AEM Hosts Lobby Day for Dairy Innovation in Madison

Oct 18, 2024

At the beginning of October, dairy and manure equipment manufacturers from around the world descended into Madison, Wisconsin for the World Dairy Expo. With the dairy industry at state capitol’s doorstep, there was no better time to host a lobby day on the importance of dairy technology.

AEM members and staff met with state lawmakers and their offices to advocate for dairy and manure precision agriculture incentives.  Using data from AEM’s Environmental Benefits of Modern Dairy, Hay, and Forage Production Technologies study, the meetings educated lawmakers on the benefits of precision agriculture technology and discussed a model bill that could help get these technologies into the hands of Wisconsin farmers.  

Earlier this year, AEM members and staff drafted a model bill for Wisconsin that would establish a grant for small and medium dairy farmers in the state. The grant would help ease adoption of new technology and equipment, allowing Wisconsin farmers to increase workforce and environmental efficiencies.  The bill is based on an AEM-supported bill that was passed and enacted in Iowa during the 2023 legislative session.

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Video: Sclerotinia and Lygus in Seed Canola: Field Update with George Lubberts, CCA | Enchant, Alberta

Join Certified Crop Advisor George Lubberts for this Prairie Certified Crop Advisor (Prairie CCA) field update from Enchant, Alberta. In this 12th video of the series, George takes us into a seed canola field where the male rows have been removed and the female plants are filling pods. This video was taken in the third week of August 2025.

George discusses the early signs of sclerotinia stem rot, explaining how infection begins in the stem, impacts pod development, and leads to premature ripening. He also shares insights on lygus bug management, including timing of spray applications to minimize feeding damage and maintain seed size and quality.

With cool, damp summer conditions, George notes that while disease pressure is present, overall field health remains good. The crop is just beginning to show early seed colour change, signaling progress toward maturity.

Topics Covered:

•Sclerotinia stem rot identification and impact

•Managing lygus bugs in seed canola

•Crop stage and seed colour change observations

•Timing insecticide sprays for optimal protection

•Insights from a CCA field perspective in southern Alberta