3rd Tuesday of each month from 11 am - 12 pm CDT

Asking the Right Questions Before Investing in Automation

Dr. John Shutske, Ph.D, Professor and Agricultural Safety & Health Specialist will kick off the session by setting the stage, discussing the history of farm automation and why it’s becoming a game-changer for farmers. He’ll explore key drivers like labor challenges but also highlight how automation is improving quality of life, ergonomics, safety, risk reduction, and efficiency — all crucial factors that go beyond just labor savings.

Jackie McCarville and Angie Ulness, Dairy Educators within Extension will share real farm stories, providing real-world insights into how automation is changing farming operations. Additionally, discuss what farmers found to be leading questions to be answered prior to adapting technology.

Kevin Bernhardt, Ph.D, Professor at UW-Platteville and Farm Management Specialist, UW-Extension, will guide us through the “Adoption Preparation Wheel” and shed light on the financial aspects of adopting new tech, helping farmers understand both the costs and potential returns. He will also address what financial consideration areas should be focused on within dairy teams before starting automation

Finally, Carolina Pinzon MSc, Dairy Outreach Specialist will share how to stay engaged with ongoing discussions and resources. She’ll introduce the automation user group, next steps, and upcoming articles on AMS 101, giving participants a roadmap for continued learning.

Whether you’re a farmer considering automation or just curious about the future of ag tech, this webinar will provide you with the knowledge to ask the right questions and take meaningful steps forward. This webinar will be moderated by Stephanie Plaster, Farm Management Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison Division of Extension.

Phosphorus (P) is a key plant nutrient. Only nitrogen and potassium are required in higher amounts by crops. High soil test phosphorus fields are a looming environmental threat to surface water. Phosphorus can hitch a ride on soil particles during erosion events or dissolve in runoff water. Once moved into a lake or pond the phosphorus increases algae blooms which lower the amount of dissolved oxygen available for aquatic life when the algae die and decompose. 

Milk fat production is a key profit-driver for dairy farms, making it a focal point for producers and nutritionists.  As the most variable milk component, herd-level milk fat percentage and yield are highly influenced by herd demographics, ration composition, and feeding management.  Milk fat depression is commonly defined as a reduction in milk fat yield with no change in the yield of milk or other milk components. When milk fat depression (MFD) occurs, it can leave dairy producers questioning where to begin troubleshooting.  

Diet induced milk fat depression hinges on two primary factors:

-An alteration in rumen pH leading to a shift in the microbial population

-A dietary source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)

This article will explain these two factors, farm practices associated with them, and key questions to help you investigate and manage milk fat depression in your herd.

Every five years the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) undertakes a detailed inventory of farming operations across the country. The most recent, the 2022 Census of Agriculture, aims to provide a detailed snapshot of the nation’s farming economy, including information on farm demographics, production practices, land use, and economic trends. The intent of this issue of WIndicator is to provide an overview of recent trends in Wisconsin farming using the Census of Agriculture. We pay particular attention to the changes since the last Census in 2017 to understand trends in key metrics for Wisconsin agriculture with some references to longer term trends (1997 to 2022).

Educators with the UW-Madison Division of Extension Dairy team and Farm Management team have collaborated to produce a new bilingual (English & Spanish) newsletter titled Bovi-Noticias. The newsletter provides information to support dairy farms and their employees. Information in each newsletter will help dairy workers learn, understand, and grow in their job skills while improving on-farm safety.

Nearly one in five adults lives with a mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Research shows that suicide rates are higher within the rural and agriculture communities. The stigma of mental health challenges and thoughts of suicide is prevalent in our rural and farming communities. Mental Health First Aid helps community members better understand how they can support their friends, family members, and neighbors and help break the stigma around mental health. Join UW-Madison Division of Extension Educators Joy Kirkpatrick, Farm Succession Outreach Specialist and Danielle Sander, Sauk County Health & Well-Being Educator on Tuesday and Thursday, June 17 & 19, 2025, from 9:00 am – noon via the Zoom platform for Mental Health First Aid training for the agriculture community.

Haley Wagner started as a half-time nutrition educator with FoodWIse on April 14. She is based at the Manitowoc Extension office. FoodWIse serves Manitowoc, Kewaunee and Door Counties with nutrition education and exercise opportunities for low-income people.

Hi, I’m Haley! I am a new FoodWIse Nutrition Educator with the UW-Extension. I am so excited about the opportunity to talk about food and nutrition. Food is my favorite topic; I love to learn about food, recipes, and nutrition and share my food and nutrition knowledge with others. I am also passionate about food accessibility, which became an interest of mine while studying Theology at St. Norbert College. I live just outside of Kiel where I maintain a large vegetable garden with my family. Besides cooking and growing food, in my free time I enjoy sewing, knitting, hiking the Ice Age Trail, and spending time with my family. I am quite looking forward to meeting our community partners and sharing my love of food with others. I can be reached via email at hvwagner@wisc.edu or via phone at 920-683-4171.

