News!

Pressure Canner Testing

Need your pressure canner tested for the upcoming food preservation season? Pressure Canner testing is available Monday through Thursday during office hours. Please call ahead to schedule a time. There is no charge to have your canner tested. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 715-726-7950.

Gardening Tips for Older Adults (and anyone who loves gardening)

Gardening offers many benefits. It’s an enjoyable form of exercise and provides physical activity that helps increase strength, balance, flexibility and endurance. Just being outdoors surrounded by greenery can reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. Plus, for vegetable growers, there are the added benefits of having easy access to fresh, home-grown produce and the satisfaction […]

High-Oleic Soybean Field Day

Save the Date! Join us for a High-Oleic Soybean Field Day on August 18th. This field day will focus on practical information for dairy farms interested in incorporating high-oleic soybeans into their feeding programs. The day will begin with educational presentations and lunch at the Chippewa Valley Tech College Energy Education Center. In the afternoon, […]

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds: The small jewels of the sky!

The other day I watched a hummingbird hover outside the living room window. He flew up and down, backwards and then off like a shot out of view. Our visitor was the ruby-throated hummingbird. It is easy to recognize. The male has an emerald, green back, a white breast and, of course, a ruby-red throat. […]

Herb Corner: Rosemary, a favorite herb

Having trouble remembering where the car keys are? Grab a sprig of rosemary. It has a reputation for improving memory. Like most herbs, this Mediterranean native has a rich history in folklore. In the Middle Ages rosemary was used to protect against evil spirits. If placed beneath your pillow, it would ward off bad dreams. […]

Peonies

Peonies are blooming and what a lovely sight. Down through history, peonies have been held as a symbol of beauty, prosperity and honor. Conveying the meaning of a ‘happy life’ or ‘happy marriage’, it’s not surprising that you can find them in countless paintings, stories and myths. Cherished by gardeners for centuries, peonies continue to […]

Gardening in the Shade: Don’t be afraid of the dark

Some people consider shady areas in their landscape a challenge when trying to grow flowering plants. One of the many yards I have gardened in had quite a bit of shade. As I explored shade-tolerant plants, I discovered that there is a wide range of possibilities. The first step to planning your shade garden is […]

Livestock Disease Prevention

By Sandra Stuttgen, DVM Livestock Educator UW-Madison Division of Extension Taylor County The 2026 World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Report states that “1.3 billion people globally depend on farmed animals for food and income, and each year, animal diseases destroy more than 20% of global animal production. It’s estimated that 75% of emerging infectious […]

Increase in Wisconsin Salmonella Infection Reports Linked to Backyard Poultry

Each spring and summer, the United States typically experiences a multistate outbreak of salmonellosis associated with exposure to backyard poultry (BYP). Since March 1, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked 17 salmonellosis cases among Wisconsin residents to this year’s backyard poultry multistate outbreak. Backyard poultry, like chickens and ducks, can […]

Tender Bulbs

Flowering bulbs can really liven up a landscape. They come in an enormous assortment of sizes and colors that some folks say is unequalled by any other flower group. If you are like me, when you think of flowering bulbs it’s the hardy types that come to mind. Spring just wouldn’t be announced without the […]

Pruning flowering shrubs

It appears that spring has finally arrived and we are now enjoying the spectacular color and aroma of many spring-flowering shrubs. I wait patiently through the months to experience the intense, orange fragrance of my mock orange shrub when it blooms this time of year. However, that scent also reminds me that it is time […]