Agriculture and the environment

In Wisconsin, as in many agricultural states, the impact of agricultural practices on the environment is of great concern to farmers, citizens, and policy makers. Specifically, nutrient management is of acute importance in animal agriculture, as manure is heavily responsible for surface and ground water pollution due to excess nitrate leaching and phosphorus run-off into water sources.

PATS' reports address farmer manure management practices, cow feeding practices, and farmer attitudes about environmental issues. Use our links page to find technical and regulatory information about manure management and other agriculture-environmental issues in Wisconsin.

Publications
Data Tables and Graphics
Links

Agriculture and the environment - publications:

Click title for abstract, or click the PDF icon or HTML link to read entire article (where available.)

Manure Management on Wisconsin Farms
PATS Research Report No. 15. January, 2006.

How Wisconsin Dairy Farmers Feed their Cows: Results of the 1999 Wisconsin Dairy Herd Feeding Study.
PATS Research Summary No. 5. July, 2000.

Manure Management in Wisconsin: Results of the 1995 Wisconsin Farmer Poll.
PATS Research Report No. 1. July, 1997.

Manure Management on Wisconsin Livestock Farms.
Wisconsin Family Farm Facts No. 6. July, 1997.

Farmer Perspectives on Agriculture and Environment: Results from the 1994 ATFFI Dairy Farming Poll.
ATFFI Research Report No. 13. June, 1995.

The Farmer Perspective on Sustainable Agriculture: Results from the 1994 ATFFI Dairy Farmer Poll.
ATFFI Research Report No. 9. September, 1994.

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Agriculture and the environment - data tables and graphics:

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Agriculture and the environment - links:

Agricultural Ecosystems Research Group
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/forage/ageco.htm
Ad hoc group of researchers and farmers concerned with identifying crops and agricultural practices that will economically benefit farmers while protecting and sustaining the environment. This site includes an extensive list of web resources on University research, funding agencies, agricultural search engines, conservation work, and agro-ecological organizations.

Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS)
http://www.cias.wisc.edu/
Sustainable agricultural research and information center at the UW-Madison.

DATCP Agriculture Resource Management
http://datcp.state.wi.us/core/agriculture/land-water
DATCP's Agricultural land and water page includes information on nutrient management, manure management, groundwater protection, soil and water conservation, farmland preservation, and many other topics.

EPA Office of Wastewater Management Animal Feeding Operations
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=7
Information on animal feeding operations is a part of a much larger site on wastewater management. CAFO/AFO page includes proposed rules for regulating concentrated animal feeding operations and other CAFO resources.

Integrated Pest and Crop Management Program
http://ipcm.wisc.edu
Contains information on nutrient and pest management, recommended agricultural
practices, and environmental protection.

Natural Resources Conservation Services, Wisconsin State Office (NRCS)
http://www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov
Provides information on grant programs to help farmers and land-owners conserve and protect natural resources.

Pesticide Use and Risk Reduction Project (PURR)
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/susag/PURR/framePURR.html
Provides information about reducing pesticide use and on pesticides that will be phased out with the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA).

Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education (SARE)
http://www.sare.org/
USDA-Funded initiative that sponsors competitive grants for sustainable agriculture research and education nationwide.

UW-Sustainable Agricultural Task Force
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/susag
Offers quick, easy access to numerous sustainable agriculture sites plus information on how agriculture can be more profitable, socially acceptable, and economically sound.

UW-Extension's Environmental Resource Center (ERC)
http://www.uwex.edu/erc/
Gateway to ERC programs including water resources, the farmstead and home groundwater pollution assessment program (Farm-A-Syst and Home-A-Syst), the basin initiative, lake management and fisheries, and more.

UW-Extension's Nutrient Management Self-Directed Team
http://www.soils.wisc.edu/extension/NMT/OLD/sdt.html
UW-Extension's ANRE team on nutrient management's home page provides information on phosphorus, non-point pollution sources, concentrated animal feeding operations, and more.

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