MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's (DATCP) Bureau of Land and Water Resource Management has released the 2022 Wisconsin Report on Soil and Water Conservation, which demonstrates efforts to protect Wisconsin's soil and water resources.

According to DATCP's analysis, state, federal, local, and other funds were utilized in 2022 to advance and support conservation efforts such as planting cover crops, implementing managed grazing, groundwater monitoring, farmland preservation, and farmer-led initiatives. Local conservation staff visited sites to assess resource needs, determine compliance with state standards and farmland preservation eligibility, and work with farmers and landowners to design and administer site-specific conservation practices. One popular practice is to implement a nutrient management plan, with counties reporting that more than 7,500 nutrient management plans covering over 3.45 million acres were created in 2022, helping ensure that nutrients go into farmers' crops instead of local soil and water sources.

“Our state's soil and water are two of our most vital resources, allowing producers to put food on our tables and adding an incalculable value to our quality of life," said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “I applaud the hard work being done throughout Wisconsin to protect, preserve, and enhance our soil and water resources so that we may continue to utilize them for generations to come."

In 2022, county land and water staff worked collaboratively with other conservation partners and landowners to share information, provide support, and reach conservation goals. Examples of outcomes from these partnerships include:

• Pierce County celebrated the completion of their 1,000^th dam, which offers protection from erosion and flooding by slowing water coming off slopes, allowing it time to filter back into the ground.
• A strong partnership in Dunn County resulted in a long-term solution to control severe runoff and erosion, reducing the amount of sediment and nutrients entering Elk Creek Lake.
• Pasture walks on a bison farm in Washburn County introduced people to the benefits of alternative forages, using cover crops as forage, and a discussion of soil health metrics for pastures.

DATCP's Bureau of Land and Water Resources works with local governments, other state and federal agencies, and landowners to conserve soil, prevent agricultural runoff, and preserve farmland and agricultural infrastructure for future generations. The bureau focuses on programs that are critical to preserving natural resources, including nutrient management planning, producer-led watershed protection, and farmland preservation. For more information, visit DATCP's website.

Submitted by DATCP Bureau of Land and Water Resources