Pioneer Farm research team zeros in on soil runoff, erosion and nutrient loss in dairy project

Research taking place at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is contributing to a better understanding of the effects of dairy farming practices aimed at building healthier soils.

A team at the UW-Platteville Pioneer Farm led by senior scientist Dr. Dennis Busch wrapped up the third year of research at the end of 2025. UW-Platteville is one of eight research institutions across the country participating in an six-year project called Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration, initiated by Dairy Management Inc. in collaboration with the Soil Health Institute to advance progress toward the dairy industry's collective 2050 environmental stewardship goals.

Overall, the project is studying soil health and manure management and their effects on greenhouse gas emissions, water quality improvement and agronomic factors such as yield and quality of crops grown for dairy cattle feed.

Busch's team is evaluating two dairy-focused crop production systems - one a conventional approach with commonly used farming practices, the other using Soil Health Management System (SHMS) practices.

The commonly used treatments are defined by conventional tillage, injected liquid dairy manure and commercial nutrients that are applied as required. In contrast, SHMS is a holistic approach that combines reduced soil disturbance by practicing no-till crop production, utilizing a novel manure-based fertilizer product and establishing cover crops, which are planted to cover the soil after the corn is harvested.

"We are evaluating the impact of these production systems on soil health, water quality, carbon storage and crop yield," Busch said.

The trials at Pioneer Farm are being conducted in eight replicated catchments, or sections of fields where water flows downhill to a single collection point. The catchments are hydrologically isolated and use surface-water runoff gauges and soil core lysimeters, which measure the movement of water and nutrients in the soil.

For more information, visit: Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration