UW-Madison Launches 2026 Focus on Forage Webinar Series

By Blake Jackson

The UW-Madison Division of Extension is hosting Focus on Forage, a free, four-part webinar series in 2026 designed to provide research-based insights and practical strategies for optimizing forage yield, quality, and profitability in Wisconsin. The series begins on February 5, with sessions running every Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

These webinars bring together forage industry professionals, UW-Madison specialists, and Extension educators to discuss key topics in forage management, research, grazing, and cover crops. The series is intended for farmers, crop advisors, animal science professionals, and students interested in improving forage systems. Certified Crop Advisor CEUs and ARPAS credits will be available where applicable.

The schedule includes:

• Feb. 5 - Focus on Forage Management: Dr. Marta Kohmann, Dr. Natasha Rayne, and Dr. Luiz Ferraretto from UW-Madison will address forage management issues such as winterkill in alfalfa, nutrient management considerations, and feeding strategies without BMR corn.
• Feb. 12 - Focus on Forage Research: Presenters Phil Goldblatt (Dairyland Laboratories), Mike Bertram (UW-Madison Arlington Agricultural Research Station), and Liz Gartman (UW-Madison Extension) will cover topics including on-farm NIR instruments, updates from the Wisconsin Alfalfa Yield and Persistence Project, and findings from the Optimizing Forage Quality and Yield Project.
• Feb. 19 - Focus on Managed Grazing: Jason Cavadini and Laura Paine (UW–Madison Extension) and Dr. David Jaramillo (USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center) will discuss pasture species selection, identification, and the economics of pasture-raised heifers.
• Feb. 26 - Focus on Forage Cover Crops: Dr. Lisa Kissing-Kucek (USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center), Dan Marzu (UW-Madison Extension), and Bill Powel-Smith (LandCares) will explore cover crop species for forage and grain systems, Wisconsin forage quality data, and using forage cover crops in dairy diets.

Registration and more session details are available online.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-minchen-liang-eyeem