Extension educators report school outreach, Strong Bodies rollout, dairy trainings and crops trials

Multiple Extension educators briefed the Walworth County Agriculture and Extension Education Committee on program activity May 20.

The program coordinator said staff reached about 339 students in 22 classrooms this school year and will expand the Harvest of the Month program to two additional schools next year; bilingual materials are being developed for subsidized housing sites and the Open Arms Free Clinic. The coordinator said Priscilla completed Strong Bodies training and that Strong Bodies classes for older adults will begin in June at the clinic and a Lake Geneva housing site; staff will also pursue Tai Chi training to rotate program offerings.

The dairy educator reported bilingual training sessions were well attended (about 12 in the English session and about 30 in the Spanish session) and said they are forming an automatic milking system peer group for producers with robots. The dairy educator described collaborations with UW–Madison researchers on enteric methane measurement and mitigation; Extension staff will produce bilingual educational materials to accompany that research. A September training on calving and neonate care is planned with UW veterinarians; the presenter said in‑person farm events may be relocated to community centers because of HPAI concerns.

Crops and soils educator Josh Camps reported on a near‑complete needs assessment and highlighted priority themes including pest management and soil health. Camps described placement of local moth‑trapping sites linked to a statewide DATCAP network and the insect pest alert system, the establishment of nitrogen‑rate plots and tillage trials (including seed‑treatment comparisons at Rock County Farm), and the Badger Crop Connect biweekly program running through October.

Staff will follow up with program materials, and the committee did not take formal action on these program reports at the May 20 meeting.