COW97 Ag News from Brownfield

An ag economist says farmers will want to learn just what changes in the USDA safety net programs means for their operation. University of Wisconsin economist Paul Mitchell tells Brownfield his team is analyzing the changes made in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other polices so they can make recommendations to farmers early… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s administration backed away from large fee increases for animal health programs and services, but that means something else must be done to fund them. It’s been eighteen years since the fees were adjusted in June of 2007.  The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says increasing fees to the rate of inflation over… ... Continue Reading

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is backing away from a proposal that could increase animal health program fees. The department says they received more than 500 comments on the proposed fees.  Tim Fiocchi with Wisconsin Farm Bureau tells Brownfield all of the comments from farmers, livestock dealers, truckers, and sales barns were in opposition. … ... Continue Reading

A southern Wisconsin farmer says yields are good and harvesting is going smoothly. Steve Duwe raises corn and soybeans near Johnson Creek, between Madison and Milwaukee. He tells Brownfield soybeans topped the 70 bushel per acre mark. “Soybeans? It was the highest yield I’ve ever had for soybeans by almost ten bushels, and corn, we… ... Continue Reading

New legislation has been introduced in Wisconsin that would require school districts to serve real butter in school meal programs. State Senator Howard Marklein is the Senate author of the bill. He says, “Representative Todd Novak and I have drafted a bill, and it’s being circulated right now, which basically says that you can’t serve… ... Continue Reading

Some Wisconsin individuals and chapters brought home awards from the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. First, The National FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes students who gain real-world, hands-on experiences in agricultural enterprises. Students use scientific principles and emerging technologies to solve complex problems related to agriculture, food and natural resources in six divisions — either individually… ... Continue Reading

The Wisconsin Pork Association is urging producers to testify Thursday in favor of removing state guidelines for PRRS and PEDv testing. Morgan Worek tells Brownfield the testing guidelines within ATCP10 added cost and red tape without helping pigs or farmers. “We have not seen improved swine health benefits specifically related to PRRS and PEDv. We’ve… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require additional labeling for cultivated protein.  State Senator Romaine Quinn says Senate Bill 560 would place labeling requirements on food products that contain cultured animal cells or tissue.  “I think consumers truly want to support their local farm economies and you can only do that if you… ... Continue Reading

Note: Wisconsin Radio Network’s Bob Hague covered the hearing at the Capitol for Brownfield. State legislation prohibiting foreign adversaries from acquiring Wisconsin agricultural or forestry land had a hearing this week. Representative and Assembly author William Penterman said according to USDA, 2.6% or roughly 600,000 acres of Wisconsin farmland is owned by foreign persons. “It… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced legislation that would take away the ag department’s ability to raise fees on animal markets, animal dealers, animal truckers, and animal transport vehicles. Farmer and State Representative Travis Tranel tells Brownfield the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection’s proposed fees go up as much as 17-hundred percent, which is unreasonable… ... Continue Reading

A dairy farmer is opposed to importing beef from Argentina.  Mike Yager farms near Mineral Point in southwestern Wisconsin.  He tells Brownfield there’s a way to increase beef supplies while helping to solve another problem. “I think that maybe we need to encourage sales of dairy cows, strictly going to slaughter. That will put beef… ... Continue Reading

Harvesting continues in Wisconsin. Joe Amberg has farmland near Hillsdale that he rents to a neighbor, and says his combines are rolling. “Corn hasn’t been touched in this area yet but beans are getting worked on, yes.” Amy Penterman and her husband Sander have a dairy farm near Thorp, and they have wrapped up corn… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s first 2025 case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis has been reported.  The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says a five-month old colt contracted the disease in Marathon County.  Both Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus are carried by mosquitoes and cannot pass directly between horses and humans.  The ag department says EEE… ... Continue Reading

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau is concerned that a patchwork of local regulations could severely impact the state’s agriculture industry. Farm Bureau’s Director of Local Government Nate Zimdars tells Brownfield a proposed ordinance Portage County board members are fast-tracking would be more restrictive than existing state law. “Extra restrictions that would regulate things such as air quality, emissions,… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin officials say a foreign plant disease has been found at a Washington County nursery. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says Cypress Mortality is a disease caused by the pathogen Phytophthora austrocedri, and affects common nursery plants like Juniper, Arborvitae, and False Cypress.  The Washington County infection caused severe damage to a… ... Continue Reading

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, the state’s dairy checkoff for promoting dairy products has launched a new promotion called Born to Dairy. Katrena Hoesley with the checkoff discusses the new marketing effort with Brownfield’s Larry Lee at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. The post Interview: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin launch “Born to Dairy” campaign appeared… ... Continue Reading

A central Wisconsin farmer is pleased with the 2025 crops.  T.J. Draeger operates a dairy farm near Marathon City, Wisconsin.  Brownfield caught up with Draeger while he was chopping snaplage or earlage. “I’m in some really nice corn. A little dry. It got away on us a little bit but you know, we had a… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin has three new cases of avian influenza in the past three weeks. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says the newest case is a backyard flock in Racine County involving eight birds confirmed October 9th. DATCP officials tell Brownfield the flock consisted of chickens, ducks, and a goose. Wisconsin has two other… ... Continue Reading

A central Wisconsin deer farm has a newly confirmed case of chronic wasting disease. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection does not name the farm, but says it is in Portage County where there are two licensed deer farms.  The positive test came from a three-year-old buck. DATCP officials say the premises is… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin agriculture officials have suspended poultry exhibitions in four counties because of recent highly pathogenic avian influenza cases. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection suspended all poultry shows, exhibitions, swap meets, and movement of poultry to other events in Jefferson, Waukesha, Walworth, and Rock counties through December 31, 2025.  The ban applies to… ... Continue Reading