Latest News

Welcome Casey Gregorich-Trevor as the VITA Tax Site Assistant

Casey Gregorich-Trevor recently joined Dane County Extension as the VITA Tax Site Assistant. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, bringing a strong foundation in quantitative analysis and a complementary background in environmental studies. Casey is passionate about community engagement and enjoys using his skills to make a positive impact. An […]

Join Our Team as a Bilingual Nutrition Educator!

Are you passionate about promoting health and well-being in your community? Do you have a deep connection to Hmong culture and language? Join the Dane County FoodWIse team as a Bilingual Nutrition Educator and make a meaningful impact by empowering individuals and families to live healthier lives! Why Work With Us? At UW-Madison’s Division of […]

Partners in Equity (PIE) Food Project Grants 2025

The Dane County Tamara D. Grigsby Office for Equity and Inclusion, in partnership with the Dane County Food Council, is pleased to announce the annual Partners in Equity (PIE) Food Project Grants for Dane County organizations. The 2025 application period is open and the deadline to apply is Monday, February 24, 2025.

2025 Private Pesticide Applicator Training

Private Pesticide Applicator testing and certification will be similar to last year. General InformationPlease be aware that County Extension Offices will no longer be sending out notification letters to individuals when their certification is expiring.  Certification is good for 5 years; to check on the status of your certification click here. If your certification has […]

Black Lace™ elderberry: A landscape standout

Black Lace™ elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’) is a great black-leaved shrub for full sun. The plant was bred Ken Tobutt and Jacqui Prevette of East Malling Research Station in Kent, England from European elderberry cultivars.  Black Lace™ elderberry is marketed under the Proven Winners® brand. Our plant at the Dane County Extension Teaching Garden is […]

Green Thumb Gardening Winter 2025 Vegetable Series

The Green Thumb Gardening vegetable series will help you to keep your kitchen garden thriving! The series covers many aspects of vegetable gardening for a robust background in vegetable production. UW-Madison Extension educators and UW specialists will provide in-depth, practical information for the novice to the experienced gardener. Classes are recorded (except Vegetable Diseases) and […]

Retirement Planning Today Winter 2025 Classes

You’ve worked hard to provide for your family and save for your future. Learn how to keep more of what you earn and make your money work harder for you. Registration is open for the winter 2025 classes. Discover the keys to a successful retirement and gain valuable insights from experts in the field. Whether […]

Pilot Project Brings Farmers Markets to Seniors: Improving Access to Fresh Produce

Situation: Low-income seniors who participate in the food access program known as the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) may face barriers in accessing traditional farmers markets. While Dane County distributes all their senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers annually, redemption of vouchers has been historically low in Dane County as compared to other counties across […]

When Large-Scale Solar Comes to Town: Building community capacity to address economic, environmental, and social change

Situation: The U.S. is undergoing a rapid energy transformation to clean renewable energy as a major strategy to mitigate climate change. Rural communities in Wisconsin, which are well suited for large-scale solar or wind development, may experience major economic, environment, and social transitions when a large-scale electric power facility comes to town.  With any major […]

Advancing Racial & Social Equity in Wisconsin Farm to School: Strategies for Investing in Historically Underserved Producers

Situation: Farm to school programs provide kids access to nutritious, high-quality, local food while creating market development opportunities for local farmers. Yet, not all local farmers have equal access to this economic opportunity. This is especially true of historically underserved farmers, a federal designation that includes Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); women; beginning […]

Leaving the Leaves

This year, I am trying something new. I am following the advice of Xerces, (the national pollinator protection non-profit) and well-known author Doug Tallamy, Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, and not doing the scrupulous fall garden cleanup I have been practicing […]

Tomato Late Blight

Tomato late blight was confirmed this week on foliar and fruit tissues from a plant sample submitted from the western edge of Dane County. This is the first confirmation of late blight on tomato or potato in Wisconsin for 2024.  Originally the late blight was thought to be a possible sunscald as the symptoms on tomato […]

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