The 2021 Soil, Water and Nutrient Management Meetings will be virtual. Two sessions are offered as listed below. There will be four speakers, with 5-minute breaks between speakers. CEUs will be available for Certified Crop Advisers (2.0 in Soil and Water Management, and 1.5 in Nutrient Management). The event is free of charge. Registration is […]

As we make shopping lists for holiday meal preparation, it’s a good time to check your pantry or refrigerator for recalled food items that are currently linked to nearly 900 illnesses. Certain brands of prepackaged baby spinach and fresh onions are currently under national recall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just announced a new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak […]

Whether serving the meal yourself or sharing ideas with others on preparing an upcoming holiday feast, everyone will be grateful for recipes that include special food safety tips! Just in time for the holidays, the Partnership for Food Safety Education shares recipes, videos and more with food safety prompts that will help even the novice chef prepare a […]

On Thanksgiving, sometimes mistakes happen that make your turkey day a turkey don’t. What should you do if the turkey isn’t ready in time? Here are some ways to save the day. If you don’t have time to cook a whole turkey: Cook turkey parts, which can be ready in a fraction of the time. […]

As we head into the gun-deer season,  it is a good time to remember safe handling practices for wild game meat. Families across Wisconsin depend on  game meat to supplement their food budget, and safe animal and food-handling practices can help ensure that harvested meat is safe and high quality. Venison is a nutritious game meat […]

Pies are an all–time favorite dessert and a feature of our winter holiday celebrations. Cooking and storing pies safely is important because bacteria that cause foodborne illness can grow in certain pies kept at room temperature, especially when the ingredients include milk, other dairy products, and eggs.  Food Safety for Pies Containing Dairy Ingredients or Eggs If a pie […]

The Marinette & Oconto County offices of UW-Madison Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Beef Council will be hosting an in-person Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification session on December 1st. The session will begin at 5:30 p.m. and is being held at the Pound Town Hall, on the east edge of Village of Coleman, at […]

After much deliberation, we made the difficult decision to pivot the 2021 Wisconsin Pest Management Update Meetings from a hybrid model to all virtual because of continued COVID-19 concerns and low registration numbers. Thus, the in-person events at Darlington (November 16, 2021), Chippewa Falls (November 17, 2021) and Kimberly (November 18, 2021) are now cancelled. […]

Thanksgiving Day is just over two weeks away, and it’s time to get ready. The USDA has provided answers to common questions to help your holiday run smoothly. Q: How long does it take to thaw a turkey? A: The time it takes to thaw a turkey depends on which of these three thawing methods you […]

As we move into the season of holiday baking, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds consumers that some decorating “luster dust” has been associated with toxic metal poisonings in children. Decorating foods with luster dust or glitter is a current trend, popularized on television programs, instructional videos, blogs, and websites such as Pinterest. […]

Have you heard the saying that a meal can be better when it’s reheated and served the next day? As long as we follow a few food safety steps, those ‘planned overs’ will be both healthy and delicious. Cook Food Safely. The first step in having safe ‘planned overs’ is cooking the food safely. If cooking […]

The Extension office will have limited office hours Tuesday, November 9 through Monday, November 15 at 12 pm. Please call the office at 920-834-6845 to make sure that someone is in the office if you plan on stopping by. Water test kits are available on the 3rd floor in building A near the elevator. We […]

Water and soil are the usual transmission sources when rare Burkholderia pseudomallei infections occur. But Food Safety News reports that the source of four recent associated Burkholderia pseudomallei Infections, also known as melioidosis, was Gardens-branded Essential Oil infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones  “Lavender & Chamomile” scent manufactured in India and sold at Walmart. The killer room spray has caused one […]

Join us for the final Badger Crop Connect on October 27th. Register here: https://go.wisc.edu/bccfall2021. This will be the last webinar in our series for 2021 but we hope you join us next growing season. The purpose of this series is to provide agronomists, crop consultants, and farmers timely crop updates for Wisconsin. Badger Crop Connect is hosted […]

