This document summarizes a presentation on farmer leadership for better water quality. It discusses how nitrogen and phosphorus are major problems affecting water quality. There are many existing plans at multiple scales to address this issue, but current agricultural strategies rely primarily on voluntary action. The presentation explores new farmer-led arrangements that show promise in improving water quality. Some of the institutional challenges discussed are demonstrating results within an acceptable timeframe, gaining acceptance of a reduced agency role, and scaling up efforts with limited resources.

1. SWCS 71st Annual Conference
July 25, 2016
Ken Genskow
kgenskow@wisc.edu; 608-262-8756
Farmer leadership for better water
quality
Ken Genskow
(with Julia Olmstead and Chad Ingels)
University of Wisconsin‐Madison/UW‐Extension
Department of Urban & Regional Planning,
And Environmental Resources Center
Contact: kgenskow@wisc.edu
Soil and Water Conservation Society
71st Annual Conference – Louisville, KY
July 25, 2016
Farmer Leadership for Better Water Quality
Key Points
 N & P are big problems
 Many plans at multiple scales
 Agric. strategies rely primarily on voluntary action
 New farmer‐led arrangements look promising
 Institutional challenges
 Demonstrating results, for whom, and what measures
 Acceptance and agency roles
 Scaling up and integration
N & P are big problems
Delivered TN
Incremental Yields
(kg/km2) to the
Gulf
Robertson et al., 2013
Slide From Dale Robertson – USGS
Many Plans
“…best approaches will
entail States, federal
agencies, conservation
districts, private landowners
and other stakeholders
working collaboratively
to develop watershed‐
scale plans that target the
most effective practices to
the acres that need it most.”
‐ USEPA Memorandum, March 2011
Wisconsin’s Nutrient
Reduction Strategy
November 2013
Common Theme
“Engage
Agriculture”
Wisconsin’s Nutrient
Reduction Strategy
November 2013
Whose Plans?
For many farmers:
“[t]he assessment measures are
not understood, the remediation
plan does not feel local, and the
prescribed strategies for water
improvement are someone
else’s, not the persons whose land
management practices are being
targeted.”
Morton and Brown (2011, p 34)

2. SWCS 71st Annual Conference
July 25, 2016
Ken Genskow
kgenskow@wisc.edu; 608-262-8756
Farmer leadership for better water
quality
Farmer‐led Councils
 Farmer-led
 Performance based, set by
council
 Small incentives, set by
council
 Agency enabled, behind
the scenes
 Seeing results (other 2
presentations)
Institutional Challenges
 Showing results in acceptable timeframe
 Acceptance of a back‐seat approach for agencies
 Scaling up and integrating
 With what resources?
Showing Results
What measures? For whom? By when?
 Direct outputs:
 Conservation walk through, demonstrations
 Meetings, participants, events (e.g., demonstrations)
 Use of incentive options
 Outcomes
 Expanded conservation networks
 Increased trust among actors
 Creation of plans, formal/informal agreements
 Additional funds/use of other programs and resources
 Increased practice use – installed BMPs and behavior changes
 Measured environmental improvements and/or reductions in
nutrient loads (edge of field/instream)
Acceptance
By agencies, downstream stakeholders, farmers
 Is it okay to fail?
 What if downstream/lakeshore stakeholders are not
supportive?
 Drinking water
 Algal blooms
 Other health/quality of life impacts
 When does agency flexibility become viewed as inaction?
Scaling up: Wisconsin Farmer‐Led
Watershed Projects – group 1
Image: UW Extension
Scaling up: Wisconsin Farmer‐Led
Watershed Projects – group 2
Image: WDATCP

3. SWCS 71st Annual Conference
July 25, 2016
Ken Genskow
kgenskow@wisc.edu; 608-262-8756
Farmer leadership for better water
quality
Resources & Alternatives
 What potential sources of base funding?
 For starting
 For continuing
 Coordination
 Incentives
 Alternatives?
 Other voluntary options
 Federal programs: NRCS; EPA 319 funds/9KE plans
 State/local programs
 Law suits/court action
 Legislative action
“This project has been an inspiration and has
re‐ignited my interest in exploring other
potential possibilities for our farm…”
http://blogs.ces.uwex.edu/wflcp/
Plans: “Engage Agriculture”
Questions?
Comments?
What do you think?