The Country Today

06/16/2020

Leopold winner uses precision ag to improve soil, profitability

2019 Leopold Conservation Award winner Jeff Lake knew he had some spot in certain fields on his Dunn County farm that just didn't produce well. With his family's standing interest in conservation practices, he turned to precision agriculture to make better use of his farmland. Read more on his take on precision agriculture by following the link.

Jeff Lake knew he had some spots in certain fields on his Dunn County farm that just didn’t produce well.

06/15/2020

In this week's The Country Today, DATCP is pushing to have increased Wisconsin participation in the next round of USDA's Food Box Program, after vendors in the state were awarded only about $9 million of the initial $1.2 billion allocated through the program. Also, Alice in Dairyland hosted a virtual dairy breakfast to help celebrate June Dairy Month statewide. Read these stories and more online now at www.thecountrytoday.com.

06/09/2020

New Auburn farm raises beef cattle, adds goat milking operation

Dan and Lori Lyons have diversified their herd by adding goat milking to their existing beef cattle operation. Read more about the choices they've made to bring their farm to where it is now by following the link.

NEW AUBURN — Many farmers who raise cattle in the Chippewa Valley use them in the dairy industry. However, for nearly three decades, Dan and Lori Lyons have raised beef

06/08/2020

With spring livestock shows canceled, Ally Loosen knew she wasn't alone in missing the camaraderie that came with the shows, so she coordinated the Corona Kicker Livestock Show, a virtual event, which recently concluded. Read more about how the show came together in this week's The Country Today. Also, farmers can start getting ready to apply for state aid, as applications are now set to open on June 15. These stories and more are online now at www.thecountrytoday.com.

06/05/2020

World Dairy Expo 2020 canceled

The latest ag event to be canceled due to coronavirus concerns, World Dairy Expo will not be held this fall for the first time in its 53-year history. Read more on why the decision was made by following the link.

For the first time in its 53-year history, World Dairy Expo has been canceled.

06/02/2020

How a goat became Northfield’s biggest celebrity

The Northfield Goat, actually named Betsy, has become quite a tourist attraction for the town. After escaping from her owner and eluding attempts to capture her, she has been left to enjoy her days in the cliffs near town, where she seems to be happy and can catch the eye of motorists passing by. Read more about The Northfield Goat in this column by Chris Hardie.

The unincorporated town of Northfield is located in the northwest corner of Jackson County where Interstate 94 exits at Wisconsin Highway 121 between Osseo and Hixton, 34 miles southeast of

06/01/2020

The Country Today's cover photo

06/01/2020

In this week's The Country Today, read about Wisconsin vegetable growers who take pride in their locally grown legacy. Find this story and more online now at www.thecountrytoday.com.

05/28/2020

Wisconsin State Fair canceled

Adding to the growing list of summer event cancellations, it was announced today that the Wisconsin State Fair has been canceled for 2020. Read more about this decision by following the link.

Summer schedules continue to open up.

05/26/2020

Looking to the future: Crystal Ball Farms Dairy makes changes in recovery from fire

Two years ago, Troy and Barb DeRosier, owners of Crystal Ball Farms Dairy near Osceola, saw an electrical fire destroy their free-stall barn and milking parlor. Implementing some changes along the way, life mostly returned to normal after their creamery reopened in June 2019. Now, though, the farm is seeing their business shift again amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more about how the DeRosiers have continued to look to their future by following the link.

Troy and Barb DeRosier, owners of Crystal Ball Farms Dairy near Osceola, have overcome adversity before.

05/25/2020

Pepin County Dairy Promotion Council may have canceled its on-farm dairy breakfast for June 20, but by offering a drive-thru breakfast on the same day, they hope to still get dairy products into the hands of consumers. Also, find a special section dedicated to June Dairy Month as a salute to the industry. These stories and more are online now at www.thecountrytoday.com.

05/21/2020

Relief funds coming to farmers

Details are emerging on the relief funding for Wisconsin farmers that is coming from the state's allocated portion of federal CARES Act funding. The Wisconsin Farm Support Program will include $50 million in direct payments to farmers, the amount requested last month by several ag organizations, and $15 million for a Food Security Initiative to combat hunger in the state. Read more by following the link.

Wisconsin farmers will soon be getting a little relief from the upheaval of the past several months.

