On-Farm Cover Crop Research Addresses Crop Production & Soil Health

Mike Ballweg, in cooperation with Dr. Matt Ruark, UW-Madison Soil Science Department, and Steve Hoffman, InDepth Agronomy, has recently engaged in a new on-farm cover crop research study. The objective of the study is to better understand how to cover crop management influences crop yields, nutrient management, soil health, and water quality. This three-year study […]

Extension Explores Climate Change Impacts on Wisconsin’s Cropping Systems

People involved in agriculture across Wisconsin suspect that weather patterns across the Badger State have been changing over the last 50 years.  Dr. Ed Hopkins, Assistant Wisconsin State Climatologist, examined the weather data from the last 50 years to examine that hunch and offers the following summary. Afternoon maximum temperatures around the state during summer […]

Dry Down Days Monitor Plant Moistures for Improved Animal Performance

Extension Sheboygan County partnered with Adell Coop, Country Visions Coop, Dinamica Generale, and the Sheboygan County Forage Council to hold the 2020 Corn Silage Dry Down Days. Thus far, more than 100 Sheboygan County cornfields have been analyzed for whole plant moistures. Because of varied planting dates, hybrid differences, and the impact of Lake Michigan […]

Extension Crops and Soils Program

Mike Ballweg, Agriculture Agent Mike Ballweg provided leadership, within the Extension Crops and Soils Program, to develop a series of Zoom informational virtual meetings (Badger Crop Connect) for farmers, agronomists, crop consultants, educators, and other agricultural professionals to learn about a wide range of timely agronomic topics during the 2020 growing season. Since face-to-face meetings […]

2020 Sheboygan County Alfalfa Quality Monitoring and Scissors Clip Project

Farmers grow approximately 1.25 million acres of alfalfa and mixed hay annually to feed Wisconsin’s 1.26 million dairy cows.  Sheboygan County’s share of that total is 40,000 acres of alfalfa and mixed hay and about 26,000 cows. Maximizing the quality and quantity of alfalfa is essential for profitable dairy farming. First crop alfalfa represents approximately […]

AGRICULTURE WORKS HARD FOR SHEBOYGAN COUNTY

Mike Ballweg, Agriculture Agent Family-owned farms, food processors, and agriculture-related businesses generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of economic activity in Sheboygan County while contributing to local income and tax revenues.                       THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR BENEFITS THE ENTIRE COUNTY Sheboygan County is a […]

Extension Agricultural Education Programs Recently Delivered Virtually

Mike Ballweg, Agriculture Agent Provided leadership for developing and delivering, via zoom and YouTube, Growing and Feeding Alternative Forages, on Friday, April 3rd, to farmers and ag-professionals across Wisconsin. Forage shortages continue to challenge dairy farmers especially in Eastern WI and negatively impact farm profitability during the market disruptions of Covid-19. 100% of the poll […]

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