MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

As long at there are sheep, there is a need for people to shear those sheep. Joe Huber of Huber Sheep Shearing has been shearing sheep for decades. He travels all across Wisconsin shearing for farmers with flocks of various sizes. Huber shares what goes into shearing sheep and how it has changed over time.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sheep demand is remaining steady compared to past years. That’s according to Eric Meudt, Vice President of the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders cooperative. He says the holidays and ethnic markets are two key driving factors. “While carcasses have not seen much change, lamb demand has increased, particularly in the ethnic markets,” says Meudt. “Tailgating and holidays affect demand seasonally, with footba...

This year, some of Wisconsin’s influential agriculture organizations experienced turnover within leadership roles. This has included the state’s largest farm organization, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. We meet one of Farm Bureau’s new faces, Chief Administrative Officer Bradley Uken. He started back in February, and there’s been several new appointments since then at their offices in Middleton...

Just in time for fall agritourism, there’s a new business in Cottage Grove bringing a unique take on agriculture recreation. This will be a modern, agritourism experience that opens to the public on Sep. 15. The Cottage Grove experience is an extension of Warm Belly Farm, which is located in Fort Atkinson. Erin Warner, horticulturist at Warm Belly Farm, describes the work they put in to bring this...

There is a lot that goes into bringing grain from the field to the consumer. An important part of that process is the role that local grain elevators play. They are the ones that take in the grain before shipping it to other facilities that will further process it. Dylan Beaver is the Grain Merchandising and Origination Manager for Alcivia. He discusses what they do on their end with storing and s...

For years we have been experiencing supply chain issues. Much of it is a result of Covid and the challenges brought on by the pandemic. Now that we are on the other side of the pandemic, there are still issues getting goods from suppliers to consumers. Nick Lowe has been driving truck locally for over 20 years, mostly for agriculture businesses. Lowe shares some of the changes he has witnessed ove...

For a combined total of 100 years, a family business has been hauling milk all over Wisconsin. The business is now making its final rounds. Im charitee seebecker with the midwest farm report. Hauling milk has been a lifelong career for Tom Schwartz who started in 1974, just two months after graduating high school. His father asked him if he wanted to haul milk, and that was the beginning of his jo...

World Dairy Summit: The World Dairy Summit is being held in Chicago, Illinois, and brings together more than 1000 participants from dozens of countries.  This is the first time in the U.S since 1993, providing the U.S. dairy industry a prime opportunity to showcase the nation’s excellent dairy farming and manufacturing practices, while allowing guests to sample high-quality American dairy products...

This year's drought meant low disease pressure for Wisconsin's fruit crops, but it doesn't mean no disease pressure. UW-Madison Professor and Extension Fruit Crop Pathologist Leslie Holland made field calls to a few growers to diagnose powdery mildew in grapes and fire blight in apples. Most of the calls she got this summer are questioning if browning trees or vines are due to disease or drought....

As the harvest starts to unfold, state ag officials are reminding farmers and their families about available resources for their physical, mental and financial health.  Karen Endres from the Farmer Wellness Program administered through the WI Department of Ag., Trade and Consumer Protection, talks to Nate Zimdars about some of the elements that farmers might have missed. With that pending harvest,...

With the enhanced prices that producers have been seeing in the beef complex, dairy producers have started to lean in by cross their dairy breed cows with beef bulls.  That dairy X beef has been filling a void in the marketplace left by "native" beef breeds that were impacted by droughts and severe weather.  What do retailers think of that beef? Jessica Lancaster is the Director of Product Quality...

What are maple syrup producers doing in the off season? Cleaning up after storms. Getting equipment ready for the following season, and showcasing what their industry has to offer. Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association Executive Director Theresa Baroun is finalizing details for their annual fall tour that will bring consumers to Northwest Wisconsin for an agricultural experience. She hopes c...

More farmers are using drone technology to fertilize their crops and scout their fields. The University of Wisconsin has been doing more research to adapt to the times and make sure they are up-to-date on this technology and ensuring farmers have the best information at their disposal. Dr. Brian Luck is an associate professor at UW-Madison conducting research on drone technology in agriculture. He...

