Wisconsin dairy farmers face growing challenges related to nutrient management, soil compaction, water quality protection, and efficient use of manure and fertilizer. Traditional soil testing methods can be costly, labor-intensive, and slow, while existing technologies often cannot capture the subsurface soil conditions that influence crop productivity, nutrient movement, and water storage. These limitations reduce the ability of researchers and producers to make timely, data-driven decisions that improve both farm profitability and environmental outcomes.

Through Dairy Innovation Hub funding, UW–Madison acquired a CoreScan™ Multi-Sensor Probe, an advanced field-based soil sensing platform capable of rapidly measuring soil moisture, organic matter, electrical conductivity, and compaction throughout the soil profile. This equipment allows researchers to create high-resolution maps of soil conditions and develop precision nutrient management tools that can be applied across Wisconsin dairy farms. The investment strengthens research focused on soil health, water quality, nutrient use efficiency, and sustainable dairy production while supporting the Dairy Innovation Hub’s goals of stewarding land and water resources and helping dairy farms remain productive and resilient.