COW97 Ag News from Brownfield

A young, Wisconsin dairyman says Plenish soybeans from Pioneer are causing him to alter his operation. Evan Schrauth from Cloven View Holsteins in Fond du Lac County says 2024 was his first experience feeding the high oleic soybeans. “We’ve loved it.”  He says, “We saw an increase in milk along with components and we really… ... Continue Reading

A young Wisconsin dairy farmer says perseverance is paying off. Evan Schrauth from Cloven View Holsteins in Fond du Lac County says he’s always wanted to be a dairyman. “My dad had his own herd of cows and at about two years old I was determined that I was going to farm already.”  He says,… ... Continue Reading

The Trump administration’s recent round of funding freezes and job cuts is being felt by farmers.  Wisconsin Farmers Union’s Tommy Enright tells Brownfield Farmers Union is hearing from concerned members affected by the federal cuts. “We thought it was time to get people together, have our elected officials hear from our members firsthand what those… ... Continue Reading

Midwestern farmland values decreased one percent in 2024. Chicago Federal Reserve Bank policy advisor David Oppedahl says the district, which includes Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, saw dips of two to three percent in every state except Wisconsin. “So we are not seeing everywhere that farmland values are down, but generally in most areas… ... Continue Reading

Note: This story was updated Thursday evening to add a brief statement from Attorney General Josh Kaul. Two of Wisconsin’s dairy organizations have sued State Attorney General Josh Kaul. The Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and the Venture Dairy Cooperative have filed a lawsuit against Kaul, challenging his decision to outsource the department’s environmental litigation work.  Kim… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s FFA State President says his term in office has been a whirlwind so far, and he’s enjoying it. Jescey Thompson from the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau school district is about 2/3rds finished with his term and tells Brownfield his biggest goal for the balance of his term is to keep serving members, chapters, and communities. “Travel to… ... Continue Reading

Avian influenza has been found in some wild birds in Wisconsin. Department of Natural Resources officials confirm finding the H5N1 virus in a wild merganser duck in Milwaukee County.  DNR officials also say there have been reports of around 50 sick ducks along the Lake Michigan shoreline between Milwaukee and the Illinois border.  Since mid-December,… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin producers are raising more sheep.  Jeff Swenson with the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection tells Brownfield the recent USDA livestock report shows national sheep numbers are up slightly, but Wisconsin production grew a little more. “We grew to 80,000 head total. That’s 65,000 breeding ewes, and that’s up 2%, and market lambs… ... Continue Reading

Several of Wisconsin’s agricultural organizations are optimistic the next state budget will continue to fund some successful programs. Jason Mugnaini is Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s director of government relations and also lobbies for the state’s ag coalition.  He tells Brownfield one issue stands out as something farm groups would like the Legislature and Governor to address.… ... Continue Reading

A soybean researcher says cover crops can be another mode of action for controlling weeds, but it will take a lot of biomass. Shawn Conley says University of Wisconsin research through weed scientist Rodrigo Werle shows it takes almost five-thousand pounds of dry matter to effectively minimize waterhemp competition with crops.  Conley says one of… ... Continue Reading

A research veterinarian says an additional strain of the H5N1 virus has been found in dairy cattle, but it’s one he’s seen before.  Dr. Keith Poulsen with the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory tells Brownfield up until recently, farmers and researchers have been dealing with the B313 strain of the H5N1 virus, but now, an additional… ... Continue Reading

A soybean researcher says the potential for a huge crush market is forcing his team to study soybeans planted after soybeans. Shawn Conley with the University of Wisconsin says normally, his advice is don’t do it because of the increased disease risks and other challenges but Conley says the crop rotations used now might not… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s state livestock specialist says Badger state beef producers are growing their herds. Jeff Swenson with the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says, “Wisconsin actually, by percentage, had the largest growth of any state in the U.S.” He says Wisconsin’s beef cattle herd size is small compared to the major producing states, but… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin crop farmer is not expecting any big changes to his spring plans. Shane Goplin raises corn, soybeans, and alfalfa near Osseo, Wisconsin.  He tells Brownfield his spring inputs are lined up. “Everything is secured. I just secured the last of it last week.” Goplin says this winter has been like most every other… ... Continue Reading

An agricultural lender says farmers are finding ways to make it through the down ag economy. Tyler Martin with Compeer Financial says interest rates are higher than before but also closer to normal. “I’ve only been in the industry about 15 to 20 years, and at the end of the day, interest rates are about… ... Continue Reading

The Wisconsin Corn Growers Association is fifty years old, and the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board has been managing the corn checkoff for forty of them.  Cal Dalton farms near Endeavor has been there through the checkoff’s history. “I first started as a sales representative from Mid State going to Corn Expo just as an exhibitor… ... Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s Governor Tony Evers says he will propose additional road, water, and conservation funding in his state budget proposal. Evers says he wants to continue the Agricultural Road Improvement Program, which sent 150-million dollars to local governments to improve local roads. “We’re going to keep building on our work in the next budget to make… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin farmer known for his many soybean experiments has another test underway.  Ryan Nell farms near Juneau, and he wrapped up January by planting some soybeans. “This is something we’ve never done. We have frost underneath all of this right now. I’ve never planted on top of frost. When you go down and dig… ... Continue Reading

A Wisconsin Congressman is again trying to remove wolves from the Endangered Species List. Seventh District Republican Tom Tiffany tells Brownfield he introduced the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, which is almost identical to the Trust the Science Act from last session. “The reason it’s so important is we could get it in statute and… ... Continue Reading

A farmer leader with Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and Minnesota Milk says the newly approved updates to the federal milk marketing orders are just one step forward.  Lucas Sjostrom tells Brownfield. “No big surprise to us, and we advocated to our farmers, who are the only farmers in the whole country who had the individual vote,… ... Continue Reading