Walker Promotes Farmer-to-Farmer Network

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Gov. Scott Walker was in central Wisconsin Friday to promote University of Wisconsin-Extension’s Farmer-to-Farmer Network.

The network is a free online resource for farmers who are looking to buy or sell hay, silage, corn and other forages for their livestock. Mike Ballweg is a UW-Extension Ag Agent from Sheboygan County. He says forage is often difficult and bulky to transport long distances, “So by using this website you can identify neighbors often times maybe in the same township or perhaps in the same county, fellow farmers that are looking to sell or purchase forage supplies for their livestock.”

The website was established in 2004, but Ballweg says it’s become an even more important resource now during the drought. He says many farmers in the state are losing their crops and may have a hard time feeding their livestock, especially come fall, “The second and third crop of hay yields were dramatically decreased sometimes less than half and also the corn silage crop because of the drought the plants are smaller and a lot of corn did not pollinate very well so the yields are probably going to be less than half across much of the southern part of the state.”

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New this year to the Farmer-to-Farmer site is a section that allows farmers looking to move their livestock to connect with land owners who have greener pastures to rent.

Gov. Walker said that the recent rain in southern Wisconsin isn’t enough to end the crop losses. He says the state will do everything it can to help.

Governor Scott Walker was in Central Wisconsin today to promote University of Wisconsin-Extension’s Farmer to Farmer Network.