Good things grow at our Local Farmers’ markets |
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.
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Soldier Beetles in the Garden |
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 my attention because it just recently showed up in noticeable numbers-the soldier beetle.
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Harvesting the Fruits of Your Labor |
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 asked by a gardener new to growing melons in the home garden, how you can tell when they are ripe. Picking a melon at its peak flavor relies on harvesting at the right stage of maturity. For watermelon, some gardeners use the “thumping” technique. They thump or tap the melon. If a hollow or dull sound is heard, then the melon is considered ready. However, not everyone can clearly hear the difference between the sound a mature melon makes versus an immature one. A more reliable way to determine proper harvest time is when the underside or “ground spot” turns from a greenish white to a yellowish or cream color. Ripe watermelons also tend to lose their glossy look and take on a dull appearance. Plus, watch for the tendrils nearest the melon to curl and turn brown.
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2025 Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic Plant Disease Talks
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Each month in 2025, the UW Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic (PDDC) will sponsor a Zoom presentation on a plant disease-related topic. The presentations are free, but registration is needed. For descriptions and to register, go to PDDC Plant Disease Talks.
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Looking for more gardening information? Or want to ask a gardening question?
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What is Included in a Preconditioning Program? |
Fall weaning will be here before you know it. Preconditioning calves is one opportunity to add value to your calf crop. A preconditioning program is a period of time after weaning, but before selling, that producers can build the health status and bunk break their calves.
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Pricing Corn Silage – Estimating the Value of the 2025 Crop |
Wisconsin has led the nation in corn silage production for decades, harvesting approximately 800,000 acres annually. While alfalfa has been widely accepted as the “Queen” of the Forages, there should be no doubt about who is the “King”. Corn silage enables us to harvest more Milk Per Acre (MPA) (dry matter (DM) yield X Milk Per Ton (MPT) = MPA), than any other forage crop grown statewide.
Milk Per Acre (MPA) = Dry Matter (DM) Yield * Milk Per Ton (MPT)
One of the most common questions this time of year is, “How much is corn silage worth?” The truth is there is no one sure reply. The one constant is that grain prices drive the process of trying to arrive at a “fair” value. Instead of trying to come to an exact price, the goal is to identify and discuss the factors both parties involved in any transaction need to consider.
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Revisiting Mycotoxins and Silage – How to Feed the Dairy |
Preventing mycotoxin contamination in corn silage requires a multi-pronged approach, including field management, proper harvesting, ensiling techniques, and strategic feeding practices. Now is a good time to consider some in-field management to reduce deoxynivalenol issues in your silage crop. Note that foliar fungicides have had mixed results when it comes to reducing deoxynivalenol in Wisconsin over the years, but might have greater likelihood of success on highly susceptible hybrids.
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UW - Madison Division of Extension Cow-Calf & Fall Forage Twilight Meeting |
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Make plans to attend the UW-Madison Division of Extension Cow-Calf & Fall Forage Twilight Meeting on September 9, 2025, from 5 –7 pm at Wolf Creek Angus, 35431 100th St., Stanley, WI. Together, our host farm, the North Central WI Cattlemen’s Association and Extension Educators will discuss Selecting Herd Replacements: considerations including using phenotypes and genomics to build your herd, and Fall Forage Management: from fall fertilizer application, soil sampling and feed inventory.
This event is free, but RSVP is required by calling Extension Taylor County at 715-748-1413 by August 18 so we can plan materials and snacks. Please come prepared: this is a rain or shine event with walking involved: bring rain gear and your own lawn chair for seating. Wear clean, washable footwear and you will be expected to follow the farm’s biosecurity regarding footwear and travel/walking on the farm.
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Manure Applicators Field Day |
Manure Field Day – Sept 10 in Menomonie! Join UW-Madison Extension for a hands-on demo of low disturbance manure toolbars at Alfalawn Farm from 1–3 PM. See top equipment in action and learn about soil-friendly practices. Bring a lawn chair! Location: N2601 County Hwy D, Menomonie, WI
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Prairie Walk at Lake Wissota State Park |
Saturday September 13 at 10 a.m. at Lake Wissota State Park join horticulture educator, Margaret Murphy and master naturalist, Sue Crisp for a walk on the Prairie Wildflower Nature Trail (0.5 miles). The trail is located in the middle of the park and offers up-close views of tall grasses and a variety of other plants. Meet at the trail head. Event is free.
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Webinar: Boosting Fertility of Dairy Cows Through Better Semen Handling |
From managing liquid nitrogen tanks to thawing techniques and AI gun preparation, this session will highlight practical, research-backed strategies that protect semen viability and enhance reproductive success. This session will also discuss cleanliness and the best way to store your breeding supplies. When: September 16th, 2025, 11:00 AM
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Native Plants and Pollinators Talk |
Discover the benefits of native plants in your garden and attract essential pollinators. Cultivate a thriving, eco-friendly garden with practical tips, insights, and inspiration. Wednesday, September 17 at 4 p.m. at the Bloomer Public Library.
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"Ewe Got This" - Lambing Basics Workshop |
The “Ewe Got This” Lambing Basics Workshop will be held on September 20 in Menomonie, WI, offering hands-on training for sheep and goat producers. Topics include lambing nutrition, ewe and lamb health, biosecurity, practice with a realistic lambing simulator, and more! Registration is $20 and due by September 12.
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Save a Calf, Save a Cow calving school for dairy and beef producers |
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Connect with us on our websites to learn more, stay updated and get in touch!
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The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.
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