Becky Pfile is a 2019 graduate from UW-Milwaukee with a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Winona State in 2001. Becky was the library director at the Endeavor Public Library from 2014 to 2020. As a librarian, she enjoyed offering programs related to literacy, such as […]

If you need to take the exam to be certified in pesticide application, please call the Columbia County Extension Office at (608) 742-9680 to schedule your exam. Or you can reach out to area counties to schedule an exam there. Check out the Pesticide Applicator Training in Columbia County by clicking this link: https://columbia.extension.wisc.edu/agriculture/private-pesticide-applicator-training-in-columbia-county/

Whether you are new to canning, returning to canning because of the pandemic, or have always canned the bounty of your harvest, there are certain tips that will help ensure that your time and efforts lead to safe, healthy food for your family.  Use recipes that are up to date. Some canning recommendations have changed dramatically […]

An international group of scientists has declared that it is highly unlikely that SARS-CoV-2 is a food safety risk.The International Commission for Microbiological Specifications of Foods (ICMSF) is a non-governmental organization and represents top food safety experts from around the globe. The ICMSF members believe it is highly unlikely that ingestion of SARS-CoV-2 will result in illness […]

Stories in the news have prompted consumers to ask questions about the survival of the coronavirus on food packaging surfaces. Laboratory studies have shown that the virus that causes COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for up to several days and China recently banned food imports from several counties after finding viral RNA on food packaging. Is this cause for concern? Even as […]

Back to Basics steam canner The University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted research showing that an atmospheric steam canner may be used to safely can naturally acid foods such as peaches, pears, and apples, or acidified-foods such as salsa or pickles. The steam canner uses only ~2 quarts of water (compared to 16 quarts, or more, in a boiling […]

Spring is a time when we prepare gardens for new seedlings, clear pots for new flowers, and enjoy fresh, locally produced fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, eggs and much more. While there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted by food, take some commonsense precautions and help keep everyone safe and healthy this summer. At the […]