MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

The Center for Dairy Research helps with all aspects of dairy processing training. Experts will lead a course on butter making on June 6-8. The deadline to apply is May 23. One of the instructors, Ben Ullerup Mathers, says this is a three-day deep dive into producing and evaluating butter. It covers all of the topics from butter making fundamentals to hands-on laboratory, manufacturing, and sensor...

We've seen the headlines about the seven horses that died at Churchill Downs leading up to the Kentucky Derby. Mid-West Farm Report talks to Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine Dean Mark Markel to help understand the risks of competing in the sport, and what horse owners should be thinking about ahead of their competition season (rodeos, pulls, etc.) Markel is a certified equine surgeon. He sa...

The Wisconsin State FFA Convention is happening June 12-15 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Treasurer Cole Hicken says the team is preparing to host thousands of Wisconsin FFA students with the theme of the year: Elevate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Worms. That’s nothing new to us, but jumping worms on the other hand, may be. Jumping worms are newer to Wisconsin and can be mistaken as a small snake. PJ Liesch, director of the UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab and state entomologist, says while similar to earthworms, the jumping worms have very unique behaviors.  According to the Wisconsin DNR, the “jumping worm” is an invasive earthworm native...

The state budget debate continues at the Capitol in Madison. Gov. Tony Evers proposed his budget in February. And just weeks ago, the state Joint Finance Committee essentially threw out about 545 budget priorities from that proposal. Some of these were items supported by farm groups, like funding for regional farmer support, farmland preservation grants and animal disease response. Assembly Ag Com...

The window is closing to enter the Agriculture Innovation Challenge. This is a national business competition for agriculture startups that are addressing challenges faced by American farmers. The American Farm Bureau Federation will close the application window on Friday. Joby Young is the executive vice president of the national Farm Bureau. He says apply here: https://www.fb.org/initiative/ag-in...

The latest crop progress report for Wisconsin says fieldwork and planting has begun in earnest at least in the southern half of the state. This is also what we're hearing from crop consultant Eric Birschbach. He owns and operates Ag Site Crop Consulting in western Dane County. His farm clients in Dane, Iowa and Lafayette counties will likely wrap up with planting corn and soybeans this week if the...

Walking - it's fairly simple - but that simple movement can provide some great health benefits both physically and mentally. Darrin Wasniewski is the Director of Community Outreach for AARP of Wisconsin.  He speaks with Pam Jahnke during a special event focused on "building community through walking" from LaCrosse. Wasniewski says that community started with just 12 people that would spend some ti...

May is Mental Health Awareness month.  It's a time to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health issues and to help reduce the stigma so many experience, especially in the agriculture industry. Jes Beauchamp, dedicated counselor who handles the telecounseling and support groups for farmers to take advantage of through the Farm Center Wellness Program explains more about the r...

It's almost county fair season in Wisconsin, but what many fair goers don't realize is all the work that goes into those fairs months before the actual event.  Jill Welke visits with Jayme Buttke, exec. secretary of the WI Fair Association, about those behind the scenes activities. Stephanie Hoff introduces us to Jackie Rosenbush from Sarona.  Not only is Jackie a previous Fairest of the Fairs in...

Solar power is getting a lot of attention in rural communities across Wisconsin.  People question whether putting solar panels up on prime farmland is the right way to go.  Cody Heller is one of those.  Heller is a dairy producer from Alma Center who's advancing the idea of "community solar" - where marginal land is the focus for solar panel projects.  Pam Jahnke talks with him. Our next Alice in...

With the latest increase in interest rates, Wisconsin agriculture's having multiple conversations with ag lenders.  Charitee Seebecker talks about lending trends with Blaine Nelson, senior economist on the strategy, research, and analytics team at Farmer Mac. Weather is going to allow for some great outdoor activity this weekend, and the WI Dept. of Natural Resources wants to encourage that with t...

The work in agriculture education doesn’t stop when the school year ends. Sally Ladsten is the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education Consultant and State FFA Advisor with the state Department of Public Instruction. And she tells me that the state is working to fill ag educator vacancies as well as roll out new tools for teachers to use to help guide students into agricultural careers....