05/19/2020

Governor: Aid needs to get to hands of farmers

As the ag industry struggles amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Tony Evers says it is important to get relief funding to farmers as quickly and simply as possible. Read more about how the state government is working to determine how to distribute the funding they can distribute to farmers from the CARES Act by following the link.

Wisconsin farmers are part of the reason there continues to be safe food available during the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the industry’s struggles with lost markets and low prices, Gov.

05/18/2020

In this week's The Country Today, CSAs across the state are selling out weeks ahead of schedule as interest in the local food movement continues to grow and people look to local supply chains for food security. Also, questions on how COVID-19 funding will be distributed to agricultural enterprises still remain as the state works to figure out how CARES Act funding can be distributed. Read more about these stories and more in this week's print edition or online now at www.thecountrytoday.com.

05/12/2020

Spring fields, woods alive with song

New arrivals across the state are giving birdwatchers and nature observers something to keep an eye on. Read more about which birds are being spotted in the Northland in this column by outdoorswoman and birdwatcher Sarah Morris.

Seasoned birdwatchers and casual nature observers have probably noticed that we have all kinds of new arrivals here in the Northland and around the state.

05/11/2020

Farms that offer dining options for customers to enjoy in a peaceful, rural settings are scrambling to adapt as the pandemic limits the ways in which they're currently able to serve those customers. Read more in this week's The Country Today or online now at www.thecountrytoday.com.

05/05/2020

Virtual farm visits offer agriculture education during pandemic

The Wisconsin Youth Livestock Program, UW-Madison Animal Sciences and the Division of Extension have teamed up to host a series of virtual farm tours of their agricultural research stations in Arlington and Lancaster to educate youth and keep them engaged while waiting at home. Read more about the farm tours and how to access them by following the link.

With hardworking students at home and exhibitors holding their breath to see if they will be able to show their animals at their county fair this year, the Wisconsin Youth

05/04/2020

In this week's The Country Today, cooperative weather helps farmers get out into the fields; Reedsburg FFA gives gallons of milk to local families through meal distribution at local schools; and Gov. Tony Evers says that dairy and agriculture will be key to the state's recovery moving forward. Read these stories and more in this week's print edition or online now at www.thecountrytoday.com.

04/28/2020

Sturgeon Rodeo: Roundup a sight to behold

Max Wolter, the Department of Natural Resources senior fisheries biologist in Sawyer County and a lifelong angler, describes a sturgeon survey undertaken every few years on the Chippewa River below the Arpin Dam as a "Sturgeon Rodeo" - and for good reason. Read more by the following the link.

Here’s the scenario: You must scramble across slippery rocks without falling into the cold water. Then you have to chase down large prehistoric creatures and capture them with a net.

04/27/2020

In this week's The Country Today, community gardens get set to open as gardeners await the opportunity to start growing. Also, Randy Romanski, interim DATCP secretary, reiterates that the department and Farm Center are available during these challenging times, and the extension of the stay-at-home order through May 26 causes tension throughout the state. These stories and more are online at www.thecountrytoday.com

04/21/2020

Signs of spring: Govins turn to drive-thru for lambing season

For the past 15 years, John and Julie Govin have had thousands of people come through their Dunn County farm during lambing season each year, but with restrictions on the size of gatherings put in place because of COVID-19, the Govins were not able to allow the public into their barn to experience the farm babies this year. However, rather than cancel the spring lambing tours entirely, the Govins worked with the Dunn County Health Department to put together a safe drive-thru version of their farm baby experience. Read more and see photos by following the link.

MENOMONIE — Spring is typically a busy time at Govins Farm.

04/20/2020

As a milk hauler himself, Rich Miller saw the images of milk that couldn’t be processed and knew he wanted to do whatever he could to help. Therefore, he joined fundraising efforts to get dairy products into school lunches and food pantries and dipped into his own bank account to help the cause. Read more on this continuing effort in this week's The Country Today or online at www.thecountrytoday.com.

04/14/2020

Extension officials offer thoughts on excess milk

UW-Extension officials recently offered some thoughts on the current dairy situation as it relates to excess milk. They have also released guidelines for farmers who end up unable to ship their milk to processors and turn to landspreading milk or milk/manure mixtures on their fields. Read more by following the link.

