University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension’s Heart of the Farm-Women in Agriculture program is starting it’s statewide online ‘Coffee Chat’ Fall/Winter program on the 2nd Monday of each month (10 a.m. – 11 a.m.) through March 2021. The Heart of the Farm-Women in Agriculture program addresses the needs of farm women by providing education on farm […]

All producers have the opportunity to sign up for either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program by March 15th.  This voluntary program provides payments to farms when either revenue or crop price are below set guarantees.  The decision is made on a crop by crop basis at the county level. An […]

Focus on Forage is a FREE, 7-part Extension webinar series highlighting research-based information and farmer strategies to optimize forage yield, quality, and profitability in Wisconsin.   The first webinar, on January 13, 2021, is entitled “Managing for High Quality Corn Silage” and will feature a discussion with Mike Jenson, Jenson Family Farms, LLC (Elk Mound, WI) and Carlyle Westendorp, West-Vale-Vue Dairy […]

Cow College meetings and farm tours have been offered as in-person events during prior years. However, due to the pandemic, Cow College 2021 meetings and tours have moved to a virtual format. Tune in on January 13th, 12:00 to 1:00 pm to hear Dr. James Salfer, University of Minnesota Extension, discuss the economics of automated […]

Milk and milk products provide a wealth of nutrition benefits. But milk that has not been pasteurized can harbor dangerous microorganisms that can pose serious health risks to you and your family if consumed raw. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 1993 through 2012, there were 127 outbreaks linked to raw milk or […]

Landowners leasing the agricultural rights of their land to active farms is critical to maintaining the viability of agriculture in Northeastern Wisconsin.  A significant percentage of farmland is owned by non-farming families in our region and it would be nearly impossible for active farms to be able to afford to own all the land that they […]

Join the University of Wisconsin – Division of Extension’s Dairy Program on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 2:30 pm CST for the NEW Badger Dairy Insight webinar series.  These are no-cost webinars; however, participants must register before the program at go.wisc.edu/FarmReadyResearch .

Corn harvest season is getting started, with local farms starting to harvest high moisture corn.  High moisture corn (HMC) is the grain after being normally combined, but there is enough moisture in it that it ensiles well, preserving feed quality for livestock.  Harvesting HMC is also more efficient and more environmentally friendly, as farms do […]

Home-owners around the area are starting to experience the annual fall insect hibernation invasions.  The insects most likely to be staging on outside walls and beginning to move into houses, garages, or wall spaces are boxelder bugs, cluster flies, conifer seed bugs, and Multi-colored Asian Lady Beetles.  You may also find wasp species, other insects, and even […]

An international group of scientists has declared that it is highly unlikely that SARS-CoV-2 is a food safety risk. The International Commission for Microbiological Specifications of Foods (ICMSF) is a non-governmental organization and represents top food safety experts from around the globe. The ICMSF members believe it is highly unlikely that ingestion of SARS-CoV-2 will result in […]

Weather forecasts indicate that gardeners in our area will want to consider frost protection opportunities tonight and tomorrow night, Sept. 17 and 18.  Forecast lows for most of the Marinette County area are projected to reach the freezing mark, indicating that most gardens are at risk for damage. Plants facing the most risk are the […]

Whether you are new to canning, returning to canning because of the pandemic, or have always canned the bounty of your harvest, there are certain tips that will help ensure that your time and efforts lead to safe, healthy food for your family.  Use recipes that are up to date. Some canning recommendations have changed dramatically […]

2020 was a relatively strong plant disease year, again.  High, consistent humidity levels in July and fairly consistent rainfall events in June, July, and early August led to many fungal diseases having banner years.  As the end of the garden season approaches, we can actually do some things in fall to make a big difference in the […]

Vegetable harvest is still in high gear, tree fruits are maturing, and livestock based products are also coming into season.  Fall means food, and there are many farms in our area which focus on producing food products and selling directly to consumers.  Whether you want to find a perfect head of cauliflower, a peck of apples for […]

