Updates and Events
DSWR study contributes to quantifying nitrogen fertilizer replacement value of manure for New York dairy farmers
When managed carefully, livestock manure has proven to help build soil organic matter, enhance plant nutrient cycling and improve overall soil health and climate resilience over time. Determining just how valuable the nitrogen in manure can be for farmers who are growing crops has been the aim of a multiyear statewide study in New York… Read more »
April 28, 2026
Cornell research team and farmers delve into DSWR findings, practical applications
With the conclusion of field work in 2025, the Cornell University Nutrient Management Spear Program is diligently working to analyze comprehensive data collected during extensive field trials as part of the Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration (DSWR) project. Initiated by Dairy Management Inc. and the Soil Health Institute in collaboration with eight research institutions across… Read more »
April 25, 2026
University of Vermont researchers share insights from on-farm water quality experiments as part of Discovery Farms webinar
University of Vermont (UVM) Extension has been addressing water quality and nutrient management challenges in the state for the past five years through Discovery Acres, a water quality research model affiliated with the multistate Discovery Farms program. UVM researchers Heather Darby and Claire Benning shared details about their work on March 24 during a webinar… Read more »
April 10, 2026
Results from soil health assessment in Driftless Region of Wisconsin serve as focus of first in series of webinars
The Driftless Region in Wisconsin is marked by hills, valleys and rugged features, an area spared from the last glacier. It also holds thousands of acres of fertile cropland used to grow forage for an estimated 2,000 dairy herds. The area is one of six dairy regions in the U.S. where scientists sampled soils to… Read more »
April 1, 2026
In the Spotlight: Meet Deanne Meyer, researcher at UC Davis, UC ANR
Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration (DSWR) is tapping into the talents of the best and brightest researchers in the U.S. They’re doing work through eight research institutions in major dairy-producing regions across the country. One of these all-important project partners is Dr. Deanne Meyer, livestock waste management specialist in the Department of Animal Science at… Read more »
March 4, 2026
Vermont researcher highlights GHG and yield results from DSWR in poster presentation at No-Till & Cover Crop Conference
A University of Vermont research specialist shared the results from part of her team’s work on the Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration (DSWR) project at the 2026 No-Till & Cover Crop Conference. Molly Ratliff presented a research poster at the event, which brought together farmers, crop consultants, agricultural businesses and researchers to discuss soil health,… Read more »
March 2, 2026
On the Farm: Water use efficiency is key component of Texas research
The Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration (DSWR) project is capturing data in various dairy regions of the country, representing unique climates, soils and agricultural management practices. The Texas A&M AgriLife High Plains Research and Extension Center is conducting research in a semi-arid climate with limited surface water and heavy dependence on the diminishing water in… Read more »
February 27, 2026
Perspectives: Asking a few thousand experts about soil health and hydrology
Sam Zipper, Kansas Geological Survey assistant scientist and assistant professor at the University of Kansas Many people say the first principle of soil health is to “know your context” — meaning that a soil health management strategy should be based on a farm’s unique conditions, including its goals, climate, equipment, personnel and economics. However, most… Read more »
February 25, 2026
Register today: First in new webinar series March 19 will highlight soil health benchmarking results in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region
The Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration (DSWR) project work began in 2021 with sampling of soils on commercial farms in key dairy states across the U.S., representing a wide range of climates, management practices and soil types. More than 1,000 samples from nearly 200 fields were analyzed to create a baseline of soil health and… Read more »
February 16, 2026
American Geophysical Union recognizes Sam Zipper with Hydrologic Sciences Early Career Award
Kansas Geological Survey assistant scientist Sam Zipper is the recipient of the 2025 Hydrologic Sciences Early Career Award from the Hydrology Section of the American Geophysical Union (AGU). The award recognizes outstanding contributions to hydrology through research, education or societal impacts. Zipper, who is also an assistant professor at the University of Kansas, is supporting the Dairy… Read more »
February 4, 2026
