Gardening Tips for Older Adults |
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 grown it yourself.
However, as we age, some gardening activities may become more difficult. Less energy and limited mobility are often two of the biggest impacts of aging. Here are some ideas that can make gardening a little easier because growing older doesn’t have to mean giving up the garden.
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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 or if it rains too much? Which bugs like which plants? Gardening is an easy way to peak your child’s interest in natural science.
Then there are the math skills they can practice by counting seeds, measuring out space between plants or rows, or keeping track of how many tomatoes one plant can produce and how much does that give your family to eat?
Other wonderful things they can learn include keen observation skills, responsibility, nurturing and, of course, patience. Plus, creating a garden space just for kids is just a good way to encourage some fun, outdoor family time this summer.
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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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Additional Reading Resources |
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Defining success for reproductive and calf crop performance |
Kimberly Kester & Ryan Sterry
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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.
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2025 Small Ruminant Webinar Series |
A Base Change for Bull Proofs is Coming... April 2025 |
Once every five years base change will happen for bull proofs, this will happen in April 2025 A PTA for production traits is intended to tell the difference between the daughters of a bull and her herdmates. Fortunately, the genetic merit of our national dairy herd is getting better, so once every five years, we adjust the base to account for the improvement of the herdmates. The base change is set to compare the genetics with the average animal born in 2020, a step-up of five years from the previous base.
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2025 Wisconsin Custom Rate Survey |
We are conducting a survey to estimate custom rates for common Wisconsin farming operations. If you are a Wisconsin farmer or a custom operator who performed or hired custom services in 2024, please follow the link: https://go.wisc.edu/CustomRates.
You need only complete the sections of the survey that pertain to you. The survey asks about custom rates for tillage; planting and seeding; fertilizer and chemical application; manure services; grain harvesting, hauling and drying; silage, haylage, and hay services; and tractor and machinery rental.
The survey should take at most about 15 minutes to complete. Your participation is entirely voluntary. You can choose to exit at any time and skip sections that do not pertain to you. Your responses will be confidential, and published results will be anonymous. The survey is funded by the Division of Extension at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
To show our appreciation, those who complete the survey with valid responses can enter a raffle for one of ten Fleet Farm or Cabela’s gift cards for $100. You will be asked to provide contact details at the end of the survey for the raffle.
Survey Link: https://go.wisc.edu/CustomRates
If you have any questions or concerns, contact Paul Mitchell at pdmitchell@wisc.edu or (608) 320-1162 or Brian Luck at bluck@wisc.edu or (608) 890-1861.
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Midwest Alfalfa Insect Regional Survey |
Alfalfa weevil was major issue in western Wisconsin in 2024. The University of Minnesota is leading a Midwest Alfalfa Insect Regional Survey to gather farmer input on alfalfa pest issues.
This survey is primarily meant to assess how farmers are managing alfalfa weevil after reports of resurgences of this pest in some areas of the Midwest to help guide future research and extension recommendations. This survey is also being used to assess needs for other alfalfa insect issues that may need additional focus in the future.
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Pesticide Applicator Training |
Training manuals are only available for purchase through the University of Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Training state office in Madison. Local county extension offices do not have manuals for sale for any training category. You need to purchase your training manual from the state office https://patstore.wisc.edu/secure/collection/private/17 and scroll down to the Private Applicator Training section and then “General Farming”, “Fruit Crops”, or “Greenhouse and Nursery. If you need to order via a paper form to order your manual, please contact the Extension Office.
Cost is $43.00 for the training manual. When you receive your training manual, you will also be provided more information about training options. These training options are also listed below. You must purchase the manual before taking any training or testing options.
1. Online Video Training. These online videos can take the place of in-person or ZOOM training for the General Farm category. They will cover the same material as the in-person sessions. You will need to have a computer, a good internet connection, email, and audio capabilities. You will be sent a link to the training. Once started you have 14 days to complete the training. You will receive one completion certificate that must be shown to the test proctor to be graded at 50%. You will need to take the Exam in person at a participating County Extension Office or online with Pearson VUE (see item 4.). You can register at here and need to have purchased the manual https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d4DVfjmVBmP1ZRA You have 14 days to complete the training once you start the training.
2. A self-study option is also available. For this option, you need to order the manual and when ready to take the test, contact a county extension office to set up an appointment to take the certification test. This option requires a passing score of 70%.
3. If interested in taking the test online, an option exists with a private company. Pearson Vue provides your results immediately and you get your credentials within 3 business days. Tests with Pearson Vue are $45.00 per test. https://patstore.wisc.edu/secure/collection/private/17
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NRCS Short-Term Perennial
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USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) added a scenario to the 328 Practice for Conservation Crop Rotation to include alfalfa as a “Short-Term Perennial” option. Currently, NRCS offices in sixteen states have adopted the practice and have released payment scenarios to inform farmers of the unit cost (per acre payment) for incorporating alfalfa into conservation crop rotations. Payments range from $60.44-$79.07/acre depending on state. More information about the program in Wisconsin is available at https://www.alfalfa.org/NRCSpayment.php
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Resources for Making ARC and PLC Decisions for 2025
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Resources for Making ARC and PLC Decisions for 2025
This website assembles resources to help farmers and those working with farmers make sign-up decisions for the commodity support programs ARC and PLC for the 2025 crop year. The materials have a Wisconsin focus but apply not only to Wisconsin.
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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.
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