Dr. Arriaga, Soil Extension Specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discusses the principles of soil health. Soil health can sometimes seem like a buzz word and there is some confusion around what it really is. In this podcast, you'll not only learn what soil health is, but you'll also learn about soil aggregation, the benefits of soil health, how soil health can be measured, and what you can do to improve soil health on your farm. Dr. Arriaga breaks down this complex topic and provides useable information that is accessible to all listeners. If you're curious about soil health, this podcast is for you.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

• Soil Health Nexus: https://soilhealthnexus.org/
  • Soil Health Matrix Decision Tool: https://soilhealthnexus.org/soil-health-matrix-tool/

Season 1 - Soil + Water Conservation Conversations
Hosted by Kim Meyer, former agronomist and watershed program coordinator with Yahara WINS, this season of podcasts connects you to farmers and other experts on the topic of water quality. You will hear from farmers that are utilizing conservation practices on their farms in southern Wisconsin. You’ll learn about the farm, the farmer, the conservation practice that they have successfully implemented on their farm, as well as the challenges they’ve faced and how they have overcome these challenges. Beyond feeding our world, clean water is one of the many ecosystem services agriculture can provide. Agriculture is not the problem, rather, it is the solution to protecting and improving our local water quality. Learn more about Yahara WINS at www.yaharawins.org.

The biosolids team at the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (District) shares information on the largest liquid biosolids program in the nation, Metrogro, located in Madison WI. The Metrogo program recycles over 35 million gallons annually of city nutrients as a local farm fertilizer. As the District is a participant in Yahara WINS, efforts have been made to better align the Metrogro program with watershed-wide goals of improved water quality. One of the many program improvements includes the implementation of low disturbance manure injection (LDMI). Starting in 2017, the Metrogro program began the nearly five year journey to find an LDMI toolbar that would meet the unique needs of the program. Tune in to hear from Ross Hollfelder, Zac Thompson, Chad Liddicoat, and Brad Arnold to learn how city nutrients are reused as farm fertilizer, and learn how the team eventually found an LDMI toolbar and modified it to meet their needs.

Resource mentioned in the podcast:

• Metrogro Program webpage: https://www.madsewer.org/what-we-do/resource-recovery/metrogro-biosolids-program/
• Manure Manager website: https://www.manuremanager.com/
• The North American Manure Expo: https://www.manureexpo.ca/

Season 1 - Soil + Water Conservation Conversations
Hosted by Kim Meyer, former agronomist and watershed program coordinator with Yahara WINS, this season of podcasts connects you to farmers and other experts on the topic of water quality. You will hear from farmers that are utilizing conservation practices on their farms in southern Wisconsin. You’ll learn about the farm, the farmer, the conservation practice that they have successfully implemented on their farm, as well as the challenges they’ve faced and how they have overcome these challenges. Beyond feeding our world, clean water is one of the many ecosystem services agriculture can provide. Agriculture is not the problem, rather, it is the solution to protecting and improving our local water quality. Learn more about Yahara WINS at www.yaharawins.org.

Bob Uphoff of Uphoff Ham and Bacon, and board member of the Yahara Pride Farms farmer-led watershed group, shares his experience farming without tillage.

Bob farms with his two son's just south of Madison, WI, raising hogs and grain crops. The Uphoff's began to integrate no-till farming practices into their operation over four decades ago and have since transitioned all of their acres to no-till.

Tune in to learn how Bob has made changes over time to make no-till farming work for him on his farm, along with advice on how to get started.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:
No-till Farmer Magazine: https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/

Season 1 - Soil + Water Conservation Conversations
Hosted by Kim Meyer, former agronomist and watershed program coordinator with Yahara WINS, this season of podcasts connects you to farmers and other experts on the topic of water quality. You will hear from farmers that are utilizing conservation practices on their farms in southern Wisconsin. You’ll learn about the farm, the farmer, the conservation practice that they have successfully implemented on their farm, as well as the challenges they’ve faced and how they have overcome these challenges. Beyond feeding our world, clean water is one of the many ecosystem services agriculture can provide. Agriculture is not the problem, rather, it is the solution to protecting and improving our local water quality. Learn more about Yahara WINS at www.yaharawins.org.

Jay Furseth of Furseth Farms, and member of the Biological Farming Friends farmer-led watershed group, shares his experience using cover crops on his family's dairy and grain farm near Stoughton WI. The Furseth's have been planting cover crops for over a decade, starting with oats after corn silage harvest. They've since moved on to planting cover crops within their soybean and corn grain rotation, have tried out various seeding methods, planting green, and most recently installed a seeder on their vertical tillage equipment.

