The agenda is now available for the Wisconsin Water and Soil Health (WWASH) Conference, December 15–16, 2026, at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
The WWASH Conference explores the intersection of on-farm research, soil health, and water quality with farmers and agriculture professionals through dynamic keynote speakers, panels, interactive breakout sessions, and thought-provoking roundtable discussions.
Agenda Highlights
An innovation panel, a nitrogen panel, and an expanded poster session will showcase farmer-led efforts where you can hear directly from producers about what worked, what didn’t, and how to try it for yourself.
Choose from 22 roundtable topics where you can talk in a small group with experts and get your specific questions answered. You’ll also have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions with practical information to start using right away, like “Find Your Sweetheart: Cover Crop Speed Dating,” “Is There a Place for Tillage in Soil Health Systems?”, and “Innovation in Manure Management.”
A dinner add-on is available for extra time networking with farmers and agriculture professionals in your region.
Keynote Presentations
- “2026: A Smorgasbord of Extreme Weather” (Steve Vavrus, Director, Wisconsin State Climatology Office, UW–Madison)
- “Leveraging Natural Enemies in Conservation-Based Agricultural Systems to Control Insect and Slug Pests” (John F. Tooker, Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University)
- “Short- and Long-Term Steps to Decrease Nutrient Losses from Wisconsin’s Agricultural Lands” (Steven Hall, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, UW–Madison)
Poster Session
Producer-led groups, Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP) projects, demo farms, and individuals participating in on-farm research in Wisconsin are invited to create and share a poster that exemplifies a big win, new project, great event, or demonstration your group has led. Submit a poster.
Registration and Hotel
Pricing Structure for Two-Day Registration:
- Regular: Oct 5–Nov 29 ($185)
- Late: Nov 30–Dec 12 ($210)
- Day-of: ($250)
One-day rates and student rates are available, as well as an add-on dinner option (+$25). Registration includes one or two days at the conference and lunch each day. A hotel block is available at the Kalahari Resort with a discount until November 15. Register for WWASH.
About WWASH
A merging of the Cover Crops Conference and Discovery Farms Conference in 2023, the Wisconsin Water and Soil Health Conference brings farmers, consultants, agency staff, and Extension to the same table to learn about and talk through what’s new in Wisconsin soil health and water quality.
The WWASH Conference is hosted by the UW–Madison Division of Extension Agriculture Water Quality Program and Crops and Soils Program. Extension’s mission is to connect people with the University of Wisconsin.
Visit the WWASH Conference website.
