Portage County

The host farms for the 2014 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, being held in Portage County, were announced January 9, 2012. Ken Schroeder, Farm Technology Days Executive Committee Secretary introduced Blue Top Farms and Feltz Family Farms as the joint host farms for the statewide event in 2014. Blue Top Farms and Feltz Family Farms are [...]

During the chill of a Wisconsin winter, there are few things more satisfying than a warm fire. Heating your home with wood can be less expensive than other sources of home heating energy, and firewood is a renewable resource. Prices of heating fuels vary considerably, but non-renewable fossil fuels and electricity are commonly 2 to [...]

Looking for help with a lawn or garden question? Need help identifying an insect or plant disease? The Garden Line provides horticulture-related advice for Portage County residents. The Garden Line can answer questions related to: Trees & Shrubs, Vegetables, Flowers, Houseplants, Insect Pests, and Fertilizers. Available by Phone — 715-346-1589. Please leave message with support staff or on voice mail. [...]

Portage County UW-Extension is offering soil testing for lawns and gardens. What you get: Analysis of current nutrient content of your soil (P,K). Current soil pH. Recommendation of type and amount of fertilizer to add. Allow 2 – 3 weeks for return of results. What we need: A total of 2 cups of air dry [...]

USDA Fact Sheet:  Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency Always keep meat, poultry, fish, and eggs refrigerated at or below 40 °F and frozen food at or below 0 °F. This may be difficult when the power is out. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.  [...]

Barns in Wisconsin are “an endangered species,” the causes readily listed; decay, abundant size, snow load, economic displacement. Yet nothing symbolizes our historic connection to the land with the same authority, bravery and family bond as a barn. The Barn Project The goal of this project is to inventory and photograph every barn in Wisconsin; every county, every barn. This project cannot save barns but [...]

The University of Wisconsin Forestry Extension programs offer a wide variety of educational programming and materials for woodland owners. The Wisconsin Woodland Owner Education website provides access to many of these initiatives. Topics Woodland Assistance — Designed to help new private woodland owners achieve their management goals. Information is provided on a variety of topics from hands-on information [...]

Check out these UW-Extension flood response web sites for assembled information and resources to help deal with flooding, crop damage, including home gardens and general disaster assistance.  UW-Extension Flood Resources Management and Recovery Emergency Response The UW-Extension, Agriculture Preparedness and Response Safely Using Produce from Flooded Gardens (pdf) Food Safety Concerns (pdf) The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, [...]