Articles
An Overview of Common Soil Health Indicators
An overview of the following soil health indicators: Soil Organic Matter (SOM), Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), Potentially Mineralizable Carbon (MinC), Permanganate Oxidizable Carbon (POXC), Total Nitrogen (TN), Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen (PMN), Autoclaved Citrate Extractable (ACE) Protein, and Aggregate Stability (AS).
Field Notes Episode 27: Sunflower Production in Wisconsin
In years of low commodity prices, most farmers think about where they might be able to cut costs. Some might begin to think about alternative crops can fit into row crop production. Enter the sunflower.
▶ The Wisconsin Phosphorus Index
In this video, Hava Blair, researcher, UW–Madison Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, presents an in-depth overview of the Wisconsin Phosphorus Index (P Index), a modeling tool used to estimate phosphorus runoff from agricultural fields to nearby surface waters.
▶ The Zone of Interaction: Exploring phosphorus stratification
In this video, Kelsey Hyland and Laura Paletta from UW–Madison Extension’s Ag Water Program explore phosphorus stratification in Wisconsin agricultural soils and its implications for water quality.
▶ June 26 Ag Weather Outlook for Wisconsin
Josh Bendorf from the Wisconsin State Climatology Office provides a detailed update on weather conditions across the state as of June 26, 2025.
Notes from the Field: A Growers Perspective – Ben Kraus Chat #5
This week we will hear about Gwenyn Hill Farm’s (Waukesha) plum curculio and codling moth management and the effects of recent precipitation.
▶ Introduction to Common Crop Diseases
In the final session of the Foundational Crop Scouting Training series, Jordan Kampa, nutrient and pest management outreach specialist, provides an in-depth introduction to common crop diseases affecting corn, soybean, wheat, and alfalfa.
Grazing to Protect Surface Water: Considering critical and sensitive areas
Identifying critical and sensitive areas of your farm and managing them accordingly, especially at sensitive times of year, protects surface water quality while maintaining a productive grazing system.
▶ Basic Weed Identification for Crop Scouts
Dan H. Smith hosts the fifth session in our 2025 Foundational Crop Scout Training and covers how to assess weed pressure, record field observations, and identify key weed species in Wisconsin row crops.
▶ Basic Insect Identification for Crop Scouts
Dane Elmquist hosts the fourth session in our 2025 Foundational Crop Scout Training and covers key insect anatomy, life cycles, and identification strategies, along with practical field scouting techniques and sampling tools.
