The Wisconsin Landscape: Are We Still Good with the Tradeoff?

Abstract

In the agricultural regions of Wisconsin, nonpoint source nutrient pollution contributes significantly to the impairment of the state’s lakes and rivers. Our commodities-based agricultural system has predominantly focused on serving the production needs of inefficient biofuels, export markets that have dwindled/disappeared, and the production of animal feed. Meanwhile, many Wisconsin farms have consistently struggled to generate profits. Our rampant water quality challenges are not the result of individual farmers failing to consider conservation; rather, they are indicative of the shortcomings of our dominant agricultural regimes. With a consistent track record, it seems fair to recognize that dominant agricultural systems are not adequately serving our state’s farmers or waters. A starting point for addressing our immense water quality challenges should be a critical evaluation of whether Wisconsinites are still content with perpetuating our current agricultural regimes, given a consistent track record of poor profitability and the degradation of our waters.