DOOR COUNTY, Wis. ― Scott and Emma Mathison of Mathison Farms, members of Peninsula Pride Farms, continue learning about and adopting new sustainable farming practices that benefit their farm and the surrounding environment.
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Scott and Emma are fifth-generation farmers in Door County, Wis., farming alongside their parents, Allan and Becky Mathison, and Scott’s wife, Morgan. They are in the process of transitioning the ownership of the farm from their parents and are now making more farm management decisions.
Their family farm was a dairy farm for many years before transitioning to a beef farm in 2019. Today, they have about 40 head of beef animals and manage about 160 acres of cropland.
After noticing low levels of nutrients and organic matter in their soil, the Mathisons realized they needed to implement practices that would be better for their soil biology.
“We started implementing rotational grazing in 2021 and quickly realized how beneficial this system was for the environment and for our cows,” Scott said. “Since then, we’ve been able to expand our grazing acres and look to continue to do so in the future as we expand our herd size.”
Along with rotational grazing, the Mathisons have implemented several other conservation practices, such as no-till and cover cropping.
“We were excited to recently invest in a no-till grain drill for our farm, which has allowed us to increase our use of no-tillage practices,” Emma said. “Our long-term goal is to achieve 100% no-till farming on all of our acres.”
Scott and Emma are not afraid to try new things on their farm. They enjoy learning about sustainable farming methods through their own research and through opportunities provided by PPF.
“PPF is a great community of people dedicated to improving our soils and the environment,” Emma said. “As members, we have the opportunity to connect with fellow farmers who have experimented with different practices and are willing to share their knowledge and experiences. Together, we can all improve our farming practices.”
Annual survey results
As part of their PPF membership, the Mathisons participated in the 2024 annual Member Conservation Practice Survey. This is the sixth year the group has documented and shared its collective sustainability efforts and progress with the entire community.
The group, composed of 61 farmers implemented various conservation practices including planting 16,654 acres of cover crops, using no-till and strip-till on 26,606 acres and planting into cover crops (otherwise known as “planting green”) on 5,500 acres. Members are also following a nutrient management plan on 64,785 acres.
The potential benefits of these practices:
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 4,092 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, equal to greenhouse gas emissions produced by 974 cars driven for a year.
- Prevention of sediment loss from farm fields of 37,528 tons, equivalent to 3,753 dump trucks worth of soil.
- Reduction of phosphorus runoff by 53,139 pounds, potentially preventing 26.6 million pounds of algae growth in local water bodies.
Data was analyzed by Houston Engineering, Inc. and Farmers for Sustainable Food.
Farmers interested in joining PPF can find out more information at peninsulapridefarmsinc.org.
By the numbers
Number of acres covered by conservation practices among Peninsula Pride Farms members:
- 2019 ― 197,405
- 2020 ― 224,242
- 2021 ― 371,783
- 2022 ― 388,789
- 2023 ― 289,996
- 2024 ―229,965
*Multiple conservation practices can be used on a farm field
Potential impact of conservation practices in 2024:
- Phosphorus runoff reduction ― 53,139 pounds
- Sediment erosion reduction ― 37,528 tons
- Carbon dioxide emission reduction ― 4,092 metric tons
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About Peninsula Pride Farms:
Peninsula Pride Farms is a nonprofit organization of dairy and crop farmers and corporate members committed to protecting and improving ground and surface water in Kewaunee and southern Door counties in Wisconsin. The group leverages the ingenuity of the agricultural community, university research and scientists to implement practices that have measurable outcomes. The group receives support from members and partners, including agricultural and environmental organizations and the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. More information: peninsulapridefarms.org.
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