The Dodge County Farmers for HSHW are holding their 5th annual February Soil Health Expo. This year’s theme is “Rolling into Covers” with Indiana’s Rick Clark and UW Associate Professor, Erin Silva.
Rick Clark: Rick Clark uses no-till and cover crops in a 5 crop rotation on his Indiana farm. His goal is to build the soil health on his farm to the point that he doesn’t need to apply any herbicides or fertilizers.
Dr. Erin Silva: Dr. Erin Silva is an Associate Professor in the plant pathology Department at the UW. Her focus is on using cover crops to reduce herbicide use.
This year, the Expo will feature in person and virtual attendance. The in-person seating is limited to the first 150 registrants. Registration info:
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 The 2021 Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention
will be a virtual event and it is now part of a larger (the first ever) Wisconsin Water Week!
This Rock River Basin conference on Thursday March 11 will feature a kickoff keynote by author and journalist Judith Schwartz. She has traveled the world documenting both traditional an innovative ways that agricultural communities protect water quality. Morning and afternoon concurrent times slots will each have multiple options to choose from, covering shoreland surveys on lakes, water quality monitoring and projects in the Yahara River watershed, best management practices for agriculture to protect water quality, and examples of adaptive management for nutrients in Madison and Oconomowoc. This content is made possible by staff and volunteers at the Rock River Basin Coalition. There will be a concluding keynote from Tia Nelson, daughter of Senator Gaylord Nelson, summarizing lessons learned by bringing together diverse groups to address the threat of climate change. A luncheon keynote will feature Mark Riedel from the Wisconsin DNR providing an update on the Rock River Basin TMDL.
This live and interactive event starts at 9am and is completely online; you can join from your tablet, PC, laptop or even your phone. Registration is only $20 with all proceeds coming back to the Rock River Coalition. This regional event is one of many things happening during Wisconsin Water Week. Explore the full agenda and register at:
https://wisconsinwaterweek.swoogo.com/wisconsinwaterweek/873597
Sector Team Updates
Nancy Kavazanjian and Charlie Hammer operate 1,950 acres in Dodge County, Wisconsin. They partnered with both the NRCS and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) through the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Conservation Reserve Program to increase wildlife habitat and meet their conservation goals.
The Nutrient and Pest Management Program (University of Wisconsin-Madison) is offering a virtual training for farmers interested in writing their own nutrient management plans. This training will provide both the basics of nutrient management and an introduction to SnapPlus.
The same training will be offered on 3 different dates:
- February 3 (Wed)
- February 16 (Tue)
- March 1 (Mon)
Please register online at least three days in advance of the training date you plan to attend: https://go.wisc.edu/9ozj4l
In the 2020 Annual Report, you will see snapshots of our approach in getting conservation practices on the ground to use our land productively. You’ll learn about conservation results and highlights of the work we do, which is strongly focused on meeting Farm Bill responsibilities. Read the Annual Report
Jointly sponsored by UW Madison Division of Extension's Conservation Professional Training Program and Wisconsin DNR, these workshops are designed for livestock operations near or at WPDES permit size (CAFOs) -- owners/management and key staff, their agronomic and engineering consultants, and agency staff and others who work with these operations.
NEW FOR 2021: The format has changed due to the pandemic. There are four sessions that you can join remotely. Each session is held 9:30 - 11:30am. To view a detailed agenda of each session, use the link below: https://www.browncountywi.gov/departments/extension-brown-county/agriculture/forms/
* Feb 2 is for farms who do not yet have a permit but might consider one in the next few years.
* Feb 3 focuses on Nutrient Management
* Feb 4 focuses on Production Area Management
* Feb 5 focuses on Managing for the Future
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Organisms across the globe are faced with the same dilemma – how to pass on their genes to the next generation and give their youngsters the best possible chance at success. Things are no different for the creatures in the Yahara lakes. Pike, panfish, plants, and invertebrates all go to great lengths to find love, but take wildly different approaches. What makes each strategy successful, and why?
During the “Love in the Lakes” presentation, you’ll learn about the mating and reproductive strategies of several important species, which range from the heartwarming to the bizarre.
Every two years, the DNR reviews, updates, and publishes the "Impaired Waters List" (often called the "303(d) list"). The Clean Water Act requires states to submit an impaired waters list and surface water quality report by April 1 of even-numbered years. This year, 2021, is the second year of the biennial surface water quality assessment two-year cycle.
During the first year of the assessment cycle the listing methodology is updated, the public has a chance to comment on the updates and the public is asked to submit any water quality data they would like used in the assessments.
During the second year the assessments are done, the regional DNR biologists review the draft list, the public has the opportunity to comment on the draft list and DNR staff write a report on the state of the state's surface waters.
During the assessment process, the public is given three opportunities to participate.
