MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Despite a tragic spring that cost a lot of producing vines, Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac has reset and is ready for the fall harvest. Charitee Seebecker talks with Philipe Coucard from Wollersheim about their strategy to keep serving customers with reduced inventory. Ashley Huhn with the Steffes Group joins Pam Jahnke for their weekly update.  They've got more than 60 auctions scheduled be...

UW-River Falls has a new Dean at the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Bob Bosold talks to Dean Mike Orth about his Wisconsin connection and what he found attractive about coming to UW-River Falls. Hurricane Idalia passed through Florida yesterday, but remained strong enough to cause damage all the way up the east coast to North Carolina and Virgina.  Zach Webb is a technica...

As we soon head into the holiday weekend and September begins, it also comes with the Brooklyn Labor Day Truck and Tractor Pull the first through the third. But what really makes this event special is the two young men who are using the pulls for their senior project as they raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Cody Gillman and Timmy Lund are seniors at Evansville High School...

Platteville Business Incubator, Inc. received $37,000 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to expand its programming for startups, including farm businesses. Driftless Makers Market is a regional business showcase market happening Sep. 27. All are invited. Learn more: https://www.pbii.org/driftless-makers/driftless-makers-market   Platteville Business Incubator, Inc. has been around for 2...

California’s Proposition 12 has made national headlines because it requires other states to comply with more stringent farming regulations to sell meat and egg products in California, including pork. Wisconsin pork producers argue it’s going to disrupt the supply chain from the barn to the grocery store. The Wisconsin Pork Association says California consumes about 15 percent of U.S. pork. And the...

We’re recognizing farms and homesteads that have been in the family for more than 100 or 150 years. One farm being recognized is the Tieman Family Farm. The farm is located outside of Thorp in Clark County. 97 year old Arlene Tieman shares the story of her families century farm.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a difficult conversation to have sometimes.  What happens if something happens to you?  How many people will it impact.  What about the farm or business?  It's complicated terrain for many families to cover, but Rural Mutual Insurance is a trusted partner involved in many of those discussions. Pam Jahnke visits with Rural Mutual's, Jared Nelson, about the array of options available when it co...

Ten businesses in Wisconsin are about to embark on a trade mission to Europe to grow their export portfolio – food manufacturers are among them. Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation are leading the delegation to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Katy Sinnott is the vice president of global trade with the corporation. Her team put together this mission – an...

The Mississippi River is critically important to not only Wisconsin farmers and agribusinesses, but all of the midwest and international marketways.  Jill Welke visits with Sam Mathiowetz, Chief of Locks & Dams for the St Paul District, who explains what the fluctuating water levels mean to barge loads and what they're preparing for and planning on transportation arteries going forward. The sc...

Despite a large crop loss in the spring due to frost, Wollersheim Winery is on track as grape harvest is in full swing. Philippe Coquard, owner of the winery says after the frost they were hit with drought like many others. But they utilized drip irrigation to help them get through. “The area is still eight to nine inches behind in rainfall, but our harvest is on track with previous years,” says C...

We’re recognizing farms and homesteads that have been in the family for more than 100 or 150 years. One farm being recognized is the Hustad Valley Farm. The farm is located Northwest of New Glarus in Green County. Dale Hustad shares the history of their century farm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re recognizing farms and homesteads that have been in the family for more than 100 or 150 years. One farm being recognized is the Schlintz Dairy Farm, owned and operated by Elizabeth and AJ Schlintz. The farm is in a picturesque location just north of Bangor in La Crosse County. Elizabeth, AJ, and their son Avery share the history of their century farm, the only one in their valley. See omnystu...

Is the utility bill your largest farm expense? Cameron Olson of Olson Solar says in the past few years, he's seen a huge demand from the ag sector because solar is a natural fit for farms. He tells us how you can harness the sun to improve your bottom line. Your family is probably readjusting to the back-to-school routine -- so are grocery stores. Brandon Scholz, president and CEO of the Wisconsin...