Cells and spores of C. botulinum. Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control. Tested recipes recommend glass Mason-style jars and 2-piece self-sealing lids for home canning. In the past few weeks, one of the most frequently asked questions has been about jar sealing. Handling jars and lids correctly will go a long way towards successfully preserving your garden’s […]

Back to Basics steam canner The University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted research showing that an atmospheric steam canner may be used to safely can naturally acid foods such as peaches, pears, and apples, or acidified-foods such as salsa or pickles. The steam canner uses only ~2 quarts of water (compared to 16 quarts, or more, in a boiling […]

Stories in the news have prompted consumers to ask questions about the survival of the coronavirus on food packaging surfaces. Laboratory studies have shown that the virus that causes COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for up to several days and China recently banned food imports from several counties after finding viral RNA on food packaging. Is this cause for concern? Even as […]

The University of Wisconsin of Wisconsin Human Development & Relationships educators have collaborated and created a quick reference guide: TOOLS TO COPE WITH THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 in English and Spanish.  The guide connects you with quick resources to the following questions: If You… Are about to lose your job or have already lost your job? Know that you will not have enough […]

The safety of the food that you preserve for your family and friends is important to you. The University of Wisconsin Division of Extension supports using up-to-date, research-tested recipes so that you know that the food that you preserve is both safe and high in quality. Here are a few quick tips on changes and […]

Whether it’s ketchup and mustard on a burger or mayonnaise used in a favorite potato salad, do condiments need to be stored in the refrigerator?  Looking at the container for your favorite sauce or condiment, you will almost always find the words Refrigerate after Opening. My own home refrigerator has over a dozen such bottles: barbeque sauces, salad dressings, mayonnaise, mustard, hot […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their recommendations on food handling during this time of COVID-19.  The recommendations are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. Highlights of the recommendations are: There continues to be no evidence that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is associated with handling food or consuming food. Coronaviruses are thought […]

It’s jam and jelly season! Let’s review the use of an atmospheric steam canner for canning acid foods. The University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted research showing that an atmospheric Steam Canner may be used to safely can naturally acid foods such as peaches, pears, and apples, or acidified-foods such as salsa or pickles. The atmospheric steam canner uses only […]

Several manufacturers are now selling pressure canners and other appliances that are compatible with induction heating elements. Are these style of canners safe to use for home canning? Yes! Induction compatible canners function the same way as regular pressure canners in preserving food. An induction-ready canner is different because of the type of material that the canner is made of. […]

Many current home canning recommendations suggest a 5 to 10 minute wait at the end of the canning process prior to removing jars from the canner. Why is this wait time now included in some canning recipes and it is necessary for safety? Some home canning recipes, such as the Ball (Fresh Preserving) recipe for Classic Strawberry Jam, include as a final […]

Food Safety News You can Use from the Division of Extension. Summer weather can bring heavy rains and power outages due to lightening and high winds. Extension has information that you can use to keep yourself and your family food-safe. Emergency Preparedness (USDA; many resources in Spanish) Keep Food Safe after a Disaster or Emergency (CDC, also in […]

Even though a national trend has some families converting their Little Free Libraries into food pantries, this may not be food-safe idea.  Little Free Libraries have a strong tie to Wisconsin. According to the Little Free Library website, in 2009, Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one room schoolhouse. It was a tribute […]

A second method of ‘dry canning’ has surfaced, even more unsafe than the first.  One unsafe method of dry canning is oven ‘canning’ of dry goods such as dry beans, nuts or flour. This method of ‘preserving’ dry foods really isn’t canning and it isn’t considered safe.  A second method of ‘dry canning’ involves placing raw vegetables such as corn, green […]

