Findings Begin to Emerge
It takes several years to observe the impact of management intervention on soil health characteristics, so we don’t yet have enough data to draw definitive conclusions. However, we are starting to get a glimpse of the early effects of soil health management systems on crop yield, GHG emissions, soil health and water quality.
An example of a preliminary result is that some research teams have observed that initial crop yields were higher on sites with commonly used field practices compared to those with soil health management systems. However, these differences were smaller by the third year. Data from further years will help us gain a better understanding of these changes.
We also have observed another trend at some of our research sites: nitrous oxide emissions were lower in the soil health management system plots fertilized with new manure-based products compared to plots with commonly used practices where liquid dairy manure was used. However, since we are still relatively early in the research, this trend does not tell the whole story of the effect of novel manure products on emissions. DSWR is taking a whole-systems approach, so there are other factors that will need to be compared across all our sites as we collect more data.
Collaborators Prove Essential
Partnerships in DSWR have been crucial. The Soil Health Institute has been side by side with Dairy Management Inc. as we’ve addressed the challenge of leading such a large-scale, multi-region project. We’ve implemented a unified approach to have standardized data collection protocols and metrics, ensuring a comprehensive dataset to allow for meaningful analysis and actionable insights.
Our collaborators and research partners have shown tremendous commitment to this work. Eight institutions are helping execute the project: Cornell University, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California Davis, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, University of Vermont and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research in Kimberly, Idaho.
And, of course, the farmers who have stepped up to participate are critically important. Nearly 100 farms have been directly engaged in this project thus far.
Shared Results Will Inform & Guide
DSWR will share its findings broadly with the scientific community, farmers and other stakeholders.
To date, we have provided participating farmers with individual reports detailing their farm’s soil health and soil carbon storage status as a result of our soil health and soil carbon survey in five regions. Additionally, we are hosting regional webinars with farmers, cooperatives and local crop advisers to share our findings and offer guidance on best management practices. These webinars serve as an effective platform to initiate discussion and generate further interest among local teams and farmers. Furthermore, we provide a concise one-page snapshot for each region which can be used by farmers, local extension staff and anyone offering crop advice.
We also recently launched a website where we are sharing information about the research, the research teams and partners, and findings as they become available. And, we’ve developed a document that highlights progress in the project.
As we look ahead, we are optimistic that DSWR findings will have lasting impacts on how dairy farmers grow feed and shape their carbon footprints in a climate-smart future.