(PROF. DOUG REINMANN)
THIS WHOLE IDEA THAT
WE'RE COMING TO THE
THE LIMITS OF THE
RESOURCES OF THE
PLANET THE ABILITY
THE PLANET TO SUPPORT
US IS VERY MUCH IN
PEOPLE'S THINKING
(MICHAEL FINNEY)
IT'S AMAZING TO TO
HEAR SCIENTISTS SAY
THAT WITHOUT US
MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF
SUSTAINABILITY IN
THIS CENTURY WE MAY
NOT EVEN MAKE IT THROUGH
THE CENTURY AND WE'RE
15 YEARS INTO THAT CENTURY
(MARGARET KROME)
I WANT HUMANS WHO
CAN USE THAT WHICH
THEY NEED BUT NO
MORE I WANT TO SEE
HUMANS ABLE TO BE
RESPONSIBLE AND
THEREBY AND PROTECT
THE RESOURCES SO
THAT THE WORLD AROUND
THEM IS A STRONG
AND HEALTHY WORLD
THAT CAN ENDURE INTO
FUTURE GENERATIONS
(DAVE VETRANO)
WE'RE SORT OF AT
A CROSSROADS HERE
AS TO WHERE WE GO IN
THE FUTURE I MEAN WE
START TALKING ABOUT
NINE AND A HALF BILLION
PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET
HERE IN THE NEXT 40 YEARS
WE NEED TO MAKE SOME
DECISIONS AND WE
NEED TO MAKE THEM
RELATIVELY QUICKLY
(BUDDY HUFFAKER)
I THINK WE DON'T EVEN
FULLY APPRECIATE ALL
THE ASPECTS OF WHICH
SUSTAINABILITY
INTERSECTS OUR DAILY
LIVES
(PROF. ANN BEHRMANN)
AND THINK ABOUT
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN
WITH HOW YOU LIVE
YOUR LIFE AND HOW
IT'S GOING TO
IMPACT THE NEXT GENERATION
FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS
PROVIDED BY
IF I'D ASK TEN DIFFERENT
PEOPLE WHAT THE MEANING
OF SUSTAINABILITY IS
YOU'LL GET TEN
DIFFERENT ANSWERS
PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO COME AT IT FROM
DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW
THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE
WHAT WE'RE DOING OVER
THE LONG HAUL
USING IT IN A WAY
THAT PROTECTS THE WORLD
DOESN'T HAVE A
NEGATIVE IMPACT
WORK LIKE NATURE
RELATIONSHIPS ARE HEALTHY
BETWEEN THINGS
AND NOT BECOME DEGRADING
ALLOWING THINGS
TO MAINTAIN THE SAME
QUALITY OVER TIME
AND THINKING FOR THE
HUMAN RACE A HUNDRED
TWO HUNDRED FIVE HUNDRED
YEARS DOWN THE LINE
(BUDDY HUFFAKER)
NOT JUST FOR HUMANITY'S
SAKE BUT FOR ALL THOSE
OTHER LIFE-FORMS
AS WELL
AS WE THINK ABOUT
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE
21ST CENTURY WE NEED
TO REMEMBER THAT THIS
IS NOT A NEW ISSUE
THIS DATES BACK
GENERATIONS BASICALLY
EONS AS EARLY AS THE
1930S ALDO LEOPOLD
WROTE THAT THE OLDEST
TASKS IN HUMAN HISTORY
IS TO LIVE ON A PIECE
OF LAND WITHOUT SPOILING
IT THEN SEEING THE
IMPACT OF THE DUST BOWL
AND THE DROUGHT AND
WHAT HUMAN BEINGS
COULD DO TO TO DEGRADE
THE LANDSCAPE AND AND
HURT THEIR OWN ECONOMIES
THEIR OWN LIVELIHOODS
THAT WAS DEEPLY
TROUBLING TO HIM AND
THAT WAS PART OF THE
IMPETUS TO WRITE HIS
BOOK IT WAS BACK IN
THE 1940S WHEN ALDO
LEOPOLD WROTE WE
ABUSED LAND BECAUSE
WE SEE IT AS A COMMODITY
BELONGING TO US WHEN
WE SEE LAND AS A COMMUNITY
TO WHICH WE BELONG WE
MAY BEGIN TO USE IT
WITH LOVE AND RESPECT
(DAVE VETRANO)
WHEN ALDO LEOPOLD
WROTE ABOUT THIS AREA
THINGS WERE CLEARLY
OUT OF BALANCE AT THE
TIME OF SETTLEMENT
THIS WAS A TALL GRASS
PRAIRIE IN OAK SAVANNA
BUT AFTER AGRICULTURE
BECAME THE INDUSTRY
IN THE LATE 1800S
THINGS STARTED TO
HAPPEN THE TECHNOLOGY
THAT THE FARMERS
BROUGHT WITH THEM
FROM NORTHERN EUROPE
WHILE PERFECTLY
APPROPRIATE FOR
NORTHERN EUROPE WERE NOT
SUSTAINABLE HERE IN
SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN SO
WITHIN A RELATIVELY
SHORT TIME MASSIVE
AMOUNTS OF SOIL EROSION
OCCURRED BECAUSE OF OVER
GRAZING ON THE HILLSIDES
AND UP AND DAHL ROLE
CROPPING ON THE RIDGE
TOPS INTO THE BOTTOM
(JIM MUNSCH)
IF THAT WHEAT WEREN'T UP
TO HOLD THE SOIL AND
A TWO INCH RAIN CAME
WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL
IN OUR AREA THEY
HAD A HUGE EROSION
THEY LOOKED AT THIS
EROSION NOT AS A
LOSS OF SOIL BUT
THEY LOOKED AT IT
AS A DITCH CREATOR
AROUND WHICH IT WAS
VERY DIFFICULT TO FARM
YOU'RE LOOKING AT
12 TO 15 FEET OF
SEDIMENT THAT HE
WROTE IT OFF THE HILL
SIDES AND FILLED IN
THE VALLEY FLOOR
(MARGARET KROME)
AND THE SYSTEM WAS ON THE
BRINK OF FAILURE WHEN
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
SYSTEM SAID HEY WE NEED
TO HELP THIS STATE AND
THE FARMERS IN THE
STATE FIND NEW APPROACHES
TO AGRICULTURE AND
DAIRY WAS ONE OF THE
PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS OF
THAT
(DAVE VETRANO)
AFTER WORLD WAR TWO
WHEN WE CHANGED HOW
WE DID AGRICULTURE
WE GOT MORE INTO
CHEMICAL FARMING AND
THEN THE IDEA TO
GET INTO BIGGER FARMING
AND THE 70S EARL BUTZ,
SECRETARY FOR UNDER
RICHARD NIXONS
ADMINISTRATION SUGGESTED
THAT EITHER GET BIG
OR GET OUT AND THAT WAS
PRETTY MUCH THE DEATH
KNELL FOR THE SMALL-TIME
DAIRY FARMERS IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN
SO REALLY IN AGRICULTURE
SUSTAINABILITY IS
STILL EVOLVING
(MUSIC)
I AIN'T WORRIED ABOUT
TOMORROW CUZ I KNOW
EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY
(DR RICHARD CRATES)
AS LONG AS HUMAN
BEINGS HAVE LIVED ON
PLANET EARTH WE HAVE
IMPACTED OUR ENVIRONMENT
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT'LL
ALWAYS BE
(TONY SCHULTZ)
WE ARE OF THE NATURAL
WORLD WE EXIST WITHIN
A PRIORI OF SPECIES
WITHIN THE WEB OF LIFE
AND IF WE HAVE THINGS
COLLAPSE AROUND US WE
ARE GOING TO BE
HURT BY THAT
(JIM MUNSCH)
AND THAT OUR RACE
IS TIED INTO NATURE
THROUGH THE SOIL
THROUGH THE ANIMALS
THROUGH THE WHOLE
BIOLOGY OF THE EARTH
AND PEOPLE HAVE
GRABBED ON TO THE
CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY
(DR. DEBRAH PEARSON)
THE IDEA OF SUSTAINABILITY
HAS RISEN TO SUCH
PROMINENCE BECAUSE
WE ARE AT WHAT MANY
WOULD ARGUE A TIPPING
POINT WE'RE AT THE
LIMITS OF SOME OF OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
IN TERMS OF GOOD AIR,
WATER,AND SOIL QUALITY
AND THE WAY WE'VE BEEN
DEGRADING WHAT'S GOING
TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE
TO SURVIVE?
