UW-River Falls officials testify in support of Farm and Industry Short Course funding

Bill would fund transition of farm training program to UW-River Falls

July 28, 2023 - Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) joined several agriculture industry representatives at the state Capitol yesterday to testify in favor of funding for the transition of a longtime agricultural training program to UW-River Falls. 

The Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC), begun at UW-Madison in 1885 and taught there in a residential format until two years ago, provides vital training to the state’s agricultural workforce outside of a traditional degree program. UWRF has already agreed to host the short course this fall, but is hoping for the success of a bipartisan bill that would provide $372,980 during the next two years to help offset initial operational and instructional costs. 

Thursday’s Senate Committee on Agriculture and Tourism public hearing on the bill was a first step in the process. The bill has also been introduced in the Assembly and is being referred to the Committee on Colleges and Universities. 

Michael Orth, CAFES dean, and Steve Kelm, chair of the Animal and Food Science Department and director of the short course, testified on behalf of the bill at the hearing, noting how the program will help address workforce shortages in agriculture. 

“UW-River Falls is well positioned in the UW System to offer the type of world-class, hands-on, faculty-supported learning experience that the next generation of farm and ag business owners and operators want and need,” Orth said. “They also need the network of professional relationships and friendships they can develop by living and learning on campus with their four-year student peers.”

Over a dozen dairy industry and farming stakeholders – including representatives from the Farm Bureau Federation of Wisconsin, Dairy Business Association, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection – also testified or registered support for the short course. Those testifying in person all said they back its return to a residential format at UW-River Falls. The program will develop more educated workers and provide important networking opportunities, they said.

The 16-week short course is designed for high school graduates who are interested in dairy farming or working in industries involved with dairy cattle care and management. Courses in the program will begin October 25 and run through March 15, and students will earn up to 20 credits. Most courses will be taught at UWRF, but students will have opportunities to interact with dairy experts at UW-Madison and UW-Platteville, building on the successful research partnership of the Dairy Innovation Hub.

Enrollment in the first cohort will be limited to 24 students who will live together as part of the campus community in UWRF residence halls. Applications are still being accepted. For more information, visit https://www.uwrf.edu/academics/fisc.