The Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants Annual Workshop was held on February 23, 2022 in Rothschild. The workshop is for Producer-Led grant recipients throughout the state to network, brainstorm, and share lessons on the successes and challenges in watershed projects. This year focused on soil health profitability and sustainability partnerships to scale watershed conservation efforts. The following sessions were recorded:
Keynote: Conservation and Your Bottom Line - https://youtu.be/wzoLFXVJgOw
Dean Sponheim, an Iowa grain farmer, gives a presentation at the 2022 Wisconsin Producer-Led Network Annual Workshop about how his farm has advanced through the year with different conservation practices and changes to his system have influenced the farm's profitability.
Farmer Panel on Soil Health Profitability - https://youtu.be/PUuxSDDuULc
This panel of farmers talk about the financials of their soil health systems.
Jacob Brey, a dairy farmer from Peninsula Pride Farms, talks about his transition to rotational grazing to raise heifers.
Brody Stapel, a dairy farmer from Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers, talks about alternative forages and the impact on milk quality and profitability.
Dean Sponheim, a grain farmer from Iowa, talks more about the financials of his conservation grain system.
Farm the Best: Precision Agriculture and Conservation - https://youtu.be/lm-J8cI-tkI
Scott Stipetich, precision agriculture and conservation specialist, and Joe Bragger, farmer from the Buffalo-Trempealeau Farmer Network, discuss how precision agriculture can be used to inform conservation practices on the farm and in turn, increase profit per acre.
Farmer-Led Supply Chain Sustainability Projects - https://youtu.be/LzYrKs3yZ1Y
Farmers and organizations, along with a dairy processor, worked together to develop a framework for farmer-led supply chain sustainability projects. Partners in the project present on initial results and main takeaways. Presenters include:
Jamie Fisher, Farmers for Sustainable Food
Jim Winn, Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance
Greg Siegenthaler, Grande Cheese
Steve Richter, The Nature Conservancy
Kory Stalsberg, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Doug Thomas, Houston Engineering
Producer-Led Research and On-Farm Demonstrations - https://youtu.be/TUVdT0kY6x4
Jamie Patton and Chelsea Zegler from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension talk through the differences between research and demonstrations on the farm and key considerations for setting up and managing these on-farm projects.