Cool and wet conditions continued to slow most Wisconsin farmers last week. USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service says northern Wisconsin still has some areas with frost in the ground, and most of the state is too wet for fieldwork. The exceptions are in the southern counties and central sands regions where spring tillage and some…… read more
Category Archives: Ag News
Wolf delisting legislation takes another step forward
A U.S. House bill that would remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List and prevent judges from putting the animal back on the list has made a step forward. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act, also known as HR 845, would restore authority back to state lawmakers and state wildlife officials to control…… read more
University of Wisconsin offers help to growing food & farm businesses
Wisconsin food and farm businesses looking to expand or create value-added products have help available through the Universities of Wisconsin Office of Business Entrepreneurship. Paula Gilbeck tells Brownfield the Food Finance Institute, the Small Business Development Center, and the Center for Technology Commercialization have been around for years, but few businesses know about them. She…… read more
USDA says not much activity in Wisconsin fields yet
USDA has begun the weekly crop progress reports for the 2025 growing season, and thanks to the weather, there isn’t much to report in Wisconsin. Greg Bussler with the National Ag Statistics Service office in Madison says much of the state received rain, ice, or snow during the past seven days. He says while conditions…… read more
Most of Wisconsin not planting yet
Wisconsin’s weather has kept most farmers out of the fields. The recent cool temperatures along with wind, rain, and snow have left fields far from ideal, impacting the ability to apply manure, fertilizer, or do spring field work, even in southern Wisconsin. Janesville area farmer and Wisconsin Soybean Association President Doug Rebout hasn’t been in…… read more
Wisconsin Corn Foundation creates Oleson scholarship
The Wisconsin Corn Foundation has created a new scholarship to honor a past executive director. The scholarship is named for Bob Oleson, who served as executive director of the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association and the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board for seventeen years and was also a founding director of the United Soybean Board. He also…… read more
ARC, PLC, ECAP signups going strong
A Farm Service Agency official says farmers are actively signing up for crop insurance and economic relief. Wisconsin FSA’s Deputy Executive Director Tyler Radke tells Brownfield they’ve had a steady flow of farmers signing up for Ag Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage. “Wisconsin is actually quite a bit ahead of the national average with…… read more
New HPAI case confirmed in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has its first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza for 2025. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says a commercial poultry farm in Sheboygan County has been affected by the virus. Forty-thousand egg laying chickens with the H5N1 virus will be depopulated at the farm to prevent the spread of the disease.…… read more
Some farm expansions happening despite down economy
An agricultural banker says some farm operations are borrowing for expansions despite the down farm economy and higher interest rates. Roger Sinkula with Nicolet National Bank tells Brownfield much of that expansion is in the dairy sector. “I see a couple of farmers that are expanding their heifer operation or are putting up some buildings…… read more
Wisconsin lawmakers introduce SAF tax credit legislation
Sustainable aviation fuel production could take off in Wisconsin if newly proposed legislation becomes law. Jason Mugnaini with Wisconsin Farm Bureau tells Brownfield the bill supported by the state’s agriculture coalition would incentivize fuel production in the Badger State. “Wisconsin is the only Midwestern state without a significant biofuels support program at the state level…… read more