Findings from the first phase of the Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration project have highlighted the direct benefits of sustainable land management on commercial dairy forage fields. Focusing on Wisconsin’s Driftless Region, the assessment evaluated soil health across 57 fields on 31 farms to establish a baseline of carbon storage and soil function.
The research reveals that while well-managed rotationally grazed pastures displayed the highest soil health indicators in the region, row crop operations also saw significant improvements by reducing tillage and maximizing living roots.
“When farmers put into practice the soil health principles, like minimizing disturbance and maximizing living roots… we do see measurable changes in soil health improvement,” says Program Manager and Soil Scientist Mara Cloutier.
For participating dairy producers, the long-term data serves as both validation and a roadmap for the future.
“We’ve been doing some things correctly,” reflects Jack Herricks, a Cashton dairy farmer who has utilized no-till practices on his family’s land since 1985. “If there’s a better practice that is revealed through these studies, I’m in.”
The eight-year, multi-state initiative continues to track how these management practices affect long-term water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic profitability for the dairy industry. The project started in 2021.
Learn more: https://dairysoilwater.org/
