Agriculture
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Wisconsin’s farmers and restaurants are struggling with uncertainty over egg prices
At Franks Diner in Kenosha, customers can go through nearly 1,500 eggs in a single weekend. Those eggs have become precious commodities now that bird flu has caused supply shortages and erratic prices all over the country.
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Backyard pond basics: Advice for adding water features
A water feature could be a pond, stream or even a birdbath, said Chris O’Connor, the regional service manager at Aquatica.
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Wisconsin growers used the most water ever reported to irrigate crops in 2023
Water withdrawals for irrigating crops in Wisconsin reached their highest level ever reported in 2023 as a flash drought prompted growers to pump more water from high capacity wells, according to a state report.
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Lawmakers weigh bill to hunt sandhill cranes, provide aid to farmers
Wisconsin lawmakers will weigh whether to allow hunting of sandhill cranes and provide aid to corn growers experiencing damage from the birds under a bill introduced this month.
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Retaliatory tariffs target Wisconsin’s top industries
Wisconsin workers may be among the most at risk in the nation as other countries begin to impose retaliatory tariffs.
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Study: Some raw milk cheese is vulnerable to avian flu
New research suggests avian flu could be a threat to specialty producers that rely on aging instead of heat to create unique cheeses.
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Love potatoes? Grow them yourself this spring
Ever thought about growing your own potatoes? It’s easy to be a chip off the old block if you follow the right steps. UW-Madison Professor and Extension Specialist Amanda Gevens explains how.
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USDA cuts program that brought locally-grown food to schools, pantries
In an email to WPR, a USDA spokesperson called the initiatives “pandemic-era” programs with “no plan for longevity,” and said the department was returning to “long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives.”
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Fired USDA workers in Wisconsin may be reinstated after federal board’s order
Fired U.S. Department of Agriculture workers in Wisconsin are weighing their next steps after a federal board reinstated thousands of the agency’s probationary employees on Wednesday.
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Wisconsin soybean farmers worry about drop in exports
With Wisconsin’s production of soybeans valued at $1.3 billion, export concerns are in the spotlight as one of America’s key international markets looks to protect its future in food and agriculture.