Combining

Make hay while the sun shines... well combining must be done before the bins fill - regardless of weather. Thus earlier this year, while Steve fulfilled his obligations as a custom hay baler, I operated our 8900 White (which is actually colored red) combine to pull the wheat then the oats off the fields. The air temperature outside was over 90 degrees F; inside the cab, air temperatures reached 115 degrees F according to the small digital thermometer Mom gave to me for Christmas last year. No, there is not functioning air conditioner.

Dave, Steve's brother, opened-up the field for me; this means he made the first few difficult passes into the field. Then, when he left to return to his own farm, it was up to me. When it goes well, it is a lot of work but very satisfying. My left hand does the steering - and is within reach of the too-soon-empty water bottle. My right hand bounces from lever to lever; adjusting the combine head's height with the contours of the land, and tweaking the speed of the reel. The reel, a big round spool of "combs" picking through the wheat, must be also be height adjusted from time to time.

Of course, the head became plugged, and both hands had to move rapidly to shut down the RPM's (Rotations Per Minute or engine/fan speed), cut the power to the head and turn off the great machine. Then, strand by strand, the entangled wheat (or oat) stalks had to be teased from the combine head. The weather was ideal for combining - if not for the operator - so after 10 hours the field was done.

Aiden had been busy in the house; filling in for many of the duties normally assigned to me. He made dinner - a fabulous brisket with saurkraut - and handled laundry and a few household cleaning tasks. His contribution was certainly appreciated when finally Steve - exhausted from similar hay baling conditions - and I - admittedly nearing heat-stroke for under-estimating the amount of water to drink - stumbled dusty and bleary-eyed in the door.

Now, Steve is combining not only our own soybeans, but those of his brother, Dave. It is good to return the favor - and much needed for Dave to receive much needed rest and medical treatments. Aiden is again taking care of our supper; only this time while await my lessons in at UW-Madison's Science Hall. Tonight I will explore "Special Topics in Soils" with a tag-team of two professors; Pete Nowak, a Rural Sociologist, and Fred Madison, a Soil Scientist. Both came from farming families; both hope to educate conservationists and farmers... actually hoping to create a world where one is not one without the other. I hope, I may soon be such an example.

Hops - First Pick Approaching!

Little light green "pine" cones hang heavily on some of the vines; they almost drip from the entire vine length, pulling the darker green, maple-shaped leaves downward. Unlike a pine cone, hop cones are light, almost fluffy. The drooping leaves therefore, truly speak to their abundance on some vines. One can only hope for a repeat of this on all the vines, next year.

This is the first year for our hops production, and the rhizomes were just planted this past spring. They vary a great deal in their height; some nearly reach the full 15-16 feet of the trellis top while others only waist high. This height variation aside, the vines are sturdy and otherwise vigorous. More vines than expected have produced flowers - and this is a sign of good management and good luck! Ultimately it will mean a plentiful and quality harvest of the little cones that make-up one of the more famous flavor components of beer.

Inexperienced in hop production, this first harvest is considered practice by our production mentors at Gorst Valley Hops Cooperative. Guidance on judging hops for ripeness has been sent and reviewed carefully. Ultimately, it will be the acid content specific to each variety that will determine ripeness. Thus, just yesterday samples were sent to the lab for the first time!

James Altweis, one of Gorst Valley Hops founders, is also the resident chemist. He will be busy today testing the acidity of our varieties; Sterling, Nugget and Cascade. When this season slows for him (& us) I promise more information on this process.

Meanwhile, get your ice-cream buckets ready... our first hops harvest and corresponding harvest party is fast approaching. Stay tuned!

A Dog’s “Tail” Part 2 of 2

One Dog’s Encounter with a School Bus; or, “How I spent my spring break.”

During the long quiet evening home, a quick call is made to the school bus driver. Mutual regret and concern are expressed. Theories why Simba only recently decided to chase the bus exchanged. Apologies accepted; both for the accident and for allowing Simba the opportunity to cause it.

Now idle minds are free to ponder the decisions of the day, and question every one of them. Regardless of price tags and not including very specific injuries, Dr. Turbeville feels surgery is not always the best solution for dogs that have been hit by vehicles. She feels it usually prolongs their recuperation time. 

Dr. Turbeville knows of only a few exceptions. When a dog is spayed or neutered (procedures that respectively prevent female and male dogs from pro-creating) dogs have a much easier time than humans undergoing similar surgeries. For humans, the muscles in the abdomen must be cut. Cutting into muscle is painful and muscles do not repair themselves quickly.

Dogs have an abdominal muscle structure completely different from humans. Instead of running across the abdomen, the muscles run horizontally from the legs to a vertical band of connective tissue. Dr. Turbeville calls it the “white line, “and adds that there are no nerves in the mass of cartilage and tissue. Thus it is almost as though the dogs belly can be unzipped. When the procedure it done, dissolving stitches are used to zip the white line back up.

Blood is needed for surgery, of course. The blood for animals must be donated, just as it is for humans.  There are a number of different pet blood donation programs in the Midwest, but the closest one known to Dr. Turbeville is Veterinary Emergency Service (VES) in Middleton, WI.  

As the evening without Simba drags on, time on the Internet seems like a good distraction.

