This survey explored the views, opinions and perceptions of Wisconsin dairy producers about custom grazing heifers. Findings included: All types of Wisconsin dairy producers perceive that grazing has positive implications for the health and productivity of dairy heifers. In order to appeal to Wisconsin dairy producers, potential custom grazing heifer operations must be cost competitive. Confinement operations are [...more]

CIAS staff member Steve Stevenson is co-author of a new book on the crisis faced by mid-scale farms and ranches, and strategies for reviving these operations. Food and the Mid-Level Farm makes it clear that the demise of midsize farms and ranches is not a foregone conclusion and that the renewal of an agriculture of [...more]

While Wisconsin is known as America’s Dairyland, the state’s beef industry is also thriving. Beef cows, beef heifers over 500 pounds, steers and other heifers (excluding dairy heifers) account for nearly 23% of the total cattle population in the state. Wisconsin’s beef farmers and livestock specialists understand the overall characteristics of the beef industry in Wisconsin, but [...more]

Wisconsin is well positioned to reap the benefits sown by our organic farmers, processors and other businesses. With continued support for and investment in organics, Wisconsin will remain a leader in organic agriculture. With a focus on organic dairy, this report describes production, processing and economic issues in organic agriculture. It also includes farm profiles, an [...more]

Printer-friendly version (PDF) Many Wisconsin dairy farmers choose to have their young stock custom raised by someone else. This lets them concentrate on what they do best-manage the cows that produce milk-and frees up land and facilities for their milking herds. But dairy farmers are concerned about the price of custom heifer raising, and some transport [...more]

Since 2003, Carandale Farm has been evaluating 42 unusual fruits for environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The goal is to find nutrient-rich fruits that can be grown easily, without a lot of labor or chemicals. The fruits must provide economic viability for the farm. Carandale owners Dale and Cindy Secher are developing a “short list” [...more]

The organic food market continues to expand in the United States, consistently growing at a rate of 15 to 21 percent per year and reaching nearly $17 billion in consumer sales in 2006. Organic products are increasingly present in traditional mainstream markets. This publication is designed to help farmers and processors understand the steps necessary [...more]

What makes specialty cheese special? More specifically, what taste characteristics make cheese from pastured cows unique? These are important questions for farmers and milk processors wanting to create specialty dairy products from the milk of pastured cows. Preliminary research from UW-Madison shows that cheese from the milk of pastured cows tastes significantly different from other cheese. This study was not able to identify the chemical compounds causing the flavor differences. A consumer panel preferred the cheese made from the milk of cows fed pasture and grain, similar to the milk produced on most Wisconsin grazing dairy farms. [...more]

The market for specialty cheese, including pastured cheese, is growing rapidly. Graziers, cheesemakers and marketers need to know how pastured cheese is unique. This report describes research comparing the taste, texture and color of cheese made from the milk of exclusively pastured cows, cows that are pastured and given a grain supplement, and cows fed [...more]

Beginning dairy farmers as well as seasoned producers have a new resource available from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and partner organizations including CIAS. Dairy Your Way is a free, 100-page book that profiles a variety of dairy housing and production systems suitable for the Upper Midwest. Producers, university researchers, extension educators and industry experts [...more]