HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Extension 04-02-06 ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Clarence Malick, Chairman
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Ronald Raymond
COMMITTEE TITLE: Agriculture & Extension Committee
DATE: April 4, 2006
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Agricultural Service and Education Center, Baldwin, WI
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
ACTION ON VOUCHERS
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
• Federal Budget
• State Budge Report
• County Budget Report
• WACEC
• Personnel
NEW BUSINESS:
AGENT'S REPORTS:
RESOURCE AGENT REPORT
• St. Croix Valley Legislative Days
AGRICULTURE AGENT REPORT
• Educational Activities Update
• Farm City Day
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order.)
SUBMITTED BY: Kim Reaman
DATE: March 22, 2006
COPIES TO: County Board Office, County Clerk, News Media/Notice Board, and Committee Members
Share /agendatemplate06.doc
AGRICULTURE MINUTES
1 EXTENSION COMMITTEE
A PRIL oo
Agricultural Services & Education Center Convened: 9 am
Baldwin, Wi. Adjourned: 10 :45
am
Present: Ronald Raymond, Lois Burri, Bill Peavey, Gene Ruetz, Lee Milligan, Jim
Janke, Kimberly Reaman, Ruth Hilfiker, and Mary Lestrud.
Guests: Joan Sprain and Bill Rubin
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ron Raymond.
Date of next meeting was set for May 2, 20o6
Burri moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. Ruetz seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Burri moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved. Raymond seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
Ruetz moved that the vouchers be approved. Raymond seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
Administrative Report
Federal Budget —no report.
State Budget —no report
County Budget —no report
WACEC — Raymond and Janke will attend the District WACEC meeting on April 7.
Personnel:
•Introduced Joan Sprain, who will officially start as the St. Croix County UWEX
Family Living Agent April 17.
*Motion by Ruetz /second by Burri to approve a second summer assistant
position. There are adequate funds in the budget to hire temporary help
who will assist in completing work previously done by the professional
support staff. county fair entries, fair judging results; Farm /City Day
logistics, etc. Motion passed.
*Raymond reported on the by -law changes proposed by the Administration
Committee regarding vacancies of UW- Extension Agents.
*Jim Janke announced his intention to retire in July, 2oo6.
Strategic Planning:
*Whiting requested each county department to prepare a list of priorities for
the department and the county. Reaman reviewed with the committee the
top priorities identified by the staff.
Ag Agent'a Report
Milligan has focused on three primary educational areas in March: Farm management,
dairy and beef health, and forage management.
In the farm management area, emphasis was on a program coordinated by Milligan
entitled "Transferring the Farm to the Next Generation ". Forty-five people participated
in the program featuring Phil Harris UW Extension farm tax law attorney and farm
business arrangements specialist. Eighteen people were on the waiting list therefore
another program has been scheduled in April for them. Participant questions focused
on developing a greater understanding of the income, estate, capital gains and gift tax
laws and the use of various farm business arrangements when transferring the farm to
heirs. This Fall a follow up program may be developed.
Other farm management issues relate to looking at alternative enterprises to generate
income and farm financial analysis. Approximately 16 dairy producers determined
analyzed their financial records. Several producers are seeking information on the
economics of switching dairy to beef production. Other enterprises include dairy goats
and Holstein steers.
Dairy and beef producers participated in a bovine herd health seminar. The focus was
on the role of vaccines and how to properly use them. Over go producers participated.
Thirty two dairy producers participated in a milk quality seminar coordinated by
Milligan. The program included Dr. Pam Ruegg, UW Extension milk quality specialist
and a panel of two St. Croix County producers who have participated in the Milk Money
Program, Their participation in the program improved their profitability about
$66,000.
Twenty -three producers participated in a Forage Storage Seminar and Tour coordinated
by Milligan. Dr. Rich Muck of the USDA Forage Research Center was the guest speaker.
The tour was held at Jon -De Farms with Todd Doornink.
Milligan is working with a couple of producers and a nutrition company on a reduced
hay drying time project for first crop. Milligan also received funding to do research
project on determining if the starch in high moisture corn and corn silage becomes
more available with the increasing time in storage.
Resource Development's Agent Report
Janke introduced Bill Rubin, Executive Director of the St. Croix Economic Development
Corporation. Rubin described the recent legislative call trip to the State Capitol titled
the United St. Croix Valley Legislative Days. Forty persons from business, government,
and education in St. Croix, Pierce, and Polk Counties participated in making calls on key
state legislators and agency administrators to present five priority issues of importance
to this region and the state.
Chair moved adjournment.
Respectfully submitted,
Eugene Ruetz