Green Labeling for Wisconsin Potatoes

A unique partnership between the World Wildlife Fund, Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, and the University of Wisconsin has been formed and is working towards ecologically sound potato and vegetable agricultural systems in Wisconsin. 

The WWF/WPVGA/UW Collaboration states as their goal "to promote the development and implementation of biointensive IPM programs while maintaining economically viable farming systems".

An important part of reaching this goal is to raise consumer demand for "green-labeled" products - those which have been raised with a conscious effort to reduce pesticide use, reliance and
risks, enhance wildlife and ecosystem conservation,  and protect biodiversity, soil quality and water quality. 

The Collaboration has worked out methods of measurement for the development of an eco-label for biointensive IPM grown potatoes.

The Wisconsin Eco-label Standards for potato currently include these questions on soil and water quality:

  1. Did you apply compost or other organic soil amendments to suppress diseases?

  2. Did you plant a cover crop specifically for suppression of Verticillium or plant parasitic nematodes?

  3. Are you using practices to correct/prevent a hardpan..?

  4. Did you maintain/implement practices to reduce wind erosion?

  5. Did you use a leaching model?

  6. Which practices did you use to build soil organic matter? Are you monitoring changes in SOM?

Ecosystem Conservation and Soil and Water Quality
Initiative
As part of the Ecosystem Conservation and Soil and Water Quality Initiative, the UW-Madison soil science department has begun to document the potential for various cultural practices, including cover cropping, mulching and use of organic soil amendments to improve and protect soil and water quality. We will evaluate their environmental effects and economic viability on commercial farms and how these practices contribute to ecosystem conservation.

Powerpoint presentations
Ecolabel standards for soil and water quality - Leslie Cooperband
 WWF/WPVGA/UW Collaboration presentations November  2001