MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Wisconsin’s ginseng growers are working to expand export markets as they face trade barriers from the largest ginseng buyers. Dave Schumacher is a second generation ginseng farmer in Marathon County. Schumacher Ginseng grows, processes, packages and sells Wisconsin ginseng. He says the industry is also looking at expanding domestic markets through programs like Alice in Dairyland. Dave is the vice...

The 41st annual Brat Fest is happening over Memorial Day Weekend in Madison. What you may not know is that Brat Fest started as a customer appreciation grill-out outside of Metcalfe’s Market at Hilldale. This weekend, organizers will welcome roughly 125,000 people to the grounds outside of the Alliant Energy Center. With that many hungry mouths to feed, Brat Fest President Tim Metcalfe says it tak...

A lot of our Wisconsin farms have veterinarians visiting their farm regularly with some even every day. But are there enough large-animal vets staying in Wisconsin to be able to handle that demand? Alycia Kowalski, DVM and clinical instructor in large animal medicine at the UW-Vet School, says half of their UW-Vet School graduates stay in Wisconsin. She provides some insight into the demand for la...

Plastic made from milk? It could be a reality thanks to research happening on the UW Madison campus. Grace Enzien is a master’s student studying biology who will soon be starting her PHD. She works in the Tim Donohue Lab where she explores how to use dairy product waste in a unique way.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A strange situation is happening across Wisconsin - jumping worms!  Charitee Seebecker follows up on these sightings with PJ Leisch, UW-Extension Entomologist. Money still remains in the DNR's Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Programs. Stephanie Hoff talks with DNR's Marty Nessman about grants already awarded and their hopes of distributing more of those federal monies. John Hineberg,...

Thoroughbred horse racing's been getting all kinds of media attention, but for all the wrong reasons.  Stephanie Hoff talks with Dr. Mark Markel, Dean of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and a practicing equine specialist.  7 horses were euthanized leading up to the Kentucky Derby, and 1 more at Pimlico just before the Preakness over the weekend.  Markel explains how fragile these young horses...

While local schools may compete against each other in sports or speaking contests, sometimes it pays to join forces. Local FFA chapters in Walworth County are coming together to raise money for the next generation of leaders in agriculture. These FFA students will be working the Walworth County FFA Truck & Tractor Pull on June 17 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn. The money is all...

Whether it’s a generator, new wiring, or an electrical grid expansion, there’s action you can take today to keep your farm running smoothly even during electrical storms this summer. Aaron Robarge is in-studio with us, a master electrician with All Comfort Services out of the Madison area.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s well compensation money available for Wisconsinites. The DNR got about $10 million last year to help people replace their contaminated well, install treatment or finance the abandonment of a well that’s no longer needed. Marty Nessman is the private water supply section manager with the DNR in the Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater. He says there's roughly $7.5 million left to distri...

International travel opportunities can be hard to come by for many farmers. That’s why 23 Australian farmers jumped at the opportunity to travel to the States and see how agricultural practices here differ from what they are familiar with. The group began their trip with visits to a variety of agricultural operations in California. After a week there, they traveled to Wisconsin with the hope of ga...

Many colleges saw a lull in enrollment through the pandemic years, and the UW-Platteville School of Ag was no exception. However, the school has had increased enrollment the past few years and  is on track to continue that trend. Chuck Steiner, Interim Dean of BILSA at UW-Platteville, sheds light on how their students are being prepared to graduate and enter the workforce. There biggest area of en...

Warmer temperatures bring longer workdays and increased operational costs. FOCUS ON ENERGY® can help with financial incentives to offset the installation of energy-efficient equipment, so farmers can count on their equipment when needed. Kevin Weiler is one of the Focus on Energy Advisors helping Wisconsin farms and agribusinesses capitalize on available energy savings incentives. Are you looking...

