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| Harley and Millie
Peterson (seated) with two of their sons and in-laws (from left), Denise
and Matt Peterson, Pat Stittleburg, Pat and Dan Peterson, and Richland County
Extension agent Joy Kirkpatrick. The Petersons have operated their 400-acre
farm near Reedsburg since 1965. |
Teaming Up With Agriculture
Teamwork Enhances Agriculture
University of Wisconsin-Extension
programs in Agriculture and Natural Resources help urban and rural people use
research and knowledge to solve problems and take advantage of new opportunities.
Agriculture and Natural Resources educators balance farm profitability and production
of high quality food, horticulture crops, fiber and plant material with protection
of the natural environment.
An Eye to Our Future
The structure of Wisconsin
agriculture is changing in ways that affect the traditional family farm. Urban
encroachments, changing consumer demands and a global marketplace are altering
the face of farming. To adapt to these changes, agriculture and natural resources
education emphasizes:
- Protecting natural
resources, water, land and air while striving for profitability in agriculture
and meeting the food and fiber needs of the world.
- Providing people with
safe and adequate food and contributing to the economic
well-being of the community.
- Helping property owners
create and maintain their personal environments with education for homeowners
who enjoy gardening and landscaping by growing fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals.
Healthy Farms, Healthy Communities
Many benefit when our state’s
agricultural sector is strong. UW-Extension education in Agriculture and Natural
Resources is designed to achieve results.
- Producers and agribusinesses
evaluate and manage land, labor, capital and risk in a way that meets personal
and business goals.
- Property owners and
people in the horticulture industry understand and use plant materials, and
manage nutrients and pests in an environmentally responsible manner.
- Producers learn to manage
on-farm nutrients – recognizing the inseparable nature of crop production,
water quality, manure management, nutrient management and social and economic
factors.
- Policy makers acquire
tools for helping communities evaluate the impact of different types of development
on agricultural land.
What We Gain
Agriculture and Natural
Resources Programs aim to make Wisconsin agriculture strong and competitive
while conserving and protecting natural resources. Education about agriculture
and natural resources protects our economy, our food supply, our natural environment
and our future.
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What People Say About Us
“I definitely
think the animals are healthier because of the changes we’ve made.
Anytime you don’t have to treat them with medications, that’s
a dollar you didn’t have to spend.”
Columbia County
pork producer who participated in an Extension Pork Quality education
program
“The garden
increased our food stock tremendously. We would have run out of food by
June if not for the program. We didn’t use as many canned goods because
of the availability of fresh produce.”
Kenosha County
food pantry administrator, who received donated produce from an Extension
community garden.
“When I saw
your article on genetically modified grains on the web, it really lit
a light with me. It was exactly the information our growers needed. You
addressed precisely the issues we were facing on a daily basis.”
John Froelich,
Dairyland Seed Company, West Bend
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About Cooperative Extension in
Wisconsin
Cooperative Extension is
part of the University of Wisconsin System and a division of University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Cooperative Extension helps people throughout the state acquire knowledge and
skills to …
- Solve problems in their
businesses and farms.
- Improve their local
governments and neighborhoods.
- Enhance the quality
of their families’ lives.
- Use natural resources
responsibly.
- Help their children
grow and learn.
Extension people work in
partnership with people in county, state, federal, and tribal governments; community
organizations; volunteers; business; and industry. With faculty in every county
and on UW-campuses, Cooperative Extension gives Wisconsin citizens quick and
convenient access to University research and knowledge.
Agriculture and Natural
Resources is one of the Cooperative Extension programs. Others include Family
Living,
4-H Youth Development, and Community, Natural Resource and Economic Development.
Go
to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Homepage
More about Cooperative
Extension