According to information on the VES Web site (www.veterinaryemergencyservice.com), VES provides emergency and surgical services; they also operate a canine and feline blood bank. The site explains pets need transfusions for the same reasons people do. This includes surgery, poisoning, heat stroke, trauma, cancer or other disease. Currently all the blood donors are pets of VES employees, but they hope to take public donations in the future.

A few “googles” later, and it is easy to see that public pet blood donation programs are not very common.  There are only two listed in Wisconsin and only a handful nationwide.  Fatigue settles in after only a few clicks. Lethargically, laptops and eyelids close for the night.

Morning finally arrives; the whole house is awake. It’s 6:45 AM, and the bus isn’t here yet. Even though the office doors may not yet technically be open, staff at Verona Veterinary Services will be there.  The smile can be heard through the telephone. Simba is awake, eating and drinking; he even went outside.  More blood tests have been taken; if the results indicate the internal bleeding has stopped, Simba will come home tonight. Great news to share with classmates – and most importantly the bus driver.

As the day unfolds, Dr. Turbeville sends word the test results reflect good news. Simba is still anemic, but his cell counts are on the rise. This indicates the internal bleeding has stopped and his body is re-building his normal blood supply. She wants to watch him a few hours for possible reactions to medications, before Simba is picked up. The vet cautions that Simba is not completely through the full 48 hour period of most concern. However, she knows he will be more comfortable at home. So will his owners.  

Arriving to pick him up, Simba recognizes the voices at the main desk. It triggers a forlorn howling; “take me hooooome!” With a giggle, the veterinary technician leads the way toward the sound.

“Frankenstein’s dog” awaits us. A classic white plastic neck cone prevents Simba from licking the staples and myriad of other mended wounds. At first he doesn’t move, but lays on top of the blanket brought from home. His black and medicated eyes stare up oddly. Then there is recognition. He struggles to get up – and succeeds. Just like the B-movie monster, Simba marches stiff-legged forward. It is hard to know if it is more appropriate to laugh or cry. For now, everyone opts for the former.

Once home, he must be kept calm for at least a week . He is not allowed to climb stairs, jump or do any activity that may cause him to stretch his abdomen – and thus strain the recovering internal organs. Also, he is not allowed to herd children, birds, cattle and certainly not vehicles! In short, he must be kept from acting like a border collie until he is fully recovered. The task is not easy.

Simba is lead out of the Vet’s office via a cement ramp to the parking lot. Everyone halts and stares at the car door – no stairs also means no jumping up into the car seat. The strongest of Simba’s owners lifts him like a calf; hugging his arms around all four legs so the dog’s tender abdomen won’t be squeezed or stretched.  Once in the car, Simba uncharacteristically falls asleep.

The crunch of gravel under the car tires pops Simba awake. His hind legs strangely still, he stiffens and pushes his front legs until he is propped up enough to peek out the window. A short whine and twitch of his tail communicates his pleasure at arriving back home on the farm. 

After he is lifted out of the car, Simba is paraded around to the back door. Two pieces of 3/4-inch plywood have been leaned against the steps. He struggles up the make-shift ramp and into the house. Upon reaching the first piece of carpeting, he lies down and is once again asleep.

Almost instantly, twitching of paws and muffled whimpers proclaim Simba is dreaming. Is he reliving the accident? Maybe the vet visit is playing out in his mind? Or perhaps he is chasing squirrels – it is decided not to wake him. He needs his rest.

He also needs pain medication, antibiotics, and must to be taken outside frequently due both to injuries and the effects of the medications. With acres available for roaming, it is strange to take him out on a leash. This is the only way however to keep him from raccoon wrestling at night – a previously frequent past-time.

Timing is everything; Spring break affords the opportunity to care for Simba properly through the most critical period of his recovery. While younger collegiate companions dig their toes in the sand of some southern shore, around here it’s more satisfying to warm one’s feet under a dozing dog.  It’s comforting to both dog and owner to be near each other.

For the first four days, Simba needs coaxing to do just about anything but sleep. Teasing that he is a “spoiled rotten dog,” water and food are brought to him. Treats of trimmed meat scraps or cheese inspire him to get up to go outside. As we stand in the backyard sun, a squirrel scampers across the yard. His ears perk up, but he doesn’t make any effort to follow.

Back inside, he is unusually quiet. The normal sounds of farm life, formerly cause for great excitement, are no longer note-worthy. Trucks and tractors come and go without announcement.  The only sounds are the occasional groaning sigh, and the clip-clip of his nails across the hardwood floor as he moves with the sun from one nap place to the next.

Because Simba is normally outside so much, his nails (or claws) rarely need manual trimming. His constant running and (sometimes infuriating) digging keep his paws manicured naturally. There is a blood vessel in each nail that must be avoided when trimming a dog’s nails. The thought of accidently snipping one, and causing Simba further injury, is not pleasant. The household agrees it can wait until Simba next visits his Vet.

Suddenly the room resounds with a frantic canine announcement, “Bark, bark, bus bus bus!” Simba’s voice has returned. So has his youngest care-taker. Today, and from now on, Simba will greet him inside the house – far away from the bus.

