 June 2024
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Table of Contents
Soil and Water Resources Management (SWRM) Grants
- 2024 SWRM Schedule of Awards were emailed May 21, 2024. To finalize the awards for 2024, and ensure funding is available for reimbursement, each county must confirm receipt of the document.
- The new practices included in ATCP 50 are available for contracting as of June 1, 2024. For questions about the practices, review Table 2.2 in the SWRM Resources on our webpage. As always, reach out if you have further questions and we can help you find answers. For more information, visit DATCP’s SWRM Grant Resources: Section 2 webpage.
ATCP 50 Update
ATCP 50 was published on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of June 1, 2024. Final rule language can be reviewed on the Wisconsin Legislature’s website. The Bureau will be providing information through our website and upcoming events over the coming months. If you have any questions, email datcplandwater@wisconsin.gov.
Nutrient Management News
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Second annual Nutrient Management Regional Meetings are back! Join us at one of our five meeting locations across the state this August and September to hear about new and upcoming information related to nutrient management planning and the SnapPlus software! New this year is a virtual meeting option. All events are free and will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. In-person events will offer light lunch and refreshments sponsored by the WI CCA Board and Wisconsin Land + Water! CEUs will be available for each event as well. Find your meeting location registration information here: Nutrient Management Trainings.
- The 2023 Annual Nutrient Management Report is now live on the Nutrient Management homepage. Cody Calkins will send out the 2024 Annual NM Survey and Calculator later this summer.
- Counties that would like some assistance on Nutrient Management Quality Assurance Reviews should email Cody Calkins at cody.calkins@wisconsin.gov. We are looking at providing assistance this year to at least three counties.
- Previous SnapPlus trainings can be found here: Nutrient Management Trainings.
Land and Water Conservation Board - LWRM Plans
- Chippewa and Vernon counties will be presenting five-year LWRM plan reviews to the LWCB at the June 4, 2024 meeting. The meeting will be held in Vernon County and will include a tour of various conservation sites within the county.
- The next meeting of the LWCB Advisory Committee on Research will be July 2, 2024.
Conservation Engineering
- For those in the DATCP Engineering Practitioner Certification and/or NRCS Job Approval Authority programs: we are passing along a reminder that this is the final year of the three-year cycle for obtaining your 30 professional development hours (PDHs). The deadline for completing the 30 PDHs is December 31, 2024. Reach out to your area engineering contact if you have questions.
- DATCP will be recruiting the following three engineering field positions that will likely be posted at some point in June:
- Southeast Area Environmental Specialist
- Environmental Specialist (Project Position) - Central part of the state
- Hydrologic & Hydraulic (H&H) Engineer (Project Position)
Watch for upcoming job postings and please pass along to anyone that might interested!
DATCP Drainage Program
All activities within drainage districts are managed and administered by a County Drainage Board. Contact information can be found on the Drainage Program website here or contact Barton T. Chapman, Drainage Program Manager, at Barton.Chapman@Wisconsin.gov.
Farmland Preservation Program (FP) and Agricultural Enterprise Areas (AEA)
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- The Farmland Preservation Program Soil and Water Conservation Frequently Asked Questions document has been updated to reflect changes made to the program from 2023 Act 42 and changes made to soil and water conservation compliance in ATCP 50. The new FAQ was made available on June 3, 2024 and can be accessed at Farmland Preservation: Conservation Compliance Factsheets and Guidance.
- Counties that update or issue new CoCs for Tax Year 2023 should submit updates for their DOR spreadsheet to DATCPWorkingLands@wisconsin.gov. Updates may be submitted as needed throughout the tax season.
- NOTE: Please make sure you are only reporting changes for TY 2023. If you are using a third-party contractor, please be aware of the limitations of your data reporting.
- The 2024 Agricultural Enterprise Area (AEA) petition cycle is in full swing. Petition materials for new designation and modification to existing AEAs are available on the Petitioning for AEA Designation webpage. Petitions will be accepted until August 2, 2024. If you are planning on petitioning for an AEA this year, please contact wednesday.coye@wisconsin.gov.
- The Conservation Compliance Forms webpage has been revamped and includes the updated Model Farm Inspection Form. Please contact Cody Calkins at cody.calkins@wisconsin.gov if you have any questions regarding the model farm inspection form or updates to the Conservation Compliance webpage.
