Wisconsin Universities Lead the Way in Agriculture Education, Research and Outreach
In partnership with: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Wisconsin boasts 13 comprehensive universities, and three of those public universities, the University of Wisconsin (UW) Platteville, River Falls and Madison campuses, have world-renowned agricultural programs. Explore how each UW campus offers programs for specific agriculture industries.Dashboard
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
The Platteville campus offers seven agricultural degrees ranging from agribusiness to ecological restoration and resource management. Its facilities are as impressive as its students, including a 430-acre research farm called Pioneer Farm and a 6,500-square-foot greenhouse.
“We are an agricultural state, and Platteville is located in a very rural area,” says Kevin J. Bernhardt, Ph.D., professor of ag economics and agribusiness and farm management specialist for UW Extension. “Probably almost every student that graduates from high school in this area has some kind of touch to agriculture.”
The school has a multifaceted approach to ensuring its students have a well-rounded experience while contributing to and promoting the industry.
“Our working farm has three missions – it’s education first, and then research and outreach,” says Tera L. Montgomery, Ph.D., director of the School of Ag at UW-Platteville. “Among the things that make our farm unique are our milking robots, having researchers from all areas of campus studying farm-related activities and sharing space with other programs on campus.”
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Celebrating 175 years in 2023, UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) carries on the legacy of changing the world through education and research.
“Our college offers 24 different majors spanning fundamental biological sciences and applied agricultural sciences,” says
Glenda Gillaspy, dean of CALS. “What we are seeing is that students are attracted to majors that draw on many disciplines and offer training to combat what students identify as today’s grand challenges – such as climate change, environmental protection, and health and well-being.”
Gillaspy says the largest and fastest-growing majors specific to agriculture are Global Health and Animal and Veterinary Biosciences.
See more: Top Wisconsin Agriculture Facts From the 2024 Census of Agriculture
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
UW-River Falls (UWRF) has a proud history of teaching individuals who are entering animal agriculture and other agricultural industries. While most of the students are pursuing a bachelor of science degree, the college recognizes that a traditional degree may not be the best fit for all students and has adapted its offerings accordingly.
“The most recent change has been the relocation of the residential Farm and Industry Short Course from the Madison campus to the River Falls campus,” says Steven Kelm, Ph.D., chair of animal and food science at UWRF. “Last year was the launch of the 16-week program at UWRF and focused on dairy cattle management.”
Over his 20-year tenure at UWRF, Kelm has witnessed many student success stories, including a team of food science students winning the Dairy Management Incorporated New Product Competition.
“The product was RootCurd, a ginger-based dairy pudding,”Kelm says. “The competition is
open to teams of undergraduates and graduate students from across the U.S. It is very rare that a team composed only of undergraduate students wins this competition.”
Once they leave UWRF, students continue their paths to success. Kelm’s former pupils have gone on to a variety of impressive careers and operations.
“Honestly, I could go on and on about past students,” Kelm says. “I have had the privilege of working with hundreds of tremendous individuals, all with unique talents and passions.”