(DR. AMY KOX)
I DON'T THINK ANY OF
US CAN PREDICT WHETHER
OR NOT WE HAVE ENOUGH
RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN
THAT MANY PEOPLE OR
WHETHER THE NEXT
NATURAL DISASTER
MIGHT BE SOMETHING
THAT'S REALLY
CATASTROPHIC AND THAT
WE CAN OR CAN'T RECOVER
FROM
(PROF. DOUG REINEMANN)
SO UNFORTUNATELY I
THINK WE'LL HAVE TO
SEE MORE OF THE
FACTS OF THE LACK OF
SUSTAINABILITY IN
ORDER FOR US TO REALLY
START TAKING SUSTAINABILITY
MORE SERIOUSLY
(MICHAEL FINNEY)
COMES DOWN TO REALLY
CARING IF THERE'S
ENOUGH CARING ABOUT
THE QUALITY OF
SHARED ASSETS OF SHARED
WELL-BEING THINGS
WORK ONCE WE BREAK DOWN
AND STOP FOCUSING ON
THAT SHARING THEN EVEN
THE QUALITY OF OUR
OWN PERSONAL LIFE
STARTS TO BE IMPACTED
(DR. DEBRA PEARSON)
I WOULD ARGUE THAT
SUSTAINABILITY IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
TO DIRECT HUMAN HEALTH
IMPACTS ON OUR CURRENT
HEALTH OUR FUTURE HEALTH
OUR NEXT GENERATIONS
HEALTH AND ULTIMATELY
IF YOU DON'T HAVE
HEALTH YOU DON'T HAVE
MUCH OF ANYTHING ELSE
(JAMES SYBURG)
HERE'S SOMETHING FOR
YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOU
KNOW THE FOOD THAT YOU
CHOOSE TO BUY TODAY
AND EAT TODAY YOU
KNOW WILL BECOME
THE CELLS OF YOUR
BODY TOMORROW
(DAVE VETRANO)
PEOPLE ARE STARTING
TO PAY ATTENTION TO
WHERE THEIR FOOD
COMES FROM THEY WANT
TO HAVE GOOD QUALITY
FOOD THEY DON'T WANT
TO HAVE ALL THE
PESTICIDES HERBICIDES
THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE
ANTIBIOTICS THEY DON'T
HAVE SOME OF THE ISSUES
THAT ARE REALLY STARTING
TO CAUSE SOME CONCERNS
(MARGARET KROME)
AND THERE'S NO
QUESTION THERE'S VERY
CLEARLY DOCUMENTED
RESEARCH DEMONSTRATING
THAT THE QUALITY OF OUR
FOOD HAS A BIG IMPACT
UPON OUR HEALTH
(DR. ANN BEHRMANN)
THEY DID A STUDY
THAT LOOKED AT NEWBORNS
AND THEY DID CORD BLOOD
WHICH YOU KNOW
THE FIRST BLOOD THAT
COMES OUT OF THE
UMBILICAL CORD AND
SOMEWHERE AROUND 400
CHEMICALS ARE IN AN
INFANTS BLOOD RIGHT AT
THE TIME OF BIRTH
THAT MEANT THEY WERE
CHEMICALS THAT CAME
THROUGH THE PLACENTA
FROM THE MOTHER
ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT BEEN
PROVEN I THINK ONE OF
THE BIG SUSPICIONS
ABOUT NEURODEVELOPMENTAL
DISORDERS AND KIDS
HAS TO DO WITH THE BODY
BURDEN OF CHEMICALS
THAT OUR KIDS ARE BORN
WITH AND YOU KNOW IT
CONTINUES WITH
OUR FOOD SOURCES
AND THEY DID A GREAT
STUDY ON KIDS WHERE
THEY LOOKED AT
PESTICIDE RESIDUE IN
THE URINE BUT IN ALL
THE KIDS PESTICIDE
LEVELS IN THEIR URINE
DROPPED WHEN THEY
WERE EATING ORGANIC
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
DO WE KNOW WHICH
PESTICIDES ARE BAD
FOR KIDS NO BUT WE DO
KNOW THAT PESTICIDES
ARE KNOWN ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTERS AND WE
THINK THAT THEY
PROBABLY HAVE AN
EFFECT ON THE
NEURODEVELOPMENTAL
DISORDERS LIKE AUTISM
AND ATTENTION DEFICIT
DISORDER WE KNOW THAT
PESTICIDES INCREASE YOUR
RISK OF CANCER TRUTH
IS THAT CHOICES PEOPLE
MAKE ABOUT WHAT THEY
EAT CAN HAVE A POSITIVE
IMPACT ON THEIR HEALTH
AND A POSITIVE IMPACT
ON THEIR POCKETBOOK
(DR. DEBRA PEARSON)
WE HAVE 40 KNOWN ESSENTIAL
VITAMINS AND MINERALS
THAT WE HAVE TO GET
FROM THE FOOD WE'VE
IDENTIFIED OVER 8,000
PHYTOCHEMICALS THAT
EXIST IN THE FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES PHYTO
MEANS PLANT CHEMICAL MEANS
SOMETHING A PLANT
SYNTHESIZES AND PLANTS
SYNTHESIZE ALL SORTS OF
SUBSTANCES TO HELP
THAT PLANT GROW AND
WARD OFF INSECT ATTACK
AND SO FORTH AND WHEN
WE EAT THOSE FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES AND WE CONSUME
THOSE PHYTOCHEMICALS
THEY HAVE NUMEROUS
HEALTH BENEFITS SOME
PHYTOCHEMICALS ARE BEING
STUDIED FOR THEIR
ANTI-CANCER EFFECT OR
THEIR EFFECTS AGAINST
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON
AND ON AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF PHYTOCHEMICALS IF
LIVESTOCK ARE EATING
THE GRASSES THEY'RE
GOING TO ALSO ACCUMULATE
SOME OF THOSE PHYTOCHEMICALS
AND THEN THE MEAT PRODUCTS
AND THE MILK AND THE
EGG PRODUCTS WE EAT
FROM THEM AND THAT'S
A GOOD THING BUT THEN
THE OTHER BIG THING
FOR LIVESTOCK ORGANICALLY
OR SUSTAINABLY GRASS
GRAZED VERSUS
CONVENTIONALLY GRAIN
FED IS THE FAT PROFILE
AND I CAME OUT OF
A LIPID LAB FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
DAVIS AT LAB WE CALLED
IT FOR A LONG TIME MANY
OF US THOUGHT OF FAT IS
JUST AS ONE THING AND
ONE BAD THING AND IN
FACT FAT IS NOT ONE
THING THERE'S SEVERAL
TYPES OF FATS SO THERE'S
OMEGA 3 AND OMEGA 6
OUR ANCESTORS CONSUMED
ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT A
ONE-TO-ONE RATIO OF
OMEGA-6 TO OMEGA-3 OR
MAYBE A FOUR TO ONE FOR
MOST OF HUMAN HISTORY
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE
AMERICAN RATIO NOW
INSTEAD OF ONE TO ONE
TWO TO ONE FOUR TO
ONE TEN TO ONE TO TWENTY
THIRTY TO ONE MET
APPEARS TO BE A
PROBLEM IN TERMS OF
HUMAN HEALTH LONG
STORY SHORT GETTING
MORE OMEGA-3 IN OUR
DIET BRINGING OMEGA-6
DOWN IS CLEARLY
ADVANTAGEOUS IN TERMS
OF LOWERING OUR RISK
TO HEART DISEASE SO WE
WANT MORE OMEGA-3
HOW'RE YOU GONNA DO THAT
WITH OUR FOOD SINCE
ABOUT THE 1940S HOW WE
RAISE OUR LIVESTOCK
WHAT WE FEED THEM HAS
REALLY CHANGED THE FAT
PROFILE IN THAT LIVESTOCK
WE'VE GONE HEAVILY TO
GRAIN FEEDING AND
CONVENTIONAL OPERATIONS
AND THE TWO BIGGEST
COMPONENTS THERE
WOULD BE CORN AND SOY
THE FAT IN THOSE THE
OILS IN THOSE ARE
50 60 70 TIMES MORE
OMEGA-6 THAN OMEGA-3
AND COWS ARE WHAT
THEY EAT WE ARE WHAT
WE EAT AND SO WE CHANGE
THAT OMEGA-6 AND OMEGA-3
PROFILE OF THE COW OR
THE CHICKEN SO WE GET A
HOPE MORE OMEGA-6 MUCH
LESS OMEGA-3 AND GRASSES
CONTAIN RELATIVELY MORE
EQUAL AMOUNTS OF OMEGA-6
AND OMEGA-3 AND SO WHEN
WE DO THE ANALYSES ON A
MILK OR A MEAT OR A
CHEESE SAMPLE FROM COWS
GRASS GRAZE QUITE
CONSISTENTLY THAT
PRODUCT FROM THAT
COW IS HIGHER IN
OMEGA-3 AND THE RATIO
OF OMEGA-6 TO OMEGA-3
IN THAT IS A HEALTHIER
RATIO RELATIVE TO WHAT
WE UNDERSTAND IT'S ONE
OF THE PLACES WHERE
WE'VE REALLY DISRUPTED
THE KINDS OF FAT THAT
WE'RE TAKING IN AND WE
PUSH THEM IN A RATIO
THAT IS NOT HELPFUL ALL
OF THAT IS ALSO CAUSING
A SHIFT TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE
FARMING PRACTICES
(JOE TOMANDL)
AGRICULTURE IS AT A
TURNING POINT RIGHT NOW
(MARGARET KROME)
WITH REGARD TO
SUSTAINABILITY
BECAUSE IT AFFECTS
THE FOOD WE EAT
HOW IT SHAPES OUR
WATER RESOURCES
ALTERS LANDSCAPES
AND ECOSYSTEMS
THE WATER WE DRINK
WILDLIFE
SOIL HEALTH
COMMUNITY LIFE
IT'S ALL OF THE THINGS
THAT MAKE UP OUR
ENVIRONMENT IN THE
HEALTH OF OUR ENVIRONMENT
(JIM MUNSCH)
THE MINUTE THAT WE
STARTED AGRICULTURE
WITH OUR HUMAN RACE
WHICH IS ABOUT TEN
THOUSAND YEARS AGO
WE BECAME BY DEFINITION
UNSUSTAINABLE AND THE
REASON IS THAT WE WERE
MOVING MINERALS AND
NUTRIENTS OUT OF THE
SOIL INTO FOOD AND SENDING
IT SOMEPLACE ELSE TO BE
CONSUMED AND THE NUTRIENTS
ENDED UP IN THAT PLACE
(PROF. STEVEN CARPENTER)
WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
AGRICULTURE THAT DOES
NOT CONTRIBUTE TO MUCH
GREENHOUSE GAS THAT
DOES NOT POLLUTE THE
