The Farm

La Farge-based Organic Valley, the largest farmer-owned organic cooperative in the U.S. as well as one of the world’s largest organic consumer brands, has won more than half a dozen awards already this year.

— PEOPLE Food Awards 2021 – Best Shredded Cheese Category: First Place for Organic Valley Thick Cut Shredded Mozzarella

— PARENTS’ Food Awards 2021 – Best Packaged Snacks Fridge Fave: First Place for Organic Valley Egg Bites

— Progressive Grocer Editors Picks Contest: Organic Valley Egg Bites

— 2021 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest – Open Class for Creative & Innovative Products: Third Place for Organic Valley Feta and Chive Egg Bites

“As we head into the busiest months of the year, we know parents are looking for on-the-go snacks for every occasion, from sports practices to after-school programs,” says PARENTS Editor-in-Chief Julia Edelstein. “Our PARENTS’ panel of kid taste-testers sampled hundreds of nutritious products to find the ones that will make the hustle and bustle of family life easier and tastier.”

Organic Valley Egg Bites’ steadily increasing sales suggest they are winning over consumers looking for convenient, protein-rich breakfast options.

“We wanted to create a delicious, organic snack that was easy to enjoy on the go,” says Organic Valley product development manager Devin Thorson. “We are proud to win awards that reinforce all of the efforts our farmer-members and employees put into our organic products.”

Organic Valley’s butter artisans won first place at both the Wisconsin State Fair and the World Dairy Expo.

— Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Products Contest – Salted Butter: First Place for Organic Valley Salted Butter

— Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Products Contest – Unsalted Butter: First Place for Organic Valley Unsalted Butter

— 2021 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest – Salted Butter: First Place for Organic Valley Salted Butter

Youth participating in the International Junior Holstein Show on Sept. 28, will receive enhanced cash premiums at World Dairy Expo, courtesy of Compeer Financial.

In 2019, more than 150 dairy youth from across North America exhibited 235 animals in this stand-alone junior breed show. Throughout the week of World Dairy Expo 2021, Dairy Cattle Show exhibitors will be awarded more than $150,000 in cash awards and premiums on the colored shavings.

The first entry deadline for World Dairy Expo’s 54^th Dairy Cattle Show is Sept. 6 at 11:59 p.m. to avoid late fees. The show is Sept. 28 through Oct. 2 in Madison.

Dairy Cattle Show entries have transitioned exclusively online at worlddairyexpo.com in 2021. Late entries may be submitted online through Sept. 16 for an increased fee or until 5 p.m. the day before the respective breed meeting for an additional charge.

Due to continued land border restrictions between the U.S. and Canada, World Dairy Expo recently committed to offering full refunds to Canadian exhibitors unable to cross the border due to federal regulations. Exhibitors who have questions related to COVID-19 policies at World Dairy Expo should visit: worlddairyexpo.com/pages/COVID-19.php 

Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association is offering ten $1,250 scholarships for the 2022 academic year to college students pursuing careers, as well as two $1,000 scholarships for students earning degrees from technical colleges or short courses.

“Equity Livestock is proud to help students further their educational endeavors by offering scholarships,” says CEO Curt Larson. “Education can make a difference, and the expense to attend college can be a challenge. Offering scholarships can help make it affordable, and we believe in investing in our future leaders.”

To be eligible, applicants must be a member or the son or daughter of an Equity Cooperative Livestock producer pursuing higher education from an accredited college, university or technical school. Scholarship winners are selected based on their scholastic achievements, extracurricular activities, application essay response and letter of reference.

Applications are available from the home page of the cooperative’s website at www.equitycoop.com, or by calling 1-800-362-3989, ext. 152.

Applicants are asked to provide a current college transcript along with a letter of reference in one mailing, in addition to submitting their online application by Nov. 29. Print a copy for yourself prior to submitting, as the online form cannot be saved after submitting.

The final date to apply for crop insurance for fall-planted crops, such as cultivated wild rice, forage production, grass seed, mint, rye, and wheat, is Sept. 30 for the 2022 crop year.

Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the Sept. 30 sales closing date to do so, says USDA’s Risk Management Agency.    

Producers may select from several coverage options, including yield coverage, revenue protection and area risk policies. Producers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2022 crop year.

