Marshfield Agricultural Research Station

03/10/2026

The 2026 Mid-State Technical College Farm Tour made a stop today at the MARS farm. Adam Abel and Jamie Patton, both with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, shared their expertise about grazing systems and simple, in-field soil health assessments with tour attendees.

03/05/2026

The USDA Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit in Marshfield, WI is partnering with National Experienced Worker Solutions (NEW Solutions) as part of the Experienced Workers Program to hire a temporary part time Research Technician to work with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Marshfield, WI. Applicants must be 55 or older to qualify.

Work entails field data collection and lab sample analysis; attention to detail is key!
Up to 30 hours/week, depending on the fieldwork activity schedules during the growing season. $25/hour.

Work on agronomy studies taking place on research farms around Wisconsin, including the MARS research farm (that's a great reason to apply!). No overnight travel is required and the main office/lab portion of this job is in Marshfield, WI.
Duties include:
• Assisting with forage plot planting, harvesting & sampling
• Supporting animal research sampling
• Processing & analyzing forage and animal samples in the lab

The position listing is open until filled. Learn more at https://newsolutions.org/jobs/position-details/?position_id=9180

Questions about the position or application process, should go to Mindye Mannel with NEW Solutions at [email protected] or (703) 558-4225

Please review the openings listed below. Clicking on a Reference Code # or Title will bring up details for the opening. ReferenceCode # Site Title Hourly Wage Agency ACA1-019 Little Rock, AR Cultural Resource Specialist $50.00 NRCS ADC1-S&T-NWMC-002 Washington, DC Agricultural Engineer $50.00 NRCS A...

02/16/2026

MARS has some pretty cool news to share. Once again we've been recognized for outstanding milk quality! The MARS farm has received commendations from the state and the milk processing plant for producing some of the highest-quality milk in the state.

The pat-on-the-back goes to our hardworking staff who make this achievement possible year after year with adherence to milking protocols, equipment maintenance, and meticulous sanitation.

02/13/2026

Mid State Technical College’s 49th Annual Farm Tour is coming up and this year, one of the stops is right here at MARS!

We’ll be joined by USDA-NRCS experts sharing information and insights about soil health and grazing. This event is always a jam-packed day of learning (cross your fingers for good weather!).

More details in the link below.

Farm Tour 2026 Event Date Tuesday, March 10, 2026 Location Marshfield Area Mid-State's 2026 Farm Tour, presented by Fox Cities Builders, is an in-person showcase of innovative technology and agriculture practices designed to help producers enhance their operations. Event Highlights Field Presentatio...

02/12/2026

MARS is proud to recognize the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Celebrating the remarkable contributions of women to agricultural science.

01/30/2026

Join us for our first webinar in the 2026 Focus on Forage series Thursday, Feb. 5 at 12:30 p.m. to explore forage management topics: winterkill in alfalfa, nutrient values of manure in alfalfa production systems, and feeding considerations without BMR corn.

Registration is free but required 👉 go.wisc.edu/FocusOnForage

🌨 🚜 Dr. Marta Kohmann, UW–Madison assistant professor and extension forage systems agroecology specialist, will identify and discuss management and weather factors that affect alfalfa winterkill.

🌱 🐄 Dr. Natasha Rayne, UW–Madison assistant professor and extension soil fertility specialist, will outline the nutrient needs of alfalfa and key considerations when applying manure to established stands. Dr. Rayne will examine how manure applications may influence nitrogen credits from alfalfa and highlight research gaps that future work will discuss.

🌽 🐄 Dr. Luiz Ferraretto, UW–Madison associate professor and extension dairy nutrition specialist, will discuss strategies to increase fiber digestibility in corn silage and dairy cow diets.

CCAs: Earn 0.5 nutrient management and 0.5 crop management CEUs for attending
PASs: Earn 1 ARPAS credit for attending

Join us for additional webinars on forage research, managed grazing, and forage cover crops live on Thursdays from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in February 2026. Registration is free but required: go.wisc.edu/FocusOnForage

01/27/2026

The Wisconsin State Climatology Office is teaming up with the Rural Partnerships Institute and Wisconet to host community listening sessions across rural Wisconsin.
Attendees have the chance to ask questions, voice their concerns, and share their experiences with extreme weather. Input from Wisconsin stakeholders will help create better tools and resources to support local weather and climate preparedness.

Attendees will also learn about current weather and climate services and get an introduction to Wisconet, a growing network of weather and soil monitoring stations across the state (we have one at MARS!).

Meetings are in-person and registration is free.

01/26/2026

Temperatures are in from the recent cold snap in Marshfield, WI,; no records were broken. Existing records remain as follows:

Low Temperature Records:
• January 23: –37°F (1963); 2026 low was –25°F
• January 24: –36°F (1935); 2026 low was –25°F
• January 25: –25°F (1936); 2026 low was –23°F
• January 26: –26°F (1930); this morning’s low was –16°F, with one more reading expected tomorrow.

Low High Temperature Records:
• January 23: –16°F (1963); 2026 high was –12°F
• January 24: –9°F (1936); 2026 high was –3°F

These records reflect air temperatures dating back to 1912 and do not include wind chill values. Photos are from the winds on Thursday that ushered in the cold. Taken at UW Marshfield Ag Research Station - Stratford location (PC Sarah Pleet).

01/22/2026

Last month, MARS held a staff fundraiser in support of Aspen’s Reason to Ride, an organization deeply meaningful to our workplace. The Aspen’s Reason to Ride was established in memory of Aspen Schultze, daughter of MARS livestock team lead, Jami Schultze, following Aspen’s death by su***de. This effort reflects our commitment to honor Aspen’s legacy and support meaningful work focused on awareness, prevention, and healing.

Last week, Aspen’s Reason to Ride sponsored su***de prevention advocate Jeff Olson, to speak with two local school districts about su***de awareness. Through efforts like this, Aspen’s Reason to Ride is working to bring this challenging but critical topic to the forefront for students, parents, educators, and other school professionals.

01/20/2026

UW Agricultural Research Stations (ARS) operate as a statewide network of specialized facilities and dedicated professionals who support the teaching, research, and outreach missions of the UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. ARS is currently hiring the next Superintendent of the Spooner Agricultural Research Station, located in Northwestern Wisconsin. More on this job opportunity at the link below.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.Job Category:Academic StaffEmployment Type:RegularJob Profile:Research Program Manager (B)Job Summary:The Agricultural Research Stations in th...

01/06/2026

A farm kid. A polio survivor. A Wisconsin Badger. A teacher, an observer, a lover of rural life and of the natural world. And a writer who captured the spirit of Wisconsin like no one else.

Jerry Apps inspired countless people with his stories, his humility, and his deep appreciation for rural life. His words brought comfort, reflection, and connection to so many.

He will be deeply missed.

View Jerold Willard Apps's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

12/19/2025

Along with many great companies in the Marshfield area, MARS Superintendent, Nancy Esser, is a member of the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MACCI) Agribusiness committee. The committee plays a vital role in supporting and promoting agribusiness and the agricultural industry in the community. Great things are being planned for 2026. From promoting agribusiness to strengthening community partnerships, this committee is committed to furthering the value ag brings to the local community.

Holiday fun with the MACCI Agri-Business Committee. Oxbo Forage is honored to have several employees be a part of the committee, which works to promote knowledge and growth of Central Wisconsin Agriculture. If you are a local chamber member and would like to join the committee, please reach out to marshfieldchamber.com