COW97 Ag News from Brownfield

Wisconsin’s Ag Road Improvement Program dollars are now going to local governments to repair or upgrade local road with weight restrictions. The bipartisan law authored by Representative Travis Tranel and Senator Howard Marklein allowed towns to use a simple application to apply for the special road improvement dollars, and Marklein says the first fifty-million has… ... Continue Reading

A non-profit volunteer group that helps farmers get their work done now serves a larger area. Dan Erdmann tells Brownfield Farm Rescue just expanded into Wisconsin, and is there to help with planting, harvesting, commodity hauling, and livestock feeding.  He says farmers don’t like to ask for help, but they often get referrals. “It may… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin farmer is benefiting from getting his crops in very early, before the spring rains arrived. Ryan Nell raises corn, soybeans, and wheat near Juneau.  He tells Brownfield, “Planting went really smooth for us. We were done by May 6th.” He says the frequent rains started shortly after planting, and that meant some replanting… ... Continue Reading

Many Wisconsin farmers took advantage of the mostly-dry week to harvest small grains and hay.  USDA statistician Greg Busler says some oats, wheat, and 2nd crop hay was harvested last week, and the potato harvest is getting underway. Forty percent of Wisconsin’s corn is done silking, which is 3 days ahead of the five-year average. … ... Continue Reading

A Midwest program manager with American Farmland Trust says new farmer led, regional groups focused on conservation are sprouting up in Illinois. Dr. Staci McGill says “Farmers for Watersheds” groups are focused on farmers sharing experiences. “Farmers learn best from other farmers.” She says, “So this is to help new farmers do any of the… ... Continue Reading

Warm and dry weather led to a slight decrease in crop ratings in Wisconsin last week. The USDA says as of Sunday 58% of corn is rated good to excellent, down 4% from the previous week. Seventeen percent of the crop is silking, six days ahead of 2023. Soybeans are rated 56% good to excellent,… ... Continue Reading

Mink pelt production continued to fall in 2023. USDA says nationwide, mink pelt production was down 28% from 2022, and down 10% in Wisconsin, the nation’s leading mink producer. Wisconsin produced just over 514 thousand pelts in 2023, and Utah was the second-highest producer with just over 138 thousand. Mink breeding is also down, with… ... Continue Reading

The USDA has increased its 2024 U.S. winter wheat production projection. The crop is now estimated at 1.341 billion bushels, up 4% from June partially because of a higher average yield guess, 0.6 higher at 52 bushels per acre, and 7% more than 2023 because of improved yields and a lower rate of abandonment following… ... Continue Reading

The Director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab says distributing more than 825 million dollars from the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish Program for the loss of milk caused by the H5N1 virus doesn’t adequately address prevention. Dr. Keith Poulson questions how the ELAP program will incentivize producers and processors to… ... Continue Reading

The host family for Wisconsin’s Farm Technology Days says it takes a lot of planning, but having the right neighbors helps.  The Close Farm is operated by Jamie and Renee Close and their daughter Taren.  Renee Close tells Brownfield working with the Chippewa Valley Music Festivals, which is already set up for large crowds, parking,… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin farmers saw nearly a full week, 6 days, suitable for field work last week. The USDA’s latest weekly crop progress and condition report shows 51% of the state is battling surplus soil moisture issues. Sixty two percent of the corn crop is rated good to excellent condition, up one percent from last week. Soybeans… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s Farm Technology Days begins in five weeks near Cadott in Chippewa County, and will feature new technology like drones, and some of the smaller forage equipment. This year’s show is hosted by farmer Jamie Close and his family along with their neighbors at Chippewa Valley Music Festivals. Jamie tells Brownfield, “The tent city is… ... Continue Reading

A certified appraiser in east-central Wisconsin says two factors are driving farmland values. Jeff Jens is with Compeer Financial. “Availability and location.” He tells Brownfield the amount of available land continues to be tight. “If a property comes up (for sale) that’s close by and you’ve had your eye on it for awhile, you’re going… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s Soybean Marketing Board looks forward to getting an in-state soybean crushing plant. Farmer Andy Bensend is on the board and tells Brownfield the dairy and poultry producers need soybean meal, yet Wisconsin soybeans must travel a long way to get back to Wisconsin farms. “It’s another thing we’ve been working really, really hard on… ... Continue Reading

A recently released documentary is highlighting the history and versatility of soybeans. Sara Stelter, from Waushara County Wisconsin is among the farmers featured in Groundbreaking: A Story of Innovation. “Every part of our lives, every single day, we see soybeans in use, from fire prevention to food to medicine to the whole mission to Mars. Soybeans are going… ... Continue Reading

A nutrient management specialist says farmers changing crops or filing prevent plant claims might also have to update their nutrient management plans. Andrea Topper with Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection tells Brownfield many farmers applied manure last fall expecting to plant corn this spring, but wet fields prevented that. “In this situation,… ... Continue Reading

An Extension agent says field conditions go from one extreme to the other in his county. Ken Schroeder tells Brownfield, “Standing water, there’s weeds, there’s fields that have come up uneven, and just a lot of fields that have’t been planted for that matter.” Schroeder serves Portage County, Wisconsin and tells Brownfield there’s sand east… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s wet weather continues to hinder progress in the fields. USDA statistician Greg Busler says there were only 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork in the week ending Sunday, and topsoil moisture levels are rated 48% adequate and 52% surplus, with similar subsoil levels. Most of last week’s rainfall was in northern and eastern Wisconsin, with… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin farmer says 2024 has been challenging because of the high population of field pests. Sara Stelter farms in the central sands of western Waushara County, and grows corn and soybeans along with green beans, peas, and sweet corn for canning companies. She tells Brownfield, “Literally, this is the first year in the history… ... Continue Reading

Weather and pests have made 2024 a tough year for many Wisconsin farmers. Pat Mullooly is the President of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, and a farmer in Grant County just a few miles north of the Illinois state line.  He says most crops are looking good but there have been some problems. “There’s some concerns… ... Continue Reading