Predict Manure Runoff with the Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast
Learn how to predict manure runoff in four easy steps with the Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast.
Soils, Nutrient Management & Soil Health
Extension specialists and educators provide timely resources and information to help Wisconsin crop producers and their agricultural consultants manage crops efficiently and profitably.
Articles
Biomass Thresholds for Cereal Rye Cover Crop Goals
Biomass Thresholds for Cereal Rye Cover Crop Goals Biomass Thresholds for Cover Crop Goals What Affects Cereal Rye Biomass Accumulation? Termination Timing Tradeoffs Conclusion What benefits do cover crops provide? Cover crops can provide a wide range of benefits in dairy and grain production systems, but no single cover crop species or management approach can deliver every […]
▶ Watch: Focus on Forage Cover Crops
The fourth Focus on Forage webinar in the 2026 series, Focus on Managed Grazing, features research updates on forage cover crop species and varieties, cover crop forage quality, and factors affecting the success of diverse forage mixes.
▶ Watch: Focus on Managed Grazing
The third Focus on Forage webinar in the 2026 series, Focus on Managed Grazing, features research updates on pasture and confinement economics, pasture species ID and selection, and soil carbon and soil health in pastures.
▶ Watch: Focus on Forage Management
The first Focus on Forage webinar in the 2026 series, Focus on Forage Management, features research-based resources and management strategies to keep forage systems productive over time.
Smart Potassium Management
Crop removal of potassium (K) is high in common Wisconsin crops like alfalfa, corn silage, and high-yielding soybeans. When soil test levels slip too low, yields and crop quality can both suffer.
Nutrient Application Guidelines for Field, Vegetable, and Fruit Crops in Wisconsin (A2809)
This publication is intended to guide Wisconsin field, vegetable, and fruit crop farmers regarding the appropriate amount of nutrients to apply to maximize yield and profitability.
BMPs of NMPs #6: On-Farm Implementation of Nutrient Management in Southwest WI
On the sixth and final episode of the BMPs of NMPs, Landon Baumgartner and Dan Smith discuss the trends that they have seen in their home area of southwestern Wisconsin’s driftless area. They highlight the importance of farmer innovation, particularly in the area’s steep slopes, in forwarding the goals of nutrient management, including no-till planting, cover crops, and variable rate applications. While emphasis on reducing phosphorus losses from soil runoff and manure management remain key in the area, new attention is being paid to nitrogen loading, especially with the proximity of the Mississippi River.
BMPs of NMPs #5: Nutrient Management Planning and Soil Health
This fifth episode of the BMPs of NMPS offers a deep dive into the nuances of Nutrient Management Planning (NMP) and soil health, led by Chris Bandera and Jamie Patton. Emphasizing that while soil fertility is a core component of a high-functioning soil system, it is not synonymous with the broader concept of soil health.
BMPs of NMPs #4: Soil and Land Feature Restrictions for 590 and CAFO Farms
In this fourth episode of the BMPs of NMPs, Hava Blair and Andrea Topper join host Landon Baumgartner to unpack how Wisconsin’s diverse soils and sensitive land features shape farming practices. They explore the unique challenges of regions like the Driftless Area, Central Sands, and Silurian bedrock zones, and explain common restrictions such as setbacks near water bodies, wells, and wetlands.
BMPs of NMPs #3: Calculating Soil Erosion, PI, SCI, and Management Strategies
In episode three of the BMPs of NMPs, Landon Baumgartner discusses soil conservation and nutrient management with Hava Blair and Andrea Topper. They explain the use of the SNAP Plus software, which incorporates the RUSLE2 equation to calculate soil loss, considering critical and predominant soil types.
BMPs of NMPs #2: Wisconsin’s 590 Nutrient Management Standard Today and Beyond
In the second episode of the BMPs of NMPs, Daniel Smith of UW-Madison Extension’s Nutrient and Pest Management program and Sara Walling of Clean Wisconsin talk about the current and future status of of Wisconsin’s 590 Nutrient Management Standard, adoption of these practices throughout the state, and our history of using the best available science to ensure farm profitability and sustainability.