2026 Wisconsin Ag Outlook Forum To Focus On Trade’s Impact On The State’s Agricultural Economy

Dec 30, 2025

The upcoming Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum, set for Tuesday, Jan. 27, will have a special focus on the critical role of trade in shaping Wisconsin’s agricultural economy, exploring how export markets, global competition, and shifting trade policies influence producers and agribusinesses across the state.

The event will take place on the University of Wisconsin Madison campus. It is organized by UW–Madison’s Renk Agribusiness Institute, campus’ hub for agribusiness teaching, research and extension/outreach, located in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

While trade serves as the primary focus of the forum, the program will also address major national developments, including the recent $12 billion federal aid package for farmers, and discuss how such initiatives may intersect with Wisconsin’s economic outlook.

Trade is particularly important for Wisconsin, which exports a diverse mix of agricultural products including dairy, meats, processed vegetables, corn, soybeans, cranberries, dry beans, and ginseng. Despite national challenges, some indicators suggest Wisconsin agriculture may be faring better than other regions. The 2026 forum will explore whether that impression holds true and what factors are driving different outcomes across sectors.

Source : wisc.edu

Video: 2026 T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science - Dan Weary

T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science: "Using science to assess and improve the welfare of dairy cattle"

Dan Weary is a Professor at the University of British Columbia. Dan did his BSc and MSc at McGill and Doctorate at Oxford before co-founding UBC’s Animal Welfare Program where he now co-directs this active research group. His research focuses on understanding the perspectives of animals and applying these insights to develop methods of assessing animal welfare and improving the lives of animals. His work has helped drive changes in practices (including the adoption of higher milk rations for calves and pain management for disbudding) and housing methods (including the adoption of social housing for pre-weaned calves). He also studies cow comfort and lameness, social interactions among cows, and interactions between cows, human handlers and technologies like automated millking systems that are increasingly used on farms. His presentation will outline key questions in cattle welfare, highlight recent UBC research addressing them, and showcase innovative methods for improving the lives of cattle and their caretakers.