RESEARCH

Determinants of Sustainable Agricultural Practices in Wisconsin

Michael Bell, Rachel Gurney, and Shaheer Burney

Understanding farmer perceptions is critical for developing efficacious support for sustainable agriculture. Yet, existing farmer survey data is limited in scope. Addressing this need, SHALL launched a statewide survey distributed to a random sample of 3,200 Wisconsin farmers engaging in a wide array of farming practices.

This project, funded by the University of Wisconsin Consortium for Extension and Research in Agriculture and Natural Resources (CERANR), analyzes SHALL’s statewide farmer survey dataset with the aim of (1) assessing the prevalence of sustainable farming practices throughout Wisconsin, (2) identifying related perceptions and demographics, and (3) potentially developing solutions to the barriers faced by farmers when transitioning to sustainable practices.

Natural Resources Conservation Service Grant to Support Improved Labor Conditions in Agriculture

Michael Bell, Rachel Gurney, Annie Jones, Marisa Lanker, Sarah Rios, Valerie Stull, and Sarah Janes Ugoretz

Centering rural well-being in agriculture is essential for ensuring long-term sustainability and success. Through practices like continuous ground cover, minimal soil disturbance, and crop diversification, sustainable farming improves soil health and builds resilience. To be truly effective, agricultural strategies should also support the needs of farm producers and laborers. Strategies that strengthen local food systems and improve relationships between producers and workers can enhance both ecosystem and rural resilience, but this area has been underexplored in research. This project explores what values and principles can best support the well-being of communities, producers, and farm laborers in sustainable agricultural practices. Using participatory research methods, we aim to develop metrics for sustainable Tribal food systems, dairy production, and vegetable farming. The project focuses on Wisconsin, a key agricultural state, and develops a framework that can be applied in other states. Through interviews and focus groups, we gather insights from a range of food system actors, including farm employees and Tribal members, to ensure the findings are relevant and impactful. These results will be shared through workshops for farm employers and agricultural professionals. The project is funded by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) with additional support from the Soil Health Alliance for Research & Engagement (SHARE). 

Soil Health Alliance for Research and Engagement (SHARE)

Michael Bell, Rachel Gurney, and Valerie Stull

Improving soil health is a key approach to enhancing farmer and rural well-being and economic vitality, while addressing challenges such as soil erosion, nutrient loss, water quality, and overall agricultural sustainability.

SHALL collaborates with the Soil Health Alliance for Research and Engagement (SHARE), a multidisciplinary USDA-funded research project. SHARE focuses on understanding how agricultural practices can address issues like soil degradation, water quality, and biodiversity, while supporting the long-term sustainability of farming systems. Through SHARE, partners such as the USDA ARS Dairy Forage Research Center (DFRC), Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI), and UW-Madison’s Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) work with farmers and stakeholders to explore practical strategies for improving soil health. The project combines research and outreach to support effective landscape transformations.

Building on the success of the Cover Crops Research and Outreach Project (CCROP), SHARE focuses on practices that improve soil health, such as incorporating small grains into rotations, using cover crops, and promoting grassland and perennial systems. The success of these practices depends on the involvement of farmers, their partners, and other stakeholders.

SHALL contributes to SHARE by exploring the social factors that influence the adoption of soil health practices. We focus on how practices like cover cropping, crop rotation, and minimal tillage intersect with the needs and experiences of farmers, farmworkers, and rural communities.

Learn more about SHARE by visiting soilhealthalliance.net.

Grassland 2.0

Michael Bell

Grassland 2.0 is a collaborative initiative involving scientists, educators, farmers, agencies, policymakers, processors, retailers, and consumers working together to enhance farmer profitability, yield stability, and nutrient and water management, while promoting soil health, water quality, and biodiversity through grassland-based agriculture.

Grassland 2.0 takes a comprehensive approach to developing practical technical and financial tools, expanding grass-fed markets, encouraging favorable policy changes, and supporting both producers and consumers.

The initiative hosts listening sessions, surveys, and local discussions to gather input from communities across the state and beyond, aiming to develop pathways for grassland-based agricultural systems that benefit both the environment and rural communities. Throughout the process, the project engages with farmers and consumers across Wisconsin to ensure the solutions are practical and relevant.

The Livelihood, Agroecology, Nutrition and Development (LAND) Project

Michael Bell and Valerie Stull

The Livelihood, Agroecology, Nutrition, and Development (LAND) Project focuses on improving health, addressing economic challenges, and managing natural resources through an integrated approach to agroecological development. This approach combines the latest scientific knowledge with practical, local expertise and contextual understanding.

In partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Community and Environmental Sociology, Kidlinks Small Farm Incubator, Kidlinks World, and Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute, the LAND Project works to improve livelihoods and health in communities across South Africa. This partnership blends research, participatory methods, and educational outreach to foster change. We engage students in service-learning trips, encourage dialogue between local residents and local agencies, and work to develop new methods for sustainable development. The LAND Project emphasizes ongoing learning and relationship-building to ensure lasting partnerships and effective, long-term change.

The project also pays particular attention to the needs and opportunities for youth, recognizing that they represent both present challenges and future potential.