Now Available! 2026 Dane County Plat Book
The 2026 Dane County Plat Book is now available.
Latest News
Focus on Fathers 2026 Classes
Looking to build a stronger bond with your child and connect with other fathers?
Breaking Barriers to Bring Native Plants to Urban Landscapes
Our Natural Resources Educator, Wade Moder, partnered with Dane County Land and Water to host 90-minute Native Garden Design Workshops for neighborhood associations, gardening clubs, first-time home buyers, and the general public. Participants use 3D-printed plant tokens that show plant size, bloom time, and color to design native pollinator gardens, making planning more approachable and […]
Green Thumb Gardening Winter 2026 Vegetable Series
The 10-session live, online Green Thumb Gardening class series offers in-depth and engaging gardening information on a variety of topics. From starting seeds to composting to managing insect pests, this gardening class series will help home and community garden vegetable gardens to thrive. Speakers will include Extension Horticulture Educators and UW–Madison Dept. of Extension campus outreach specialists.
Winter Sowing Native Wildflower Seed
Winter sowing is a way to provide a cold, moist period for native plant seeds that require it for germination, something akin to what they’d experience outside in winter. This is called stratification. Some native plant seeds don’t require a cold moist period at all and will germinate in a warm moist situation inside the […]
New Room Use Policy for 2026
New policy beginning January 2026. Rooms are available for meetings and events associated with municipal, county, and state government, including UW Extension-related groups. Rooms are for government-related business only. Rooms are not available for rent to the public or outside groups.
Expansion of a Senior-Focused Food Access Program
Dane County is fortunate to have dozens of local farm stands and farmers markets. However, income, transportation, and mobility barriers can render them inaccessible, especially for low-income seniors. The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) supports low-income seniors in accessing fresh produce by providing seasonal vouchers they can redeem at participating markets and farm stands. […]
The TEAMs Program: Supporting Farm Career Pathways
Hired managers play a crucial role on vegetable farms. They provide leadership to the farm crew, share responsibilities with the farm employer, and ultimately can strengthen the health of the farm business. However, conversations with farmworkers showed that their limited access to formal training opportunities in leadership and employee management was making them second guess […]
A Community-Centered Initiative to Develop a Comprehensive Regional Food Plan
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our local (and national/global) food system, it revealed and amplified weaknesses and inequities in our food system. It was clear that there was a critical need to strengthen our local and regional food system against future disruptions. In 2021 the Dane County Food Council with Dane County Extension’s Community Food […]
Richard Dilley Tax Center Providing Access to Free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Since 2005 Dane County UW Extension has been involved in the free tax preparation initiative known as the Richard Dilley Tax Center. This collaborative effort is possible through a partnership with many incredible volunteers, the UW Madison South Madison Partnership, and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue with funding support from the Internal Revenue Services through […]
There are holes in my leaves!
Yes, this time of year we often see some leaf damage courtesy of some garden friends and garden foes (as well as hail!). Holes are not necessarily a reason to panic and pull out the insecticide sprayer. In fact, they can be an indicator that your ecosystem is healthy and functioning as it should. The […]
Online Tool for Determining a Guideline Timing for Pruning Oaks
The pruning season for many woody plants has been especially difficult to determine this year as the temperatures have swung wildly between frigid and too warm for pruning certain species. Temperature is critical in determining when it is safe to prune oak trees. This is due to the activity of the beetles that carry oak […]