U W Discovery Farms Introduction to the Program

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U W Discovery Farms Introduction to the Program

• Dennis R. Frame
• Co-Director Discovery Farms
• University of Wisconsin Extension

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The Discovery Farm Program
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Issues Facing Agriculture

• Non-point and Water Quality
• Soil Losses
• Nutrient Losses
• Air Quality and odor
• Public Relations
• Perceptions of agriculture

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What Affects Implementation? Producers lack

• Awareness of issues,
• Confidence in recommendations,
• Adoption methods and cost
• Effects of adoption on farm profitability

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Why is Systems Research Important

• Lack of understanding by the research community
  of the relationship between farming enterprises
• Lack of knowledge of how research recommendation
  can be implemented
• Lack of whole farm research

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How to achieve our mission?

• Determine baseline measurements for a variety of
  farms
• Determine the effectiveness of BMPs
  (environmental economic)
• Document effective implementation methods and
  production practices
• Document the potential impacts of proposed rules
  and regulations

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How does process work?

• Staff prepares introductory materials
• Type of farm (acres, animals, production
  practices, manure handling, etc.)
• Resources (soil, water, air)
• Maps
• Producers issues identified
• Review team issues identified
• Environmental Assessment issues identified

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How does process work?

• Staff identifies potential research
• Nutrient loading to streams / lakes
• Soil erosion rates (tillage affects)
• Meeting a phosphorus standard
• Dietary phosphorus levels
• Manure characteristics and handling
• Staff discusses potential projects with producer
  and local advisory committee to make sure we are
  on track

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How does process work?

• Once projects identified, and funding secured,
  monitoring system designed and installed by USGS
  / DNR
• Baseline Data collection begins
• Water quality data
• Agronomic, livestock and financial data
• Other data as needed

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How does process work?

• Once baseline data is complete, issues are
  identified and research teams are invited to
  design project
• Phosphorus index
• Buffers
• Changes in tillage, residue, rotations, etc.
• Manure handling practices
• other

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During Baseline Collection we also collect the
following data

• Kernel Issues (done on all farms)
• Issues specific to the operation

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Kernel Issues (all farms)

• Nutrient Management Plans
• Old standard (nitrogen based)
• New standard (phosphorus based)
• County standards (if required)
• What is the cost/savings to the operation?
• How does it effect production practices?

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Kernel Issues (all farms)

• Soil Conservation Plans
• Old standard (USLE/RUSLE)
• New standard (RUSLE II)
• What is the cost/savings to the operation?
• How does it effect production practices?
• How does it effect manure handling?

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Kernel Issues (all farms)

• Sensitive area identification
• How does this county define sensitive areas
• Changes required to comply with definition
• What is the cost to the operation?
• How does it effect production practices?
• How does it effect manure handling?

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Kernel Issues (all farms)

• Phosphorus indexing
• Index each field
• How much time does it take to index the farm
• How does it effect production practices?
• How does it effect manure handling?