This newsletter is co-written by your local UW-Madison Extension Ag Educators, Beth McIlquham (livestock) and Anastasia Kurth (crops and soils). 

Notes from your Regional Livestock Educator - Beth McIlquham 

-Beef Quality Assurance (BQA): In-person BQA trainings are schedule for the end of 2025 and early 2026. Registration and more information can be found on the Wisconsin Beef Council website. 

-Fall 2025 Cattle Feeder Projections Now Available: With cattle prices at all-time highs, forward-thinking cattle feeders and backgrounders will be doing some calculations to determine what they can pay for feeder calves, and/or what they should forward contract them for. To assist with this task UW-Madison Division of Extension has assembled a set of projections using initial purchase prices for feeders calves derived from late September 2025 Wisconsin feeder calf sale reports. Learn more on the UW-Madison Extension Livestock website.

-Disease Digest: The UW-Madison Extension Livestock team has created a webpage that houses resources and information on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in a backyard poultry flock in Racine County in October. There have been no cases of New World Screwworm in the U.S. in livestock, but more information can be found here. A horse tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Marathon County. For animal owners of all kinds, please evalutate your biosecurity protocols, including pest management.

Notes from your Regional Crops and Soils Educator - Anastasia Kurth

I hope everyone is having a safe harvest season! As the cropping season is coming to an end, there are still plenty of field activities happening. Fall is the ideal time to take soil samples. If you need guidance on soil sampling, Extension is happy to help. Some cover crop fields have been off to a slower start with the lack of rainfall. Keep monitoring your cover crops; rye can still germinate at 33 degrees. Even if there is little fall growth, winter and spring moisture can give seeds a boost in the spring. 

Have you struggled with johnsongrass on your farm this year? I am looking to collect seed samples if you still have some standing. Please let me know if you do; I would be happy to take some seeds away for you!  

Ag Weather Outlook for Wisconsin

Winter wheat emerging and cover crop planting. 

This workshop is for beef, dairy, and their workers. This workshop provides information and techniques to boost your confidence in preparing the cow for calving, obstetric techniques and newborn calf care. Cost is $20. Find more information and registration by clicking on the picture above or the button below. With any other questions, please contact Beth McIlquham (contact information listed at the bottom of the newsletter). Registration for Spanish speakers is now closed. Offering English sessions only. 

Kalahari, Wisconsin Dells

Now is the time to evaluate your forage inventory and compare it with the herd’s expected feed needs.

Several criteria should be considered when deciding if adding weight and condition to market cows makes sense.

Agricultural Policy Webinar Series

-November 17: Managing Risk with Updated Commodity Support Programs

-November 24: What Farmers Need to Know About Tax Changes in OBBBA

-December 1: Dairy Risk Management Programs, Trade Policy Impacts, and Market Outlook

-December 8: Farm Policy Climate and What to Expect Moving Forward

Register HERE

Beth McIlquham 

Regional Livestock Educator

Email: beth.mcilquham@wisc.edu

Phone: (608) 632-0599

Anastasia Kurth

Regional Crops and Soils Educator

Email: anastasia.kurth@wisc.edu

Phone: 608-477-3018 (text or call) 

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Thank you! 

An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements. 

Please make requests for reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to educational programs as early as possible preceding the scheduled program, service, or activity. For communicative accommodations in languages other than English, please contact oaic@extension.wisc.edu.  For communicative accommodations based on a disability, please contact Heather Lipinski Stelljes at: heather.stelljes@wisc.edu for the public.