MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Farm Technology Days this year will feature offsite events, touring area agriculture. Melissa Schluepp of the Sauk County Land Resources and Environmental Conservation Department is coordinating the 6 tours that are offered. Bob Bosold speaks with her about the tours offered.  Alsum Farms and Produce will be hosting a community celebration to recognize their 50 years of business. Nate Zimdars spea...

Dale Plansky tells the story of his family’s farm in Kewaunee County. They will be receiving the Century and Sesquicentennial awards this year. In 1868 the original Planskys immigrated from Bohemia to Wisconsin and purchased 44 acres. It was a dairy operation for many years up until recently. Today Dale is in the process of transferring the 124 acres to his children with hopes that they will utili...

Cindy Fahey Schroeder tells the story of her family's century farm in Green County. The farm was acquired in 1914. The original farm was a 40 cow dairy operation and the family also grew a few crops. The farmstead is located right on the edge of Belleville near the school and was known as the “Grand Central Station” as many people would stop by and visit. Today the farmstead is being used for equi...

The Meyer family has actually traced their origins back to 1866 as they celebrate their sesquicentennial milestone.  Love letters written between Don Meyer's great grandfather and great grandmother help paint the story that continues today.  After a few years working in Madison, the two finally got married in 1868.  Finally they purchased their first 75 acres in 1870.  Don Meyer said they've piece...

For more than 70 years, Carol Schevers O'Rourke has called their farm outside Oneida home.  There's been changes in the family dynamics, and the evolution of production agriculture to deal with. Carol visits with Pam Jahnke about how the farm started in 1914 after some of the family moved to Outagamie county from Holland.  Initially they were dairy producers around 1915-1916, but things had to cha...

Lakey’s Woods is being recognized as a Century farm at this year's Wisconsin State Fair. Dawne Lakey shares the story of his Trempealeau County farm. The first Lakey generation emigrated to Trempealeau County from Devonshire, England in 1860. At the height of the family farming operation he had accumulated hundreds of acres for widely diverse uses such as corn, beans, peas, wheat, hay and oats whi...

Gary Buhr tells the story of his family’s farm, Murray Homestead in Polk County. The farm was acquired in 1873 and the original deed was signed by Ulysses S. Grant. They had a hobby farm where they raised cattle, chickens, pigs, and turkeys. Today the farmstead is rented out to a local neighbor and the Buhr family is thinking about turning it into a “glamping” site.  See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

More than 45,000 people are expected to attend Farm Tech Days happening July 18-20 in Baraboo. And to feed all those people, there will be more than 20 food and beverage trucks, stations, and pop-up tents from across Sauk County. Ralph Pierce with Badger Steam & Gas Engine Club is working with the food committee for this year’s show. He says this new approach to food is going to make for an ov...

Sweet corn is a pretty essential element to a summer meal. Luckily during this drought, many sweet corn growers have irrigation. But there may still be some hiccups in the supply this year. Professor Bill Tracy leads the Sweet Corn Breeding Program at UW-Madison. He says keep in mind that ears may be smaller and that the crop may come later than normal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Knee-high by the Fourth of July. That’s a phrase we’re familiar with in Wisconsin when it comes to measuring the success of the corn crop. But in this drought, "knee-high" might not come by Independence Day. UW-Extension corn agronomist Joe Lauer says the success of the pollination period will determine what your options are as a corn grower. And water is critical for successful pollination. He gi...

Promising is the word that Donald Maum, Sustainability Manager for Alsum Farms & Produce, would use to describe the outlook for Wisconsin's potato season at this time. That's not too say there aren't challenges facing potato producers. He shares a few of the challenges that could affect potatoes and change the trajectory of the season.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big news ahead for a cheesemaker who got a dairy business expansion grant this year. Landmark Creamery will be moving into its own cheese production space this year after having rented space for nearly a decade. Anna Landmark is the co-owner, cheesemaker and butter maker at Landmark. She says this grant from the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance is helping foster growth. And it's not the only goo...

Imagine agriculture being so popular that schools have to turn kids away because there’s just not enough space in the classroom. Well that happened at Bay Port High School which has been expanding its agriculture programs and still sees incredible demand from an almost entirely nonfarm population. Whitney Barnes is one of three ag teachers at Bay Port High School. She's also the Bay Port FFA advis...

