MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

The 93rd Wisconsin State FFA Convention unfolds at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison June 13-16.  Ben Styer, current president of the Wisconsin FFA Officer Team says they can tell the excitement from members is building. Styer says that many of the "usual" elements of the convention will remain intact, their Day of Service will do some adjusting.   See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Wisconsin has two new detections of avian influenza in the domestic bird population.  Dunn and Marinette counties are the latest with domestic backyard flocks that tested positive.  This influenza is causing major problems with our wild bird population too.  Stephanie Hoff talks to Lindsey Long with the WI Dept. of Natural Resources about how they're tracking the impact there. Wyffe...

During spring planting, almost all resources available through Alcivia Cooperative locations are moving.  Keeping track of where those resources are, and how they're deployed is not an easy feat. Rodney Balvitsch is the chief operating officer of Alcivia, and he's having regular conversations about where those resources are - and where they need to go! He visits with Pam Jahnke about how Alic...

Ed Bures from Bures Berry Patch in Barneveld had some anxious moments early this year.  Cool, wet weather wasn't looking very friendly to any of the crops that he and his wife, Kathy, look forward to offering their customers. Bures said asparagus - normally one of the first "spring" crops they can harvest - was fighting the cool, wet weather by staying in the ground - but that all changed wit...

Suddenly Wisconsin neighborhoods are alive with activity.  Lawn mowers, fertilizers, even some watering. Doug Soldat, UW-Extension Turf Specialist, goes through a couple pointers on lawn establishment and maintenance.  From fertilizing to cutting height - here's what you need to know. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April didn't provide us many heat units, but within the last 10 days we've sure made up for that! Steve Quade, District Sales Manager with Wyffels Hybrids updates us on field conditions and what growers need to monitor next for crop success. He also reminds folks about the upcoming Rock County Dairy Breakfast on Saturday, June 4th near Milton! Connect with your local Wyffels Team Member . See omny...

Lawn mowers are buzzing across Wisconsin, but as lawn owners work their strategy for lush, green yards - what should they know?  Pam Jahnke talks with UW-Extension Turf Specialist, Dr. Doug Soldat about strategy. Ashley Huhn with the Steffes Group joins Pam with a weekly auction update and Stephanie Hoff introduces us to another Alice in Dairyland finalist - Courtney Moser. John Hineberg, mar...

The first meeting of the newly formed WI Ag Export Council has met.  Bob Bosold catches up with WI Ag Secretary, Randy Romanski, to talk about how the first meeting went and what he sees in its future. Stephanie Hoff brings another update on a finalist for the position of Alice in Dairyland.  We meet Amelia Hayden. Kaitlyn Riley, former Alice in Dairyland is now a volunteer in Dane Count...

Dane County is wrapping up plans to host the 75th Alice in Dairyland Finale experience on Saturday, May 21st in Madison. Kaitlyn Riley, former Alice and a volunteer on the Dane County committee, says that time's running out to secure tickets for both a Friday impromptu question/answer session with the 6 candidates, and for the finale banquet on Saturday evening where the new Alice will be revealed...

The rapidly changing weather patterns Wisconsin farmers have been working with is causing concern with weed control. Dr. Rodrigo Werle, UW-Extension Weed Specialist, says that high winds have made safely applying herbicides a challenge.  Werle's concern is that any "misses" in fields this spring will turn into real problems this summer.  Supply chain issues mean that rescue treatments fo...

As the weather heats up, people's attention is focused on re-engaging in fun summer activities like dairy breakfasts, county fairs and field days.  Stephanie Hoff talks with Kurt Afdahl, president of the Wisconsin Tractor Puller Association, about their summer itinerary.  He says that during the pandemic they saw an increase in membership and are planning for big crowds this year. We're...

Bob Uphoff is a hog farmer just 2 miles south of the Madison Beltline implementing farmland preservation and conservation through strategic partnerships. He says Yahara Pride Farms and other farmer-led conservation groups are what Wisconsin needs to make meaningful changes to the environment. He also shares more about his hog farm, mentioning his premium hogs took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemi...

Seg #4 - Heidi joins Pam Jahnke back in the kitchen to finish baking up some breakfast with cinnamon roll french toast bake and cinnamon roll apple pie. And don't forget the Rhodes Bake-N-Serv rolls for Sunday dinner!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seg #3-Theresa couldn't imagine working anywhere else! Rhodes Bake-N-Serv is a place where you can grow your career and your voice is heard. As technology changes, so do the opportunities for employees and people truly do love working here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seg #2 - 54 years! That is how long Joel has been employeed at Rhodes Bake-N-Serv. Joel is the project manager and started with the Rhodes family when he was 16 cutting breads. He loves how they treat their employees like family and its's a place where everyone knows your name.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seg #1 - Join us in the kitchen this morning with Pam Jahnke and Heidi! They will be baking cinnamon roll waffles today and scones, ready in just minutes. The best part? It let's you be the star of the show and claim all the credit for these delicious products.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Terry Quam, an owner of Marda Angus Farm, says that consumers have taken ahold of beef as their lead protein, which allowed it to move through the grocery and restaurant chains even when supply was limited through the pandemic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labor shortages have affected industries from farming to trucking, and have caused the prices of restaurant necessities to rise. Facing labor shortages of their own, restaurants have been forced to hike up their prices, and some have had to permanently close their doors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To kick off the start of May beef month, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) partnered with the Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association and the Wisconsin Beef Council to host a roundtable discussion with industry professionals and elected officials. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eleven Wisconsin counties are facing bird flu, and DATCP just released an order stopping the movement of birds to live shows, exhibits and swaps. But how does the state tackle avian influenza in the wild? DNR Vet Lindsey Long says predatory birds like eagles, hawks and owls are impacted by this particular strain, the same for waterfowl. This is in stark contrast to the one bird flu mortality in th...

Wisconsin rural hospitals, clinics and nursing homes all struggled during the pandemic and continue to battle today.  Pam Jahnke talks to Tim Size, executive director of the Wisconsin Rural Health Cooperative.  He says it will require a "Marshall Plan" type effort to recruit the amount of trained staff rural communities need in health care. Alcivia Coop Talk focuses on continued supply c...

Heat, wind and thunderstorms, all severe weather we see in Wisconsin over the summer. And all can impact your electric grid on the farm. Jeff Mahlkuch is a project manager at A-1 Electric in Monroe. He suggests you make sure your standby generator is not only working, but can handle the electric load on your operation. If the power does go out -- don't try to run the entire farm at once. He says m...

It's been a back and forth conversation since it began.  Oversight of Waters of the United States - WOTUS for short.  Stephanie Hoff says there's still no final resolution and that's upsetting the American Farm Bureau and its members. Wisconsin farmers have finally gotten a chance to start planting.  Pam Jahnke talks to District Sales Manager, Andy Grebner from Wyffels Hybrids about...

Rural Mutual Insurance Company and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation are proud to contribute to the Food + Farm Exploration Center, which broke ground April 29 in Plover. The center’s mission is to shorten the distance between the general public and the food they eat. WFBF President Kevin Krentz shares with Mid-West Farm Report why the organizations got involved in the project. Farming for th...

DNR Wildfire Prevention Specialist Catherine Koele says most wildfires are happening between 3-5 p.m. and almost all of those fires are human-caused. The second-leading cause of wildfires is equipment sparks. She recommends knocking out fieldwork in the mornings and evenings to avoid the hottest part of the day. While that's not always possible, she stresses the importance of having a fire extingu...