Badger Crop Connect webinar is back

Get real-time expert management tips for your or your clients’ fields. Join our webinars to hear from UW–Madison corn, soybean, small grain, and forage management researchers throughout the Wisconsin growing season. Earn free CCA credits for every webinar you attend.

Recordings for on-demand viewing are available on the Division of Extension’s YouTube channel or by navigating to the Badger Crop Connect web page and expanding the Recordings tab. To receive emails about upcoming webinar topics, recorded video availability, and other training opportunities and resources, sign up today!

2026 Spring Ag Outlook - Thursday, April 9 - 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

When should I terminate my cover crop?

Ultimately, the effectiveness of a cover crop depends on one critical factor: the amount of biomass it produces. The biomass required is different depending on the goal for the cover crop. What’s adequate for erosion control may not be enough for weed suppression. It’s also essential to consider the trade-offs between increasing cover crop biomass and managing the cash crop.

To help farmers set realistic biomass targets, researchers in Wisconsin have studied one of the most widely used cover crops—cereal rye (also known as winter rye or annual rye, but not to be confused with annual ryegrass)—and identified biomass thresholds that align with three common cover crop goals: reducing nitrate leaching, minimizing erosion and runoff, and suppressing weeds.  

Resources for early planted soybeans

Over the past decade, soybean agronomists have strongly advocated for the practice of early soybean planting, backed by extensive data supporting its benefits in terms of yield and economic profitability. Great, but what are some of the risks, how should I be protecting against those risks, and should I be planting beans or corn first? 

Smart potassium management

Crop removal of potassium (K) is high in common Wisconsin crops like alfalfa, corn silage, and high-yielding soybeans. When soil test levels slip too low, yields and crop quality can both suffer.

Recent University of Wisconsin research updates reinforce one clear message: potassium is one of the best nutrient investments on the farm when managed wisely.

How lung ultrasounds are changing calf care

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains one of the most common and costly health challenges in preweaned dairy calves. While traditional diagnosis relies on visual symptoms, such as coughing, nasal discharge, or elevated temperature, these signs often appear late in the disease process, after damage has already occurred. Even when calves appear healthy, subclinical lung infections — or non-visible forms of pneumonia — can compromise growth, feed efficiency, and future milk production.