Learn More: Surface Water Quality Assessment Process
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Join Tall Pines with their special guest, Michael Perry, on February 25th at 6:30, for a night of entertainment and to learn more about exciting land conservation efforts in Lake Country.
An Evening with Michael Perry, presented by vonBriesen, supports farmland conservation and water-quality initiatives in Lake Country. Gather your favorite beverage and snacks, cozy up on the couch and join us as we lighten your load with Michael's Midwestern story-telling. We'll also check in with Kyle Zwieg and Liesel Eschweiler Lavery, who will share how preserving their land with TPC has not only positively impact their family, but the entire community. And, you'll learn about some exciting new projects for 2021!
Michael is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Humorist, Singer/Songwriter and Intermittent Pig Farmer who will tell stories of life on the farm from New Auburn, Wisconsin. He also produces the popular audio newsletter “Michael Perry’s Voice Mail,” hosts the nationally-syndicated “Tent Show Radio,” and performs widely as a humorist.
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Wisconsin Salt Wise is hosting a free, online Smart Salting for Roads training on either Thursday, February 11 or Thursday, February 23. Join managers, applicators and others involved in the world of winter maintenance to learn about simple practices that can save you time, budget and protect our waters. Municipalities that have attended previous trainings have cut salt use by 30-70% without impacting public safety. The training will be co-taught with public works staff.
February 23 – Smart Salting for WI Roads
The training will cover:
- best management practices to keep paved surfaces safe,
- benefits of transitioning to liquids (anti-icing, prewetting and pretreated salts),
- guidance on how to determine the right amount of salt to use, and
- case studies from Wisconsin communities
All workshops will be led by Fortin Consulting. Visit the WI Salt Wise website for more information or to register.
Contact Allison Madison, allisonm@madsewer.org with questions.
The Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) Tier 1 Storm Water Associated with Industrial Activity (WI-S067849-5) and Tier 2 Storm Water Associated with Industrial Activity (WI-S067857-5) general permits are tentatively proposed to be reissued. The DNR will accept written comments until Feb. 12, 2021. Comments may be submitted electronically to DNRSWPermits@wisconsin.gov or mailed to: Suzan Limberg – WT/3, Wisconsin DNR, 101 S. Webster St., P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.
The documents (Public Notice of Intent, draft permits and fact sheets) are available here: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Wastewater/PublicNotices.html.
Storm water discharges to waters of the state from certain industrial activities in the categories listed below may be covered by the corresponding general permits. These proposed general permits contain requirements specified under ch. NR 216, Wis. Adm. Code. Chapter NR 216 states how storm water from industrial operations can be discharged so that waters of the state will be protected. These proposed general permits will apply to discharges to waters of the state throughout the state.
The general permits proposed for reissuance are as follows:
- Tier 1 Storm Water Associated with Industrial Activity (WI-S067849-5) - The Tier 1 general permit covers the industrial activity listed in s. NR 216.21(2)(a), Wis. Adm. Code, including a variety of "heavy" type industries and bulk storage facilities.
- Tier 2 Storm Water Associated with Industrial Activity (WI-S067857-5) - The Tier 2 general permit covers the industrial activity listed in s. NR 216.21(2)(b), Wis. Adm. Code, including a variety of "light" industries, certain transportation facilities, mining operations, steam electric generating facilities, cement product manufacturers, and asphalt paving mix facilities.
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“A Tale of Two Cities that are Partnering with Farmers to Meet Nutrient Reduction Goals” features Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Madison, Wisconsin. Martye Griffin, President of Yahara WINs, participated in a Q&A responding to a variety of questions ranging from project success to lessons learned, with a focus on partnerships between municipalities and farmers. Learn more...
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Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water (UNPS & SW) Planning Grant applications for planning projects beginning in 2022 are now available on the Department of Natural Resources’ UNPS & SW webpage.
Cities, villages, towns, counties, regional planning commissions, tribal governments and special purpose lake, sewage, or sanitary districts have until April 15, 2021 to submit applications for 2022 planning projects. UNPS & SW construction grant applications will not be solicited in 2021 but will be solicited again in 2022.
This grant program offers local governments competitive grants to control pollution that is carried by storm water runoff from diffuse urban sources. The grants reimburse costs of planning projects that control this type of pollution. Eligible planning projects include:
- Storm water management planning for urban areas
- Preparation of local ordinances affecting storm water discharge (construction site or post-construction erosion control, pet waste or illicit discharge management)
- Evaluating alternatives for local financing of urban runoff control programs
- Administrative costs for the initial establishment of local storm water management funding programs
- Illicit discharge detection and elimination program planning
- Public information and education activities
The DNR and UW-Madison Division of Extension will host a UNPS Application Webinar 1 – 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, 2021. The webinar offers an overview of the UNPS-Planning grant program, what's changed since the last grant cycle and what makes a good planning project.
Register in advance for the webinar here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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