MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

The current U.S. and global ag supply and demand situation is driven by many price-influencing factors. This includes weather, trade deals, viruses and technology. Iowa State University Ag Economist Chad Hart joins Mid-West Farm Report to explore those factors and share an outlook for the upcoming year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 30% of consumers said that during the pandemic they ate most of their meals at home, together - and that's a trend that's not quickly changing. Pam Jahnke visits with the CEO of Rhodes Bake-N-Serv, Ken Farnsworth, Jr.  The Rhodes company began at a time when consumers were just becoming acquainted with refrigeration!  Farnsworth says founders of the company were committed to creatin...

One of Wisconsin’s beloved restaurant chains is facing supply chain challenges just like many others in foodservice and agribusiness. Craig Culver shares what the Culver’s locations have been experiencing over the past few years, and how the business has been overcoming those hurdles.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demand is looking good for dairy products and the dairy margins are looking good for Wisconsin producers. But this is all subject to change, according to the experts. ever.ag principal Mike North tells the Mid-West Farm Report about how consumer demand plays a huge role in dairy’s strength, and how to protect yourself in case the good demand story changes. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

The dairy supply situation is tight, as put by Mike North, principal at ever.ag. The domestic issue that will be long supportive of the dairy market is milk production. The U.S. is down about 100,000 cows from a year ago. Herd sizes are slowly edging higher with milk prices looking as good as they are – May Class III milk trading at 24.68 as of 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 7. See omnystudio...

Julie Sweeney of FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative shares the key priorities that their Upper Midwest members are voicing at the table. High input costs remain No. 1. FarmFirst is looking at the costs of fertilizer and feed. The cooperative is supporting investments from the USDA to onshore and upscale fertilizer production. They are also pressing their members to lock in risk coverage. Members are supp...

Eric Snodgrass, the chief atmospheric scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions, is keeping his eye on two things: ocean temps in the Gulf of Alaska and the strength of this year's La Nina. This will determine how tight of a planting window we'll have in Wisconsin. It will also preview what drought conditions will look like this summer. In other news, our fellow dairymen and women out West are facing se...

Dr. James Heier is a veterinarian with Armor Animal Health. Spring weather is back and forth, so make sure you’re opening the windows when it’s warm and closing them when it’s cold. Bacteria love warm weather. He says to make sure you’re staying on top of your compliance plan — correct feed temps, etc. Keep your lambing, foaling, farrowing, calving and kidding areas c...

The Midwest Horse Fair returns after a two year absence. Pam Jahnke visits with their show general manager. Winter wheat ratings in Wisconsin didn't start off on the right foot.  61% of the winter wheat was rated good to excellent versus 77% in November.  Pam Jahnke talks with Dr. Shawn Conley, UW-Extension Wheat and Soybean Specialist.  Conley says he thinks the ratings were just q...

The Midwest Horse Fair is back in Dane County after two years absence.  Megan Hanaszczak, General Manager of the show, talks to Pam Jahnke about how quickly the industry responded to the opportunity, and how they always strive to keep education a focus of the fair. Auction action is hot and heavy these days for Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group.  He visits with Stephanie Hoff about high...

As the weather warms up and we get excited to start outdoor projects, take your time and recognize April as Diggers Safety Month. If you’re fencing, installing a mailbox, tilling a garden… think about the project before digging. Chad Krueger with Diggers Hotline joins us with tips, or rather, steps you must take before using that posthole digger. It's the law to call 811 before you di...

Feed ingredient prices can change daily in the global marketplace.  Jeff Nielsen is the Regional Sales Manager in Animal Nutrition for Alcivia. Nielsen says their entire team is united in trying to track global trends on feed ingredients and efficiently and effectively using Alcivia's buying power to provide livestock owners with the best product. Nielsen says they're connected to their commu...

Amber Radatz, former co-director of Discovery Farms, is still actively monitoring conservation projects in the state - but now as a UW-Extension staff member.  Bob Bosold talks with her about the transition and what's been the hot topic of conservation conversation for spring planting 2022. The Midwest Horse Fair is chugging its way to the Alliant Energy Center mid April after a two year hiat...

