Upcoming Events

Annual On Farm Soil Health Workshop

Annual On Farm Soil Health Workshop on February 3, 9 am – 3:30 pm at Frank Fischer Senior Center, 20 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy S, Wisconsin Dells. $20/person, lunch included. Register online or mail by January 30, 2026: https://www.sswig.org/events See details below.

This workshop will feature keynote speaker Tom Cotter of Cotter Farm in southern Minnesota. He’s become a vocal advocate for conservation practices that can enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, increase carbon sequestration, boost farm resiliency, ensure financial viability, and revitalize rural communities. Guest speakers include Randy Zogbaum of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and Craig Ficinec of the Sand County Foundation. Attendees will hear Tom Cotter’s story and how diversity and cover crops work on his operation, learn state producer led findings from the past year from Randy Zogbaum, hear about a new producer led funding opportunity from Sand County Foundation, and more!

Everybody has a story to tell. Keynote speaker, Tom Cotter, a fourth‑generation farmer from southern Minnesota, shares his story of turning a century of full tillage into living‑roots agriculture. Tom Cotter believes that when you do good things, other good things happen. He’s seen it firsthand. After he and his dad saw drastic differences four feet down with cover crops in the late 1990s, Tom added diverse cover‑crop “cocktails” after canning crops that are also grazed. As the First certified Clean Water Farm in Mower County, he raises crops and grass‑fed beef and shares practical lessons nationwide: observe, adapt, and improve.

Agritourism Business Development Training

6 modules available between Jan. 31-Feb. 25, 2026. Enroll in the entire cohort or attend single sessions. For more information go.wisc.edu/agritourism

2026 Annual CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) Update

NEW for 2026: 1) Virtual option on Thursday, February 19, and 2) Bonus Extension session on February 3, 12-1 pm for the CAFO audience: “Supporting economic and water quality opportunities through expanded dairy heifer grazing” featuring Sarah Lloyd Jordan Mathews (Rosy-Lane Dairy) and Ron Schoepp

For more information about this program: Contact Kevin Erb at 920-391-4652 or Kevin.erb
@wisc.edu

For questions on registration or payment: Email: extension@browncountywi.gov | Phone 920-391-4610

Climate and Crops Workshop – January 20, 2026

Join the Wisconsin State Climatology Office and Crops and Soils Division of Extension for a workshop. Topics include county climate summaries, monitoring tools available to you, climate and agriculture, and worrisome weeds.

2 Workshop locations available for you to choose from on January 20.

  • 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at the DHS Building, 200 Hickory Street, 2nd floor, Mauston, WI
  • 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Kraemer Library, 910 Main Street, Plain, WI

Register today to reserve your spot:

Private Pesticide Applicator Training-Feb. 26 or March 17, 2026

Location: Sauk County Extension Office, 505 Broadway, Basement Conference Room, Baraboo, WI 53913

Time: 8:30 a.m.

Registration: https://go.wisc.edu/patregistration

Session includes training and test.

Cultivating Your Farm’s Future – Workshops

Winter 2026 Virtual Workshops: Thursdays from 6:30-8 PM in February – 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, and 2/26 – Optional session on March 19, 2026 – REGISTRATION deadline: January 16, 2026

REGISTRATION: go.wisc.edu/cyff

Shoebox to Strategy – Organizing Your Farm’s Legacy

Every farm knows it should organize essential documents and financial information – but the task is easy to delay. This online workshop series from UW-Madison Extension helps you finally get it done.

By gathering and organizing your farm’s vital records, you’ll be better prepared for meetings with attorneys, accountants, and transition planning professionals – saving you time, money, and stress.

The series combines guided virtual instruction, open office hours, and one in-person workshop to help you move from “I need to do this someday” to “It’s finally done.”

Learn more and register at: go.wisc.edu7/shoebox or click on QR code in flyer below.

Required Virtual Sessions:

  • Friday, Jan. 30 from 12-1:30 pm
  • Friday, Feb. 13 from 12-1:30 pm
  • Friday, Feb. 27 from 12-1:30 pm

Required In-Person Workshop: Friday, March 13 from 10 am-3 pm – Phoenix Center, 100 S. Orange Street, Richland Center, WI 53581

Optional Follow-up Virtual Session: Friday, April 3 from 12-1:30 pm

Cost: $175/farm through Dec. 31, 2025 | $225/farm starting on Jan. 1, 2026

Register Soon! Registration deadline is Jan. 16, 2026. This workshop is limited to 20 farms.

Questions? Contact: joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu, 608-263-3485