Tillage and some planting activity is picking up in parts of southern Wisconsin, but most of the state is too cool for anything but fertilizer applications. Zeb Zuehls raises beef and row crops near Montello in central Wisconsin. He tells Brownfield with no-till and cool soil temperatures, his planter is staying in the shed for…… read more
Category Archives: Ag News
Wisconsin potato planting receives timely rain, replenishing soil moisture
Potato planting was briefly slowed by rainy weather in the central sands region of Wisconsin. Jeff Huber is the agronomy manager for Alsum Farms and Produce in central Wisconsin. He says they started planting potatoes at their Grand Marsh location a week ago Friday. “When we started off, the temperatures were a little bit cool…… read more
Direct beef marketer says know costs, keep accounting simple
Since COVID, more producers are learning how direct marketing of beef can help their farm’s bottom line. Grace Link from Bosben Road Beef Company near Deerfield, Wisconsin is a producer who started selling on the farm. She tells Brownfield it’s often hard for producers, especially when starting out. “We’re selling a very simple product, beef,…… read more
Ag group seeks improvements to Wisconsin’s Water Quality Trading Clearinghouse
An agricultural group would like to see more utilization of Wisconsin’s Water Quality Trading Clearinghouse. Chad Zuleger with the Dairy Business Association tells Brownfield the bipartisan program was created three sessions ago in 2020 but has not been able to deliver the expected results. “There are good people doing good work out there, but really,…… read more
Still too cool to plant for most of Wisconsin
Cool soil temperatures have Wisconsin farmers focused on manure and fertilizer applications and some spring tillage. Others, like Zeb Zuehls, who raises beef and no-till corn and soybeans near Montello in southcentral Wisconsin tells Brownfield he’s making a few repairs, and the planter is still in the shed. “I won’t plant for two weeks yet.”…… read more
After Easter planting expected in northern Corn Belt
Many farmers are waiting to plant in the northern Corn Belt. Heather Morris covers the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin for Beck’s Hybrids and says conditions are cool. “We’re not seeing a ton right now, but I know in South Dakota there was some work going on. But a lot of talk about enjoying the Easter…… read more
Dairy group cancels lobby day due to good weather
Several state legislative issues are high priorities for Wisconsin’s dairy farmers, but they will have to lobby for them another day. Wednesday was supposed to be the day where members of the Dairy Business Association visited with lawmakers about issues important to the industry, but DBA’s Chad Zuleger tells Brownfield the weather prevented that from…… read more
Wisconsin farm groups support funding PACE conservation easement program
A Wisconsin program that pays farmers for permanent agricultural conservation easements might get its first funding since its creation in 2009. Wisconsin’s Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement or PACE program started strong but has not been funded since. Angie Doucette with American Farmland Trust tells Brownfield she’s hoping Governor Tony Evers’ 15-million-dollar budget item gets…… read more
Wisconsin Specialty Meat Products Championships held
The people between the Wisconsin farmer and the consumer were recognized during the Specialty Meat Products Championships. Jake Sailer tells Brownfield the competition is held during the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors conference in Middleton every April. Sailer says processors enter meat products in 38 classes. “Those products get judged and evaluated by PhDs from…… read more
Wisconsin too cool and wet for most fieldwork
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