A list of crop insurance agents is available online using the RMA Agent Locator: https://www.rma.usda.gov/Information-Tools/Agent-Locator-Page

Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net: www.rma.usda.gov

If you receive a text message regarding unemployment insurance, be cautious about clicking on any links.

DATCP has received reports of a phishing text where imposters pretend to be from the Department of Workforce Development or a similar agency.

These alarming texts claim that there is a problem with your account and that your benefits will be discontinued if you do not click on the link to update your account ID and password. However, they are imposters trying to get your personally identifiable information to steal your identity and your money. Delete these texts, and do not click on any links.

How to tell if a text message from DWD is official:

• Official text messages from DWD link to my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov
• DWD does not send text messages to claimants to notify them that their profile or claim will be deactivated.
• DWD does not send group text messages.
• Any official text messages from DWD notify the claimant to log on to their Claimant Portal at my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov to view any messages securely.
• Do NOT click on links, enter your user information, or provide any information to suspicious websites or spoofed messages.

If you have questions about the legitimacy of a text you received, DWD provides updates online about current scam reports: dwd.wisconsin.gov/ui/fraud/scams.htm

If you have been the victim of a scam, report it by filing a complaint online: datcp.wi.gov/pages/programs_services/fileconsumercomplaint.aspx

Or send an email: [email protected]

Or call DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-422-7128.

Continuing with its newest tradition, the Wisconsin Agricultural and Life Sciences Alumni Association (WALSAA) will present the fifth WALSAA Daluge Red Jacket Award at the WALSAA Football Fire-Up event on September 11.  This year’s recipient is the late Bob Kaczmarek.

Kaczmarek was named this year’s recipient because of his dedication and service to WALSAA for many years.  He served on the WALSAA Board for nine years and was president of the organization in 1997-98. Kaczmarek served the organization as the WALSAA treasurer during WALSAA’s transition from Ag Hall to a self-sufficient organization. He maintained the relationships with Ag Hall and the UW Foundation ensuring all scholarships continued to be awarded as designated. Before his sudden health challenges, he worked behind the scenes to set up the WALSAA Scholarship Fund, a place where members and supporters could donate to continue to support the Outstanding Sophomore Awards. There are few that have done more for WALSAA’s history, present and future. His work still secures WALSAA’s foundation.

Kaczmarek graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in construction administration, and received a master’s degree in business administration from UW-Milwaukee.

“Badger Bob” not only volunteered with WALSAA, but he led the Kenosha area efforts for Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA), sharing his pride for the UW in the southeast region. Most notably, he is known for all he gave to Badger Boy state. He was a counselor for many years, and enjoyed the opportunity to inspire, teach and lead young men in their civic responsibility and journey. He was a tireless volunteer and advocate for this program.

The WALSAA Daluge Red Jacket Award honors Rick and Peggy Daluge. Rick was WALSAA’s Executive Director for many years and a founding member of the National Agricultural Alumni and Development Association (NAADA). Rick served as CALS Placement Director and CALS Assistant Dean before retiring as FISC Director in 2008. A red jacket is presented in their honor to someone who has made a significant contribution to WALSAA and the future of the organization.

To be a part of Kaczmarek’s recognition, go online at www.WALSAA.org to purchase tickets for this year’s WALSAA Fire-Up event. The WALSAA Daluge Red Jacket Award will be presented on Saturday, September 11 at 4:00 p.m.

As World Dairy Expo^® prepares for its comeback show, after cancelling due to COVID-19 in 2020, a schedule of new and modified events awaits attendees and exhibitors in Madison, Wisconsin, September 28 through October 2. Highlighting the additions to the 2021 schedule is the Sunset Celebration, a free concert on Friday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m. in The Tanbark.

The Sunset Celebration headline artist is Dillon Carmichael with special guest Meghan Patrick. On the verge of his next album release, Carmichael is ready to entertain with his songs “Hot Beer,” “Sawin’ Logs,” “Made To Be A Country Boy” and more. Carmichael, born into a musical family that includes uncles John Michael and Eddie Montgomery, blends country and rock influences to create a sound designed for Expo’s stage. Meanwhile, Patrick is a two-time Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year who recently released her first album with Nashville record label, Riser House Records.

Tickets for the inaugural Sunset Celebration are free but limited and available starting at noon (CST) on September 1 at worlddairyexpo.com. Members of the dairy industry are encouraged to reserve their tickets early for this celebration.

