Marshfield Agricultural Research Station

09/09/2026

Have you ever noticed the head markings on Holsteins? They seem to fit standard patterns. Poll to nose stripes, forehead triangles or splotches, and the occasional solid-colored face.

Just walking around the farm, we've noticed something else. A couple of cattle seem to be sporting a natural number 7 on their foreheads. We've noticed this for a while in MARS cattle (many now in the Arlington Blaine herd) with a distinct #7 marking.

Coincidence? Maybe. But one thing is certain: we haven't found any 6s yet😂.

09/04/2026

Research that makes a difference starts with collaboration. New findings, pulled together by specialists in the National Farm Medicine Center (NFMC) and UW Extension show that aging farmers face a higher risk of fatal tractor-related injuries due to age-related changes. NFMC emphasized the importance of driving with caution when sharing the road with farm equipment. MARS served as the backdrop for this local story, helping highlight these important safety messages.

Thirty people died on Wisconsin farms in 2023. That's one more death than 2022 had.

08/25/2026

Still sitting on the fence about attending the 2026 Grazing School at MARS?

The grass really is greener when you're learning from the best. Join us September 16-17 for practical, hands-on grazing education to improve livestock performance and get the most from your pasture acres.

Don't let this opportunity past-ure by. The registration deadline is September 4!

Register today at https://grassworks.org/programs/wisconsin-schools-of-grazing/

08/20/2026

2954 had her moment in the spotlight. She is one of few dairy heifers in the world to receive this kind of attention from Bucky Badger. Selected from the MARS herd for Badger Dairy Camp, 2954 spent several days being groomed, evaluated, and led by enthusiastic campers eager to perfect their fitting and showing skills.

Badger Dairy Camp was held on the UW campus in July. The program educates youth about Wisconsin's dairy industry while highlighting higher education and career opportunities available within the field. For 2954, however, the highlights were a little different. Along with all the extra attention and care she received, she also met Bucky Badger himself. Now, she's back home with her herdmates.

08/18/2026

Keeping dairy cows comfortable promotes herd health and productivity. The new Dairy Ventilation App, developed in part by Nesli Akdeniz, Extension Specialist at UW-Madison can help farmers assess ventilation in their barns and identify opportunities for improvement. Packed with practical tools, this app helps producers calculate THI and heat stress risk, determine proper fan sizing, assess existing ventilation capacity, compare fan performance and efficiency, and estimate the payback period on ventilation upgrades.

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin dairy producers have a new tool for evaluating barn ventilation. UW-Madison Extension is also offering to visit farms and take measurements...

08/14/2026

July tied 1943 as the 4th driest July on record. Many fields entered critical reproductive stages during the month, making the lack of rainfall especially concerning.

While crops can withstand some stress during the growing season, drought during pollination, pod set, and grain fill can have a much greater impact on yield potential. Corn may struggle with pollination and kernel development, while soybeans can abort flowers and pods when moisture becomes limited.

During periods of drought stress, crops activate natural defense mechanisms to conserve water. Corn leaves may roll, plant growth may slow, and root systems often extend deeper into the soil profile in search of moisture.

As crops progress through these critical growth stages, timely rainfall can make a significant difference in final yield outcomes.

08/06/2026

Meyer Manufacturing Corp has generously provided forage boxes to the MARS research farm through a no-cost lease arrangement for decades. As our research farm has evolved, these forage boxes have worked really well for our operation. They are large enough to maximize hauling efficiency during harvest yet sized to keep pace with our bagger. Having access to dependable, high-quality equipment without added cost is a tremendous benefit to our program, and we are grateful for Meyer Manufacturing's longstanding support and partnership.

MARS and UW-Madison College of Ag and Life Sciences are proud to work alongside organizations that invest in agricultural research and education, and we look forward to continuing this valuable relationship for years to come. Thank you, Meyer Manufacturing!

08/06/2026

Don't miss this opportunity to see innovative on-farm research and conservation practices in action at Twin B Dairy during the next EPPIC Farm Tour!

Hi everyone! Stop #4 of the EPPIC Farm Tours is almost here!
Join us on August 25th from 10 AM–1 PM for a field day at Twin B Dairy in Marathon City — home of The Digital Farmer.
Adam and crew will be taking us for in-field looks at the new soybean planter trials, multispecies cover crops, and film corn trials.

Lunch will be provided by EPPIC, but RSVP is required. Please use the QR code in the flyer below or call/text Caleb Armstrong at 715‑722‑9808 to reserve your spot.
Hope to see you there!