A livestock marketer is pleased Wisconsin is backing away from a huge animal service fee increase. Curt Larson with Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association tells Brownfield the original plan to raise fees on animal health services, livestock dealers, truckers, and sales barns was too high, and absorbing a 55 to 60 percent increase to make…… read more
Category Archives: Ag News
Economist urges farmers to study 2026 safety net updates
An ag economist says farmers will want to learn just what changes in the USDA safety net programs means for their operation. University of Wisconsin economist Paul Mitchell tells Brownfield his team is analyzing the changes made in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other polices so they can make recommendations to farmers early…… read more
Revised Wisconsin animal fee plan leaves big funding gap
Wisconsin’s administration backed away from large fee increases for animal health programs and services, but that means something else must be done to fund them. It’s been eighteen years since the fees were adjusted in June of 2007. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says increasing fees to the rate of inflation over…… read more
Wisconsin proposes big revisions to animal health fee plan
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is backing away from a proposal that could increase animal health program fees. The department says they received more than 500 comments on the proposed fees. Tim Fiocchi with Wisconsin Farm Bureau tells Brownfield all of the comments from farmers, livestock dealers, truckers, and sales barns were in opposition. …… read more
Harvest better than expected for Wisconsin farmer
A southern Wisconsin farmer says yields are good and harvesting is going smoothly. Steve Duwe raises corn and soybeans near Johnson Creek, between Madison and Milwaukee. He tells Brownfield soybeans topped the 70 bushel per acre mark. “Soybeans? It was the highest yield I’ve ever had for soybeans by almost ten bushels, and corn, we…… read more
Wisconsin considering a school margarine ban
New legislation has been introduced in Wisconsin that would require school districts to serve real butter in school meal programs. State Senator Howard Marklein is the Senate author of the bill. He says, “Representative Todd Novak and I have drafted a bill, and it’s being circulated right now, which basically says that you can’t serve…… read more
Wisconsin FFA members win at national convention
Some Wisconsin individuals and chapters brought home awards from the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. First, The National FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes students who gain real-world, hands-on experiences in agricultural enterprises. Students use scientific principles and emerging technologies to solve complex problems related to agriculture, food and natural resources in six divisions — either individually…… read more
Wisconsin Pork Association urges participation in Thursday rule hearing
The Wisconsin Pork Association is urging producers to testify Thursday in favor of removing state guidelines for PRRS and PEDv testing. Morgan Worek tells Brownfield the testing guidelines within ATCP10 added cost and red tape without helping pigs or farmers. “We have not seen improved swine health benefits specifically related to PRRS and PEDv. We’ve…… read more
Wisconsin bill would require labeling lab grown protein
Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require additional labeling for cultivated protein. State Senator Romaine Quinn says Senate Bill 560 would place labeling requirements on food products that contain cultured animal cells or tissue. “I think consumers truly want to support their local farm economies and you can only do that if you…… read more
Hearing held on Wisconsin foreign ag land ownership bill
Note: Wisconsin Radio Network’s Bob Hague covered the hearing at the Capitol for Brownfield. State legislation prohibiting foreign adversaries from acquiring Wisconsin agricultural or forestry land had a hearing this week. Representative and Assembly author William Penterman said according to USDA, 2.6% or roughly 600,000 acres of Wisconsin farmland is owned by foreign persons. “It…… read more