Category Archives: Ag News

First-crop hay quality looks good in Wisconsin

First-crop hay quality looks good in Wisconsin

A University Extension expert says there’s good news and bad news for the first crop of hay now being harvested in Wisconsin. Richard Halopka is based in Clark County. He says, ”What I’m seeing being harvested right now today is low on quantity but high on quality.” Halopka tells Brownfield it’s been very dry, but…read more

Northern potato growers would appreciate a rain

Northern potato growers would appreciate a rain

Soil conditions have gone from too wet to very dry as potato planting wraps up in northern states. In northwest Minnesota, farmer Peter Imle says soil conditions are much better now for the seed and fresh potatoes on his farm considering there was a lot of snowfall over the winter.  “If anything, I think folks…read more

Bill would freeze CRP signups

Bill would freeze CRP signups

Legislation introduced Wednesday would put a moratorium on new signups for the Conservation Reserve Program. Tom Tiffany Congressman Tom Tiffany’s GRAIN For America Act would place a 1-year moratorium on the enrollment of farmland in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which pays farmers to leave land uncultivated.  After the 1-year moratorium, the same legislation would…read more

Wisconsin Farm Bureau names Heroes of Hope honoree

Wisconsin Farm Bureau names Heroes of Hope honoree

Wisconsin Farm Bureau has named Bob Nash as this year’s Heroes of Hope honoree. Nash recently completed his term as the District 1 Young Farmer and Agriculturist Representative on the Young Farmers and Agriculturalists Committee and works nights and weekends at Golden E Dairy Farm in West Bend while operating heavy equipment during the day…read more

Crop pest reports are picking up

Crop pest reports are picking up

Sawflies-Photo: [email protected] A University of Wisconsin entomologist says she is getting more reports from farmers about crop pests. Emily Bick researches crop pests and collects insect reports from farmers.  She tells Brownfield farmers are reporting sawfly problems in many of their forage crops. “It seems to be behaving very similarly to what cutworm would do…read more

Planting almost done for a Wisconsin farmer

Planting almost done for a Wisconsin farmer

The end of planting season is near for a Wisconsin dairy farmer who also does custom planting. Brody Stapel Brody Stapel from Cedar Grove has been busy planting for other farms but is focusing on his own corn acres now. “We’re planting 775 and we’ve got 710 in or something like that. That’s corn. We’re…read more

Wisconsin farmers planted crops and cut hay during a dry week

Wisconsin farmers planted crops and cut hay during a dry week

The dry and warm week allowed Wisconsin farmers to plant crops and start the hay harvest. The first cutting of alfalfa hay is now 33% finished, six days ahead of average.  The USDA says the all hay condition is 79% good to excellent, one percent better than a week ago. Potato planting is more than…read more

Enrollment filling fast for new farm Short Course

Enrollment filling fast for new farm Short Course

Enrollment for the redesigned and relocated Farm and Industry Short Course through the University of Wisconsin is about half full. Steve Kelm with the River Falls campus tells Brownfield they are getting a lot of traffic at their online registration site. “I’ve been getting interest not only from Wisconsin, but I’ve been getting interest from…read more

Study shows how farms and businesses survived COVID

Study shows how farms and businesses survived COVID

A new study shows farms and businesses that used certain strategies emerged from the COVID pandemic stronger than their counterparts. Andrew Stevens with the University of Wisconsin Department of Applied Economics studied the relationship between diversification and resilience.  He tells Brownfield some farms had vertical diversification with some processing and retail sales while others had…read more

Registration open for Wisconsin’s Farm and Industry Short Course

Registration open for Wisconsin’s Farm and Industry Short Course

The revived and relocated Farm and Industry Short Course is now accepting student registrations. The sixteen-week program is now hosted by the University of Wisconsin River Falls after starting 138 years ago at the University of Wisconsin Madison campus.  Madison discontinued their program a year ago. Classes begin October 30th and run through March 15th. …read more