MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

From breeds to fiber, artwork to stock dogs - the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival will offer you a chance to learn more about each!  They're also celebrating 20 years of hosting this industry-specific show at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Jefferson! Bob Black from Columbus has been involved with the festival since it started.  He says he's watched the industry ebb and flow in the state.  T...

4-H programs across Wisconsin have gone through some major changes since the pandemic.  Jill Welke visits with Heather Vierling, St. Croix County 4-H Agent, about how programs have changed and even the youth involved in 4-H have changed. Charitee Seebecker brings us an update on what the new school year is looking like for our state agriculture educators.  Sally Ladsten, Food and Natural Resources...

The Wisconsin Hereford Association's hosting a virtual farm tour Saturday to bring the industry together.  Pam Jahnke talks to Bruce Everhart, chair of the American Hereford Association board, about the breed and its popularity. Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group will be busy at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.  He's still taking bookings for fall auctions. The WI Beef Council has launched a...

School will be back in session soon. While kids are going through some big changes, so are the teachers. This is a nationwide crisis for filling empty agricultural education positions across school districts. However, the demand for agriculture teachers continues due to program growth, expansion, retirements and openings. School districts value the agricultural education model of rigorous STEM bas...

We all know that livestock need to eat, but how do you make sure you have enough feed for them while you're on the road? How do you keep animals comfortable on the road when traveling a lot? These are many questions of concern for rodeos all over. Jake Morehead with the Three Hills rodeo, shares more on how they take care of their livestock as they travel to different rodeos. See omnystudio.com/li...

Showing dairy cattle and judging them has changed over time. Things have changed and how you're preparing the animals, what the judges are looking for and sometimes it's hard to know where the trends are today. Kristen Metcalf, a dairy cattle judge from Rock County, shares more on how  she got started judging and what she looks for during showmanship versus the animal age classes. See omnystudio.c...

Wisconsin's welcoming a new Dean at the College Of Ag and Life Sciences.  Dean Glenda Gillaspy talks with Pam Jahnke about her background and what intrigued her about UW-Madison CALS.  She also shares her pet projects with plants, and what she'll initially be targeting as far as projects for the campus. The Pro Farmer Crop Tour has begun, providing "boots on the ground" perspective for the market....

Schedules are about to be disrupted with the beginning of a new school year!  Heidi VanValkenberg with Rhodes Bake N Serv has some fun, creative ways to keep kids full and entertained with their busy schedules. From simple "hot sliders" to breakfast hot pockets - the Rhodes crew has taken all the guesswork out of meal planning. Give a listen to all the unique spins you can put on any of the Rhodes...

The Mauston School District will be getting exciting new additions this year to their Agriculture and Tech Ed Departments. This fall, they will be opening their new aquaponics area, greenhouse, meat technology area, manufacturing center and welding area. Beth Babcock, the Mauston School District agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, shares more on these new improvements and the impact it will have...

When you buy that carton of eggs, you probably check to make sure there aren't any broken - but in reality there's a lot more inspecting that goes on before you get those eggs.  Jill Welke talks to USDA egg inspector, Ed Balinksi, about how he makes sure you get a good egg. Wisconsin's been fairly fortunate with weather this growing season, but many farmers protect against risk with irrigation.  D...

Nathan Retzlaff tells the story of his family's sesquicentennial farm in Shawano County. The farm was acquired in 1863. The original barn burned down; the new one was built in 1890 and is the same barn they have today.  The original farm was and continues to be a dairy operation since Nathan took over the farm in 2013. He has put up a new freestall barn, parlor, and expanded his herd to about 500...

Farming is considered one the most dangerous occupations a person can have.  Exact numbers on how dangerous it is are hard to come by however.  Charitee Seebecker talks to Scott Heiberger, Communications Specialist with the National Farm Medicine Center in Marshfield, about a new effort to collect data on farm injuries and related deaths. Ashley Huhn with the Steffes Group joins Pam Jahnke to talk...

