LWCD News
Review the Draft Green County Farmland Preservation Plan
Public comment is open and accepted on the 2024 Farmland Preservation Plan for Green County. Here’s a link to download and review: Green County Draft FP Plan 2024 or you can stop in the office at 1627 4th Ave West, Monroe, WI for a copy to review. By having this plan adopted, landowners would be one step closer to being able to participate in Farmland Preservation through Ag Enterprise Areas or local zoning. We appreciate any and all feedback.
SWIGG Study Complete
The Southwest Wisconsin Groundwater and Geology Study (SWIGG) gave a presentation of their findings at a meeting in Lancaster May 16, 2022. Rural residents of Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette Counties in Wisconsin rely on private wells for their water. Contaminants like nitrate and bacteria from septic systems, fertilizer, and manure can contaminate the groundwater that residents use. Groundwater is vulnerable to contamination where the soil layer is thin and the bedrock is fractured, which is the case for much of the study region. The SWIGG study includes five objectives that were designed to assess and understand private well water contamination in the three counties.
Link to the summary, full report and other supporting documents
2022 Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey
The survey will use airborne electromagnetic (AEM) technology to better understand how surface water and groundwater are connected, and the geometry of different aquifer units. To accomplish this, AEM data will be collected to image surficial confining units, shallow aquifers, and bedrock units. The use of a helicopter-towed AEM sensor (looks like a large hoop hanging from a cable) for this type of evaluation uses cutting-edge technology and provides accurate science-based data about below-ground properties that are otherwise difficult to assess over large areas. This project is in response to public feedback on groundwater quality, limited data on depth to bedrock, and to further define aquifer properties in relation to surface activities.
link to USGS website for more information
Leasing and Your Land Webinar Series
Leasing and Your Land: A free webinar series for farmland owners Link to recordings
Local Extension and County Conservation staff will host a series of webinars the evenings of November 9, 11, and 16 for landowners who rent out land for farming in Iowa, Grant, Green, and Lafayette Counties.
Soil is one of the most important assets of land, but it’s not always obvious how to work with an operator to protect it. In this series, presenters will start at the beginning to help landowners better understand soil, conservation practices, and developing a good lease.
The first session, “Understanding Your Farmland,” will be Monday November 9 from 6:30-7:30 PM. Topics include the connection between land use and water quality, basics of soil types, soil productivity and limitations, soil fertility, and how to use the Web Soil Survey
The second session, “Protecting Soil and Water,” will be Wednesday November 11 from 6:30-7:30PM. Topics include soil health, manure applications, basics of conservation practices (including cover crops and reduced tillage), and farmland programs and regulations.
The third session, “Developing a Farmland Lease,” will be Monday November 16 from 6:30-7:30PM. Topics include the importance of a multi-year, written lease, the economics of crop production, what goes into a good lease, and considerations for a fair price. A local landowner and an operator will also give their perspectives. Link to recording
Green County Poster Contest Winners Announced
The Green County Land and Water Conservation Department held its annual conservation poster contest. The conservation poster contest is open to kindergarten through twelfth grade students. Students are broken into five grade categories. Posters are evaluated on the...
Aug 7 Summer Field Day
The second annual summer field day organized by the Farmers of the Sugar River will be held at Truttmann Dairy LLC located at N9682 County J, Blanchardville on Wednesday, August 7. Farmers and interested public are encouraged to attend. Registration, milk and cookies...
Farmers of the Sugar River Host Annual Meeting and Shop Talk
The second annual meeting for the Farmers of the Sugar River was held on March 5 at the Albany Lions Club. Over 50 people attended the meeting. Jim Leverich, retired from UWEX, gave a talk on "Intergrading Management with Precision Farming to Achieve High Yields and...
2019 Youth Poster Contest Results
The 1st place poster in each category goes on to the Southern Area contest. More information about our Youth Poster Content > Grades K – 1 1st Place Taralyn Gratz Kindergarten Monroe Northside Grades 2 – 3 1st Place Emiliano Torres Grade 3...
Wisconsin’s Groundwater: Basic Concepts and Information Resources
WI Land+Water hosts Ken Bradbury from Wisconsin Geo…
Larry and Marilyn Revels – 2017 Conservationist of the Year
The Revels follow a simple rule: leave …