 2021 to advance and help conservation efforts corresponding to cowl crops, managed grazing, groundwater monitoring, farmland preservation, and farmer-led initiatives. To evaluate and tackle wants, native conservation workers accomplished greater than 7,500 website visits, together with visits to find out compliance with state requirements and farmland preservation eligibility. Counties additionally reported greater than 7,200 nutrient administration plans overlaying over 3.23 million acres, which helps be certain that vitamins go into farmers’ crops as a substitute of native soil and water sources.

“State, federal, and native conservation professionals are repeatedly working alongside farmers and landowners to guard our state’s soil and water,” stated DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “These efforts play a significant function in the way forward for agriculture and high quality of life for Wisconsinites, paving the best way for Wisconsin farmers to proceed thriving, feeding our households, and serving as helpful stewards of soil and water assets.”

In 2021, county land and water workers labored collaboratively with organizations to share data, present help, and attain conservation targets. Examples of those interactions embrace:

• In Adams County, involved residents and native conservation workers labored collectively to plant greater than 1,000 native vegetation on 300 toes of shoreline to cease heavy erosion.
• Conservation workers in Juneau County designed an occasion to have interaction with space college students and showcase native conservation work.
• Polk County developed stewardship awards to acknowledge county residents for his or her effort and time to guard soil and water assets within the county.

Primarily based on annual county work plans, it’s estimated that website visits will improve to greater than 8,200 in 2022, and landowners will make the most of 55,300 acres of canopy crops, 22,500 acres of no-till, and 1,400 acres of contour strips and contour.

About DATCP’s Bureau of Land and Water Useful resource Administration
DATCP’s Bureau of Land and Water Assets works with native governments, different state and federal businesses, and landowners to preserve soil, forestall agricultural runoff, and protect farmland and agricultural infrastructure for future generations. The bureau focuses on applications which are vital to preserving pure assets, together with nutrient administration planning, producer-led watershed safety, and farmland preservation. For extra data, go to DATCP’s web site.