Press Release: Gov. Evers, DATCP Announce Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program Grant Recipients

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 04/03/2024 12:59 PM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 3, 2024
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers, DATCP Announce Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program Grant Recipients
 
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), announced today that 18 projects are receiving grant funding for the 2024 Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP). These grants aim to refine and enhance the understanding of new methods that optimize commercial nitrogen applied to agricultural fields, helping to protect vital soil and water resources.

“Improving water quality is as much of an environmental and conservation issue as it is a public health and economic issue for our state,” said Gov. Evers. “Since Day One, my administration has been working hard to combat harmful contaminants and ensure clean water for all Wisconsinites, and producers across the state have been leading on this issue. Thanks to this critical funding, we are building upon that good work by supporting farmers in finding innovative practices that help protect water quality and advance producer-led conservation efforts.”

“Our land and water resources are the foundation of Wisconsin’s $104.8 billion agriculture industry, and this program provides farmers with additional tools to further protect and maintain those resources,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “Researching and pioneering new approaches to applying commercial nitrogen can help benefit our state’s farms and natural resources.”

The NOPP was designed to encourage agricultural producers to develop innovative approaches to optimize the application of commercial nitrogen for a duration of at least two growing seasons. The selected producers must collaborate with a University of Wisconsin (UW) System institution, which will monitor the grant project on-site and conduct commercial nitrogen optimization field studies.

Funding for the NOPP and the cover crop insurance premium rebate program, which assists farmers with rebates of $5 per acre of a cover crop planted for crop insurance premiums paid on those acres, was announced in August 2022. These programs were created under 2021 Wisconsin Act 223, legislation put forth by the bipartisan Water Quality Task Force and signed into law by Gov. Evers in April 2022. Building on these efforts to conserve and protect Wisconsin’s soil and water resources, the 2023-25 biennial budget signed by Gov. Evers provided $1.8 million in each year on a one-time basis to continue the NOPP and cover crop insurance program.

The grant structure allowed agricultural producers to work together and apply under a single application, with each individual producer eligible to receive a maximum award of up to $40,000. In addition, a total of $200,000 will be awarded to the UW System for monitoring and research assistance. The application period for the program closed on Jan. 31, 2024.

DATCP received 21 funding applications totaling more than $1.09 million in requests. The grant recipients, whose awards total more than $800,000, and their planned projects include:

Albright Brothers | $39,798
Test nitrogen rates with solid manure.
Number of producers on project: 1

Paul Bibby | $12,956
Determine the effect of nitrogen on sunflower yield, profit, and agronomic traits.
Number of producers on project: 1

Peter Bonin | $24,378
Study nitrogen use per bushel of corn, with nitrogen-fixing bacteria applied at planting in furrow.
Number of producers on project: 1

Chippewa Valley Forage Council | $195,560
Evaluate maximum return to nitrogen rates for corn grain after manure application.
Number of producers on project: 6

Coloma Farms | $39,768
Test glycerol rates to decrease nitrogen leaching in potatoes during the growing season.
Number of producers on project: 1

Diversified Seed Producers | $40,000
Increase nitrogen optimization in organic production of corn with interseeded clover.
Number of producers on project: 1

InDepth Agronomy/Golden E Dairy | $39,996
Validate corn nitrogen rates in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Number of producers on project: 1

Insight FS | $37,403
Evaluate variable nitrogen rate as a means of reducing commercial nitrogen rates.
Number of producers on project: 1

Isaac Isherwood | $32,877
Optimize nitrogen in potatoes to reduce nitrogen leaching on sandy soil.
Number of producers on project: 1

Nick Kleiber | $21,800
Determine economical nitrogen rates on no-till corn in Sheboygan County.
Number of producers on project: 1

Kris Lien | $6,727
Identify optimum nitrogen rate following hog wean to finish manure.
Number of producers on project: 1

McCain Foods | $80,000
Optimize nitrogen use for potatoes in Central Wisconsin.
Number of producers on project: 2

Muddy Bottom Farmers | $68,359
Determine the economic rate of nitrogen and the impact of cover crops.
Number of producers on project: 3

Prairie Vista Cranberries | $20,744
Evaluate nitrogen application timing variations at Prairie Vista Cranberries.
Number of producers on project: 1

Salzwedel Cranberry Marsh | $37,652
Test frequency of spoon-fed fertilizer application in cranberry production.
Number of producers on project: 1

James Stute | $39,819
Determine if a cereal rye cover crop changes the optimum nitrogen rate in corn.
Number of producers on project: 1

Vilas Cranberries | $30,237
Assess nitrogen reduction and application timing for root development.
Number of producers on project: 1

Dean Weichmann | $31,956
Conduct nitrogen crediting from timed termination of alfalfa cover crop.
Number of producers on project: 1

Additional information on the Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Grant Program can be found on DATCP’s website.
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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