Priority Area: Stewarding land and water resources
-
Engineering beyond the brown midrib phenotype: Using tissue- and cell-type specific engineering to improve the agronomic traits of digestible brown midrib maize mutants
Brown midrib (bm) maize mutants are known for their improved forage digestibility, but they often suffer from poor plant growth, limiting their use on farms. This project aims to genetically…
-
A collaborative initiative for continuous groundwater nitrate monitoring in Western Wisconsin leveraging legacy well data and novel sensing technologies
Nitrate contamination in groundwater poses risks to both human and animal health, especially in rural communities. This project will pilot a collaboration between UW–Madison and UW–River Falls to develop a…
-
Enhancing manure management and agricultural research capacity through manure tanker equipment acquisition
Manure plays an important role in crop production by returning nutrients to the soil—but managing it in a way that protects water, air, and soil health is a growing challenge…
-
Enhancing manure management and agricultural research capacity through investment in manure mesocosms
Manure is a valuable resource for crops and soil health, but if not managed carefully, it can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and public health concerns. At UW-Platteville,…
-
Expanded instrumentation for monitoring permanent pasture water quality and soil health
To better understand how different farming practices affect soil and water quality, UW-Platteville’s Pioneer Farm is installing new monitoring equipment in two pasture areas. The equipment will collect detailed data…
-
Evaluating nitrogen availability from solid-liquid-separated and composted manure: phase two
This study builds on previous Dairy Innovation Hub-supported research that revealed current nutrient management guidelines may significantly underestimate how much nitrogen is available to crops from processed manure. The first…
-
Improving the growth of alfalfa with plasma activated water: a potential eco-friendly pesticide
Alfalfa is a crucial crop for Wisconsin’s dairy farms, but insect pests like the alfalfa weevil can cause serious damage, leading to lower yields and higher feed costs. To help…
-
Impact of biochar on composting dairy manure and soil health: a comparative study
Healthy soil is essential for productive farming, but many fields face challenges like nutrient loss, poor structure, and declining microbial activity. This project explores how combining biochar, a carbon-rich material…
-
Increasing nutritional density of alfalfa through the application of locally-sourced effective microorganisms
This project investigates whether adding locally-sourced effective microorganisms (LEM) to alfalfa can enhance its nutritional value as dairy feed. Previous studies have shown that LEMs can increase essential nutrients in…
-
Lab to land: testing the efficacy of plant essential oils for the management of aphanomyces root rot of alfalfa in the field
Alfalfa is a vital crop for Wisconsin’s dairy farms, providing high-quality feed for cows in the form of hay and silage. However, a soilborne disease called Aphanomyces root rot poses…
