An important consideration in early planting is spring-frost occurrence, which can damage or destroy the crop – but only after emergence at 15 to 25 days after planting.
Category: Agriculture
6 Money-Saving Preventive Care Tips for Your Horse
“Very simply, it pays off to get an annual physical exam for your horse because there are conditions that can show up in those exams that, if not detected, can cost owners money for larger veterinary bills (in the future),” said Fernando J. Marqués, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, clinical associate professor and chief of services at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine’s Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital.
‘Food and the Wisconsin Idea’ talk discusses Wisconsin farming, solutions to dairy crisis
UW undergraduate Chloe Green moderated the discussion and said they chose to focus on agriculture policy because so many local farmers are suffering due to the low commodity prices in Wisconsin.
This spud’s for you: A breeding revolution could unleash the potential of potato
Potato breeders doubted the approach was possible for tubers. “I was trained to believe that potatoes can’t be inbred,” says Shelley Jansky, a potato breeder with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Madison.
Trump Trade War Helps Push Farmers Into Record Number Of Bankruptcies
Quoted: “The problem is that both nations have stubborn leaders,” Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, said at an agricultural forum last week in Madison.
Integrated management key to success when combating top soybean diseases
Some research has been conducted at UW-Madison in regards to white mold-resistant varieties, although nothing is 100 percent immune to the disease. Smith recommended farmers study the yield and white mold score before selecting a variety and consider the environments and fungal populations on their operations as they can differ from field to field.
Ag economists: no huge improvement in farm income predicted for 2019
Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at the UW-Madison said that 2018 was “another challenging year” for dairy farmers and that there was a significant amount of stress in the state’s dairy industry.
What’s ahead? Change for sure
Paul Mitchell, Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, at the UW-Madison, the leadoff speaker at the recent 2019 Ag Outlook Forum called 2018 “a year of tight margins in farming with income down and expenses up. Total crop income gained a bit (1.5 percent) but dairy income was down some 7 percent.”
Produce farms to be inspected
In partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Extension, produce growers can prepare their farm for inspections by participating in produce-safety training. The training is required for fresh-produce growers who must meet the federal produce-safety rules.
Managed Grazing Is Needed for Clean Water
If we want clean water, reduced flooding, healthy soils and abundant wildlife in rural America, we must move quickly to reconfigure policies and remove financial barriers to incentivize and support transition of livestock production from confined feeding to managed-grazing operations.Prof. Randall D. JacksonUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison
Extreme Cold Could Impact Wisconsin Fruit, Alfalfa Crops
Amaya Atucha, fruit crop specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said grapes, apples and other fruits grown in the state aren’t used to the frigid temperatures brought by last week’s polar vortex.
Agricultural Contributions – past to future
The Walnut Street Greenhouses were constructed to meet the needs of researchers in the UW-Madison departments of agronomy, genetics, horticulture, plant pathology, soils and entomology.
UW short course helps dairy farmer find small-farm success in a brutal market
Jaworski began milking his cows in 2014, using a business plan heavily shaped by the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy & Livestock Farmers, one of several “Short Courses” Jaworski started at the UW–Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in November 2008.
Experts Predict Another Challenging Year for Dairy Farmers
Milk prices paid to farmers are expected to be better this year but not by much, University of Wisconsin dairy economist Mark Stephenson said. He predicts an increase of about a $1 per hundredweight, or hundred pounds of milk.
Experts predict another challenging year for dairy farmers
Mark Stephenson, director of Dairy Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, says he expects prices to be better this year than in 2018, but not by a lot.
When Super Bowl fans eat a billion chicken wings, the world eats the leftovers
U.S. and Canadian farmers will often export chicken wings with the flappers still attached to Asian markets such as Hong Kong, Thailand and Cambodia. Those markets have more of an appetite for the wingtips, according to Ronald Kean, an expert in poultry production at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Where to turn when you need help
One of the resources out there for farms is AgrAbility. AgrAbility is a partnership between UW-Extension and Easter Seals of Wisconsin. This partnership helps farm families that are dealing with a farm injury, disability, or other limitation.
