The Trump administration’s recent round of funding freezes and job cuts is being felt by farmers. Wisconsin Farmers Union’s Tommy Enright tells Brownfield Farmers Union is hearing from concerned members affected by the federal cuts. “We thought it was time to get people together, have our elected officials hear from our members firsthand what those…… read more
Category Archives: Ag News
Midwest farmland values down 1% in 2024
Midwestern farmland values decreased one percent in 2024. Chicago Federal Reserve Bank policy advisor David Oppedahl says the district, which includes Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, saw dips of two to three percent in every state except Wisconsin. “So we are not seeing everywhere that farmland values are down, but generally in most areas…… read more
Wisconsin dairy groups sue state’s Attorney General
Note: This story was updated Thursday evening to add a brief statement from Attorney General Josh Kaul. Two of Wisconsin’s dairy organizations have sued State Attorney General Josh Kaul. The Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and the Venture Dairy Cooperative have filed a lawsuit against Kaul, challenging his decision to outsource the department’s environmental litigation work. Kim…… read more
Wisconsin FFA President says his term is going fast
Wisconsin’s FFA State President says his term in office has been a whirlwind so far, and he’s enjoying it. Jescey Thompson from the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau school district is about 2/3rds finished with his term and tells Brownfield his biggest goal for the balance of his term is to keep serving members, chapters, and communities. “Travel to…… read more
Avian influenza found in wild Wisconsin birds
Avian influenza has been found in some wild birds in Wisconsin. Department of Natural Resources officials confirm finding the H5N1 virus in a wild merganser duck in Milwaukee County. DNR officials also say there have been reports of around 50 sick ducks along the Lake Michigan shoreline between Milwaukee and the Illinois border. Since mid-December,…… read more
Wisconsin producers are raising more sheep
Wisconsin producers are raising more sheep. Jeff Swenson with the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection tells Brownfield the recent USDA livestock report shows national sheep numbers are up slightly, but Wisconsin production grew a little more. “We grew to 80,000 head total. That’s 65,000 breeding ewes, and that’s up 2%, and market lambs…… read more
Wisconsin Ag Coalition sets state budget priorities
Several of Wisconsin’s agricultural organizations are optimistic the next state budget will continue to fund some successful programs. Jason Mugnaini is Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s director of government relations and also lobbies for the state’s ag coalition. He tells Brownfield one issue stands out as something farm groups would like the Legislature and Governor to address.…… read more
Managing weeds with cover crops requires a lot of biomass
A soybean researcher says cover crops can be another mode of action for controlling weeds, but it will take a lot of biomass. Shawn Conley says University of Wisconsin research through weed scientist Rodrigo Werle shows it takes almost five-thousand pounds of dry matter to effectively minimize waterhemp competition with crops. Conley says one of…… read more
Additional strain of H5N1 confirmed in cattle
A research veterinarian says an additional strain of the H5N1 virus has been found in dairy cattle, but it’s one he’s seen before. Dr. Keith Poulsen with the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory tells Brownfield up until recently, farmers and researchers have been dealing with the B313 strain of the H5N1 virus, but now, an additional…… read more
Wisconsin research to study soybeans on soybeans
A soybean researcher says the potential for a huge crush market is forcing his team to study soybeans planted after soybeans. Shawn Conley with the University of Wisconsin says normally, his advice is don’t do it because of the increased disease risks and other challenges but Conley says the crop rotations used now might not…… read more