Despite many moth flights, true army worms not a problem in Wisconsin
An entomologist says farmers should be scouting fields for true army worms since there have been an inordinate number of moth flights to the Midwest. Emily Bick with the University of Wisconsin says, “A couple of incidents, nothing too bad, but keep a heads up. Go scout for true army worm right now.” Bick tells… ...
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New Wisconsin FFA officers named
Wisconsin FFA State President Amalia Draxler – Photo courtesy Wisconsin FFA Wisconsin’s new FFA State Officers have been selected. Amalia Draxler of the Glenwood City FFA Chapter was elected to a year of service as the 2025-2026 President during the 96th Wisconsin FFA Convention. Draxler is a student at the University of Wisconsin Madison, working… ...
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Van Orden asks Ag Secretary to address milk labeling issues
A Wisconsin Congressman has asked Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins to address milk labeling issues. Third District Republican Derrick Van Orden says milk substitutes made from things like almonds and oats are not milk according to USDA’s own definition, and they shouldn’t be called milk. “To get this done, we introduced a bill in the last… ...
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FFA helps prepare students for workforce
Wisconsin’s FFA Executive Director says young people are more prepared for the workforce after being involved in ag education. Cheryl Zimmerman tells Brownfield not every FFA member comes from a farm, and FFA gives many students their first exposure to ag careers. “There’s so many careers involved in agriculture that that’s what our teachers are… ...
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Schreiber continues FFA journey, advocating for agriculture
A past Wisconsin FFA State President has expanded her ag education experience as a National FFA officer. Mary Schreiber from East Troy served as FFA state president in 2023 and 2024. Last October, she was selected from more than 30 candidates to be a national officer, and serves as the Central Region Vice President. “I’ve… ...
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Many FFA hands make 100,000 meals
Wisconsin FFA members teamed up to prepare meals for those in need. It was part of FFA’s Day of Service, held Monday before the state convention officially began. Students worked in shifts to pack thousands of meal bags for school and community backpack programs, and for hungry people around the world. Scott Norem is with… ...
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Weed control a top priority for many Wisconsin farmers
Many Wisconsin farmers are focusing on weed control now that most planting and first-crop hay is finished. John Eron raises corn and soybeans in central Wisconsin, and also does custom spraying and harvesting. He was still spraying late Sunday night. “There was a little bit of corn to do. Now, everything is just big fields… ...
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Wisconsin FFA follows national model, getting more blue jackets to members
Wisconsin’s FFA Foundation is keeping the Blue Jacket Legacy program going strong. Carisa Figlmiller is an agriculture educator and FFA advisor at Lincoln-Alma Center, and she’s also part of the 2020-2021 state officer team, which she was part of. “For lots of our students and FFA members, they don’t have the money to have official… ...
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New ag education, FFA program grows rapidly
A new ag education program has grown rapidly in one Wisconsin community. Ag instructor Brooks Lueck wanted to start a new ag education and FFA program right out of college, which led him to La Crosse, where the two high schools received one FFA charter last year. He tells Brownfield one of the big drivers… ...
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Planting nearly complete in Wisconsin
Planting is winding down in Wisconsin. USDA says corn and soybean planting both reached 95 percent as of Sunday, with emergence of both crops slightly behind their respective five-year averages. Corn rated in good to excellent condition is at 74 percent, with 79 percent of soybeans called good to excellent. The post Planting nearly complete… ...
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Wisconsin FFA sets new membership record
Agricultural education is expanding in schools, even though fewer young people are growing up on a farm. Cheryl Zimmerman is the Executive Director for Wisconsin FFA, and also Secretary for the National FFA. She tells Brownfield this could be a record year for attendence with a large number of proficiency awards, FFA stars, and growing… ...
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Sheep dairies see success in Wisconsin
A dairy organization’s leader says not all dairy products start with the cows. Karen Nielsen with the Sheep Dairying Association of Wisconsin says her state also has the most dairy sheep and dairy goats in the country. “We are growing some of our flocks. I think as far as the number of producers, that has… ...
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Sartori buys Rumiano Cheese
Wisconsin-based Sartori Cheese has acquired Rumiano Cheese Company in Crescent City, California. Both companies are known for their high-quality artisan cheeses. Sartori Cheese CEO Bert Sartori says, “This acquisition aligns with our mission to make the Best Cheese in the World. We look forward to building upon Rumiano’s commitment to their Redwood Coast family farm… ...
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Wisconsin crops, soil conditions vary
Wisconsin crop conditions vary, as the May weather affected planting and emergence differently around the state. As June begins, Janesville farmer Doug Rebout likes what he sees. “I’m looking out over the fields right now and they’re all looking nice and green, and right now, pretty clean of weeds.” Rebout says his area missed out… ...
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Stripe rust found in Wisconsin wheat
A plant pathologist says Wisconsin has its first confirmation of striped rust in wheat for the 2025 growing season. Dr. Damon Smith with the University of Wisconsin told Brownfield there was already some head scab, and farmers should scout for striped rust. “We did have some striped rust epidemics last year in this state so… ...
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Ag lending up in early 2025
New data confirms more farmers are seeking financial help in the down agriculture economy. Rose Oswald Poels is President and CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association. She says a recent study by the Federal Reserve Banks in Chicago and Minneapolis shows more farmers are struggling with their finances now. “Farm credit conditions have really been… ...
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Early concerns about soybean, corn diseases
A plant disease expert says whether crops emerged weeks ago or this week, farmers should watch for signs of infection. Dr. Damen Smith with the University of Wisconsin tells Brownfield producers should scout for soybean plants that emerged and then died and wilted. “If you’re starting to see a number of those plants out there… ...
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Scout for signs of wheat diseases
A plant pathologist says farmers need to keep an eye on winter wheat as heads emerge. Dr. Damon Smith with the University of Wisconsin tells Brownfield the fungus that causes head scab likes moisture and warmer temperatures, which are in the weather forecast. “I think folks should really be out scouting, looking at that anthesis.… ...
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Most of Wisconsin’s crops are planted, haying started.
Most of Wisconsin’s crops are planted. USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service says 85% of the corn is planted with 52% of the crop already emerged. That’s three days ahead of last year and two days ahead of the five-year average. Sixty-two percent of the corn is rated good to excellent. Eighty percent of Wisconsin’s soybeans… ...
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Wisconsin farmer says corn looking very good, soybeans okay
A southern Wisconsin farmer says his corn looks good, but the soybeans are struggling a little. Ryan Nell raises crops on 22-hundred acres near Juneau, Wisconsin. He tells Brownfield planting was delayed a few times by wet weather, and the nearby tornado from nearly two weeks ago brought minimal damage and rain. “We got an… ...
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