Wisconsin’s State Fair wrapped up early due to bad weather last weekend, but still had a very successful run. By the numbers, nearly 893 thousand people visited the fair, with 10,676 competitive exhibits and 2,100 agricultural exhibitors. The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction raised 381,350 for youth scholarships, and the Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction…… read more
Category Archives: Ag News
Dairy PRIDE Act reintroduced
A Wisconsin Senator has re-introduced legislation that would limit dairy terms to real dairy products. Senator Tammy Baldwin recently re-introduced the Dairy PRIDE Act with minor changes from last session. She tells Brownfield, “There’s some modest changes that have been requested by the Farm Bureau and by the milk producers relative to some guidance that…… read more
School helps address meat processing labor shortage
Technical and high schools in Wisconsin are continuing to prepare people for careers in the meat processing industry. One of the programs is Northcentral Technical College’s Pasture to Plate Butchery program. Travis Teska teaches the program, which uses a specialized trailer equipped to harvest animals on-the-farm. “We use this to go out to our farms…… read more
Pollinator plots benefit farms & cities
A USDA official says more people on and off the farm are creating habitat for pollinators. Lisa Neuenfeldt from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service tells Brownfield their programs help landowners reestablish native grasses, and flowering plants that bloom at various times between spring and fall. “We have a lot of farmers that have taken lower-yielding…… read more
Dairy farm successful bringing bottled milk to consumers
PHOTO: Brody Stapel at his farm with former Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue A southeastern Wisconsin farmer has found success by bringing back home milk delivery. Brody Stapel and his family operate Double Dutch Dairy near Cedar Grove, Wisconsin. He tells Brownfield they’ve been delivering milk in glass bottles to home clients along with eggs, meat,…… read more
Wisconsin State Fair dairy product winners
Team Emmi Roth – Monroe was named the Grand Master Cheesemaker at the 2025 Wisconsin State Fair Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction on Thursday, August 7. Roth Grand Cru® Original Wheel was sold for $6,300 to Old World Creamery. Photo courtesy Wisconsin State Fair The Dairy State’s State Fair wrapped up just outside of Milwaukee…… read more
Heavy weekend rains affected some Wisconsin crops
The heavy rainfall that caused flooding in southern Wisconsin and forced the early closing of the Wisconsin State Fair also impacted some crops. Mark Hoffmann raises corn and soybeans near Whitewater, about 20 miles southwest of Milwaukee. He tells Brownfield the rainfall amounts varied across the region, and the crops are so tall you don’t…… read more
Wisconsin State Fair ends early
Heavy weekend rain forced Wisconsin State Fair officials to shut down early. Rainfall exceeded ten inches in several areas of southeastern Wisconsin Saturday, causing flooding in the greater Milwaukee area including State Fair Park, making it challenging for people and animals. Fair officials closed the fair early Saturday and decided not to reopen for the…… read more
Cover crop research project continues in Wisconsin
Researchers are studying several cover crop varieties and how farmers are using them. Dan Marzu with the University of Wisconsin Extension tells Brownfield the study is in collaboration with the Michael Fields Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center. “We send out an extensive survey to these participating farmers. They fill…… read more
Wisconsin Raised program promotes local pork purchases
The Wisconsin Pork Association has launched a program to help consumers connect with local producers. Keri Retallick tells Brownfield the Wisconsin Raised program works with farmers and in-state meat processors to sell more locally-grown pork products. She says the COVID pandemic amplified local demand, and WPA wants to grow that even more. “So now we’re…… read more