Metrogro is the treated, solid material collected as part of Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District's wastewater stream. Metrogro biosolids contain organic material and nutrients that are recycled to farmland as a valuable fertilizer -- free of charge to the farmer! Watershed Program Coordinator Kim Meyer and Communications Manager Amanda Wagner share more about the Metrogro program and what it ta...

A historic dairy processing facility in Paoli is under renovation to become a unique agricultural experience. Led by Nicolaas Mink and his wife Danika Laine, a group of entrepreneurs purchased the 21,000 square foot former dairy factory on seven acres of land along the Sugar River at 6858 Paoli Road, just south of Madison. They got approval to list the property on the State and National Register o...

Farming is a stressful occupation, especially lately. Jeff Ditzenberger, leads the group TUGS that focuses on mental health.  He shares that it is okay to talk about things with others and share your struggles. Farmers and agriculturists always work to tell the story of Wisconsin agriculture.  That is exactly what Wittenberg-Birnamwood senior and FFA member, Mary Lewandowski is doing wit...

In preparation for the selection of the 75th Alice in Dairyland, we’re giving you a chance to meet the candidates. The Alice in Dairyland Finals will be held May 19-21 in Dane County. The 75th Alice in Dairyland will begin her term on July 5. The Mid-West Farm Report sat down with the six top candidates after they were announced in March. One of the top candidates getting ready for the 75th...

Montana logger Bruce Vincent was a speaker at the latest PDPW Conference. He says farmers have to get out in front of consumers when it comes to their ideas on food. He speaks from his own experience as a logger, telling his story that he helps the forest and doesn't hurt it. What's the commonality between logging and farming? Responsible land management. Ag can share that story, too. Angie Larsen...

In preparation for the selection of the 75th Alice in Dairyland, we’re giving you a chance to meet the candidates. The Alice in Dairyland Finals will be held May 19-21 in Dane County. The 75th Alice in Dairyland will begin her term on July 5. The Mid-West Farm Report sat down with the six top candidates after they were announced earlier this month. One of the top candidates getting ready for...

Dr. Robert James delivers the calf care and nutrition information you need this spring in his conversation with Aaron Zimmerman. James is a professor emeritus in dairy science from Virginia Tech. Bob Bosold talks with Justin Travis for this week's ALCIVIA Co-op Talk. Travis is the agronomy accounts manager with ALCIVIA out of the Kings Valley facility. He shares how you should adjust your equipmen...

Pandemic related challenges like supply chain disruptions, high input costs, and the availability of fertilizer are not the only challenges Wisconsin fruit growers are facing this year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Animal activists have become more active over the past few years. Hannah Thompson-Weeman is the vice president of strategic engagement for Animal Agriculture Alliance. She tells Stephanie Hoff about the latest tactics employed by animal rights extremist organizations, including attempts to disrupt supply chains, pressure restaurant and retail brands, and pass legislation impacting animal ag. She a...

In preparation for the selection of the 75th Alice in Dairyland, we’re giving you a chance to meet the candidates. The Alice in Dairyland Finals will be held May 19-21 in Dane County. The 75th Alice in Dairyland will begin her term on July 5. The Mid-West Farm Report sat down with the six top candidates after they were announced earlier this month. One of the top candidates getting ready for...

Bob Bosold talks with Justin Travis for this week's ALCIVIA Co-op Talk. Travis is the agronomy accounts manager with ALCIVIA out of the Kings Valley facility. He shares how you should adjust your equipment now to make sure you have even planting, depth and emergence. Travis also touches on how to evaluate the strength of plant varieties. As soon as the seed is in the ground, you can start monitori...

In preparation for the selection of the 75th Alice in Dairyland, we’re giving you a chance to meet the candidates. The Alice in Dairyland Finals will be held May 19-21 in Dane County. The 75th Alice in Dairyland will begin her term on July 5. The Mid-West Farm Report sat down with the six top candidates after they were announced earlier this month. One of the top candidates getting ready for...