Articles
Farmer Networks
Management
Intensive Grazing Networks
Eco-Apple Networks
Wisconsin Sustainable Agriculture Networks
One of the strengths of Wisconsin agriculture is the state's extraordinary web of farmer-to-farmer networks. These networks sponsor public field days, workshops, and on-farm demos. They help farmers get together informally to walk pasture and talk grass farming or share economic, production, and quality of life concerns. Some networks also sponsor or organize on-farm research and share the results with their members. They provide farmers, UW researchers, extension faculty, specialists, and others excellent opportunities to learn from each other.
Two CIAS research briefs on
farmer networks are available:
#23:
Farmer-to-farmer networks: effective grassroots sharing
#49:
Wisconsin grazing networks: a status report
Management Intensive Grazing Networks
Central Wisconsin River Graziers (Lincoln, Langdale, and Marathon counties)
Paul Daigle
Marathon County Land Conservation Dept.
210 River Drive
Wausau, WI 54403-5447
(715) 261-6006
padaigle@mail.co.marathon.wi.us
Central Wisconsin Graziers
Keith Vandervelde
UW Extension Marquette Co.
480 Underwood Ave.
Montello, WI 53949
608-297-9153
Chippewa Valley Graziers
River Country RC&D
1101 W. Clairemont, Suite 1G
Eau Claire, WI 54701
715-834-9672
Columbia County Graziers
Laura Paine
UW Extension
PO Box 567
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-9680
Coulee Graziers (LaCrosse, Jackson, Trempeleau and Buffalo Counties)
Mary Anderson
18660 Dewey St.
Whitehall, WI 54655
(715) 538-4396
Email:mary.anderson@wi.usda.gov
Dane-Green Graziers
A network for learning
Bert Paris
W3443 County Road W
Belleville, WI 53508
(608) 424-6396
Email:mooparis@chorus.net
Fond-O-Grass Graziers (Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Manitowoc Counties)
Mike Rankin
UW Extension, UW Center
400 Campus Dr.
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
(920) 929-3171
Email: michael.rankin@ces.uwex.edu
Fox River Graziers (Winnebago, Green Lake, and Waushara Counties)
Tom and Sue Wrchota
5200 O'Reilly Rd.
Omro, WI 54963
(920) 685-6964
Grant County Graziers
Dave Wachter, UW Extension
PO Box 31
Lancaster, WI 53813
(608) 723-2125
dave.wachter@ces.uwex.edu
Great River Graziers (Crawford County)
Vance Haugen
UWEX-Crawford County
111 W. Dunn St.
Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
(608) 326-0223
vance.haugen@ces.uwex.edu
Doug Spany
Route 1
Wauzeka, WI 53826
(608) 875-5200
spany@juno.com
Living Off The Land Grazing Network (Sauk County)
Paulette Bradley
(608) 427-2201
North Central Graziers Network (Taylor, Clark and Chippewa Counties)
Adam Abel
Pri-Ru-Ta RC&D
(715) 748-2008
Northwest Wisconsin Graziers (Barron, Burnett, Polk, and Washburn Counties)
Patrick Richter
Barron County LCD
Courthouse Agriculture Building
Barron, WI 54812
(715)537-6315
Email: bcconsv@co.barron.wi.us
Ocooch Graziers Network (Richland and Vernon Counties)
An intensive rotational grazing network that sponsors pasture walks and a monthly newsletter.
Vernon County Graziers
Jeff Hastings
Vernon County LCD
608-637-5475
SE Wisconsin Graziers
Peg Reedy
UW Extension
W3929 County Rd NN
Elkhorn, WI 53121
262-41-3175
SW Wisconsin Graziers Network
Rhonda Gildersleeve
Courthouse 222 N. Iowa Street
Dodgeville, WI 53533
(608) 935-0391
Waupaca/Portage/Wood Graziers
Teal Fyksen
Golden Sands RC&D
1462 Strongs Ave.
Stevens Point, WI 54481
715-343-6216
Eco-Apple Networks
Lake Superior Eco-Apple Network
Eric Carlson, ericcarlson@cheqnet.net, 715-779-3698
Vijai Pandian, UWEX-Bayfield Co., VPandian@bayfieldcounty.org, 715-373-6104
Chippewa Valley Eco-Apple Network
Jerry Clark, UWEX-Chippewa Co., jerome.clark@ces.uwex.edu, 715-726-7950
Craig Shultz, Bushel and a Peck Orchard, Bushelandapeckcf@aol.com, 715-723-0133
Door County Eco-Apple Network
Matt Stasiak, Peninsular Agricultural Research Station, mstasiak@wisc.edu, 920-743-5406
SE Wisconsin Eco-Apple Network
Kristin Krokowski, UWEX-Waukesha Co., kristin.krokowski@ces.uwex.edu, 262-548-7775
John Aue, Threshold IPM Services, jgaue@mwt.net, 608-538-3192
Organic Tree Fruit Growers' Network
Deirdre Birmingham
Email: deirdreb@mindspring.com
608-873-8224
608-219-4279 (cell)
Wisconsin Sustainable Agriculture Networks
Northwest Wisconsin Regional Food Network
The Northwest Wisconsin Regional Food Network is a grassroots group of local farmers, volunteers and agency staff working together to create a regional food system that connects consumers back to the land and provides locally produced, fresh and nutritious foods to all segments of our community while preserving the region's environment and sustaining the local economy for years to come.
Andrew Dane
Barron and Chippewa Counties - UW Extension
410 East LaSalle Avenue
Barron, WI 54812-1540
Phone: 715-537-6250
Fax: 715-537-6814
E-mail: andrew.dane@ces.uwex.edu
Eastern Wisconsin Sustainable Farmers Network
A network of sustainable farmers with diverse interests including grazing, marketing, specialty products, organic milk and crops, and renewable energy. The groups sponsors pasture walks and brings together farmers with similar interests.
Richard Wittgreve
N9030 Little Elkhart Lake Road
Elkhart Lake, WI 53020
Phone: (920) 876-2182
Email: rwittgreve@excel.net
Farm Family Support Group Network
Provides training and information for farm family issues including stress management, communication, and farming transitions. Available guides include Neighbor to neighbor: do-it-yourself guide for organizing farm family support groups and Empowering your rural community.
Roger Williams
Professional Development and Applied Studies
610 Langdon St.
Madison, WI 53703-1195
Phone: (608) 263-4432
Email: r7w@mail.dcs.wisc.edu
Northeast Wisconsin Sustainable Farmers Network
A network of farmers in northeast Wisconsin who study sustainable practices on family farms, economics, rotational grazing, and agricultural diversification. The group sponsors field days, pasture walks, and educational meetings in January and February.
John Bobbe
9896 County D
Brussels, WI 54204
Phone: (920) 825-1369
FAX: (920) 825-1369
Email: jbobbe@itol.com
Wisconsin Apple Growers' Association
Anna Maenner
211 Canal Road
Waterloo, WI 53594
Phone: (920) 478-4277
Fax: (920) 478-9586
Email: acminc@gdinet.com
www.waga.org
Wisconsin Women's Sustainable Farming Network
A network of women in sustainable farming who share information and strategies for production, marketing, processing, farm safety, quality of life, women's issues, and entrepreneurship.
Kay Craig
N600 Plymouth Tr.
New Holstein, WI 53061
Email: kwcraig@dotnet.com