Across the state of Wisconsin, high school agriculture programs and FFA chapters are having their spring plant sales. We can't make it to them all, but Stephanie Hoff did attend a special sale over the weekend. Sauk Prairie High School just opened the doors to the new Jeff Hicken Horticultural Learning Center. Jeff Hicken was an agriculture instructor at Sauk Prairie High School for nearly a decad...

Valentine’s Day may be over but the second biggest holiday for cut flowers is Mother’s day. While moms across the country enjoy a pretty bouquet, getting those flowers into the US, while also keeping harmful pests and disease out, isn’t a small job. Bruce Cheong is an Agriculture Operations Manager with the Agriculture Programs Trade Liaison and US Customs and Border Patrol, he tells us more about...

Climate Smart – it’s a phrase that the U.S. Department of Agriculture put out there when it introduced the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program in September of 2022. Eight months later and these dollars are now hitting the ground. Through this program, the USDA is investing more than $3 billion for 141 different conservation projects. A handful of these are in Wisconsin. Former NRCS...

Blain's Farm & Fleet has been around for 68 years, but today they celebrated 60 years in the Madison market -- and the employees that made it happen. From the cashier that started this year to the farm specialist that's been helping customers for 37 years, CEO Jane Blain Gilbertson thanks them for helping bring the company into the future. Blain's continues to open stores, with a new store in...

Madison's not the only place working on cutting edge research that could impact Wisconsin's dairy industry.  Carrie Mess visits with Dr Joe Samford, Associate Professor at UW-Platteville about projects they're doing on campus. One is a product called BioChar and the other is all about manure application.  We kick off introductions of the six Alice in Dairyland finalists today.  Stephanie Hoff intr...

Wisconsin State Parks are a popular destination for the state’s residents and visitors. The Wisconsin DNR is working actively to make sure they have enough staff to operate at full capacity this summer, and also working to ensure campgrounds and other facilities are up to date. Missy VanLanduyt, DNR Recreation Partnerships Section Chief explains what they’re expecting for attendance this  year and...

Over the past few years, the city of Madison has been partnering with Wisconsin soybean farmers and other agriculture groups to move its truck fleet toward 100 percent biodiesel. Biodiesel is a fuel made from soybeans, and it's helping the city cut emissions. Fleet Superintendent Mahanth Joishy tells Mid-West Farm Report about the progress. Joishy is also looking forward to claiming the first wood...

Farm Bill discussions are happening, but nothing is written yet. This is because there are other issues that have to be addressed first, according to Randy Russell, president of The Russell Group. The Russell Group is a bipartisan government relations firm focused exclusively on food and agriculture public policy. This will be Russell's ninth Farm Bill. He says what he’s learned in that time is th...

E15 has been approved for summer sale by the EPA. Neal Kemmet of ACE Ethanol in Stanley and Fox River Valley Ethanol in Oshkosh says Wisconsin's story is a happy one with lots of corn in storage to keep ethanol plants running at full capacity. Some of that corn is also flowing to states that didn't fare so well, like Kansas. And the news that Japan will take up to 100 percent U.S. ethanol is also...

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has announced the fourth Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council. The selected members will be high school seniors during the 2023 – 2024 school year, and they will serve a one-year term on the council. The current Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council members will conclude their term on Thursday, May 11, 2023. DATCP Secretar...

The standard practices on the farms of tomorrow usually start with the researchers of today. Assistant professor of soil and crop science at UW-Platteville and Dairy Innovation Hub researcher, Dr. Joe Sanford presented some of the research he is doing at a recent Dairy Innovation Hub event. He tells us more about his manure management research.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a sports team on the UW - Madison campus that’s getting ready to compete at the highest level and you’ve probably never heard of the team. The UW-Madison  Equestrian Team is headed to the Kentucky Horse Park to compete at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association national competition. Team member and graduating senior Ashley Haggard tells us more about the team and the upcoming competitio...