MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

The Wisconsin Fishing Expo is here and it gives a good opportunity to try out new baits in Madison. Host Ben Jarboe talks with Pat Hasburgh about what's happening on the ice and in the water for the area. A new beer has been created to show culture of Wisconsin fishing. Paul "Coot" Williams joins the show to share his story of getting a beer by fishermen for fishermen. See omnystudio.com/listener...

This week was historic for Plover, Wisconsin. On Thursday, for the first time ever, a sitting Vice President made the trip to the village in central Wisconsin. Stephanie Hoff was there in the press pool as JD Vance toured a local manufacturing facility. While the speech was meant to rally voters for the upcoming Congressional and Wisconsin gubernatorial races, the rhetoric hit on familiar national...

Professional Dairy Producers’ Business conference has a slated agenda with 40 speakers in over 50 sessions. A convention undertaking of that size, requires a coordinated leadership board and conference committee to lean a close listening ear to their fellow producers. Shelly Mayer is the executive director of the organization. She tells me that they consider what is presently happening in th...

Plover Village Administrator Steve Kunst and Wood County Sheriff Shawn Becker pull back the curtain with Stephanie Hoff on the logistics required to host Vice President JD Vance in Plover with less than a week’s notice. The conversation highlights the behind-the-scenes coordination between local public works, the Secret Service, and neighboring law enforcement agencies to ensure a historic,...

National FFA Week highlights the blue and gold for a week.  It's up to Emma Slavens, National FFA Alumni & Supporter to help keep that enthusiasm bubbling year round.  She visits with Jill Welke at the WI FFA Alumni's State Convention about how growing that supporter base has changed, and what messages they're offering in 2026. Warmer weather for the southern portion of Wisconsi...

This year's annual Professional Dairy Producers Business Conference looks to hit on some hard topics. Dr. David Kohl a Professor Emeritus of Ag Finance and Small Business Management at Virginia Tech, will speak on building a resilient dairy business. He gives a sneak peek at what can be expected. Mid-West Farm Report and PDP share a commitment to advancing dairy producers and supporting strong far...

A leveling off of temperatures is expected to come soon but not before lower than normal temperatures pop in for the weekend according Ben Jarboe's conversation with ag meteorologist Stu Muck. The winter has been a cold one across the US causing the waterways to lock up with ice. Kiley Allan talks with barge captain Jimmy "JRock" Cheatham to learn how they navigate the icy waters in order to keep...

Ahead of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, Stephanie Hoff catches up with Doug Rebout, a Wisconsin crop farmer and president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association, who was invited to the speech by Congressman Mark Pocan, also on the call. Pocan tells us why he wanted an agriculture representative at the SOTU -- to amplify the real-world impact of "tariff taxes." Rebout hopes to h...

When we think about time on the water in the midst of a Wisconsin winter, we think much more about ice fishing than we do about taking the boat out on the lake. But that's not quite the case for Jimmy "JRock" Cheatham. He's a pilot barge captain that moves many agricultural products along the river. He tells us that winter conditions can slow movement, but it's vital that they keep America moving....

Who would have thought a combination of FFA and dairy cattle would take students overseas to  Scotland? Cate Ehle, Ella Sannes, Ana Mikkelson, Anneka Christensen will take the trip with their advisor, Samantha White, to Edinburgh, Scotland for the Royal Highland Show. There, they will compete in the dairy judging competition. They earned their invitation after competing in the 2025 World Dair...

It seems like every year there's a new disease infecting our crops here in Wisconsin and most recently for corn we've been seeing an increase in southern rust. Ashley Madson, a technical agronomist with Bayer, is here to share a bit of the history of this disease within Wisconsin and some tips for the 2026 season on choosing the right seed and best input management. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

The 46th annual meeting of the Wisconsin FFA Alumni brought historic high marks for membership.  Pam Jahnke discusses the accomplishments and what's ahead with Tari Costello, executive director of the group.  Costello says they've gained 2,000 more members in the past year, as well as 10 new alumni chapters statewide.  Nick Lowe is pleased to see the numbers.  Lowe is a life-lo...