UW-Madison 2019 Agricultural Outlook Forum
This year’s Wisconsin Agriculture Outlook Forum was held on Tuesday at UW-Madison. One of the main concerns touched on is that Wisconsin is losing twice the number of farms compared to years prior.
Trade War Aggravates Wisconsin’s Slumping Agriculture Economy
Oversupply of milk and persistently low commodity prices have hurt farmers, said Mark Stephenson, director of the Center for Dairy Profitability at UW-Madison. He said tariffs are a factor in the slow markets, but not the whole story.
Exhibit gives farmers voice
Hoff is helping to give more people a glimpse into the farming experience with “The Lands We Share,” a collaboration of faculty and students at four UW campuses — Whitewater, Oshkosh, Milwaukee and Madison.
Stress management tips are worth sharing
Speaking earlier this month at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th annual convention in New Orleans, John Shutske, UW-Madison professor and Extension agricultural safety and health specialist, outlined the causes of stress and the best practices for coping with a lot of it.
Agricultural Contributions – past to future
The University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences has developed a series of online tours featuring many of the college’s research contributions to the agricultural and life-sciences industries in Wisconsin and beyond.
Diversity and efficiency go hand-in-hand in nature, health, and on the farm
Diversity simply means “a range of different things.” It was not long ago when our Wisconsin farms, while largely centered on dairy production, were typically also home to chickens, hogs, and sheep. These other enterprises may have been minor, but they provided a level of insurance when dairy proved less than profitable.
Downtrend in milk prices
Quoted: “Exports as a percentage of U.S. milk production have been climbing,” said Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Every major downturn in the U.S. all milk price corresponds to times when export growth has been off trend or down.”
Downtrend in milk prices
“Exports as a percentage of U.S. milk production have been climbing,” said Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Every major downturn in the U.S. all milk price corresponds to times when export growth has been off trend or down.”
Wisconsin Ag Outlook Forum Slated for January 29
Agricultural economists and commodity specialists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Extension will talk about the financial health of Wisconsin agriculture and the outlook for the year to come at the 12th annual Wisconsin Agricultural Economic Outlook forum in Madison next week.
Profitability concern leads to service
Dave Daniels began farming in 1977 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
…he wanted to serve on Wisconsin Dairy Task Force 2.0. He serves as chairman of the generational succession/transition subcommittee.
Wisconsin’s ag economy in 2019 at Agricultural Outlook Forum
The financial health of Wisconsin’s farms and agricultural businesses, with a special focus on consolidation in the state’s dairy industry, are topics for the upcoming Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum, which will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 29 on the UW–Madison campus.
As Cheese Surplus Hits All-Time High, Dairy Industry Is ‘Cautiously Optimistic’
Quoted: Brian Gould, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of agribusiness, expects this degree of excess to be a temporary situation.”The industry … is not alarmed to a large degree, I mean there is some concern of course if these stick around, but I haven’t seen a tremendous drop off in those cheese prices over the last six, seven months,” he said.
Annual Cow College explores structure and development of a dairy cow’s udder
Forty people, including students from Fox Valley Technical College and New London High School, heard Dr. Laura Hernandez from the Dairy Science Department at UW-Madison about her research on the mammary system of dairy cows.
Phone to farmer: Fungus on the way, time to spray
“In plant pathology, we talk about the disease triangle,” said Damon Smith, an associate professor of plant pathology at UW-Madison, who led development of apps and models focused on diseases of turf, soybean and corn.
CAFO meetings to be held around Wisconsin in February
UW-Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are co-hosting a series of concentrated animal feeding operation update meetings throughout the state in early February.
