Weather slowed Wisconsin fieldwork
Wisconsin farmers are ahead of average for harvesting, but last week’s weather slowed them down. USDA reporters say Wisconsin’s corn for grain harvest is 97% finished. Ninety-seven percent of the winter wheat crop has emerged, with 74% of that crop in good to excellent condition. That’s a percentage point better than a week ago, thanks… ...
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Phone app teaches best practices for moving cattle
Teaching people how to safely move cattle is a little easier thanks to a free training tool. Jennifer Van Os is an assistant professor and animal care extension specialist with the University of Wisconsin. She tells Brownfield a free game application for smart phones helps teach people the safe way to move cattle. It’s called… ...
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Hybrid selection key for 2025
An agronomist with LG Seeds says success in 2025 starts with corn hybrid selection. Samantha Agnotti, who’s based in Wisconsin, says farmers should begin with an honest evaluation of 2024. “Now is the time.” She says, “Harvest season is fresh in your mind. It’s the time to start looking into next year. We know what… ...
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Researchers work to make cheese curds squeaky longer
Researchers are looking for ways to extend the freshness of cheese curds, and that means making the squeak last longer. Consumers of cheese curds know the more squeak you hear while eating them, the fresher they are. Rani Govindasamy-Lucey’s research team is working to understand what makes the squeak and how to make it last… ...
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USDA announces more than $24 million in REAP funds for rural Wisconsin businesses
Thirteen rural businesses in Wisconsin have been awarded more than $24 million from the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to become more energy efficient. The largest project, a $22.6 million loan, will support the development of a dairy manure anaerobic digester in Brown County which will convert methane to renewable gas. The other… ...
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Harvest about done, field work continues in Wisconsin
Above normal temperatures allowed Wisconsin farmers to continue with harvesting and fall field work in between rain events. USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service says Wisconsin had 4.6 days suitable for fieldwork, with precipitation events common in the eastern and southern parts of the state. The corn for grain harvest continued, with 94% of that corn… ...
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Wisconsin ag impact on economy grows
Cabbage field in Wisconsin The economic impact of agriculture on Wisconsin’s economy is 11.5 billion dollars higher in just five years. New data from the University of Wisconsin’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics shows the impact of agriculture in 2017 was 104.8 billion dollars, but 2022 data shows ag production, and the food processing… ...
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Wisconsin harvest running ahead
Recent rains have been good for fall planted crops in Wisconsin. The USDA says the state’s corn crop is 89 percent harvested, ahead of the five-year average, with about 16 percent moisture. Winter wheat is 89 percent emerged with condition rated 74 percent good to excellent. The post Wisconsin harvest running ahead appeared first on… ...
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Be careful if cutting back on 2025 crop inputs
An agronomist says with commodity prices so low, farmers are looking for more ways to lower crop production costs in 2025. Scott Rowntree with Pioneer in Wisconsin says corn acreage in his state stays consistent because of the dairy industry’s need for corn silage, but growers focused on grain are looking for ways to be… ...
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Recent rains improved fall tillage conditions
A northcentral Wisconsin farmer says last week’s slow and steady rain greatly improved field conditions. T.J. Draeger tells Brownfield he had over two inches of rain a little at a time, which softened the soil. He says early attempts at fall tillage in the hard and dry ground were challenging. “We were wearing out plow… ...
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USDA trims 2024 corn, soybean crop outlooks
The USDA has lowered its expectations for this year’s corn and soybean crops. Corn production is now pegged at 15.143 billion bushels, less than 1% below the October guess on a 0.7 bushel cut in the still record large average yield estimate of 183.1 bushels per acre. Harvested area was steady with last month at… ...
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Wisconsin Farm Bureau says election brought mixed results
A Wisconsin Farm Bureau leader says Tuesday’s election brought opportunities and some disappointment. Jason Mugnaini tells Brownfield with Republicans taking the White House and Senate, it’s not the time to take their foot off the gas on important issues for farmers. “Talking about a farm bill, talking about issues that matter to this state, finding… ...
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Farmland sales continue slowdown
Farmland sales continued to slow this year. Compeer Financial director of appraisal Dave Dinderman says there’s been about a 20 percent decrease in sales compared to 2023. “And while that may not seem like much, that’s a continuation of a trend of fewer and fewer sales over the prior few years.” He tells Brownfield with… ...
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Rain a welcome sight for Wisconsin wheat and fall tillage
The rain from late last week delayed some Wisconsin harvesting, but improved soil moisture and winter wheat conditions. USDA reporters say harvesting continued without interruption early in the week, but by Sunday, Wisconsin had from half an inch to more than three inches of rainfall, with scattered reports of snow. Eighty-two percent of the winter… ...
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Economist hopes for ARC-PLC changes in next farm bill
An agricultural economist says he hopes the farm bill safety net programs are modernized in the next farm bill. Paul Mitchell with the University of Wisconsin-Madison tells Brownfield the recently-announced Ag Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage payments for the 2023 crop year are not helping farmers very much. “There is definitely going to be… ...
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Recent Midwest rain welcomed by farmers
An agronomist says the recent rain system that moved though the Midwest was a welcome sight. Bob Berkevich with Pioneer tells Brownfield parts of his southern Wisconsin territory had from half an inch to nearly three inches of rain, and although it’s too late to help corn and soybeans, it’s good for the summer-seeded alfalfa… ...
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Vet says H5N1 federal order falls short
About six months after USDA issued a federal order requiring testing for Influenza A in livestock to mitigate the spread, the virus continues to affect livestock and humans. USDA says there have been at least 160 confirmed cases of H5N1 in livestock in the past month across Idaho and California. And the Centers for Disease… ...
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Upper Mississippi River shipping season ends December 9th
Shipping on the upper Mississippi River upstream from Lynxville, Wisconsin will end December 9th this year. Patrick Moes with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St Paul District tells Brownfield that’s when winter maintenance will begin on three of their lock and dam facilities. “Lock and Dam #2 which is right near Hastings, Minnesota, and… ...
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Lawmakers question USDA on Pure Prairie Poultry oversight
A group of Republican lawmakers are questioning USDA’s oversight after Minnesota-based Pure Prairie Poultry filed for bankruptcy less than 2 years after receiving more than $45 million in loans and grants. U.S. Senator from Iowa Chuck Grassley says companies don’t just fail out of the blue and the group wants answers. “What did the USDA… ...
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More dry weather allows Wisconsin harvesting to continue ahead of schedule
Harvesting continued in Wisconsin last week as the dry spell continued. Only scattered sprinkles fell across the state, as topsoil moistures dipped to 42% short and 31% very short. Cranberry harvesting continues, and carrots are coming in for processing now. The soybean and potato harvests are about finished for the year. Wisconsin’s corn for grain… ...
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