Cloverbud Day Camp: Superheroes in the Community

Fond du Lac County 4-H recently hosted its Cloverbud Day Camp, Superheroes in the Community, providing young members with a fun and engaging opportunity to learn about the people who help make our communities safe, healthy, and successful. Throughout the day, youth explored what it means to be a real-life superhero through hands-on activities, games, […]

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 […]

Supporting Local Partners & Leaders

Building on the asset mapping and research from last month, June and July focused on turning those findings into practical tools and stronger local connections. To help our nonprofit partners act on shared priorities without administrative burnout, I helped design a streamlined messaging, database, and document repository system. This new system simplifies communication workflows and […]

Helping Students Adjust to School Phone Policies

Wisconsin schools are preparing to implement new or revised student cell phone policies under Wisconsin Act 42 for the 2026-27 school year. In response, UW-Madison Division of Extension is offering the Wisconsin School Phone Bans Webinar Series, a three-part series for school leaders, educators, and families. Each session is designed for each of these specific […]

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 […]