On:
In: Wildlife

Jeff Stratton’s beloved Larks Lake left his feet and legs covered in hundreds of itchy red welts.

“It was horrible,” said Stratton, 68, “Crazy itchy. Crazy painful.”

The post Researchers pioneer method to combat swimmer’s itch by relocating ducks first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/05/24/researchers-pioneer-method-to-combat-swimmers-itch-by-relocating-ducks/

Guest Contributor

On:
In: Feature Homepage, Latest News, News, PFAS, PFAS News Roundup, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
PFAS News Roundup: 3M scientist exposes 50 years of PFAS deceit just as the ‘forever chemicals’ are found in Great Lakes precipitation

In a ProPublica story, former 3M chemist Kris Hansen details how the chemical giant hid the dangers of PFOS from employees and the public. She was asked by senior scientist Jim Johnson to retest for what are now known as “forever chemicals” in human blood samples from the general population, in 1997.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/05/pfas-news-roundup-3m-scientist-exposes-50-years-of-pfas-deceit-just-as-the-forever-chemicals-are-found-in-great-lakes-precipitation/

Mia Litzenberg

On:
In: Latest News, News, The Checkup
Bald eagles nearly died out. What can we learn from their return to the southern Great Lakes?

By Emma McIntosh, The Narwhal

Growing up in a shiny Toronto-area suburb lined with concrete and puny trees, the only bald eagles Sheetal Rawal saw in the 1980s were in her imagination or on TV.

It wasn’t for lack of trying. Inspired by a particularly stirring episode of Alvin and the Chipmunks — the gang goes to Washington, D.C., to convince the president to stop a developer from bulldozing an eagle’s nest — she remembers gazing out of the car window on road trips, scanning treetops and skies for giant birds with bright white heads.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/05/bald-eagles-nearly-died-out-what-can-we-learn-from-their-return-to-the-southern-great-lakes/

The Narwhal

On:
In: Adopt-a-Beach, Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes
A photo of Adopt-a-Beach volunteers surrounds ABC World News Tonight anchor Linsey Davis.

Adopt-a-Beach made a big splash in the media this spring, raising awareness about plastic pollution and solutions. And 20 years’ worth of Adopt-a-Beach volunteers were part of it.

“One of the things I love about Adopt-a-Beach is how long our volunteers’ work lasts,” said Olivia Reda, Volunteer Engagement Manager and author of the new report Adopt-a-Beach: 20 Years of Great Lakes Litter Data.

“On the days of their cleanups, volunteers keep plastic and other trash out of the Great Lakes. People who see the cleanups are often inspired to do cleanups of their own weeks or months later. And the litter data our volunteers collect becomes part of a 20-plus year dataset that’s helping communities find solutions to plastic pollution.”

Here are some of this spring’s Adopt-a-Beach stories from across the region:

“Thanks again to everyone who volunteers with Adopt-a-Beach,” said Reda. “I am so grateful for each and every action you’ve taken to help protect the Great Lakes!”

A special thanks to this year’s top Adopt-a-Beach sponsors: HSBC, Meijer, and Unilever.

The post Adopt-a-Beach Makes a Splash appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2024/05/adopt-a-beach-makes-a-splash/

Judy Freed

On:
In: Daily News

More than 700 freshwater researchers and practitioners are attending the International Association for Great Lakes Research’s 67th annual conference in Windsor, Ontario. Presentation topics include algal blooms, climate change, the emergence of PFAS chemicals, and pollution caused by microplastics. Read the full story by The Toledo Blade.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240522-iaglr-2024

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Michigan’s most popular state park is launching a new electronic beach warning system that can automatically alert authorities of a drowning. The system is the latest effort to keep swimmers safe amid a spate of drowning deaths. Read the full story by Bridge Michigan.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240522-beach-tech

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Over 20,000 individual cruise passengers are expected on the Great Lakes this year—double the number from 2014. There will be six cruise lines operating in the Great Lakes that are expected to make about 600 port visits this year. Read the full story by Bridge Michigan.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240522-cruising-expectations

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority has reached an agreement with the owner of the decommissioned Somerset Generation Station to build a new Lake Ontario “short sea shipping corridor” and port at the 1,800-acre site in Barker, New York. Read the full story by the Niagara Gazette.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240522-ontario-port

