The upcoming WWASH Conference is bringing together farmers, researchers, and ag professionals for a deep dive into water quality, soil health, and conservation across Wisconsin and the Midwest.
Now in its third year, the Wisconsin Water and Soil Health Conference was created by merging the former Discovery Farms and Cover Crops conferences. The event blends research and real-world experience from both areas.
This year’s conference is Dec. 16-17 at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells. It features two farmer keynote speakers, Juneau County dairy farmer Ken Kayhart and Athens grain farmer David Trimner. For the first time, a lunchtime keynote will also be included, featuring Steve Vavrus, Wisconsin’s state climatologist, discussing “weather weirdness” and how changing weather patterns impact farming.
Organizer Laura Paletta, outreach specialist for the Agriculture Water Quality Program at UW-Madison Division of Extension, says WWASH 2025 will place greater emphasis on producer-led conservation groups and the work farmers are doing to improve water and soil quality on their own operations.
Register now: https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/wwash/
Attendance typically includes a mix of farmers, agronomists, and agency professionals. But this year, there’s a push to increase farmer participation.
The event also marks the start of the 25th anniversary celebration for Discovery Farms, a UW-Extension program known for its on-farm water quality research. The milestone will be recognized during a special breakfast session.
While Wisconsin is the focus, this year’s conference will also include regional perspectives. Matt Helmers from Iowa State University will speak on reducing nutrient losses, and Anna Cates from the University of Minnesota will discuss collaboration across the ag community to expand cover crops and improve soil health throughout the Midwest.
