MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

If you grew up on a Wisconsin Dairy Farm, you’ve definitely heard “waste not, want not” before. Using everything we’ve got is a way of life on the farm.  Chad Galer from Dairy Management Inc, the National Dairy Checkoff shares more about how dairy farmer dollars are being used to fund projects looking at ways to utilize different parts of milk left over from making other dairy products.  See omnys...

Finding unique gifts for someone special, or for someone who has everything can be tough on the shopper!  This weekend, you have a chance to actually enjoy shopping and give gifts with a real Wisconsin flair. The 3rd Annual Something Special From Wisconsin(SSfW) Holiday Market is happening Saturday and Sunday at the Johnson Creek Elementary School, 455 Aztalan Street, in Johnson Creek.  Pam Jahnke...

The current status of trade for U.S. corn, sorghum, barley, ethanol, and distillers dried grains with solubles is good.  Cary Sifferath, vice president of the U.S. Grains Council shares more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harvest is wrapping up in Wisconsin and now begins the preparations for 2023. Steve Nicholson, the global sector strategist for grains and oilseeds at Rabo bank, shares more about  the latest economic analysis on the status of US Corn and soybean harvest and factors impacting the global commodities outlook for 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Promoting U.S. red meat to the rest of the world is the job of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. That work continues even during geopolitical unrest and supply chain disruption. Dean Meyer is the new chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. He’s also a farmer himself out of Iowa raising pork, beef, corn and soybeans. He says strong exports are critical regardless of how supply looks, especially...

Dairy exports are up and 2022 is on pace to be a good year for dairy despite some challenges. U.S. Dairy Export Council’s CEO Krysta Harden gives Mid-West Farm Report an update on what's happening in the dairy export and trade space. She says that while there may not be new trade deals underway, the Council continues to work to open up new export opportunities and strengthen the relationships the...

The art of handling cattle is just that - an art.  Working with the next generation of meat processors and how they're handling animals is key to consumer trust, and compliance.  Charitee Seebecker visits with Kurt Vogel from UW-River Falls about a pilot project their starting focused on humane handling of animals in the meat processing industry. If you haven't done your grocery shopping yet for T...

There may still be a few lone corn fields standing in Wisconsin, but for the most part, harvest is complete. Lucas Clayton, District Sales Manager with Wyffels, visits with Pam about some of the final results they've compiled from Wisconsin farm fields.  He also starts focusing on 2023 and what conversations need to be happening now! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Agriculture organizations are hard at work making sure Congress has a handle on what is going to be essential for the industry in the next Farm Bill. Andrew Bailey is the science and technology counsel for the National Pork Producers Council, the lobbying arm for pork producers. He has his nose to the grindstone with new Congress members as farm policy discussions continue into the new year. He te...

There's been major changes to Wisconsin's UW-Extension service.  Bob Bosold talks to UW-Extension Dean, Karl Martin and Heidi Johnson, Director of UW-Extension Agriculture Institute about these changes and why they were made. Wisconsin's DNR Secretary's retiring this week and UW-River Falls has announced a new dean joining campus effective June 23rd.  Pam Jahnke updates all the state farm news. UW...

Interest rates have been scrutinized all year, especially the shorter-term loans that flash the largest hikes compared to years past. Darla Sikora joins Mid-West Farm Report to describe what's happening today with interest rates and agricultural spending. She sits on the Wisconsin Bankers Association Ag Bankers Board. And she’s the senior vice president of ag banking for Citizens State Bank of Loy...

Buck fever is hitting many in our state and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Governmental Relations Innovation and Engagement Strategist Karen Gefvert reminds farmers and hunters to know the rules about trespassing.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five years ago Beverly Hampton Pfeifer and her husband Coleman Pfeifer started a pretty unique business. Today Premier Animal Logistics hauls domestic and exotic animals across the United States. Beverly says despite growing up on a dairy, having exotic animals around was a way of life for her and launched her into their current hauling business. But hauling everything from giraffes to tigers take...