SOIL DOES NOT POLLUTE
THE AIR AND DOES NOT
POLLUTE THE WATER TO
AN UNDUE EXTENT COMPARED
TO OTHER INDUSTRIES AND
HUMAN ACTIVITIES
(MARGARET KROME)
WHEN FARMERS ARE WEIGHING
THE THREE CORNERSTONES
OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
PROFITABLE SOCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE THE RIGHT
BALANCE DEPENDS ON WHO
YOU TALK TO
(DANIEL DIEDERICH)
IF YOU'RE NOT MAKING ANY
MONEY AND YOU CAN'T AFFORD
TO DO THE OTHER TWO SO IT
HAS TO BE PROFITABLE AT
THE END OF THE DAY YOU
HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE
ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT WE LIVE
ON OUR LAND THAT WE
FEED OUR ANIMALS WITH
IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED
TO BE PASSED OUT THAT COW
WON'T BE HERE TOMORROW
IT'S GONNA BE THE LAND
THAT'S HERE THAT WE
FEED THE COWS WITH AND
SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE
BECAUSE AT THE END OF
THE DAY WE NEED CUSTOMERS
PEOPLE NEED TO BUY OUR
PRODUCT AND IF THEY DON'T
ACCEPT WHAT WE'RE SELLING
AND HOW WE'RE DOING IT
THEN IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE
(ANDY DIERCKS)
YOU HAVE TO BE PROFITABLE
ENOUGH TO MAKE THE RIGHT
CHOICES THE RIGHT CHOICES
ALLOW YOU TO BE
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE
AND SOCIALLY SENSITIVE
OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT
TO BE HURTING OUR NEIGHBORS
OR OUR EMPLOYEES BUT THEY
WANT TO BE HURTING THE
BIRDS AND THE BEES AND
THE FISH ECONOMICS HAVE
TO WORK OR IF YOU'RE
STRUGGLING ECONOMICALLY
YOU CAN'T MAKE THE RIGHT
CHOICES FOR SOCIAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PORTION THE
ECONOMIC PORTION AND THE
SOCIAL PORTION CAN EXIST
INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH
OTHER FOR A SHORT TIME
BUT OVER THE LONG TIME
THEY ARE ENTIRELY INTERTWINED
(MICHAEL FINNEY)
IF ONE STARTS TO FAIL
THE OTHER DEGRADES WE
TEND TO THINK THAT
THEY'RE STANDALONE AND
THAT THEY MIGHT EVEN BE
COMPETITIVE WITH ONE
ANOTHER BUT IN THE LONG
RUN THEY'RE SYNERGISTIC
AND THAT'S THE INTERESTING
THING TO IMAGINE THAT THEY
ARE SYNERGISTIC 1/1
FLOURISHES THE OTHERS
ARE ENHANCED
PERHAPS THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
IS SUSTAINABLE WATER
SUSTAINABLE WATER USE
IN CONCERT WITH HEALTHY
LAKES AND STREAMS AND
SUSTAINABLE WATER QUALITY
GOOD ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE
AND FISH AND WILDLIFE
(TODD KALISH)
HIGH WATER QUALITY AND
ALL THE BENEFITS THAT
BRINGS IN TERMS OF
TOURISM RECREATION
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY TO
COMMUNITIES IS JUST AS
IMPORTANT AS OTHER LAND
USES WITHIN THAT WATERSHED
THAT ARE IMPACTING
THAT WATER QUALITY
(JOE TOMANDL)
SEE THAT RAIN CLOUD
OVER THERE THAT'S GONNA
BRING US CLEAN WATER
IT'S A BIT OF A
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
BECAUSE WHILE IT STILL
REPLENISHES OUR
GROUNDWATER REPLENISHED
OUR LAKES AND OUR STREAMS
IT GROWS OUR CROPS
ATWATER'S US THE WATERS
OUR ANIMALS IT'S ALSO
THE THING THAT CAN ALSO
TAKE SOIL ALONG WITH IT
AND BRING PHOSPHORUS
ALONG WITH IT
(PROF. STEVEN CARPENTER)
IT'S JUST A FACT THAT
THE WAY WE GROW FOOD
NOW HAS A VERY HEAVY
FOOTPRINT ON OUR LAKES
STREAMS AND AND GROUNDWATER
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE 60 OR
75 YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE
DIDN'T HAVE THE THE
TECHNOLOGY THE
INDUSTRIALISED FERTILIZER
THE FOOD ADDITIVES FOR
CROPS WE DIDN'T EVEN
HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO
HAVE A CONCENTRATED ANIMAL
FEEDING UNIT AND NOW WE
DO AND SO WE HAVE
CONNECTED WATER TO
AGRICULTURE IN A NEW
WAY THAT IS LEADING TO
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF DAMAGE TO OUR
WATER RESOURCES
(BILL HAFS)
LOOK AT THIS HUGE BODY
OF WATER THAT WE'VE GOT
HERE AND PEOPLE TAKE IT
FOR GRANTED IT IT'S ENDLESS
WE LIVE ON THE GREAT LAKES
THERE'S SO MUCH WATER
HERE BUT NOW WE'RE
RECOGNIZING THAT IT
IT'S NOT ENDLESS IT'S
THE RESIDENT TIME OF
WHAT WE PUT INTO THIS
LAKE IS IS A LONG TIME
100 YEARS I HEAR THAT
IT TAKES FOR WHAT WE PUT
INTO THIS SYSTEM BEFORE
IT EXITS LAKE MICHIGAN
THIS BODY OF WATER HERE
IS THE SOURCE OF DRINKING
WATER FOR SO MANY PEOPLE
AROUND THE GREAT LAKES
INCLUDING THE CITY OF
GREEN BAY AND THE SUBURBS
I THINK THE AVERAGE PERSON
ISN'T REALLY AWARE OF THE
PROBLEMS WE'VE GOT IN THE
FOX RIVER GREEN BAY BUT
THIS IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT ISSUE DRINKING
WATER THAT'S RIGHT AT THE
TOP OF MY LIST WITHOUT
THAT WHAT DO YOU GOT?
(PROF. STEVEN CARPENTER)
THERE'S TREMENDOUS NUTRIENT
FLOW FROM THE FOX VALLEY
THAT COMES INTO GREEN BAY
AND GREEN BAY IS A SOMEWHAT
CONFINED REGION OF LAKE
MICHIGAN AS THOSE NUTRIENTS
COME OUT OF THE FOX ESTUARY
THEY DON'T MIX INTO THE LAKE
THEY DON'T GET DILUTED RIGHT
AWAY SO GREEN BAY IS
DEFINITELY A POCKET
THAT'S SUSCEPTIBLE TO
POLLUTION
(BILL HAFS)
SO THE THE BAY
IS REALLY A REFLECTION OF
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS
WATERSHED
(PROF. STEVEN CARPENTER)
BY THE 1970S WE HAD
PRETTY MUCH CLEANED
UP THE HUMAN SEWAGE
PROBLEM BUT THE RUNOFF
FROM AGRICULTURE HAD
MORE THAN REPLACED IT
SO THE SOURCES OF
PHOSPHORUS ARE EITHER
FERTILIZERS OR MANURES
PRIMARILY THERE ARE SOME
NATURAL PHOSPHORUS BUT
AGAIN MOST OF ITS COMING IN
FROM MANURE AND FERTILIZERS
AND WHEN WE HAVE HIGH
PHOSPHOROUS IN THE SOIL
IT'S VULNERABLE TO LOSS
PHOSPHORUS TENDS TO STAY
CONNECTED TO THE SOIL
PARTICLES IN THE ORGANIC
MATTER THE MOST NOT REAL
SOLUBLE BUT WHEN WE
HAVE EXCESS IN THE
SOIL OR WHEN WE LOSE
THAT SOIL FROM THE
LANDSCAPE THROUGH EROSION
THEN THE PHOSPHORUS GETS
INTO THE WATER WE KNOW
THAT MUCH OF WHAT RUNS
OFF THE LANDSCAPE HAPPENS
IN JUST A RELATIVELY FEW
DAYS A YEAR WHEN WE HAVE
LARGER RAINSTORMS AND
THAT'S ALSO WHEN MOST
OF THE PHOSPHORUS OR
PRODUCTS THAT COME
FROM ANIMAL WASTE
OR FROM OTHER FERTILIZERS
AND FROM SOIL GET OFF
THE LANDSCAPE AND GET
INTO THE WATER
(J.VAL KLUMP)
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE
BOTTOM AND GREEN BAY IS
REALLY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY
WHEN IT COMES TO DISSOLVED
OXYGEN AND YOU MAY HAVE
HEARD ABOUT THE EPOXY
ZONE OR THAT WHAT THEY
CALL A DEAD ZONE IT'S
AN AREA THE BOTTOM WATER
WHICH HAS VERY LOW AND
SOMETIMES ZERO DISSOLVED
OXYGEN AND SO THAT'S
TOUGH ON ORGANISMS AND
SO THAT'S A THAT'S A
PROBLEM IN GREEN BAY
IT'S A PROBLEM IN LAKE
ERIE IT'S A PROBLEM IN
THE GULF OF MEXICO THERE
ARE PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF
HYPOXIC ZONES AROUND THE
WORLD ALL DRIVEN PRETTY
MUCH BY THE SAME PROBLEM
AND THAT IS YOU KNOW
EXCESSIVE NUTRIENT LOADING
OR PHOSPHOROUS AND NITROGEN
COMING IN FROM THE LANDSCAPE
(DIRK KOOPMANS)
AND THE REASON THAT'S
IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE WELL
THERE'S A LOT OF OXYGEN
IN THE ATMOSPHERE THERE
ISN'T MUCH IN THE WATER
SO THERE'S MUCH LESS OF
IT AVAILABLE FOR BREATHING
FOR LIFE UNDER WATER THE
MAIN ISSUE IS THE SUPPLY
OF NUTRIENTS AND THAT
