Some Wisconsin farmers harvest red clover three times during the summer, as if it were alfalfa; others take two cuts that are often made too late for optimal forage quality. University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers say neither of those approaches is best.

A cell membrane protein thought mainly to bind “bad” cholesterol and remove it from circulation also plays a major role in reducing the production of that cholesterol, according to a study published this February in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

The year 2000 began with some of the lowest commodity prices we’ve seen in decades. These depressed prices are making for difficult times in Wisconsin agriculture, and many farmers are re-examining their goals for their operations.

A Verona town-hall meeting to discuss community growth and land-use issues will be held at 7 p.m., February 24th at Verona City Hall, 111 Lincoln St. A town-hall Web site designed to inspire political discussion (www.cybercivic.com), and Verona cable station VHAT 12 will simulcast meeting. Citizens unable to attend can ask questions via the Web site or tune in to cable channel 12 and phone in questions.

Warehoused cheese can help to lessen the summer electricity crunch in Wisconsin, a study at the UW-Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences has shown.

A study of vegetation changes in Wisconsin’s northwest sand country reveals a dramatic decline in pine barrens, pines and open habitats, and an increase in oak and aspen forests over the past 140 years.

The Columbia County 4-H dairy cattle judging team placed fourth overall out of 23 teams at the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, held Sept. 28 during World Dairy Expo at Madison, WI.

The Jefferson County 4-H dairy cattle judging team placed second overall out of 14 teams at the Pennsylvania All-American Invitational 4-H Youth Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, Sept. 20 at Harrisburg, Pa.

The Wisconsin 4-H team placed fifth overall out of 23 teams at the North American International Livestock Exposition 4-H Youth Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, held Nov. 7 at Louisville, Kentucky.

Compared with established dairy farmers, new dairy farmers in Wisconsin are much less likely to be taking over the farm from their parents, and they’re more likely to use off-farm income to supplement their farm income, according to researchers with the Program on Agricultural Technology Studies at UW-Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.