COW97 Ag News from Brownfield

A farmer near Janesville in south-central Wisconsin is optimistic going into harvest. Doug Rebout tells Brownfield corn and soybeans in the area look good. “They’re drying down (and) we’re figuring here another week, week and-a-half like the last week of September we will probably be starting our harvest here. Most of the corn silage is… ... Continue Reading

The agronomy manager with Wyffels Hybrids says some areas of the Corn Belt continue to battle corn rootworm pressure. Ryan Gentle tells Brownfield, “You know, the same hot spots are still there.”  He says, “Northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, you get into northern Iowa, that’s where the pressure still is.” However, he says 2025 hasn’t been… ... Continue Reading

A livestock marketer says Wisconsin’s proposed fee changes for sales barns, dealers, and haulers would harm producers. Curt Larson with Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales tells Brownfield the proposed annual licensing fees under rule ATCP 10 are far above any customary or ordinary price. “In Michigan, the Class One livestock auction pays $400 a year. In… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin officials have confirmed a new case of West Nile Virus in a horse. Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection officials say an unvaccinated three-year-old quarter horse stallion in Grant County is the first confirmed case in a Wisconsin horse this year.  Grant County is in the southwest corner of Wisconsin, and borders Iowa… ... Continue Reading

Producers in the Dairy State are in the early stages of corn silage harvesting.  Choppers have been rolling in parts of southern Wisconsin for over a week, and now they’re getting a good start farther north.  Lee Kinnard at Kinnard Farms in Kewaunee County tells Brownfield they’ll start chopping Tuesday. “It looks like a good… ... Continue Reading

A farm organization is urging livestock producers and marketers to push back against Wisconsin’s proposed animal health fee increases. Jason Mugnaini with Wisconsin Farm Bureau tells Brownfield the changes would be to administrative rules ATCP 10 and ATCP 12 governing animal disease and movement, animal markets, animal dealers, and livestock truckers. “This proposal shifts the… ... Continue Reading

The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board has a new marketing and communications partner who is familiar with the board’s goals. Doug Monson tells Brownfield he worked with the Wisconsin group while at Ag Management Solutions, but he left to join Forward Minded Media. “They asked me to come on board and create an ag department, which meant… ... Continue Reading

A court has said the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has the authority to regulate large farms through its water pollution permits. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce represented The Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and Venture Dairy Cooperative challenging the DNR, saying the agency lacked authority to require concentrated animal feeding operations or CAFOs to apply for permits… ... Continue Reading

World Dairy Expo is a month away, but some of this year’s contest winners have already been announced. The Dairy Products Contest has hundreds of products entered in 96 classes, and the winners will be honored during World Dairy Expo. The Cheese and Butter Grand Champion is Lake Country Dairy-Schuman Cheese from Turtle Lake, Wisconsin… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s state veterinarian says teams remain ready in case avian influenza comes back to her state.  Dr. Darlene Konkle tells Brownfield there are no recent poultry flock infections, and USDA’s required milk testing has not found any bovine H5N1 cases in her state. “The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab has been conducting testing and it has… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin crops continue to look good, despite battles with weeds and diseases. Darin Von Ruden, Wisconsin’s Farmers Union President says he and his neighbors have been focused on harvesting hay. “We’re about finished up with third crop on the home farm and some of the larger dairies down around here have put their fourth crop… ... Continue Reading

A dairy organization continues to bring farmers, neighbors, and local government officials together to discuss rural issues. Professional Dairy Producers President Paul Lippert tells Brownfield the Agricultural Community Engagement or ACE meetings are a partnership between their farmers, the Wisconsin Towns Association, and the Wisconsin Counties Association. “A lot of times, they’re very friendly like… ... Continue Reading

A corn and soybean seed breeder says he’s seeing good crops throughout the Midwest.  Jeff Renk with Renk Seeds tells Brownfield he’s been visiting farms, and growers are expecting great yields. “There’s a crop estimate for the State of Wisconsin that has come in at 193 bushel, which is way past any previous record and… ... Continue Reading

The former manager of Wisconsin’s Farm Progress Days and UW Extension Associate Dean has died. Glenn Thompson died on Thursday, Aug.21, 2025 at a Madison hospital.  The former ag educator spent 31 years with the University of Wisconsin Extension, including assignments in Monroe and Sheboygan counties.  After retirement, he served as General Manager of Wisconsin… ... Continue Reading

A northeastern Wisconsin farm is having a very good crop year.  Lee Kinnard with Kinnard Farms near Casco tells Brownfield they’ve been getting rain at the right times this summer. “We’ve been very fortunate. they haven’t been too heavy. They’ve been just about perfect. We’re sitting here after just completing a really beautiful fourth crop… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin group that helps migrant workers and American farmers will show the public what it’s like working far from your home and family. Puentes-Bridges President Mercedes Falk tells Brownfield their organization is planning for an October event at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Mcintyre Library to tell the stories of women back in Mexico… ... Continue Reading

A policy advisor with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says farmland values surprisingly rose 3% in the second quarter of 2025 from a year earlier. David Oppedahl tells Brownfield, “With the financial conditions looking a little weaker for agriculture, you would maybe anticipate some more weakening of farmland values as well.”  He says, “But… ... Continue Reading

A Western Wisconsin dairy farmer says government inaction is not helping the farm labor shortage. John Rosenow owns Rosenholm Dairy near Waumandee.  He tells Brownfield the H-2A program does not work well for year-round farms like his dairy, and elected leaders haven’t addressed immigration law issues in nearly 40 years. “I’ve been to (Washington) D.C.… ... Continue Reading

A policy advisor with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says agricultural credit conditions were weaker in the second quarter of 2025 than last year. David Oppedahl tells Brownfield, “The trends have continued a little weaker.”  He says, “There is loan demand, but repayment rates have been falling. They were edging up in this quarter,… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin Senator who wants the Food and Drug Administration to enforce dairy standards of identity wants her legislation mandating enforcement to cross the finish line this time. Tammy Baldwin has authored the Dairy PRIDE Act to require imitation products that don’t have the required nutritional value to stop using terms like milk, butter, and… ... Continue Reading