PHOSPHOROUS FEEDS A LOT
OF ALGAL GROWTH AND
PHYTOPLANKTON GROWTH IN
THE BAY WHEN ALL THOSE
ALGAE AND PHYTOPLANKTON
DIE THE BACTERIA THAT
DEGRADE THAT NEW FRESH
ORGANIC MATTER THEY
BREATHE IN OXYGEN AND
BREATHE OUT CO2 AND
WHAT THAT MEANS THEN
IS THERE'S LESS OXYGEN
AVAILABLE FOR THE LIFE
THAT NEEDS IT THIS IS
A NON NITROGEN FIXING
CYANOBACTERIA THE TOXIN
THAT IT PRODUCES PRODUCES
A MICROSYSTEM TO LIVER
TOXIN YEAH WHICH MAKES
WATER UNDRINKABLE
UNPALATABLE THE CITIZENS
OF GREEN BAY HAVEN'T
GOTTEN THEIR WATER FROM
GREEN BAY FOR A LONG
TIME SO IT'S NOT DIRECTLY
A DRINKING WATER ISSUE
FOR THE CITIZENS OF GREEN
BAY BUT IT'S STILL A WATER
QUALITY PROBLEM
(J.VAL KLUMP)
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS
I THINK WE FACE HERE
IS PEOPLE TAKE WATER
FOR GRANTED THESE LAKES
ARE SIMPLY A REFLECTION
OF WHAT HAPPENS AND FOR
ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES
ANYTHING YOU THROW TOSS
LEAK OR LIKE GET INTO
THE SYSTEM IF IT GOES IN
TODAY IS A GOOD CHANCE
YOU WILL DRINK IT TOMORROW
IF NOT TOMORROW SOMETIME
IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW THE ENVIRONMENT
SUBSIDIZES MOST OF OUR
ACTIVITIES WE DO NOT PAY
FOR DUMPING STUFF IN THE
LAKE WE USE THAT AS A
REPOSITORY FOR A WASTE
AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT WE
CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO
THAT IT'S NOT A SUSTAINABLE
ACTIVITY YOU KNOW SOMEBODY
SAID THE FUTURE HAS NO
CONSTITUENCY AND THAT IS
SO TRUE YOU'RE A GREAT
GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
CAN'T COME BACK TO YOU
AND SAY WHY DIDN'T YOU
DO X Y & Z THEY DON'T
HAVE A VOICE TODAY IT
IS TOTALLY UP TO US
(MICHAEL FINNEY)
IT TOOK US THREE YEARS
IN GREEN BAY WORKING WITH
SCIENTISTS AND PEOPLE
WHO HAD STUDIED WATER
TO ACTUALLY ANSWER THE
QUESTION COULD WE CLEAN
IT UP AND THEN WE HAD
TO FIGURE OUT WELL HOW
DO WE GET PEOPLE TO DO
THAT AND THAT'S THE
CHALLENGE WE'RE INTO
NOW A COUPLE DECADES
OF EFFORT TO TRY TO
SEE IF PEOPLE CAN
MAKE THE CHANGES THAT
ARE REQUIRED WE KNOW
WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE
THE CHALLENGE WILL BE
CAN WE GET EVERYBODY TO
COLLABORATE AGAIN TO DO
THOSE CHANGES
(MARGARET KROME)
THE INTERESTING THING
ABOUT SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE WAS THAT
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
COMMUNITIES OF FARMERS
BEGAN RESPONDING TO THE
SAME SET OF CONCERNS
AND WANTING TO ACCOMPLISH
THE SAME THINGS
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
PROFITABLE SOCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE AGRICULTURE
BECAUSE THEY WERE LOSING
GROUND ECONOMICALLY AND
THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT
THEIR IMPACT ON WATER
QUALITY AND SOIL EROSION
AND SO FARMERS WANTED TO
DO THE RIGHT THING
(ANDY JAWORSKI)
FARMERS GENUINELY HAVE A
PASSION FOR CARING FOR
THE LAND OTHERWISE WE
WANTED TO BE DOING WHAT
WE'RE DOING YOU KNOW
BEING A FARMERS A LOT OF
WORK NO MATTER WHICH WAY
YOU LOOK AT IT OUR
SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON THE
LAND BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE
SO IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE
OF IT AND IT DEGRADES IN
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THAT
LAND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
PRODUCE AND THE FARM WILL
NO LONGER BE PROFITABLE
AND THEN SINCE YOU LOSE
THE FARM
(JAMES SYBURG)
ALL FARMERS WANT TO
BE GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDS MANY OF THEM
ARE LIVING ON LAND THAT
THEIR FATHERS GRANDFATHERS
GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S SO THE
UNDERSTANDING AND THE
PARADIGM SHIFT IT'S NOT
TO DISPARAGE ORGANIC
VERSUS CONVENTIONAL BUT
THE PARADIGM SHIFT
NEEDS TO BE THAT THIS
IS ABOUT GOING FORWARD
USING SOME OF THE BEST
THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'VE
EVER LEARNED THAT WE'VE
EVER INVENTED THAT WE'VE
EVER UTILIZED AND APPLYING
IT ALONG WITH THE BEST
FARMERS THAT WE HAVE THIS
COUNTRY HAS THE BEST
FARMERS IN THE WORLD SO
APPLYING TECHNOLOGY WON'T
GO AWAY JUST BECAUSE
YOU'RE GOING FROM
CONVENTIONAL TO ORGANIC
OR APPLYING THESE
MORE SUSTAINABLE FARMING
PRACTICES THEY'LL
ONLY EXPAND YOU'LL ONLY
FIND NEW WAYS TO USE
THEM THAT SHOULD BE THE
EXCITEMENT AND THE
CHALLENGE AND IF THAT'S
ALL DONE ON THE
FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE
THAT YOU TAKE A BENCHMARK
OF WHERE YOUR FARM IS
NOW AND YOUR SOILS HEALTH
ON YOUR FARM RIGHT NOW
AND YOU LOOK TO IMPROVE
THAT AS WELL AS IMPROVE
YIELDS AND GAIN AND
EVERYTHING THEN YOU'LL
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WANTING TO BE
MORE SUSTAINABLE AND
BEING
(PROF. DOUG REINEMANN)
WHERE EVER YOU
PRACTICE AGRICULTURE
ON THIS PLANET THE
PRIMARY CONDITION THAT
YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT
IS THE SOIL SO THE TYPE
OF SOIL THE DEPTH OF
SOIL THE SLOPE ALL HAVE
AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT TO DO
WITH THE WAY THAT YOU MANAGE
THAT LAND IN ORDER TO
MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF
THE SOIL THE SUSTAINABILITY
OF THE SOIL THE ABILITY
OF THE SOIL TO CONTINUE
TO PRODUCE CROPS AND FOOD
(JAMES SYBURG)
THE TRUTH ABOUT ADOPTING
MORE SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
YOU KNOW THROUGH THE
USE OF BIOMIMICRY AND
INCREASING ORGANIC
MATTER AND BIOLOGICAL
LIFE IN YOUR SOIL AND
REDUCING INPUTS IS
THAT IT CAN BE DONE
IT'S IT'S HAPPENING
ON FARMS AND ON OUR
FARM WE'VE BEEN ABLE
TO TAKE SOME FIELDS
IN AS LITTLE AS FIVE
YEARS AND INCREASE
THE ORGANIC MATTER
ONE PERCENT THAT
EQUATES TO HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF
WATER ADDITIONAL WATER
THAT WASN'T STORED IN
THOSE FIELDS BEFORE BEING
STORED IN THOSE FIELDS
THAT FOR ME AS A FARMER
MEANS MY CROPS DRINK
THAT THAT FOR ME AS A
FARMER IN THIS COMMUNITY
MEANS THAT THE WATER
FROM MY FARM DOESN'T
MAKE IT TO THE LAKE
(PROF. STEVEN CARPENTER)
SUSTAINABILITY IS A
VERY BROAD TERM THAT
HAS TO DO WITH EVERYTHING
PEOPLE WANT AND LAKES ARE
ONE THING PEOPLE WANT
PARTICULARLY IN WISCONSIN
WHERE WE HAVE FIFTEEN
THOUSAND LAKES
PART OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
IS HAVING SUSTAINABLE
WATERS THE TWO OF THEM
GO TOGETHER
(LEE LUFT)
THIS IS AN ISSUE
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
STATE OF WISCONSIN IF
YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE IN
DANE COUNTY THEN YOU
KNOW ABOUT LAKE MENDOTA
AND LAKE MONONA AND YOU
KNOW THAT THEY TURN GREEN
WITH ALGAE VIRTUALLY EVERY
SUMMER IF YOU LIVE IN
THE CENTRAL SANDS PART
OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
YOU KNOW THAT THOSE
SANDY SOILS WILL ALLOW
WHATEVER IS PLACED ON
THEM TO PERMEATE VERY
QUICKLY INTO THE
GROUNDWATER YOU ALSO
KNOW THAT EXTRACTING
TOO MUCH WATER FOR SOME
OF THE LARGER AGRICULTURAL
OPERATIONS HAS EVEN
RESULTED IN A LOWERING OF
WATER LEVELS IN SOME
OF THE LAKES AND DRYING
UP OF SOME OF THE SMALLER
