When adopting AMS, some farms may also transition their strategy for estrus (heat) detection to use activity monitoring sensors and information from the robot.  Activity monitoring sensors offer an alternative to traditional Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI) protocols, but they come with important considerations.  Factors like cow health, body condition, lameness, sensor threshold settings, and timing of insemination all influence the success of sensor-based systems.  Full Article

Dr. Doug Reinemann, Dr. Marcia Endres, and Dr. Nesli Akdeniz Onuki – experts in Automatic Milking Systems (AMS) – answer questions submitted by farmers and their advisors. Topics include costs, nutrition, ventilation, and more. Webinar (recorded)

The simplest recommendation we can offer to cow-calf producers is to have a defined breeding season length, which in turn sets calving season length. Open-ended access to the herd sire can lead to year-round calving, and no consistent plan for when to wean and market calves.  Learn More

Peninsula Pride Farms Annual Meeting - February 3, 2026

Cultivating Your Farms Future - February 5, 2026

Nutrient Management Farmer Education Class - February 10, 2026

Milk Quality from the Udder World - February 18, 2026

Show Pig Symposium - February 21, 2026

Vital (Valuably Informed Thriving Agriculture Leader) - March 6, 2026

Private Pesticide Applicator Training - March 17, 2026

2026 Applicator Training Manure 101 - Multiple Dates

Farm Machinery/Tractor Safety Classes - March 23 - 27

Find out more...

Our webinars provide timely, expert guidance to help local government officials keep current on the topics and practices which affect their communities.  Upcoming webinars include:

Year in the Life of a Clerk:  Do you wonder if you are missing deadlines and duties? This webinar will provide you with a monthly checklist of all your required clerk duties. If you are a newer clerk, attending this webinar will help you to meet your required duties, and complete and submit the required forms or information.

Alcohol and Beverage Licensing:  While implementation of 2023 Wisconsin Act 73 is now in full swing, local units of government are adjusting to the new regulations.  The Alcohol & Beverage Licensing program will help local government officials & staff navigate these changes and better understand their duties related to the issuance and administration of alcohol and beverage licenses in their communities.

Completing Form C/CT Workshop:  The presentation will walk through Form C/CT, Sections A through W, and the signature statement and form submission.

Webinar Information

The First Impressions program helps communities learn about existing strengths and weaknesses through the eyes of a first-time visitor. Using a “secret shopper” model, communities secretly visit one another and share what they learn. This program offers an effective and fun way to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of your community.  Learn More

UW is partnering with Microsoft and TitletownTech on a new collaboration designed to accelerate scientific discovery through artificial intelligence. Powered by Microsoft’s new Discovery platform, the initiative connects UW–Madison’s research strengths with industry partners to advance innovation across life sciences, manufacturing, materials science and other high-impact fields.  Full Article

Research delivers strong returns—creating jobs, launching startups, and driving industry. Together, UW–Madison and its affiliated startups contribute over $30.8 billion to the economy. Meet the UW alum growing Wisconsin’s semiconductor industry.

Hazelnuts are endemic to Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.  American hazelnut (Corylus americana) is widely adapted but is primarily found on open sites on sandy soils.  Beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) is more shade tolerant and can be found in the understory on more mesic soils. Though the nuts from both species are edible (and quite tasty), they are not widely grown by farmers except in wildlife or conservation plantings.  Hazelnuts are big business elsewhere in the world, particularly in Turkey where the majority of global production occurs.  

In the United States, current hazelnut production is limited almost exclusively to the Willamette Valley of Oregon where there is roughly 80,000 acres of production, more than half of which has been planted in the last five years in response to growing global demand for hazelnuts. Full Story

March 17, 2026, at the Kewaunee County Extension office located at 625 3rd St., Luxemburg, WI.  

Kewaunee County is the closest regional in-person/zoom training location.  Door County Extension will continue to offer self-study exam proctoring please call (920)746-2260 to schedule.  Information and registration

Inna Popova is exploring the inherent powers of plants, such as mustard, to create new, safer ways to defeat pests. She's also studying the natural ability of burnt biomass to clean contaminated soil. Full Article

Using fruit flies, UW researchers have developed a new model for investigating the genetic drivers of a rare but aggressive brain tumor in children and identified potential treatment targets. The same gene control system is implicated as a driver of many human tumors, so the findings may apply to more common cancers as well. Biomolecular chemistry professors Peter Lewis and Melissa Harrison led the research.  Full Article

It’s estimated that in 2025 more than 300,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will succumb to the disease. Researchers around the globe are diligently working to improve access to early detection and treatment and reduce mortality through scientific breakthroughs. That includes work being done right here at the University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery.  Read about the advancements!

