Campus: UW-Platteville
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Advancing nutrient recovery research to protect Wisconsin’s water resources
Phosphorus runoff from manure, fertilizers, and agricultural fields is a major contributor to water quality challenges across Wisconsin, leading to harmful algal blooms and degradation of lakes and streams. Researchers…
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Building food quality testing capacity to support Wisconsin dairy innovation
Wisconsin dairy processors, food manufacturers, and startups increasingly rely on analytical testing to evaluate product quality, safety, shelf-life, and consistency. However, many small and mid-sized businesses lack access to specialized…
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Monitoring nitrate movement to protect Wisconsin groundwater
Nitrate contamination of groundwater remains a significant challenge in many agricultural regions of Wisconsin. Because nitrate is highly mobile in soil, it can move below crop root zones and into…
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Advancing sustainable manure composting for Wisconsin dairy farms
Manure management is a critical component of dairy farming, with direct impacts on soil health, water quality, nutrient stewardship, and farm profitability. While composting can reduce odors, stabilize nutrients, decrease…
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Improving alfalfa drought resilience and feed quality for Wisconsin dairy farms
Drought stress can reduce alfalfa establishment, growth, and productivity, creating challenges for dairy producers who rely on high-quality forage to support animal health and milk production. While previous research demonstrated…
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Expanding water quality and soil health monitoring for sustainable dairy grazing systems
Healthy soils and clean water are essential to the long-term success of Wisconsin’s dairy industry, yet more data are needed to understand how different farming practices affect nutrient losses, soil…
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The future of dairy entrepreneurship through the PYLot project
Wisconsin has lost nearly 70 percent of its dairy farms over the past 25 years, even as milk production has remained strong due to advances in technology and efficiency. While…
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Short-stature corn as a sustainable alternative for silage production: agronomic efficiency and economic feasibility
This research examines whether short-stature corn can serve as a strong replacement for traditional brown midrib (bm3) corn in dairy silage production, especially as bm3 hybrids are expected to be…
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Beyond feed: an alternative safety net for Midwest dairies through non-feed cost reduction
This research explores a key challenge facing Midwest dairy farms: even when milk prices are stable, many farms—especially small and mid-sized operations—still struggle financially because of rising non-feed costs like…
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Sustainable intensification of corn silage-livestock systems under tile drainage
This project aims to help Wisconsin dairy farmers boost forage production and protect water quality by testing a “stacked” system of practices in tiled corn‑silage fields. Researchers will evaluate how…
