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Category: Extension

Competition draws German meat judges to Wisconsin

The Country Today

This was the second time the German Butchers’ Association, American Association of Meat Processors and UW-Madison’s Extension meat science program have worked together to hold this off-site competition in conjunction with the main competition in Frankfurt.

Wisconsin producers worry over hay shortage, high prices

Wisconsin State Journal

Richard Halopka, a crops and soils agent with University of Wisconsin-Extension in Clark County, said he doesn’t believe there’s a hay shortage in Wisconsin, but rather the hay available is lower quality than people would like to purchase. Halopka said the biggest price increases have been for low quality hay.

Robotics help region’s small dairy farmers

Capital Newspapers

University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Biological Systems and Engineering Doug Reinnemann said about 300 farms in the state are using an automatic robotic milking system and the number is “growing steady” among smaller farms — usually about 200 to 500 cows.

2019 Midwest Manure Summit

WI State Farmer

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.

Master Gardener volunteers give back

Dunn County News

In Wisconsin, the program is sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who aid UW-Extension educators by helping people in the community better understand horticulture and their environment.

Fewer acres, lower-cost crops, retirement, getting out? What’s a farmer to do?

WI State Farmer

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.

Craft cider makes comeback

Ag Update

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.

Spooner teaching garden wins award

Eau Claire Leader Telegram

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.

Agricultural educator serves counties

Ag Update

The University of Wisconsin-Extension in Barron and Polk counties has hired Becky Schley as a new agricultural educator. She will serve the two northwestern Wisconsin counties from a main office in Barron, Wisconsin.

Conservation-practice economics calculated

Ag Update

Farmers who are hesitant about transitioning to no-till practices might consider doing a test and hiring someone to do the no-till planting. The Uplands Watershed Group has a no-till drill available to rent at an economical cost, said Daniel Smith, southwest regional specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nutrient and Pest-Management Program.

Badger Swine Symposium set for November 9

WI Farmer

Wisconsin pork farmers are invited to join University of Wisconsin-Extension, the Wisconsin Pork Association, and the UW-Agriculture Colleges (Madison, Platteville, and River Falls) for the Badger Swine Symposium on Friday, November 9, 2018. The Badger Swine Symposium is being hosted at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station.

Naturalist program boon for Wisconsin

Agri-View

The curriculum is developed at University of Wisconsin-Extension and delivered in partnership with more than 50 host organizations like nature centers. It’s customized to explore natural history, flora and fauna. Courses in southern Wisconsin may focus on prairie habitats, while those in the northern part of the state may spend more time learning about different types of forests.

New apprenticeship program creates pathway for organic vegetable farmers to train and retain skilled workers

WI State Farmer

“Students wanted to know where they could find positive internships and training opportunities for hands-on learning,” said Julie Dawson, University of Wisconsin-Extension horticulture educator and UW-Madison assistant professor of horticulture. “This really brought out the need for a more comprehensive training program.”

CALS honoree values diversity

Ag Update

Maenner plans numerous educational events at which UW-Extension specialists make presentations. She strengthens connections between grower groups and UW-Extension, brainstorms educational-program ideas with growers, and manages research grants through associations, Guedot said.

Economist, ag groups cheer revised trade pact

The Country Today

Jerry Clark, Chippewa County UW-Extension agricultural agent, agreed with Hagedorn that this is good news for local farmers. There is more milk produced in the U.S. than what can be used domestically. Both Mexico and Canada are major buyers of Wisconsin milk and dairy products, he said.

Communication difficulties during Superior oil refinery fire: report

Eau Claire Leader Telegram

James Anderson, the UW-Extension Douglas County department head, hosted a discussion in May with agencies involved in the April 26 explosion, fire and evacuation. He said the document outlines that discussion, which focused on “What was supposed to happen? What worked well? What could be improved?”

Decide now for alfalfa health

Agri-View

Management decisions made now can impact how alfalfa stands do during winter. In spring 2018 there were a lot of reports of alfalfa surviving winter, but much alfalfa was weak and yields were less. Winter weather was to blame.

Coming home

Isthmus

Quoted: “This is a year of transition. A lot of work is happening behind the scenes. But it should be invisible to our listeners and viewers,” says Purcell. “Over the next year, we are figuring out how to move [public media] under the UW-Madison umbrella. In a sense, we’re coming home. But in a sense, we’ve never left.”

Farm-City Day hosts grow to bring three sons into dairy

The Country Today

Ryan Sterry, St. Croix County UW-Extension agriculture agent, said the Johnson farm is unique in that they grew their business “in steps” to bring in the next generation, and they have dabbled in registered Holstein genetics, with bragging rights to some high-ranking genomic animals.

Grant and Marathon county teams top 2018 4-H Livestock Judging Contest

WI Farmer

Judging teams from across the state battled during the State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest held July 23 at the Stock Pavilion at UW-Madison. This annual venue allows the top junior and senior county 4-H Livestock judging teams the opportunity to apply their skills in evaluating beef, swine, sheep and meat goat classes in hopes of qualifying for a national livestock judging event this fall.

Farm to Flavor dinner scheduled

Agri-View

More than 20 plant breeders from UW-Madison, other universities, seed companies, non-profits and independent farms have contributed numerous varieties of 12 different crops to the project. Trials are conducted at UW-West Madison Agricultural Research Station and UW-Spooner Agricultural Research Station to compare crops for flavor, productivity, disease resistance and earliness.

Mosquito population in Wisconsin on the rise this season

WEAU - Eau Claire

Statewide, there have been reports of a healthy mosquito crop this year. That’s according to Jerry Claire, Agriculture Agent with UW-Extension in Chippewa County. “Coming out of a mild winter with ample snow cover, that tends to protect some of those last year’s eggs,” said Clark.

Prepare for the Onslaught of Japanese Beetles

Ag Professional

If you see Japanese beetles in your corn fields it could mean poor pollination is imminent. The pest loves to snack on corn’s delicate silks—and if they clip them to ½” or less the crop might not pollinate.

Consider a foliar insecticide treatment during tasseling and silking if there are three or more beetles per ear, silks are clipped to ½” and pollination is less than 50% complete, according to Eileen Cullen, University of Wisconsin Extension entomologist.

“[If applying an insecticide] beetles must be on the outside of the ear, which is normally the case,” Cullen says “The main concern with Japanese beetle feeding is to protect silks for pollination.”