Natural Climate Solutions Roadmap

Even as greenhouse gas emissions begin to drop in other sectors of our economy, emissions from Wisconsin agriculture have been rising rapidly. Our report is the result of a collaboration among farmers, community partners, researchers, conservation professionals, and supply-chain experts to reverse this trend by identifying ways to transition to vibrant, more sustainable agricultural systems that benefit everyone in Wisconsin.

Healthier, more diverse farms

Our research reveals an urgent need for key changes in Wisconsin’s agricultural systems. Simply put, Wisconsin needs more crop diversity and perennial crops, more trees incorporated into farmland, less fertilizer and chemical use, and more livestock moved out of the barns and onto well-managed grazing pastures, prairies, alleyways, and savannas. These changes would make it possible to not only reduce emissions, but also improve water quality, reduce flooding, build healthy soils, and enhance wildlife habitat while producing healthy food and farm producers that support thriving rural communities.

Key Findings

• Reducing nitrogen fertilizer use immediately reduces greenhouse emissions from agricultural soils.
• Cover crops and no-till on annual crops like corn and soybeans have negligible effects on greenhouse gas emissions, but should continue to be used to reduce soil and nutrient runoff.
• Transitioning the million-plus acres in Wisconsin currently used for corn-based ethanol to perennial crops and managed grazing would significantly reduce emissions.
• Achieving climate goals will require significant reductions in livestock emissions through better manure management, dietary modifications, and other practices.
• Perennial agriculture systems—such as agroforestry, silvopasture, rotationally-grazed pastures, and perennial food crops—offer the greatest greenhouse gas reduction potential, while also producing high-value, nutrient-dense food products and providing environmental benefits including improved water quality, flood reduction and enhanced biodiversity.