Yahara Pride conservation group shares success story

Madison, Wis. (Jan. 13, 2016} — In southcentral Wisconsin, farmers and an environmental group have come together to reduce phosphorous levels in local waterways.

Created in 2011, the Yahara Pride Farms conservation group is a farmer-led non-profit that works to improve soil and water quality in the Yahara River watershed in the Dane County area.

Several members of the organization spread the word about their innovative program Wednesday to hundreds of farmers and agribusiness representatives at a Dairy Strong 2016: Partners in Progress conference.

The three-day event, held at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center, is sponsored by the Dairy Business Association.

“Farmers have a good story to tell and we need to be at the table,” Uphoff said. “My goal is that farming can continue in this area without excess regulations and rules that put you out of business. We’re working together and getting things done.”

Elizabeth Katt-Reinders of the Clean Lakes Alliance said group members see each other as partners “without labels.

“It’s people sitting around a table and having a discussion about what can and should be done,” she said. “This isn’t all on the farmers. There are plenty of urban sources of phosphorus, too. Everyone has just come to the table and have asked what they can do to help.”

Businesses involved: Stacey Neu, who directs human resources for Spectrum Brands, said non-ag businesses need to play a role in these types of organizations because clean water is a quality-of-life issue.

“A lot of businesses may not understand what Yahara Pride and other similar organizations are doing, but don’t be afraid to get involved,” Neu encouraged the audience. “It all comes down to having a better community, and that helps with attracting and retaining the best talent (in the workforce).”

Wise use of money: Yahara Pride has a $250,000 annual budget that is used for farmer education programs focused on things like using cover crops or innovative equipment, and on education of the non-ag community. Katt-Reinders said part of the program brings city residents to farms so they have a better understanding about what happens there.

Getting certified: Yahara Pride created a certification program to help farmers identify the strengths and weaknesses of their farming systems, buildings and landscapes, said Jeff Endres of Endres Berryridge Farms in Waunakee, and president of the group. In the voluntary program, farmers document how their farm protects soil and water while identifying high-risk situations and practices that should be modified.

“Farmers do more to help the environment than to hurt it,” Endres said. “Farmers are the answer to environmental problems.”

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