BALDWIN, Wis. — Farmers in western Wisconsin are actively working together to implement more sustainable farming practices. On Dec. 4, the Western Wisconsin Conservation Council held its annual meeting at Emmert & Sons in Baldwin. The meeting highlighted local research efforts focused on conservation, innovative techniques for enhancing soil health and the sustainability progress being made by members on their farms.
Vice President Greg Friendshuh highlighted WWCC’s achievements in 2025, emphasizing their commitment to environmental stewardship and community involvement.
In the group’s eighth year of the well testing program, developed in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, University Professor Dr. Jill Coleman-Wasik shared updates on current projects and new opportunities that lie ahead.
“Through this well testing program, WWCC has made an impact on so many students who have assisted in conducting this research,” Dr. Coleman-Wasik said. “For that, I want to thank all of you.”
Scott Stipetich, Wisconsin Precision Ag & Conservation Specialist at Pheasants Forever, discussed the benefits of planting prairie strips and pollinator strips across farm fields. Both conservation practices help build more resilient ecosystems, while saving farmers money and reducing workloads.
Joe Alits of Alits Agronomy shared local on-farm and soil health research outcomes, emphasizing using the Haney Test to optimize nitrogen efficiency.
Farmers for Sustainable Food Farmer-led Group Collaborator Kaitlin Heusel discussed the results of WWCC’s 2025 Member Conservation Practice Survey. The survey captured responses from 50 members and demonstrated a wide range of conservation practices being used across the farms, such as cover crops, no-till, low-disturbance manure applications, nutrient management planning and soil sampling.
“It’s inspiring to see the commitment this group has to continue making progress each year in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sediment loss and phosphorus runoff, even in the eighth year of this survey,” Heusel said.
The group concluded the meeting with board elections. Greg Friendshuh; Vice President, and Mark Serier were re-elected to the board, and Ellis Frank was elected to the board. Jerry Emmert was recognized as an outgoing member of the board.
Other board members include: Todd Doornink, president; Tom Zwald, treasurer; Kyler Hinriches, secretary; Spencer Anderson, Larry Knutson and Kevin Solumn.
For more information about the Western Wisconsin Conservation Council, visit westernwisconservation.org.
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About WWCC:
Western Wisconsin Conservation Council is a farmer-led non-profit group of farmers dedicated to promoting water conservation, environmentally sound agricultural practices and community engagement. The group is composed of grain, dairy and livestock member farms in the Kinnickinnic, Rush and Willow River watersheds in Barron, Dunn, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties. More information: http://westernwisconservation.org
