Featured in this monthly winter newsletter are several winter webinar series, surveys, and tools to help you plan your crop variety selection and product purchasing decisions. Read below and visit our website to learn more.

Winners of the 2025 Wisconsin Soybean Yield Contest

Established to inspire the adoption of new and innovative management practices, the Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA) Soybean Yield Contest highlights the critical role of sound agronomic and cultural techniques in driving productivity and sustainability across the state’s soybean production systems.

January 15 NRCS National Program Participation Deadline

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the establishment of a new, national 2026 batching deadline of January 15, 2026 for many of their key programs, including EQIP and CSP. According to USDA, "National and State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) will follow later in the year."

Phosphorus Fertilizer Enhancement Products - What do we know?

With phosphorus (P) fertilizers being subject to sharp and volatile price increases over the past year, producers are seeking ways to cut their fertilizer costs without risking yield-limiting P deficiencies. While there’s no magical solution that will replace P fertilization and the 4Rs (Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, and Right Place) of nutrient management, understanding the mechanisms of fertilizer enhancement products currently on the market can aid in the decision to use them.

Agricultural Biologicals Survey

If you have experience with, interest in, or intend to work with biological inputs of any kind on your farm or farms which you advise, we want to hear from you in our quick, 10-question survey. 

2025 Wisconsin Fungicide Test and Disease Management Summary

Each year the Wisconsin Field Crops Pathology Program conducts a wide array of fungicide and disease management tests on alfalfa, corn, soybeans, and wheat. These tests help inform researchers, practitioners, and farmers about the efficacy of certain fungicide products on specific diseases and how to pair them with other disease management strategies.

Managing Alfalfa Insect Regional Survey

If you are an alfalfa grower in Wisconsin, we want to hear about your experiences managing alfalfa weevil and what adaptations are needed as the dynamics of this pest change. Please contribute to the Midwest Alfalfa Insect Regional Survey, led by the University of Minnesota, today.

Field Notes: BMPs of NMPs - All Podcast Episodes Available

Listen to Will and Landon break down nutrient management planning in the Field Notes podcast. 

Episode 1: Introduction to Nutrient Management Planning

Episode 2: Wisconsin’s 590 Nutrient Management Standard Today and Beyond

Episode 3: Calculating Soil Erosion, PI, SCI, and Management Strategies

Episode 4: Soil and Land Feature Restrictions for 590 and CAFO Farms

Episode 5: Nutrient Management Planning and Soil Health

Episode 6: On-Farm Implementation of Nutrient Management in Southwest WI

Cold Climate Fruit Webinar Series

Jan. 16: Marssonina Leaf Blotch 
Feb. 13: NEWA Fire Blight and Apple Scab
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. 

Climate and Crops Workshop

Jan. 20 | Two Sessions - Mauston (a.m.) and Plain (p.m.)

Join the Wisconsin State Climatology Office and Crops and Soils Division of Extension for a workshop. Topics include county climate summaries, monitoring tools available to you, climate and agriculture, and worrisome weeds.

Organic Vegetable Production Conference

Jan. 22–23 | Online
Jan. 30–31 | In-Person, Madison

This producer-initiated conference is designed for advanced growers and attracts participants from throughout the Midwest and beyond. Those who register after January 6 may receive their conference packet before or AFTER the online sessions. Online sessions are held over Zoom.

Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum

Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Madison

The Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum brings together leaders from across the agricultural sector to explore key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping Wisconsin agriculture. The 2026 Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum will focus on the Wisconsin Experience in Agriculture and Trade. Some measures show that Wisconsin seems to be bucking these national trends. Is this view accurate? Will this trend continue? Which agricultural sectors are struggling in the state? Which are thriving? What factors drive these different experiences with current trade issues in Wisconsin?

CAFO Workshop Series

Jan. 27: Green Bay (Engineering 9 a.m., Regular Program 12 p.m.)
Jan. 28: Fond du Lac
Jan. 29: Manitowoc
Feb. 4: Darlington
Feb. 5: Jefferson
Feb. 11: Mauston (Engineering 9 a.m., Regular Program 12 p.m.)
Feb. 12: Chippewa Falls
Feb. 19: Virtual

UW–Madison Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are jointly hosting a set of eight in-person/virtual workshops for CAFO permit holders, key employees, livestock producers, their employees and agronomic and engineering consultants around Wisconsin in late January and early February.

Focus on Forage Webinar Series

Feb. 5: Focus on Forage Management
Feb. 12: Focus on Forage Research
Feb. 19: Focus on Managed Grazing
Feb. 26: Focus on Forage Cover Crops

Focus on Forage is a four-part webinar series highlighting research-based information and farmer strategies to optimize forage yield, quality, and profitability in Wisconsin. Webinar speakers include forage industry experts, UW–Madison specialists, and extension educators. Certified Crop Advisor CEUs and ARPAS credits are available for each webinar. Webinars are free and online, but registration is required. 

Emerging Berry Crops Winter Webinar Series

Feb. 5: Day Neutral Strawberries and Table Grapes
March 5: Elderberries and Currants
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.

Midwest Cover Crops Council Meeting and Conference

Feb. 10–11 | Dubuque

The Midwest Cover Crops Council’s Annual Meeting and Conference will be held in Dubuque, IA in 2026! Supported by UW–Madison Extension, you can find several of our staff presenting on topics including cover crops, planter setup, planting alfalfa into green cover crops, and talking to landlords and tenants about conservation.

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.

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.