Welcome to our latest agriculture newsletter!  This edition explores the Language of Flowers, revealing how different blooms convey unique messages. We also cover Newborn Calf Processing, providing essential tips for ensuring calf health from birth. Lastly, we Focus on Forage, discussing best practices for growing, harvesting, and storing quality forage to maximize its nutritional value. Happy reading, and here's to a bountiful season ahead! 

Margaret Murphy

It’s February and that means Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Florists across the country are preparing for one of the busiest times of the year. According to the Society of American Florists, Americans buy around 10 million cut flowers every day with Valentine's Day being the top holiday for floral purchases (30% of all holiday transactions).

Roses top the list for Valentine’s Day flowers. You may be familiar with the concept of the language of flowers, otherwise known as floriography.  Every flower carries its own special meaning or symbolism, which is influenced by its variety and color. In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, the following list includes some of the most common meanings for roses by color:

pink—Perfect happiness

red—Love

white—You’re heavenly

thornless—Love at first sight

If floriography is something you are interested in, take a look at a list of common flowers and their meanings from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach at The Language of Flowers.

And keep in mind that flowers aren’t just for holidays or available as gifts. I enjoy brightening up my home or office with freshly cut flowers especially in the summer. In my gardens, I grow a variety of flowers, and many make beautiful and easy arrangements. If you are interested in learning more about flowers in the home garden that make good cut flowers, feel free to reach out.

Margaret Murphy

Pruning season is upon us. Late winter / early spring is when we get out to prune many deciduous trees, fruit trees and shrubs. Since pruning can be a daunting topic, I thought I’d share several related resources with you (when wanting to learn about a topic, I often find it useful to read about the topic from a few different sources).

Deciduous Trees

UW Madison Extension fact sheet Pruning Deciduous Trees

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pruning Oak Trees

UW Madison Extension Oak Wilt

Apple Trees

UW Madison Extension Training and Pruning Apple Trees

UMN Extension Now's the time to prune apple trees

Deciduous Shrubs

UW Madison Extension Pruning Deciduous Shrubs

UMN Extension Pruning trees and shrubs

Please feel free to reach out to me or at Ask Your Garden Question  if you have questions about pruning.

2025 Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic Plant Disease Talks

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.

Looking for more gardening information? Or want to ask a gardening question?

Visit Wisconsin Horticulture – Division of Extension website at https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/ or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WisconsinGarden.

Margaret Murphy

Email: margaret.murphy@wisc.edu

Chippewa, Dunn & Eau Claire Counties

Are Milking Robots the Future of Dairy Farming? 

Join us for a FREE conference exploring Automatic Milking Systems (AMS) and their impact on profitability, labor efficiency, and herd health.

This conference is scheduled for two dates/locations:

Minnesota: Feb. 26, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Shady’s Bar & Grill Railside, Paynesville, MN.

Wisconsin: Feb. 27, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Eau Claire Library, Eau Claire, WI.

 What’s in Store?

Expert presentations from UW-Madison, University of Minnesota, and UC-Davis.

Insights on AMS profitability, labor efficiency, and herd health.

Producer panel sharing firsthand experiences.

Networking opportunities and lunch provided!

 Register by Feb. 19 at z.umn.edu/DairyRobotMeeting2025.

Thanks to our sponsors, this event is free! Don’t miss the chance to explore the future of dairy farming.

Ryan Sterry

During the dark and cold of winter, it can be uplifting to think about the new season just around the corner. Spring represents new growth and renewal. The same is true of calving season for our beef operations. While in practice our beef calving seasons vary greatly from farm to farm, it’s always a good time to review your calving season preparation checklist.

Average gestation lengths range from 279-287 days but can go longer and shorter. Factoring in the possibility of a calf arriving a week or two early, plus the time to re-order supplies or repair facilities, this means your calving season preparations should start a minimum of 3-4 weeks in advance.

There are several items to consider placing in your calving kit (this is not an exhaustive list). A starting place is inspecting last year’s equipment. For example, if calf bottles and esophageal feeders have cracks, or were put away dirty last year, it’s time to toss and replace them. Other items to consider include:

· Veterinarian’s phone number

· Disposable OB gloves

· OB lubricant

· OB chains or straps plus handles

· Calf puller

· Clean towels

· Halter and rope

· Disinfectant

· Water pail and access to warm water

Post calving items to include are:

· Ear tags and tagger

· Record keeping forms

· Frozen colostrum or a colostrum replacer

· Iodine or other navel disinfectant

· Needles and syringes

· Calf bottle

· Esophageal feeder

· Newborn calf vaccines and/or supplements

For more information, please click here https://www.beeftips.com/cattlemens-corner/monthly-checkoff-updates/producing-quality-beef-workshops/. 

Ryan Sterry

Email: ryan.sterry@wisc.edu

Chippewa, Dunn & Eau Claire Counties

The 2025 Chippewa County Tree Sale is open! We have transitioned to online ordering therefore we have a new website for you to use.

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. Live Training / Review Sessions. These one-day sessions are meant to be a general review of material in your manual and DO NOT cover everything that might appear on the certification exam. At the end of the review session, the certification exam will be given. You can sign up for sessions in the online store. Space is limited. All start times are 9:00am. You need to register to attend these locations at https://patstore.wisc.edu/secure/collection/private/45 cost is $10.00

February 21 – Augusta-Bridge Creek Fire Department, 745 Industrial Dr., Augusta

February 25 - Chippewa Valley Dairy Supply, 6055 County Rd G, Stanley

2. 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.

3. 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%.

4. 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

The Focus on Forage webinar series begins Feb. 5 at 12:30 p.m. We'll highlight research-based information and farmer strategies to optimize the forage yield, quality, and profitability of Wisconsin alfalfa (Feb. and March 5), corn silage (Feb. 12), and forage cover crops (Feb. 26).

Certified Crop Advisor CEUs and ARPAS credits are available for each free webinar. Registration and recording of past Focus on Forage talks available at go.wisc.edu/FoF2025

NRCS Short-Term Perennial

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

Resources for Making ARC and PLC Decisions for 2025

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.

Jerry Clark

Email: jerome.clark@wisc.edu 

Chippewa, Dunn & Eau Claire Counties

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.