The bedtime routine temporarily changes after the accident. With a pat on the head – and sometimes an extra bedtime snack biscuit – Simba is left downstairs on his cushy pillow. Even though he has been content to convalesce on the first floor, two kitchen chairs block the stairway. There is still a worry he may re-injure himself through the climb.

A week after the accident, the first thunderstorm of the season races through the night. In the morning, Simba is found on the landing outside the bedrooms. He looks up, tail a-wagging with his accomplishment. There is only one problem; Simba can’t get back down on his own. Good-natured grumbling and a strong back carry him back to the first floor.

Incredibly, the chairs are still in place at the bottom of the stairs. The secret to Simba’s assent will never be revealed. The chairs are returned to the table, and soon the Houdini of hounds is timidly traveling in both directions. Down is definitely tough, but he can do it.

As time moves forward, Simba gets stronger and some of his agility returns. Food and water are eaten voluntarily. Inside, he returns to a favored perch; a window seat with a view of the bird feeder. The plywood ramp is returned to the shed, and he is allowed outside without a leash.

Squirrels and raccoons are irresistible again, but the chase may forever be futile. Simba’s rear hip joints are still a bit crooked and stiff; it is as though he aged significantly. Capturing critters is beyond his current capacity.

Perhaps the warmth of summer will loosen his knots and replenish his speed. For now however we are all content to simply have him with us.

Simba stretches in the springtime sun, and exhales his agreement.

Torque Writer (TM) This work is protected by US Copyright law, and may not be reproduced (wholly or partially) without the written consent and signature of the author, Rebecca L. Olson.

A Dog’s “Tail” Part 1 of 2

One Dog’s Encounter with a School Bus; or, “How I spent my spring break.”

The morning sun flashes into the kitchen window, a reflection off the windshield of the returning school bus. Perplexed, coffee mugs are set aside; confused glances exchanged. Only 5 minutes has passed since the bus left the farm drive for school. It is strangely quiet… where is the dog?

The door flies open and a young, anxious voice provides the answer, “Simba got hit by the bus!”
Dogs and humans have probably shared farm life since the first upright nomad stuck a seed in the ground and stayed. Dogs seem capable of any task humans are patient enough to set before them. Willing apprentices, they may become guardians and playmates to children, protectors of property and livestock, and alert field companions. All they ask in exchange is to be included; to remain near.

It takes a brush with loss, to be reminded this desire to stay close is a two-way street. Often unexpectedly, dogs become life constants; our emotional connections quietly tied to each other. Equally unexpected may be the physical similarities and differences held within a furry frame of fidelity. It is during times of urgency this knowledge comes forward whether one is ready for it, or not. Simba’s accident is one of those times.
Simba, an over-sized short-haired border collie, had been pulled onto the bus by his young owner immediately after the accident.  His black and white figure, now spotted with red, won’t move from under the bus’s front seat. 

Amidst a bus load of crying children, he is coaxed half-way into the aisle.  It is just far enough so he may be pulled out and assisted shakily down the bus stairs. He resists attempts to be lifted. With great effort, he makes his way across the lawn and onto the front porch. There, his legs give out and this time no amount of persuasion will move him.

An old blanket is frantically teased under his panting body.  Lifting each blanket corner, he is gently placed into a plastic ice-fishing sled.  His spine may be injured and this will keep him from moving too much – or at least that is the hope.  Immediately, the make-shift gurney is placed in the back seat of the car.

Simba’s vet, Dr. Cariann Turbeville, is called. There is relief hearing a voice on the other end of the line; Verona Veterinary Service is already open. 

It will take nearly 30 minutes to reach the Vet’s office. Simba’s injuries are assessed enroute. The skin is torn along his jaw, halfway to his ear, and must be held in place to slow the bleeding. There are gravel filled lacerations of varying sizes across his left side. Blood leaks from somewhere underneath him too.   As the trees whiz by, his eyes begin to close and his whimpering wanes.

“You foolish dog,” is repeated softly. A free hand strokes the intact side of his muzzle.  The tip of Simba’s tail feebly wags.

Questions dart around the car. Would it be better to go to the veterinary hospital? How much longer will that take?  After four years on the farm why did he start chasing the bus now? Then there is the question no one is supposed to ask: How much can we afford?  It is a relief to halt these wretched thoughts when the car reaches the Vet’s Office. Simba briefly lifts his head as he is gurneyed into the office. Otherwise he doesn’t move. 

“Springtime is the worse time for these accidents, “explains Dr. Turbeville. Unfortunately, Dr. Turbeville doesn’t think Simba’s behavior will change with the passing of spring. “Once they [dogs] start, they don’t stop.”

There is some research on animal behavior that may explain Simba’s behavior, according to the Vet. She knows of several studies on the natural breeding cycles of canines. Even though she is not aware of conclusive findings, some researchers and vets speculate a male dog can sense a female “in heat,” or receptive to breeding, up to 5 miles away.  Female dogs typically go into heat twice each year; in Autumn and again in Spring. Even neutered dogs, like Simba, may adapt uncharacteristic behaviors – such as chasing vehicles – if the scent of a female reaches their sensitive sniffers.   

Verona Veterinary Service is not an emergency animal clinic, but staff there know Simba and are ready for him.  Sympathetic coos come from the waiting area as Simba is ushered into an examination room.