STREAMS AND EVEN RIVERS
THIS IS WOLF LAKE A
PLACE WHERE HUNDREDS OF
PORTAGE COUNTY RESIDENTS
MIGHT HAVE USED TWENTY
YEARS AGO ON A NICE
HOT WEEKEND HERE THE
LAKE HAS BEEN DRAWN
SO MUCH BY PUMPING
HERE THAT THIS LAKE
IS NO LONGER USABLE
FOR FISHING OR SWIMMING
THE SCIENCE HERE
CONCLUSIVELY TIES PUMPING
TO LOW WATER LEVELS
AT LAKES AND STREAMS
AND AQUIFERS WOLF LAKE
HERE AS WELL AS THE
OTHER LAKES ARE ATTACHED
TO GROUND WATER PUMP
DRAW WATER OFF FOR OTHER
PURPOSES WATER LEVELS
GO DOWN LEVELS AT LAKES
GO DOWN FLOWS AND STREAMS
GO DOWN THIS ISSUE WAS
ALREADY KNOWN IN THE
1960S OR 1970S BY 2005
PUMPING HAD DEVELOPED
TO A POINT WHERE THAT
DURING A VERY MODEST
DRY PERIOD WE SAW
LAKES DISAPPEARING
AND STREAMS DRYING
UP ALL WATERS ARE
WATERS OF THE STATE
THAT MEANS THIS WOLF
LAKE HERE THE LITTLE
PLOVER RIVER MANY OF
THE OTHER LAKES AND
STREAMS IN CENTRAL
WISCONSIN THAT HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED BY PUMPING
THEY ARE SOMETHING THAT
ALL WISCONSINITES HAVE
TAKEN AS A LOSS THE THE
SUSTAINABILITY STOOL OF
SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND
ECONOMY HAS BECOME
UNBALANCED HERE CERTAIN
CERTAINLY ON THE
ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE MIGHT
OTHERS MIGHT ARGUE ALSO
ON THE ECONOMIC SIDE HERE
BECAUSE LAKES LIKE THIS
ARE THE CALLING CARD FOR
PLACES LIKE PORTAGE COUNTY
GET NEW BUSINESS AND YOUNG
PEOPLE TO COME IN AND SO
FOR THE LAST 11 12 YEARS
THIS HAS BEEN AT THE
FOREFRONT OF A LOT OF
DISCUSSION OF WATER
SUSTAINABILITY
(ANDY DIERCKS)
WELL PRETTY MUCH THIS
WHOLE REGION THE WHOLE
CENTRAL SANDS IS ALL
IRRIGATED WE COULDN'T BE
GROWING CROPS HERE
WITHOUT IT WE HAVE
ONE OF THE MOST WELL
REPLENISHED AQUIFERS IN
NORTH AMERICA HERE AFFECTED
WE CAN'T WE CAN'T FARM
WITHOUT IT WE HAVE SOME
SURFACE WATER ISSUES
ON THE DIVIDE AND BETWEEN
THAT YOU CAN SEE MAYBE
IN THE BACKGROUND BETWEEN
WHERE WATER RAIN WOULD
FALL ON THIS SIDE WOULD
END UP IN THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER FELL TWO MILES TO
OUR EAST IT WOULD END UP
IN LAKE MICHIGAN AND SO
THERE'S SOME CHALLENGES
ALONG THAT AREA WHERE
WHERE THEY DON'T GET A
LOT OF RUNOFF FROM
RAINFALL
YOU'RE RIGHT NOW THIS
PUMPING IMPACT IS FAIRLY
LOCALIZED TO THIS AREA
OF A HUNDRED MILES BY
50 MILES AND IF YOU'RE
A PERSON THAT DOESN'T
RECREATION STREAM YOU
MIGHT NOT EVEN SEE IT
WHEN IT'S IN YOUR BACKYARD
AND SO IT'S A LOCAL VERY
SERIOUS PROBLEM IT'S
SPREADING TO OTHER PARTS
OF THE STATE BUT IT
HASN'T GROWN THIS
POLITICALLY CRITICAL
MASS THE FARMING PRACTICES
ALSO HAVE IMPACTS ON
THE WATER QUALITY THE
CHIEF IMPACT IS IS
NITRATE POLLUTION THERE'S
A DRINKING WATER STANDARD
OF 10 AND IT'S VERY
COMMON TO FIND IT 20 30
40 IN THE GROUNDWATER IN
THIS AREA TO A LESSER
DEGREE THERE'S PESTICIDE
RESIDUES THAT COME ALONG
WITH IT
(DR. ANN BEHRMANN)
WELL WE TELL
PEOPLE IS IF YOU IF YOU
HAVE WELL WATER IN
WISCONSIN YOU SHOULD
GET IT TESTED FOR
NITRATES IF YOU HAVE
HIGH NITRATE LEVELS
AND YOU SHOULD REALLY
CONSIDER GETTING A TESTED
FOR PESTICIDES UW STEVENS
POINT HAS A GREAT
GROUNDWATER RESOURCE
CENTER WHERE PEOPLE
CAN LOOK ONLINE IF
YOU LOOK UP
UW STEVENS POINT
AND FIND OUT WHAT
WELLS WERE TESTED
FOR IN YOUR AREA
AND THEN IT KIND OF
GIVES YOU AN IDEA
ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT
TO PAY TO HAVE YOUR WELL
TESTED FOR
(ANDY DIERCKS)
THOSE OF US THAT
LIVE OUT IN THE COUNTRY
OR EVEN IN A SMALL TOWN
LIKE COLOMA 450 PEOPLE
CERTAINLY WHAT WE DO ON
THE FARM HAS AN EFFECT
ON THOSE PEOPLE BUT
ENVIRONMENTALLY THROUGH
OUR WORK WITH THE WORLD
WILDLIFE FUND IN THE
UW THE PRACTICES WE DO
ARE MUCH MORE THOUGHTFUL
MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON THEIR
IMPACTS THAN THEY WOULD
HAVE BEEN 20 YEARS AGO
THERE'S ABOUT A HUNDRED
DIFFERENT DISEASES AND
PESTS THAT POTATOES
ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO AND
POTATOES ARE PRETTY
INTENSIVELY MANAGED WE
USE INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT THE SAND IS
A GREAT SYSTEM YOU PUT
NUTRIENTS IN YOU GET
CROPS NUTRIENTS OUT
BUT IT'S ALSO INCREDIBLY
EFFICIENT LEACHING
SYSTEM IF YOU'RE NOT
USING NUTRIENTS OR
PESTICIDES EFFICIENTLY
SO IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE
FOR US TO BE FLUSHING
NITRATES INTO THE
GROUNDWATER IT'S NOT
OBVIOUSLY IF WE PAID
FOR THOSE NITRATES AND
DON'T WANT TO BE DOING
THAT BUT ALSO IT'S NOT
A VERY NEIGHBORLY THING
TO DO SO WE SPOON FEED
WHICH ME WE MAKE LOTS
OF VERY SMALL APPLICATIONS
WE'RE VERY WARY OF
THE WEATHER BECAUSE
IF WE PUT A BUNCH ON
AND THEY WE GET AN
INCH OR TWO RAINFALL
IT FLUSHES THROUGH
THE SYSTEM AND THEN
IT'S UP IN THE
GROUNDWATER
I THINK IN THE
CURRENT TIME WITH
EMPHASIS ON BUSINESS
AND NO REGULATION AND
WHAT PEOPLE PERCEIVE
AS CREATING LOTS OF
JOBS ARE TRUMPING
WHATEVER ENVIRONMENTAL
CONCERNS THERE ARE
NO MATTER HOW MODEST
THE OLD AXIOM IS IT'S
EASIER TO ARGUE ABOUT
THE SCIENCE THAN TO
ARGUE ABOUT THE POLICY
DIRECTION SO IF WE CAN
ARGUE AND CAST ASPERSIONS
ON THE SCIENCE AND SAY
IT'S DOUBTFUL THAT'S
AN EASIER THING TO ARGUE
THAN SAYING HEY PUMPING
IS DRYING UP THE LAKES
AND STREAMS SHOULD WE
CONTINUE DRYING UP THE
LAKES AND STREAMS OR
SHOULD WE DEVELOP SOME
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
AND A LOT OF TIMES
FRANKLY IT'S EASIER FOR
THEM TO IGNORE THE
SCIENCE OR PUSH IT
TO THE SIDE BECAUSE
THE SCIENCE COMPLICATES
THE DECISION-MAKING
PEOPLE ARE TRICKY
CREATURES THOUGH THE
WAY WE PERCEIVE THINGS
THE WAY THAT WE ACT UPON
THEM AND THE FUTURE IS
UNCERTAIN UNTIL SOMETHING
HAPPENS IN THE LEGISLATURE
IT'S GOING TO BE BACK
TO THE WILD WEST DAYS
WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE
PERMITTING HIGH CAPACITY
WELLS ANY TIME PRETTY
MUCH THAT SOMEBODY WANTS
AND WITHOUT REGARD TO
LAKE AND STREAM HEALTH
HERE
(MICHAEL FINNEY)
SO I ALWAYS LOOK
AT AGAIN AGRICULTURE
AS OFTENTIMES A BRIDGE
BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENS
IN NATURE AND WHAT
HAPPENS WITH PEOPLE
AND WHEN THAT BRIDGE
IS STRONG BOTH SIDES
ARE HEALTHY WHEN THAT
BRIDGE STARTS TO BREAK
AND CRUMBLE BOTH SIDES
OF THAT BRIDGE START TO
HAVE IMPACTS
(MARGARET KROME)
BUT YOU KNOW I HEAR
FARMERS MAINSTREAM
FARMERS IN THE STATE
WHO SAY IT'S TIME WE
OUGHT TO BE RESPONSIBLE
WE WANT TO BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE WE ARE
STEWARDS AND WE'RE
PROUD OF OUR STEWARDSHIP
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE
BAD ACTORS CONTAMINATING
THE WATER AND RUINING OUR
REPUTATION
(DR. RICHARD CRATES)
WE ARE ALL IN THIS
TOGETHER AND WE HAVE
TO REALIZE THAT EACH
ONE OF US HAS OUR OWN
SEPARATE STRENGTHS SO
THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM
FOR A LOT OF FARMING
SYSTEMS UNDER THE
UMBRELLA OF SUSTAINABILITY
BUT WHAT WE NEED TO
DO IS IDENTIFY THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT GOALS THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE
AND CLEARLY IT IS TO
PROTECT THE WATERS OF
THE STATE CLEARLY IT
IS TO KEEP OUR SOIL IN