Follow the guidelines for how to cook raw meat, poultry, seafood, and other foods to a safe minimum internal temperature. Always use a food thermometer to check whether meat has reached a safe minimum internal temperature that is hot enough to kill harmful germs that cause food poisoning. Continue reading...

In many communities across Door, Kewaunee and Manitowoc Counties, fresh potatoes are a household staple.  Yet most food pantries do not have a consistent supply.  With a few targeted phone calls, Laura Apfelbeck, Senior FoodWIse Nutrition Coordinator, identified a Wisconsin based grower with the capacity to deliver potatoes at an affordable price.  So far 2,300 pounds of potatoes have been delivered through this pilot program.

Adam Peronto of the Door County Community Foundation leads the Door County Food Pantry Coalition.  We collaborated to deliver potatoes and onions to Door County in January.  Adam said, “Thank you for all of your coordination on this! The onions in particular have been a big hit.”  

Find out more and what's next!

Cheryl Bevins, Pat Long, Char Mueller, Donna Rudolph, and Mary Ellen Smith of the Program Committee have set community and member activities for 2026. The educational line-up includes Healthy Brain and Door County Transportation options. Learning programs include Sewing 101, Mexican Cooking and tours of the Door County Historical Museum, Country Ovens, Belgian Heritage Center, and Door County Emergency Services. Members participate in the WI Bookworms program and continue to read and distribute books monthly to 87 three-year-olds at four preschools throughout the county. For information on Door County Home & Community Education, contact Trudy Herbst (920) 495-9445 or tavherbst@gmail.com

Looking ahead, here’s our next community-wide activity!

Tuesday, February 17 1:00 pm – Kim Gilson, Volunteer Coordinator with Door-Tran will explain transportation options and how Door-Tran and other local providers help people get to where they need to go, whether grocery shopping, doctor appointments, or social events. Door-Tran staff will help patrons decide the best fit for their needs and ways in which the community may get involved. Door-Tran is a nonprofit agency in Door County that is dedicated to connecting people to transportation services that are affordable, available, and accessible. The program will be held on Tuesday, February 17 at 1:00 pm in the Activity Room at the ADRC (Adult & Disability Resource Center), 914 N. 14th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay. The courtesy of a reservation is appreciated; contact Char Mueller at (920) 421-5152 or email cmueller6959@gmail.com.  Event is open to the public.

Join like-minded gardeners and environmental enthusiasts at this three-day celebration of gardening, landscaping, local food culture and more! Learn from 150+ educational presentations, browse through the exhibitor mall, and connect with us at the UW-Madison Extension Horticulture booth.  Held at the Alliant Energy Center, Madison.   More Information

Bitter pit and cork spot are common disorders of Wisconsin apples.  These two disorders do not occur every year, but when weather conditions are just right (or just wrong, depending on your perspective), they can be major problems.  This fact sheet describes the causes of the disorders and what can be done to reduce the severity of the problems.  Fact Sheet

Wisconsin gardeners do not have to give up growing flowers during the long winter months.  If you can spare a corner of your refrigerator too simulate dormancy, you can enjoy flowering hyacinths, narcissus, tulips, crocus, or other spring-flowering plants during the off-season. Read more…

The downy mildews are a group of diseases that cause destruction of the leaves, stems, flowers and fruits of many plant species worldwide. In Wisconsin, downy mildews have traditionally been problems on grapes, cucumbers (see Cucurbit Downy Mildew:  Identification and Management), roses and Viburnum.  Downy mildews on basil (see Basil Downy Mildew) and impatiens (see Impatiens Downy Mildew) have more recently become problematic. Find out more...

Compost bins vary in size, use, and cost, whether you purchase a commercial product or build one yourself. This series of do-it-yourself plans provides all you need to know to build your very own compost bin. Start Here

Calendar of Events

UW’s Claus Andersen explains Denmark’s (Danish) cozy concept.  Hygge is popular in wintertime because of its associations with comfort and family — with warm sweaters and crackling fires. But this is an oversimplification.

