About

The Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Cranberry Research and Education Foundation (WCREF) and is a center of innovation for Wisconsin’s cranberry industry.  It's a unique public/private partnership between Wisconsin’s cranberry growers, the USDA Agricultural Research Service and the University of Wisconsin Madison and the UW Division of Extension. 

Wisconsin is the world’s most productive cranberry region and grows more than half the United States’ crop annually.

Scientists from the University of Wisconsin system use the marsh to research and develop new growing techniques and cranberry varieties to make the industry more efficient and improve on sustainable practices.

The marsh was originally established by Emil Janke who purchased the property in 1930. Janke constructed the first damn on the creek out of timber in 1932 and later upgraded the structure to concrete hydroelectric structure in 1940. He started constructing the first two cranberry beds on the property in 1937 and planted his first crop  in 1940. The marsh’s first harvest occurred in 1945.

Emil’s son Arthur took over the marsh in 1946. He expanded the marsh from the original two beds to eight with 18 acres being harvested.

Arthur sold the marsh to the Bible family in 1981 and it became part of Bible Cranberry Company.  They added acreage to bring the total to 33 acres of cranberry vines.

The Research Station was established in 2017 when the Foundation acquired the marsh from the Bible family.  Major renovations were made to the farm to provide a world class facility for researchers to use to develop important information to create and refine sustainable growing practices. 

Since this is an operating farm and private property, we ask that you do not enter without first contacting the farm manager during normal business hours.  We welcome visitors but ask that you make arrangements with us before you enter the property.