2019 Midwest Manure Summit
To keep farmers and industry professionals abreast of the latest technologies and techniques in animal waste management, University of Wisconsin-Extension is hosting the 2019 Midwest Manure Summit, February 27, 2019, Lambeau Field Atrium, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Lauer: Warm up, rain had impact on corn
Above-average temperature and late-season precipitation were two major players in the outcome of the 2018 growing season, according to UW-Madison Corn Agronomist Joe Lauer. Lauer presented his highlights and summaries of last year’s growing season at eight agronomy update meetings held across the state last week.
Analyst: Milk prices will be up but still not ‘great’ in 2019
The bad news is that they still “won’t be great,” Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at the UW-Madison Center for Dairy Profitability, told agricultural bankers attending the 36th annual Western Wisconsin Ag Lenders Conference Jan. 10 in Menomonie.
Major Wisconsin Farm Groups Open To Creating Dairy Supply Management Program
Mark Stevenson, a dairy industry expert, said supply management programs like those in place in Canada and other countries can be effective.”If you restrict the amount of milk that gets to the marketplace, you can keep prices much higher, but if you do that, there has to be a lot of restrictions in place,” said Stevenson, director of Dairy Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Milk price drops 66 cents, averages $14.61 for year
Noted: While milk prices were bleak to end the year, UW-Madison dairy analysts Bob Cropp and Mark Stephenson are optimistic that 2019 will be better, with only weak increases in milk production forecast and, hopefully, a resolution to trade issues with Mexico and China, which both are big buyers of U.S. dairy products.
Farmers take hard look at industry consolidation
Anti-trust laws have been on the books for decades in the United States, but their enforcement has been lax, said Peter Carstensen, law professor emeritus, University of Wisconsin Law School.
Support of struggling dairy sector focus on January meeting in Kiel
An unusually long economic down cycle in the dairy industry is taking its financial toll on area farmers and businesses.
Supporting farmers during challenging times
This one-half day meeting is designed to help agribusiness professionals and agency staff feel more comfortable and confident working with families in distress, and to connect with others to provide support for the farming community.
UW-Extension staff on front lines of ag and the environment throughout Wisconsin
The coming year will bring some exciting change to UW-Extension as we become the Division of Extension within UW-Madison. We are excited about this return to our historic home at UW-Madison and the potential it brings to tighten connections with the University’s award winning researchers and academic staff.
Apps don’t just protect crops and save money for farmers
“In plant pathology, we talk about the disease triangle,” says Damon Smith, an associate professor of plant pathology at UW-Madison, who led development of apps and models focused on diseases of turf, soybean and corn.
Dairy Task Force 2.0 sub-committees present reports, schedule more meetings
The goal is to study the Wisconsin dairy industry and make recommendations on actions needed to maintain its viability and profitability. The task force is chaired by Dr. Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at UW-Madison.
2018 Wisconsin field crops pathology fungicide tests summary available
Each year the Wisconsin Field Crops Pathology Program conducts a wide array of fungicide tests on alfalfa, corn, soybeans, and wheat. These tests help inform researchers, practitioners, and farmers about the efficacy of certain fungicide products on specific diseases.
Dairy Revenue Protection Program Informational Meetings offered by UW-Extension this winter
University of Wisconsin-Extension will offer a number of meetings across the state for farmers interested in learning about the new Dairy Revenue Protection program, a new federal insurance tool, with a quarterly payout to dairy farms when milk revenue falls below their insured revenue level.
Public Invited to Next Dairy Task Force 2.0 Meeting
Leaders of the newly created Wisconsin Dairy Task Force 2.0 are opening the doors of their next meeting to the public to hear their ideas on improving the state’s dairy industry. Chairman Dr. Mark Stephenson, who is a dairy policy expert with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says the group will meet December 13 at UW-Oshkosh at 10:00 a.m.
Ag women mentor industry future
While at student at UW-Madison, Meyer also was a member of the Association of Women in Agriculture. “In addition to the professional contacts I’ve made through my Association of Women in Agriculture sisters, some of my most treasured friendships have their root in the organization,” she said.
