Welcome to Columbia County UW-Extension!
About UW-Extension
With an office in each Wisconsin county,
Cooperative Extension develops practical educational programs
tailored to local needs and based on university knowledge and
research.
County-based Extension
educators are University of Wisconsin faculty and staff who are
experts in agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic
development, natural resources, family living and youth development.
Extension county-based
faculty and staff live and work with the people they serve in
communities across the state. Extension specialists work on UW
System campuses where they access current research and knowledge.
Collaboration between county and campus faculty is the hallmark
of Cooperative Extension in Wisconsin.
Items on Columbia County UW-Extension's Home Page:
2010 Pesticide Applicator Training Dates 
Columbia County UW-Extension will offer three Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) opportunities for private pesticide applicators that purchase, mix, load or apply RESTRICTED-USE agricultural pesticides to their property, rented property, or the property of his/her employer.
Randolph, Tuesday, February 9th
9 am—3:30 pm Randolph Municipal Building, Randolph $40 includes lunch
Town of Otsego. Tueday, February 23th
9 am-3:30 pm Otsego Town Hall, $30 includes lunch sponsored by Landmark
Portage, Thursday, March 11th
9 am—3:30 pm Columbia County Annex Building, Portage $40 includes lunch
To register for one of the 2010 PAT sessions, visit the Columbia County UW-Extension Office located at 120 West Conant Street, Portage. You must register one week prior to the class. The registration fee for all of the classes is $40.00 which includes training materials, a hot noon meal and certification for 5 years upon successful completion of the test. Please make checks payable to Columbia County.
If these training dates do not fit your schedule, either contact a neighboring county Extension Office for their training dates, or consider the self-study option which still includes an open book test but the minimum passing exam score is slightly higher. Participants must be 16 years of age or older to become a certified private pesticide applicator.
For more information call the Columbia County UW-Extension Office at (608) 742-9688 or email sarah.drew@ces.uwex.edu
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Local Produce Sources
H1N1 Flu County, State, and National Resources
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Well Water Testing
So far 17 out of 21 Columbia County Towns have co-sponsored (Columbia County UW-Extension, UW-Stevens Point Center for Watershed Science Education, Columbia County Land & Water Conservation and Columbia County Health & Human Services) drinking water education programs. Also available to individual rural homeowners are well water testing kits that can be picked up at the Columbia County UW-Extension office, 120 W. Conant, Portage, WI. Programs offer participants a convenient opportunity to test water from their private wells for some of the most common health-related contaminants and other water quality concerns.
To learn more about community or individual well water testing resources please contact the Columbia County UW-Extension office at 608-742-9680 or visit: http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/weal/Analyses.htm
Free Well Water Testing
* available for pregnant women & families with infants up to one year of age
* bacteria, nitrates, fluoride
* call the Columbia County Division of Health at (608) 742-9227
* pickup at the Division of Health, 2652 Murphy Road, Portage, WI on Monday or Wednesday 8:00 am to 12 pm
* for more information about free nitrate well water testing go to: http://www.co.columbia.wi.us/ColumbiaCounty/Default.aspx?tabid=808
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Columbia County Changing Population Series
Over 200 people attended one or more of five meetings that comprised the 2009 Changing Population Series.
Why a Changing Population Initiative?
- During discussions in 2008, Columbia County officials, department heads and others acknowledged that the population of the county will change in the next ten years.
- As the population changes, needs in the county are likely to change.
- The Columbia County Board of Supervisors and UW-Extension wanted to create an opportunity for various sectors (e.g., public, private, non-profit, etc.) of the county to come together to learn about what changes we can expect and discuss what these changes might mean for the future.
Learn more about the Changing Population Series and to access the work groups
created as a result of the Changing Populations Series
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Columbia County F.L.A.G INITIATIVE
 (Future Leaders Active In Government)
 What is F.L.A.G.
As a student (Juniors in 2010) in F.L.A.G., you will have the opportunity to explore Columbia County's decision-making process through participation in committees and department tours with youth from other Columbia County high schools.
Second Session: October 21, 2009
 Second Session Pictures (1 page, 995 KB)
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Flood Resources
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 Master Gardening is for everyone in Wisconsin
Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who aid University of Wisconsin Extension staff by helping people in the community better understand horticulture and their environment. This site can help you learn about becoming a Master Gardener in Wisconsin, find information about horticultural topics, and connect to the statewide network of Master Gardener associations. Learn more about Columbia County Master Gardener program.
2010 Master Gardener Volunteer Course
Class will begin on Tuesday, February 2, 2010
From: 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. and will continue for 13 weeks.
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UW Extension
Columbia County
Columbia County Annex
120 W Conant Street
Box 567
Portage, WI 53901-0567
Phone: 608-742-9680
Fax: 608-742-9862
Map & Directions |
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First Session Pictures 
