A southwestern Wisconsin farmer says it has been challenging on the farm, but he remains positive. James Edge farms with his wife, daughter, and father-in-law near Fennimore, where they raise about 130 head of beef cattle. Edge tells Brownfield even with low commodity prices creating lower feed prices, he has to pay close attention to…… read more
Category Archives: Ag News
Baldwin confronts FDA officials on dairy labeling
A dairy state Senator remains critical of the Food and Drug Administration for failing to enforce dairy labeling standards. Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin confronted FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf and Deputy Commissioner Jim Jones during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee hearing on the diabetes and obesity epidemics in America. Baldwin says consumers…… read more
Olson remains Wisconsin Farm Bureau President
Wisconsin’s Farm Bureau President will serve a second term. Board members re-elected Brad Olson from Frederic during Monday’s reorganizational meeting. The board also picked Brian Preder from Weyauwega as President of Rural Mutual Insurance, replacing Kevin Krentz who did not seek re-election to the board. This means Farm Bureau and Rural Mutual Insurance will have…… read more
Wisconsin Farm Bureau dumps raw milk policy, supports additional tractor safety trainers
Farm Bureau officials set their policy objectives Monday, and that included a change in a dairy provision. Board member Dan Meyer says Farm Bureau delegates changed direction, and removed policy supporting raw milk sales. “Other parts of the country have had reports of avian influenza. There have not been any reported cases in Wisconsin, so…… read more
Corporate Transparency Act requirements on hold
Farmers won’t have to meet an end-of-year deadline to comply with the Corporate Transparency Act. The Corporate Transparency Act would have required businesses including farms to provide additional information showing who is benefiting from and in control of businesses. University of Wisconsin Extension Ag Law Specialist Kelly Wilfert tells Brownfield there have been court cases…… read more
WI Farm Bureau debates federal, state policy Monday
Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s President says priority number one is getting a farm bill. Brad Olson says, “It’s important not just to Wisconsin farmers, not just to our members, but farmers across the nation. This has to get done.” Olson tells Brownfield farmers are the life blood of America and they need the protections and certainty…… read more
Wisconsin Farm Bureau member never misses annual meeting
A western Wisconsin farmer believes so strongly in the farming community and Farm Bureau, he has never missed an annual state meeting. Carl Casper tells Brownfield, “This is my 60th consecutive annual meeting.” Casper’s family farm is west of Menomonie. He tells Brownfield he’s seen a lot of changes, but the farming people never change.…… read more
Tar spot attacks slowly, creating management challenges
A plant pathologist says tar spot is unlike many crop diseases. Dr. Damon Smith with the University of Wisconsin tells Brownfield they’re learning more about the biology of the tar spot fungus, and finding it attacks plants slower, and then ramps up. “That tar spot fungus is really sneaky. It actually gets into the plant…… read more
Unusual weather led to unexpected yields comparing tillage
A supplier of crop inputs and services says 2024 yields varied greatly, but a year’s worth of unusual weather led to another unexpected outcome. Brad Mathson will Allied Cooperative in Hixton, Wisconsin tells Brownfield some of his farmer clients were trying different tillage methods ahead of soybeans and getting unexpected yield results. “At the end…… read more
Lawmakers looking at last-minute farm bill options
Congressman Derrick Van Orden with a copy of the House Farm Bill package passed in May A Wisconsin member of the House Agriculture Committee expects some farm-related legislation in the lame duck session of Congress, but not a full farm bill. Derrick Van Orden says, “I’ll be frank. That ain’t happening in this Congress.” Van…… read more