Cranberry Conservation

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Cranberry Conservation In North Central Wisconsin
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Photo by Zeppos Assoc.
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• Production Data
• 15,000 acres planted in 20 WI counties
• 240 growers in WI, who own 135,000 acres of
  land
• Wisconsin produces gt50 of the countrys
  cranberries

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Acreage by County (c. 2003)
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Wisconsins State Fruit

• High Value Crop
• Cost of establishment 20,000 - 30,000 per
  acre
• Value of crop 200 bbl/ac _at_ 30/bbl 6,000/ac

Photo by Zeppos Assoc.
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A Conservation Partnership

• NRCS WSCGA Cooperative Agreement
• Goals
• Establish a framework for conservation planning
• Implement conservation

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Resource Concerns
Water Quality nutrients, pesticides, water
temperature Water Quantity inefficient use of
irrigation water Soil Quality excessive erosion
(streambanks, shorelines, dikes)
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Cranberry Conservation Practices
Nutrient Management (590)

• Plant tissue testing
• Phosphorous reduction
• Grower-developed plans
• Implemented on 7,100 acres

Photo by Zeppos Assoc.
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Cranberry Conservation Practices
Pest Management (595)

• Weekly pest scouting to WSCGA standards
• Approx. 60 of growers contract w/ pro. scouts
• Implemented on 2,000 acres

Photo by L. Kummer, Ocean Spray Inc.
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Cranberry Conservation Practices
Irrigation Water Management (449)

• System assessments
• Irrigation scheduling
• Implemented on 3,000 acres

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Cranberry Conservation Practices
Irrigation System, Sprinkler (442)

• Importance of system spacing
• Must include IWM
• 500 acres

Photo by Zeppos Assoc.
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Cranberry Conservation Practices
Irrigation System, Tailwater Recovery (447)

• Allows re-capture reuse of irrigation/flood
  tailwater
• Greatin situations
• Implemented on 10 marshes

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Other Cranberry Land Uses

• Headquarters
• Wildlife
• Forested lands
• Water, water, water!

Photo by Zeppos Assoc.
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Additional Info.

• Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association
  website http//www.wiscran.org/
• Michael Stinebrink, NRCS Resource
  Conservationist, phone [phone], Ext. 4