Wisconsin Briefs -`Equity Livestock meetings set

WAUPUN

East Central/Select Sires offers $5,000 in scholarships

East Central/Select Sires, based in Waupun and serving southern Wisconsin, is offering five, $1,000 scholarships this year. Those interested can find the application at www.eastcentralselectsires.com. The deadline is June 1, 2017.

Scholarships are available for two types of students. Applicants must be presently enrolled in a four-year college or a one- or two-year technical college or short-course program in an agricultural-related field. Applicants can also be a high-school senior admitted into one of the aforementioned programs. The applicant or their parent(s) must be currently purchasing semen and/or farm products from East Central/Select Sires.

Winners will receive notification in July, prior to the official award presentation at the East Central/Select Sires Annual Meeting in August.

BARABOO

Equity Livestock to host district meetings

Equity Livestock is hosting ten annual district meetings in March. The meeting agenda includes information about Equity’s 2016 operations and financial status, a review of the past year, and marketing tips from local market managers.

At the Bonduel/Marion, Sparta, Waukon and Arlington/Johnson Creek annual district meetings, there will be elections for board of director positions. The director elected in each district is responsible for representing members and making decisions to direct the cooperative’s present and future direction.

Registration begins at 11 a.m. for the seven lunch meetings, and at 7 p.m. for the three evening meetings. Election districts are indicated with an (*) asterisk. March 20 – Lomira: Holiday Inn, Fond du Lac, 11 a.m; Reedsville: Cobblestone Creek Supper Club, Brillion, 7 p.m. March 21 - Bonduel/Marion: The Gathering, Shawano, 11 a.m *; March 23 – Sparta: Jake’s Northwoods, Sparta, 7 p.m.*; March 24 – Stratford: Holiday Inn & Conference Center, Marshfield, 11 a.m.*

March 27 – Richland Center: The Phoenix Center, Richland Center, 7 p.m.; March 29 – Arlington/Johnson Creek: Watertown County Club, 11 a.m.*; March 31– Altoona/Barron: Clarion Hotel, Eau Claire, 11 a.m.

NEW LONDON

CHS sponsors Harvest for Hunger

CHS Larsen Cooperative is gathering donations of money, food and crops to help fight hunger. As part of CHS Harvest for Hunger food and fund drive, CHS Larsen Cooperative will accept contributions from March 1 through March 20 at its locations in New London, Readfield, Center Valley, Weyauwega, Larsen, and Oconto Falls. CHS staff will then deliver all collections to local food pantries.

Financial donations are encouraged because they enable food banks to leverage their buying power to provide nutritious food at deeply discounted rates. In 2016, CHS Larsen Cooperative raised $5,393.55 and over 1,890 pounds of food which their parent company, CHS, added bonus dollars to bring the 2016 total to $11,207.55. This all stayed in the communities in which we reside.

Those unable to access donation sites may call Cathie Hansen at 920-982-1111.

WAUSAU

Farming Your Finances workshop for women in ag

UW-Extension and UW Center for Dairy Profitability are hosting a two-day workshop series on March 29-30, for farm women interested in improving their farm financial management skills, part of the fabric of farm life and the farm business.

This series includes in-class exercises to develop farm financial management skills. Upon completion, participants will receive certification credit toward fulfilling FSA or other financial institution’s educational requirements.Topics include: financial management models; records and recordkeeping systems; financial statements and more.

The workshop will be held at the Athens Fire Hall, 301 State Hwy 97, Athens, WI (across from fairgrounds). Registration is $20 and includes snacks, lunches and educational materials, including a copy of Fearless Farm Finances. Class size is limited to 15 participants.

Pre-registration with payment is required by March 23. For more information contact Heather Schlesser at 715-261-1230.

JUNEAU

Quality and Quantity – Getting the most from your cows

Dodge County Extension will host the Milk Quality and Quantity Workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 13, at the Dodge County Administration Building at 127 East Oak St., Juneau.

Pam Ruegg, DVM and Extension Specialist in Milk Quality will talk about “The 5 Keys to Improving Mastitis Therapy”. Amanda Young the UW Extension Dairy and Livestock Agent in Dodge County will cover “Can Genetics Improve your Bottom Line?” Additional topics will include “Milk testing – Getting the Bang for your Buck”, and end with a producer panel that will discuss if “Filling a Niche, Can Fill Your Pockets”.

Pre-registration is required. Please contact the Dodge County UW Extension Office at 920-386-3790 for more information about this event or to register. There is a $15 per person fee to cover the cost lunch and materials.