Agriculture

Pesticides Pose Challenges To Vegetable Growers As Markets Change, Insects Adapt

WisContext

Wisconsin is a national leader in growing and processing specialty crops that include sweet corn, green beans, peas, potatoes and, of course, cranberries. These plants attract plenty of pests that eat and damage the crops, making their management a primary concern of farmers.

Farmers Need To Take Time To Plan Farm Succession

Tina Kohlman

UW-Extension

It is springtime and many farmers are shifting gears from winter chores to planting. They have much work to do: developing a cropping plan, ordering seed and fertilizer, making sure equipment is in working order, and lining up enough help for the season.

Series: CAFOs, Manure And Water

Manure Irrigation Debate Arcs Over Wisconsin

Scott Gordon

WisContext

In recent years, the smell, environmental impacts and human health risks of spraying liquefied manure over crop fields has raised questions and concerns among a growing number of Wisconsin residents.

Series: CAFOs, Manure And Water

Liquid Manure Workgroup Assess Safety Of Irrigration Practices

Video:

Zac Schultz

PBS Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin professor Ken Genskow is chair of a work group studying the safety of liquid manure irrigation and its effects on health and the environment in places where it is used.

Series: CAFOs, Manure And Water

Why The Town Of Lincoln Banned Liquid Manure Irrigation

Video:

Zac Schultz

PBS Wisconsin

Town of Lincoln chair Cory Cochart said the community banned liquid manure irrigation because of health risks related to inhaling pathogens, and the township is prepared to stand up to higher government officials who want to override its decision.

Series: El Niño In Wisconsin

Series: Climate Science And Wisconsin

How Warm Weather Affects Sap Collection In Maple Trees

Jerry Clark

UW-Extension

Early warm weather and the influence of El Niño is causing maple syrup to start running, requiring maple sap collectors and syrup producers to scramble to capture the harvest.

Series: Literacy In Wisconsin

Pink Slimed: The Beef Industry Learns The Importance Of Social Media Literacy

Kristin Runge

UW-Extension

This is a cautionary tale about the importance of social media literacy, involving a company with a limited online profile, the hot-button issue of "pink slime" and a contingent of interested citizens with active social media accounts.

Series: Food Security And Assistance In Wisconsin

UW-Madison Food Pantry Highlights Student Poverty

Scott Gordon

WisContext

A new food pantry for University of Wisconsin-Madison students is one sign that poverty can exist on campus. As UW-Madison Ph.D. student Katharine Broton explained in a Feb. 5 interview on Wisconsin Public Television's Here And Now , traditional conceptions of college students' financial and social situations has grown outdated.

Series: Food Security And Assistance In Wisconsin

UW Research On Student Food Security Inspires Food Pantry

Video:

Frederica Freyberg

PBS Wisconsin

A rising number of "non-traditional" students and their struggle to pay for college-related expenses led the Associated Students of Madison to set up a food pantry. University of Wisconsin-Madison Ph.D. student Katharine Broton discussed research into food insecurity among college students.

Series: El Niño In Wisconsin

El Niño Highlights Need For Resilient Agriculture

Scott Gordon

WisContext

To consider the long-term challenges of climate change and the short-term impacts of powerful weather cycles like the El Niño Southern Oscillation is to face down a wild tangle of variables. This is especially true in agriculture, where weather and climatic variations affect precipitation, temperature, and the timing of planting and harvesting.