PLACE AND CLEARLY IT
IS TO RAISE HEALTHY
FOOD
(DR. ROD OLSEN)
I AM SO EXCITED
ABOUT THE WAY A CULTURE
IS THINKING ABOUT THINGS
HOW THE PRODUCERS ARE
LOOKING AT HOW THEY CAN
MAKE A PROFIT AND KEEP
THE SOIL ON THEIR LAND
KEEP THE PHOSPHOROUS
ON THEIR LAND THAT'S
GOOD FOR THEM AND
IT'S GOOD FOR OUR
WATERWAYS
(MARGARET KROME)
ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING
BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT
OF FARMERS IN THE STATE
IN LIVESTOCK AND DAIRY
THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED
IN FINDING NEW WAYS OF
HANDLING AND FEEDING
THEIR ANIMALS A LOT OF
THEM ARE TRYING MANAGED
GRAZING
(DAVE VETRANO)
THE MANAGED GRAZING
PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED
TO ALLOW PERSON TO YOU
KNOW RAISE EITHER MILK
OR BEEF OFF AN ACREAGE
AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT
FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL
STANDPOINT REALLY
HAS NO IMPACT AND
WELL-MANAGED PASTURE
THE MANURE STAYS ON
THE PASTURE THERE'S NO
HERBICIDE PESTICIDE RUNOFF
THERE'S NO SOIL EROSION
AND SO MANY OF THE
ISSUES THAT AS A BIOLOGIST
I WOULD HAVE HAD WITH
CONVENTIONAL AG
SYSTEMS PRETTY MUCH
DISAPPEAR WITH THE
GRAZING SYSTEM THE
GRAZING COMMUNITY
IS NOT ONLY A WAY FOR
PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN
MAKE A LIVING AT IT
BUT IT'S ALSO A WAY TO
FUNDAMENTALLY REBUILD
THE RURAL COMMUNITY
WHICH IN MY MIND IS
HAS BEEN SUFFERING A
LONG TIME
SINCE THE SINCE THE 1970S
FOR 30 YEARS THE FOUNDATION OF
OUR FARM HAS BEEN
GRAZING SO IT'S NOT
THE SAME AS MY GRANDPARENTS
WHEN THEY WERE GRAZING
I THINK THEY WERE
BUILDING BARBED WIRE
FENCES FIFTY YEARS
AGO NEW ZEALANDERS
WERE DEVELOPING A
LOW-IMPEDANCE ENERGIZER
THAT WAS ABLE TO TRANSMIT
ELECTRICITY ON FENCERS
AND BEING ABLE TO DO A
BETTER JOB OF CONTAINING
THOSE ANIMALS NOT TO
MENTION THE PORTABLE
REELS AND THE POLY
WIRES SO THAT WE CAN
CHANGE FENCES MORE
OFTEN BEING ABLE TO
HANDLE A LARGER NUMBER
OF ANIMALS BEING
ABLE TO MOVE THEM
FREQUENTLY AND ACTUALLY
UTILIZE THE PASTURE
BETTER WE KNOW THAT
CATTLE DO BEST WHEN
THEY HARVEST FRESH
PASTURE AND IT DOESN'T
COST THAT MUCH MONEY
BECAUSE THE CATTLE KNOW
HOW TO HARVEST IT WE
DON'T HAVE TO HANDLE
ANY OF THEIR MANURE
IT'S BEING DEPOSITED
BACK ON THE LAND IT'S
REGENERATING THE ORGANIC
MATTER I THINK OF BEETLES
AND EARTHWORMS THAT ARE
GONNA FEED UPON THAT AND
SUPPLY OTHER NUTRIENTS
SO THAT THEY CAN BREAK
IT DOWN AND IT'S THE
CIRCLE OF LIFE
(JOE TOMANDL)
SO AS AGRICULTURE
PROGRESSES OUR FARMS
HAVE GOTTEN LARGER AND
LARGER AND WHEN FARMS
GET THAT LARGE IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT FOR A NEW FARMER
TO ENTER INTO IT IT'S JUST
PLAIN YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO
DO THIS ONE OF THE
BENEFITS OF MANAGED
GRAZING IS IT IS THE
PERFECT INLET FOR
BEGINNING FARMERS IN
WISCONSIN WE LOSE 500
DAIRY FARMERS A YEAR
THAT'S JUST DAIRY FARMERS
SO WE REALLY NEED TO BE
LOOKING AT THIS NOT ONLY
AS AN AID INDUSTRY BUT
AS A RURAL COMMUNITY AND
A CONSUMER IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT THEY'RE THERE AND
THAT THEY STAY SO IN
ADDITION TO THAT 3,000
COW DAIRY OR THAT 5,000
COW DAIRY WE SHOULD ALSO
HAVE 30 INDEPENDENT 100
COB DAIRIES THE SUSTAINABILITY
OF OUR ACTUAL DAIRY INDUSTRY
TAKES ALL OF THEM
(ANDY JAWORSKI)
AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
HOW THE ECOSYSTEM WORKS
NATURALLY THAT'S THE
MEASUREMENT THAT WE
SHOULD BE SHOOTING
FOR NO YOU THINK ABOUT
ON THE PLAINS WHERE WE
HAVE GREAT SOIL AND A
LOT OF ORGANIC MATTER
AND WHAT GREW THAT
SOIL IT MADE THAT SOIL
AND WHAT MADE ALL THAT
ORGANIC MATTER WAS GRASS
GROWING AND THEN THE
ANIMALS GRAZING IT THE
ROLE OF THE RUMINANT
ANIMAL IS TO TAKE LOW
ENERGY FORAGE AND CONVERT
IT INTO A HIGHER ENERGY
PRODUCT LIKE MEAT OR MILK
THE FREE ENERGY WE CAN
GET US FROM THE SUN RIGHT
ALWAYS GRASS HERE THAT
CAN ABSORB THAT SUNLIGHT
USE A PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PROCESS IT IN GROW
FORAGE AND I THINK
THEN THAT'S WHERE
THE THE CALL COMES
IN THAT ROOM IN AN
ANIMAL CAN TAKE THAT
FORAGE THAT'S WHAT
SHE'S BUILT TO DO HE'S
NOT BUILT TO DIGEST
GRAIN SHE'S BUILT TO
DIGEST FORAGE EATS A
LOT OF IT AND CONVERTS
IT INTO MILK SO THEY'RE
STORING ENERGY YOU
COULD ALMOST THINK
ABOUT THE COWS
BEING A BATTERY FOR
ENERGY AND HOW WE
COULD STORE MORE
ENERGY ON THIS OR
IT'S JUST WITH COWS
IT'S KIND OF AN
INTERESTING THOUGHT
WHEN YOU SEE THE CATTLE
OUT HERE AS THEY GET
TO FULFILL THEIR ROLE
ON THIS EARTH AND I
THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT VERSUS
THE CONFINEMENT
LOT WHERE OKAY WELL
WE'RE JUST GONNA USE
YOU WE'RE GONNA USE
YOU AS A THING YOU'RE
GONNA PRODUCE MILK FOR
US AND THAT'S ALL YOU
ARE I THINK YOU HAVE
TO HAVE A RESPECT FOR
WHAT THE ANIMAL IS
I'M NOT JUST SAYING
THIS TO FLUFF FOR YOUR
FILM IT'S I THINK IT'S
PART OF WHAT I REALLY
DO BELIEVE HERE AND AND
WHY I'M DOING WHAT I'M
DOING IT FEELS GOOD IT
FEELS RIGHT TO TO FARM
THIS WAY
(JOE TOMANDL)
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
CAN MEAN THOUSAND THINGS
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT
ONE OF THE BIGGIES
AND THAT'S THAT
500-POUND GORILLA OUT
IN THE FIELD
IT SMELLS LIKE MANURE
THE MANURE
A LOT OF MANURE
NUTRIENT OUTFALLS
ORGANIC MATTER OR MANURE
AS WE WOULD CALL IT
PRODUCT AT THE COW
THAT WE'LL REFER TO AS
AS AS ORGANIC MANURE
THAT COMES OUT OF THE COW
WASTE PRODUCT
MANURE CAN BE A
FANTASTIC RESOURCE AND IT
ALSO BE A FANTASTIC PROBLEM
(LEE LUFT)
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
HOW MANY QUADRILLION
GALLONS THERE ARE IN
THE GREAT LAKES BASIN
AND IN THE BAY OF
GREEN BAY TO BE ABLE
TO PUT ENOUGH NUTRIENTS
IN THAT WATER TO CAUSE
WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE
MEANS WE'RE PUTTING IN
A VERY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS
LAKE WILL IMPACT EVERYONE
IN WISCONSIN MOST CERTAINLY
(PROF. DOUG REINEMANN)
THE GROWTH IN THE SIZE
OF DAIRY FARMS IS A
PHENOMENON THAT'S
OCCURRING ALL OVER THE
WORLD CAFO IS A FARM
THAT HAS MORE THAN A
THOUSAND ANIMAL UNITS
WHICH WORKS OUT TO
BE ABOUT 750 MILKING
COWS
(RANDY EBERT)
MY GRANDFATHER
MILKED ABOUT 45 COWS
MY DAD FELT AROUND
ABOUT 170 COWS THE
OLD SAYING YEARS AGO
WAS YOU NEVER HAD MORE
COWS THAN WHAT YOUR WIFE
COULD MILK THAT'S NO LONGER
TRUE TODAY AND WE'VE TAKEN
IT TO ABOUT 3,500 COWS
AND ABOUT 3,500 HEIFERS
(PROF. DOUG REINMANN)
AND IN WISCONSIN
THE RESULT HAS BEEN
ONE COULD ARGUE MORE
DAIRY COWS IN PARTICULAR
PARTS OF THE STATE THAN
THAT ECOSYSTEM CAN
ACCOMMODATE SO WHEN YOU
HAVE LARGE ANIMAL
OPERATIONS THAT
THAT RISK OF THOSE
NUTRIENTS BEING BEING
RECYCLED RECIRCULATED
THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENT
IS JUST A BIGGER RISK
IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT
IT CAN'T BE DONE BUT
IT TAKES TECHNOLOGY
IT TAKES PLANNING
(KENN BUELOW)
WHY DO I THINK LARGE
ANIMAL OPERATIONS
ARE SO MUCH IN THE
SPOTLIGHT RIGHT NOW?