Local resources for cover crops:

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Integrated Pest and Crop Management

• cover crop publications: https://ipcm.wisc.edu/covercrops/
• youtube cover crop playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xKu-Wp3-hg&list=PLMF9p1QYShgxlSdUzfnPJFd1l8J90tCpr

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Crops and Soils, Division of Extension cover crop resources: https://ipcm.wisc.edu/covercrops/

Season 1 - Soil + Water Conservation Conversations
Hosted by Kim Meyer, former agronomist and watershed program coordinator with Yahara WINS, this season of podcasts connects you to farmers and other experts on the topic of water quality. You will hear from farmers that are utilizing conservation practices on their farms in southern Wisconsin. You’ll learn about the farm, the farmer, the conservation practice that they have successfully implemented on their farm, as well as the challenges they’ve faced and how they have overcome these challenges. Beyond feeding our world, clean water is one of the many ecosystem services agriculture can provide. Agriculture is not the problem, rather, it is the solution to protecting and improving our local water quality. Learn more about Yahara WINS at www.yaharawins.org.

Jeff Endres, president of the farmer-led group Yahara Pride Farms, shares his experience and advice on composting. Jeff farms with his family in Waunakee, WI where they have a dairy operation, Endres Berryridge Farms. About eight years ago, they began experimenting with composting as a way to handle their bedded pack manure during the summer months. When a decision regarding manure management for a new heifer facility came about, they went all in on composting: they built a covered composting space and invested in a custom made turner. Tune in to learn what works for the Endres', and hear how they've transformed their on-farm composting system.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

• Yahara Pride Farms website: http://www.yaharapridefarms.org/
• Yahara Pride Farms Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YaharaPrideFarms/

Season 1 - Soil + Water Conservation Conversations
Hosted by Kim Meyer, former agronomist and watershed program coordinator with Yahara WINS, this season of podcasts connects you to farmers and other experts on the topic of water quality. You will hear from farmers that are utilizing conservation practices on their farms in southern Wisconsin. You’ll learn about the farm, the farmer, the conservation practice that they have successfully implemented on their farm, as well as the challenges they’ve faced and how they have overcome these challenges. Beyond feeding our world, clean water is one of the many ecosystem services agriculture can provide. Agriculture is not the problem, rather, it is the solution to protecting and improving our local water quality. Learn more about Yahara WINS at www.yaharawins.org.

Dr. Chiavegato of Ohio State University spoke at the Yahara Pride Farms Conference and shared what greenhouse gases are connected to agriculture and what farmers are doing and can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Much of what Yahara Pride Farm members are doing for improved water quality also have the potential to sequester carbon. Listen in to hear a recap of what she shared at the conference.

Dr. Marilia Chiavegato's bio
https://ansci.osu.edu/our-people/marilia-chiavegato

Yahara Pride Farms
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YaharaPrideFarms
Website: http://www.yaharapridefarms.org

Resources mentioned in the podcast

• Cool Farm Alliance, Cool Farm Tool: https://coolfarmtool.org
• USDA Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Mitigation: https://www.usda.gov/oce/energy-and-environment/climate/mitigation
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: https://www.ipcc.ch

Season 1 - Soil and Water Conservation Conversations
Hosted by Kim Meyer, former agronomist and watershed program coordinator with Yahara WINS, this season of podcasts connects you to farmers and other experts on the topic of water quality. You will hear from farmers that are utilizing conservation practices on their farms in southern Wisconsin. You’ll learn about the farm, the farmer, the conservation practice that they have successfully implemented on their farm, as well as the challenges they’ve faced and how they have overcome these challenges. Beyond feeding our world, clean water is one of the many ecosystem services agriculture can provide. Agriculture is not the problem, rather, it is the solution to protecting and improving our local water quality. Learn more about Yahara WINS at www.yaharawins.org.

Tony Peirick , chairman of the farmer-led Dodge County Farmers for Health Soils and Healthy Waters, shares his experience and advice on planting green. Tony farms with his family in Watertown, Wis., where they have a dairy operation, grow cash grain crops, and provide custom fieldwork for other farmers. A long time no-till operation, they've successfully incorporated cover crops and plant green where ever they can. Tune in to learn what works for the Peiricks, and hear how they've implemented planting green on their farming operation.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

• Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soils and Healthy Waters Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DodgeCoFarmersHealthySoilWater
• Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soils and Healthy Waters website: https://dodgecountyfarmers.com
• Wisconsin DATCP Producer-led Watershed Groups: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/ProducerLedProjectSummaries.aspx
• University of Wisconsin Nutrient and Pest Management Program: https://ipcm.wisc.edu/npm/

Season 1 - Soil + Water Conservation Conversations
Hosted by Kim Meyer, former agronomist and watershed program coordinator with Yahara WINS, this season of podcasts connects you to farmers and other experts on the topic of water quality. You will hear from farmers that are utilizing conservation practices on their farms in southern Wisconsin. You’ll learn about the farm, the farmer, the conservation practice that they have successfully implemented on their farm, as well as the challenges they’ve faced and how they have overcome these challenges. Beyond feeding our world, clean water is one of the many ecosystem services agriculture can provide. Agriculture is not the problem, rather, it is the solution to protecting and improving our local water quality. Learn more about Yahara WINS at www.yaharawins.org.