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Concrete and steel casks storing spent nuclear fuel rods await relocation to a permanent underground chamber for indefinite cooling. Until that facility is built, they slowly accumulate on concrete pads along the Michigan coast. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240522-nuclear-waste

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Bald eagles are back in a big way: after 50 years of conservation efforts, the Ontario government made the bald eagle’s recovery official in 2023, announcing them no longer at risk. What’s happened to bald eagles is a story of recovery, but only if we actually learn from it. Read the full story by Bridge Michigan.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240522-bald-eagles

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Scientists have been discovering small changes on Lake Michigan that could lead to big impacts on fishing, tourism and those who make their livelihood on the water. A slightly warmer, windier, and wetter climate has already begun to change the footprint of the lake and its impact on West Michigan. Read the full story by WOOD-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240522-michigan-changes

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The impact of maritime trade is multifaceted, from affecting the air quality of the surrounding Detroit River corridor to the arrival of invasive species. A series of initiatives are in motion to assess carbon emissions from port operations and bolster efforts to protect the waterway. Read the full story by Bridge Detroit.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240522-detroit-maritime

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

This year, a joint effort by various non-profits and government organizations raised over 11,500 coho salmon to combat invasive alewives. Over the past 50 years they have released over 1 million coho salmon into the Manitowoc River in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Read the full story by WFRV-TV – Manitowoc, WI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240522-wisconsin-coho

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

A judge is limiting development near the shoreline on Carleton Island in the St. Lawrence River near Cape Vincent, New York. The Thousand Islands Land Trust filed a lawsuit earlier this spring to stop a neighboring property owner from development that it argues violates a conservation easement. Read the full story by North Country Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240522-carleton-island

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Uncategorized
TORNADO WATCH 281 REMAINS VALID UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN WISCONSIN THIS WATCH INCLUDES 7 COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN CALUMET MANITOWOC WINNEBAGO IN NORTHEAST WISCONSIN BROWN DOOR KEWAUNEE OUTAGAMIE THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALASKA, APPLETON, CLAY BANKS, DARBOY, DUNDAS, DUVALL, GREEN BAY, INSTITUTE, KEWAUNEE, MACKVILLE, MANITOWOC, MENASHA, NEENAH, NORMAN, NORTHERN LAKE WINNEBAGO, OSHKOSH, POINT BEACH STATE PARK, POTAWATOMI STATE PARK, RANKIN, RIO CREEK, ROSTOK, SHOTO, TWO RIVERS, VALMY, WINNEBAGO, AND WITTMAN FIELD.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.ee830218fddad00ce31abb8f7e461f7db446bd38.002.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Uncategorized
At 944 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Kaukauna to near Chilton to near St Anna. Movement was northeast at 55 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Green Bay, Manitowoc, Bay Shore Park, Kaukauna, Little Chute, Kimberly, Chilton, Brillion, Denmark, and Cleveland.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.b8f62648b0950c52b3977a62a83d05e3c4abc10a.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Uncategorized
TORNADO WATCH 281 REMAINS VALID UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN WISCONSIN THIS WATCH INCLUDES 9 COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN CALUMET MANITOWOC WINNEBAGO IN NORTHEAST WISCONSIN BROWN DOOR KEWAUNEE MARINETTE OCONTO OUTAGAMIE THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALASKA, APPLETON, BROOKSIDE, CLAY BANKS, DARBOY, DUNBAR, DUNDAS, DUVALL, GOODMAN, GREEN BAY, HARMONY, INSTITUTE, KEWAUNEE, LITTLE SUAMICO, MACKVILLE, MANITOWOC, MENASHA, NEENAH, NIAGARA, NORMAN, NORTHERN LAKE WINNEBAGO, OCONTO, OSHKOSH, PEMBINE, PENSAUKEE, PESHTIGO, POINT BEACH STATE PARK, PORTERFIELD, POTAWATOMI STATE PARK, RANKIN, RIO CREEK, ROSTOK, SHOTO, SOBIESKI, TWO RIVERS, VALMY, WINNEBAGO, AND WITTMAN FIELD.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.5a9ffc08fbb065570bfe2c8961c0de6bd64034d1.002.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Uncategorized
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 281 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN WISCONSIN THIS WATCH INCLUDES 18 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN MARATHON PORTAGE WAUSHARA WOOD IN EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN CALUMET MANITOWOC WINNEBAGO IN NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN LANGLADE LINCOLN IN NORTHEAST WISCONSIN BROWN DOOR KEWAUNEE MARINETTE MENOMINEE OCONTO OUTAGAMIE SHAWANO WAUPACA THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALASKA, ANGELICA, ANTIGO, APPLETON, ARNOTT, AURORAVILLE, BAKERVILLE, BLOOMVILLE, BORTH, BROOKSIDE, BRYANT, CLAY BANKS, CLINTONVILLE, DARBOY, DEERBROOK, DOERING, DUNBAR, DUNDAS, DUVALL, ELCHO, GLEASON, GOODMAN, GREEN BAY, HARMONY, HARRISON, HOFA PARK, INSTITUTE, JEFFRIS, KEMPSTER, KESHENA, KEWAUNEE, KING, LIND CENTER, LITTLE SUAMICO, MACKVILLE, MANITOWOC, MARSHFIELD, MENASHA, MERRILL, NEENAH, NEOPIT, NEVA, NEW LONDON, NIAGARA, NORMAN, NORTHERN LAKE WINNEBAGO, NORTHPORT, OCONTO, OSHKOSH, PEMBINE, PENSAUKEE, PESHTIGO, PINE RIVER, PLOVER, POINT BEACH STATE PARK, POLAR, PORTERFIELD, POTAWATOMI STATE PARK, RANKIN, RIO CREEK, ROSTOK, RURAL, SHAWANO, SHOTO, SILVER LAKE, SOBIESKI, STEVENS POINT, THORNTON, TWO RIVERS, VALMY, WAUPACA, WAUSAU, WAUTOMA, WINNEBAGO, WISCONSIN RAPIDS, AND WITTMAN FIELD.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.f32592e1b48cd0348f657c4c9dae7982481e015d.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Uncategorized
* WHAT...Visibility one quarter to one half mile in dense fog. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, north central, and northeast Wisconsin. * WHEN...Until 10 AM CDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.42b497d63a4e60f1bfd51aeb98bcc291a2c5bc63.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Authors, Feature Homepage, Fish, Birds and Animals, I Speak for the Fish, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, News, Science, Technology, Research
I Speak For The Fish: Are muskies still the readers’ favorite?

