Farmer led change - olmstead
-
Upload
soil-and-water-conservation-society -
Category
Environment
-
view
31 -
download
0
Transcript of Farmer led change - olmstead
Farmer‐Led Change andThe Wisconsin Farmer‐Led Watershed Council Project
Julia OlmsteadJuly 25, 2016
A HEALTHY AND RESILIENT MISSISSIPPI RIVER
REDUCED N, P, AND SEDIMENT
SUPPLY CHAINS
STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY
CULTURE
WI CRP Reductions as
of 2012
St. Croix County:
34,579 acres
Pierce County:
22,474 acres
• How do we create long‐term changes in agriculture that improve water quality?
• Do we have to pay farmers to get them to change?
• What happens when corn prices go up (or down)?
• Is more regulation the solution?
• Why won’t farmers do what we want them to do?
Farmer‐Led Watershed Project Team
• UW‐Extension• Wisconsin DNR• Land Conservation Departments of Dunn, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix Counties
• Wisconsin Farmers Union
Wisconsin Farmer‐Led Watershed Project
Process:1. Organize farmers into watershed‐based
leadership councils2. Learn together about water quality impairments
and on‐field solutions3. Develop farmer leadership by giving them
decision‐making power and through farmer‐farmer teaching and learning
Wisconsin Farmer‐Led Watershed Project
• 4 watersheds, one in each of 4 counties
file:///.file/id=6571367.195549
Wisconsin Farmer‐Led Watershed Project
Process:1. Organize farmers into watershed‐based leadership
councils2. Learn together about water quality impairments
and on‐field solutions3. Develop farmer leadership by giving them
decision‐making power and through farmer‐farmer teaching and learning
Soil Sampling
Sampling Dry Run Creek Stream bank and bed
Cost‐sharing or paying outright for field soil samples
Monitoring
5 Edge‐of‐field monitors,
locations picked by farmers
Wisconsin Farmer‐Led Watershed Project
Process:1. Organize farmers into watershed‐based leadership
councils2. Learn together about water quality impairments
and on‐field solutions3. Develop farmer leadership by giving them
decision‐making power and through farmer‐farmer teaching and learning
“We are a group of farmers…
INSIGHT #1
Not all watersheds are primed for success.
1. Scale2. Geography3. Earlier or existing models in watershed
Water quality per se isn’t the most effective motivator.
St. Croix County, June 2014
INSIGHT #2
Climate Change Seminar, September 2014
INSIGHT #3
Monetary incentives less important than we thought.
Horse Creek WatershedMarch 10, 2016
INSIGHT #4
Early leadership development/establishment is critical.
INSIGHT #5
Farmers value this project, but quantitative results can be elusive.
Thank you!
Julia Olmstead
McKnight Foundation710 South 2nd Street, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401
[email protected]‐333‐4220