A closed gate stops escapes. Biosecurity stops disease.

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 […]

Using Disease Forecasting Tools to Make Better In-Season Management Decisions and Tar Spot Found in WI

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 […]

Nuts and Bolts of Dairy Ventilation [Video]

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, […]

Why Do Dairy Cows Need Fat? A Guide to Using Fats in Cattle Diets

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 […]

June 2026 Impact Report

Agriculture With over 59,000 dairy cows in Fond du Lac county, ensuring high-quality forage production is critical to sustaining milk production and farm profitability. Helping growers meet forage quality goals for their farm means lower outside feed costs, healthier cows and improved sustainability of that farm. Furthermore, given the key role Spanish-speaking workers play, providing […]

Bovi-Noticias: The Bilingual Newsletter

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 […]

Adult Mental Health First Aid for Wisconsin Agriculture Community

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. […]

May 2026 Impact Report

Agriculture With over 59,000 dairy cows in Fond du Lac county, ensuring high-quality forage production is critical to sustaining milk production and farm profitability. Helping growers meet forage quality goals for their farm means lower outside feed costs, healthier cows and improved sustainability of that farm. Furthermore, given the key role Spanish-speaking workers play, providing […]

The Economics of Manure Testing in 2026

Manure is a valuable resource, and you can gain significant value by investing in testing your manure nutrient value, making it more cost-efficient to provide your crops with the nutrients they need. In this blog post, we take a quick look at the economics of manure testing to show how accurate nutrient crediting through manure […]

Feeding High-Oleic Soybeans to Dairy Cattle

Commercially launched over a decade ago, high-oleic soybeans (HOSB) have continued to spark interest as a beneficial ingredient for dairy rations. As feeding research trials continue to emerge, we’re gaining better insights into how HOSB can fit within dairy diets compared to conventional soybeans. This article discusses what makes high-oleic soybeans unique, summarizes findings from […]