As summers roll around and schools wrap up for the year, there is focus on making sure those children and their families have enough to eat throughout the summer. Josh Perkins, Director of Food and Nutrition for Madison Metropolitan School District, says families in his community rely on the nutrition that's offered through the school for day-to-da-sustenance. He explains how they’re preparing to...

Imagine a year of traveling across the entire state of Wisconsin, meeting thousands of people, attending countless events both big and small, and touring a variety of diverse agricultural businesses. Those are all experiences that Alice in Dairyland gets to enjoy every year. Knowing that her time as Alice will soon be coming to an end, our current Alice, Taylor Schaefer, has begun to reflect on he...

Sometimes with research you have to start back at the basics to make sure the building blocks of the information is accurate. One masters student at UW River Falls is doing just that. Shawna Sigl grew up on a dairy farm in Seymour, WI. She’s using her dairy background to dig deep on two important data sets, transition cow housing and cow and calf behavior.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

May is Mental Health Month and that encompasses Wisconsin farmers and their families.  Charitee Seebecker talks with Jes Beauchamp who's part of the WI Farmer Wellness Program.  She helps provide 24/7 assistance to farmers, their families, and anyone that's suffering with some mental health challenges. So far, so good for Wisconsin's apple crop.  Steve Louis of Oakwood Fruit Farm in Richland Cente...

The Rural Energy For America grants issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are designed to provide guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and...

People interested in buying bare ground - recreational acreage - unimproved lots - could get a surprise.  Not all lenders are interested in taking on that risk! Steve Leffew, Compeer Financial Loan Specialist in Western Wisconsin, visits with Pam Jahnke about the in's and out's of making those dreams come true.  Whether it's acreage that you're planning on building, or a patch of woods for hunting...

Wisconsin's new agriculture ambassador is Ashley Hagenow from Poynette.  The recent graduate will assume the Alice in Dairyland position effective July 5th.  Stephanie Hoff visits with her after the big announcement. Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group launches their annual photo campaign for their upcoming spring catalog.  He visits with Pam Jahnke during the Steffes Auction update.  Sponsored by...

Hosting the Alice in Dairyland Finals takes a village. And the Walworth County Alice Finals Committee has pulled it off for multiple years. Derrick Papcke is the finance chair on the committee. He says they started planning in 2018 for the 2020 finals. But that event went virtual. So they prepared for 2021. But that event was canceled. Since Dane County was hosting the 2022 event, the Walworth Cou...

Apple production is looking to be right on track for a normal bloom time and production level. This is according to Steve Louis, owner of Oakwood Fruit Farm in Richland Center. He says the spike of warm weather we had helped production to be on track with their normal bloom time around May 10. He explains how the crop is looking and what he and other growers are doing to prepare for the fall harve...

Patience is definitely a positive trait if you're trying to establish a lawn.  That's the word from UW Turf Grass Specialist, Doug Soldat.  He visits with Pam Jahnke about some of the tips you should consider when it comes to establishing and managing your lawn. May is Mental Health Month in Wisconsin and we're drawing attention to available resources for Wisconsin farmers and their families.  Cha...

The National Farm Medicine Center is actively promoting slow moving vehicle signs for all farm equipment moving toward the field.  Bob Bosold talks to Brian Weichelt from the National Farm Medicine Center about all the resources available. Wisconsin's got a new Alice in Dairyland on the way, beginning July 5th.  Stephanie Hoff brings us a quick chat with Ashley Hagenow, Poynette native, selected a...

Perhaps the most important thing a person can do for themselves is take care of their mental well being.  Whether it is with adults or children, maintaining a healthy mind is key to a fully healthy lifestyle.  Mental health has always been a key part of the agriculture community but it wasn’t always talked about. Susan Springer, founder of Suicide Prevention Southwest Wisconsin provides insight in...

Dr Grace Lewis is an Assistant Professor of Food Science at UWRF. While there is all kind of research going on across the UW looking at ways to improve dairy, her research is different. Instead of improving dairy products, she is looking at how dairy can improve other products. Grace, tell me more about your research. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.