A recent University of Wisconsin-Madison study found that most Wisconsin farmers over-apply nitrogen and phosphorus to their corn fields although applying the correct amount would save them money and reduce harm to surface and ground water.

People interested in learning more about the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy Farmers, or applying for this year’s upcoming class, can visit with the coordinator, Dick Cates, at a series of public events this fall.

From glow-in-the-dark bacteria to televised tours of a live cow’s stomach, hot-rod tractors to virtual forests, you’ll find a variety of scientific show-and-tells at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Open House, Saturday, August 19 beginning at 10 a.m.

A luncheon speech on grain markets and four field tours will highlight this year’s Agronomy Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 14 at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Arlington Agricultural Research Station.

Beef and dairy producers who want to control twinning rates may soon get some help. Researchers have identified three regions of the cattle genome that contribute to an increased frequency of double ovulation in the animals.

Feeding some tallow is a good way to pack extra energy into a dairy diet, but too much tallow can disrupt rumen function and depress milk fat production, particularly when diets are high in corn silage. Some studies have shown that adding alfalfa hay to corn silage diets can revive some of that fat production. However, alfalfa silage may not have the same curative powers as alfalfa hay, University of Wisconsin-Madison research has shown.

Whether you’re looking for winter-resistant finery for the front yard or fillings for next summer’s salad bowls, you’ll find ideas at Urban Horticulture Field Day, Saturday, Aug. 19 from noon to 5 p.m. at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station.

The red carpet will be out for Urban Horticulture Field Day Aug. 19, but wanderers are welcome all summer long at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station’s gardens. The gardens are open to the public from dawn to dusk, 7 days a week. Self-guided tour booklets are available at the mailbox near the entrance to the Trial Gardens or in the station headquarters office. Station staff are usually available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to answer questions regarding the plants.

Now more than ever, farmers are looking for new markets and customers who will pay a fair price for their products. Dining services at four colleges in Wisconsin are buying directly from farmers and paying premium prices for a wide variety of meats, vegetables, and fruit.

Dairy Industry Needs: Wisconsin dairying is in the midst of major restructuring, brought on by changes in national and international competition, new federal marketing and pricing programs, and challenges of mature production and processing infrastructures. If the state’s dairy industry is to prosper and expand, it must find new ways to produce milk at prices competitive with other regions of the country and the world, and do that while protecting environmental quality and enhancing agriculture’s natural-resource base.