12/18/2017

1

S

Water quality and Phosphorus loss: What is our role?

Jeff Endres

Endres Berryridge Farms

Waunakee, Wis.

Chairman, YPF

12/18/2017

2

Who We Are

S Farmer-led 501c3 non-profit

S Yahara watershed (Surrounds Madison, Wis.)

S One of the most populated, and most agriculturally productive areas in Wis.

S Board, contractors, cost-share, certification, education and outreach

S Compile annual report, educate farmers and the public, continuously improve

S We play a critical role – and we accept it!

Yahara Pride Farms Purpose

1. Help inform agriculture of new water quality, rules laws and issues.

2. Create a mechanism to show farmer environmental sustainability and reward farmers for good stewardship along with a way to track collective progress to show watershed advancement.

12/18/2017

3

Yahara Pride Farms Purpose

3. Help advance new ideas and technology that yield better water quality along with farm profitability.

4. Through our projects and programs we are trying to earn the trust and respect of farmers, private citizens and government that agriculture is committed to doing its fair share in making improvements in the watershed.

5. Create the Yahara Pride brand name that both farmers and citizens can relate to.

Certification Program

• Identifies conservation strengths & weaknesses

• Creates environmental plan with farmer for improvements

• Sustainability of operations

• Recognition

12/18/2017

4

Certification Program• 31+ farms certified/final stages of certification

• 37 farms total evaluated, 30,000 acres

• Do not need to be certified to participate in YPF events

• Cost to certify varies• No cost to the farmer• Grant funded

Cover Crops

12/18/2017

5

Low Disturbance Manure Injection

Strip Tillage

12/18/2017

6

Phosphorus Reduction

In 2016

S 37 Farms

S 11,500 acres enrolled

S 11,000 lbs predicted P reduction

S Cover crops, LDMI, LDDT+ cover crops, headland stacking, strip tillage, combining & continuing

Highlights

S 7,130 lbs from cover crops alone

S More than 27,000 lbs P reduction since 2012

S Combining practices = 2 add’l lbs

S Cont. 3+ yrs = 1 add’l lb

2016 Cost Share Program

S 2016 - 4th year

S 8700 total acres enrolled in 2016

S 3039 acres cost shared in 2016

S 5661 acres without cost-share in 2016

S 2017 enrollment recently completed

12/18/2017

7

Watershed-wide Conference

Held Annually in March

• 110 farmers, agribusiness, government

• Highlight accomplishments

• Increased interest in cost-share program

Ag Innovation Day• Late summer & fall

• Vertical manure injection

• Conservation tillage

• Cover crops

• Composting

• Exhibitors

• 100+ farmers, agribusiness, agencies and public

12/18/2017

8

Farm Tours

S Engages the community

S Promotes the economics of agriculture

S Creates alliances

Outreach

• Forward Farmer Newsletter

• Mails to 306 farmers & agribusiness

• E-News

• 470 contacts

• yaharapridefarms.org

• Social media

• Media relations

• Presentations to community

12/18/2017

9

Telling the story:Branding & recognizing good stewardship

Grants

12/18/2017

10

Our Challenges

S Cost

S Every farmer has a unique farming system

S Risks with some practices

S Unrealistic expectations (farmers & public)

What’s next for YPF

S Paid for Performance program

S Societal involvement (environmental fee for food?)

S More farmer participation

S Target to those who need us most

12/18/2017

11

In summary

S Be aware of local environmental issues

S Be proactive, not reactive

S Be aware of your role in the solution (and problem)

S Show what ag is doing

S Contact information:

Jeff EndresJeff.endres@yaharapridefarms.org(608) 279-8991