VO. 28 NO. 3

How the 2019 Spring Floods Could Affect your Farm in 2020
Jenna Langrehr, AgrAbility of WI Program Assistant

The 2019 crop year was one for the books, being the wettest year ever recorded in Wisconsin. From late spring to a near-record wet fall, farmers were more than ready to end last year’s harvest and move on.

Unfortunately, the events of last year’s weather will affect how this spring will play out.

According to an article by Jonathan Erdman on Weather.com, the ground is still saturated from the events of last fall, and a mid- February report showed that the soil moisture is the highest on record for states from Montana to the Southeast.

Some areas are more at risk than others, especially regarding snow melting. For Wisconsin, Western parts along the Mississippi and river tributaries leading to the Mississippi are at an above-average risk of flooding.

Many factors impact the severity of springtime flooding, and most are still unknown. One major factor is the snowmelt rate, and how much water is in the remaining snow.

During the second half of February,  temperatures were very inconsistent, resulting in a decreasing chance of flooding. The snow has been melting at a slower rate because of the inconsistent temperatures. However, the remaining snow is compacted, full of water. Any snow that is left is full of water, so the remaining rate of snow melting is dependent on how much water will be going into rivers.

If your farm is located near a river, or if you’re concerned about the possibility of flooding this spring, there are ways to prepare your farm and reduce the possibility of damage.

The most important thing in reducing flood risk is incorporating a proper and efficient drainage system and continual maintenance of the drainage system. Another option is leaving crop residues on fields over the winter or using cover crops.

Flooding can increase the risk that manure will run off into streams and rivers, causing pollution and potentially fish kills and costing the farmer valuable free fertilizer. Rather than spreading on already water-logged fields or running the risk of getting their equipment stuck or damaging the soil structure, farmers who find their manure storage is full or nearly full during times of flooding are encouraged to contact their local conservation department to learn about alternative storage sites or options for safely spreading the manure.

More information is available at www.dnr.wi.gov or by contacting your local DNR service.

Staff Spotlight: Ami Cooper

Ami Cooper is a Rural Rehabilitation Specialist on the Easter Seals Wisconsin (ESW) FARM Team. She has been a Rehab Specialist for five
years traveling the state of Wisconsin, her main territory is primarily the southern half of the state, working with farmers with disabilities and their families by providing services that help them continue farming and maintain independence. She conducts on-site work assessments, determines work site modifications and adaptive equipment needs, develops a plan to implement recommendations, and coordinates funding and support services if available.

Ami is also the instructor of Exploring Job Options in Rural Wisconsin, a program developed for high school students with disabilities who want to learn more about opportunities available in the agricultural industry. This is a newer program that Ami would like to take state wide. Currently, she is working with students from around the state at ESW Camp Wawbeek Transition weekends working with the camp staff to provide the Exploring Job Options program at camp. She is also excited to have an opportunity to start a course in April with students from the Wisconsin Dells and Sauk Prairie areas. The Exploring Job Options in Rural Wisconsin program provides job exploration of potential
careers in agriculture in the student’s local community by means of class training, speakers, and agribusiness tours. Upon completion of the course it is the long term goal to continue to work with the students and their support team if there is an interest in job shadow or short term work experience opportunities.

If you or someone you know has an interest in the Exploring Job Options in Rural Wisconsin program please reach out to Ami through email,
acooper@eastersealswisconsin.com or phone at 608-225-1867.

 

Winter Event Wrap-up
Amanda Harguth, Outreach Specialist

Through the start of winter in late 2019 to March 2020 we have been attending many events and having exhibitor booths at various trade shows. While out at these events we have been having some great conversations with current and new prospective clients. A few places you could have seen us at were:
• WI Farm Bureau Annual Meeting & YFA Conference
• WI Farmers Union Convention
• WI Corn and Soybean Expo
• MOSES Organic Farm Show

We look forward to seeing more of you at various events later this year. If you are looking for AgrAbility to come to an event near you send a request to agrability@wisc.edu

 

Welcome to our new student program assistant: Jenna Langrehr

Hello everyone, my name is Jenna Langrehr, and I am the new Student Program Assistant here at AgrAbility! I am currently a junior at UW-Madison double majoring in Dairy Science and Life Sciences Communication. I grew up deeply rooted in agriculture on my family’s dairy farm in West Salem where we have Holsteins and Registered Guernseys. Organizations like my local 4-H club, the Wisconsin and National Guernsey Associations, Badger Dairy Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and my favorite, Babcock House, have all had a huge impact on my life and have got me to where I am today. My primary duties will be social media maintenance, story writing, and photography. If you have any ideas for me, feel free to send them my way! I am excited to join the AgrAbility team!

Farm Service Agency Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers direct and guaranteed loans to farmers and ranchers to promote, build and sustain family farms for a thriving agricultural economy. Farm ownership, operating, and emergency loans are available under the Direct Loan Program. Farm ownership, operating, and conservation loans are available under the Guaranteed Loan Program. FSA offers two types of guarantees under the Land Contract Guarantee Program. The goal of FSA’s farm loan programs is to help farmers and ranchers obtain commercial credit. Learn more about FSA and their programs here: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/index