WWASH Conference will Bring Farmers and Experts Together

By Blake Jackson

The agenda is now available for the Wisconsin Water and Soil Health (WWASH) Conference, scheduled for December 15–16, 2026, at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Madeline Rastall, communications specialist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, announced the availability of the program.

The conference will bring together farmers and agricultural professionals to explore the connections between on-farm research, soil health, and water quality. Activities will include keynote presentations, panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions, and small-group roundtables focused on practical agricultural solutions.

Highlights include panels on innovation and nitrogen management, along with an expanded poster session featuring farmer-led projects and research. Attendees can choose from 22 roundtable topics, providing opportunities to discuss specific challenges with experts.

Breakout sessions will cover topics such as cover crop selection, tillage practices in soil health systems, and improved manure management. An optional dinner will offer additional networking opportunities.

Three keynote presentations are planned. Steve Vavrus, director of the Wisconsin State Climatology Office at UW–Madison, will discuss extreme weather in 2026. John F. Tooker, a professor and Extension specialist at Pennsylvania State University, will examine the use of natural enemies to manage insect and slug pests in conservation-based agricultural systems.

Steven Hall, an associate professor and Extension specialist at UW–Madison, will address strategies for reducing nutrient losses from Wisconsin farmland over the short and long term.

Farmers, producer-led groups, Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP) participants, demonstration farms, and others involved in Wisconsin on-farm research are invited to submit posters highlighting successful projects, demonstrations, and agricultural initiatives.

Two-day registration costs $185 during the regular period, October 5, 2026, through November 29, 2026. Late registration, available November 30, 2026, through December 12, 2026, costs $210, while registration on the event days is $250.

One-day and student rates are also available. An optional dinner costs an additional $25. Registration includes conference attendance and lunch each day.

A discounted hotel block is available at the Kalahari Resort through November 15. Participants can register online for the conference and review additional event details.

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