Just as clinics do for humans in crisis, there are multiple hands at work. The vet, along with an intern, begins by checking Simba’s heart rate.  An intravenous (IV) solution is started, by a veterinary technician, to keep the dog hydrated. This also allows pain medication to be delivered. His blood pressure is checked. Visible injuries are cleansed, stitched and stapled.  

“His skin looks very pale. He must have lost quite a bit of blood,” assesses Dr. Turbeville.

Despite the amount of visible blood loss, Dr. Turbeville doesn’t feel it fully explains Simba’s pale skin color.  Attention is turning to the trauma that cannot be outwardly seen. Blood tests confirm Simba is anemic; a sign he is bleeding internally.  X-rays are required to check for broken bones, and to investigate the sources of the internal blood-loss.  But the vet first has a more immediate concern; shock.

Dr. Turbeville explains that shock can be fatal. In cases of traumatic injury, shock describes conditions that interfere with the heart’s ability to receive and pump oxygen-carrying blood throughout the body. The risk of shock may be reduced by keeping the injured calm, warm and hydrated; regardless if human or canine.  The blanket helps; so does the IV.

IV’s are given to both humans and animals to prevent shock. The IV solution keeps fluids levels stable, which in turn helps keep blood pressure up, says Dr. Turbeville. She explains a decrease in blood pressure may restrict the flow of blood and fluids to the kidneys. Without that flow, it only takes a few minutes and the kidneys will shut down. Once the kidneys cease cleansing body fluids, toxins begin to build up. Then other organs, such as the liver and heart, begin to fail.

Unlike humans, dogs and other animals cannot easily communicate where they feel pain. This makes it more challenging to pin-point the location of injuries.  Simba must be given anesthetic and his entire body X-rayed while he sleeps. The vet cautions, if he goes into shock while sleeping, there is a risk he won’t wake up.

In general, dogs have a circulatory advantage over humans that reduces the impacts of injury and shock according to Dr. Turbeville.  There are four main arteries carrying blood to a dog’s heart, compared to only one, the aorta, in humans. In dogs, if any of the main arteries are damaged, the others can easily take over.

“Don’t easily believe someone who says a dog has had a heart attack,” cautions Dr. Turbeville. “It’s not likely.”

Dr. Turbeville explains further; if the dog is too stressed, such as after a traumatic injury like Simba’s, their circulatory advantage won’t matter. Dogs typically want to move around when nervous and the movement may further damage existing internal injuries, causing them to bleed more.  Keeping him still is a priority.

As the initial dose of pain medication takes effect, Simba rallies. The presence of his care-takers is not calming but instead exciting to the confused dog. His glassy stare follows every move.  He squirms and seems to plead to be taken home.  Recognizing the urgent need to keep him calm, Simba is left in the hands of Dr. Turbeville and her staff. 

Several hours later, amidst the glow of a wall-mounted light box, the X-rays reveal amazing and troubling things.

Surprisingly, Simba has only a single hair-line fracture on the left front leg and no other broken bones. While a few of his joints appear slightly out of alignment, it is amazing to learn no surgery or casts will be needed. These injuries will heal with rest over time.  

Equally remarkable, is that his bladder is unscathed. Dr. Turbeville says this is very lucky; most dogs require surgery to repair ruptures to the bladder after colliding with vehicles. She feels the bus must have been traveling slowly.

Less surprising and more ominous are the dark spots over many of his organs. Dr. Turbeville explains each dark spot on the X-ray indicates a collection of blood. The largest of these shadows is over his left lung, but her examination indicates Simba is breathing fine.

The most troubling revelation is the darkest mass, just a bit lower than the lung, above his stomach. It could just be tumor; not uncommon for a seven-year-old dog like Simba. Under the circumstances however, the vet worries it may be a hematoma on the spleen.  

“The next 48 hours will be critical,” consoles Dr. Turbeville.  She is both tender and direct. “He will either make it, or he won’t.”

Simba’s vet explains a hematoma is just a fancy word for bruise or a collection of broken blood vessels. If the broken blood vessels on Simba’s spleen have stopped bleeding, then with rest his body will reabsorb the blood in a few days. The same will happen for the less serious internal injuries, too. If however the bleeding continues or the spleen ruptures, Simba will quickly bleed to death.

Surgery is possible to repair or remove Simba’s spleen but it is very expensive – she estimates over $8000.00. It is possible to live without a spleen, Dr. Turbeville continues. The spleen contains white blood cells and helps the body fight infection.  If removed, other organs, such as the liver, typically take over some of the spleen’s functions.  After removing the spleen, the immune system may be compromised but it isn’t eliminated.

Unfortunately, according to Dr. Turbeville, the surgery required to repair or remove the spleen is risky.  Simba will need to be transported to a veterinary hospital and the spleen could rupture from this activity. It is also possible that surgery itself might cause an unrepairable rupture.  In Simba’s case, she feels surgery has less than a 50% chance of success.

Simba’s youngest care-taker shakes his head and blurts out, “I don’t think we should do it.”

The room is quick to agree.  Simba will remain at the Vet overnight. He will be kept calm and as pain-free as safely possible.  Blood work will be done again to see if the internal bleeding has stopped. If all goes well, he may be home the following evening to recuperate. If it goes poorly overnight, he may die alone.