Fewer acres, lower-cost crops, retirement, getting out? What’s a farmer to do?
As farmers hustle to finish the harvest, there is no sign of a letup in the long-term slump in commodity prices that are now being fed by trade and tariff tensions. The result is “almost a perfect storm,” says Mark Hagedorn, a UW-Madison Division of Extension dairy/animal science agriculture educator in Eau Claire County.
Professor: Soil health remains complex, complicated
Soil health” is a phrase that has been thrown around a lot lately, but what exactly makes a soil healthy? The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has their own definition, as do well-known soil scientists John Doran and Timothy Parkin. But according to Richard Lankau, assistant professor in UW-Madison’s Plant Pathology Department, each farmer, too, has their own definition of what makes a soil healthy.
“Soil health is up to us to define,” he said. “Ask yourself, what do you want your soil to do for you?”
The sweet and tart legacy Of Wisconsin’s cranberry crop
Quoted: Schultz says that being a cranberry farmer and establishing a productive marsh is not for everyone, a sentiment reflected by Amaya Atucha, a fruit crop specialist in the Horticulture Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who studies cranberry vine physiology and how the plants cope with environmental stresses.
“I’ve never heard of anyone ever calling me because they want to start a cranberry marsh,” said Atucha, pointing out that, like Schultz, most growers today come from multi-generational farms and that establishing a new marsh is very expensive.
Wisconsin Experts Expect Increase In Farm Bankruptcies To Continue Into 2019
Paul Mitchell, director of the Renk Agribusiness Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said he thinks that number will be even higher in 2019.
Crop research center offers plant transformation services
The Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center is now funded by the UW, with funding committed for the next four years. Services offered include plant transformation and editing, helping both private and public entities that need to insert traits into plants and need genetic plant research conducted.
Craft cider makes comeback
To propagate artisanal cider trees, a producer often needs to graft. That’s exactly what 50 people opted to do on a Saturday afternoon this past spring as participants in the inaugural Hard Cider Apple Grafting Workshop hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems.
School applications available
The Wisconsin School for Beginning Market Growers will be held Jan. 11-13, 2019, on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin. The school serves new and beginning farmers, and emphasizes organic-production methods and direct marketing.
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a University of Wisconsin grad
Jerome came to Madison to take the UW’s Farm and Industry Short Course, and after completing it in 1928, he became an egg inspector for the state’s Department of Agriculture. He returned to college in the late 1930s and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in poultry husbandry in 1941.
Spooner teaching garden wins award
The garden, which is a joint effort among the Spooner Agricultural Research Station, the Spooner Area UW-Extension Office and UW-Extension North Country Master Gardener Volunteers, completed against entrants in its category from across the U.S. and in Canada.
Expert: Renovating dairy barns for beef herds requires considerations
Sarah Mills-Lloyd is a licensed veterinarian who serves as the UW-Extension Oconto County agriculture agent, specializing in dairy and livestock. She recently shared suggestions for remodeling “retired” dairy facilities for beef herds, noting that the state has more beef farms than dairy farms.
Grant helps VA hospital connect veterans to agriculture
The training program consists of two tracks veterans can choose from: a two-year certificate program through the UW-Madison Farm and Industry Short Course, in partnership with the UW Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems; and a one-year and one semester technical diploma program through Madison College.
AgrAbility funded for another four years
AgrAbility of Wisconsin is a program designed to help farmers who have physical limitations or disabilities continue to farm. The program is primarily funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant and is a collaboration between UW-Extension and Easter Seals Wisconsin.
Ideas on organic agriculture sought, shared at UW-Madison Harvest of Ideas forum
The Oct. 31 event, a forum that brought together people from around the globe to explore organic agriculture and how the University of Wisconsin can best contribute to the advancement of organic agriculture, also served as a venue to share ideas and create more cooperative solutions world-wide.