I Speak for the Fish is a monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor Kathy Johnson, coming out the third Monday of each month. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit Public Television. 

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/05/i-speak-for-the-fish-are-muskies-still-the-readers-favorite/

Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Event - Non-FWWA, exotic pet surrender, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, Green Bay, habitat, Habitattitude, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, Outreach and Education, PET, pets, rehoming, Winnebago Lakes, Winnebago Waterways

Over 70 Exotic Pets Surrendered, To Be Rehomed

Seventy animals were turned in at an exotic pet surrender event in Kimberly, Wisconsin, on Sunday.  Thirty seven people attended and there was a Facebook Reach of 13,000 people.  Included in the surrenders were a four parakeets, a ferret, three red eared sliders, and a 13 foot reticulated python!

The Exotic Pet Surrender Event was held March 18th, 2024 between 9 AM and 1 PM at the Kimberly Public Library.  J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue was accepting fish, invertebrates, reptiles, pet birds, small mammals, and plants — no questions asked.

In some areas, there are no rehoming options for exotic animals such as fish, birds, and reptiles. Some pet owners that are unable to care for their pet may think that releasing the animal is the right thing to do, however, releasing a pet is harmful for the animal and the environment.

This event brought together a collection of rehoming partners that provide responsible alternatives to release for exotic pet owners who are no longer able to care for their pets. J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue (JRAAR) hosted the event with help from another area organization; the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Questions regarding the Exotic Pet Surrender Event or about future surrenders or events can be directed to John Moyles of J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue. He can be reached at adoptions@jraar.org

For information on future pet surrender events happening across the state of Wisconsin, visit https://www.jraar.org/

Photo Credit: Chris Acy, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Exotic Pet Surrender in Kimberly Gives Pet Owners Options appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/05/20/exotic-pet-surrender-in-kimberly-gives-pet-owners-options/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exotic-pet-surrender-in-kimberly-gives-pet-owners-options

Chris Acy

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Butte des Morts, Dock Service Providers, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, Green Bay, invasive species, lake management planning, Lake Winnebago, Outreach and Education, Poygan, Winnebago Lakes, Winnebago Waterways, Winneconne