There's still some corn standing in Cooper Humphries territory.  He visits with Pam Jahnke about where things stand. Humphries is also very impressed with two Wyffels hybrids that are showing why the company stays focused on one product. Even with challenges like corn rootworm, Wyffels stands tall.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the benefits of grazing livestock? When will interest rates come back down? Will plant-based beverages win out over fluid milk? We cover it all on a Monday morning.  Extension Specialist Randy Jackson says Wisconsin is making an effort to increase grazing. Grassland 2.0 underscores the importance of grazing and grasslands to ensure clean water and a desirable landscape. They're working on...

UW-Madison grad student and researcher Kaylee Riesgraf says she finds value in the Dairy Innovation Hub because it connects the research to the farm. And the upcoming Dairy Summit is one of the ways anyone can see how the state's investment is making a difference in the industry. Riesgraf, who earned her undergrad at UW-River Falls, will be presenting her research at Wednesday's Summit in River Fa...

The Dairy Innovation Hub is at work for Wisconsin dairy producers – and the third annual Dairy Summit will prove it. The Dairy Innovation Hub will showcase its investments and research at the Nov. 16 Summit at UW-River Falls. This free, public event will be held in person on campus with live stream and on-demand options. Professor Steven Kelm is the Dairy Hub campus liaison at UW-River Falls. He t...

Supporting and recognizing farmers and agriculturists has always been a priority for Culver's. They strive to create programs that do just that while also benefiting FFA chapters which are the future of the agriculture industry. Alison Demmer, Public Relations Manager at Culver's, shares more about their new farmer appreciation program, To Farmers With Love. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

John Lucey, Director of Center for Dairy Research, speaks with Pam Jahnke about the innovations they're helping develop for dairy based products in the beverage aisle. Lucey says that dairy has a tremendous advantage over plant based beverages if people just look at the components involved.  He says while dairy offers natural components for things like protein, plant based beverages have to add it...

The "buy local" movement continues to find momentum in Wisconsin.  Jill Welke visits with the operator of the Caledonia Market outside of Portage.  This market has proved to be a connecting point between farmers that want to market, and consumers looking for farmers. With transportation still creating problems for movement of Wisconsin grain, Sen. Joan Ballweg points out possibilities on the Great...

Jeff Kratochwill crosses the state of Wisconsin working to connect under-served farmers and veterans, with available resources that can help restore some normal tempo to their lives. As Director of FARM & Vocational Services, Jeff hires, trains and supervises the Technical and Program Assistants, Rural Rehabilitation and SES Specialists, and HelpLine Coordinator.  The FARM Program recently rec...

From your farm to Antarctica - the tools being used to predict weather patterns are the same.  Carrie Mess visits with UW Meteorologist, Matt Lazzaro, about what trends they're noticing. The harvest might have slowed down due to weather, but interest in equipment is still red hot.  Ashley Huhn with the Steffes Group visits with Pam Jahnke about an upcoming consignment opportunity in Wisconsin, as...

With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza still popping up in Wisconsin, bird owners are still nervous about their birds being infected.  Pam Jahnke talks to Bill McFarlane from McFarlane's Pheasants in Janesville.  They're the largest pheasant producer in North America and all their birds are outside.  Bill McFarlane says he's still nervous about what could happen. Steve Quade, DSM with Wyffels Hybr...

There are currently three important grant programs that open to different factions of Wisconsin agriculture and agribusiness. Sen. Joan Ballweg, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committe, says that dairy processors, agribusinesses working on breaking into the international market and private citizens and business owners with rural wells should all be checking these resources.   See omnystudio.com/l...

The third annual Dairy Innovation Hub Summit is headed to UW-River Falls mid-November.  Mitch Breunig, dairy farmer and chair of the Dairy Innovation Hub board, talks with Pam Jahnke about summit highlights. With the changing weather, more and more Wisconsinites start thinking about gun deer season.  Charitee Seebecker talks to Zach Haas, Creek Bottom Land Management, about the types of hunting st...