IN THIS ISSUE OF AG UPDATE
- Federal drought assistance programs
- Tarspot and white mold update
- Crop protection product considerations when converting grain crops to feed
- Soil organic matter and increasing crop resilience to drought
- Maximize feed bunk management to increase profitability
- Ventilation in dairy buildings
- Struvite recovery from manure
- Wisconsin beginning farmers resource guide
- Other resources
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July 14, 2023: 12:30 PM
Dan Smith (UW-Madison NPM) on Combine Cleaning for Small Grain Harvest and 2023 Cover Cropping Impacts & Dr. Joe Lauer (Extension State Corn Specialist) on Corn Pollination and Development Stages
July 26, 2023: 12:30 PM
Dr. Matt Ruark (UW-Madison Extension Soil Specialist) on Cover Crop Selection and Management after Corn Silage
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The U.S. Drought Monitor's most recent update has maintained most of southern Wisconsin in D2 - Severe Drought. Most of Dane County, along with swaths of Iowa, Sauk, Columbia, and Jefferson, however, has been redesignated as D3 - Extreme Drought. This automatically triggers several federal drought assistance programs for livestock and forage farmers, which you can learn more about HERE. Federal emergency loan programs have also been triggered for contiguous counties, which includes Dodge. Stay tuned to updates from FSA for more information on these programs.
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Tarspot and white mold update
Tarspot has been spotted in the Midwest (but not yet in Wisconsin) earlier than last year, however severity remains low. Even though we are in a drought, tarspot thrives with intermittent leaf wetness, which can occur through precipitation or dew due to humid, cooler nights. Damon Smith, UW-Madison Extension Field Crops Plant Pathologist is on the lookout below.
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White mold risk is high in Wisconsin. Precipitation in the coming weeks could provide us with much-needed moisture and ensure a crop for 2023 as well as increase white mold in the state. Conditions favorable to white mold growth can change rapidly. Check out the article below for more information.
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Crop protection product considerations when converting grain crops to feed
With the dry conditions we are experiencing this year in much of Wisconsin (and beyond), securing enough feed becomes a concern and top priority for dairy farmers and livestock producers. As farmers consider diverting portions of their grain crops into feed crops, it’s important that they consider and respect the preharvest intervals for all crop protection products applied to their crops during the growing season. Rodrigo Werle, UW-Madison Extension Cropping Systems Weed Scientist has more.
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Soil organic matter/carbon provides drought resilience
Only in 1988 did southern Wisconsin see less rainfall in May and June than the ~2.7 inches we’ve been left to contend with this year. Farmers wish they would have planted or termianted cover crops earlier. Hindsight is 20/20, but looking back one thing we can do year in and year out to improve our odds in both dry and wet years is to increase our soils’ ability to receive and store moisture through soil carbon. For more on soil carbon's role in increasing crop resilience, check out the article linked below.
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Maximize feed bunk management to increase profitability
Something that is constantly on the mind of dairy producers, no matter how small or large the farm, is the cost of production. Feed is the largest input cost on the dairy, making efficiency with feed bunk management a priority for all dairy farm managers. Fortunately, there are several factors related to feeding and feed bunk management for consideration that can help lower the cost of production and keep more money in our pockets.
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Ventilation in dairy buildings
Ventilation is an important part of managing a dairy barn for maintaining air quality, removing heat and moisture, and providing a comfortable environment for dairy cattle. There are typically three types of ventilation systems used in dairy buildings: natural, mechanical, or a combination of the two. Natural ventilation relies on the wind and temperature gradients within the barn to create airflow. Mechanical ventilation uses fans to control the amount of air delivered to the barn. In some cases, a combination of natural and mechanical ventilation is used to provide optimal ventilation rates, which may involve using natural ventilation during cold weather conditions and switching to mechanical ventilation during summer months or when additional ventilation is needed.
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Struvite recovery from manure
Phosphorus is an important mineral added to animals’ diets and is critical to their development and growth. However, much of the phosphorus is excreted and ends up in manure. For many crops, if manure is applied at the rate needed for nitrogen, too much phosphorus is applied, which may lead to a buildup of excess phosphorus in soils. Phosphorus buildup can lead to increased phosphorus loss and the resulting environmental consequences. If manure is applied to meet crop phosphorus needs, supplemental nitrogen application is required.
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Wisconsin beginning farmers resource guide
Now available: A resource guide for beginning farmers and those looking to start a new ag enterprise that connects them to available resources across the state of Wisconsin. This guide was developed jointly by UW-Madison Extension, USDA agencies, and DATCP to provide producers just getting started in agriculture with a well-rounded resource. Set up as a road map, it walks beginning farmers through a variety of resources available to support them through their journey of starting an agriculture operation, farm, or food business
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Alternative Forage Research Study - The UW-Madison Division of Extension is looking for farms to participate in a research project involving alternative forages. Monetary compensation and summary of reports as incentives.
Pain Management Survey - The division of Extension seeks participants in a Pain Management Survey. This survey aims to collect information from farmers about their use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for various conditions/procedures in cattle.
Learn the most up-to-date information on topics including diary and livestock production, forages and farm management.
Dairy resources from UW-Madison Division of Extension
The Farmer to Farmer Hay, Forage and Corn List put Wisconsin's farmers in touch with one another for the purpose of buying and/or selling corn and forage.
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| Will Fulwider
Regional Crops Educator - Dane and Dodge County Extension
Email: will.fulwider@wisc.edu l Ph: 608 220 3577
Alison Pfau
Regional Dairy Educator - Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, Rock & Walworth County Extension
Email: alison.pfau@wisc.edu | Ph: 970 402 9710
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