Producer-Led Research

Collaborative Producer-Led Research and Demonstration

This project is a collaborative effort of DATCP’s Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program, UW-Madison Extension, and many local partners and collaborators to support producer-led research, demonstration and education. Protocols are designed with producers to support farmer-driven conservation solutions, farmer-to farmer mentorship, and local data on conservation practice performance across Wisconsin.

Interested in participating as a Producer-Led Watershed Group?

Contact DATCPProdLed@wisconsin.gov to learn more about DATCP’s Producer-Led Program or to include any of the below protocols in your upcoming producer-led grant.

Interested in participating outside of the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program?

Protocols are available for all of Wisconsin’s producers and partners, regardless of their involvement with a producer-led watershed group.

Reach out to UW-Madison Extension’s On-Farm Research Coordinator with any questions or to receive assistance.

Interseeding Cover Crops into Corn Grain

Cover Crop Species Diversity Following Corn Silage

Sampling of Drone Interseeded Cover Crops

Why participate in collaborative on-farm research and demonstration?

Connecting around shared research questions aligns farmer and researcher priorities and expedites our collective learning around conservation practice performance throughout Wisconsin. Participating farmers and partners will receive:

Insights into how conservation practices perform for their fields, cropping systems and growing conditions.

Individualized report of high-quality results specific to their field and what they might mean for productivity, profitability and conservation.

A statewide summary report: as producers complete this protocol, individual results will be anonymized and aggregated to increase our understanding of this practice across Wisconsin farms.

Receive technical assistance with on-farm research, including trial layout, soil and plant sampling, collecting yield data, and sharing results. Reach out to Extension, consult the PLWPG Program Partner Guide, or email DATCPProdLed@wisconsin.gov to connect with potential partners to see if they are interested in collaborating.

Learn from others! As part of a collaborative demonstration and research project, learn from others participating in projects, and gain insights into what others are finding.

Research and demonstration results will support learning around conservation practices throughout producer-led watershed groups and among Wisconsin farmers and stakeholders more broadly. Results will be anonymized and shared on UW–Madison Extension’s On-Farm Research Results page and at various educational events throughout the state. Interested participants are encouraged to share their findings or host a field day as part of their producer-led watershed group’s educational events.

Producer-Led On-Farm Research and Demonstration Projects

Projects are designed with producers to support farmer-driven conservation solutions, farmer-to-farmer learning, and coordinated data on conservation practice performance across Wisconsin.

Upcoming projects were developed with a Farmer Working Group to address farmers’ conservation interests through user-friendly approaches. Research trials and lower-effort on-farm assessments are available to encourage wider engagement and connection across producer-led groups. Projects explore cover cropping, soil health, nutrient management and conservation cropping systems to support improved water quality and soil health.

The Farmer Working Group is finalizing projects and resources for the 2027 crop year, and those will be available in late July 2026.

Reach out to Abby Augarten at aaugarten@wisc.edu or 608-572-2182 if you have any questions in the meantime or would like to receive notification when projects are available.

Partners are Key to On-Farm Research — reach out to receive assistance

Protocols are available for all of Wisconsin’s producers and partners, regardless of their involvement with a producer-led watershed group. For those interested in conducting any of the Collaborative Research & Demonstration protocols outside of the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program, reach out to UW-Madison Extension’s On-Farm Research Coordinator with any questions or to receive assistance.

Collaborative research and demonstration projects are designed to be simple and comprehensive so that any interested producer can implement the project on their own. However, for those interested, DATCP’s Conservation Agronomist, UW-Madison Extension’s on-farm research team, and local collaborators, including county conservation departments, UW-Madison Extension regional educators & outreach specialists, nonprofit organizations, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and agronomists, may be available to provide support and technical assistance to facilitate implementation.

DATCP’s Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program and UW-Madison Extension’s On-Farm Research team are available to support farmers and local collaborators navigate the protocol: from designing the trial layout for specific fields and implementing the protocol, to submitting data and sharing out results.

DATCP’s Conservation Agronomist is available to assist those implementing this protocol as part of their producer-led group. They can help with plot layout, agronomic support (ex: navigating fertilizer and herbicide programs), clarify questions about the protocol, or connect you to the best person for your question or request.
UW-Madison Extension’s On-Farm Research Team provides support with data analysis, interpretation and statewide outreach. UW-Madison Extension has a network of regional educators and outreach specialists who can provide technical assistance with on-farm research trials and share research results and related content at local events.
Local collaborators and partners, including county conservation departments, Extension regional educators/outreach specialists, nonprofit organizations, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and agronomists may be available to provide assistance with laying out plots, sample collection throughout the season (ex: cover crop biomass, soil samples, yield, etc), in-season scouting, recording and submitting any data, and coordinating any relevant outreach activities like field days. If you are interested in collaborating with partners, make sure to reach out to them in advance to see if they can provide support.

Not sure who to reach out to or are having trouble finding someone available to support your research efforts? Consult the PLWPG Program Partner Guide or reach out to DATCP’s conservation agronomist.

Connect

Interested in participating in collaborative producer-led research and demonstration?

As we grow this effort, we hope to develop projects with farmers to best meet their conservation interests and the needs of their producer-led watershed groups. Reach out to DATCP’s Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program or UW-Madison Extension’s On-Farm Research Coordinator, or fill out this brief survey if you are interested in participating or have any feedback.

Interested in conducting any of the above protocols outside of the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program?

Please reach out to UW-Madison Extension’s On-Farm Research Coordinator with any questions or to receive assistance.