Wisconsin FFA alum Tyson Gehrke tells Stephanie Hoff about his eye-opening journey through Spain as part of the National FFA’s International Leadership Seminar. From trading Southwest Wisconsin’s cornfields for endless groves of citrus and olives to navigating the European Union’s strict agricultural regulations, Tyson explains how stepping outside his comfort zone redefined his...

  The Wisconsin FFA held its second annual FFA auctioneering competition, with Junie Kierce, a junior at Waunakee High School, capturing first place. Kierce visits with Ben Jarboe about how she happened upon the competition, and prepared for the event.  Junie looked for a mentor to sharpen her skills and connected with fundraising auctioneer Jenny Gale of North Prairie. Training began wi...

NaCole Johnson, global talent acquisition specialist at URUS, and Stephanie Hoff discuss the shift toward hiring for passion, adaptability, and data fluency. Hands-on internships are preparing Gen Z to tackle global challenges in sustainability and food security. A mission-driven mindset is the new gold standard for the next generation of agricultural leaders. See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Every Febuary brings a new National FFA week, and, in turn, an opportunity to talk about the benefits of the organization. Max Luedtke is the Section 10 State FFA Vice President. He tells Kiley Allan what Wisconsin members can expect during this year's celebrations! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin FFA in partnership with the Wisconsin Auctioneers Association recently wrapped up their second annual FFA auctioneering competition. The winner for this year's competition was junior Junie Kierce out of Waunakee High School. She shares her story of becoming a champion starting with a liking of the TV show  Storage Wars . Her mentor Jenny Gehl, an auctioneer out of North Prairie, als...

Sandhill cranes are known to reside in Wisconsin until they can no longer easily find their food. Scientists call the birds generalist omnivores. This means they eat grubs, insects, tubers, plants, small reptiles, rodents, and now the crops farmers have planted. Jackie Silvicke-Scott is the Private Lands Biologist with the International Crane Foundation. She tells us what farmers can do to prevent...

Jackie Silvicke-Scott from the International Crane Foundation tells Kiley Allan how a non-harmful, rhubarb-derived seed treatment effectively deters intelligent sandhill cranes from damaging corn crops. The Compeer Financial Ag Weather Update calls for a winter advisory in southern Wisconsin until noon today. Be careful on your morning commute! Stephanie Hoff visits with Jesse Wagner, a third-gene...

As traditional pesticides lose their effectiveness due to regulatory changes and increasing pest resistance, growers are searching for a new way forward. GreenLight Biosciences’ Jonathan Adamson tells Stephanie Hoff that RNA technology can control the pests that potato growers and other specialty crop farmers deal with regularly. Using RNA-based foliar pesticides, Greenlight Biosciences' pro...

Stephanie Hoff visits with Jesse Wagner, a third-generation maple syrup producer from Inthewoods Sugarbush, to discuss the delicate "freeze-thaw" balance required for a perfect harvest. Jesse explains why snow in the woods is a producer's best friend and how he uses long-range forecasts to time his tapping in Manitowoc. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So you're happy to see your business in a rural community expanding, BUT, where will your new employees live?  For many rural communities it's not just about the cost or quality, it's about availability at all.  Stephanie Hoff finds out about how some communities are approaching the challenge.  John W. Miller, president and CEO, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. says th...

Consumer demand for protein continues to fuel a lot of agricultural markets.  From beef to dairy - more protein is popping up on all kinds of labels.  That's carried over to the bison industry too.  Jill Welke finds out about how growers are dealing with the demand, and the lack of a skilled workforce to help harvest the animals.  Lee Graese from Northstar Bison in Haugen, WI s...

While drones are becoming a common sight over our fields, insuring these 'small aircraft' is a whole different ball game than your standard farm policy. From weight limits to chemical drift, Stephanie Hoff sits down with Eric Greening at Family Insurance Center to break down the risks and regulations of an agricultural drone. He says drones are very new in the insurance world, as spray drones have...

As commodity markets shift, many growers are looking beyond the standard corn and bean rotation to find new value in their land. Jeff Wienkes, regional sales manager with LaCrosse Seed, tells Stephanie Hoff how cover crops are evolving from simple 'soil savers' into strategic financial tools for grazing and soil health. The interview explores the shift toward targeted seed mixes and how grazing co...