After five years of depressed milk prices, the state of the dairy industry went from bad to worse when the novel coronavirus began wreaking havoc on markets and the industry

04/13/2020

While many indoors farmers' markets are cutting their seasons short due to COVID-19, a Chippewa Falls farm is taking another approach: drive-thru farmers' markets. Read more on the farm's efforts to help themselves and their neighbors sell their products during challenging times in this week's The Country Today. Also, find stories on dairy experts' perspectives of what's to come and on handling food safety and worker health on farms during a pandemic. Visit www.thecountrytoday.com for more.

04/10/2020

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days moved to July 2021

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days today announced its decision to postpone this year's event until July 2021. Eau Claire County will still host the event. The postponement comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days in Eau Claire County has been postponed, and will be moved to July 20-22, 2021, organizers announced Friday afternoon.

04/07/2020

Co-ops work to supply local food safely

Local food cooperatives in Wisconsin are taking the necessary steps and precautions to keep their staff and shoppers safe, while still providing the products that consumers are looking for and a way for local producers to continue selling their products. Read more about how local co-ops are adapting in this week's The Country Today or by following the link.

Local food cooperatives in Wisconsin are implementing ways for both customers and employees to stay safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while also trying to ensure that communities have access to

04/06/2020

In this week's The Country Today, farmers are being asked to dump milk in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic; distilleries are turning to making hand sanitizer; and over a hundred farm vehicles turn out to participate in a funeral procession for a farmer when a traditional service couldn't be held due to the pandemic. Read these stories and more in this week's edition or online now at www.thecountrytoday.com.

03/31/2020

'Full time tortillas': Couple finds niche with authentic, locally sourced corn tortillas

One Wisconsin couple has found their niche making authentic, locally sourced corn tortillas. They aim to remain local, using local corn for their product and local businesses to distribute it. Read more in this week's The Country Today or by following the link.

MADISON — When Heidi Zepeda was a little girl in the 1980s, she would accompany her father to the neighboring town of Lone Rock to grab groceries and animal feed

03/30/2020

National Dairy Month might not be until June, but dairy breakfasts are already considering postponing or canceling due to concerns over COVID-19. Read more in this week's The Country Today or online at www.thecountrytoday.com.

03/24/2020

A place for healing: Chippewa Falls woman turns to horses for therapy

Holly Schindler, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 20 years ago, has experienced the physical and mental benefits of working with horses firsthand. Now, she has decided to open her farm to anyone looking for the possible health benefits that can come from working with horses by opening Holly's Place to offer horse-assisted therapy. Read more by following the link or in this week's print edition.

CHIPPEWA FALLS — Holly Schindler gives much of the credit for her strength to her horses.

03/24/2020

Happy National Ag Day! #WIAgProud

03/23/2020

In this week's The Country Today, agriculture and rural schools react to coronavirus and related impacts. Also, PDPW moves its conference online. Hear from the keynote speaker.

These stories and more are online now at www.thecountrytoday.com.

03/19/2020

Agriculture reacts to coronavirus: Farmers continue work as concerns linger

With cows needing to be milked, livestock needing to be fed and another growing season right around the corner, farmers are responding to the global coronavirus pandemic in much the same way they’ve attempted to weather five years of depressed commodity prices: by continuing to farm. Read more by following the link.

The Country Today is eliminating its pay wall for coronavirus-related content. Continue to watch our website, www.thecountrytoday.com, or our print edition for updates.

With cows needing to be milked, livestock needing to be fed and another growing season right around the corner, farmers are responding to the global coronavirus pandemic in much the

03/17/2020

'Vintage skills': Folk Arts Festival connects historical, modern values

The Chippewa Valley Museum in Eau Claire celebrated "vintage skills," such as spinning, woodworking, needle felting and much more, during their annual Folk Arts Festival late last month. Read more about their goal to connect the historical tradition of the museum with the modern values that continue to underlie these arts in this week's The Country Today or online now.

EAU CLAIRE — Tucked away in Carson Park just blocks from downtown Eau Claire, stepping into the Chippewa Valley Museum can make you feel like you're stepping back in time.

03/16/2020

Despite believing he was doing everything right, circumstances became too much for Paul Adams and his 148-year-old family organic dairy to continue to operate. Read more on his story in this week's The Country Today. Also, find stories on long-range forecasts and the kickoff to maple season.

See more at www.thecountrytoday.com.