Cooley Named Discovery Farms Research Coordinator for Eastern Wisconsin

A quote from Mr. Cooley about his new position on the UW-Discovery Farms Staff:

“I am excited to be a part of the Discovery Farms Initiative. I believe that this initiative will be a crucial component in collaboration between the agricultural community, policy-makers, and consumers to provide environmentally sustainable agriculture in Wisconsin.”

MADISON , Wis. —Eric Cooley began his work recently as the new outreach specialist for Discovery Farms. His work will focus on natural resources issues in Eastern Wisconsin with an emphasis on surface water runoff and tile line drainage. The University of Wisconsin-Extension Discovery Farms Initiative announced Cooley’s new position Dec. 15, 2004.

The Discovery Farms initiative, new to this part of the state, will gather on-farm research data which may be used to determine the environmental and economic effects of currently available best management practices. This data will be used to evaluate and improve best management practices in order to achieve a healthy and sustainable agriculture in a healthy and sustainable environment.

Research results will be used to educate and improve communication among the agricultural community, consumers, researchers and policy-makers. It is Discovery Farms intent that, based on this research, recommendations will be developed to better identify and implement effective environmental management practices and regulations that are compatible with profitable agriculture.

Cooley’s research will be primarily in Kewaunee and Manitowoc counties. There are currently 3 farms in this area that Cooley will be monitoring with a total of 10 monitoring stations. It is likely that other farms and monitoring stations will be added in the future.

Water collection and flow monitoring devices have been installed at the monitoring stations to monitor water contaminants and flow volumes for channeled surface water flow and tile line effluent. Data from these monitoring devices will be utilized to identifying the sources of nutrients, sediment, and other non-point pollutants that may impair the ground & surface waters. From this research, recommendations will be developed to reduce the sources of these water contaminants.

Cooley has undergraduate degrees in nuclear engineering from Thomas Edison State College, soil and water conservation from UW-Madison and a master's degree in soil physics from UW-Madison. Cooley was previously employed by the Door County Soil and Water Conservation Department where he specialized in nutrient management planning, soil testing, Global Information System mapping, and conservation planning. Cooley also served a 6-year enlistment in the US Navy as a nuclear reactor operator and water chemist.

Eric Cooley will divide his time between the Manitowoc County UW Extension, 4319 Expo Drive, P.O. Box 1150, Manitowoc WI 54221-1150; and the Kewaunee County Land Conservation Office at 925 Marquette Dr., Kewaunee, WI 54216.

For more information about the Discovery Farms Initiative, visit the web site at http://www.discoveryfarms.org.