Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced legislation that would take away the ag department’s ability to raise fees on animal markets, animal dealers, animal truckers, and animal transport vehicles. Farmer and State Representative Travis Tranel tells Brownfield the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection’s proposed fees go up as much as 17-hundred percent, which is unreasonable…… read more
Category Archives: Ag News
Dairy farmer suggests alternative to Argentine beef imports
A dairy farmer is opposed to importing beef from Argentina. Mike Yager farms near Mineral Point in southwestern Wisconsin. He tells Brownfield there’s a way to increase beef supplies while helping to solve another problem. “I think that maybe we need to encourage sales of dairy cows, strictly going to slaughter. That will put beef…… read more
Combines keep rolling in Wisconsin
Harvesting continues in Wisconsin. Joe Amberg has farmland near Hillsdale that he rents to a neighbor, and says his combines are rolling. “Corn hasn’t been touched in this area yet but beans are getting worked on, yes.” Amy Penterman and her husband Sander have a dairy farm near Thorp, and they have wrapped up corn…… read more
Eastern Equine Encephalitis reported in central Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s first 2025 case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis has been reported. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says a five-month old colt contracted the disease in Marathon County. Both Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus are carried by mosquitoes and cannot pass directly between horses and humans. The ag department says EEE…… read more
Wisconsin farmers fear Portage County ordinance would make it harder to keep farming
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau is concerned that a patchwork of local regulations could severely impact the state’s agriculture industry. Farm Bureau’s Director of Local Government Nate Zimdars tells Brownfield a proposed ordinance Portage County board members are fast-tracking would be more restrictive than existing state law. “Extra restrictions that would regulate things such as air quality, emissions,…… read more
Foreign phytophthora strain found at Wisconsin plant nursery
Wisconsin officials say a foreign plant disease has been found at a Washington County nursery. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says Cypress Mortality is a disease caused by the pathogen Phytophthora austrocedri, and affects common nursery plants like Juniper, Arborvitae, and False Cypress. The Washington County infection caused severe damage to a…… read more
Interview: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin launch “Born to Dairy” campaign
Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, the state’s dairy checkoff for promoting dairy products has launched a new promotion called Born to Dairy. Katrena Hoesley with the checkoff discusses the new marketing effort with Brownfield’s Larry Lee at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. The post Interview: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin launch “Born to Dairy” campaign appeared…… read more
Dairy farmer impressed with 2025 harvest so far
A central Wisconsin farmer is pleased with the 2025 crops. T.J. Draeger operates a dairy farm near Marathon City, Wisconsin. Brownfield caught up with Draeger while he was chopping snaplage or earlage. “I’m in some really nice corn. A little dry. It got away on us a little bit but you know, we had a…… read more
Avian influenza affects another Wisconsin flock
Wisconsin has three new cases of avian influenza in the past three weeks. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says the newest case is a backyard flock in Racine County involving eight birds confirmed October 9th. DATCP officials tell Brownfield the flock consisted of chickens, ducks, and a goose. Wisconsin has two other…… read more
New chronic wasting disease case confirmed at Portage County deer farm
A central Wisconsin deer farm has a newly confirmed case of chronic wasting disease. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection does not name the farm, but says it is in Portage County where there are two licensed deer farms. The positive test came from a three-year-old buck. DATCP officials say the premises is…… read more