Using College Interns to Increase
Nutrient Management Adoption

Steven G. Pernsteiner
District Conservationist, USDA-NRCS

Kevin Erb
Nutrient and Pest Management Specialist
UW-Extension

Recent nationwide concern regarding over-application of agricultural wastes such as manure has greatly increased the need for proper nutrient planning by producers. In heavy dairy areas such as northeast Wisconsin, this concern is very evident. Producers here have shown an increased interest in nutrient management as evidenced by heavy program sign-up for programs such as the Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP), The Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) watershed projects. This interest by producers comes at a time when not only are state watershed programs and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) downsizing, but have also taken on many new programs. The workload for many local staff people (Land Conservation Departments and UW-Cooperative Extension) has also increased to the point where time for one-on-one nutrient planning is difficult. A lack of private nutrient planners has also been noticed by local agency personnel.

Kevin Erb, UW-Extension Nutrient and Pest Specialist, and Ted Manning, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist devised a way to fill part of this void by utilizing college student interns in local county office volunteer programs, thereby resulting in a boost in proper nutrient management. During the summer of 1997, four UW-Green Bay and one UW-River Falls students worked with farmers in various locations in northeast Wisconsin.

The first step was to contact instructors at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to locate students seeking internship projects. Nearby county land conservation offices and NRCS offices were solicited to host the students.

Kevin Erb developed a general outline of the project. He also spent several days providing training to the students. Local District Conservationists developed job descriptions and signed the students up as Earth Team volunteers. A local work group selected areas which needed the nutrient planning help. Farmers to be contacted were then randomly selected.

The students did not have specific work hours, but had a goal number of farmers to contact. The students also were required to summarize their results in a report in order to receive internship credit.

Duties for each student varied by watershed project. For example, in the Pensaukee Watershed, the intern focused on daily haulers, spending about ½ of their time weighing spreaders and helping farmers determine loading rates. In the Embarrass Project, (more cash grain than dairy),

the student spent 80% of their time pulling the pre-sidedress nitrogen test (to help manage application rates) and implement a farmer survey to determine how producers managed their manure.

By signing up as Earth Team volunteers, the students received mileage reimbursements to and from work. If the student used a personal vehicle while on the job, that mileage was reimbursed at a higher rate. Local county money and funding from UW-Extension's NPM program was used to cover costs such as soil testing, manual sample analysis and equipment (soil probes, plastic bags for manure samples). The students also received a small scholarship grant through private funding (local conservation clubs) and/or the Soil and Water Conservation Society-Wisconsin Chapter.

The use of NRCS and local county vehicles and equipment kept program costs to a minimum, as did matching students geographically with projects near their homes.

By the end of the project, more than 1600 hours had been volunteered by these 5 college students and two high school students who also assisted. Students received up to 3 hours of college credit, and work experience that gives them a significant advantage when they graduate. Their vested interest in success (both having to pay the college tuition for the internship credit and receiving a grade) went a long ways to insure commitment to the project.

We asked each student to summarize their experiences; these are printed below. Several of the students also authored or co-authored a paper on their projects elsewhere in these proceedings.

Joel Delzer - worked with 32 farmers in the Trout Creek Watershed, Marinette County. Joel did manure analysis, soil tests, and pre-sidedress nitrogen tests. Joel commented, "Many of the farmers were surprised at the value of their manure. Few of the farmers did regular soil testing. I felt the farmers were very cooperative and eager to work with me."

Julie Hahm -spent her time in the Embarrass River Watershed in Shawano, Outagamie and Waupaca Counties. She surveyed 70 farmers regarding their nutrient management, calibrated manure spreaders, and did pre-sidedress nitrogen tests. According to Julie, many producers were ready to apply more nitrogen than they needed, a total of about 10,000 pounds. "I found that in this watershed, farmers spend an average of $10.21 extra per acre on fertilizer. The project was a successful first step in controlling water pollution and increasing nutrient management."

Melissa Huizenga - worked with 78 producers in Kewaunee County. She did manure sampling and spreader calibration for 40 landowners. Melissa adds, "My pre-sidedress nitrogen testing resulted in 11,000 pounds of excessive nitrogen being kept out of the environment. Personally I found this project a positive experience. I was offering producers two options to lower their commercial fertilizer costs which in a round-about way protected the environment."

Scott Miller - worked with 25 farmers in the Lake Winnebago watershed, Winnebago County. Scott did manure and soil sampling and assisted with Bt corn test plots. Scott found the Bt technology very interesting.

Vince Rynish - worked with 36 farmers in the Pensaukee Watershed, Shawano and Oconto Counties. Vince calibrated manure spreaders and soil tested cropland. Vince said, "I estimate farmers saved an average of $6.37/acre by not over applying nutrients. This offered me an opportunity to show my value to future employers."

This cooperative project allowed 241 farmers to receive one-on-one nutrient planning assistance at a level that they otherwise would not have received. The estimated reduction in over application of fertilizer was measured in thousands of pounds. Students felt good about helping the environment.

Not only did students receive intern credit from the university, but they also gained valuable job experience, but their time was credited and recorded as assisting the federal government.

All students commented that they were well received by farmers. It may be that this welcome was due to an attitude that these students were independent of a government agency or consultant trying to sell something.

This type of opportunity has been expanded statewide 1998. Local conservation offices have developed job descriptions for internship opportunities. These job descriptions were sent to all Wisconsin universities and technical colleges with Agricultural and Natural Resource programs. Several students have already signed on as internship volunteers.

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