I THINK THEY'RE AN EASY
TARGET BECAUSE PEOPLE
DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY
OPERATE BECAUSE THEY
DON'T UNDERSTAND IT
THEY FEAR IT A LITTLE
BIT THEY'RE LARGE PEOPLE
ARE A LITTLE FEARFUL OF
LARGE SO WE HAVE 8,000
COWS SO MAYBE SOME PEOPLE
REALLY VIEW THAT WE NEED
TO STAY LIKE WE WERE
IN THE PAST WITH SMALL
OPERATIONS AND THERE'S
A PLACE FOR THAT BUT
THERE'S A PLACE FOR
LARGE ONES TOO I BELIEVE
(TONY SCHULTZ)
SUSTAINABILITY VERSUS
DOMINATION A CAFO IS A
FORM OF DOMINATION
ECONOMICALLY SOCIALLY
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
BUT PEOPLE VIEW THAT
AS A METRIC OF SUCCESS
AND SO IF YOU'RE THINKING
WITHIN THAT SYSTEM LIKE
IF I CAN GET THIS MANY
COWS IN ONE SPACE THAT
WILL BE SUCCESS YOU'RE
AT ODDS WITH OTHER
SYSTEMS
(MARGARET KROME)
AND INCREASINGLY
THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS
TAKING NOTICE
(LEE LUFT)
ESPECIALLY THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT AT THE END
OF 2015 ISSUED A RULING
THAT INDICATES MANURE
WILL BE CONSIDERED A
POLLUTANT IF IT
CONTAMINATES A NEIGHBORING
WELL
EACH COW PRODUCES
ABOUT AS MUCH WASTE
AS 18 HUMANS AND IF
YOU HAVE 1,000 OR 5,000
COWS AT ONE SPOT YOU CAN
THINK THAT'S A LOT OF
ANIMAL WASTE THAT NEEDS
TO BE DEALT WITH WE
DON'T HAVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND
OUR FARMS LIKE WE DO
IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO
TREAT THAT WASTE AND
OFTEN IT'S EASIEST TO
SPREAD THEM INTO OUR
NEAR THE PLACE WHERE
IT'S GENERATED SO QUITE
FRANKLY I THINK YOU
KNOW THERE'S SORT OF A
CARRYING CAPACITY
ISSUE DO WE HAVE
ENOUGH LAND FOR THE
AMOUNT OF MANURE THAT'S
GENERATED PARTICULARLY IN
THIS WATERSHED THAT
LEADS TO GREEN BAY
(KEN BUELOW)
HOW DO WE HANDLE OUR
ORGANIC MATTER OR
MANURE AS WE WOULD
CALL IT FIRST OF ALL
IT ALL GETS COLLECTED
AND GOES THROUGH A
DIGESTER AND THERE WITH
DIGESTERS IN BOTH DAIRIES
SO WE MAKE ELECTRICITY
WITH IT THEN WE SEPARATE
THE FIBER FROM IT WILL
DRY THAT FIBER FOR BEDDING
FOR COWS AND THEN THAT
LIQUID PORTION WE STORE
WE HAVE ABOUT 13 MONTHS
STORAGE SO WE DON'T HAVE
TO DO ANY WINTER
APPLICATION AND WE
DO A LOT OF SUMMER
APPLICATION WE'D
REALLY TRY TO PUT 75%
OF OUR NUTRIENTS ON
THE PLANTS WHILE THEY'RE
GROWING RATHER THAN FALL
OR SPRING BECAUSE THAT'S
WHEN THE ROOTS ARE THERE
THAT GRAB THE NUTRIENTS
THAT'S WHY WHERE THE
ROOTS ARE THERE TO HOLD
SOIL FROM RUNNING OFF
(RANDY EBERT)
AN ADULT COW WILL PRODUCE
ABOUT 30 GALLONS PER DAY
OF A PRODUCT THAT WE CALL
OUR ORGANIC MANURE
THEIR MANURE THAT THEN
GETS MIXED WITH THE
WATER GETTING IT INTO
MORE OF A LIQUID FASHION
WHICH MAKES IT EASIER FOR
US TO HANDLE IT AT A LARGER
VOLUME BETWEEN ALL OF OUR
SITES WE PRODUCE ABOUT 40
MILLION GALLONS OF PRODUCT
OF THE LIQUID PRODUCT
(NANCY UTESCH)
AND DOESN'T IT JUST
BLOW YOU AWAY WE'RE
MIXING CLEAN POTABLE
WATER WITH MANURE IN A
PLACE A GLOBAL AWARENESS
OF WATER AND HOW VALUABLE
IT IS AND YET WE ARE
ABSOLUTELY WE MUST
EITHER HAVE AN ARROGANCE
ABOUT IT OR THERE MUST
BE SUCH A GLUT OF IT
WHICH WE DO KNOW WE HAVE
HERE IN THIS NORTHEASTERN
REGION OF THE STATE
THAT IS ACTUALLY ABUSED
(RANDY EBERT)
WE THEN GO THROUGH
MULTIPLE STAGES OF
SEPARATION RECYCLING
THE SAND THAT'S IN IT
TO BE AGAIN RECYCLING
THE LARGE PARTICLE FIBER
FOR MULTIPLE USES AFTER
THAT PROCESS TODAY IT IS
STORED IN OUR LAGOONS
UNTIL IT IS TIME TO BE A
FIELD APPLIED FOR THE
GROWING CROPS A TWENTY
THOUSAND GALLON APPLICATION
PER ACRE WOULD BE THE
EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT TWO
THIRDS OF AN INCH OF RAIN
THOSE WOULD GET APPLIED
IN A ONE-TIME APPLICATION
AND WE INCORPORATE ALL OF
MANURE THOSE ARE BEING
APPLIED FOR THE CROP
THAT'S GOING TO GROW
NEXT SPRING AND WE KNOW
THAT THERE ARE
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
EVENTS BOTH IN WET
WINTER AND IN SPRING
THAT CAN AFFECT WHETHER
THAT PRODUCT AND THAT
SOIL STAYS IN PLACE
(LEE LUFT)
IT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME
FOR KEWANEE COUNTY AND
SOME OF OUR SURROUNDING
COUNTIES TO COME TO GRIPS
WITH THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE
HERE NATURE IS SENDING US
A VERY LOUD STRONG AND
CLEAR WAKE-UP CALL THAT
IT'S TIME TO ACT WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT IT WE'VE
STUDIED IT WE'RE NOW
VERY CERTAIN WHAT IS
CAUSING OUR PROBLEM
IT IS THE HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF GALLONS
OF LIQUID CATTLE MANURE
THAT IS BEING APPLIED
IN VULNERABLE AREAS SUCH
AS OURS THAT'S HAVING
THE IMPACT THAT IT'S
HAVING
(RANDY EBERT)
I DON'T CARE WHETHER
IT'S A PIECE OF PARKING
LOT A PIECE OF PERSON'S
LAWN A GOLF COURSE OR
AGRICULTURAL FIELD THERE
IS NONPOINT POLLUTION
THAT ALL WASHES TO LAKE
MICHIGAN ON AN EVERYDAY
REGULAR BASIS EVERY
PERSON HAS A PIECE
OF LAWN THAT'S PUTTING
STAY GREEN ON THERE IS
A PART OF THIS ISSUE WE'RE
JUST THE LARGER PART OF IT
BUT WE ALL HAVE TO DO A
BETTER JOB EVERYBODY THAT
OWNS A PIECE OF PROPERTY
FARMERS JUST ARE BIGGER
IN THAT PEDESTAL BECAUSE
OF THE VOLUME OF LAND
THAT WE HAVE
(NANCY UTESCH)
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO
BE A SCIENTIST ALL
YOU HAVE TO BE AS AN
INDIVIDUAL LIVING IN
YOUR COMMUNITY AND
RECOGNIZING THAT THE
MAJOR RIVERS THAT YOU
HAVE THERE ARE ON THE
EPA'S IMPAIRED WATER
LISTING AND THAT YOU
HAVE 34% OF THE TESTED
WELLS ARE CONTAMINATED
AND CANNOT BE USED IN
THE HOMESTEAD'S WHERE
THEY'RE AT A USDA
RESEARCHER HAS HAS
CALLED OUR WATER THAT
THAT HE WOULD HAVE
EXPECTED TO FIND IN
A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY
(LEE LUFT)
SO THE MANURE WAS ABLE
TO PENETRATE THROUGH
THE VERY SHALLOW SOILS
INTO THE BEDROCK THROUGH
THE SINKHOLE AND ENTER
INTO THE GROUNDWATER
STREAM QUICKLY WITHIN
A MATTER OF A DAY OR
TWO 16 SEPARATE FAMILIES
BECAME ILL AND ONE
CHILD WAS HOSPITALIZED
BECAUSE THEY WERE
DRINKING THE CONTAMINATED
WATER
(PROF. ANN BEHRMANN)
NOW IN KEWANEE
COUNTY THERE HAVE THERE
HAVE BEEN KIDS WHO'VE
BEEN EXPOSED TO THIS
BACTERIA E.COLI O157
AND THIS BACTERIA CAN
BE DEADLY IT NOT ONLY
CAN PEOPLE CAN DIE FROM
THE BACTERIA BUT THE
OFTEN KIDS OFTEN GET
KIDNEY FAILURE FROM
IT SOMETHING A DISEASE
CALLED HEMOLYTIC UREMIC
SYNDROME
(LEE LUFT)
WE'VE HAD OUR LOCAL
HIGH SCHOOL SET UP
A CLEAN WATER KIOSK
TO ALLOW FAMILIES TO
COME TO THE HIGH SCHOOL
AND RECEIVED FREE BOTTLES
OF WATER SO THAT THEY
CAN SUSTAIN THEMSELVES IN
THEIR HOMES
(LYNN UTESCH)
WE KNOW SCIENTIFICALLY
THAT WE'VE GONE BEYOND
THE CARRYING CAPACITY
OF OUR LAND WE KNOW
THAT IT'S RUNNING OFF
INTO OUR RIVERS IT'S
GOING INTO OUR
GROUNDWATER I THINK
WE NEED TO START TO
REALLY HAVE A
COMMON-SENSE DISCUSSION
ABOUT OUR AGRICULTURAL
SYSTEM YOU KNOW WHAT
IS IT THAT'S GOING TO
BE THE BALANCE BETWEEN
AGRICULTURE AND OUR WATER
AGRICULTURE AND OUR HEALTH
FOR OUR CITIZENS THERE'S
NOBODY THAT SAYS THAT YOU
HAVE TO PUT ON 16 THOUSAND
GALLONS PER ACRE RIGHT NEXT
TO A WATERWAY
(NANCY UTESCH)
WATER JUST DOESN'T
SHOW UP IN YOUR TAP
IT'S COMING FROM A
SOURCE BUT I'M SURE
IF MOST PEOPLE IN
GREEN BAY WERE ASKED
THEY WOULD NOT KNOW
THAT THEIR WATER
WAS COMING FROM THE
KEWANEE AREA
(LEE LUFT)
THE MESSAGE IS NOT THAT
WE NEED TO BE ANTI
AGRICULTURE WE CAN'T
EXIST WITHOUT TODAY'S
AGRICULTURE LET'S FACE
IT WE NEED A HEALTHY
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY
THE MESSAGE IS THAT
WE NEED A CHANGE IN
THE AGRICULTURAL
MODELS ESPECIALLY
IN AREAS THAT HAVE
