Portage County Extension Office

06/01/2026

The Center for Watershed Science and Education works with Wisconsin counties to develop well water monitoring programs to detect changes in well water quality and trends over time. Learn more about the program and featured community partners via the link. Extension is committed to bringing community members into the scientific process.

Most communities have not been collecting data in a manner that allows them to understand trends. Think of these well water monitoring networks as a type of S&P 500 Index...

05/26/2026

Homepage Clinic Services Update (1/1/26) Visit our Digital Diagnosis page to submit photos for a digital diagnosis. A $25 fee applies. Visit our Sample Collection and Submission page for details on the clinic’s current physical sample submission process. Prices vary for this service. For a complet...

05/12/2026

Stop by and see us today at the Portage County Business Expo at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center! Connect with our educators, discover Extension programs, and enter our raffle for a chance to win great prizes!

05/04/2026

Help us welcome Karen to Portage County.
Karen Bender is the new UW-Extension Regional Crops Educator covering Green Lake, Waushara, Adams and Portage counties. Her professional background includes secondary agriscience education, breeding and research for root and bulb vegetable crops, applied bulb research in a greenhouse setting, and conservation agriculture. She has a particular interest in regenerative farming practices, climate resiliency and specialty crop production.
Karen holds a B.S. in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a M.S. in Plant Breeding from Iowa State University, where her Master’s project focused on dahlia breeding. Outside of work she operates a small cut-flower farm and floristry business with her family and enjoys cooking and reading.

04/22/2026

Hear about Brian Hudelson’s most epic home garden failures!

Join us on April 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM CST for a free, in-person talk hosted by Germantown Community Library in Germantown, WI, featuring Presenter Brian Hudelson (UW-Madison Department of Plant Pathology). No registration necessary for this event. This event will not be held virtually.

Learn more: https://hubs.li/Q04333Xw0

04/14/2026

Learn about the benefits of your backyard's bugs! 🐛

Join us on April 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM CST for a free, virtual talk hosted by Northeastern Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association, featuring Presenter Patrick Liesch (UW-Madison Department of Entomology). Please register for this event here: (https://hubs.li/Q042JfzH0). There will be an in-person viewing of the virtual event held at the Brown County Central Library Auditorium (515 Pine St, Green Bay, WI 54301) in addition to people being able to view at home.

More here: https://hubs.li/Q042JdNn0

04/09/2026

04/01/2026

Due to the ice storm warning on Thursday most staff will likely be working remotely.

You can reach out to us directly using the info on our website. https://portage.extension.wisc.edu/staff-directory/

Stay Safe!

03/30/2026

🐷 Join us for a FREE Show Pig Workshop!
Learn from UW–Madison experts about nutrition, daily care, biosecurity, and show ring training.
📍 Amherst Opera House
📅 Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 1–3pm
✔ Presented by Jeff Morris (State Swine Specialist) & Adam Hartfiel
👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/4821O4m
📞 Or call: (920) 647‑6560
📧 Email: [email protected]