MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

An agricultural startup in Wisconsin is setting out to be a resource for farmers, gardeners, anyone putting a seed into the ground. SeedLinked is a search platform, marketplace and seed trail company changing the way large- and small-scale growers find horticultural crop seed. Users’ geolocated reviews detail seed performance and inform others of which variety might be most successful in a specifi...

While some may not think of beer as an agricultural product, it truly is. Brewers depend heavily on farmers for a consistent supply of grains and hops to ensure the production of quality beer.  Dan Carey, brewmaster with New Glarus Brewing Company, shares more on how things are going in the brewing industry and his relationship with farmers to get crops for production. See omnystudio.com/listener...

In a first for the 34-year-old Organic Valley, consumers will now be able to purchase online pre- and postnatal support smoothie mixes at its new online store: shop.organicvalley.com. The smoothie mixes, which come in chocolate or vanilla, are a new product from Organic Valley using the goodness of real milk and other added nutrients meant for new or expecting mothers. Innovation lead at OV Janie...

The grape harvest started this week in Waunakee on Drumlin Ridge's 4-acre vineyard. Dave doesn't grow enough of his 14 varieties to meet wine demand, so he also brings in grapes from Viroqua -- harvest has started there, too. He predicts a favorable crop. New this year? He planted 150 new vines that will make their way into production in about four years. Demand for his wine has been good as peopl...

What does it take to produce the best cheese in Wisconsin? Ask Beth Crave, director of quality at Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese in Waterloo. They took home the No. 1 trophy for their chocolate mascarpone at the Wisconsin State Fair's Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Contest. Chocolate cheese -- just one unique variety that cheesemakers across the state are proud to bring to consumers. Crave says it ta...

Wisconsin potato growers are moving up their harvest window a little bit to compensate for a smaller crop out of western states.  Stephanie Hoff explains with Tamas Houlihan, Exec. Dir. of the WI Potato and Vegetable Growers Association. There's a new insect that Wisconsin needs to keep an eye on.  Charitee Seebecker talks with PJ Leisch, UW-Extension Entomologist, about the spotted lanternfly.  I...

A new invasive insect is moving across the United States. It is only just a matter of time before it shows up in Wisconsin. Native to China, the spotted lanternfly was first found in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then it has been gradually entering other states.  PJ Liesch, the director of the UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab, also known as the Wisconsin Bug guy, shares more on what this fly is and...

Space at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine is very sought after according to Dean Mark Markel.  He talks with Pam Jahnke about how they select candidates for admittance to the school, and what trends the industry's witnessing as a group. Ashley Huhn with the Steffes Group visits with Pam Jahnke about inflation and its impact on auctions.  Huhn says farm equipment values remain high, but farm la...

Just like everything else, the price for your apple cider donut is going up this fall. But don't let that stop you from spending your money at a local agribusiness. Baked goods triple the business for an orchard or a farm market, according to Kate Farrell with Valley Bakers Cooperative. She works with more than 150 agribusinesses, getting them ready to serve baked goods during their busy season. S...

Wisconsin is looking for more food animal veterinarians. And one Wisconsin vet says the ag workforce will depend on youth programs, such as 4H and FFA, as the pipeline for those young professionals. Ralph Stowell is a veterinarian out of Waupun. In addition to sharing the story of the workforce shortage -- he says heat abatement is what's top of mind for farmers this time of year. Looking ahead to...

When we talk about adding value to your farm – Dave Muehl of Badger Farms in Cottage Grove has some advice. He says don’t waste that old barn on storage – turn it into something valuable. Badger Farms is a popular venue in the Madison area for any kind of lifetime event, from baptisms to weddings to memorial services. He shares more about how he transformed the old dairy barn into a profitable ent...

The harvest is just around the corner, but many implement dealers in Wisconsin have been busy all growing season trying to secure the parts and inventory they'll need to help keep farmers rolling.  Stephanie Hoff talks to Jeff Sloan from Sloan Implement about their master plan, and how things like port strikes impact the flow of goods. Charitee Seebecker visits with a Holmen agriculture instructor...

Just next door in Minnesota, farmers have the option of collecting cash if they DO NOT call the federal government to get rid of problematic wolves. The group paying private depredation dollars is called Howling for Wolves. And they just started this pilot program in early August. Dave Ladd speaks on behalf of the organization – he says money is the 'solution' to benefit both farmers and the wolf...

Helen Marks Dicks, Wisconsin AARP state issues advocacy director, discusses the available resources people can find by networking with ADRCs (Aging and Disability Resource Centers).  Each Wisconsin county has a center, but many people are unaware of all the assets available. Dicks says if you have questions about aging or living with a disability, your local aging and disability resource center (A...

Located on the Northwest side of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Vincent High School is home to over 700 students in a very unique agriculture based program. Gail Kraus, Agriculture Program Specialist shares more about this unique agriculture based school in urban Milwaukee. The school has big goals to build a new learning barn this year where they can continue to help students learn about agriculture in a h...

Conservation agriculture improves soil structure and protects the soil against erosion and nutrient losses by maintaining a permanent soil cover and minimizing soil disturbance. Farmers care about being good stewards of the land and implementing positive conservation practices. They attend events to learn more about the soil in their areas, cover crops, and environmental care. Dustin Ladd, Juneau...

UW-River Falls is going through some leadership changes.  Dean Dale Gallenberg, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, is retiring at the end of the year.  He talked with Bob Bosold on his accomplishments and what he sees down the road. Consumers probably don't realize how close they were to a potato shortage at the grocery store!  It still looms as an industry issue, but Wiscons...

Scaling up a food based business isn’t for the faint of heart. The University of WI’s food finance institute is getting ready to hold the Investing in the  Future of Food event where they will bring together representatives from food and farm businesses they have helped navigate the waters and those to want to learn more about their services. Sarah Larson, Acting Director of the Food Finance Insti...

While you’re driving through Wisconsin, you’re probably seeing a lot of corn and soybeans. But that is not all that’s growing. In fact, it doesn’t even scratch the surface. Wisconsin also has a strong specialty crop sector which includes what you may add to your pot roast or chicken soup -- carrots and onions. Gumz Muck Farms grows those specialty crops and more in Endeavor. Fourth-generation Rod...

Farm to School connects communities to our nation's farmers and ranchers through field trips to farms, taste tests of local and seasonal crops, local food purchasing and hands-on agricultural education. School districts value the agricultural education model of rigorous STEM based classroom and laboratory instruction, experiential learning and leadership development. Joelle Liddane, agriculture sc...

Christine Bender, a Watertown Dairy farmer joins us to talk about hosting one of the four 2022 Agriculture Community Engagement (ACE) Twilight Meetings at her family’s dairy farm. Christine shares that these events are meant to be a proactive approach to bring together community stakeholders and leaders to not only discuss farming but also to help educate the non farm public about agriculture. See...

About 15 percent of Wisconsin potatoes are out of the ground as the harvest continues. But growers are behind compared to years past. The latest report from USDA says the potato dig is 12 days behind last year and eight days behind the five-year average. Tamas Houlihan, the executive director of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, explains potato growers got off to a late start...

At Tag Lane Dairy in Ixonia, a variety of agribusinesses, farmer-led watershed groups and legislators took part in a field day and conversation surrounding water quality and soil health. What's the secret to sustainability? Farmer-led initiatives, such as cover crops, precision ag and strategic partnerships with non-ag groups, are changing the conversation around sustainability and farming.  See o...

Agriculture is known as one of the most dangerous industries in America. Every day, about 100 agricultural workers suffer a lost-time work injury. The agriculture industry is consistently at the highest risk for occupational injuries and fatalities, with the equivalent of 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers. Keith Bryan, technical service specialist at Christian Hansen, shares more on the work they do...

Although she's only been in Madison a short period of time, Dean Glenda Gillaspy likes what she sees! Pam Jahnke sat down for the first time to learn more about this Georgia native that's made her way to the College of Ag and Life Sciences.  Gillaspy says the composition of departments and programs in the college, along with a history and reputation of excellence, make CALS unique.  She's working...