UW-Madison College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

06/08/2026

Dane County Breakfast on the Farm is this weekend!

Attendees will enjoy a delicious farm-fresh breakfast while learning more about the people and animals behind Wisconsin’s proud dairy tradition. From farm tours and live entertainment to educational activities and local dairy product samples, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Get the details at https://ow.ly/2tsW50Z8tHA

06/08/2026

Plant wildflowers to save the bees, right? A new study co-authored by entomology's Claudio Gratton reveals a new reality — planting more pollinator-friendly flowers can't counteract the negative effects of pesticides on wild bees. Instead, the key to conservation efforts is to minimize pesticide use.

Learn more about wild bees and the study https://grow.cals.wisc.edu/priority-themes/food-systems-priority-theme/what-a-wild-bee-wants

06/08/2026

06/04/2026

Check out this triple header event that will explore the northern forests and some of the plants that call the forest home at the Kemp Field Day. Learn about what defines a plant, introduction to sedges, and the history of the northwoods from experts in the field. Visit cals.wisc.edu/fielddays for more details.

Kemp Natural Resources Station

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

Yesterday, more than 1000 members of Congress and staffers had the chance to enjoy some Babcock Dairy Store ice cream, served by CALS Dean Glenda Gillaspy at the Scoops for Science event on Capitol Hill with Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. Along with the treats, CALS served the inside scoop on the importance of University of Wisconsin-Madison agricultural research and extension and how they drive innovation that supports dairy producers and the future of agriculture.

06/03/2026

Last semester, CALS student Fiona spent her Wednesday afternoon's at Bikes for Kids Wisconsin — a local nonprofit that refurbishes donated used bikes and redistributes them to those in need — cleaning and tuning up bicycles. She was one of the 360 students collaborating with more than 50 organizations through Badger Volunteers this spring. “This is the Wisconsin Idea incarnate,” says Badger Volunteers program manager Lara Miller, “We are not only preparing students to impact Madison right now while they’re on campus, but also developing them into citizens who are going to, wherever they are in life, be active members of their community.”

Read more about Fiona and Badger Volunteers at https://news.wisc.edu/being-part-of-something-bigger-than-you-with-badger-volunteers/

06/01/2026

Happy June Dairy Month! 🐄 To celebrate, why not check out a local dairy event? America’s Dairyland has compiled a list of dairy breakfasts and other events happening all over Wisconsin — and the first events are happening this weekend! https://www.wisconsindairy.org/june-dairy-month/Dairy-Breakfasts

05/29/2026

For many new international faculty, the Wisconsin Idea is a new concept. But for Rajdeep Khangura, the Wisconsin Idea felt less like an introduction and more like a homecoming. It started with a sandwich at Babcock Dairy Store, where he saw a plaque on the history of the Babcock Test. Growing up on a dairy farm in northern India, Rajdeep had been doing the same test since he was seven years old — he had no idea that the test was perfected in Madison, WI. Now, he does his farming at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station Primary, where he researches broad-spectrum disease resistance in cereal crops.

Learn more at https://international.wisc.edu/the-global-reach-of-the-wisconsin-idea-how-a-babcock-dairy-sandwich-revealed-a-lifelong-connection/.

UW-Madison Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences

05/28/2026

Every small family farm wonders, who's going to take over in the next generation? For CALS alum Laura Duesterbeck Johnson BS'03, her family farm wasn't any different. It wasn't until coming to CALS and meeting Ben Johnson BS'04, fellow CALS student and future husband, that she came up with a new way to continue her family's farm for future generations: a brewing company. Duesterbeck Brewing Company officially opened in fall 2019 in Elkhorn, WI and have now expanded to a 20-barrel brewing operation — and their kids help out to carry on the family farm legacy.

Learn more about the Duesterbeck Brewing Company at https://grow.cals.wisc.edu/departments/features/a-growers-vision-a-dentists-brew-and-a-farms-revival.