Many decisions need to be made as farms manage their corn crops.  Two of the more important decisions regarding profitability potential for an acre of corn are what hybrid to plant? and how much nitrogen to apply, and how should it be applied?  A field day featuring research plots that help answer both of these […]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Pork Association will host the 2021 Badger Swine Symposium via Zoom in November. Speakers will present current topics on swine production on Wednesday evenings during the month of November beginning November 3. Each session begins at 7 p.m. CT with a presentation followed by Q&A […]

Corn harvest season is getting started, with local farms in the midst of silage harvest season and gearing up to start grain corn harvest.  Grain corn can be harvested, dried, and either sold or stored; or it can be harvested as High Moisture corn (HMC).  HMC is the grain after being normally combined, but there […]

The Harmony Arboretum Demonstration Gardens are a place where all Marinette County residents and visitors can enjoy plants and local fauna, as well as learn about horticultural practices they may be able to use in their own landscapes and gardens. Thursday evening, September 2nd, from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m., an open house event is […]

Corn Silage Moisture Monitoring Available to Area Producers (Crivitz, Lena) The Marinette and Oconto County offices of UW-Madison, Division of Extension are again poised to assist area livestock producers as they plan and start corn silage harvest.  Four days of sample collection are occurring in 2021, at five sites throughout the two counties.  Testing of […]

Back-to-school time is right around the corner. This transition time can be difficult for both children and parents, so UW-Extension has dedicated 6 virtual Parent Connect sessions this fall to help parents ease their children and themselves back into positive and healthy routines, relationships and reinforcement. At each virtual session, an Extension educator will highlight a different […]

Marinette and Oconto Counties are accepting new UW-Madison Extension Master Gardener Volunteers in 2022. If you are interested in learning more about horticulture while helping fellow area residents, the Master Gardener Volunteer program may be a good fit for you. There are multiple ways to learn more about the MGV program and how it works […]

Join us for a free webinar on Tuesday, June 1 from 12:00-1:00 pm. Maybe you’ve heard news stories about declines in pollinators and songbirds. In this webinar, we’ll take a look at what research studies have found about how pesticides affect pollinators and songbirds, and then check out examples of what people have done to help […]

Even more evidence this week from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of the importance of cooking flour-containing products before eating. National foodborne illness outbreaks in 2016 and again in 2019 tied to pathogenic E. coli have been linked to consumers eating raw dough or batter.  An outbreak report released this week indicated that several people interviewed admitted to […]

By far the most important step in safe home canning is to follow an up-to-date, research tested recipe. Research-tested recipes recommend metal 2-piece lids for home canning.  Two-piece lids are sold to fit regular and wide-mouth glass canning jars and are made up of a flat metal lid and a metal screw band.  The lid contains a sealing […]

Making maple syrup is a time-honored tradition in many parts of Wisconsin, and it is as much of an art as a science. Even though sap does run in other trees such as birch and elm in early spring, maples produce more and sweeter sap than any other tree. Collection. Once trees are tapped, a collecting container is […]

Sugar maple, state tree of Wisconsin If you have been scrolling the internet of late you might have noticed that some companies are touting the reported health benefits of drinking tree sap. Some ads suggest that drinking tree sap or ‘tree water’ is a natural way to hydrate. Regardless of whether drinking tree sap is a […]

Updated March 17, 2021 The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is impacting households, communities, and businesses. A U.S. Census survey from October noted that one-third of adults reported it was somewhat or very difficult to pay for their usual household expenses. The frequently asked questions below highlight some common financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 […]

The following responses were provided by University of Wisconsin-Madison public health experts Ajay Sethi, Ph.D., MHS, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences and Faculty Director of the Master of Public Health Program and Devlin Cole, MD, MPH, Preventative Medicine Resident, School of Medicine and Public Health. Last updated February 19, 2021. Vaccine Technology and Development […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. 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://finances.extension.wisc.edu/programs/check-your-free-credit-report-campaign/

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  

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

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 […]

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 […]