Article provided by: Wisconsin AIS Partnership

One of the many challenges facing a healthy waterbody is how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) to protect the ecological, social, and economic benefits that we so greatly cherish in Wisconsin. Prevention of AIS is key to the long-term sustainability of ‘lake life’ and needs to be at the forefront of any protection strategy. Simply put, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But if only it were just that simple. The variables and situations that can impact a waterbody may seem so limitless that it can be daunting to know where to start. As a lake resident, you might consider questions such as:

Does the boat launch near my house have an AIS prevention sign?
What if a new AIS is documented in our lake?
What are people doing upstream that could impact our lake?
Do they follow AIS prevention laws?
Where will the next visiting boat come from and will they have taken prevention steps?
What if they didn’t? What then? What next?…

The problem can feel overwhelming. The important thing is that each of us can do something. Big or small. Simple or complex. New or old. Every action counts and every action matters. As a lake resident, you are in a unique stakeholder position to do something particularly powerful and that is to flex your consumer power when it comes to services that you might need as part of your lake life. These might be services such as dock and lift installation/maintenance, shoreline construction work, etc. Any activity that involves installing, removing, operating, and transporting water-related equipment, structures, and gear presents a high risk of inadvertently transporting and spreading AIS without proper decontamination. While everyone is required to “inspect, remove, and drain” per Wisconsin State Statutes NR40, these steps might not always be 100% effective especially for high-risk users such as service providers who are often working on multiple lakes in a single day and interacting with lake water and sediment in ways that recreational users are not. These kinds of service providers need to follow the same prevention steps that we all do, but they are not required to take the extended steps, such as spraying equipment with a bleach solution, making it all the more important for consumers to advocate for their lake.

To flex your consumer muscle, here are some simple ideas to consider –

• Ask your existing or prospective provider what AIS prevention steps they take.
• Build ‘decontamination’ into the service contract. Ask that the provider implement at least one decontamination option (see figure) and provide you with documentation such as a video, logbook, or arrange to witness it in-person.
• Talk with your neighbor or lake group to discuss the possibility of hiring the same provider to reduce the number of providers coming to the lake throughout the season.

Thank you for being a steward of your lake!

Photo Credit: Steph Boismenue, McGhiever

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post How Lake Stewardship & Consumer Power Can Help Prevent the Spread of AIS appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/05/20/how-lake-stewardship-consumer-power-can-help-prevent-the-spread-of-ais/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-lake-stewardship-consumer-power-can-help-prevent-the-spread-of-ais

Chris Acy

On:
In: Hidden

Continuous Cover System

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched its Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program in 2023 to increase adoption of climate smart practices on farms across the country and to work to develop markets that could lead to premiums for commodities grown using these practices.

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance secured Climate Smart funding because many of the same practices that USDA supports for carbon capture also build soil health and reduce runoff resulting in improved water quality.

Agriculture is a vital part of Northeast Wisconsin’s landscape. To ensure NE Wisconsin farmer’s remain competitive in a changing market, this program is offering technical assistance and cost share to help farmers work toward adoption of climate smart practices.

 

Cost Share & Incentive Rates

The annual payment will be divided equally and paid during the semi-annual (summer and winter) planning meetings following the implementation of practice.

  • Cover Crop and No-Till System $78/acre x 2 years
  • 2-Year Practice Implementation Incentive +$40/acre one time incentive payment

  • Accurate Whole Farm SnapPlus $5/acre (max of $1500)

  • Farm Progress Report Meetings +$625 one time incentive payment

  • Low Disturbance Manure Application (Optional) $28.11

Practice Implementation Cycle

Enrollment

Ready to start farming Climate Smart? To begin enrollment, review the Continuous Cover System program requirements. When you are ready to enroll, complete and submit the required application documents. Simply download, fill out, and scan and email or mail to Fox-Wolf. Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance will respond within 2 weeks upon receipt of application. Timeline is dependent upon verifying eligibility through USDA FSA.

Review Practice Requirements and Eligibility

Before filling out the required enrollment paperwork, please review the Farm Climate Smart program requirements and eligibility to determine if you qualify.

Program requirements and eligibility can be found in the Requirements and Eligibility document. If you have questions regarding eligibility, contact your County Land Conservation Department Climate Smart staff.

Download and Fill Out Documents

To begin enrollment, download and fill out the Producer Application, Privacy Information Release Request, and Field Enrollment forms. To download, click the image and follow the download instructions prompted by your browser.

