SOUTH WAYNE, Wis. — Cooper Family Farms, a beef and crop farm in South Wayne, Wis., is farmed by three generations who work together, combining new, innovative practices with tried-and-true traditional methods.
Bobby Jr. farms alongside his dad, Robert (Bob), and his son, Ben. The three of them manage 320 acres of crop land.
“With three generations on the farm and lots of cattle to feed, it’s important that our cropland is as productive as it can be, which means having good soil health is key,” Bobby said.
The Coopers began planting cover crops about 6 years ago, when they joined the Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance. Not only has implementing cover crops improved soil health and reduced soil erosion, but it’s also been economically beneficial for their farm.
The family has gained valuable insights through LASA, connecting with other like-minded farmers in the area. They have also shared their own ideas by hosting field events.
“A few years ago, we purchased a drone and had the opportunity to host a field day to share our experiences with it,” he said. “We’ve been experimenting with aerial seeding and see a lot of great potential with it.”
The Cooper family says embracing new technology, like drones, is made possible because of the younger generation’s involvement on the farm.
“We’ve found a great balance between leaning into what’s worked for my dad for many years, but also being open to trying new things,” Bobby said.
Ensuring the farm is sustainable and successful for future generations motivates them to continue improving.
“We’re a generational farm, and we want to keep it going for more generations to come,” Bob said. “Because of that, it’s so important to take care of the land and protect our natural resources.”
Annual survey results
As part of their membership, the Cooper family participated in the group’s 2025 annual Member Conservation Practice Survey, which tracks the collective conservation efforts among farmers in the group. Results demonstrate continued progress and potential environmental benefits to the region.
This is the eighth consecutive year the group has documented their sustainable practices, signifying their commitment to continuous improvement and enhancing the surrounding soil and water quality.
The group, comprised of 31 farmers, implemented various conservation practices including: planting 12,773 acres of cover crops and planting into cover crops (otherwise known as “planting green”) on 1,030 acres. They also measured nutrient management plans on 33,867 acres.
The potential environmental benefits of these practices:
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 9,744 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, which is equal to greenhouse gas emissions produced by 2,320 cars driven in a year.
- Prevention of sediment loss from farm fields by 57,432 tons, equivalent to 5,743 dump trucks worth of soil.
- Reduction of phosphorus runoff by 94,019 pounds, potentially preventing 47 million pounds of algae growth in local water bodies.
Data was analyzed by Houston Engineering, Inc., and Farmers for Sustainable Food.
Farmers interested in finding out more about the programs LASA offers and how to become a member can visit their website at laffayetteagstewardship.org.
By the numbers
Number of acres covered by conservation practices among Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance members:
2018 ― 75,946
2019 ― 107,421
2020 ― 144,105
2021 ― 165,851
2022 ― 161,741
2023 ― 205,613
2024 ― 257,608
2025 ― 240,702
*Multiple conservation practices can be used on a farm field
Potential impact of conservation practices in 2025:
Phosphorus runoff reduction ― 94,019 pounds
Sediment erosion reduction ― 57,432 tons
Carbon dioxide emission reduction ― 9,744 metric tons
Photos:
About Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance:
Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance is a farmer-led non-profit organization with a vision of a community where farmers and friends of agriculture work together to protect and improve water quality and the environment. The group is based in Lafayette County in southwestern Wis. More information: www.lafayetteagstewardship.org.
