Agriculture

Series: Phosphorus In Wisconsin's Land And Water

The Cyanobacteria Stalemate In Wisconsin's Lakes

WisContext

One organism, exploding in population, thrives at the expense of others in its ecosystem. That's essentially what happens when a toxic algal bloom spreads a slimy, stinky trail across a body of water.

Series: The Yahara Watershed

Series: Phosphorus In Wisconsin's Land And Water

Four Visions Of Change For The Yahara Watershed

Kristian Knutsen

WisContext

The year 2070 may sound like an impossibly distant date from the vantage point of 2016, but it's as near into the future as John Glenn's first orbit of the Earth is in the past.

Series: Local Food Science

Fermentation Is Serious Food Science In Wisconsin

Scott Gordon

WisContext

Fermentation — the process by which microorganisms metabolize sugar into alcohol and other byproducts — has been an important part of the human diet for thousands of years. But the art and science of this practice is undergoing a bit of a renaissance.

The Simple Device That Transformed The Dairy Industry

Audio:

Erika Janik

Wisconsin Public Radio

The Babcock butterfat test, developed at the University of Wisconsin, provided a simple and inexpensive way to assess the quality of milk.

Series: Heat Stress

How To Protect Trees, Other Landscape Plants From Heat Stress

Vijai Pandian

UW-Extension

Healthy landscape plants need care and maintenance, especially when summer rainfall is inadequate.

Series: Food Security And Assistance In Wisconsin

Obstacles Remain To Connecting FoodShare Users With Farmers' Markets

Amber Canto

UW-Extension

It's the time of year to celebrate the luscious flavors of Wisconsin summers — cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, zucchini and more. Farmers' markets are a great place to obtain affordable, seasonal and healthy produce, but not all Wisconsinites have the ability to purchase these fresh foods.

Series: Health In Rural Wisconsin

Protecting The Hearing of Rural Wisconsinites

Scott Gordon

WisContext

When people in Wisconsin think of the dangers that farmworkers face, they might envision extreme heat malfunctioning machinery, or even unruly livestock. But they might be unaware of another serious threat: Hearing loss.

Series: Managing Japanese Beetles

8 Tips For Preventing Japanese Beetles From Overtaking A Garden

Vijai Pandian

UW-Extension

Just when a garden looks good, ravenous Japanese beetles can promptly emerge in the heart of summer to devour the gardener's favorite plants.

Southern Rust Is A Rare But Serious Threat To Wisconsin Corn Crops

Damon Smith

UW-Extension

Wisconsin corn farmers are keeping an eye out for southern rust, a plant fungus that causes bright orange pustule growth on the leaves of corn.

Parents Can Prevent Kids' Summer Weight Gain

Amber Canto

UW-Extension

Summer marks a hiatus from the daily responsibilities and scheduled demands children face during the school year, which provides a structure for eating, sleeping and physical activities. But in summer, if children engage in less physical activity, they may gain up to three times as much weight as they do over an entire school year.