• 4-H Grows Here!

    4-H Empowers! Our programs in science, healthy living and civic engagement are backed by a network of 100 public universities and a community of 4-H volunteers and professionals. Through hands on learning, kids build life skills to help them thrive today and tomorrow!

  • Agriculture

    University of Madison Division of Extension Agriculture has everything you need to know from local foods marketing to youth dairy and livestock. We strive to bring information to the residents of Polk County on the economic, environmental and social dimensions of agriculture.

We teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities.

FDA Changes to Livestock Antibiotic Regulations

There are some new changes coming in 2023 to antibiotic regulations for livestock. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) plan for supporting veterinary antimicrobial stewardship is scheduled to be fully implemented in 2023. As part of this plan, all remaining over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotics used in production agriculture are scheduled to be switched to prescription-only. […]

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The New 2022 Plat Books are Here!

The new 2022 Polk County Plat Books are now available for purchase the the Polk County Extension office. We are located on the ground floor in suite G600. All plat books are $40.00, we do not accept cards, only cash or check. Please make all checks out to the Polk County 4-H Leaders Federation.

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Prioritizing Mental Health on the Farm

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and although it’s important to prioritize your well-being all year long, the busy spring season brings unique stressors for farmers and other ag professionals. Joy Kirkpatrick, a farm succession specialist with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension, offers tips for managing mental health during the busy spring season. […]

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Flood Damage to your Crops and Gardens?

What to do if flood waters entered your garden? For your garden, the most conservative approach is to destroy any produce that comes into direct contact with floodwater. And whether exposed directly or indirectly to floodwater, any produce that is meant to be eaten raw should not be consumed. To find more information about consuming produce from flooded areas check out […]

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Getting Started With Gardening

Diana Alfuth, UW-Extension Horticulture Outreach Specialist If you’ve never really gardened before, getting started might seem overwhelming. But it’s actually quite easy to start growing some fresh, nutritious and tasty vegetables in your own yard, community garden plot, or even in containers on a deck or patio. Here are some simple steps to growing a […]

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