Overview of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in Wisconsin
Over 30 million Americans get their drinking water from the Great Lakes. There are 75 million acres in eight states, including Wisconsin, flowing to the Great Lakes. Nearly one-third of the drainage area is agricultural land. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), along with 15 other Federal agencies, are supporting and participating in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the largest investment into protecting the Great Lakes in two decades.
Launched in 2010, GLRI helps the NRCS accelerate conservation efforts on private lands located in targeted watersheds throughout the region. Through GLRI, NRCS works with farmers and landowners to combat invasive species, protect watersheds and shorelines from non-point source pollution and restore wetlands and other habitat areas. For more information about this initiative visit: https://tinyurl.com/233tb2wm
Demonstration Farm Networks
Funded through GLRI, NRCS Demonstration Farm Networks in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin demonstrate the best, leading-edge conservation practices to reduce phosphorus and sediment from entering the Great Lakes.
Six Demonstration Farm Networks exist across Wisconsin. Each network is comprised of conservation and soil health-minded farmers leading the way in partnership with local agencies and NRCS. These networks of farms are demonstrating new approaches and sharing experiences with other farmers to move conservation forward to protect the Great Lakes. These network farmers demonstrate that soil health practices like no-till, cover crops and low disturbance manure applications can work with the right management and time frames.
Demonstration Farms are trying new practices and approaches to existing practices that farms can implement on the ground, where NRCS offers assistance to make their goals reachable. Networks also offer field days and opportunities for farmer-to-farmer interactions. For more information about the Demo Farm Networks visit: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/wisconsin/wisconsin-demonstration-farm-networks
Impact Analysis of the Wisconsin Demonstration Farm Network
To improve water quality and soil health, the Natural Resources Conservation Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative started the Wisconsin Demonstration Farm Networks to help farmers establish innovative conservation practices like cover crops, conservation tillage, and low disturbance manure application.
Our research team is evaluating the Demo Farm Networks to understand their impact and find opportunities for improvement. We are recruiting farmers across eastern Wisconsin – who have and have not participated in the Demo Farm Networks – to participate in interviews about experiences with the adoption of conservation practices on their farm. Interviews may be conducted in person or via Zoom and last from 30 to 90 minutes depending on your responses. Information you provide will be confidential. Participating farmers will receive a $50 cash incentive! If you would like to participate or receive more information, please email Sophia Winkler-Schor at Sophiaw@illinois.edu.
Interview questions will focus on:
Farmers’ background and goals
Use of conservation practices
Experiences with the Demo Network
Sources of information about conservation
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