Rod Martin

“I’ve always been impressed with the visionary thinking and ongoing accomplishments of Yahara Pride Farms and I want to help support and communicate these important conservation initiatives,” says Rod Martin, who joined the Yahara Pride Farms board in 2022.

Rod’s career has focused on dairy nutrition and management. At Protekta, he provides consulting services across the U.S. and internationally. He’s focused on helping dairy producers incorporate strategies to improve fresh cow performance and minimize health issues.

As a Yahara Pride Farms’ board member, he says he has seen the group’s adoption of conservation practices in the Yahara Watershed dramatically reduce phosphorus runoff, a critical component to improve water quality.

“For the agricultural sector in the watershed to co-exist with Dane County’s rapidly growing population and development, Yahara Pride Farms’ mission is critical to the future sustainability of this region,” he says.

Yahara Pride Farms’ ongoing conservation practices will continue to minimize phosphorus runoff and preserve the critical topsoil needed to maintain productivity on the area’s land … now and into the future, he says.

As a board member, Rod will continue talking to the non-farming public about how Yahara Pride Farms’ members are using conservation practices and how this benefits the watershed. He’ll also work with various organizations to find common ground to allow Dane County to grow responsibly and sustainably, he says.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of being involved with Yahara Pride Farms?

“Watching the growth of the number of farm participants using these conservation practices and knowing It’s making a difference in the watershed,” he says.