COW97 Ag News from Brownfield

The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board is using a national model to show state growers where their checkoff dollars are being spent. Farmer and Board President Jonathan Gibbs tells Brownfield he has participated in the See for Yourself Tour through the United Soybean Board’s national checkoff and wanted to do the same thing at the state… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin bankers report more positive economic signs, but they are concerned about possible new tariffs that can affect the agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Rose Oswald Poels is the President and CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association says a survey of bankers shows President Trump’s planned August 1st tariffs could lead to a tougher second-half of… ... Continue Reading

A common forage crop can help bring problem weeds under control.  University of Wisconsin research biologist Mark Renz tells Brownfield herbicide-resistant weeds like waterhemp and ragweed have been controlled for years by dairy and organic farms by planting and harvesting alfalfa. “We’re harvesting it every 28 to 35 days. That’s not enough time for them… ... Continue Reading

New federal legislation would make it easier for farmers to access mental health care services. The Farmers First Act introduced by Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Iowa Republican Joni Ernst would increase support for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), a program the two senators successfully included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The… ... Continue Reading

Frequent light rains have been beneficial to crops in most areas of Wisconsin. Jonathan Gibbs farms in the Fox Lake area and is also the current President of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board. He says, “In my neighborhood, we’re looking pretty good.” The southernmost counties received the most rain, with some areas in Grant, Lafayette,… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin Senator says a recent State Supreme Court decision might create more legal challenges on the state’s farms. Howard Marklein says the high court ruled in favor of Governor Tony Evers and against him saying, “the power to pause, object to, or suspend administrative rules before and after promulgation are unconstitutional.”  Marklein tells Brownfield… ... Continue Reading

CHS has announced they will close their Superior, Wisconsin grain terminal this fall. The cooperative has notified the State of Wisconsin by letter, saying 23 laborers will be out of work September 8th, and two managers will be terminated at the end of the year. The Port of Superior facility was built in 1936. and… ... Continue Reading

University of Wisconsin research is seeking fungicide use alternatives for potato growers after a popular product became more restricted.  Plant disease expert Amanda Gevens says ongoing research is looking at fungicide application on potatoes at various times, rates, and sequences to keep disease inoculum, low during the growing season, including applications at hilling time. “That… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin dairy farmer who was an early adopter of raising beef calves for an extra revenue stream says it has really helped his bottom line. Randy Ebert and his family milk 68-hundred Holsteins, and they also sell Angus-Holstein cross calves. He says, “This is one of the few things that is helping us combat… ... Continue Reading

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