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The Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial is a farming experiment guided by a vision of resilient agricultural landscapes and thriving communities. Located on the fertile soils of south-central Wisconsin, WICST is investigating what it will take to feed people while enhancing agroecosystem function and protecting our natural resources. At its core WICST is an embodiment of the Wisconsin Idea, engaging farmers, citizens, and scientists to work together in addressing the challenges facing agriculture in Wisconsin and beyond. With systems spanning conventional, organic, cash grain, dairy forage, perennial bioenergy, and livestock grazing enterprises, WICST is one of the most diverse long-term cropping systems experiment in the world and includes some of the longest running organic research in the U.S.
At WICST we envision a future in which agricultural landscapes are predominantly diverse, perennial, and incorporate livestock. These systems would be resilient and rejuvenate people and their environments by providing food, fiber, and fuel while also improving soil health and water quality, promoting biodiversity, and supporting vital communities.
WICST is a place for exploring Midwestern agriculture and for pioneering new approaches to meet the farming challenges of the present and future. We provide infrastructure for agroecological inquiry, teaching, and outreach about how we manage crops and how this management affects people and their environment.
WICST offers 60 acres of land and 34 years of data available for use in long-term studies on the productivity, profitability, and environmental impact of organic and conventional agricultural practices in the Upper Midwest. For more information about research at WICST or use of WICST data sets please visit our publications page or submit a research request.