COW97 Ag News from Brownfield

Recent heat and plenty of rain have been good for most Wisconsin crops. James Giese raises about 14-hundred acres of crops to feed his dairy herd near Alma Center, and he tells Brownfield the corn is finally starting to take off. “It started out kind of slow and yellow, and I think we got some… ... Continue Reading

The low price of corn has some growers looking to fill bunks instead of bins. Randy Ebert and his family operate a dairy and beef operation near Algoma, Wisconsin.  He tells Brownfield it’s been a tough stretch for the cash crop farmers. “Multiple guys that cash crop in the area, they are looking to the… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s dairy industry will continue to benefit from state budget investments.  Rebekah Sweeney with the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association tells Brownfield the budget provides $2 million in continued funding for the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports (WIAE). “It’s been a tremendous return on investment. Last year, for instance, a 500-thousand dollar investment in dairy exporting… ... Continue Reading

A soybean researcher warned of possible seed germ problems this spring, and now says his prediction of poor stands has come true. Shawn Conley with the University of Wisconsin Soybean Program told Brownfield in February and again before planting time that farmers need to read the seed tags and watch for seed germ ratings below… ... Continue Reading

Del Monte Foods has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In a statement, the food products producer says, “it is pursuing a value-maximizing sale process as part of an overall strategic balance-sheet restructuring.” Many central Wisconsin farmers are under contract with Del Monte to raise vegetables for the Plover, Wisconsin canning facility. The company has secured… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s legislature plans to vote Wednesday, July 2nd on the biennial budget package. Farmer and 49th Assembly District representative Travis Tranel tells Brownfield several programs good for agriculture and rural communities will be funded. “At the end of the day, we were able to fund the dairy processor grants, 800-thousand for that, meat processor grants,… ... Continue Reading

The Wisconsin biennial budget package could be sent to the Governor Wednesday, and if signed, would renew a popular rural road improvement program. Farmer and 49th Assembly District representative Travis Tranel tells Brownfield the Agricultural Road Improvement Program, or ARIP will continue through 2027 at the same 150-million dollar funding level as the last biennium.… ... Continue Reading

A central Illinois veterinarian says he’s seeing an increase in tick-related issues. Dr. Derek McFarland, of Jubilee Hills Veterinary Service in Princeville, says a stretch of relatively mild winters has led to more overwintering by the parasites. “The amount of bugs, and the amount of ticks in particularly, the past two years are coming out… ... Continue Reading

USDA says most Wisconsin crops remain in good condition after a week of mixed weather conditions.  Just over three days were suitable for fieldwork in the week ending Sunday. Mike Berget raises corn and soybeans in LaFayette and Green County, Wisconsin and Stephenson County, Illinois.  He tells Brownfield rainfall amounts vary widely. “South of Highway… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin Senator opposed to reconciliation bill cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program says farmers would be hurt as well as low-income families. Democrat Tammy Baldwin tells Brownfield in her state alone, farm direct food sales to pantries and nutrition programs are impacted.  “Those have had significant impacts on farms throughout the State of… ... Continue Reading

Two U.S. Senators are making another attempt to bring reasonable rates and reliable service to America’s railroad customers. Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin says she and Kansas Republican Roger Marshall have re-introduced the Reliable Rail Service Act. “Our farmers, our manufacturers, our producers, they’re paying sky-high prices for sub-par rail service to get their goods to market,… ... Continue Reading

A southwestern Wisconsin dairy farmer has been busy bagging forage. Mike Yager raises crops to feed his 275 Holsteins near Mineral Point, in Iowa County.  He tells Brownfield, “We got our triticale chopped on Sunday and then we done about 120 acres of second-crop on Monday.” Yager says three and a half inches of rain… ... Continue Reading

Last week’s warm temperatures and scattered showers were good for crop growth. USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service says corn emergence was at 96% as of Sunday, with 76% of the crop in good to excellent condition.  That’s up 5% from a week ago. Ninety-four percent of Wisconsin’s soybeans have emerged, and there are some scattered… ... Continue Reading

Rainfall amounts have varied widely in Wisconsin during June, affecting crop conditions. Andy Bensend raises corn, wheat, and soybeans near Dallas in northwestern Wisconsin.  He tells Brownfield moisture has not been a problem for his farm so far.  “Since the last ten days, we’ve been getting enough moisture so that our topsoils are fully recharged. … ... Continue Reading

A northwestern Wisconsin farmer has been busy haying and spraying but is spraying less after gradually changing his crop rotation plan. Andy Bensend raises corn, soybeans, and wheat in Barron County and does custom harvesting of hay for nearby dairies.  He tells Brownfield the sprayers have been out.  “We’re doing the second pass of residuals… ... Continue Reading

A dairy researcher and co-founder of The Dairyland Initiative has passed away. Dr. Ken Nordlund from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine spent many years researching and teaching cow comfort and health around the world and was involved in many studies including using positive pressure tube ventilation systems to mitigate heat stress and… ... Continue Reading

A dairy researcher and co-founder of The Dairyland Initiative has died. Dr. Ken Nordlund from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine spent many years researching and teaching cow comfort and health around the world and was involved in many studies including using positive pressure tube ventilation systems to mitigate heat stress and respiratory… ... Continue Reading

A drone dealer and custom applicator says field conditions have keep his team very busy this spring.   Jeramy Williams with central-Wisconsin based American Drone says, “We have been getting a ton of rain so yup,  we’ve been pretty busy helping folks out.”   Williams tells Brownfield when fields are too wet for traditional spraying… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s 2025 Farm Technology Days will have another way to arrive easily and a new after-hours feature. Retired farmer and pilot Jim Curns is on the planning committee.  He tells Brownfield there will be a shuttle service between the show grounds and the nearby Clintonville Airport. “I said has anybody considered any sort of a… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s biggest outdoor farm show is returning to a familiar location. Farm Technology Days is being hosted by Clinton Farms in Waupaca County, where the third and fourth generations of the Clinton family milk 800 cows, raise their heifers and grow their own crops.  Wisconsin Farm Technology Days General Manager Janet Keller tells Brownfield yes,… ... Continue Reading