New agriculture agent has wealth of experience

Nick Schneider brings a solid farm background with him as the new agriculture educator for the University of Wisconsin-Extension in Winnebago County.

Schneider, who grew up on a dairy farm near Merrill, started his new job last week, replacing Jason Dettman-Kruse, who resigned in mid-July to take a job as an assistant professor in golf and sports turf management at the University of Florida in Gainsville.

"I believe my farm experience will help me. I can understand the challenges of living and working on a farm day-to-day," Schneider said. "I'm looking forward for any opportunities to visit with farmers in Winnebago County."

Schneider said his expertise included agronomy and horticulture with an emphasis in crops, but he was also knowledgeable in dairy issues.

Schneider was previously crops and soils agent for the UW-Extension in Clark County. At one time he was also a research agronomist for Golden Harvest, a seed company.

Rural Oshkosh dairy farmer Fred Boss said the agriculture agent was an important position for the county.