Wisconsin Hazelnut Week Returns with Events in August

By Blake Jackson

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension will host the fourth annual Wisconsin Hazelnut Week this August, highlighting the growing interest and progress in hazelnut cultivation across the state. The series of events is open to the public at no cost, though registration is required.

“We are getting closer and closer to having Wisconsin’s first nut crop,” says Jason Fischbach, UW-Extension Emerging Crops Specialist. “And now is the time for growers to learn what it takes to grow hazelnuts, what the markets look like, and how to get started.”

Hazelnut Week kicks off on August 19 with the Hazelnuts 101 Webinar from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Hosted by Fischbach, this online session will introduce aspiring and beginning growers to key aspects of hazelnut production, from plant selection and cultivation to harvesting and marketing. A Zoom link will be sent upon registration, and a recording will be available afterward.

On August 21, the Northern Wisconsin Hazelnut Field Day will be held from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station. The event starts with a short presentation, followed by tours of a mature hazelnut planting and the Spooner Hazelnut Go-First Farm. Attendees can also stay for the annual Spooner Ag Station Twilight Tour beginning at 4:00 p.m.

The Southern Wisconsin Hazelnut Field Day will take place on August 22, split into two sessions. The morning session runs from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station in Verona. Visitors will learn about the UMHDI Joint Performance Trial and tour mature hazelnut plantings from leading breeding programs.

The afternoon session, from 1:00-3:00 p.m., is at the Savanna Institute’s North Farm in Spring Green. This site features the largest planting of UMHDI Adventure Series cultivars and showcases organic alley-cropping systems designed for commercial hazelnut production.

No dogs are permitted at the events. For more details or to register, visit the Midwest Hazelnuts website.

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