COW97 Ag News from Brownfield

The State of Wisconsin is backing a nitrogen optimization pilot program, and some of the early research is helping farmers plan for 2025. Matt Ruark with the University of Wisconsin says field experiments will continue as the second year of the study begins.  He tells Brownfield his team is working with farmers around the state… ... Continue Reading

A major potato processor has chosen Grand Forks, North Dakota as the site for a new plant to make frozen potato products. In a statement, Agristo says it chose the North Dakota as its first U.S. location for their high-quality potato farming, availability of potatoes, and sufficient market scale for its private label products. The… ... Continue Reading

U.S. hay production was up in 2024. The USDA says total production of 122.462 million tons was 3% larger than 2023, with a decline in harvested area to 49.39 million acres more than canceled out by a rise in average yield to 2.48 tons per acre. That included 49.84 million tons of alfalfa and mixtures,… ... Continue Reading

The president of the Illinois Hemp Growers Association says the extension of the 2018 Farm Bill means their industry can continue to flourish under current federal regulations. Rachel Berry says the hemp industry is closely monitoring the ongoing negotiations of a new five-year bill. “There are talks of changing the farm bill and making things… ... Continue Reading

U.S. farmers planted more winter wheat. The USDA says all major types saw higher acreage on some expectations for improved export demand, along with continued solid domestic demand. The total of 34.115 million acres was up 2% on the year, including a 1% rise for hard red winter wheat in the southern and central Plains… ... Continue Reading

The USDA says 2024 soybean production topped 2023. The crop of 4.366 billion bushels was up 5% on the year, with an average yield of 50.7 bushels per acre on harvested area of 86.05 million acres. In 2023, production was 4.162 billion bushels with an average yield of 50.6 bushels per acre on harvested area… ... Continue Reading

An abnormally dry start to winter in the Upper Midwest could soon give way to wetter conditions. Bret Walts with BAMWX says the western half of the country has been warmer than the eastern half, which favors a southern storm track. “But what happens as we work into I would say mid-January and beyond, the… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin has a new Fairest of the Fairs. Megan Salentine from Kewaunee County was selected from a group of 33 county and district Fairest of the Fairs to serve as ambassador for the Wisconsin Association of Fairs.  Salentine is the daughter of Jenny and Josh Salentine of Luxemburg and is a student at St. Norbert… ... Continue Reading

December was warm and dry for Wisconsin. The USDA says average statewide temperatures were nearly 5 degrees above normal, while precipitation was just under usual levels, with some farmers reporting concerns about the effects of low snow cover on fall planted crops. Fieldwork during the month included the application of fertilizer and manure. The USDA’s… ... Continue Reading

A biofuel advocacy group is looking to maintain momentum for biodiesel and renewable diesel demand. Jeff Earl with Clean Fuels Alliance America says 2024 was a record year for the industry, and the groundwork is laid for future success. “We’ve got some new states that are going to look at some renewable fuel policies, Wisconsin,… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin dairy cooperative board has selected a new chief executive officer.  Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery’s board elevated Kevin Pieh from chief financial officer to CEO, a post Pieh has been serving on an interim basis since early September. Pieh has been with Ellsworth Creamery since 2022.  Before that, he worked with Land O Lakes and… ... Continue Reading

The change in the weather has cattle producers taking a few extra precautions. Jared Geiser from Chilton, Wisconsin tells Brownfield producers need to keep the calories coming to give cattle the energy they need. “(They have) a little fermentation tank built right into them that can really create a lot of heat, so if we… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s ag secretary says the word that describes the agriculture community in 2024 is resilience.  Randy Romanski tells Brownfield despite tough conditions, farmers continued to produce. “When you look at this last year weather wise, it was dry, it was very wet, and it was dry again and farmers got a crop in the ground… ... Continue Reading

A Natural Resources Conservation Service agent says first-time cover croppers should start small and ask questions.  Barry Bubolz works in northeastern Wisconsin, where it’s not easy to get some cover crops established before the frost.  He says after winter wheat or after corn silage, there is usually a good window to plant cover crops, and… ... Continue Reading

A northwest Wisconsin commercial turkey flock has been confirmed with highly pathogenic avian influenza near the Minnesota border. More than 18,500 birds at a Burnett County farm have been affected and a ten-kilometer control area quarantine is now in effect to prevent disease spread. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed the first case of H5… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s Farmers Union delegates made changes to their policy regarding anaerobic digesters for manure. Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden tells Brownfield delegates were able to settle on some policy language. “We got some language put back in (the policy book) that was taken out to make sure that there is still a possibility… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin farmer says it’s worth the extra effort to manage and harvest triticale as a cover crop he can harvest for his dairy cows. Joe Bragger from Independence, Wisconsin says, “I’m a real firm believer in the feed quality that we get off of growing that triticale for forage.” Bragger tells Brownfield his nutritionist… ... Continue Reading

A second-grade teacher in the Milwaukee Public School system, has been named the 2024 Wisconsin Outstanding Teacher by Wisconsin’s Agriculture in the Classroom program. Ag in the Classroom coordinator Beth Schaefer tells Brownfield Joshua Gonzalez helped River Trail School became Milwaukee’s first specialty agriculture school. “Mr Gonzales is a second grade teacher who has spearheaded… ... Continue Reading

An extension specialist with the University of Missouri says corn stunt disease expanded its presence in the U.S. in 2024. Mandy Bish says the disease is carried by the corn leaf hopper. “We’ve been able to confirm it as far north as Wisconsin and New York, and it’s transmitted by the corn leaf hopper, so… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin now has it’s third case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry this year, and second case in a week. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection confirmed Wednesday that a backyard flock in Kenosha County is being depopulated after testing positive for the H5N1 virus.  Ninety-six birds are affected.  The agency confirmed… ... Continue Reading