- For counties that have effective farmland preservation agreements, we have created a new webpage to explain the Farmland Preservation Agreement Release Process. This webpage contains information on who can file a release, the release requirements and application and information about the conversion fee.
- All new farmland preservation agreement applicants should use the updated Farmland Preservation Agreement Application. Completed application packets can be sent to datcpworkinglands@wisconsin.gov.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
CREP Monitoring Intern Assistance – Mackenzie Shanahan has joined DATCP as the CREP intern to focus on assisting LCDs with completing CREP easement site visits and record keeping. Site visits are essential for benchmarking the status of the conservation practice and identifying and communicating to landowners issues on the site prior to them becoming severe. Over the past three years, many counties have taken advantage of the assistance offered by the CREP interns and Mackenzie is eager to assist the LCDs again this year. See message below invitation from Mackenzie with her contact information:
My name is Mackenzie Shanahan, and I am the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program intern for summer 2024. I graduated from UW-Madison this spring with a degree in environmental sciences and agricultural and applied economics. Through my degree, I was able to work on case study projects related to CREP, so I am excited to both expand my knowledge and to apply what I have learned. Throughout the summer, I will be completing CREP easement monitoring visits to verify landowner compliance with conservation plans. I will be reaching out to schedule these site visits and to provide any necessary information and paperwork. I will bring any necessary equipment and will also provide follow-up paperwork after the visit. I am looking forward to promoting responsible water and land resource usage and to encouraging conservation in agriculture! Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns via email: mackenzie.shanahan@wisconsin.gov or by phone: (608) 444-3209. Thanks so much, and I look forward to working with you all!
Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant (PLWPG) Program
We have funding for groups to host regional winter workshops or spring field days in the range of $500-$1,500 per event through the Producer-Led Regional Network effort. Contact your regional coordinator or Dani Heisler at Dani.Heisler@Wisconsin.gov for more information or if you have ideas for a shared, collaborative event to host with other groups in your region.
Soil Health Program
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- The new online Soil Health curriculum is now live and available on our wi.gov website. The purpose of this curriculum is to develop a common definition and understanding of Soil Health and develop some guideposts of how to implement soil health systems on Wisconsin Farms. The curriculum will assist in developing a common language of Soil Health in Wisconsin agriculture in modules 1-3. Module 4 will focus on applying soil health in Wisconsin cropping systems. The curriculum will incorporate both traditional and citizen science to demonstrate the mindset necessary to be successful as a soil health farmer. The primary audiences are LCD staff, other Agriculture Professionals in Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Farmers. Secondary audience would potentially be community members. The first objective is to discuss what soil health is (and isn’t) by defining some basic vocabulary and concepts! The second objective is to demonstrate how soil health systems can be implemented on Wisconsin farms.
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New Soil Health Training - AFT is partnering with the Sauk County Land Resources and Environment Department and DATCP to host Digging into the “Why” of Soil Health at the Sauk County Farm. The event will take place on Tuesday, June 25 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with a free, local lunch to follow. Registration is limited.
If you are interested in joining us, you can register here: https://bit.ly/SH_FieldDay_0625.
Date: June 25th, 2024
Time: 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Location: Sauk County Farm
S4555 County Rd CH, Reedsburg, WI 5395
For questions regarding this training or the soil health program, contact Randy Zogbaum at randalll.zogbaum@wisconsin.gov.
Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP)
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NOPP program staff would like to meet with any groups interested in learning more about on-farm research and how to put together your own research plan before the winter 2024 application cycle. |
Cover Crop Insurance Rebate Program
Application period closed until December 2024. To qualify, cover crops must be planted in the fall of 2024 on fields to be cropped in spring of 2025. The acres cannot receive cover crop funding support during this same time.
Legislation Updates
The 2023-2024 Legislative Session ended in mid-March.
Staffing Updates
- Katie Porubcan joined us as the Land and Water Resource Management GIS Intern on May 20. Katie will be assisting with projects focused on the Farmland Preservation and Agricultural Impact Statement Programs. Katie is a UW-Madison graduate with experience in sustainability, ecological restoration, and other resource management applications. Welcome, Katie!
- Mackenzie Shanahan joined us as the CREP intern on June 3 (as mentioned in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program section). Welcome, Mackenzie!
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Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Division of Agricultural Resource Management
Bureau of Land and Water Resources
2811 Agriculture Dr.
PO Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708
https://www.datcp.wi.gov
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