We’re recognizing farms and homesteads that have been in the family for more than 100 or 150 years. One farm being recognized is Crooked Creek Farm operated by the Beckius family. The farm is located outside of Highland in Iowa County. Everett and Janet Beckius share the history of their Century farm that is now divided between their 3 sons and their families.  See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

 Don and Joe Dremsa, Rosemary Hall, Lauri Hines, Theresa Brewer and Peggy Updike of the Dremsa Family share the story of their family farm in Crawford County. Their grandpa came from Czechoslovakia and became a U.S. citizen in 1884. He married his wife Anna and raised 3 children (their dad was the youngest). Their grandpa built the original barn that's still there today in 1923. From trading the f...

The trades - construction, electrical, plumbing, welding, manufacturing - have always provided good paying employment opportunities for those who are interested. In recent years, the pay and availability of jobs has only increased. Madison College in Madison, offers programs to prepare students for careers in the trades. Ron Olson is the Associate Dean for the School of Technologies and Trades. He...

Debra Umnus & Tim Bartel share the story of their family farm in Manitowoc County. The original 80 acre dairy farmstead was purchased in 1909 by their grandfather. He grew up on a farm in Germany and bought the farm here so he could have a place to raise his family like the way he grew up. The farm was abandoned and needed a lot of TLC once purchased. He and his 11 kids worked hard to make it...

It’s back-to-school season which means families are adjusting to new routines. And this includes what you’re buying at the grocery store for meal times. Brandon Scholz is the president and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association. He says this time of year, grocery stores are adjusting to changing trends and their customers' new schedules. He also speaks to the recent weather events happening arou...

Transportation, nutrition, international relationships – it’s all relevant in the conversation around marketing potatoes. Blair Richardson is the president and CEO of Potatoes USA, the national marketing organization for U.S. grown potatoes. He doesn't want you to associate potatoes with someone who lays on the couch all day. He says they're working on spreading the good word about healthy potatoe...

Deanna Opsal shares the story of her family’s century and sesquicentennial farm in Dane County. Deanna’s father and mother-in-law moved to the farm in 1949. At the time it was being run by a cousin named Forest. Forest had a dream of establishing a registered Holstein herd and wanted to improve the farm as it was getting rundown. Deanna’s father in-law became the matriarch of the farm and helped w...

We’re recognizing farms and homesteads that have been in the family for more than 100 or 150 years. One farm being recognized is the Bill Jean Farms operated by the Naas family. The farm is located in Dodge County just a few miles north of Watertown off Highway 26. They had a rich history of showing dairy cattle and exporting cattle and embryos overseas. Bill Naas shares more about the history of...

Krueger Lumber Company says a recent international trade tour hosted by DATCP was successful in getting the word out about what Wisconsin has to offer. It also highlighted needed infrastructure improvements. Heat advisories and warnings continue until 7 p.m. Drink lots of water. Marquis Energy grain merchandiser Howard Boppart says this year's corn harvest won't come close to last year, adding to...

Bobbi Pruski  tells the story of her family’s sesquicentennial farm in Dodge County.  In 1873, the original farmstead was purchased. They raised dairy cattle, hogs, and chickens. Over the years the farm was passed down from father to son for many generations. The original barn is still on the farmstead today where Tony Schumacher now runs the operation. He milks about 50 cows in a stanchion barn a...

When most people think of FFA, they tend to think of strong agricultural roots in a rural background. However, FFA is making its way into more urban school districts. The Milwaukee Vincent High School agricultural education program is an example of FFA and agriculture thriving in the most urban area of Wisconsin. Tyler Foote is one of the six agricultural education instructors at Milwaukee Vincent...

Wisconsin is getting $1 billion for broadband expansion. The Public Service Commission has launched a Wisconsin Internet Self-Report Survey for residents to share their internet quality. Alyssa Kenney, PSC equity director, has the details. Heat advisory today -- temps may break 100. Heat index could climb even higher. Ashley Huhn reintroduces us to The Steffes Group, which got its start in 1960. I...