Advancing soil health and water quality in dairy farming

Insights from the Dairy Soil and Water Regeneration Project

The dairy industry sits at the intersection of agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship. A major effort to strengthen that balance is the Dairy Soil and Water Regeneration Project, a nationwide initiative bringing together researchers, universities, farmers and industry partners to study how soil health practices impact water quality, crop production and long-term sustainability.

In a recent conversation on the Dairy Stream podcast, soil scientist Dr. Mara Cloutier of the Soil Health Institute and Dr. Dennis Busch of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville shared the latest developments from this ambitious project.

A Nationwide Research Effort with Major Progress

Since its introduction in 2022, the project has made substantial strides:

• Baseline soil health surveys completed across multiple dairy regions
• 80% of field trial data collected from research sites nationwide
• A database now holding over 1 million data points, including:
  • 100,000+ greenhouse gas measurements
  • Thousands of soil health and yield observations
• Ongoing outreach through field days, webinars, and scientific publications

According to Dr. Cloutier, the sheer scale and consistency of the dataset are helping researchers better understand how dairy farming practices influence environmental outcomes.

A Common Design Across Diverse Regions

The project spans states including Vermont, New York, Wisconsin, Idaho, California, and Texas—regions with vastly different farming systems.

To ensure meaningful comparisons:

• Each site tests both conventional and soil health management systems
• Standardized measurements and lab protocols are used across all locations
• Practices are adapted locally to reflect real-world farming conditions

This allows researchers to compare outcomes both within regions and nationwide, while still respecting regional differences in climate, soil, and farm management.

Inside the Research: Water Quality at the Field Level

At UW–Platteville, Dr. Busch leads detailed water quality studies comparing two systems:

Conventional System

• Liquid manure injection after harvest
• Additional fertilizer applied in spring
• Tillage before planting
• No cover crops

Soil Health Management System

• Cover crops planted after harvest
• Reduced tillage
• Manure-based fertilizer applied in spring
• Cover crop terminated before planting

Researchers monitor:

• Surface runoff volume
• Soil erosion rates
• Nitrogen and phosphorus losses
• Water movement through the soil profile (via lysimeters)

Key Finding

One of the most striking early results:

Soil health systems produced only about 10% of the runoff volume compared to conventional systems.

This dramatic reduction also led to lower erosion and nutrient loss, highlighting the environmental benefits of soil health practices.

Accounting for Weather Variability

Because agriculture is heavily influenced by weather, the study includes:

• An 8-year duration to capture varying climate patterns
• Natural monitoring of rainfall and snowmelt
• Simulated rainfall events to test systems under extreme conditions

This approach allows researchers to evaluate how resilient different practices are under stress—especially during periods when soil is most vulnerable.

Which Practices Are Most Effective?

Across the project, several practices consistently stand out:

High-Impact Practices

• Cover crops
• Perennial crops (e.g., alfalfa)
• Reduced or no tillage

These practices are linked to:

• Improved soil health
• Reduced erosion
• Lower runoff and nutrient losses

However, both experts stress that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Each farm must adapt practices based on:

• Soil conditions
• Weather patterns
• Operational needs

Emerging Technology in Dairy Nutrient Management

A promising innovation highlighted in the project is manure-based fertilizer technology:

• Converts liquid manure into more concentrated, transportable forms
• Enables better nutrient distribution across landscapes
• May reduce environmental risks associated with liquid manure

When combined with other conservation practices, this technology could significantly improve nutrient management on dairy farms.

Balancing Sustainability with Profitability

While environmental benefits are clear, economic viability remains critical.

To address this, the project evaluates:

• Forage yield and quality
• Yield stability over time
• Potential for new revenue streams from manure products
• Opportunities in ecosystem service markets (e.g., carbon credits)

Dr. Cloutier emphasized that the goal is to provide data-driven insights, allowing farmers to decide which practices make sense for their operations.

Baseline Survey Insights from Wisconsin

One of the project’s key milestones was establishing a soil health baseline in regions like Wisconsin’s Driftless Area.

Key Findings:

• Farms using rotational grazing systems had the strongest soil health
• Row crop systems improved significantly when adopting:
  • Cover crops
  • Reduced tillage
  • Perennial rotations

These findings help farmers benchmark their practices and guide improvement strategies.

What’s Next?

As the project enters its final phase:

• Data collection is wrapping up at most sites
• Focus is shifting to data analysis and publication
• Final reports will begin rolling out
• Researchers will use the data to improve environmental models

These models are especially important for:

• Quantifying soil carbon
• Supporting ecosystem service markets
• Ensuring farmers are fairly compensated for conservation efforts

Looking Ahead

The Dairy Soil and Water Regeneration Project is building one of the most comprehensive datasets in dairy sustainability. Its findings will not only shape future research but also guide farmers in adopting practices that improve both environmental outcomes and farm resilience.

As Dr. Busch noted, the growing engagement among farmers, especially through watershed groups, signals a strong future for adoption and innovation.

And as more results emerge, one message is clear:
Healthy soils are key to both productive farms and a sustainable dairy industry.