Reluctantly, after short pats on the head to say good bye, Simba is left to sleep off his anesthetic.  

To be continued….

Torque Writer (TM) This work is protected by US Copyright law, and may not be reproduced (wholly or partially) without the written consent and signature of the author, Rebecca L. Olson.

Quiet Science of Buffer Strips Part 3 of 3

Managed pockets of Marshland have long history; troubles yet to face.

“Arrrgh!” A falsely throaty voice sends a humorous shock above the sound of Celtic flute and drum song. The serenity of the fields is replaced with the energy of an Irish pub on Capitol Square in Madison, Wisconsin.  This energy is matched by a gathering of a unique kind of independent conservationists; Here, there be “slough pirates.”

Dave Marshall, a consulting aquatic biologist and owner of “Underwater Habitat Investigations, LLC,” sits amidst a small group of his colleagues. This is more than a casual meeting over a black-and-tan (a stratified beverage of light and dark beer, for those uninitiated) at the local pub. This is where one warms up after a long cold day trudging through the back-waters, or sloughs, of Southern Wisconsin’s river systems.   Marshall is studying the species in these less traveled places.

“These were thought to be lost places; just a spot for rivers to overflow and carp to breed. Or maybe at best a cleansing mechanism for the river,” begins Marshall. 

According to Marshall, for decades, sloughs have been described in the prevailing scientific literature as “brackish” areas with low oxygen; insignificant to people or wildlife. Yet, there were few scientists that actually stepped into the slough to collect any meaningful data. Marshall has spent the last several years surveying this type of unique aquatic habitat – specifically on the Wisconsin and Sugar River systems. His findings are surprising, even to him.

“What I think I am rediscovering is that these places are a habitat in their own right – not just a support system for the river,” continues Marshall.

Instead of just finding a carp breeding ground, Marshall has found numerous and abundant other fish species. Some sloughs include relatively common game panfish, such as blue gill, pumpkin seed and sun fish. These fish actually eat the young of the carp, controlling the population of the less desired fish before it leaves for the river system.

Others sloughs have proved to be a refuge to rare species. One such species, the Starhead Topminnow, was thought to be extinct in Southern Wisconsin, before Marshall rediscovered it harbored in a slough along the Sugar River in Green County.

It hasn’t been all good news however, on a trip to the sloughs of the Sugar River, Marshall discovered a Mosquito Fish – an invasive species likely dumped from someone’s neglected fish tank. Like carp, this small silver fish survives, even thrives, in areas of poor water quality. Sadly, return trips have proved that it did not die off over winter.  On a bright note, it doesn’t appear to be taking over this particular slough either.

Marshall’s theory is that because the slough is otherwise healthy, the other native fish are consuming the Mosquito Fish eggs. Marshall, who has also studied the effects of agricultural practices on adjacent waterways, feels buffer strips may be a significant reason the slough remains healthy.  This particular slough was located adjacent to an area where buffers are preventing the surrounding agricultural runoff from reaching the water.

While Marshall’s surveys are a start, what he really hopes will happen is that a comprehensive study of Wisconsin’s sloughs will one day be possible. Of course, this means that the sloughs must remain protected in some way, until funding and staff can be put in place.

“We really don’t know the full value to place on it [buffer protected sloughs and oxbow lakes]” admits Marshall. “I hope to find out.”

Torque Writer (TM) This work is protected by US Copyright law, and may not be reproduced (wholly or partially) without the written consent and signature of the author, Rebecca L. Olson.

Quiet Science of Buffer Strips Part 2 of 3

Managed pockets of Marshland have long history; troubles yet to face.

Buffer strips were born of farmers’ insights according to Pete Nowak, Professor of Environment and Resources at UW – Madison’s Nelson Institute. Nowak has spent the better part of his career documenting and encouraging such insights between these agri-business leaders and the scientific community.

Pete Nowak’s office is in the basement of Science Hall.  Science Hall is an elder on the UW-Madison campus. Its thick brick manor-like silhouette is a heavy anchor at the foot of Bascom Hill.  The oversized wooden doors open with surprising ease.   

Sounds of spring-time grit on the well-trodden steps and clunk of radiators silently speak to visitors as they move downstairs. Reaching Nowak’s office, A sign on the door indicates humor replaces sunshine; “Manure Management Improvement Project.”  A quick knock on the door and a cheerful greeting beckons entry.  An enthusiastic smile sits amidst stacks of sociology texts, watershed maps and soil studies.

“Most farmers are professional problem solvers, yet we’ve ignored this capacity for too long,” begins Nowak.  His work, finding ways to keep agriculture-related pollution out of rivers, streams and lakes, brought him to Wisconsin in 1992.

Nowak explains that farmers’ observations changed the way environmental engineers, ecologists, and other scientists looked at agricultural run-off.  Nowak, raised on an Iowa pig farm, was privy to his father’s conversations with friends and other neighboring farmers. He recalls listening to one past discussion in particular: Scientists were beginning to look at water quality in relation to agriculture. These scientists had presented calculations regarding the amount of water running off farm fields. They had explained to the farmers, how the water traveled down the hillside in sheets.  The problem? 

Smiling at the memory, Nowak leans back in his chair. “None of those farmers had ever seen a 2-inch, 1-acre sheet of water moving down their fields.”

