Wisconsin’s state veterinarian says teams remain ready in case avian influenza comes back to her state. Dr. Darlene Konkle tells Brownfield there are no recent poultry flock infections, and USDA’s required milk testing has not found any bovine H5N1 cases in her state. “The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab has been conducting testing and it has…… read more
Category Archives: Ag News
Wisconsin crops look good, despite weed and disease challenges
Wisconsin crops continue to look good, despite battles with weeds and diseases. Darin Von Ruden, Wisconsin’s Farmers Union President says he and his neighbors have been focused on harvesting hay. “We’re about finished up with third crop on the home farm and some of the larger dairies down around here have put their fourth crop…… read more
Dairy group continues community engagement meetings
A dairy organization continues to bring farmers, neighbors, and local government officials together to discuss rural issues. Professional Dairy Producers President Paul Lippert tells Brownfield the Agricultural Community Engagement or ACE meetings are a partnership between their farmers, the Wisconsin Towns Association, and the Wisconsin Counties Association. “A lot of times, they’re very friendly like…… read more
Farmers tell seed breeder crops look good
A corn and soybean seed breeder says he’s seeing good crops throughout the Midwest. Jeff Renk with Renk Seeds tells Brownfield he’s been visiting farms, and growers are expecting great yields. “There’s a crop estimate for the State of Wisconsin that has come in at 193 bushel, which is way past any previous record and…… read more
Wisconsin educator, farm show manager dies
The former manager of Wisconsin’s Farm Progress Days and UW Extension Associate Dean has died. Glenn Thompson died on Thursday, Aug.21, 2025 at a Madison hospital. The former ag educator spent 31 years with the University of Wisconsin Extension, including assignments in Monroe and Sheboygan counties. After retirement, he served as General Manager of Wisconsin…… read more
Wisconsin crops are in good shape
A northeastern Wisconsin farm is having a very good crop year. Lee Kinnard with Kinnard Farms near Casco tells Brownfield they’ve been getting rain at the right times this summer. “We’ve been very fortunate. they haven’t been too heavy. They’ve been just about perfect. We’re sitting here after just completing a really beautiful fourth crop…… read more
Program to highlight lives of migrant workers
A Wisconsin group that helps migrant workers and American farmers will show the public what it’s like working far from your home and family. Puentes-Bridges President Mercedes Falk tells Brownfield their organization is planning for an October event at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Mcintyre Library to tell the stories of women back in Mexico…… read more
Second quarter land values spurred by development demand
A policy advisor with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says farmland values surprisingly rose 3% in the second quarter of 2025 from a year earlier. David Oppedahl tells Brownfield, “With the financial conditions looking a little weaker for agriculture, you would maybe anticipate some more weakening of farmland values as well.” He says, “But…… read more
Dairy farmer calls on government to fix immigration, worker visas
A Western Wisconsin dairy farmer says government inaction is not helping the farm labor shortage. John Rosenow owns Rosenholm Dairy near Waumandee. He tells Brownfield the H-2A program does not work well for year-round farms like his dairy, and elected leaders haven’t addressed immigration law issues in nearly 40 years. “I’ve been to (Washington) D.C.…… read more
Agricultural credit conditions dip in second quarter
A policy advisor with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says agricultural credit conditions were weaker in the second quarter of 2025 than last year. David Oppedahl tells Brownfield, “The trends have continued a little weaker.” He says, “There is loan demand, but repayment rates have been falling. They were edging up in this quarter,…… read more