Progress Report


Book Description

This is a progress report on the specific recommendations from the task force's 1987 final report.







Wisconsin Agriculture


Book Description

"I'm embarrassed to say I thought I knew anything substantial about Wisconsin agriculture or its history before I read this book. 'Wisconsin Agriculture' should be required reading in history classes from high school to the collegiate level. It makes me thankful that Jerry Apps has such a sense of commitment to Wisconsin's agricultural heritage--and to getting the story right." --Pam Jahnke, Farm Director, Wisconsin Farm Report Radio Wisconsin has been a farming state from its very beginnings. And though it's long been known as "the Dairy State," it produces much more than cows, milk, and cheese. In fact, Wisconsin is one of the most diverse agricultural states in the nation. The story of farming in Wisconsin is rich and diverse as well, and the threads of that story are related and intertwined. In this long-awaited volume, celebrated rural historian Jerry Apps examines everything from the fundamental influences of landscape and weather to complex matters of ethnic and pioneer settlement patterns, changing technology, agricultural research and education, and government regulations and policies. Along with expected topics, such as the cranberry industry and artisan cheesemaking, "Wisconsin Agriculture" delves into beef cattle and dairy goats, fur farming and Christmas trees, maple syrup and honey, and other specialty crops, including ginseng, hemp, cherries, sugar beets, mint, sphagnum moss, flax, and hops. Apps also explores new and rediscovered farming endeavors, from aquaculture to urban farming to beekeeping, and discusses recent political developments, such as the 2014 Farm Bill and its ramifications. And he looks to the future of farming, contemplating questions of ethical growing practices, food safety, sustainability, and the potential effects of climate change. Featuring first-person accounts from the settlement era to today, along with more than 200 captivating photographs, "Wisconsin Agriculture" breathes life into the facts and figures of 150 years of farming history and provides compelling insights into the state's agricultural past, present, and future.










Creating Dairyland


Book Description

The story of dairying in Wisconsin is the story of how our very landscape and way of life were created. By making cows the center of our farm life and learning how to care for them, our ancestors launched a revolution that changed much more than the way farmers earned their living — it changed us. In Creating Dairyland, journalist, oral historian, and former dairyman Ed Janus opens the pages of the fascinating story of Wisconsin dairy farming. He explores the profound idea that led to the remarkable "big bang" of dairying here a century and a half ago. He helps us understand why there are cows in Wisconsin, how farmers became responsible stewards of our resources, and how cows have paid them back for their efforts. And he introduces us to dairy farmers and cheesemakers of today: men and women who want to tell us why they love what they do. Ed Janus offers a sort of field guide to Dairyland, showing us how to "read" our landscape with fresh eyes, explaining what we see today by describing how and why it came to be. Creating Dairyland pays tribute to the many thousands of Wisconsin farmers who have found a way to stay on their land with their cows. Their remarkable effort of labor, intelligence, and faith is one of the great stories of Wisconsin.







Fifty Years of Dairy Progress Production and Plans for Fifty More (Classic Reprint)


Book Description

Excerpt from Fifty Years of Dairy Progress Production and Plans for Fifty More The average production per dairy animal in Wisconsin is al most pounds of milk a year, making 190 pounds of butter fat instead of 150, the average Of the United States. With Wisconsin farmers in 147 different cow-testing associations test ing the quality Of the production of over animals, and dis carding this last year over 5 per cent Of those animals; with 48 of these cow-testing associations in which every male animal is purebred rather than a scrub or inferior in quality; with the elimination of disease, which it has been possible to bring about here in Wisconsin so that now whole counties are entirely free from the scourge of tuberculosis - ir is Obvious that Wisconsin is in a position to face the competition of the future better than any other state in the nation. The work of continued improvement will have to be pushed harder than ever as prices decline - better animals, better feed ing methods, better care, elimination of all possible losses in the production of milk. Then, too, the leaks that now occur in the manufacturing processes must be cut out or greatly reduced. These are the little foxes that destroy the vines, and eat up the profits. Take this recent experience of two Swiss factories in Green county. In one factory the milk brought the factory pa trons 60 cents per 100 pounds because the quality Of the cheese was so poor. Most of it developed a putrefactive fermentation, the so-called stinker cheese. Within a mile from this factory was another factory which was turning out an extra fine product, bringing its farmer owners $3 a hundred for their milk. It is necessary to overcome just such leaks as this to convert a serious loss into a profit. A well-established industry, as is dairy ing, judiciously and intelligently handled, 'still offers the best field for Wisconsin endeavor. The gamble in this crop is in finitely less than would be the case in grain, fruit, or beef, under Wisconsin conditions. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.