Yahara Grains
An initiative in the Department of Agricultural & Applied
Economics, uses a market-based approach to conservation that provides
consumers an opportunity to help keep our lakes clean while also supporting
local farmers and food businesses
Phosphorus, Water Quality, and Current Conservation Practices
The Challenge
- Existing agricultural production systems within the Yahara Watershed can result in excess P runoff into nearby surface waters
- This runoff is harmful to the health of Madison lakes
- Reducing P runoff would help improve water quality, protect ecosystems and create a healthier Yahara Watershed
Current Strategies
Incorporating wheat and other overwintering small grains into a standard corn-soybean rotation has been shown to help reduce P runoff.
- Unfortunately, farmers who have a corn-soybean rotation, including those in the Yahara watershed, do not grow wheat and other overwintering small grains for a variety of reasons.
- Currently, the most the most common strategy used to incentivize farmers to adopt conservation practices is cost-share funding.
- This funding comes from government programs, grant initiatives and financial donations to help farmers implement conservation practice such as cover crops, no-till and buffers. These funds minimize the financial burden and potential economic risks of adopting conservation practices.
The Disconnect
While this type of funding can be beneficial, it can create a disconnect between farmers who receive funding, and the larger public who provide the funding.
- This is due to a lack of direct relationship or point of connection between these two groups
- The intangible nature of the impact and outcomes that result from adopting these conservation practices make it difficult for consumers to understand
- It can be difficult to translate the value derived from conservation practices to an urban consumer base that does not fully understand the specific practices.
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A Potential Market-Based Solution
To connect these two groups, the creation of a tangible, consumer-facing product could be created to connect the direct benefits of the farmers conservation practices to a wider, non-farm, urban audience.
Creating Market Demand
To incentivize farmers, markets must be developed and market prices need to be sufficient to compete with corn and soybeans.
- Developing a market channel for food and beverage products that contain overwintering small grains as ingredients could help create markets and increase consumer demand
- Because the Madison community cares about keeping our lakes clean, a significant segment of consumers would be interested in purchasing these food and beverage products, and willing to pay a premium price given their alignment on conservation goals.
- The resulting market demand for these products could, in turn, create more market opportunities and support premium market prices for these ingredients.
Conservation through Consumption
Madison community members are interested in keeping their lakes clean. Consumers and farmers alike are in support of strategies that result in less P runoff into nearby lakes.
- More stable markets and sufficient market prices would encourage farmers to plant more wheat and other overwintering small grains within the Yahara watershed.
- Increasing these grains, especially on targeted and susceptible acres within the Yahara watershed, would help reduce P runoff and keep our lakes clean.
Be a Part of Change
Whether you’re a farmer, business owner or resident, you can take part in restoring the Yahara watershed.