FoodWIse offers evidence-based programs for low-income people across Door County at Boys and Girls Club, ADRC of Sturgeon Bay, JAK’s Place and more. Our participants discover how making healthier choices can transform their lives.  For more information on programs contact laura.apfelbeck@wisc.edu 

Spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect from eastern Asia, first found in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, it has slowly spread into the Midwest. Although no live spotted lanternflies have been found in Wisconsin yet, their arrival is likely—and they pose a risk to more than 100 types of fruit and landscape plants. Learn how to identify this pest and what to do if you spot one this summer.

While lab testing is often necessary for accurate plant disease diagnosis, a few common ailments show clear visual symptoms. This guide walks you through ten diseases and disorders you can often recognize by eye—helping you know when to take action and when to seek lab confirmation.

Ready to start your garden off on the right foot this year? If you have questions about plant diseases, pesky insects, or the general care of plants in and around your home, UW experts are here to help! Join Extension online, Monday, June 23 for Ask Your Gardening Question: LIVE, a free webinar for Wisconsin gardeners of all skill levels and backgrounds. Whether you have a specific question, or simply wish to hear others, register now to join and enhance your understanding of plants. The series will continue monthly on Mondays: June 23, July
21, Aug. 18, Sept. 22, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, and Dec. 15, 2025.

As many as one in four adults suffer from chronic procrastination.   According to Licensed Mental Health counselor Julia Baum, “Procrastination often involves impulsive and unplanned behavior, as procrastinators prioritize immediate gratification over long-term benefits reflecting a lack of self-regulation.”   Itamar Shatz, PhD., author of the website, Procrastination Theories, identifies decreased educational and financial success, poor emotional well-being, and declining mental and physical health as just a few of procrastination’s negative effects.  While regularly dismissed as a simple bad habit or a sign of laziness, procrastination proves far more psychologically complex, playing out in the chemistry of our brain.  

The limbic system acts as our brain's emotional center, heavily involved in processing feelings like pleasure, pain, and reward. When faced with a goal we perceive as unpleasant or challenging, our limbic system kicks in, seeking to avoid discomfort. 

In contrast, the prefrontal cortex, located at the front of our brain, is the center of our executive functions. This area is responsible for crucial abilities like decision-making, planning, and impulse control. It's the part of our brain that helps us prioritize long-term goals over the tempting allure of short-term pleasure. 

When we procrastinate, the prefrontal cortex struggles to effectively override the emotional urges originating from the limbic system. This internal conflict, this constant push and pull between emotional avoidance and rational decision-making, lies at the heart of why we put things off. 

As part of its mission to extend university resources to the citizens of the state, UW-Madison Extension provides meaningful programming designed to create positive behavioral change while preventing the negative effects of procrastination.  Extension employs four simple strategies identified by the psychology database, Simple Practice.   

First, Redefine large goals into a series of smaller, more manageable tasks.  This reduces the anxiety and emotion associated with behavioral change.   

Arrange those smaller tasks into a to-do list.  Be sure to note when each task will be completed. 

Surround yourself with a supportive group of people with the same goals, tasks, and challenges. 

Finally, and maybe most notably, create an environment that minimizes distraction.  Make sure your brain knows it is time to get to work! 

These strategies use the strengths of our prefrontal cortex to control the impulses of the limbic system.  This allows us to stay cool, calm, collected AND committed to our long-term goals.  Overcoming procrastination is a process that requires self-awareness and consistent effort, but by understanding the science behind it, we can equip ourselves with the knowledge to finally win the tug of war in our own brain.   By:  Paul Salm, UW-Madison Extension

Finding reliable parenting information and advice on the web can be overwhelming! How do you know what you can trust — especially when you are busy and there’s just so little time?

JUST IN TIME PARENTING is a free parenting newsletter that is delivered by email and specific to a child’s age and needs (0 to 5 years of age). They are designed so that information that’s relevant to your family is automatically delivered to you just in time!

Join Door County 4-H for Dairy Night at the Green Bay Blizzard Indoor Football game on Friday, June 6th! The flyer below has all of the game details and a link/QR code to our special link to purchase tickets. By using this link - specially made for Door County 4-H - you will get a special ticket price of 2 tickets for $20 (buy one get one free). And for each ticket package ordered on our link, Door County 4-H will receive a $5 donation!  Tickets are purchased online using the link in the flyer. You will receive electronic tickets after your purchase. Seats will all be in the same general area of the stadium.  Be sure to wear your 4-H apparel! Please feel free to share this information with your friends and family! 

The 2025 Door County Fair will be Wednesday, Augst 13th - Sunday, August 17th.  Premium books, schedules and more information is now available on the Door County Fair website.

The FairEntry program is now open!  Registration of Fair entries must be completed by July 21st. 

Check out our website for the latest 4-H newsletter, events and opportunities.