Cooperative Extension University of Wisconsin-Extension

Teams

Grains Team

Go to the Grains Team website

Team Grains logo

Team Grains educates producers and ag professionals to enhance their management capability to produce and market grain crops profitably, while protecting our soil and water resources.

Grain Crop PROGRAMS IN WISCONSIN

Grain Crop Agronomy

Integrated Pest Management

Soil Management

Grain Marketing/Economics/Budgets

 

RESOURCES

Grain Crop Agronomy

Resources for on-farm demonstrations

Integrated Pest Management

Resources for on-farm demonstrations

Soil Fertility and Management

Resources for on-farm demonstrations

Grain Marketing/Economics/Budgets

Biotechnology

Ethanol

Renewable Fuels

Energy Conservation

General


PARTNERS

Team Forage

Nutrient Management Team

Farm and Risk Management Team

Wisconsin Corn Growers Association

Wisconsin Soybean Association

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection


WHAT WE DO

Work Groups

Grain Crop Agronomy

Contact: Joe Lauer and Kevin Jarek

As crop production systems and crop genetics change, Wisconsin grain producers face new challenges to maximize crop production and/or profitability. In some instances, maximum production is not equal to maximum profitability. In-field research, testing, and demonstration of practices ensure that producers will have solid recommendations as well as providing an effective means for farmers to gain knowledge and skills.


Integrated Pest Management

Contact: Eileen Cullen

The IPM Work Group will focus on the Emerging Soybean Pest Complex in Wisconsin . Several new or newly adapted pests recently emerged within the last several years in WI (soybean aphid, bean leaf beetle, Variant western corn rootworm and glyphosate resistant/tolerant weed escapes). In addition, there are potential future challenges to Wisconsin soybean production such as soybean rust. The work group's strategy will be to provide educational outreach on pests as a Complex in soybeans. Decisions on scouting methods, seed treatments, foliar insecticide timing, soybean planting date, herbicide stewardship, and crop rotation length and diversity all must be made within the context of this pest complex.

Programming will reflect the fact that a grower rarely makes management decisions with only one pest or disease in mind, and the fact that insect populations fluctuations, climate conditions, soil types and location in the state influence how the complex should be managed from year to year. Educational efforts will focus on providing strong pest management decision support and basic IPM practices to grain producers, consultants and agri-business with the goal of improving producer profitability and supporting environmental stewardship efforts.

Soil Fertility and Management
Contact: Mark Kopecky

Maintenance and enhancement of our soil resource is vital to the long-term profitability and productivity of Wisconsin agriculture. Use of appropriate soil, crop and residue management practices can also profoundly enhance the quality of our environment. Lack of widespread use of suitable management practices can lead to physical loss of soil through erosion, decreased soil quality, lack of rotational diversity and a growing dependence on purchased inputs. Changes in Wisconsin agriculture such as more acres of corn harvested for silage, more acres in a corn-soybean rotation and use of heavier and larger equipment are trends that could be detrimental to soils and the environment.

Focused educational efforts and increased adoption of best management practices in the areas of residue management, use of cover crops and maintenance of soil quality will address these concerns. For each of these topics, three resources will be developed for county faculty and staff to utilize in educational programs. These include a protocol for an on-farm demonstration, a fact-sheet, and a power point presentation. These will be made available on the Team Grain website.

Making a difference

Success stories and impact reports

Asian Soybean Rust, a fungal disease, has traveled north from South America and was first observed in the continental United States in 2004. While the disease is unlikely to survive Wisconsin’s winters, its spores can travel rapidly on the wind, threatening Wisconsin’s valuable soybean crop.

PDF file Tracking and Monitoring Soybean Rust

In 2003, individual monitoring efforts came together in the UW-Extension Southeast Wisconsin Variant Western Corn Rootworm Trapping Network. The network is determining the geographical range of the variant rootworms and developing educational programs to share results and management recommendations. The network monitors more than 71 sites in eleven southern Wisconsin counties for rootworm damage in first-year corn and for beetle activity in soybeans.

PDF file Trapping Southeast Wisconsin Variant Western Corn Rootworm

Maintaining and enhancing soil quality is vital to the long-term profitability and productivity of Wisconsin agriculture and to the quality of the environment. Focused educational efforts can help farmers improve management practices in tillage, residue management, and using cover crops to maintain and improve soil quality.

PDF file Wisconsin soil quality outreach

WHO WE ARE

Co-Leaders

Richard Proost
Dean Volenberg

Coach

Greg Andrews

Communications Liaison

Eileen Cullen

Members

  • Greg Andrews, Pierce Co.
  • Mike Ballweg, Sheboygan Co.
  • Chris Baxter, UW-Platteville Soil+Crop Science
  • Chris Boerboom, UW Agronomy
  • Jerome Clark, Chippewa Co.
  • Eileen Cullen, UW Entomology
  • Kevin Erb, UW NPM Program
  • Randy Fortenbery, UW AAE
  • Dennis Frame, Discovery Farms
  • John Gaska, UW-Madison
  • Donald Genrich, Adams Co.
  • Craig Grau, UW Plant Pathology
  • Bill Halfman, Monroe Co.
  • Matt Hanson, Dodge Co.
  • Brian Hudelson, UW Plant Pathology
  • Steve Huntzicker, LaCrosse Co.
  • Kevin Jarek, Outagamie Co.


  • Bryan Jensen, UW Entomology
  • Mark Kopecky, Price Co.
  • Joe Lauer, UW Agronomy
  • James Leverich, On-Farm Research
  • Alan Linnebur, Washington Co.
  • Paul Mitchell, UW AAE
  • Dwight Mueller, Ag Research Stations
  • Mike Rankin, Fond du Lac Co.
  • Scott Reuss, Marinette Co.
  • Mark Renz, UW Agronomy
  • Scott Sanford, UW BSE
  • Nick Schneider, Clark Co.
  • Ron Schuler, UW BSE
  • Kevin Shelley, UW NPM Program
  • Ryan Sterry, Polk Co.
  • Jim Stute, Rock Co.
  • Dean Volenberg, Door Co.

CONTACT

Team Co-leaders

Richard Proost
UW-Madison, Horticulture Senior Outreach Specialist
(608) 262-7845

Dean Volenberg
UW-Extension, Agriculture Agent, Door County
(920) 746-2260

Team Coach

Greg Andrews
UW-Extension, Agriculture Agent, Pierce County
(715) 273-6781

FOR TEAM MEMBERS AND AFFILIATES

Planning and Results System

Team Grains Logo (downloadable jpg file)

Team Grains Header (downloadable Word file)