Funding Year: 2026
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Understanding and reducing pregnancy loss in lactating dairy cows
Early pregnancy loss is one of the biggest reproductive challenges in dairy farming, with about one‑third of pregnancies failing in the first month. These losses stem from either embryo death…
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Wellness on Wheels – Cultivating and evaluating health and safety across Wisconsin dairy farms
Wisconsin’s dairy industry depends heavily on immigrant Latino workers, many of whom face serious challenges in staying healthy and safe. Language barriers, limited transportation, lack of insurance, and rural isolation…
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Developing practical educational tools to advance dairy workforce training and improve milk quality and udder health
Mastitis remains the most common and costly health challenge in U.S. dairy herds, even as milk quality has steadily improved. Because mastitis prevention depends heavily on daily milking routines and…
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Measuring methane emissions in young bulls: the fast track to more sustainable dairy farming?
Reducing methane emissions from dairy cattle is essential for building a more sustainable future for the U.S. dairy industry. While most research has focused on lactating cows, young animals—especially growing…
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Re-establishing dairy youth programming in America’s Dairyland to ensure the sustainability of Wisconsin’s dairy workforce
Wisconsin is a national leader in the dairy industry, thanks in part to strong support for research and a commitment to attracting top talent. That commitment extends beyond today’s workforce…
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On-farm evaluation of nutrient export from alfalfa production – a survey of Wisconsin production fields
Alfalfa is an essential crop for Wisconsin’s dairy farms, providing a high‑quality feed source that supports both herd health and farm profitability. To keep alfalfa productive and healthy year after…
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Advancing conservation in dairy cropping systems through farmer-led research
Wisconsin dairy farmers face growing pressures—from tight profit margins to unpredictable weather and environmental risks—that make it difficult to adopt new conservation practices. This project uses a participatory research model…
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Upgrades and repairs to the Kemper C2200 mounted forage harvester for research plots
This project supports repairs and upgrades to a specialized piece of equipment, a Kemper C2200 forage harvester, which is used for research on small crop plots. The harvester helps collect…
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Evaluating novel dietary strategies to enhance nitrogen utilization efficiency in dairy cows
Microbial true protein (MTP), produced in a cow’s rumen, is a key protein source, but only about 80% is digestible in the small intestine. By increasing MTP digestibility, researchers hope…
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Engineering beyond the brown midrib phenotype: Using tissue- and cell-type specific engineering to improve the agronomic traits of digestible brown midrib maize mutants
Brown midrib (bm) maize mutants are known for their improved forage digestibility, but they often suffer from poor plant growth, limiting their use on farms. This project aims to genetically…