All documents may be filled out online or by hand. Either way you decide to complete the application, the documents must be signed and dated by hand or as a encrypted digital signature.

Practice Requirements and Eligibility

Click to View or Download

Producer Application Packet

Click to View or Download

Practice Requirements

Cover Crop Requirements

  • Cover crops must be no-till planted.
  • Field rotation must be annual crops for the two years of the contract.
  • Crops grown as commodities will not be considered cover crops.
  • Wheat grown as a commodity does not qualify as a cover crop but is eligible for a one-time no-till payment.
  • Cover crops may be harvested as forage before termination.
  • Managed grazing of cover crops must receive prior approval by Climate Smart staff.
  • Cover crop mixes must include at least 1 over-wintering species at a pre-approved rate.
  • Cover crop planting timing and rates will follow page 12 of NRCS Tech Note 7.
    • Any deviations to timing and rates must be pre-approved.
  • Cover crop establishment requires a minimum of 8 live plants per square foot representing all species planted by freeze up or Dec. 1st.

Tillage Requirements

  • No-till allows only in-row soil disturbance during the contract period.
  • Removing residue from directly within the row (i.e. strip-till or row cleaners) is acceptable, but may only be done at the time of spring planting.
  • Vertical tillage may not be used.

Planning & Additional Requirements

  • Participation in semi-annual (winter and summer) planning meetings with County Land Conservation Climate Smart staff to prepare for upcoming conservation work
  • Provide an accurate and complete whole farm SnapPlus database to Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance to generate a Farm Progress Report. Participate in one Farm Progress Report meeting
  • Work with Climate Smart staff to ensure proper documentation of implemented practices is complete, providing the following information: Crop and cover crop species, population, planting dates, equipment used for planting or other use, row spacing or drilled depth, seed cost, herbicide cost, type, and rate for cover crops, historical (3 previous years) tillage and conservation practices.
  • Install Project Signage at the field’s edge closest to the road on at least one enrolled field.

Farms that are located within the 21 counties of the Fox-Wolf Basin (see map) are considered eligible. Farms located within the watershed boundaries will receive priority. Fox-Wolf will evaluate applications based on suitability and availability of technical assistance and reserves the right to decline enrollment from farms in counties outside the core (Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago) watershed boundaries.

Additional requirements apply, as outlined in the Requirements for Enrollment section above.  For scenario specific questions, please contact Fox-Wolf at Climatesmart@fwwa.org or your County Land Conservation Climate Smart staff listed below.

Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities is a USDA program “committed to supporting a diverse range of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. This effort will expand markets for America’s climate-smart commodities, leverage the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, and provide direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers.  USDA is investing more than $3.1 billion for 141 projects through this effort and all the projects require meaningful involvement of small and underserved producers.”

For more information, please visit USDA’s Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities website.

No, farms of all sizes are eligible to apply. Farms that are able to enroll 100+ acres will have priority for the Continuous Cover System, but funding is also available for smaller farms.

Producers who are already utilizing cover crops and no-till on their farms are eligible, but only on fields that are not currently being managed with cover crops/no-till. Fields must be moving from a conventional system to a soil health system.

Producers who are already implementing cover crops and no-till on large portions of their farms are not considered eligible for the Continuous Cover System.

No, fields receiving cost share must be moving from conventional management to soil health systems.

Producers must be enrolled with FSA (have a Farm ID) before signing a contract. If a producer is not currently enrolled, they can become enrolled and then participate in the project.

Technical support to assist with FSA enrollment is available, through this program, by Wisconsin Farmers Union.  Please see the Contact Information section below to be connected with Wisconsin Farmers Union directly.

No, LDMA is currently available for cost share only as part of the Continuous Cover System (cover crops and no-till).

Field eligibility will be determined by the County Land Conservation Climate Smart staff. We are looking to choose producers who will continue implementing practices long term.

Yes, a variety of practices that have been defined by USDA NRCS as Climate Smart (providing a climate benefit) are eligible through Farm Climate Smart.  

In partnership with Pheasants Forever, cost-share funds for Tree or Shrub Planting and Precision Agriculture Analysis farm planning are available.

Funding is available for additional conservation practices that primarily address the needs of small or underserved producers.  This list of practices is under development and will be included in the Climate Smart Practice list as details are finalized.

For more details on practice standards and cost share, please see the full list of additional practices here.

