MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

A comprehensive plan for the family farm is critical to its sustainability, particularly in turbulent economic times. Families must navigate estate taxation, costs of long-term care and treating successors with fairness. Attorney Dan Purtell with Wilson Law Group says it's critical that every family has a clear plan as to what to do and how to protect assets when it's time for life's changes. See...

What do over a 1,000 eggs, 15,000 pancakes and 150 gallons of ice cream have in common? A farm breakfast. The 2022 Dane County Breakfast on the Farm is Saturday, June 11 from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Haag Dairy in Dane. John Haag shares the details you need to know to put breakfast on the calendar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Bosold brings us an update with Dr. Chris Nicholson, new staff member in the UW-Dairy Science Dept. in Madison.  One project that continues to build cooperation in dairy policy is the Dairy Together initiative.  Hosted in part by the WI Farmers Union, in cooperation with WI Farm Bureau, the program is trying to work on revising dairy pricing policies.  Nicholson explains the pro...

Farmers face all kinds of challenges when it comes to spring planting - usually weather related.  Some farmers have additional challenges due to physical disabilities.  Jill Welke talks to Brian Luck, UW-Extension Ag Engineer and Jeff Kratchwill from Agrability, about how they work to help physically challenged farmers stay involved in the industry. The Green Bay Packers and potatoes?&nb...

While the clock is ticking on spring planting chores - paying attention to details is still critical. Andy Grebner, District Sales Manager with Wyffels Hybrids, says planting depth needs to be monitored from one field to the next, due to soil type and moisture content. Grebner also says growers shouldn't cut corners just because they're rushed - especially with fungicide plans.  Grebner says...

Former ag leaders under the Trump administration share insight with farm broadcasters on what’s next for global trade. Ted McKinney is the former USDA Under Secretary for Trade. And Gregg Doud is the former chief ag negotiator under the U.S. Trade Representative. Both positions have yet to be filled by the Biden administration. Doud, now with Aimpoint Research, starts off the conversation by...

When agriculture questions what’s next in trade policy, the answer from the experts is "not much." Two positions that have yet to be filled under the Biden administration are the USDA Under Secretary for Trade, and the U.S. Trade Representative Chief Ag Negotiator. Ted McKinney and Gregg Doud held those positions during the Trump administration. The duo provided some insight into future ag p...

Are you looking to replace your fans or make them more efficient? Focus on Energy offers financial incentives for agribusinesses interested in upgrading to high-efficiency models. Gain greater operational flexibility by installing variable frequency drives on your ventilation systems to reduce fan energy usage by 36 percent. Pam Jahnke visits with Focus on Energy Advisor, Kevin Weiler in the Marsh...

It’s almost time for dairy days and fair season – and that means tractor pulls. The Wisconsin Tractor Pullers Association’s first event of the season is June 11. But president Kurt Afdahl says planning has been taking place since December. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A key priority for the American Farm Bureau Federation is the WOTUS rewrite. This stands for Waters of the United States. It’s a regulation that’s been back and forth over the past few decades. Courtney Briggs leads government affairs with Farm Bureau. She breaks down the status of WOTUS for Mid-West Farm Report. EPA is hosting regional roundtables primarily in the month of June. Brigg...

Four legged lawn mowers - that's essentially what they are.  A group of goats from Poynette now on the City of Madison payroll to help control invasive weeds.  Stephanie Hoff talks with Greg Haak about how he found the arrangement. Five Wisconsin meat processors shared the available $200,000 in grant monies available through the WI Dept. of Ag - but it's just a drop in the bucket. ...

Staff shortages, and a growing, complex problem.  That's what's happening with cybersecurity and agriculture.  Pam Jahnke talks with Michael Domke, Bureau Director of Consumer Protection and the WI Dept. of Ag., Trade and Consumer Protection.  This threat category keeps growing but protecting yourself and your business can be difficult.  Finding recourse after a "break" can be...

