COW97 Ag News from Brownfield

Frequent rains and warm temperatures continue to help Wisconsin’s crops grow. Mike Yager raises crops to feed his dairy herd near Mineral Point in southwestern Wisconsin.  Yager says most of his third crop alfalfa is harvested. “We done a bunch of third-crop again here last week. We cut a week ago today (Monday). Actually, the… ... Continue Reading

New federal legislation would fund USDA cooperative agreements to purchase food from local producers. Strengthening Local Food Security Act of 2025 was introduced in the U.S. Senate last week by West Virginia Republican Jim Justice and Rhode Island Democrat Jack Reed and would fund and distribute food to hunger relief organizations and schools. Michelle Ramirez-White… ... Continue Reading

An entomologist says what started out as a reasonably-pest free growing season is quickly changing. Emily Bick with the University of Wisconsin says this week, true army worms are back, and they’re being reported all over Wisconsin. Bick says farmers need to scout fields now because controlling army worms is all about timing. “This one… ... Continue Reading

A University of Wisconsin researcher says virtual fencing is a great way to manage grazing for cows, goats, and sheep. Stephanie Bowers is a dairy farmer and the University of Wisconsin’s regional dairy educator.  She tells Brownfield virtual fencing uses cow collars and either satellites, cellular towers, base stations, or a combination of those, so… ... Continue Reading

Research is underway to find out how much nitrogen credits can be gained from using cover crops. Chris Bandura with the University of Wisconsin Extension tells Brownfield the research being done now at ten farms to learn what nitrogen credits farmers can expect from different cover crop species as part of Wisconsin’s Nitrogen Optimization Pilot… ... Continue Reading

A University of Wisconsin Extension researcher encourages farmers to preserve soil and nutrients by minimizing soil disturbance. Chris Bandura is the extension conservation cropping outreach specialist.  He tells Brownfield tillage makes soil more vulnerable to erosion losses and the loss of nutrients including phosphorus, but what about manure injection? Bandura says, “There’s some logistical hiccups… ... Continue Reading

A University of Wisconsin researcher has developed a tool to help growers decide what height to chop corn silage. Dr. Luis Ferraretto says improving fiber quality in corn silage is a tradeoff because you give up some yield by cutting higher for quality. “The lower part of the plant has more lignin, so consequently is… ... Continue Reading

A western Wisconsin farmer says crops look good but would benefit from this week’s expected rain showers. Tony Mellenthin raises corn and soybeans south of Menomonie, and says corn looks good so far. “It’s starting to get dry on the lighter ground so the rains that are forecasted this week, if we get them, that… ... Continue Reading

The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board is using a national model to show state growers where their checkoff dollars are being spent. Farmer and Board President Jonathan Gibbs tells Brownfield he has participated in the See for Yourself Tour through the United Soybean Board’s national checkoff and wanted to do the same thing at the state… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin bankers report more positive economic signs, but they are concerned about possible new tariffs that can affect the agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Rose Oswald Poels is the President and CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association says a survey of bankers shows President Trump’s planned August 1st tariffs could lead to a tougher second-half of… ... Continue Reading

A common forage crop can help bring problem weeds under control.  University of Wisconsin research biologist Mark Renz tells Brownfield herbicide-resistant weeds like waterhemp and ragweed have been controlled for years by dairy and organic farms by planting and harvesting alfalfa. “We’re harvesting it every 28 to 35 days. That’s not enough time for them… ... Continue Reading

New federal legislation would make it easier for farmers to access mental health care services. The Farmers First Act introduced by Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Iowa Republican Joni Ernst would increase support for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), a program the two senators successfully included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The… ... Continue Reading

Frequent light rains have been beneficial to crops in most areas of Wisconsin. Jonathan Gibbs farms in the Fox Lake area and is also the current President of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board. He says, “In my neighborhood, we’re looking pretty good.” The southernmost counties received the most rain, with some areas in Grant, Lafayette,… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin Senator says a recent State Supreme Court decision might create more legal challenges on the state’s farms. Howard Marklein says the high court ruled in favor of Governor Tony Evers and against him saying, “the power to pause, object to, or suspend administrative rules before and after promulgation are unconstitutional.”  Marklein tells Brownfield… ... Continue Reading

CHS has announced they will close their Superior, Wisconsin grain terminal this fall. The cooperative has notified the State of Wisconsin by letter, saying 23 laborers will be out of work September 8th, and two managers will be terminated at the end of the year. The Port of Superior facility was built in 1936. and… ... Continue Reading

University of Wisconsin research is seeking fungicide use alternatives for potato growers after a popular product became more restricted.  Plant disease expert Amanda Gevens says ongoing research is looking at fungicide application on potatoes at various times, rates, and sequences to keep disease inoculum, low during the growing season, including applications at hilling time. “That… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin dairy farmer who was an early adopter of raising beef calves for an extra revenue stream says it has really helped his bottom line. Randy Ebert and his family milk 68-hundred Holsteins, and they also sell Angus-Holstein cross calves. He says, “This is one of the few things that is helping us combat… ... Continue Reading

Recent heat and plenty of rain have been good for most Wisconsin crops. James Giese raises about 14-hundred acres of crops to feed his dairy herd near Alma Center, and he tells Brownfield the corn is finally starting to take off. “It started out kind of slow and yellow, and I think we got some… ... Continue Reading

The low price of corn has some growers looking to fill bunks instead of bins. Randy Ebert and his family operate a dairy and beef operation near Algoma, Wisconsin.  He tells Brownfield it’s been a tough stretch for the cash crop farmers. “Multiple guys that cash crop in the area, they are looking to the… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s dairy industry will continue to benefit from state budget investments.  Rebekah Sweeney with the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association tells Brownfield the budget provides $2 million in continued funding for the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports (WIAE). “It’s been a tremendous return on investment. Last year, for instance, a 500-thousand dollar investment in dairy exporting… ... Continue Reading