Underserved Producers are defined by USDA FSA and USDA NRCS guidelines.  Detailed resources can be found on their website and are summarized below.

  • Small Producers: Those making less than $350,000 in gross annual income
  • Limited Resource Farmer: Those with direct or indirect gross farm sales not more than the current indexed value in each of the previous two years, and who have a total household income at or below the national poverty level for a family of four, or less than that of 50% of the county median household income in each of the previous two years. Self-Determination tool found here.
  • Beginning Farmer: Producers who: 1) have not operated a farm or ranch, or who have operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years, and 2) those who will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch. In the case of a contract with an individual or with the immediate family, material and substantial participation requires that the individual provide substantial day-to-day labor and management of the farm or ranch, consistent with the practices in the county where the farm is located. In the case of a contract made with a legal entity, all members must meet these requirements.
  • Socially Disadvantaged Farmer: A producer who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. A socially disadvantaged group is a group whose members have been subject to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. Socially disadvantaged groups consist of the following:
    • American Indian or Alaskan Native
    • Asian
    • Black or African-American
    • Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
    • Hispanic
  • Veteran Farmer: A producer who served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard, including the reserve component thereof; was released from service under conditions other than dishonorable; and has not operated a farm or ranch, or has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years; or who first obtained status as a veteran during the most recent 10-year period. A legal entity or joint operation can be a Veteran Producer only if all individual members independently qualify.
  • Women Farmer: For an entity, at least 50% ownership in the farm business must be held by women.
  • Specialty Crop Grower: A producer who grows fruits & vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and/or horticultural and nursery crops; including but not limited to floriculture crops, Christmas Trees, and plants grown for medicinal purposes (see full list here). *While all Specialty Crop Growers qualify for cost-share, Growers must be able to demonstrate the ability to implement cost-share practices (ex. aquaponic growers would be disqualified as they cannot implement cost-shareable practices).

One initial meeting is required for enrollment producers with County staff and Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. Additional meetings may be required or requested depending upon producer’s interest and/or circumstances. Contact County Land Conservation Department or Fox-Wolf Climate Smart staff to determine requirements for your situation.

For producers enrolled in the Continuous Cover System, meetings will occur following year 1 (two cropping seasons).

The contracted fields cannot be changed during the contract period. Producers that are interested in enrolling in additional fields should contact Fox-Wolf and a new contract for those acres will be drafted. New acres enrolled will be subject to the two-year contract from the time of signature of the new contract.

Contact Information

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Project Management

Katie Woodrow
(920) 915-5767
┃katie@fwwa.org

Tim Burns
(920) 841-0104
┃tim@fwwa.org

Dedicated County Land Conservation Climate Smart staff are located in 8 counties throughout the Fox-Wolf Basin. Contact the staff person in the county nearest to you to determine program eligibility and to begin enrollment.

Brown County

Brent Levash
(920) 391-4620
┃brent.levash@browncountywi.gov

Calumet County

Autumn Gomez-Tagle
(920) 849-1493
┃autumn.gomeztagle@calumetcounty.org

Fond du Lac County

Justin Loehrke
(920) 414-0096
┃justin.loehrke@fdlco.wi.gov

Outagamie County

Andy Kiefer
(920) 832-5073
┃andy.kiefer@outagamie.org

Shawano County

Bill Koepke
(715) 526-4620
┃bill.koepke@shawanocountywi.gov

Waupaca County

Stefan Stults
(715) 258-6245
┃stefan.stults@co.waupaca.wi.us

Waushara County

Kaylee Overby
(920) 787-0443
┃kaylee.overby@wausharacountywi.gov

Winnebago County

Eric Bertram
(920) 232-1958
┃ebertram@winnebagocountywi.gov

Have a question?

Need help enrolling? Maybe a question about eligibility? Confused about program requirements?

Fill out the Contact Us form and we will get back to you as soon as we can!

The post Continuous Cover System appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/05/20/continuouscover/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=continuouscover

Tim Burns

On:
In: Daily News

Each year, the Great Lakes attract several million tourists from the U.S. and around the world. The Great Lakes hold one-fifth of all the fresh water on the Earth’s surface with a combined coastline extending for over 10,000 miles. However, those are some rather basic facts – whether it’s pirates, shipwrecks, or Babe Ruth’s first official home run, these fascinating tidbits are a bit less straightforward. Read the full story by Classic City News. 

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240520-greatlakes-facts

Hannah Reynolds