9:00 a.m. Registration

9:20 a.m. Welcome

9:30 a.m. Partners, projects, progress

Amber Radatz, Discovery Farms Co-Director

10:00 a.m. Cover crops, forage and water quality: Discovery Farms Data

Eric Cooley, Discovery Farms Co-Director

10:45 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. Alternative rotations with mainstream benefits

Farmer panel

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Studying Wisconsin’s groundwater, Part 1: Southwest Wisconsin Groundwater and Geology Study Panel

2:00 p.m. Break

2:15 p.m. Studying Wisconsin’s groundwater, Part 2: Research in the sands

Kevin Masarik, UW-Stevens Point, Groundwater Education Specialist

3:00 p.m. Catching up with the Water Quality Task Force Representative Todd Novak, Assembly District 51 and Representative Katrina Shankland, Assembly District 71

3:45 p.m. End of Conference

Discovery Farms ConferenceLooking ahead with 2020 vision: How farmers can keep clean water in focus

December 11, 2019 • 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.Glacier Canyon Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells

CEUs available3 Soil and Water Management

1 Crop Management

Registration required. Cost is $60 and includes materials and a noon meal. Visit www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org or call 715.983.5668

9:30 a.m. Partners, projects, progress Amber Radatz, Discovery Farms Co-director

Discovery Farms has been talking water quality since our inception in 2001 and since then we have made leaps in the size of our dataset from on-farm research. The discussion surrounding agriculture and water quality has grown and changed over the past 20 years, but where is it going? Hear about Discovery Farms and how our partners and current projects leverage our research and lead to progress in the state of our state’s water quality.

10:00 a.m. Cover crops, forage and water quality: Discovery Farms data

Eric Cooley, Discovery Farms Co-director

Sorting through the recommendations, benefits and unknowns of practices is challenging, especially when there isn’t extra cash flow to experiment with. Eric will use Discovery Farms data to get down into the details with soil, nutrient and runoff in forages and cover crops. With this information on the environmental benefits, can we tweak our systems to protect water resources and make on-farm life easier too?

10:45 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. Alternative rotations with mainstream benefits

Panel

2019 has brought its fair share of challenges to agriculture. At the end of the season, we are left to figure out what happened and how we will adjust for next year. Many farmers were forced to consider alternatives to traditional forage sources, and many were successful. Will the increased use this year because of a need for emergency forage translate into increased use of alternative forage rotations because of the many benefits? Can these crops and rotations ease manure spreading concerns, nutrient management costs and soil conservation woes? This panel of farmers will share first hand experience and the details you need to make your 2020 plans.

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Studying Wisconsin’s groundwater, Part 1: Southwest Wisconsin Groundwater and Geology Study

Lynda Schweikert, Conservation, Sanitation & Zoning Department in Grant County; Joel Stokdyk, USGS Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment; Maureen Muldoon, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey; and Jim Winn, Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance

Over two-thirds of Wisconsin residents rely on groundwater for drinking water. There are several studies happening in the state to provide more information about the current state of water quality and the impacts from land management. This panel of experts, including scientists, conservation professionals and farmers, will share data, next steps for practice implementation and the latest updates on proposed regulations.

2:00 p.m. Break

2:15 p.m. Studying Wisconsin’s groundwater, Part 2: Research in the sands

Kevin Masarik, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Wisconsin’s landscape varies tremendously in soils, bedrock and land use. The intersection of sandy soils and agricultural land use requires careful and intentional management. Kevin Masarik is leading research studies and sharing information all over the state to inform the discussion on nitrogen, groundwater and agriculture. He will leave you with straightforward and practical knowledge that will help you bring context into the next year as you manage nitrogen and participate in water quality discussions.

3:00 p.m. Catching up with the Water Quality Task Force

Representative Todd Novak, Assembly District 51Representative Katrina Shankland, Assembly District 71

In 2019, Speaker Vos convened a Water Quality Task Force to gather information and make policy recommendations to better assess and improve the quality of both surface water and groundwater in Wisconsin. Representatives Novak and Shankland chaired the committee and will share a summary of what they’ve heard, and what recommendations will be forthcoming.

3:45 p.m. End of Conference

Agenda

Kevin Masarik is a groundwater education specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension. His research and outreach activities focus on assisting private well owners with management and assessment of water quality, quantifying the impacts of agricultural activities and other land-use on groundwater quality, and educating citizens and local officials about groundwater.

Representative Novak is currently serving his third term in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Earlier this year, Rep. Novak was appointed to Chair the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality tasked with traveling the state to gather information on the best ways to address Wisconsin’s water quality challenges.

Representative Katrina Shankland represents the 71st Assembly District in Portage County and serves as the Vice Chair of the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality.

Eric Cooley is Co-Director of Discovery Farms who coordinates water quality research efforts, collects and disseminates data and develops educational materials based on Discovery Farms’ research results. He specializes in surface water runoff and tile drainage.

Amber Radatz

Eric Cooley

Kevin Masarik

Representative Todd Novak

Representative Katrina Shankland

Speaker Bios

Amber Radatz is Co-Director of Discovery Farms with a technical background in manure management and nutrient loss, and an expertise in program development, grant writing and communications. She coordinates project development and analysis as well as works closely with farmers and advisors.

Thank You Sponsors

Division of Extension Discovery Farms® ProgramPO Box 429

40195 Winsand DrivePigeon Falls, WI 54760

www.uwdiscoveryfarms.orgQuestions? Email erica.olson@wisc.edu or call 715.983.5668