When it rains or when the snow melts, water does travel.  It collects in small areas then begins to overflow and meander; joining into increasingly larger pools and streamlets.  It builds momentum as it moves across fields; carrying soil, manure, or pesticides along with it. The slower the water moves, the fewer contaminants it carries.  If it moves fast enough, it both pushes and agitates soil particles and contaminants along with the flow.

According to Nowak, many people in the science community felt contour stripping provided protection to our waters. Contour stripping is used on hillside fields. The crops are planted horizontally, or perpendicular to the slope. Rows of plants run like corduroy across the hillside. Alternately, without contour strips the crop rows run vertically up and over the hills, creating little troughs that water can race down.  

The wooden desk chair gives a sharp squeak as Nowak sits suddenly forward.

“The problem is, that contour strips are a soil conservation measure; contour stripping was never meant to stop runoff (water & contaminants) from entering our streams.”

Nowak calls this “dime store science;” investigation of one problem, sometimes with a strongly anticipated outcome, but applied as the solution to multiple other problems.  It is true that water moving across contour strips is slowed down, but it still travels. Regardless, farmers and scientists alike thought it was good enough, but it wasn’t.

After the nation’s adoption of the Clean Water Act, comprehensive assessment and monitoring of our rivers and lakes told a different story. It proved many of our waterways were degraded to the point of ecosystem collapse – even those waters adjacent to lands using good management practices, such as contour strips.  A technique was needed that would prevent runoff from reaching open water.

It is Nowak’s opinion that farmers understood how to apply the buffer strip practice to their own land. Intimately familiar with differences in soil type, the slope or “lay of the land” and other nuances, these land owner observations were important to the development of the science behind the buffer strips. Just as those questions raised by Nowak’s father caused those scientists to revisit their theories, today’s farmers offer ways to explore an even wider range of scientific variables – and the principals can then be applied more broadly.   

Buffers are no longer used only in agricultural settings, according to Jeremy Balousek, Urban Conservation Engineer with the Dane County Land and Water Resources Department (DCLWD).   

“Everything we do comes from agriculture,” begins Balousek.  He was also raised on a farm, and now holds a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering.  He has worked with DCLWD for over 14 years.

Balousek explains that he works closely with urban planners to encourage the same type of conservation practices that have been used by agriculture. Currently, when a community expands its boundaries, he helps coordinate the evaluation and protection of the natural resources present.  Then he communicates the information to both the expanding communities and contractors working in the area.

Currently, all new construction must be at least 75-feet from any body of water.  Balousek notes that while this is the law in Dane County, it may be different in other counties. He also notes that in some cases, this may feel excessive. Just as frequently however, there are areas for which this may not be enough.

Buffer strips are calculated to remove physical pollution according to Balousek. Physical pollution in this case refers to the soil particles that may be carried on the water. Certain contaminants, such as phosphorus, primarily travel within the soil structure. Thus buffer strips halt a great deal of phosphorus from entering our waters.

However, cautions Balousek, there are times when chemicals more readily travel through the soil and 75 feet is not adequate protection.  For example, nitrates may chemically combine more directly with the water. If this occurs in an area of sandy soils, the liquid may travel right through the soil structure and into both groundwater – and drinking water wells – and surface water.

While larger setbacks are not a legal requirement, Balousek encourages greater distances between construction areas and the water when such conditions occur. In general, he promotes thoughtful land use planning overall, as a means to protect both the natural landscape and human health.  He admits however, that urban policy is still a bit behind their rural counterparts. In the latter case, the buffers are calculated in a much more site-specific manner now.

Back in the Southwestern Dane County countryside, bicycles buzz down Fritz Road in Montrose township.  The riders may not even realize they are crossing the meanderings of Flynn Creek and the West Branch of the Sugar River multiple times. Likely their route has been chosen for its hilly challenges amidst a scenic rural landscape. Such a landscape is due in part to continuations of the buffer strip initiative.

“It made financial sense [to put in buffer strips] or we couldn’t have done it,” states Steve Haak. He no longer milks cows, but is still cash cropping the family farm, just across the valley from the O’Connor farm.

Haak motions to a large expanse of river bottom, just south of Dane County Highway A.  The grassy landscape stretches out for a mile in each direction up and down stream. At the Fritz Road bridge over the West Branch of the Sugar River a sign reads “Public Fishing Access” and directs anglers to enjoy rustic access winding narrowly along the streambank. Immediately adjacent to this public treasure, a private landscape seamlessly stretches, over 100 feet outward in some places; An unheralded wetland gem.

Sandhill cranes call out their landing while a great blue heron stands motionless just next to grass-choked oxbow pond.  It is evening, and the toads and frogs sing from every direction; geese provide a staccato counterpoint from the freshly greening hayfield to the north.  

Despite the aesthetic significance, Haak explains that if there had not been some sort of payment arrangement, the farm would look much different today.  Instead of acres of marsh, there would be pasture and row crops. The soils along this 2-mile stretch on the West Branch are extraordinary – so much so that even the threat of the occasional flood made it profitable to plant.

