Portage County

Are you interested in stimulating the local farm economy and keeping land in agriculture?  An agricultural enterprise area (AEA) is a tool that can help individuals and communities meet locally identified goals for preserving agricultural land and encouraging agricultural economic development.  Farmers and local officials can now apply for 2013 AEA designation. Eligible farmers in [...]

The Farmer to Farmer Hay, Forage and Corn List puts Wisconsin farmers in touch with one another for the purpose of buying and/or selling corn silage, high moisture corn, haylage, hay, and straw. The farmer to farmer list is free of charge to both buyers and sellers. Users can list or search for hay, alfalfa [...]

Gov. Scott Walker has declared a state of emergency in 42 Wisconsin counties due to the drought. These dry conditions pose challenges for all Wisconsin residents, both urban and rural. Cooperative Extension has put together a home for drought-related resources from all program areas.  Potential crop losses may prove stressful to cash grain farmers as [...]

Cooperative Extension’s first agent, E.L. Luther, hired in 1912 in Oneida County, made farm visits using a two-cylinder motorbike. One hundred years later, both modes of transportation and Cooperative Extension programming have changed, but one important point remains the same. Cooperative Extension educators continue to serve as a portal to educational resources from the University [...]

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.  [...]