University of Wisconsin-Madison
Scouting is similar for all corn ear rots. Starting at late dent stage (R5), choose 20 ears from five areas in the field. Pull back the husk to see the entire ear. It’s critical to identify ear rots in the field as many ear rot fungi produce mycotoxins, which can harm livestock and humans. Contaminated […]
Wisconsin winter wheat acreage declined in 2025–2026, with 245,000 acres planted—an 18% decrease from the previous year. Of these, 210,000 acres are forecasted to be harvested, down 17% from 2025. The 2026 yield forecast is 76 bu/a, matching 2025 and landing just below the five‑year average of 77 bu/a. View full results
Now that southern rust has been found in Wisconsin, it’s important not to panic. Instead, focus on careful scouting over the next several weeks. Timely scouting will help guide both silage and grain harvest decisions. Yield losses are most likely when southern rust becomes established before the milk (R3) growth stage. Farmers should be out […]
This presentation introduces the main mitigation approaches, with attention to their effectiveness, tradeoffs, and relative costs within whole-farm systems. Anaerobic manure storage is the dominant source of methane emissions in manure management systems. Emissions can be reduced through a combination of technological and management strategies, including anaerobic digestion, solids separation, manure acidification, and more frequent […]
UW–Madison Extension Educators invite you to participate in a short survey. We are conducting research to better understand what dairy and livestock producers currently know about biosecurity, as well as how and what they would like to learn moving forward. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Your responses will remain anonymous, and […]
As we move deeper into the growing season, fungicide application decisions become one of the biggest sources of stress for farmers across the Midwest. Between aggressive marketing, endless online opinions, and an expanding list of fungicide products, determining whether, and when, to spray can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, advances in plant pathology and epidemiology have led […]
It is getting hotter and hotter here in Fond du Lac County and cows feel it too. For that reason, we are talking about ventilation in dairies. Dairy ventilation systems require optimized fan selection and design efficiency to combat severe heat stress and minimize hidden costs. Proper mechanical ventilation controls airflow, removes heat and moisture, […]
Dietary lipids provide high-density energy to dairy cows, primarily boosting milk production and reproductive performance. Microbes in the rumen tend to turn unsaturated fatty acids into saturated fatty acids through a process called biohydrogenation. Later, the fatty acids go to the small intestine for absorption. Managing this fat intake within specific thresholds prevents negative rumen […]
Bovi-Noticias is a bilingual newsletter (English and Spanish) created to support dairy producers and farm managers in training, educating, and engaging their teams. Its mission is to improve on-farm practices, boost worker confidence and skills, and promote safer workplace behaviors. Bovi-Noticias is more than a newsletter—it’s a bridge between knowledge and action on the farm. It delivers relevant, easy-to-understand information tailored to both dairy workers and […]
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension is offering a virtual education program to help the Wisconsin agriculture community identify and respond to a variety of behavioral health challenges. The next virtual Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for the agriculture community is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, July 28-29, 2026, from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. […]
![Strategies to Reduce Methane Emissions on Dairy Farms [Video]](https://fonddulac.extension.wisc.edu/files/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-20-081558-300x169.png)
![Nuts and Bolts of Dairy Ventilation [Video]](https://fonddulac.extension.wisc.edu/files/2026/07/unnamed-17-300x170.png)