Flooding is frustrating though. So when the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offered the Haak family an amount close to the annual net per acre income, he agreed to manage the land differently.  He entered into a contract with NRCS, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The contract oversight is typically managed through USDA partnerships with county-based Farm Service Agency (FSA) committees. This in turn sometimes includes oversight by county land conservation departments; the latter is the case in Dane County.  Yes, it’s complicated, but that doesn’t seem to faze Haak.

Haak understands he isn’t getting paid just to watch it go idle. There are active and demanding management strategies which he must coordinate. For starters, he was required to christen one contracted set of acreage by planting over 500 floodplain tree species (swamp oak, green ash, etc…) by hand. He must also mow or burn grassy areas where invasive or other undesirable species (as defined by the NRCS) begin to creep in. 

The list of his management requirements – and thus the requirements of his contract – changes as the science changes according to Haak. For example, when he enrolled in buffer strip program 15+ years ago, trees and certain brush species were “not a problem.” Now he has to hike into the area, and cut down and/or chemically treat small stands of certain trees that have popped up over the years. No new contract was issued, just new requirements.

If he fails to keep the area managed per any single year’s guidelines, he could be fined and required to pay back the entire contract – that’s up to 20 years of payments and tens of thousands of dollars for some farmers.  

Haak motions to several acres recently mowed and tilled. The spot is not in a buffer program, but is adjacent to a buffer strip. It used to be in a similar farm land conservation program, but last year when the contract ended, he didn’t renew. He was afraid he couldn’t keep up with the management of a particularly nasty grass on the NRCS’s invasive list: reed canary grass.

“Reed Canary grass is almost unstoppable… I don’t know how much longer we can manage all of this,” comments Haak. “… Burning doesn’t work because it is a grass… cattle have to be almost starving before they will eat it; so rotational grazing won’t help after the fact [reed canary grass is established] either.” 

Haak also explains that if he doesn’t return the land to a farm use, he will be taxed at a much higher, recreational rate for the acreage.  Unlike the O’Connor’s, Haak still owns the land, thus access rights and management practices are still under his control. He doesn’t think the tax system is unfair, but does question the reed canary grass requirement. Haak understands the wildlife cover (places for animals to live or hide) provided by reed canary grass may not be ideal, but it still holds the soil in place and helps prevent runoff from reaching the stream.  

There is hope however, that these acres will return one day to a farm program like the current buffer strip initiative. When asked if he would consider re-enrolling the acres if a solution to the reed canary grass requirement presents itself, Haak gives a quick nod.

“Maybe tilling up the soil for a few years will be enough to discourage it [reed canary grass],” adds Haak.

While the scientific community understands the value of buffer strips as a means to protect waterways, it knows less about the waters that may be present in the buffer landscape itself. Reflecting on the oxbow pond within Haak’s buffer strip, one wonders what the heron was after beneath the glassy pond surface. 

Torque Writer (TM) This work is protected by US Copyright law, and may not be reproduced (wholly or partially) without the written consent and signature of the author, Rebecca L. Olson.

Quiet Science of Buffer Strips Part 1 of 3

Managed pockets of Marshland have long history; troubles yet to face.

The long gravel road travels upward through open fields striped with corn stalk stubble left from last year’s harvest – a land management practice that prevents erosion. Near the ridge-top, a farm house is nestled within frosty flower beds.   

A pair of smiles leads the way past tidy rows of muddy boots and hanging dusty jackets.  Savory smells linger as the procession wanders through the marigold kitchen, to the dining room table.  A roll-top desk and computer on the far wall indicates this is also the farm’s office. After a bit of neighborly joking and gossip, it’s time to get down to the business of buffers strips.

Buffer strips are an important and often overlooked conservation measure.  Their purpose is to protect water quality, but they also shelter wildlife.  Trout anglers throughout the driftless area (a stream-filled landscape prevalent in Southwest Wisconsin, Southeast Minnesota , Northeastern Iowa and Northwestern Illinois) also use these areas to access trout streams. According to recent publications distributed by Trout Unlimited, trout angling alone fuels local driftless economies with over $1 million annually.  It is easy to take the practice for granted, but buffer strips didn’t appear onto the landscape overnight.

“We used to ‘cozy up’ to the ditches and other waterways,” recalls Steve O’Connor.  Steve and his wife Sherry, operate the 70-cow dairy – with daily chore assistance from extended family.  The O’Connor family has been farming here since 1885.

Keeping the farm successful for generations requires a wide range of management skills; including protection of the soil.  Buffer strips are one simple conservation practice employed to protect both soil and water.

O’Connor explains that a buffer strip is just a band of natural vegetation that runs along a body of open water, or a conveyance to open water such as a man-made ditch or a natural land formation. The quick explanation of the buffer strip idea is that vegetation slows field runoff as it travels downhill toward waterways and other low areas. If the runoff slows enough, it drops soil particles in the vegetation, before reaching the stream. 

O’Connor continues that in the past he and his father plowed as close to the edge of waterways as possible, in order to utilize every foot of soil for crop production. They needed to do this to keep the herd fed. Prior to the late 1960’s, corn yields in this area were lucky to reach 80 - 100 bushel to the acre compared to 170 bushel to the acre (or more) now.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began approaching Southern Wisconsin farmer’s in the 1960’s and 1970’s, with an idea for a land practice called buffer strips.  One of those farms was the O’Connor Family Farm, in Southwest Dane County.  Mount Vernon Creek runs through some of their fields and it once suffered greatly from sediment-laden runoff.  Currently, the trout stream is listed as an exceptional resource water by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 

Soil erosion control has been heavy on the minds of farmers since the 1930’s. Images swirl in their hearts and minds, like the soil itself did on the winds of the dust bowl. These images carry a picture of drought-ridden land swept away by wind. 

