All News
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Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin: 2003 Status Report
Organic food sales in the US have grown 20% or more annually throughout the last decade and remain strong. Organic products are now available in 73% of supermarkets nationwide, particularly…
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Flavor, not health claims, key in marketing pasture-based cheese (Research Brief #66)
A small but growing group of consumers is paying attention to the health benefits of milk and meat from animals raised on pasture. Meat and milk from grazed ruminants have…
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Harvest Festivals Reveal the Benefits and Challenges of Serving Local Produce in Schools
What do students at Shorewood Hills, Lincoln, and Chavez Elementary Schools have in common? All 1,400 of them, along with school staff and parents, will experience the bounty of local…
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Biological control of Canada thistle: more work needed (Research Brief #65)
Canada thistle is a big headache for livestock producers managing pastures. Animals won't eat this spiny, tough plant, reducing productivity of pastures and livestock. Despite being on Wisconsin's noxious weed…
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Pesticide Use and Risk Reduction: An Investment in the Future of Wisconsin Agriculture
The Pesticide Use and Risk Reduction (PURR) Project was initiated in 1998 to help farmers anticipate the effects of more restrictive federal pesticide regulation. Fourteen agricultural organizations participated in this…
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Poultry Enterprise Budget Makes Management Decisions Easier
Low commodity prices have inspired many farmers to look at alternative enterprises, like poultry production, to increase their farm income. With careful financial planning and management, poultry enterprises can make…
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Lawn care herbicide linked to reproductive problems in mice (Research Brief #64)
Researchers at UW-Madison found that exposure to low levels of a common lawn herbicide mixture led to reduced litter sizes in laboratory mice. This research builds on other studies showing…
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Poultry Enterprise Budget
Enterprises like pastured poultry can add to farm income with careful financial planning. CIAS has developed a spreadsheet to help farmers make financial and management decisions about new or existing…
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Large-scale pastured poultry farming in the U.S. (Research Brief #63)
Can you make a living raising pastured poultry on a large scale? "Yes, but talk to farmers who'll give you their whole story, including their failures, before you begin," one…
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Integrated Pest Management: An Overview for Market Growers
Chemicals are not the only, or often the best, option for controlling pest problems. Integrated Pest Management is an alternative that uses all appropriate pest management methods instead of focusing…