Dairyland supports hundreds of acres of pollinator habitat at solar arrays and substation sites throughout its rural service territory, with plans to further expand locations within the cooperative system.

Habitat stewardship is a long-held value at Dairyland. Nearly 30 years ago, Dairyland’s first pollinator prairie (pictured) was established by seeding a 38-acre landfill cap at its Genoa (Wis.) power plant site with over 40 different species of grasses and flowering forbs. Today, that original plot flourishes with regular maintenance and care.

Dairyland has 110 acres of bluffland property near its Alma, Wis., power plant site enrolled into a conservation easement with Mississippi Valley Conservancy. Premier Prairie & Wetland Restorations, Inc., and Dairyland maintain a portion of the site as pollinator habitat, removing nuisance foliage, conducting controlled burns and seeding with native vegetation.

Power substations are surrounded by “buffer” property for public and facility protection. Pollinator meadows have been established at three substation properties (Holmen, Wis.; Onalaska, Wis.; Twin Lakes, Minn.). Over the past year, habitat has also been included at a new field crew service center in Harmony, Minn., the Powered Printing facility on Dairyland’s La Crosse campus and at a natural site adjacent to the Genoa boat ramp.

The 18 solar array sites in Dairyland’s four-state service territory are also home to 250 acres of pollinator habitat. In addition to helping sustain bee and butterfly populations and providing an attractive landscape for adjacent residents, the gardens help reduce storm water runoff by increasing site protection from erosion. 

“Industry-supported stewardship is important for the environment and highly valued by our members and employees,” said Dairyland President & CEO Brent Ridge. “An industrial site that can serve a dual purpose by hosting pollinator habitat has positive impacts for the natural world and our local communities.”

At home in La Crosse, Dairyland is a GROW La Crosse corporate sponsor Hintgen Elementary’s school garden. The sponsorship provides education and maintenance of the garden for students.

Moving forward, Dairyland is exploring additional pollinator habitat opportunities near its facilities and right-of-ways in its four-state cooperative system.