But, water can also carry soil; stripping it from fields and depositing it into rivers and streams. Sometimes, fertilizers or pesticides are caught up in the soil particles, too.  The result is land depleted, and water polluted.  Fish, other wildlife and even people can suffer health effects from such circumstances.

Sometime in the early 1970’s, the O’Connor’s (including Steve’s parents, Frank & Lucille) were approached by the CCC to try something new: buffer strips. The CCC purchased narrow 20-foot bands of land on both sides of Mount Vernon Creek.

When the buffers were “installed” the O’Connor’s didn’t receive much information about how the buffers might benefit water quality. According to O’Connor, it felt a bit experimental, but not too different from more familiar soil conservation measures.  In some areas, grasses were encouraged, while in other areas, small wood lots were found to be more appropriate. 

Together, the CCC and the O’Connor’s evaluated the adjacent fields to the creek. The soil on the edge is rich and productive, but it is also flood-prone.  Natural fluctuations in wildlife were taken into account, too. Seemingly benign creatures, such as muskrat, occasionally decimate several rows of crops  - especially corn – in a week on fields parallel to the stream. Other years, there is no wildlife damage.

According to the O’Connor’s the first 15 years of the program went smoothly from their perspective. Teams of workers came out every few years to maintain the vegetation & trim trees inside the buffer area. If wind or flood did knock a tree into one of the adjacent farm fields, a phone call to the CCC office precipitated quick assistance with clean up. 

However, more recently there has been confusion related to the management of these particular buffer strips. Because the O’Connor’s no longer own the land alongside the creek (the CCC purchased the land, not just an easement), they are not allowed to cut trees rooted there. 

When one of those trees fell into the creek, it changed the course of the stream. The rushing water began to eat away the bank; so much so that it reached the field’s fence line.  Recognizing that both the stream and his field were in danger, O’Connor began making phone calls.

“Basically, I was sent in a great big circle,” recounts O’Connor.  He understood that if he used a tractor to pull the tree out himself, he would be required to go through a permit process because this would be considered both an alteration to the shoreline and work on public land.

The CCC is no longer active. Ownership of the land was transferred to a partnership between Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR) and the Dane County Land & Water Resource Conservation Division.  Unfortunately neither of these government agencies have funding or staff equipped to manage these lands, acquired due to the absence of the CCC.

Finally, O’Connor called a local watershed association with volunteer teams that regularly worked on public shorelines.  Even though the tree was three times the diameter normally tackled, the dedicated volunteers trimmed away the branches bit by bit and halted the erosion.  The volunteers did not want to be identified. 

“The bank is pretty stable now,” confirms O’Connor.

To be continued...but what do you think about buffer strips so far? How about farmers who implement them?
Torque Writer (TM) This work is protected by US Copyright law, and may not be reproduced (wholly or partially) without the written consent and signature of the author, Rebecca L. Olson.

Why "Torque" Writer?

At first,” torque” may seem a strange word to describe one’s body of writing. However, the wide range of meanings behind torque (pronounced “tork”) is the very reason it has been chosen. Science of any sort is fascinating, and many different fields use the word. Mechanics and physicists both reference torque as a measure of the force needed to create or maintain rotation. For example, both may speak of the crankshaft torque needed to maintain engine speed. Thus, a connection between NASCAR and NASA is born; and that is just plain fun!

Torque may also be a way of describing the rotation itself.  This cycling, turning, gearing-up, even spiraling, is an undeniable constant. It is evidenced in everything: a feed auger’s hum; spitting gravel beneath a tire; an engine’s heat; an eddy at the stream edge; laments and laughter of returning school children; whooshing wings in migration; twisting terrors of spring’s storms; the cycling of the seasons themselves.  Through torque, potential topics are just about limitless.

For fellow closet anthropologists: A quick check of the dictionary reveals origins from Latin describing both “necklace” and “to twist.” The latter definition may reveal something of this writer’s sense of humor.  Less obvious is the significance of the former definition; necklace. Torque whispers of the ancients. A vision of braided silver or gold around the neck of some chieftain – or slave perhaps? – a symbol of both wealth and obligation.

Lost in these thoughts is where I find myself.  It is my hope, that through stories, I can share a little bit about the intersection of several roads I walk; Agriculture, Conservation, Economics, Environment, and a sense of the Spiritual. Please take a stroll with me. Share what you seriously see, give everyone a giggle (or guffaw), or just enjoy the quiet company.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog site.  Stories about wheat combining, a dog’s tail, buffer strip science and hot times in the hops all coming -  and then who knows?!

Becky

Torque Writer (TM) This work is protected by US Copyright law, and may not be reproduced (wholly or partially) without the written consent and signature of the author, Rebecca L. Olson.

Coming Soon!

Too busy combining wheat to write much. Details on this and many other farm and conservation topics coming soon.