Featured in this monthly newsletter are several webinar series, presentations, and articles to help you plan your 2026 growing season. Additionally, browse on-farm research opportunities and upcoming events. Read below and visit our website to learn more.

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.

2025 Weed Science Research Report Now Available

This report shares the results of 30 corn, soybean, spring wheat, and bareground herbicide evaluation research trials conducted by the Wisconsin Cropping Systems Weed Science Program during the 2025 growing season.

2026 Focus on Forage Recordings Available

Missed our free, four-part forage webinar series in February? No worries — catch up on recordings below:

The Seasonality of Soil Sampling: Understanding Variability in Phosphorus and Potassium Test Results

Routine soil sampling is a critical component of any nutrient management plan. When factors like economics and sustainability come into play, both cost and environmental impact can be reduced by applying accurate fertilizer rates.

Watch: From Field to Feed - What we know about growing high-oleic soybeans

Dr. Shawn Conley discusses the agronomic side about what makes growing high-oleic soybeans different, how they perform in the field, and key management considerations.

Boots on the Ground Version 2: AI-Driven Tools for Maximizing Soybean Yield and Profitability

Boots on the Ground Version 2: AI-Driven Tools for Maximizing Soybean Yield and Profitability includes two different projects for farmers and agronomists to explore opportunities to optimize soybean cropping systems: agronomic management comparisons and field scouting alert systems.

SlugNet: Monitor Slug Populations in Wisconsin Field Crops

Slugs are becoming an increasingly challenging pest for Wisconsin farmers, due to greater adoption of conservation cropping practices and milder winters and wetter springs. To improve our understanding of slug pressure across the state and how we can manage them, UW–Madison Extension launched SlugNet, a statewide initiative to monitor slug populations in field crops. 

Fine Tuning Nitrogen Management Through On-Farm Research In-Person Workshops

March 12: Juneau (Dodge Co.)
March 19: Eau Claire (Eau Claire Co.)

These late-winter workshops explore strategies to advance nitrogen management for improved profitability and water quality through local research results and discussions with participating farmers, agronomists, and other regional partners.

Virtual Nutrient Management Training

March 13 | Online

The Nutrient and Pest Management Program within the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) are offering a virtual training for farmers interested in writing their own nutrient management plans.

Cold Climate Fruit Webinar Series

March 13: Organic Fire Blight and Apple Scab Management
April 10: Achieving Maximum Sprayer Effectiveness

Join the UW Fruit program for four cold-climate apple-growing webinars focused on disease management this spring. Webinars are free and online, but registration is required. 

 2026 Central Wisconsin Processing Crops Meeting

March 18 | Hancock

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension is hosting the annual Central Wisconsin Processing Crops Meeting on Wednesday, March 18 from 9 a.m.–noon at the Hancock Agricultural Research Station in Hancock, WI. Registration is $25 and includes lunch.

Vegetable Production Winter Webinar Series

March 18: Irrigation Basics for Diversified Vegetable Systems
April 1: Produce Safety Considerations in Irrigation

Join us for four engaging conversations with experts who will share their research, successes, and challenges when designing irrigation systems and what it means for produce safety concerns.

Winter Camelina Workshop

March 19 | Columbus

A brassica with winter-hardiness similar to cereal rye, winter camelina is an exciting opportunity for Wisconsin farmers looking to diversify their cover cropping program with potentials for cash cropping. Join us at Club 60 to learn from Extension research if a camelina cover crop can run a compromise in preventing nitrate leaching while reducing yield drag on the following corn crop.

Chippewa Valley Healthy Water Summit

March 20 | Eau Claire

The summit will feature local experts discussing water quality, soil health, nutrient management, conservation practices, and protecting community water resources. CCA credits are available, and registration includes lunch and refreshments.

Making the Cut: Apple and Grape Pruning Workshop

March 20 | Sturgeon Bay

Join us for a hands-on workshop focused on understanding the art and science of pruning apple trees and grape vines. You will learn the essential “why, when, and how” of fruit tree/vine pruning to encourage healthy trees and improve fruit yield. 

Emerging Berry Crops Winter Webinar Series

April 2: Farmer Panel

Join Extension's emerging crops staff in three winter webinars to dive into growing four emerging berry crops in Wisconsin — day-neutral strawberries, table grapes, elderberries, and currants — and hear from farmers who grow them. Webinars are free and online, but registration is required.

Wisconsin Vegetable Crop Update Newsletter

Veggie producers, sign up to receive tailored updates from the UW–Madison Departments of Plant Pathology, Entomology, Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, and Soil and Environmental Science. 

Sign up by contacting Dr. Amanda Gevens.

Wisconsin Fruit News

Fruit producers, sign up to receive tailored updates from the UW–Madison Fruit Program. Sign up and read more here.

Field Notes - DATCP's Pest Survey Program Newsletter

Sign up to receive pest monitoring data and maps, current articles on economically important plant pests affecting Wisconsin's field crops, fruits, vegetables, nurseries, and forests. Sign up on DATCP's website or read newsletters on the web here.  

UW–Madison Division of Extension Crops and Soils Program

Find articles, resources, educational events and more at cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.

Partially supported by National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Crop Protection and Pest Management-Extension Implementation Program award number 2024-70006-43559.