MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Labor shortages, transportation glitches - it's all impacting day-to-day business operations at Chippewa Valley Bean.  Jill Welke visits with Tracy Qwark at Chippewa Valley Bean about ways they've adjusted to keep business rolling. More farmers are looking for operating credit this year due to high input costs.  Pam Jahnke visits with Hans Pfleiger, VP of Credit Operations for Alcivia ab...

Congratulations are in order for Steve Stettler of Decatur Dairy in Brodhead for getting gold in the World Championship Cheese Contest unflavored cheese curd class. This is the first year the international contest had a cheese curd class. And Stettler is the first Master Cheese Curd Maker. The World Championship Cheese Contest, hosted biennially by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association since 195...

The Farm and Industry Short Course is undergoing drastic changes come next term. It will move from a 16-week accredited college experience to multiple, nonaccredited lessons. The new program will also be hybrid, offering both hands-on education as well as virtual components. The news comes as FISC has seen declining enrollment over the past decade and financial hardship.   Roughly half o...

The sudden warm up that has impacted some of Wisconsin has made bodies of ice less stable or safe.  That's the concern voiced by Jake Holsclaw, DNR Warden in northwest Wisconsin. Holsclaw tells Pam Jahnke that even in his area, where snow recently fell - the warm up has put ice in a precarious position.  He says that almost all ice shanties will have to be removed from the ice starting t...

For anyone, farmers included, that are considering a building project this spring - decide fairly quickly.  That's the advice of Sean Cleary, President of Cleary Buildings Cleary says that they continue to face supply chain issues, and like many other businesses - are always recruiting.  While some building products like steel and lumber, may be more readily available, the price has gone...

Wisconsin's got a new state director of the Farm Service Agency offices.  Gene Schrieffer is a farmer and former UW-Extension Ag Agent taking the reins.  Pam Jahnke visits with him about current agency priorities. Dairy cattle sales are popping up around Wisconsin with the Steffes Auction group.  Randy Cath with Steffes Auction gives Pam Jahnke the rundown on some of the genetics th...

Strategic planning on the future of the Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC) has been happening for about the last two years.  Those comments from Doug Reinemann, CALS Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach.  In a conversation with Pam Jahnke, Reinemann explained the recent announcement that FISC will be moving from credited programming and on-campus residential experiences to non-cr...

Big changes coming to the Farm and Industry Short Course(FISC), beginning almost immediately.  On Tuesday the UW–Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) announced that FISC will switch from a for-credit, on-campus residential experience lasting 16 weeks, to a more flexible, non-credit format better able to meet the constantly changing needs of Wisconsin’s...

U.S. Meat Export Council economist Erin Borrer says Russia and Ukraine are fairly isolated in the meat trade. No real direct impact for North America. In terms of ASF, it's too early to tell how biosecurity will be implicated. Borrer's eyes are fixed on feed and other input costs as the Russia/Ukraine region is top in wheat, corn, barley, fuel and fertilizer. She says Midwestern pork producers are...

All eyes are on how an already disrupted supply chain will be further impacted by what’s happening between Russia, Ukraine and the rest of the world. Fertilizer is a big part of that conversation in the agriculture sector. Gaji Balakaneshan is the COO of Midwestern BioAg. He says the Russia, Belarus and Ukraine region is a huge player in ag from crops to fertilizer production. After the inva...

Truckers have been in the headlines lately - especially in Canada where their protesting drew world attention.  Aaron Zimmerman talks to Jerry Klabaka from Diesel Truck Driving School in Sun Prairie about their student body, driver demand, and what people don't think about regarding the profession. March is the target month when the National Weather Service asks citizens to get involved as ra...

With the rise in input costs forcing many growers to push their pencils even farther, knowing that your cooperative is ready to address your needs is critical.  Pam Jahnke talks to Hans Pflieger, Vice President of Credit Operations at Alcivia about the flow of paperwork he's been handling, and also the new opportunity available through a Patron Note. Operating loans or a patron note - you can...

We enter March with the 13th Annual Upper Midwest Hazelnut Growers Conference. Are you registered? On Friday, growers and those interested in the hazelnut industry get together in La Crosse. Walk-ins are welcome! Register here: http://www.midwesthazelnuts.org/hazelconf22.html UW Extension Specialist Jason Fischbach says the hazelnut industry is emerging in Wisconsin and it's poised for success. Ov...

1. Why is it important to talk about Social Security? 2. What are the top questions people ask about Social Security? Answer: When is the best time to retire and how much will my benefits be? 3. Let’s dive into each of those. What is the best time to start taking your Social Security benefits? 4. And what about benefits? How can you figure out how much you’ll get in Social Security? 5....

Fires during the winter are particularly challenging for the people that suffer the loss, and the firefighters that battle the flames.  Stephanie Hoff talks about trouble spots with Pittsville Fire Chief, Jerry Minor. The world is keeping an eye on the Russian/Ukraine situation - and it could have negative impacts on Wisconsin agriculture.  Aaron Zimmerman talks to Jason Linville of Ston...

UW-Madison, together with more than 15 partners across the region, launched the Midwest Climate Collaborative at a virtual gathering on Jan. 28. The MCC is a network of organizations committed to accelerating climate action in the Midwest by leveraging science and research, shaping public understanding and policy, advancing climate solutions, and developing future leaders. Director Heather Navarro...

Like many businesses, Wisconsin’s agricultural tourism destinations have been impacted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, hindering opportunities to teach consumers about Wisconsin Agriculture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on the Russia-Ukraine unrest. Neal Kemmet of Ace Ethanol and Fox River Valley Ethanol is also keeping watch on the situation. He says the market built uncertainty with its volatility throughout the whole month. Uncertainty continues as the "war" unfolds and Kemmet is focused on mitigating risk. Fortunately, the ethanol industry doesn't export to the Russian region. And he says the san...

If you already keep your eye on the rain gauge, it might be worth it to start submitting your weather report to the National Weather Service. Sarah Marquardt is a service hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Milwaukee. She observes and forecasts rain with the goal of keeping people safe from hazardous weather. And she’s calling on Wisconsinites to sign up to be a weather observer...

The Russian and Ukraine conflict is most definitely having effects of agriculture even here in the United States.  Farm assistant, Aaron Zimmerman catches up with Josh Linville, Director of Fertilizer for StoneX to chat about what is happening with fertilizer globally right now due to the current situation.  Prior to this conflict there were already issues arising in the world fertilizer...

Markets were very active in overnight trade this morning after news of a Russian attack on Ukraine. Some are calling it the darkest hours since World War 2.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fish farming industry in Wisconsin is looking to grow, and the Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility is designed to help that effort. NADF is a field station of the UW System. UW-Stevens Point Prof. Chris Hartleb is the director. Located in Bayfield, the facility's mission is to promote public education and advance the discovery, dissemination and application of knowledge for sustainable...

Whether you’re moving back home or to the country for a change in scenery, more and more families are returning to their roots in rural areas.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bird owners are being cautioned about avian influenza cases that are increasing along the eastern seaboard all the way to Indiana and Missouri.  Dr. Darlene Konkle, DATCP State Veterinarian, talks with Pam Jahnke about the latest findings. It's been a major topic of conversations all winter - the weather.  Dennis Todey, director of the Midwest Climate Hub, is monitoring it all.  Wis...

We continue celebrating National FFA Week.  Jill Welke visits with WI State FFA President, Ben Styer from Menomonie.  The pandemic presented some real challenges for the association.  He also says they'll continue to use some of the options they employed during the pandemic moving forward. Ashley Huhn with the Steffes Group joins Pam Jahnke with the latest rundown on auction prices....