Discovery Farms are real working farms throughout Wisconsin's diverse agricultural landscape that are facing different environmental challenges. The Discovery Farms program is an effort by UW Extension and UW Madison that takes a real-world approach to finding the most economical solutions.

Mission

The Discovery Farms program develops on-farm and related research to determine the economic and environmental effects of agricultural practices on a diverse group of Wisconsin farms; and educates and improves communications among the agricultural community, consumers, researchers and policy-makers to better identify and implement effective environmental management practices that are compatible with profitable agriculture.

Vision

To achieve its mission, the Discovery Farms program will:

     Work and communicate with a wide range of agricultural enterprises to determine the environmental impacts of production agriculture and create a reliable database of what different farms contribute in terms of environmental enhancement or degradation    

     Gather baseline information that includes not only environmental information, but also management practices and financial conditions that allow for the calculation of the cost of implementing environmentally sound practices

    Determine the effects of environmental rules and regulations on the environment, farm profitability and farm management; and provide accurate information to producers, consumers, policy makers and agency personnel so positive steps can be made to protect both the environment and production agriculture

     Work and communicate with agricultural producer groups, environmental groups, consumers, the University of Wisconsin, UW Extension, the Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, the Department of Natural Resources, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, County Land Conservation Departments, and agricultural businesses and cooperatives on the importance of maintaining a viable agricultural economy 

Identify the impacts -- both negative and positive -- that agriculture has in Wisconsin.

Steering Committee

The Discovery Farms Program and UW Platteville Pioneer Farm are governed by a joint Steering Committee representing different farm and environmental organizations. The Discovery Farms/Pioneer Farm Steering Committee solicits input on nonpoint pollution information needs, identifies evaluation/demonstration project possibilities, selects projects for funding, and solicits Discovery Farms cooperators.

Steering Committee Members

Dick Gorder
Producer, Mineral Point
Farm Bureau

Mike Wehler
Producer, Plain
WI Pork Association

Terry Anderson
Producer, Chetek
Poultry and Egg Association

Andy Dierks
Producer, Coloma
Potato & Vegetable Growers
 

Mark Diederichs
Producer, Malone
Professional Dairy Producers of WI

Craig Myhre
Producer, Osseo
WI Farmers Union

Ben Peterson
Producer, Grantsburg
Dairy Business Association

Ed Jasurda
Producer, Phillips
WI Milk Marketing Board

Byron Freeman
Producer, Whitewater
WI Cattleman's Association

Joe Bragger
Producer, Independence
WI Soybean Growers

David Ward
Producer, Fort Atkinson
Cooperative Network

Rob Poehnelt
Crop Production Association

Joe Britt
Sand County Foundation

Melissa Malott
Clean Wisconsin

  The committee, chaired by a producer, includes representatives from Wisconsin farm, agribusiness and environmental organizations. Each organization was contacted and asked to select a representative for their organization. Most of the Steering Committee members are producers. In addition, there will be a group of non-voting advisors representing various public agencies and the university system. The function and duties of the governing board are:     

     To provide overall direction to Discovery Farms and Pioneer Farm     To assist in the selection of Discovery Farm cooperators, and on projects at both Discovery Farms and the Pioneer Farm

     To provide regional assistance to Discovery Farm cooperators

     To help in the dissemination of the DF/PF information to the membership of many statewide and local organizations

This Steering Committee provides oversight, direction and assistance/guidance to the programs. The steering committee is comprised of producers and representatives of the agri-business sector and the environmental community.