Harvest season is one of the busiest months for farmers and implement dealers as it requires a lot of preparation. Implement dealers need to make sure that they have enough parts on hand and that their employees are up to par with their knowledge on the equipment in order to best serve Wisconsin farmers. Caleb Latham, parts manager at Sloan Implement says they’re ready to support farmers during th...

Have you ever noticed that the strawberries you find year-round in the grocery store are very different from what you find at Wisconsin strawberry patches in June? Well it’s because they’re different varieties from different areas of the United States. The berries that have a longer growing season are called day-neutral strawberries. And UW-Madison’s Fruit Team is researching how Wisconsin can lev...

Schools back in session and that's an influence on what people are shopping for at the grocery store.  Stephanie Hoff visits with Brandon Scholz, executive director of the WI Grocers Association on what he's seeing. A record number of participants are signed up for fiber arts classes that will happen at the WI Sheep and Wool Festival in Jefferson.  Nate Zimdars visits with one of the show organize...

Agriculture education is breaking down barriers across the state.  Milwaukee's Vincent High School is a perfect example.  Nestled in an urban neighborhood that struggles with hunger, ag educator Tyler Foot is helping empower students not only with food they've grown, but career possibilities they'd never have found without the classes.  Nate Zimdars visits with the instructor. Harvest is underway...

The corn silage harvest has begun in earnest in southwestern Wisconsin, and it’s got farmers and custom operators putting in long hours over the Labor Day weekend. Bill Smith is the president of Wisconsin Custom Operators. He also owns Smith Custom Farming Inc. out of Darlington. He serves farms across a four-county area in Wisconsin and into northern Illinois. He says yields are short, but the st...

Wisconsin soybean research has come a long way in a decade.  From side-by-side variety trials, to today's apps and prescription forecasting for individual fields. Today's podcast, brought to you by the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board , features Dr. Shawn Conley, UW-Extension Soybean Specialist , speaking to the ways that soybean checkoff dollars are being invested. From drone technology designed...

The Sheep and Wool Festival is an annual event that draws sheep and fiber enthusiasts from all across the country to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. This year's festival will take place September 8-10. There are sheep shows, stock dog trials, wool fiber arts classes and more. Bob Black is the coordinator of the festival, which began in 2002. He shares more about what to expect at this year's fes...

Talking about mental health struggles is never easy. It can be hard to share with others if you are struggling. For loved ones to bring up the topic if they are concerned is also difficult. That is more true in farming than many other professions. Karen Endres is the Farmer Wellness Program Coordinator at the Wisconsin Farm Center. Over the past few years, she has been focusing on how best to supp...

When it comes to falling, age is really irrelevant.  From time to time, It happens to us all.  In older adults, however, it can be a game changer. Amber Miller is Assoc. State Director of Outreach for AARP focused on making people aware of preventing falls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about 36 million older adults fall annually, resulting in 32,000 deaths. The...

Knowing what the weather is going to be doing is crucial for farmers and anyone else working in agriculture to do their job effectively. A new technology called Wisconet is in the process of rolling out across the state. This will provide timely and accurate forecasts for farmers and others. Chris Vagasky is tasked with bringing this technology to life. He shares what this technology will provide...

A state-of-the-art facility for Insight FS is set to be built in Amherst Junction, Wisconsin, which will be a 25 thousand ton dry fertilizer shed. The facility is being built on the existing property, and will allow for greater volumes of fertilizer to be moved through the facility more efficiently. Ben Huber, Insight FS General Manager says with cutting-edge technology and increased storage capac...

Hemp has only been legal in Wisconsin since 2018 after having been illegal for decades. Because of that, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been focusing a considerable amount of time and effort into researching hemp growth in Wisconsin. Dr. Shelby Ellison works for the University on their hemp research. She shares what her research has been focusing on and how hemp is growing as a specialty...