Instructions have been circulating for ‘dry canning’ of products such as dry beans, flour, and pasta. Just because this process uses traditional canning jars, it isn’t ‘canning’ and, according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, this method of food preservation may not be safe. What is canning? Canning as a method of food preservation or processing refers […]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension announces the launch of a new micro-learning video series: Money As You Grow Book Reads.  Each week, Financial Security Team Educators will read a popular children’s book that teaches children about money.  You can find free guides online through Dollars During Development.  Get the conversation started with your child while doing a fun activity in the […]

Did you know? By law, you can request three FREE credit reports each year. Mark your calendar to request a copy of your free report on 6/6. Our “Check Your Free Credit Report: 2/2, 6/6, 10/10” campaign makes it easier to remember to order your reports. Learn more on the website. https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/creditreport/

This Guide is a collection of farmers, growers and markets in Marinette, Florence and Oconto Counties that sell produce directly to consumers. Growers’ contact information, produce offered, and a map of the location are included with details given on local farmers’ markets. Guide to Home Grown Produce 

Please click on the link below to see what percent of the population is at the highest-risk of complication from COVID-19. You can search by county and zip code. The map below is an example of what the Oconto County map looks like. https://hip.wisc.edu/NHP  

Farmers are in business to produce food for others.  It’s what they do.  It’s what they care about.  Right now, some area dairy farms are being told to go against their very nature and ‘dump’ the high quality food product they’ve invested their life into producing.  As our entire world faces very unusual circumstances, many […]

Please click on the link to see how Badger Talks examines personal finance in a pandemic. Badger Talks examines personal finance in a pandemic

Our area’s Easter snowstorm may have tempered gardeners’ enthusiasm a bit, but it is definitely time to finish selecting what vegetables you are going to grow this year.  On-line or catalog orders are a constantly available opportunity, and vegetable and fruit plant & seed sales are considered ‘essential’ under the current Safer at Home order […]

Farms which sell food items directly to consumers have the opportunity to get their information into the Guide to Home-Grown Produce in Marinette & Oconto Counties. This free listing is available on-line for all area residents to then be able to purchase fruits, vegetables, meat products, and specialty items such as honey, maple syrup, and preserved […]

For information on the COVID-19 Response Grant Program please click on the link below, this information is provided by the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. https://www.med.wisc.edu/wisconsin-partnership-program/covid-19-response-grant-program/  

We all want to keep our families safe and healthy, especially in this time when the coronavirus presents such a real need to do so. No one wants to end up at the doctor’s office or the hospital with a foodborne illness*. [*There is no credible evidence that the coronavirus is spread by food or […]

The growing season is close, but there is still time to start your own vegetable seeds at home.  Starting seeds can be a simple biology lesson for your kids and grandkids, as they watch plants grow and develop.  And it can be a very fruitful lesson, as those young seedlings develop into productive plants that […]

We all know that hand washing is an important defense against coronavirus. And as we work to keep ourselves and our families healthy, routine cleaning and disinfecting of areas in our homes is important. Cleaning removes dirt from surfaces, while disinfecting kills germs that remain after cleaning. What is the best way to clean and […]

With a ‘Safer at Home‘ order, many of us are looking to foods stocked in our pantries and cupboards to help feed our families. What do dates on food products tell us? If the date is past, is the food still safe?  In most cases, yes! Dates on food package labels are generally quality dates, an indication […]

This self-study for parents and children help prepare for safely staying home and making a family plan. https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/homealone/    

On Thursday, February 20, 2020, the Oconto County Board of Supervisors recognized the Finger Family for receiving the Wisconsin’s Outstanding Young Farmer Award. Philip and Laura Finger are the fifth generation to farm on his family farm, which was established in 1872. Pictured back row left to right : Dick Doeren; Extension Education Committee Member, […]

As of September 6th, members may go to www.4honline.com and re-enroll in the  4-H program for 2019-2020. All 4-H members, youth and adult, must re-enroll on 4-H Online each year in order to participate in 4-H club, county, state, national and international activities. Even if you just became a member in August, you must go […]