THE VULNERABLE GEOLOGY
THAT WE DO AND THAT'S
REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT HERE
(PROF. STEVEN CARPENTER)
PEOPLE WOULD BE OUTRAGED
IF WE DUMPED LARGE AMOUNTS
OF HUMAN WASTE INTO
WISCONSIN LAKES WE
NEED TO GET TO THE
SAME POINT WITH
LIVESTOCK WHERE WE
REALIZE IT'S NOT A
GREAT IDEA
(LEE LUFT)
FARMERS RECOGNIZE THAT
THEY'RE PART OF THE
PROBLEMS AND THAT IS A
HUGE STEP
(RANDY EBERT)
WE CAN'T BE STATUS QUO
AND SAY WHAT WE DID
BEFORE IS IS GOOD ENOUGH
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO
GET BETTER WHERE IT USED
TO BE COMMODITY BASED NOW
ALL THE SUDDEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT MAYBE THESE
PRIORITIES NEED TO BE
ENVIRONMENTALLY BASED
(LEE LUFT)
THAT SENSE IS NOW SHARED
BY THOSE IN OUR DNR AND
DEBT CAP AND ALSO THE EPA
(BILL HAFS)
WE ALL HAVE A PART IN THIS
IT'S JUST THAT AGRICULTURE
OFFERS THIS GOLDEN
OPPORTUNITY WE NEED SOME
REALLY TALENTED
CONSERVATION STAFF GOOD
AGRONOMY STAFF THAT CAN
BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH
A FARMER WHICH COULD BE
BENEFICIAL TO THEM AND US
AND THE WATER
(PROF. STEVEN CARPENTER)
SOME PEOPLE DO THINK
SCIENCE IS A SIMPLE
SOLUTION AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON
BETTER TECHNOLOGY FOR
CONTROLLING PHOSPHORUS
BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET
AND THE TECHNOLOGY WE
HAVE NOW IS PRETTY
EXPENSIVE IT'S LIKE
PROVIDING SEWAGE TREATMENT
FOR COWS
(LYNN UTESCH)
WE DON'T NEED TO BE
USING WATER TO FLUSH
DOWN BARNS YOU KNOW
NOWHERE IN NATURE DO
ANY ANIMALS ALL STOP IN
DEFECATE IN ONE BIG HOLE
IN THE GROUND OTHER THAN
MAN AND UNFORTUNATELY NOW
WE'VE MADE IT SO THE COWS
DO THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES
ALL THEY'RE DOING IS
DEALING WITH A SYMPTOM
OF A BROKEN SYSTEM THEN
WE NEED TO GO BACK TO
GROUND ZERO AND START TO
LOOK AT HOW IS IT DONE
IN NATURE AND HOW CAN WE
REPLICATE THAT
(PROF. DOUG REINMANN)
THERE ARE TECHNOLOGIES
THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED
TO CONCENTRATE NUTRIENTS
IN THE MANURE IN ORDER
THAT IT CAN BE MOVED OFF
THE FARM FROM AN ECOLOGICAL
STANDPOINT THAT DISRUPTS
THAT WHOLE NUTRIENT BALANCE
NOW WE'VE BROKEN THE CYCLE
OF THE DAIRY ECOSYSTEM
(JOE TOMANDL)
AS A SOCIETY AND AS
INDUSTRY WE VALUE A
CROP BY HOW MANY BUSHELS
AND WHAT THE VALUE OF
THAT BUSHELS ARE POUNDS
OF MILK AND WHAT THE
VALUE IS WE NEVER SUBTRACT
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
SO IF WE HAD AN ACTUAL
DOLLAR FIGURE THAT WAS
ASSOCIATED WITH EVERY
POUND OF PHOSPHORUS AND
WE REALLY SUBTRACTED
THAT OFF NOW WE'RE TRULY
GOING TO FIGURE OUT THE
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OUR
DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL
SYSTEMS AND ONCE WE
FIGURE OUT THE TRUE
ECONOMIC IMPACT OUR
MORE SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS WILL RISE TO
THE TOP AND IT'LL GIVE
THE CONSUMER IT'LL GIVE
THE AGENCY PEOPLE AND
OUR WHOLE POPULATION IN
GENERAL WHAT IT WANTS
(PROF. STEVEN CARPENTER)
GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER
AND SAY WE'RE GONNA PAY
FOR A BALANCED PHOSPHORUS
BUDGET WE'RE GONNA FIGURE
OUT HOW TO GET OUR
PHOSPHORUS BUDGET IN
BALANCE SO WE'RE NOT
OVERLOADING THE SOILS
AND THEREFORE OVERLOADING
THE WATER THEN WE'RE
GONNA DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
WE'RE GONNA TREAT MANURE
DEVELOP CROPS THAT ARE
REALLY GOOD AT DRAWING
THE PHOSPHORUS OUT OF
SOILS SO WORK WITH FARMERS
TO MAKE THESE TECHNOLOGIES
AVAILABLE ACROSS THE
LANDSCAPE
(DR. RICHARD CRATES)
WHAT CAN THE PUBLIC DO TO
ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABILITY?
(BUDDY HUFFAKER)
JUST BECAUSE YOU LIVE
IN A HUGE APARTMENT
COMPLEX DOESN'T MEAN
YOU'RE NOT AN ECOLOGICAL
CITIZEN DOESN'T MEAN YOU
DON'T HAVE A ROLE AND
IMPORTANT PLACE IN THE
SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABILITY
(DR. ROD OLSEN)
WE ALL EAT WE ALL ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE THE
FACT THAT THAT THEY ARE
PROVIDING US WITH FOOD
(JAMES SYBURG)
ACTUALLY ANY INDIVIDUAL
WATCHING THIS FILM YOU
KNOW CAN BE PART OF MAKING
THIS CHANGE TO A MORE
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL
SYSTEM JUST BY SIMPLY
MAKING A FOOD CHOICE
VOTING WITH YOUR WALLET
THREE TIMES A DAY THEY
CAN BE AS MUCH A PART
OF THE CHANGE AS THE
FARMER AND THE TRACTOR
FARMERS IN THIS COUNTRY
WILL GROW WHAT PEOPLE
WANT FARMERS IN THIS
COUNTRY WILL GROW WHAT
PEOPLE DEMAND SO IT'S
REALLY CONSUMERS BECOMING
MORE ECOLOGICAL EATERS
THAT ARE DRIVING THE
AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
(MARGARET KROME)
ONE OF THE THINGS CONSUMERS
CAN DO IS TO GET TO KNOW
WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES
FROM AND SUPPORT FOOD
THAT IS PRODUCED THE
WAY YOU WANT IT PRODUCED
(JIM MUNSCH)
AND THIS IS WHERE YOU
HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK
BECAUSE ALL THE THE BIG
COMPANIES THAT ARE
SELLING FOOD ARE GOING
TO CLAIM A CERTAIN DEGREE
OF SUSTAINABILITY
(LYNN UTESCH)
MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES
NOT ONLY GOOD FOR YOUR
HEALTH BUT ALSO GOOD
FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT IS
IT IMPACTING OTHER
PEOPLE'S LIVES
(MICHEAL FINNEY)
IT IS SORT OF LIKE
THINKING IN TWO DIFFERENT
REALMS ONE PERSONAL
AND ONE RELATIONAL
(LYNN UTESCH)
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY
GONNA BE THE DRIVING
FORCE IN ALL OF THIS
IS IT'S NOT GOING TO
BE OUR GOVERNMENT IT'S
NOT GOING TO BE THE
FOOD INDUSTRY IT'S GOING
TO BE THE CONSUMERS AND
ESPECIALLY YOUNG MOTHERS
THAT ARE DEMANDING FOR
THEIR CHILDREN THAT THEY
GET BIG CLEAN HEALTHY FOOD
(TONY SCHULTZ)
IF YOU ASK THOSE
QUESTIONS YOU'RE GOING
TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT
SUSTAINABILITY AND YOU'RE
GOING TO HELP CREATE A
SYSTEM OF NOT ONLY
SUSTAINABILITY BUT FOOD
SOVEREIGNTY SO LOCAL
DEMOCRATIC CONTROL
OF FOOD SYSTEMS
(PROF. STEVEN CARPENTER)
WE HAVE REALLY CHEAP
FOOD IN THE UNITED STATES
IT'S REALLY ABUNDANT AND
PRODUCING THAT FOOD
ON THE CHEAP INVOLVES
SOME POLLUTION IF PEOPLE
DON'T LIKE THEIR LAKE
POLLUTED THEY NEED TO
BE WILLING TO PAY FOR
FOOD THAT'S PRODUCED
IN A NON POLLUTING WAY
(KAT BECKER)
SO JOINING A CSA IS A
REALLY EASY WAY FOR
PEOPLE TO COMMIT TO A
FARM IN A WAY THAT'S
DIFFERENT THAN A
TRADITIONAL MARKET
RELATIONSHIP SHOP AT
THE FARMERS MARKET
(MARGARET KROME)
YOU ALSO CAN MAKE SURE
THAT THIS ISSUE IS
SPOKEN TO BY PEOPLE
WHOM YOU ELECT
FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
(PROF. DOUG REINMANN)
SO THERE'S CERTAINLY
A REASON FOR HOPE WE
HAVEN'T RUINED THE
PLANET YET SO I REALLY
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT
GIVES THEM MEANING IN
THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AND
IN THEIR LIVES AND TO
PUT THAT UP AGAINST
WHAT THE MATERIAL
REQUIREMENTS OF THOSE ARE
AND SO IF WE CAN
RETHINK THE MATERIAL
NEEDS TO GIVE US MEANING
AND HAPPINESS AND
FULFILLMENT IT CAN
REALLY RESHAPE
THE WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT
SUSTAINABILITY
(DR. ROD OLSEN)
WITH ANY RELATIONSHIP
YOU NEED TO GIVE BACK
IN ORDER FOR IT TO LAST
THAT LAKE HAS GOT ALL
KINDS OF ABILITY TO
CLEAN ITSELF WE NEED
TO GIVE BACK TO OUR
LAKES WE NEED TO
GIVE BACK TO OUR
RIVERS THERE'S WAYS
TO DO IT IT'S NOT
HOPELESS AND WE'LL
HAVE SOME CLEAN LAKES
THAT OUR GRANDCHILDREN
WILL THANK US
FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS