MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

As the harvest continues in Wisconsin, more and more data's being collected on hybrid performances. Steve Quade, District Sales Manager with Wyffels Hybrids , has been very pleased with the side by side results they've pulled so far. He chats with Pam Jahnke about harvest conditions and some of the best performers, so far, from the field. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s economy has created some challenges to expanding broadband, but more projects will soon be underway. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has awarded nearly $125 million to 71 projects statewide in 2022. The most recent round of broadband expansion grants was announced this summer. Bug Tussel Wireless is getting more than $20 million for 11 broadband projects across 11 counties. Chie...

The diesel supply chain is getting tight – and agriculture is feeling the sticker shock as harvest continues this month. Diesel is expensive due to high demand and lesser supply. Jason Schwantz is the senior vice president of refined fuels at CHS. He shares more about where diesel prices are going, but first explains why supply is so tight today.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

A first of its kind program, the Humane Handling Institute, will provide comprehensive hands-on training for current meat industry workers in humane pre-slaughter handling, transport, stunning, and equipment maintenance. Kurt Vogel, Humane Handling Institute Director, shares more about what the institute is, why it is needed, and how to be involved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Today we’re looking at what’s happening in the food supply chain between the farm and the grocery store. Ryan Dietz is the president and co-owner of Heartland Produce. They distribute produce to grocers and processors in the Upper Midwest – about half of their business is in Wisconsin. The food comes from all over the world right to their facility in Kenosha. He says the trucking strains have ease...

Both the state and federal governments are putting money into the meat processing supply chain through education programs and expansion grants. Justin Corman is the general manager of Wilson Farm Meats in Elkhorn. He tells Mid-West Farm Report he’s looking forward to the high school meat science curriculum to be offered statewide this spring to boost the next generation of workers. Wilson Farm Mea...

The ag world moves fast and keeping up to date with what’s going on can be tough. Hannah Thompson Weeman is the President and CEO of Animal Ag Alliance, a group formed to help farmers and processors in the world of animal ag. She’s going to catch us up on what’s going on with some key court cases and what we need to keep in mind when it comes to anti animal ag activists.  See omnystudio.com/listen...

With deer season already begun for bow hunters and gun season coming up at the end of the month, it’s important to make sure you are prepared and safe.  Zach Haas of Creek Bottom Land management, shares more about the types of hunting stands out there, what to think about when choosing one, and key safety practices to keep in mind this hunting season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

After 26 years farming, Paul Ehrhardt and Kay Jensen, will be exiting Wisconsin agriculture.  By design. They share their story of how this husband/wife team consciously focused on following their passion for agriculture and food, while also concentrating on their exit plan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As you would expect with a major life change - there's some grief.  Paul Ehrhardt and Kay Jensen are preparing for that, and the change of tempo their lives will be going through. They visit with Pam Jahnke and talk about what's next, and why they're preparing to press "pause" when it comes to deciding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmer Paul Ehrhardt will be the first to admit that transitioning out of agriculture is still a little uncomfortable, although it's been the plan for decades. Paul and Kay share the story and tactics they employed to plan for how they would exit production agriculture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re a Wisconsin meat processor, you have a lot of opportunities coming your way in 2023 between staff certification, training, and employee recruitment. Partnerships between the state, industry, and schools and colleges have led to several programs to be aware of in 2023. The next HACCP training is March 1-2, and it comes with a tuition reimbursement opportunity. The Meat Processing School i...

It's one of the prettiest processes happening in Wisconsin - the cranberry harvest.  Charitee Seebecker wades into a marsh with Nodji VanWeychen of Weatherby's Cranberries, to talk about this year's harvest. Agrability of Wisconsin's board of directors is meeting today in Arlington.  The association received 3 grants from USDA to reach out with services to farmers facing physical challenges trying...

The Meat Talent Development Program aims to help students learn about meat careers, provide financial support for meat processing training programs, and help connect meat processors with potential employees. Betsy Leonard, Education Director of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and STEM for the Wisconsin Technical College System, shares more about the program and work being done to support it within...

We're checking in with Farmers Grain & Feed's Allenton feed mill now a year after its grand opening. General manager Glenn Schellinger says it's been a difficult year navigating supply chain and labor problems. The facility was built to do 400 percent more than its old location with the same amount of employees, and Schellinger is grateful for the feed mill's good team of staff. A unique compo...

A record breaking crowd at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis proved that young people are very interested in a future involving agriculture, food, environmental sciences and more.  But who's going to teach these excited young people?  That's the question posed by Jill Welke to Scott Stump, CEO of the National FFA Association.  He addresses funding, teacher shortages, and how to come up w...

On this edition of Rural Mutual's Round Table , the focus is on the Farm Neighbors Care campaign.  Pam Jahnke visits with Kevin Krentz, dairy farmer and president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation - along with Cassie Sonnentag, Director of Media Relations and Outreach with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. Krentz discusses the many ways that the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation engages w...

Being a caregiver can be a stressful business.  Helen Marks Dicks, Associate State Director State Advocacy for AARP Wisconsin focuses on resources that are available for anyone in Wisconsin that's been called upon to be a caregiver. No matter where you are in your caregiving journey — starting to plan; taking care of a family member in your home, in a facility, or from a distance; or managing end-...

You may be familiar with the Oil-Dri brand – a company that makes absorbent products, such as ones that soak up oil spills. What you may not be as familiar with is its subsidiary company called Amlan, newer to the U.S. market. Marc Herpfer is the vice president of new technologies for the companies. Instead of absorbing up oil spills, Amlan sells mineral products for animal feeds to soak up unwant...

Andy Grebner was a little nervous when he was taking off his first test plot of 2022.  Why?  Because he was standing in bright orange hunting clothes during a snow event!  The good news is that weather has turned around, and Wisconsin farmers are seeing super results from Wyffels . Grebner highlights some of the top performers he's seen, and also updates growers on how Wyffels hybrids have respond...

Mild weather may be spoiling Wisconsinites with easy travel now - but we all know that's going to change.  Anyone driving anything needs to make sure their tires are ready for the elements, but what about tire supply?  Stephanie Hoff talks to Kevin Rohlwing from the Tire Industry Association about supply chain issues that could impact agriculture specifically. They've got more than 120 scheduled a...

Does it seem like you're noticing a lot of insects in your house?  You're not alone.  PJ Leisch, UW-Entomologist, speaks with Charitee Seebecker about the likely intruders and what you can do to keep them out. Wisconsin's got a winner at the 95th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.  Ethan Meissner from the Marshfield FFA won the National FFA Proficiency award in Agricultural Processing.  His...

Consensus - that's what the dairy industry needs to find if reforming federal milk orders has any chance of happening.  Bob Bosold visits with Jeff Sleeper from the National Milk Producers Federation about meetings that have been organized to work on finding consensus. Over the weekend Russia announced that they were stopping movement of grain/fertilizer crossing the Black Sea.  That's sent commod...

At 91 years young, you wouldn't blame John Oncken for retiring and taking it easy. But John isn't quite ready to hang up his columnist hat just yet. The life long agriculturalist has had many roles over the years but since 1990 has been a columnist sharing stories from Wisconsin agriculture. He joins us to share some reflections on his time in the industry.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Cranberry harvest is finishing up and while you may see the fruit floating on water, it does not actually grow in water. Cranberries grow on a vine and the water you see is just a part of the harvest process. Nodji Van Wychen, President of Wetherby Cranberry Company, explains more about harvesting cranberries but first we talk about her role on the marsh and how they got started. See omnystudio.co...