The Capital Times - In an effort aimed at curbing the largest source of phosphorus going into the Yahara chain of lakes, Dane County will begin soil testing on 7,500 acres of farmland to see if farmers can make do with less fertilizer.

The program will be funded by a $75,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation, said County Executive Kathleen Falk, who announced the initiative on Monday.

Phosphorus runoff from agricultural land is the greatest single cause of the algae buildup on Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa, according to experts.

"These new dollars will help us reduce runoff from agricultural areas that grows green algae in our beautiful blue lakes," Falk said.

Soil testing will be done in the Lake Mendota watershed, since that's where most of the phosphorus runoff is coming from.

The findings will help farmers determine the right amount and type of fertilizer to apply to farm fields, as well as developing strategies to reduce runoff from hills and slopes and along streams.

The testing will show farmers where fertilizer is actually needed, which could also save money as well as the lakes.

"We're really delighted to support the pioneering work of Dane County in cleaning up the Yahara Lakes watershed," Bob Sorge of the Madison Community Foundation said in a statement.