Matti Wafle, a last year exhibitor at the Juneau County Fair from Lyndon Station, has been exhibiting sheep and horses for 10 years. This is her last year showing as a junior member however she does not plan to go far. She shares more about what her time as an exhibitor has meant to her and her future plans to stay involved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once that school bell rings, everybody's schedule revolves around classes, sports, extra curricular and where someone's got to be. Mike Farnsworth, Director of Sales and Marketing for Rhodes Bake-N-Serv , talks about how the company focuses on its purpose in improving people's lives over the dinner table.  He also shares stories of growing up in the bakery business, and how that feeling of comfort...

It's getting to be that time of the year!  All the great fruits and vegetables people have grown need to be processed for safe storage.  Stephanie Hoff talks to Heather Quackenboss, LaCrosse Co Extension Agent, about what to be aware of when canning/preserving - and what to look for when buying supplies. Wendy Meyers with Alcivia Coop talks to Pam Jahnke about financing options available through t...

Not only is a good variety of foods important, but a good variety of where the food comes from. With the severe drought in California, UW-Madison Prof. Bill Tracy says the food chain should not rely on just one region for the majority of produce. That's why interest is growing among foodies, farmers, and researchers to develop seeds with traits conducive to Wisconsin. Other traits include: easy to...

Wisconsin hemp production keeps innovating in the state.  It's more than just CBD oil.  Pam Jahnke visits with Carl Duley, Buffalo Co Ag Agent, about field days scheduled focusing on hemp.  Duley says they're trying to get answers on seeding rates, fertility needs, as well as products that can use hemp. Sen. Joan Ballweg from Markesan updates Pam Jahnke on some budget movements at the state house....

On Friday, the application period closes for the Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Resiliency Grants. In the first round of these grants, DATCP got 100 applications requesting more than $4.4 million in funding. Because of the high demand, the state created the Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Resiliency Grants -- up to $10 million in ARPA funds to continue to grow Wisconsin's meat processing industry and...

Earlier this year, Master Cheesemaker Steve Stettler of Decatur Dairy was accepting first place for his curds at the World Cheese Contest. Fast forward to this week, he's beaming with pride once again as Decatur Dairy and Decatur Swiss Cheese Cooperative break ground on an expansion of their plant in Brodhead. Stettler tells Mid-West Farm Report the current plant is bursting at the seams meeting c...

Fudge is a pleasing dessert, gift, party food, and delicious snack. Fudge comes in many flavors other than chocolate. There’s peanut butter, rocky road, caramel, maple, and so many more. Whatever your favorite flavor, there’s likely a fudge for you to enjoy. What really makes these flavors special is when they use Wisconsin ingredients to make them.  Linda Schulte, owner of Valley Fudge and Candy...

Sloan Implement President Jeff Sloan joins Mid-West Farm Report to talk about what's happening at the dealership ahead of the harvest. He says it's the service department's busiest month -- getting combines through the shop, assembling new machines, inspecting customer machines, and selling used equipment. He says repair technicians had a break over the summer and are ready to be back full bore fo...

Clair Retzlaff and his son Dennis tell the story of their family's century farm in Winnebago County. Clair will turn 92 this September. Around the 50s he started farming and farmed up until 4 years ago. The farm was a dairy operation until 2001 when Clair had a heart attack. That didn’t stop him and since then he and Dennis have transitioned to cash copping. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Peggy and Mickey James tell the story of their family's century farm in Iowa County. The farm was acquired in 1915 when Mickey's great grandpa rented the farm before he bought the first 40 acres in 1920. He then added another 120 acres in 1926. They were known for having Milking Shorthorns that people would come from all over to buy for showing. Today they are working on updating the farmstead, re...

Staci Pope Hansen tells the story of her family's century farm in Rock County. The farm was acquired in 1922, when Staci's great great grandparents purchased the original 32 acres. The farm is nicknamed the darling farm due to its size and everything on the farm being petite. It holds a special place in the family’s heart as Staci’s dad was drafted and injured in war. After months of rehab, the fi...

Matt Immel tells the story of his family's 80-acre century farm in Fond du Lac County. Matt’s grandpa George, was really looking forward to the 100 year milestone but unfortunately passed due to covid. They were one of the first family farms to settle in Fond du Lac. Today they have 73 acres that they rent out to a local dairy farmer. The original barn is still standing with an American and navy f...