If it happens on a farm or in a field, the Extension Institute of Agriculture works with you to achieve better results. Our innovative dairy management programs range from genetics to farm and business management. Extension researchers work hand-in-hand with row crop, forage and fresh produce growers to provide best practices for every aspect of the growing phase. We also advise communities on using sustainable practices to create inviting spaces free from invasive species. Our work supports people, communities and businesses.

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

Field Notes, A Podcast and YouTube Series From Our Very Own Ag. Educators

• Ag, Water, and Processing Vegetables
  April 24, 2023 by UW-Madison Extension
  Guolong Liang, outreach specialist for the Agriculture Water Quality Program of Extension in the Central Sands of Wisconsin, guest hosts this episode of Field Notes. Guolong talks with UW-Madison Horticulture Professor and Extension Specialist Jed Colquhoun about the use of cover crops to reduce nutrient runoff in canning and processing vegetables. For the farmer perspective, […]
• Nitrogen Management and Climate Change
  March 31, 2023 by UW-Madison Extension
  When we think of nitrogen leaving the fields, we often think of nitrates leached down to groundwater, but the mobility of nitrogen is not just downwards. Nitrogen can also leave the field and be lost to the atmosphere in the form of nitrous oxide, aka laughing gas. But this is no laughing matter. Nitrous oxide […]
• Frost Seeding Red Clover
  February 27, 2023 by UW-Madison Extension
  March is mud month in Wisconsin. While this season may not be particularly pretty on the eyes, the freeze and thaw of the soil presents farmers with an opportunity to seed small-seeded plants like clovers into a fall-established wheat crop. The benefits are numerous: weed control, diversity, nitrogen for the following corn crop, forage and […]
• Digital Agriculture
  February 7, 2023 by UW-Madison Extension
  Data is the currency of the future. What does this look like for farmers? We sit down with Drs. Emily Bick, Extension-funded field and forage crop entomologist with University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Jim Eckberg, a scientist with General Mills, to find out. We talk on how sensors and imaging can help build back biodiversity and […]
• Evaluating Soil Health
  November 29, 2022 by UW-Madison Extension
  Everyone is talking about soil health, so we thought we should too. We chat a bit about what exactly is soil health with Jamie Patton of UW-Madison's Nutrient and Pest Management program and Brendon Blank, a farmer and Byron Seeds rep from Ixonia, WI, and importantly, how do you measure progress? Hosted on Acast. See […]

• Dairy & Livestock
• Grazing and Pastures
• Farm Management
• WI Manure Applicators List
  

• Crops & Soil
• Cash Rent Survey & Custom Rate Guide
• Dicamba & Auxin Training
• Veggie Bites
  

• Ag News & Updates
• Useful Ag Links
• Ag Youth Programs
• Farm to School Program
  

Sustainable Agriculture

Some information that would help some small or large farms or those that are just doing a hobby farm.  There have been some inquiries about Organic and what it means as well as control of internal parasites in small ruminant production, raising birds on pasture and if raising a small flock of poultry being beneficial.  If you or someone you know has a question about any of this, just follow the links below to view or print the PDF.

• Organic – Food labels and what they mean.
• Sustainable control of internal parasites in small ruminant
• Raising birds on pasture
• Should I raise a small poultry flock
  

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For more information and resources please go to the UW Madison Division of Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources website.

If you have any questions regarding agriculture in Polk County, please contact:

Ryan Sterry (Regional Dairy Educator)

715-531-1930

ryan.sterry@wisc.edu