Letter from Leadership - Water quality partners learn from each other

Tim Trotter,
Executive director

About a year ago, DBA announced a new and bold approach to clean water. This strategy relied on a fresh method to policy formation built on sustainable solutions to provide certainty for our members today and into the future, while protecting our water and other natural resources.

To do this, DBA reached out to Clean Wisconsin, The Nature Conservancy and Wisconsin Land and Water to see if they would welcome a new approach rather than the finger-pointing and policy battles of the past. We learned that although we have not always been on the same side of these issues, our fundamental goals are the same. We all want clean water, and we also want our agricultural community to be successful.

To further solidify a strong foundation to build upon, former DBA President Tom Crave invited the Clean Wisconsin and DBA boards to tour his family’s farm and cheese plant on Oct. 15. This exchange was very helpful in building a better understanding of the challenges facing dairies today, as well as the need for practical regulations and empowerment of farms to innovate. It was another example of the need for all partners to step out of their comfort zones — by listening, learning and being open to developing a better path forward. Also, it was obvious in this exchange that we can protect and enhance our environment and have a vibrant dairy community, too.

This approach has been welcomed by many of our state legislators and regulators as well. They see value in groups coming together and co-creating a plan that has buy-in from a broader range of groups. For too long we have relied on the policy ping-pong that has left us with no clear path forward.  

I realize I don’t need to sell many of you on our approach, as the feedback from our membership has been supportive and encouraging. After all, more than 20 percent of our members are no strangers to building relationships on environmental issues. They’ve worked together with many stakeholders in developing and supporting a growing number of farmer-led conservation groups. The Nature Conservancy has been a tremendous partner in these efforts. The results are indisputable. Our members are pushing the envelope and expectations of what DBA needs to do to support them. This energy is not merely for a quick win but rather a sustained goal where farmers can and will remain an important value in our state’s economy.    

We all realize there will be days when we don’t agree. That is true of anything in life, but sustained relationships are built upon trust and integrity. DBA and its members have earned respect — by being bold and doing what is right.