LISBON, Wis. [Sept. 9, 2022] – A “Whiskey & Water Handcrafted by Corn” farm dinner event brought leaders from the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association (WCGA), the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, and many of the state’s water and environmental advocacy and conservation groups together at the J. Henry & Sons bourbon tasting room and farm in Dane, Wisconsin, on Thursday evening, Sept. 8.
“Water quality is a big priority for farmers,” explains WCGA President Mark Hoffmann. “But we’re not alone in our concern to keep water safe and clean for our fellow Wisconsinites. We know many other groups have prioritized clean water and are working on programs to improve water quality, so we wanted to create an opportunity for conversations that build relationships with those who are also taking action.
“Wisconsin is unique in many ways in that we’re blessed with abundant water resources that we enjoy in our everyday lives, from swimming and boating to the clean water we drink,” he adds. “It’s no surprise that great-tasting bourbon is tied to clean water, a connection we celebrated at this event.”
Farmers also shared how technology and innovation allow them to be more precise with fertilizer applications, reduce runoff and keep nutrients in the soil. Dane County farmer Ryan Ripp shared how he uses cover crops – crops that typically grow over winter and for him have the dual purpose of providing feed for livestock and adding organic matter to build healthy soils that retain more water. Cover crops and similar clean-water farming practices have become increasingly important as we experience more severe weather events with larger rainfall amounts. Healthy soils keep water in the fields instead of running off into waterways, taking precious topsoil with it. Ripp is one of the farmers who shares more about what they do to keep water clean on Wisconsin Corn’s website resource about water quality.
Wisconsin Corn leaders look forward to ongoing conversations and partnerships that raise awareness of water quality issues and solutions that work for everyone.
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