DAIRY NEWS – The quality and availability of the state’s water supply is a top priority for all Wisconsin residents. Communities, farms and businesses are using innovative technologies and practices to solve water-related issues and ensure an abundant supply for current and future generations. These practices and technologies will be showcased to community members, elected officials, educators, media, farmers and more at the 2024 Water Tours. Tours will take place on Tuesday, September 10 from 9:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and are hosted by Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP), UW Discovery Farms®, Wisconsin Counties Association and Wisconsin Towns Association.

The first tour stop takes the participants to Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)where they will see how over 640 million gallons of wastewater are treated daily for the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Attendees will also learn about plans for an unprecedented clean water laboratory that will test new primary filtration technologies that could lead to cost savings, increased waste recycling, reduced chemical use, and further reduced sewer overflows and basement backups.

The second stop offers participants an insider look at the efficient use and reuse of water in modern dairy farms in milking parlors, barns, fields and facilities. Roden Echo Valley, LLCis located near West Bend, Wisconsin, where the Roden family milks 850 cows in a 40-stall parlor. They have used a variety of conservation practices over the past decade and are members of a farmer-led watershed group in Ozaukee County that works to share ideas and implement new practices. They regularly host tours and share information about their dairy with schools, neighbors and community members interested in learning more about farming.

“We work to keep our water as safe and healthy as possible,” said Rick Roden of Roden Echo Valley, LLC, about one of the methods they use to do that. “Planting cover crops helps us keep the water clean because the live plants and root system hold the soil and nutrients in place.”

The tour bus will depart from WisDOT Park & ​​Ride 40-85, Brown Deer Rd. E, River Hills, Wis. at 9:15 a.m. and return at 4:00 p.m. Moderated discussions with water quality experts, researchers and others will take place during the bus ride. Advance registration is required for the tour, and space is limited. The $49 registration fee includes bus transportation, refreshments and lunch. Up to 3.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) per tour are available from Dairy AdvanCE. For more information on the 2024 water tours and to register, visit www.pdpw.org or contact PDP at 800-947-7379.

“Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) is the largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind in the country. Its focus is on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.”