Wisconsin Agriculture - Extension

Wisconsin Agriculture - Extension The UW-Madison Extension Agriculture Institute is your connection to research-based ag information.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment
and programming in compliance with state and federal law.

Farmland is the most valuable asset on most farmers’ balance sheets. While many thousands of homes are sold yearly, only...
05/27/2026

Farmland is the most valuable asset on most farmers’ balance sheets. While many thousands of homes are sold yearly, only a tiny fraction of the state’s agricultural land changes hands on the open market in any given year.

The average price of agricultural land sold in Wisconsin between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025, was $7,238 per acre, representing a 9.6% increase from 2024. From 2020 to 2025, land values increased by 70.5% 📈

The number of land sales in 2025 increased by 11.2% from 2024. Despite this increase, sales activity remains below the levels observed in 2020 and 2021, when land sales peaked. Compared with 2018 pre–COVID-19 levels, the number of land sales in 2025 declined by 29.9%. 📉

Read the full report: farms.extension.wisc.edu/articles/wisconsin-agricultural-land-prices

If your fields sit over Silurian bedrock, your nutrient management plan has specific requirements, and SnapPlus Version ...
05/26/2026

If your fields sit over Silurian bedrock, your nutrient management plan has specific requirements, and SnapPlus Version 3 includes features designed to help you meet them. On June 2, we're walking through those Silurian Bedrock plan features in detail.

We'll cover what's new, what's changed, and what it means for your plan. Office hours are available after the tutorial for individual questions.

📅 June 2 | 11am–12:30pm | Free
Register: go.wisc.edu/841xe6

Does cereal rye cause a nitrogen tie-up or yield drag in long-term no-till systems? Green Lake County farmer Jim Hebbe i...
05/22/2026

Does cereal rye cause a nitrogen tie-up or yield drag in long-term no-till systems?

Green Lake County farmer Jim Hebbe is using his 2026 Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP) trial to get definitive answers and data to help him make better nitrogen management decisions. He’s tracking exactly how rye cover crops impact soil nitrogen and cash crop performance—swipe through to see his striped trial plot layout!

See how Jim's on-farm research is building better data for Wisconsin farmers. Read the full NOPP planting update or browse more project spotlights ➡️ go.wisc.edu/NOPPSpotlights

Ever wonder how a practice would perform on your farm? Reach out to [email protected] with questions.

05/22/2026

🚜 Alfalfa weevil season is just about here in Wisconsin!

In this video, Dr. Emily Bick, Extension field crop entomology specialist, shares what she’s seeing right now in the field—and what growers should be watching for as the season gets started.

Key takeaways:
📍 Alfalfa weevil damage looks like small pinholes on alfalfa leaves
📈 The action threshold is 40% of stems with pinhole damage
⚠️ If you’re within one week of cutting, spraying isn’t recommended
🚜 Early cutting can be one of the most effective control options

Bottom line: start scouting now, but don’t panic—alfalfa can recover well if damage stays below threshold!

Sign up to receive Insect Pest Text Alerts to get a heads up when pest counts are up in fields near you: go.wisc.edu/InsectPestAlert
Managing Alfalfa Weevil in Wisconsin Alfalfa: cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/articles/managing-alfalfa-weevil-in-wisconsin-alfalfa-fields/
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Crop Pest Trap Networks: datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/TrapNetworks.aspx

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰? Cows are Fans of Fans 𖣘 💨🐮Overheated cows stand up more and produce less milk. Fast-moving air over the re...
05/20/2026

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰? Cows are Fans of Fans 𖣘 💨🐮

Overheated cows stand up more and produce less milk. Fast-moving air over the resting area is key to helping them stay comfortable. Discover the latest research on keeping cows cool, comfortable, and productive this summer.

👉👉 Learn more: https://go.wisc.edu/DairyHeatStress

05/19/2026

Last year’s true armyworm outbreak caught a lot of Wisconsin fields off guard. This year, we’re already seeing heavy moth flights across the state.

Dr. Emily Bick, UW–Madison Extension field crop entomology specialist, explains what the trap numbers mean—and why timing is everything when it comes to scouting and control.

Bottom line:
✅ First generation likely won’t hit corn
⚠️ Second generation could—especially by early July
⏱️ Once larvae reach about ½ inch, insecticides may no longer work

Now’s the time to stay informed, watch field edges, and plan ahead.

Sign up to receive Insect Pest Text Alerts to get a heads up when pest counts are up in fields near you: go.wisc.edu/InsectPestAlert
Managing True Armyworm in Wisconsin Corn and Small Grains: cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/articles/managing-true-armyworm-in-wisconsin-corn-and-small-grain-fields/
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Crop Pest Trap Networks: datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/TrapNetworks.aspx

05/19/2026

Drones aren’t just an interesting gadget; they are becoming a helpful tool for farmers to complete all sorts of tasks. Listen to Nesli share her recent research using drones in pastures on our webinar! Found it at https://go.wisc.edu/bdi

05/18/2026

Can we use drones to monitor our calves? Gustavo shares an on-farm study where they investigated this very question. Check out the whole video at https://go.wisc.edu/bdi

Sheep and goat producers: Get practical, hands‑on tools to manage internal parasites at the Parasite Patrol Plus worksho...
05/18/2026

Sheep and goat producers: Get practical, hands‑on tools to manage internal parasites at the Parasite Patrol Plus workshop at the Jefferson County (IA) Extension Office. Learn f***l egg counts, FAMACHA scoring, and strategies you can use on your own operation.
🔗 https://go.wisc.edu/PPP2026

Join us for the upcoming webinar "Nuts and Bolts of Dairy Ventilation Design." This session will explore practical strat...
05/17/2026

Join us for the upcoming webinar "Nuts and Bolts of Dairy Ventilation Design." This session will explore practical strategies to improve ventilation efficiency, reduce hidden costs, and enhance heat abatement in dairy facilities. Designed for farmers and ag professionals seeking applied, research-backed guidance.
Learn more and register: https://go.wisc.edu/BDI

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