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
Category Archives: Ag News
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
Consider having more control over drainage systems
A University of Wisconsin researcher says farmers should consider controlling how much water their drainage systems let out of the fields. Steven Hall tells Brownfield many farmers use drain tile systems to remove excess water from fields, but many could be gaining additional benefits by having a control gate at the outlet. “You can put…… read more
Firm farmland values going into 2025
Farmland values in the Upper Midwest are generally firm going into 2025. Kasey Maypark, an appraiser for Compeer Financial, covers northwestern Wisconsin. “Cropland has stayed on the stronger side in my area, there have not been a ton of sales. I’m sure that’s pretty common in a lot of the areas that we cover. There’s…… read more
Ear flex key to reducing plant populations
An agronomist with LG Seeds says some farmers may be looking to reduce plant populations in 2025 to save on the bottom line. Samantha Agnotti, who’s based in Wisconsin, says it’s a solid strategy when selecting the correct corn hybrid. “There’s gonna be hybrids that are gonna flex better than others.” She says, “Let’s look…… read more
Former USDA leader, Wisconsin lawmaker Nelsen remembered
A former USDA official and six-term Wisconsin Assembly member has died. Betty Jo Nelsen served in the administration of President George H. W. Bush as administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture, and in 1992, was nominated to serve as assistant secretary of agriculture for food and consumer…… read more