The Extension Crops and Soils Program provides timely resources and information to help Wisconsin crop producers and their agricultural consultants manage crops efficiently and profitably.
You can find information on:
- Crop Production and cropping systems for corn, soybeans, forages, nutrient management, soil science, commercial vegetable, and cover crops.
- Pest Management: Information on the management of weeds, insects, and disease in Wisconsin cropping systems.
- Ask Extension: Your opportunity to talk directly with Extension specialists and staff
Discovery Farms, a program of UW-Madison Division of Extension, is a farmer-led research and outreach program focused on the relationship between agriculture and water quality. The program is unique in that it conducts research on privately-owned farms throughout Wisconsin. Discovery Farms works with the U.S. Geological Survey to gather credible and unbiased water quality information from monitored sites.
Discovery Farms develops on-farm and related research to determine the economic and environmental effects of agricultural practices on a diverse group of Wisconsin farms; and educates and improves communications among the agricultural community, consumers, researchers, and policymakers to better identify and implement effective environmental management practices that are compatible with profitable agriculture.
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2025 Pesticide Private Applicator Training and Testing
The guidelines for 2025 Private Pesticide Applicator training and testing are available below. There are several options for training and testing. Extension County-hosted zoom training dates and locations have been established and are now posted to the PAT Store. Be sure to read the entire document because you have other options too.
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Soil Testing
The links below give you the cost, standard analysis test, optional analysis tests and cost, sampling guidelines, submission sheet, and sample soil test report. You may pick up a soil test packet which includes the bags at the Juneau County Extension office at the address below and return the filled bags to the Extension office for submitting to the UW Soil and Forage Lab in Madison. Test results will be mailed or emailed directly to you. Postage cost is $10.40 for a USPS small flat rate box which holds up to 2 bags. Link to UW Soil and Forage Lab.
Soil Sample process-Field, Vegetable and Fruit Crops
Soil Sample process-Lawn & Garden
Soil Sample process-Wildlife Food Plots
There are other certified labs in the state of Wisconsin. Review this list for additional options. go.wisc.edu/ExtWICertifiedLabs
Learn how sampling time, technique, and more can affect the results you make important fertility decisions from. go.wisc.edu/HowSoilSamplingAffectsResults
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Research, articles and publications
- DATCP Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Grant Program Application Period Open Through January 17. See Press Release here. The grant application, Request for Proposals, and other application materials are now available on DATCP’s website.
- Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program – This program is administered by DATCP and facilitated by University of Wisconsin. It provides grants to producers that will conduct on-farm nitrogen research trials in order to use nitrogen fertilizer more efficiently while reducing nitrogen leaching. There will be an application opening in October 2024. Link to flyer for more information and link to 2023 Project Snapshots.
- The Wisconsin Cover Crop Citizen Science Project – Link Wisconsin Cover Crop Citizen Science Network — Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
- DATCP Issues Reminder after Federal Cancellation of Dicamba Herbicides Cancellation of dicamba over the top of Xtend soybean
- 2024 A Successful No-Till Workshop-Summary
- Wisconsin Farming: Insights from the 2022 Census of Agriculture: Windicator Volume 7 Issue 1
- You upgraded to the John Deere See & SprayTM Premium precision system, now what? This article was written by Dr. Rodrigo Werle, Associate Professor and Extension Cropping Systems Weed Scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This link takes you to the full article.
- Get weekly Wisconsin Ag Climate Outlook updates delivered to your inbox! go.wisc.edu/ExtWIClimateOutlook
- Cereal rye cover crop, PRE emergence herbicide fate, & pigweed residual control: Considerations learned from a multi-state field study
- US (Wisconsin) Drought Monitor. A snowless winter, record high temperatures throughout winter, tornadoes in February! Calling all Wisconsin farmers and agriculture enthusiasts! Stay ahead of the weather with the Wisconsin Ag Climate Outlook email list! Get timely updates, expert analysis, and strategic insights tailored to Wisconsin’s agricultural landscape. Join now to optimize your farming strategies and mitigate risks. Don’t miss out! Sigh up today and tell your neighbors and friends about it too. Email Sign Up Here is an example of the email here. You can always find the Wis Weather Outlook reports online Wisconsin Climate Outlook — Crops and Soils. Here is the report for February 22, 2024 – Crops and Soils (wisc.edu)
- Waterhemp Control in XtendFlex Soybean Without Dicamba. Link: https://wiscweeds.info/posts/waterhempcontrolinxtendflexsoybeanwithoutdicamba/ and the Wisconsin Cropping Systems Weed Science website link: WiscWeeds.info – Wisconsin Cropping Systems Weed Science
- The basics & future of drone technology in agriculture. The world of precision agriculture is rapidly growing and it’s an exciting time to be a part of the agriculture industry. Joanna with WiscoAg News talked with Sam Bibby, UW Extension Crops & Soils Educator, about the basics of drone technology, challenges, opportunities and future trends. Connect with Sam for support on drone technology in agriculture: Sam Bibby / Email: sbibby@wisc.edu / Cell: 608-219-2055 https://omny.fm/shows/wtaq-ag-news-on-demand/the-basics-and-future-of-drone-technology-in-agric
- The Cutting Edge: A Podcast in Search of New Crops for Wisconsin. Visit UW-Madison Crops and Soils website for more information and links to listen to previous podcasts.
- Giant Ragweed Control Research Summary
- 2023 Wisconsin Weed Science Research Report
- 2023 Wisconsin Waterhemp Herbicide Resistance Screening Project
- 2023 Wisconsin Corn Hybrid Performance Trials
- 2023 Storing Drought Affected Grain: Link to Harvest Aid Considerations for Weedy Soybean Fields
- The flash drought of 2023: Ideas and resources – Crops and Soils (wisc.edu) An article written by Natasha Paris, Sam Bibby and Joshua D. Kamps with UW-Madison Extension.
- 2023 Drought Assistance Disaster Loans Resource Sheet for Wisconsin
- 2023 Drought Assistance Disaster Loans Resource Sheet-How to submit a report
- 2023 Drought Assistance Disaster Loans Resource Sheet-Help us record drought conditions through CMOR
- 2023 Wisconsin Drought Portal
- 2023 Drought Assistance SBA News Release
- 2023 Drought Assistance Disaster Loans SBA Fact Sheet
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For more information please contact:
Extension Juneau County
Courthouse
220 E. State Street, Room 104, Mauston, WI 53948
Phone: (608) 847-9329