The annual UW Badger Crops & Soils Update Meetings present the latest information on agronomic, pest, and nutrient management research coming out of the University of Wisconsin with a lens to on-farm application. See below to find the presentations you missed or want to watch again.
The 2024 Badger Crops and Soils Update Meetings featured several faculty highlighting ongoing and future research at UW–Madison. This video is a recording of Dr. Steven Hall’s talk, “Dealing with Weather Whiplash in Wisconsin’s Croplands: A Soil and Water Perspective.” Dr. Steven Hall is an assistant professor in the UW–Madison department of plant and agroecosystem sciences and extension specialist in ag water quality, and presents on strategies for managing weather extremes through on-farm soil and water management practices.
The 2024 Badger Crops and Soils Update Meetings featured several faculty highlighting ongoing and future research at UW–Madison. This video is a recording of Dr. Mallika Nocco’s talk, “Building Drought Resistant Soils” Dr. Mallika Nocco is an assistant professor in the UW–Madison department of biological systems engineering and extension specialist in agrohydrology, and she presents on strategies for managing drought and flood, or precipitation extremes, using soil texture data and irrigation and drainage tools.
The 2024 Badger Crops and Soils Update Meetings featured several faculty highlighting ongoing and future research at UW–Madison. This video is a recording of Dr. Marta Kohmann’s talk, “Effect of Traffic on Alfalfa Production.” Dr. Marta Kohmann is an assistant professor in the department of plant and agroecosystem sciences and extension forage systems agroecology specialist, and she presents on research done to evaluate the impact of field traffic from vehicles or equipment on alfalfa production. Dr. Kohmann also describes a corn-alfalfa interseeded system where this research could be applied, possibly reducing profit losses during alfalfa establishment periods.
The 2024 Badger Crops and Soils Update Meetings featured several faculty highlighting ongoing and future research at UW–Madison. This video is a recording of Scott Newell’s talk, “Presenting the UW Alfalfa Cutting Tool!” Scott Newell is a statewide alfalfa outreach specialist at UW–Madison Extension, and he presents on a new alfalfa cutting tool available for alfalfa farmers in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest to better plan cutting schedules.
The 2024 Badger Crops and Soils Update Meetings featured several faculty highlighting ongoing and future research at UW–Madison. This video is a recording of Dr. Harkirat Kaur’s talk, “Evaluating Corn Production in Changing Climate.” Dr. Harkirat Kaur is an assistant professor in the department of plant and agroecosystem sciences and extension corn agronomy specialist, and she presents on how her lab evaluates successful corn production, in a variety of ways, while recognizing the impact of changing weather and climate conditions. Dr. Kaur reviews the 2024 corn season and past production trends, then considers what impacts forecasted climate models may have on the 2025 growing season and beyond.
The 2024 Badger Crops and Soils Update Meetings featured several faculty highlighting ongoing and future research at UW–Madison. This video is a recording of Dr. Jeff Hadachek’s talk, “Managing the Economic Extremes.” Dr. Jeff Hadachek is an assistant professor in the ag and applied economics department at UW–Madison, and he presents on economic and market outlooks for Wisconsin crop farmers in 2025. He also previews his Soil Health Decision Tool, which allows farmers to input real scenarios and compare the financial and long-term impacts of conservation management practices.
The 2024 Badger Crops and Soils Update Meetings featured several faculty highlighting ongoing and future research at UW–Madison. This video is a recording of Dr. Emily Bick’s talk, “Entomology Field Crops Update” Dr. Emily Bick is an assistant professor in the department of entomology and extension specialist for field and forage crops, and she presents on insects of interest in the 2024 growing season, particularly corn rootworm and European corn borer. Though infestations were few and well-managed, both pests have managed to become resistant to many insecticides and insecticidal traits in plants. Dr. Bick details her plans for insect pest trapping, monitoring, alerting farmers, and research to identify genetic resistance within populations.
The 2024 Badger Crops and Soils Update Meetings featured several faculty highlighting ongoing and future research at UW–Madison. This video is a recording of Dr. Rordigo Werle’s talk, “Revisiting Waterhemp Control Strategies for 2025.” Dr. Rodrigo Werle is an associate professor and extension specialist in cropping systems weed science, and he presents on strategies to control waterhemp in Wisconsin in 2025. Dr. Werle reviews herbicide resistance data, stresses the importance of strong pre- applications, and looks forward to 2025 weed control.
Dr. Francisco Arriaga, Chris Bandura, Dr. Mallika Nocco, Dr. Steven Hall
The 2024 Badger Crops and Soils Update Meetings featured several faculty highlighting ongoing and future research at UW–Madison and question and answer panels. This video is a recording of the soil and water question and answer panel. The panel features Dr. Francisco Arriaga, associate professor in the UW–Madison department of soil and environmental science and extension soil specialist; Chris Bandura, statewide conservation cropping outreach specialist; Dr. Steven Hall, an assistant professor in the UW–Madison department of plant and agroecosystem sciences and extension specialist in ag water quality; Dr. Mallika Nocco, an assistant professor in the UW–Madison department of biological systems engineering and extension specialist in agrohydrology. Francisco, Chris, Steven, and Mallika answer audience questions about irrigation return on investment, cover crops, nitrogen regulations, nitrogen-fixing forages, tile drainage, and more.
Dr. Harkirat Kaur, Dr. Marta Kohmann, and Scott Newell
The 2024 Badger Crops and Soils Update Meetings featured several faculty highlighting ongoing and future research at UW–Madison and question and answer panels. This video is a recording of the forage and grain question and answer panel. The panel features Dr. Harkirat Kaur, an assistant professor in the department of plant and agroecosystem sciences and extension corn agronomy specialist; Dr. Marta Kohmann, an assistant professor in the department of plant and agroecosystem sciences and extension forage systems agroecology specialist; Scott Newell, statewide extension alfalfa outreach specialist; and Scott Newell, statewide extension alfalfa outreach specialist. Harkirat, Marta and Scott answer audience questions about annual grass control, short corn, 60-inch corn rows, interseeding corn and alfalfa, and alfalfa production as it relates to growing degree days and cutting.
Dr. Emily Bick, Dr. Damon Smith, Dr. Rodrigo Werle
The 2024 Badger Crops and Soils Update Meetings featured several faculty highlighting ongoing and future research at UW–Madison and question and answer panels. This video is a recording of the pest management question and answer panel. The panel features Dr. Emily Bick, an assistant professor in the department of entomology and extension specialist for field and forage crop insect pest management; Dr. Damon Smith, a professor in the department of plant pathology and extension specialist for field crop diseases; and Dr. Rodrigo Werle, an associate professor and extension specialist in cropping systems weed science. Emily, Damon and Rodrigo answer audience questions about pre- and post- herbicide application and interactions, field crop disease updates and outlooks, slugs, and more.