According to the latest informal Wisconsin­ Farm Bureau Marketbasket survey, the total cost of 12 food items used to host a summer cookout for 10 totaled $66.72, down 4.2 percent from last year’s state average. The same survey conducted on the national level by American Farm Bureau totaled $67.73 which is 3 percent lower than last year’s national average. Wisconsin’s $66.72 survey price is more th...

Young exhibitors at the Brown County Fair are partnering with students with special needs and giving them the chance to show a pig. Bay Port FFA is running the Special Drive at this year's Brown County Fair. This is a pig show which gives students with special needs the opportunity to show a pig after an afternoon of mentorship from current fair exhibitors. This event will take place on Aug. 18 fr...

Alsum Produce is one of the largest producers of potatoes and other produce in the state. This year they are celebrating 50 years of being in business. Part of Alsum's celebration will include a two day community celebration with a number of events. Christine Lindner, Alsum Produce Marketing Manager, shares what folks interested in attending have to look forward to.    See omnystudio.com/listener...

As we wrap up June Dairy Month, let's go to a modern dairy farm. In Luxemburg, Wisconsin, Paul Cornette is not only investing in innovation in the barn, but in soil health as well. Paul operates Cornette Dairy with his brother. He’s one of the founders of Peninsula Pride Farms, a farmer-led watershed protection group in northeast Wisconsin. Some of the highlights of the effort include preventing 1...

There's no better way to get a first-hand look at the low water levels of the Mississippi River and the impacts on shipments than the pilot house of a river tow boat. Jimmy Cheatham, Barge captain on the Western Rivers, otherwise known as (Captain)Capt-J-Rock on Tik Tok, provides some insight into what he’s facing. Aztalan Bio LLC is the new owner of the former Valero ethanol plant in the town of...

Aztalan Bio LLC is the new owner of the former Valero ethanol plant in the town of Aztalan, WI. They are planning to revolutionize corn processing here in Wisconsin and reopen for production in the fall. Jeff Oestmann, CEO of Aztalan Bio LLC says they have an innovative approach to biorefining that will put them on the leading edge of the transition to low- and zero-carbon renewable fuels. He expl...

Preserving native plant species in Wisconsin is crucial to ensuring we have a healthy ecosystem for generations to come. They help with soil health, reduce water runoff, and provide nectar and pollen for pollinators which in turn can help crop yields and health. A number of organizations strive to conserve native plant species, including the UW-Arboretum.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Today Wisconsin Beef Council presented a $2,500 check to Feeding Wisconsin to purchase Wisconsin beef across its six food banks! The money comes from Beef Council’s Burgers & Buns Fun Run in May, put on in partnership with Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center. Wisconsin Beef Council Executive Director Tammy Vaassen tells Mid-West Farm Report why this is a pr...

Feeding Wisconsin is a network of six food pantries that provide food to almost 1,000 local food programs in all 72 Wisconsin counties. They sent out 86 million pounds of food to Wisconsinites in 2021, which was a 75 percent jump from 2019. And the amount is only growing, according to board president and interim director Michelle Orge. Orge is also the president and CEO of Second Harvest Foodbank...

ATV and UTVs have become more popular over the years as more roadways become legal to drive on. However, to enjoy this recreational activity, you also need to be safe. So far this year, there have been 11 fatalities due to ATV/UTV crashes. Last year at this time there were only 6. WI DNR Recreation Warden Nick Webster says while there can be a wide array of causes, one of the top leading causes is...

Miss America made a special appearance at the Wisconsin 4-H Summer Academy held on the UW-Madison campus. Grace Stanke, former Miss Wisconsin from Wausau, is currently serving in the role of Miss America. She speaks about her experience as Miss America and the message she wants to share with 4-H members.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming off of the three-day weekend at the Chicago Board of Trade, we saw Class III move up all week. This morning it did soften. Ever. Ag Principal Mike North says we'll need to see a higher cheese price to continue the rally in Class III milk. It'll depend on when the government will decide to release the details on a sizable cheese purchase. That would support a rally in Class III milk. Answers...