Expo attendees looking for music and entertainment throughout the week of World Dairy Expo can also find it in The Tanbark during Happy Hour! Hosted from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, sponsored by Danone North America, and Wednesday through Friday, sponsored by Phibro Animal Health Corp., Happy Hour in The Tanbark is complete with live music, free snacks and complementary beer, while supplies last.

Kate VandenBosch announced this week to the faculty and staff that she will be stepping down as the dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the end of this academic year. VandenBosch has served as dean since 2012.

In her announcement to faculty and staff she says: “Being the dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UW–Madison has been a privilege and a joy.  The impact that your efforts have on advancing knowledge, providing opportunities for our students, and on the wider world is truly extraordinary.”

She noted the challenges the college and university have faced in recent years, most notably as a result of the pandemic significantly altering traditional teaching, learning and research and discovery on the campus.

“Over the course of the next year, I hope we will see the pandemic truly vanquished and the challenges of the preceding two years solidly behind us,” VandenBosch continues. “UW has gone through financial challenges, but today is on very solid ground. As a college, we have undertaken some important strategic efforts that are coming to fruition in various ways. Plus, we are completing a major fundraising campaign by exceeding our $150M goal by more than 10%.”

UW–Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank says VandenBosch has been a champion for the agriculture industry in Wisconsin over the last decade, and has helped to keep CALS on the cutting edge of research and teaching.

“Her impact will be felt on campus and across the state for many years to come,” Blank says.

A research engine for the state, the college generates nearly $96 million in research funds annually — primarily from the National Institutes of Health, USDA and the National Science Foundation — and educates nearly 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

During her decade of leadership, VandenBosch oversaw the launch of the Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center to use the latest plant biotechnology approaches to improve crop species. Her strategic planning focused on operational efficiencies and resulted in a reduction of the number of academic departments in the college from 19 to 16.

In recent years, she led the college’s implementation of the $7.8 million annual investment from the state in the Dairy Innovation Hub.

Building on the success of an existing CALS undergraduate certificate, the college launched a new Global Health undergraduate major last year, which already has an enrollment of more than 215 students. This fall, the college will roll-out a new organic agriculture certificate for undergraduates who want to demonstrate their knowledge of regenerative agricultural practices. These new programs represent areas of growth in both the life and agricultural sciences.

VandenBosch also spearheaded the All Ways Forward comprehensive campaign for the college, which secured more than $166 million in private gifts and included two new building projects. The $57.1 million Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery building opened in Nov. 2020 and the $72.6 million Babcock Hall addition and remodeling project is scheduled for completion in 2022. Donors to the campaign also created 77 new student scholarships and 14 new faculty professorships.

The university will conduct a national search for VandenBosch’s successor.

DATCP confirms that a deer farm in Langlade County has tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

A positive sample from a 1-year-old doe was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. All 57 deer at the 6-acre farm were already under quarantine after receiving animals from a CWD affected farm. The herd will remain under quarantine while an epidemiological investigation is conducted by DATCP and USDA veterinarians and staff.

CWD is a fatal, neurological disease of deer, elk and moose caused by an infectious protein called a prion that affects the animal’s brain, and testing for CWD is typically only performed after the animal’s death. DATCP regulates deer farms for registration, recordkeeping, disease testing, movement and permit requirements.

Learn more about CWD: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/ChronicWastingDisease.aspx

Learn more about DATCP’s farm-raised deer program: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/FarmRaisedDeer.aspx

Organic and aquaculture producers can soon benefit from updates to the USDA Whole-Farm Revenue Protection plan. USDA’s Risk Management Agency is revising the plan of insurance to make it more flexible and accessible to producers beginning in crop year 2022.

“These improvements to the Whole Farm Revenue Protection program will make it a better risk management tool for producers,” says RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy. “USDA is committed to equity in program delivery, and this includes specialty crop, organic, and aquaculture producers, who will benefit from these enhancements to WFRP.”

Changes to WFRP include:

• increasing expansion limits for organic producers to the higher of $500,000 or 35 percent;
• increasing the limit of insurance for aquaculture producers to $8.5 million
• allowing a producer to report acreage as certified organic, or as acreage in transition to organic, when the producer has requested an organic certification by the acreage reporting date;
• and providing flexibility to report a partial yield history for producers lacking records by inserting zero yields for missing years.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online: https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Information-Tools/Agent-Locator-Page

Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net: rma.usda.gov