MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

First-quarter 2023 data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation show that Wisconsin banks remained on solid footing even as two out-of-state institutions failed during the period. "With respect to the ongoing economic challenges and geopolitical concerns, Wisconsin banks are well-positioned to weather the mild economic downturn that is expected in the remainder of 2023," says Wisconsin Bank...

You've seen it over the past few weeks -- a haze in the sky from the wildfire smoke in eastern Canada. And Wisconsin has been on and off with air advisories earlier this spring because of the polluting particles that come with the haze. It turns out that these air advisories this time of year are abnormal, according to Craig Czarnecki. He’s the outreach coordinator with the Wisconsin DNR’s Air Man...

It's summer vacation time across Wisconsin, and that could include a visit to an agricultural tourism spot.  Bob Bosold visits with Sheila Everhart, executive director of the Wisconsin Ag Tourism Association, about their launch of a public awareness campaign involving the state's rest stops, and how ag tourism has changed in the last decade. Work continues at the state house on critical bills impa...

It's one of spring's first sweet treats - rhubarb.  There's a lot of different ways this plant can be used. Charitee Seebecker gets a little assistance on learning more about the plant and its diverse uses from Kathy Bures, a grower herself in Barneveld. The 94th Wisconsin State FFA Convention officially convenes today at the Alliant Energy Center.  Hundreds of members streamed into Madison early...

The FFA Day of service takes place on the first day of the Wisconsin State FFA Convention. There are a number of opportunities for FFA members to participate, give back, and offer service in the Madison area. There are two offsite locations and one at the Alliant Energy Center where Convention takes place. Beth Rieth has been coordinating the Day of Service since it’s very beginning and can share...

Marilyn Vetter is the new president and CEO of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, replacing Howard Vincent, who retired earlier this year after serving in the position since 2000. Now that she's a few months into her new role, Vetter explains more about her background in conservation and what’s ahead for the organization. “I was raised in a farming family and my parents operated their farm with...

Wisconsin cattlemen and women will be getting together June 24 their annual Summer Tour. This year it’ll be featuring four unique farms in Southwest Wisconsin. Each stop shows off the diversity of Wisconsin's beef industry and highlights trends in the livestock industry, such as new research, conservation and dairy x beef cross animals. Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association President Brady Zuck has th...

Wisconsin Senator Howard Marklein has been busy.  Not only is he a key member of Wisconsin's Joint Finance Committee, he's also been a dedicated volunteer at June Dairy Celebrations in his district! He took time to speak with Pam Jahnke about some of the critical components of the state budget related to rural communities - including the very important Agricultural Road Improvement Program (ARIP)....

Next week is the annual Wisconsin FFA Convention and Casey Denk is ready for it.  The young woman from Mondovi has logged more than 28,000 miles visiting members across the state.  She visits with Jill Welke about what she's looking forward to in Madison during the convention. Saturday is the Dane County Breakfast on the Farm just south of Verona at the Kahl Family Farm.  Riley Kahl is one of the...

Millions of dollars have been dedicated to expanding broadband access to rural Wisconsin, but many residents are saying "where is it?". Sue Dierksen, Volunteer Advocate for AARP of W I, is one of those waiting on broadband.  She lives in Lincoln County and struggles everyday to communicate and stay connected. She speaks with Pam Jahnke about efforts to work with legislators for high speed internet...

Drama continues to unfold between the United States and Mexico after Mexico announced it would stop buying certain genetically modified corn in 2024. This is corn that has traits that makes it resistant to drought or pests, for example. The United States has requested a consultation with Mexico under the USMCA to resolve this dispute, arguing Mexico’s decision is not based on science. Ken Rosenow...

Wisconsin has made it a priority to both protect wetlands as well as honor the need for appropriate development and maintain healthy agricultural operations that minimally impacts this precious resource. A recent Supreme Court decision in the Sackett vs the Environmental Protection Agency case, calls into question the status of wetland regulations in Wisconsin. DNR Waterway and Wetland Policy Sect...

