University of Wisconsin-Madison
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.
Is your farm’s future on your mind? The “Cultivating Your Farm’s Future” virtual workshop series is designed to help farm families like yours start their succession plans. Whether you’re the owner wondering how to transfer to the next generation, or the next generation with questions about your future role, multiple farm/family members are encouraged to […]
Whenever I find myself at a farmers’ market, I am always struck by the boisterous hum of voices as vendors and shoppers alike are busy having conversations and sharing laughs. This is a common scene at farmers’ markets in our area. Farmers’ markets give customers a chance to meet the people who grow the food […]
A wonderful thing about the community garden I garden in is that together with vegetables, garden plots are often peppered with an assortment of flowers. As I wandered through the gardens the other day, I couldn’t help but notice how alive it was with the movement and sounds of insects. One insect in particular caught […]
Some of my favorite childhood memories are of summertime picnics in the backyard with my family. Good food, good laughs and, come August, lots of watermelon. It was just the right treat at the end of a hot summer’s day. Melons belong to the cucurbit family, which include squash, pumpkins and cucumbers. Recently, I was […]
Eggplants are ready for harvest! I have already eaten my first of the season and it tasted delicious! The cultivation of eggplant is thought to have originated in India domesticated from a wild form. This nightshade has a colorful history. Folks in medieval times believed it to have properties of a love portion. In later […]
As we finish out July and head into August, gardeners are looking forward to harvesting their tomatoes. Tasting that first, freshly picked tomato is a joy every tomato grower knows. But this is also the time to keep a look out for some common disease and disorders that may show up on tomato plants. One […]
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. […]
And so it begins… I checked some of my squash plants the other day and there they were as happy as can be. Two squash bugs enjoying their afternoon on the leaf of a buttercup squash. Upon further inspection, I found a cluster of their reddish-brown eggs nicely stacked on a stem. This is the […]
The Extension Livestock Program is here to provide timely, research-based resources to help farmers, consumers, and industry professionals make informed decisions about livestock care, management, and production. One of the ways we support producers is through education on livestock feeding and nutrition. In this short video, we explore the importance of forage sampling—a valuable tool […]
Gardening is a great way to connect (or reconnect) kids to nature but it can offer so much more! Gardens allow children to interact and get curious about the natural world. Figuring out what a plant needs to grow. How does the temperature affect your garden? What happens if it doesn’t rain for a while […]
Gardening offers many benefits. For many, it’s an enjoyable form of exercise and provides activities that help increase strength, balance, flexibility and endurance. Just being outdoors surrounded by greenery can reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. Plus, there are the added benefits of having easy access to fresh, nutritious produce and the satisfaction of having […]
Kimberly Kester & Ryan Sterry Setting goals Setting herd goals is one of the first steps towards driving on-farm success. After all, you can’t get where you’re going without a clear destination. Goal setting can help you work towards continuous improvement for both herd performance and profitability. Goals should be S.M.A.R.T., meaning they are specific, […]
