Tag Agriculture
Partnerships to produce better dairy: Larson Acres and the Dairyland Initiative
The rhythmic hum of milking machines fills the air as dawn’s first light spills over the rolling hills of Evansville, Wisconsin. At Larson Acres, another… Read More
Burning and Learning
UW–Madison instructors, land care managers and students, along with the help of volunteers and farmers, are returning fire to landscapes on and off campus to restore the beauty of native tall grass prairies and oak savannas. Read More
Printed sensors in soil could help farmers improve crop yields and save money
The researchers’ new sensors could also be used as an agricultural research tool to monitor nitrate leaching and help guide best practices for mitigating its harmful effects. Read More
Abandoned farmlands could play a role in fighting climate change. A new study shows exactly where they are.
A research team used machine learning to map nearly 30 million acres of United States cropland abandoned since the 1980s, creating a tool that could guide decisions about how to balance production of energy and food. Read More
Weather station network to expand across Wisconsin, aiding farmers and others
With the help of a statewide network of weather stations known as a mesonet, the state would be better equipped to deal with the future obstacles of a changing climate. Read More
Agricultural Research Station field days return for 2021 season
After taking a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UW–Madison’s Agricultural Research Stations will again host public field days during the 2021 growing season to share research updates and educational information. Read More
Midwest bumble bees declined with more farmed land, less diverse crops since 1870
Native species declined while the average number of different crops grown in these states was cut in half and as modern agriculture began to focus on intensive production of corn and soybeans Read More
UW grad combines research, tribal traditions in wolf relationship plan
Abi Fergus says understanding tribal citizens’ attitudes toward wolves helped her stay in touch with the human dimension of her research. Read More
Research highlights need for grassland conservation, agriculture support
In a new study, researchers show that newly added croplands converted from grasslands important to wildlife generated less yield than existing cropland. Read More
‘Grassland 2.0’ seeks to transform Upper Midwest agriculture through perennial grasslands
With chronically low and erratic milk prices, some dairy farmers have controlled their production costs with managed grazing. Read More
’Til the cows come home
The cows returned to UW's Dairy Cattle Center on Sept. 1, five months after they were removed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Without students on campus or research projects, the center was temporarily shuttered on March 27. Read More
UW helps farmers reinvent themselves in challenging times
Innovations being developed today will help define the future of American dairy: what products are available, how the land and animals are cared for, and how farmers make a living. Read More
‘Dairy Brain’ project asks farmers to help create smarter dairies
UW researchers are working with dairy farmers, producers and equipment manufacturers to use data to make useful, real-time decisions. Read More
Extension offers guidance on operating a farm during the pandemic
While much of the negative impact on agriculture by COVID-19 is out of farmers' control, there are things they can do now to reduce or prevent the impact of the virus on the health and productivity of their farm. Read More
Six possible impacts of COVID-19 on farming
Only time will reveal the severity of the impacts on agriculture from the novel coronavirus. Here is what farmers, farming families, ag employers and ag employees need to be aware of and plan for. Read More
They’ve got hops — with UW Extension’s help
Brothers Bob and Jim Conant didn’t know the first thing about hops when they started their now thriving hops farm in Tomah. So they turned to their Monroe County Agriculture Educator from what is now the UW–Madison Division of Extension. Read More
Sustainable dairy project finds ways to lower emissions, boost profits
Researchers found that ideal cow genetics, improved feeding strategies and better manure management could allow dairy farms to cut greenhouse gas emissions while producing more milk with less feed. Read More
University helps state growers cope with voracious, invading fruit fly
“These insects have invaded everywhere in the world that grows fruit,” says researcher Hanna McIntosh. “If the mulch works here, it’s probably applicable to people who grow fruit in other places.” Read More
Science meets seat-of-the-tractor observations with Discovery Farms
“By the time Discovery Farms left Cashton in 2017,” says Jack Herricks, “the relationship had changed, the era of finger pointing and distrust had left. It was a pretty dramatic shift.” Read More
Madison College students prepare for transfer, gain biotech skills
An instructor at the technical college saw opportunities at a UW–Madison biotechnology research center for her students to learn lab skills and get ready for attending a four-year college. Read More