Objective:
The primary objective of this research is to develop conventional and organic crop management stratetgies to facilitate the exchange of N, P, and K as manure and feed between neighboring dairy and cash-grain farms. A secondary objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative forage production systems, utilizing animal manures on subsequent long-term P and K nutrient budgets, N leaching losses, and soil organic carbon dynamics.

Approach:
The six different cropping systems of the WICST trials vary from a high to low level of purchased inputs and in the length and diversity of crop rotation. The underlying hypothesis behind the WICST Trial is that increasing cropping diversity would result in ¿improved¿ production systems that would be more productive, profitable and environmental benign than their less diverse counterparts. To ensure that the project¿s results would be pertinent to local producers, we use large plots and farm-sized machinery at the experimental site and on-farm testing is also conducted. The WICST plots (four blocks, six rotations, 14 phases) have been carefully monitored since 1989. Data analysis of the economic (variable inputs, labor inputs, prices, premiums, gross margins), agronomic (yields, yield quality, nutrient budgets, weed dynamics, timing of fertilizer additions) and some environmental variables (fall nitrates, soil fertility levels, weed seed banks, earthworm dynamics, soil biota diversity, water quality, erosion, energy ratios) will be completed. The results of these analyses will be published in scientific journals and in the popular press, and will help nourish the debate on the future directions for agriculture in the Upper Midwest.