Kewaunee County Land and Water Committee Chairperson Chuck Wagner will keep a close eye on what Dane County plans to do to address agricultural run-off in the Madison area. Dane County is encouraging farmers to sign up for its $750,000 pilot program encouraging them to plant cover crops and other plants in their fields. By turning fields traditionally used for cash crops into prairie lands or space for cattle to graze, the hope is the county can help curb agricultural run-off from lakes and streams. Wagner says running a similar program in Kewaunee County has not been discussed, but there are ways farmers can still get a little help getting started.

Although it is not very lucrative, Wagner says cover cropping and no-till farming could help farmers save on fuel while improving the health of the soil and crops.