“You hear that the concept is untranslatable,” he says. “But it’s essentially the art of creating coziness, familiarity, friendliness.” It’s an experience that people can create anywhere, anytime. If you want to incorporate a little hygge into your life, here are Andersen’s tips, in his own words.  Complete OnWisconsin Article.

We all want our children to be happy. However, we know that children are sometimes going to feel scared, sad, or really mad about something. That’s normal. The strong emotions of kids (and the strong (or “attention-getting) behaviors that sometimes come with these emotions) can be difficult to understand and even harder to deal with as parents. “What is emotion coaching?” is the first episode in the Strong Feelings series on emotion coaching for families. In this video, Dr. Anne Clarkson introduces emotion coaching and shares a tool to remember how to emotion coach in any situation.  Watch Episode One

By the end of this 30-minute video you will be able to answer the following questions:  what impacts my credit report, how do I check my credit report, what determines my credit score, and how can I build and improve my credit.  Access Video Here!

Focus on Fathers is a free monthly online lunch-and-learn series, designed for dads, and is open to all parents and caregivers. Strengthen family bonds, support your child’s emotional growth, and connect with others navigating the joys and challenges of parenting today. Join us the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 1 PM.

This month's class is called Fathers Teach Kindness. Telling kids to “be kind” isn’t enough kindness is something they learn. This class helps fathers teach empathy, compassion, and caring through everyday moments. Join us and help your child grow into a kind and thoughtful person.  Register for virtual class.

Discover a new interactive Extension guide — Water WELLness: Managing Your Private Well Water System — empowering private well owners with the know-how to keep their water clean, safe, and reliable. The free, self-paced guide is specifically designed for private well owners in Wisconsin to become their own “water utility managers.” It reviews topics ranging from Wisconsin geology and aquifers to the details of private well construction and water quality contaminants. Information on well water testing, such as where to test, what to test for, and how to interpret results is also included. Read more...

Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa)
Brazilian elodea is a popular aquarium plant that has found its way into the Great Lakes region. It crowds out native aquatic plants, degrades fish and waterfowl habitat and creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Read more…

Curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
This strange aquatic invasive dies off in the middle of summer–when everything else it at its peak–but it starts the season off with a major growth spurt. Read more…

Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Just a single two-inch fragment of Eurasian watermilfoil is all it takes to start a new plant. Read more…

The Door County 4-H Communications contest will take place on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Door County Government Center (421 Nebraska Street, Sturgeon Bay).  Registrations are due by January 23, 2026.  More Information

Attention youth in 12th grade and post-high school. There are several scholarship opportunities available to 4-H youth:  Door County 4-H Scholarships, Door County 4-H Horse & Pony Scholarship, and Wisconsin 4-H Scholarships.  More Information

Super Saturday will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026.  The purpose of this event is to give 4-H youth the opportunity to try a variety of different projects.  Do you have a project idea that you would like to lead during our Super Saturday program?  We are looking for people to volunteer to lead (or help lead) projects during the Super Saturday event.  Reach out to Candis at candis.dart@wisc.edu or call (920)746-2265.  

Whether you’ve never shown an animal before or you’re a seasoned exhibitor, the Livestock Reality Store is for you! This interactive simulation gives you a real-world look at what it takes to raise and sell a show animal—from start to finish.  March 14, 2026, 10:00 am - Noon, at the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center.  Registration

March 7, 2026, from 9 AM until 2 PM at the Bark Academy, Wausau.   More Information

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

Four current and two former Wisconsin women’s hockey players are on the Team USA roster for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina, Italy.  Learn more...

Uh-oh, SpaghettiOs! It’s been 60 years since the childhood staple first landed on grocery store shelves, and kids today are still enjoying the late Donald Goerke’s circular pasta creation, SpaghettiOs.

After beginning his marketing career at Valentin Blatz Brewing Company, the Waukesha, Wisconsin, native spent the rest of his 35-year career at Campbell’s Co., where he was tasked with creating an easy-to-eat meal for children. The round pasta was perfect for canning, reheating, and most importantly for parents: eating with a spoon without making a mess! The product was a pop culture sensation that brought Goerke into the spotlight. He appeared on Today and What’s My Line? and autographed cans at company-sponsored events.  Read all 25 famous graduate stories!

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