Nick Levendofsky is the Government Relations Director with the WI Farmers Union.  On May 3rd, they're hosting a webinar to have open dialog about Wisconsin agriculture's dependence on immigrant labor.  It will featuring a documentary titled "Los Lecheros". We've been following a story about a dairy farm in Wisconsin that essentially had their Facebook identity stolen.  Golden E dair...

Call volumes continue to grow at the Wisconsin Farm Center within the WI Dept. of Ag., Trade and Consumer Protection. Stephanie Hoff talks with Dan Bauer, Program Coordinator, about call trends and services they're providing. Bob Bosold talks with Tom Overby of Alcivia Coop about the environmental oversight that has to take place at all their facilities.  It's the Alcivia Coop Talk program fo...

Wisconsin cranberry researchers are trying to squeeze every minute out of communication with growers before they get busy.  Jill Welke visits with UW-Extension Fruit Specialist, Alison Jonjak, about how she disseminates all the information. Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group updates Pam Jahnke on the diversity of auctions they've got coming up.  Pam gives a spring planting update for Wis...

Chippewa Valley Bean has gotten creative about how and where they access the international marketplace to serve their customers.  Bob Bosold visits with Cindy Brown and Tom Quak from Chip. Valley Bean about their strategy. Two more counties have tested positive for HPAI, and Wisconsin corn growers are pleased to see expanded options for ethanol based fuel. Stephanie Hoff shares a story about...

Cranberry producers have invested a lot of their money into research.  Tom Lochner, Exec. Director of the WI Cranberry Growers, talks with Jill Welke about their expectations going forward. Dave Rolli from Wyffels Seed encourages farmers to remain patient with spring planting goals.  He says inputs are too expensive to make mistakes.  He's a guest during the Wyffels Wednesday planti...

It's easier said than done in some instances, but being patient and waiting for weather to allow for successful planting will be critical this year. Dave Rolli, Regional Manager for Wyffels, says that it's not just farmers that are anxious to get started!  Wyffels corn researchers would love to get going too!  Rollie explains some of the new trends that they're focusing on, and explains...

Crisis management strategies come in all different forms, and after the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and forced processing facilities to shut down, many pork producers were left with nowhere to ship their pigs.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin banks are sitting on a lot of liquidity right now, according to Tim Schneider, who leads the ag division at Nicolet Bank. Since banks have to put that money to work, they are ready to lend. When looking at risk, Schneider says the uncertainty between commodity markets and input costs does play a role. He says a well laid out business plan makes it easier for lenders. This means locking i...

What do spa bathrooms, table salt and mineral blocks all have in common? They can all be made of the same ingredient: Himalayan pink salt. Clayton Shimetz is the general manager of Miracle Salt Collective based in southeastern Wisconsin. The company's salt product reaches markets in health, décor and food, but agriculture is their largest customer base. The salt blocks act as a mineral and...

Folks both new and familiar with horses have a lot to think about in spring when it comes to the health of their four-legged companions. These cool, wet conditions late in the spring can be a problem for foals, explains Margaret Bojko, a veterinarian at the Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital. She says the high sugar content in greening grass this time of year can be a problem for older horses, c...

Clean energy provider EnTech Solutions and renewable gas producer Northern Biogas have cut the ribbon on a repurposed, anaerobic biodigester facility. The manure digesters in Middleton formerly produced electricity. With support from Dane County, the three digesters now produce RNG using manure from four area dairies. EnTech President Scott Romenesko shares more. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

While it’s not football season, true Green Bay Packers fans are thinking about their team all year long. And a select few lucky fans get to celebrate the Packers in a way that’s uniquely agriculture -- potato chips made from potatoes grown in Lambeau Field soil. AJ Bussan, the director of agronomy and quality at Wysocki Family of Companies, has laid eyes on a green bag of Lay's Golden...

Wysocki Family of Companies is about 30 percent of the way through the potato planting season, which is roughly a week behind schedule, explains AJ Bussan, the director of agronomy and quality. Wysocki grows about 8,000 acres of potatoes. Bussan explains the soil needs to be cool for potato 'seeds' (which look like tubers at the store but are cut up). After planting is over, then they welcome warm...