The alfalfa weevil are active in Wisconsin and could be detrimental to your second cutting. Managing agronomist Steve Hoffman with In Depth Agronomy in east central Wisconsin says this drought isn't helping. He recommends you sweep your fields and apply insecticide if you find larvae. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vegetable growers and CSA managers are moving away from herbicides for a variety of reasons: cost, results and feasibility. That's why Sam Oschwald Tilton helps growers statewide transition to mechanical weed prevention and other methods. And while it sounds labor intensive, there are methods that don't require a lot of bodies, which is important when labor is such a valuable commodity these days....

Farmers in Wisconsin are finding some truck dealerships that are ready to provide not only discounts on things like trucks, tires and lubricants - but how about fencing, chemicals and other elements you use on the operation. Ag Truck Trader has been an evolutionary process according to former farm broadcaster, Patrick Driscoll, the CEO and president of Certified Agriculture Dealer (CAD) Program . ...

Any given day in Wisconsin, you can find someone that wants to take issue with the weather forecast and the person behind it.  Let's find out what it's like behind the scenes with the National Weather Service staff who help to pull details together to form a forecast. Scott Berschback has been a part of NOAA's meteorology team for 15 years and understands people's frustration with forecast accurac...

A team of students at UW-River Falls have pulled together a winning dairy combination that not only provides great nutrition and taste, but also a calming effect for those enjoying it! RootCurd at first blush might not seem yummy, but students that have been developing the product says it's definitely impressed judges with its textures and taste!  Now UW-River Falls' RootCurd is one of the top win...

More and more operating farms are being surrounded by non-farm neighbors.  There's also more staff operating on an average farm.  Trying to keep track of what's really happening on a farm is difficult, that's why many are turning to technology to help.  Stephanie Hoff visits with Jason Nosrati, of Ag Video Surveillance in Beaver Dam about the trends he's seeing. The "flash" drought in Wisconsin is...

Imagine you have an emergency and need to call 911 yet it takes them a long time to get there or maybe they can’t come at all. That is the scary reality of the current state of EMS in Wisconsin.  Alan DeYoung,  Executive Director of Wisconsin EMS Association says while EMS is essential in times of crisis, according to the state, it's actually deemed inessential.  “The current state of EMS in Wisco...

Wisconsin's "Badger Crop Connect" team of extension staff will be hosting a special webinar focused on the current flash drought taking place across most of the state of WI. Natasha Paris,  UW-Extension Regional Crops Educator in Marquette, Waushara, Green Lake, & Adams Counties  says the webinar will be a quick-paced format to connect growers with resources to assist decision-making. The topi...

Madison Cricket Farm in DeForest raises crickets for live pet food, such as for birds and reptiles. Kevin Bachhuber operates this farm as an extension of his consulting firm, in which he advises insect production agriculture for animal feed or human consumption. Roughly 2 million crickets are under his care and like it at a ‘cool’ 88 degrees! Just like with traditional livestock, ventilation is im...

The Dane County Breakfast on the Farm is headed to the Kahl Family Farm for the 44th annual event, held on Saturday, June 10, 2023. The Kahl Family began farming their homestead in 1961, and over the years have raised dairy cattle, hogs, chickens, goats and crops. Family member, Riley Kahl, is the current President of the Wisconsin Auctioneers Association.  So, new this year will be a live auction...

A new era for weather data in Wisconsin is on the horizon, thanks to an effort at the University of Wisconsin– Madison. Chris Kucharik, professor and chair of the UW–Madison Department of Agronomy, as well as faculty member with the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies visits with Pam Jahnke about upcoming expansion of the state's mesonet.  A mesonet is a network that helps provide atmospher...

Michigan Milk Producers Association and Canadian Dairy Distillery announced an initiative that will transform a dairy byproduct called permeate into ethanol, adding to the biofuel supply for cars and trucks. MMPA President and CEO Joe Diglio explains that Ontario-based Dairy Distillery developed technology to transform a lactose-rich dairy byproduct, called milk permeate into vodka, aptly named Vo...

Many see renewable energy as the way of the future. There have been several large scale solar energy projects advancing across the state as well as the first wind farm in 6 years, the Red Barn Wind Park in Grant County, going live. Does this mean WIsconsin is going all in on the development of renewable energy? Matt Boor, a former wind energy project manager at General Electric and instructor at L...