MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Taylor Schaefer, the current Alice in Dairyland, isn't letting Wisconsin's weather dampen her spirits about what's special during the holidays. In a conversation with Pam Jahnke, she updates us on her travel experiences and focuses attention on all the vendor partners participating in the Something Special from Wisconsin program. The Something Special  from  Wisconsin™ (SS f W) program , administe...

An agriculture instructor in northwest Wisconsin has received a $20,000 grant to invest in reaching students and helping them understand where their food comes from.  Jill Welke talks with Amelia Hayden, the ag instructor with successful grant request. The president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union sees a busy agenda ahead for Wisconsin farmers and policy makers.  Darren VonRuden is a dairy producer...

The Wisconsin Farmers Union has an aggressive agenda planned for legislative efforts in 2023. Jill Welke visits with WFU Government Affairs Director, Rick Adamski, about some of their major platform points. The percentage of people actively engaging in on-line auctions keeps climbing.  Ashley Huhn, from the Steffes Group, visits with Pam Jahnke about their latest statistics and prices.  Paid for b...

Patricia Cicero is a Director at the Land and Water Conservation Department in Jefferson County. She works closely with the Jefferson County Soil Builders, one of the groups that just received a $30k grant from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. She shares why these producer led groups are so important for the future of our industry.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When many dairy farms were building freestall buildings and bring cows in from pasture, the Tomandl family leaned in to grazing cows. Since that time, they've grown their farm while building a blueprint for grazing dairies, including a program to help others learn dairy farming on a grazing based platform. Their work has led them to be selected as the 2022 Leopold Conservation Award winners.     S...

Keeping the U.S. pork industry healthy and free of foreign disease is a top priority for producers and the organizations that represent them at the state and federal levels. And between African Swine Fever and the new Japanese encephalitis virus, biosecurity is front and center. Dr. Paul Sundberg is the executive director of the Swine Health Information Center, a research network that focuses on e...

Weather is such a big factor in when you can get out in the field to plant and how that crop is going to look come harvest. That’s why Mid-West Farm Report called on an expert who can explain what weather patterns agriculture is watching that will determine how the growing season will start in 2023. Shane Hubbard is a research scientist at the Space Science and Engineering Center at UW-Madison. He...

The Wisconsin Farmers Union is preparing diligently for the 2023 Farm Bill. Wisconsin Farmers Union Government Relations Director, Rick Adamski, says it is imperative that we monitor deliberations leading up to the next Farm Bill in 2023 and that if we look at these policy options as opportunities to learn from our past, we may create a better future. He shares more about important policy measures...

The Wisconsin Farmers Union is a member-driven organization that is committed to enhancing the quality of life for family farmers, rural communities, and all people. Helping to drive that mission forward is Wisconsin Farmers Union President, Darin Von Ruden. He says we are experiencing a rebuilding and re-envisioning of the American food system, and Farmers Union has been on the front lines of tho...

Transitioning a farm from one generation to another can be a difficult conversation to have.  Charitee Seebecker visits with UW-Extension Specialist, Joy Kirkpatrick, about different programs they offer to ease into these transitions. USDA's Farm Service Agency announced an extension on sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.  Greg Biba, Wisconsin FSA Program Specialist, explains what...

The 2022 growing season was pretty productive for Wisconsin farmers.  Dr. Damon Smith, UW-Extension Plant Pathologist, talks with Pam Jahnke about what they learned about battling bugs and disease in the field. The 92nd Wisconsin Farmers Union convention wrapped up over the weekend.  Pam Jahnke runs down the awards presented to members and guests. Nobody likes to talk about it.  Tragedies on the f...

We’re seeing the ag industry turn to the high school classroom to get students interested in pursuing a career in ag. The challenge is that there’s a shortage of educators. State Superintendent Jill Underly tells Mid-West Farm Report what she’s noticed from her role as head of the Department of Public Instruction.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every industry in Wisconsin is looking for labor, especially agriculture. But where is the solution to that problem? And how is government stepping in to solve the issue? Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek explains that the answer to a worker shortage is coming from both in and out of state. She starts by telling Mid-West Farm Report how Wisconsin is looking to ho...

Fighting hunger isn’t a seasonal issue, but this is the time of year that many people pay more attention to food insecurity in our community. Sherrie Tussler, the Executive Director of Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee shares more about the urban farm they use to produce fresh foods, as well as an update on Badger Boxes, the partnership between Hunger Task Force and Wisconsin Farmers that came about...

The Holiday Season is upon us, which means it’s time for family gatherings and also more time spent in the kitchen. Sharing more about Farm to Holiday Meals with Wisconsin Butter is the 75th Alice in Dairyland, Taylor Schaefer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Become an official Friend of the Fair with a donation to the Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation and receive a collectable 2022 Cream Puff Ornament. Do this for yourself or for a loved one this holiday season. Tess Kerksen, the Director of Public Relations at the Wisconsin State Fair Park shares more about great holiday gift ideas that benefit the Wisconsin State Fair as well. But first she talks...

As we close out 2022, Sally Ladsten reflects on her first year with the Department of Public Instruction. She serves as the consultant for agriculture, food and natural resources education. Also in her title – State FFA Advisor. She's also been working with the Wisconsin Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council to bring several state agencies together to promote ag education across...

When you’ve got 1,000+ students… 375 in FFA… six from a farm… how do you engage the whole student body in ag? Ask Mrs. Boettcher at DeForest Area High School. Students are getting hands-on experience with aquaponics, raising tilapia and lettuce for the culinary arts and school lunch program. They are growing flowers and vegetables in a new greenhouse through their horticulture units. And, students...

Agriculture's not getting a lot of the media attention in the war between Ukraine and Russia - but it's definitely being impacted.  Bob Bosold visited with Ukranian dairy farmer, Kees Poizinga about what life's like in the war zone.  He discusses what farmers and families have been forced to do while they're being attacked. Charitee Seebecker visits with Dave Danielson of Union Grove about policy...

The agriculture industry is changing rapidly from ongoing technological innovation to global supply chain disruptions. As a leading innovator, CLAAS constantly strives to optimize grower operations, provide transparency and help agriculture professionals improve their bottom line. Daryl Theis, head of marketing and sales for CLAAS, shares more about the latest product innovations, global supply ch...

4-H student membership took a dip during the pandemic, and the hope is that those numbers will come back up and grow. But students aren't the only members 4-H wants to see -- they're looking for more adult project and chapter leaders. This is the word from Carlea Liermann, an educator for Calumet County 4-H and the co-advisor for the Wisconsin 4-H Leadership Council. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom was a recipient of the federal 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, and it means more curriculum around the state's specialty crops will be available to classrooms. Coordinator Beth Schaefer collaborated with the Alice in Dairyland program for the $24,000 grant. Coordinator Beth Schaefer says the curriculum will have a soft launch beginning in January. St...

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is working hard to secure farmers access to clean fuel markets with climate-smart agriculture. Brian Jennings, CEO of ACE shares more about the renewable fuel standard and outlook for the ethanol industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-Extension is working hard to provide farm business management resources and tools to farmers to improve profitability through informed decision-making. Joy Kirkpatrick, the farm succession outreach specialist at UW-Extension Farm Management division, shares more about their upcoming program that will provide tools to producers who want to begin the succession planning process. This is the Culti...

It’s in the headlines – water shortages, droughts – happening across the globe and here in the U.S. And it's starting conversations over water rights, laws and the value of water resources. It could change what production looks like out West. Brian Richter is the president of Sustainable Waters and a senior fellow for World Wildlife Fund. He was asked to speak at the recent PDPW Dairy Insight Summ...