MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Jackie Rosenbush will begin her reign as the 2022 Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs, where she will spend the fair season traveling to Wisconsin’s 75 County, district, and state fairs, and be the official host of the Wisconsin State Fair, August 4-14th.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin farmers continue to struggle finding available meat processing slots for their animals.  Different state grant programs are trying to help.  Aaron Zimmerman talks to Jeff Sindelar, UW-Extension Meat Scientist, about how much money is really needed to expand a meat processing facility.  Are state grants up to the challenge? Jackie Rosenbush of Washburn County was named the...

The 2024 county has been selected for WI Farm Technology Days.  Pam Jahnke visits with Arnie Jennerman, WI Farm Technology Days General Manager, about how the show is evolving post pandemic.  Jennerman says he believes more people not engaged in farming want to know more about what's happening in agriculture and they're attracted to the show. Ashley Huhn from Steffes Auction gives us a w...

This month, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), in partnership with the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC), will begin sending more than 60,000 premises renewals to the state’s livestock owners. State law requires that all livestock owners register where their animals are kept, and current registrants must renew their premises reg...

The pandemic inspired many people to engage in trying to protect bees and thinking about becoming beekeepers themselves.  It was a pretty steep learning curve for many, according to Kent Pegorsch, owner of Dancing Bear Apiary in Waupaca.  He's also a member of the American Beekeeper Association's board of directors. Pam Jahnke visits with him about what's ahead for 2022. Taylor Schaefer...

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought forward challenges for the agriculture industry, which doesn’t exclude Wisconsin Fairs or the entertainment industry.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keeping kids safe around the farm is a year round challenge.  Bob Bosold visits with Scott Herberger from the National Farm Medicine Center in Marshfield about an outreach campaign they've launched targeting farm parents.  If parents are confronted with stories about injuries that happened to children because of the lack of farm safety, will it change their patterns? A ruling last week i...

Maple syrup production in Wisconsin is largely a family tradition - but it's a tradition that's slowly dying.  Stephanie Hoff talks to Jeremy Solin, a UW-Extension specialist that's partnering with other groups and organizations to try and reignite interest in the sugar bush. Wisconsin dairy farmers found a few more pennies in their December milk check, and Stephanie Hoff explains details of...

Duane Steinhauer, the fifth generation of the Steinhauer Estate in Dane County, joins the Mid-West Farm Report to honor the lessons learned on the farm and the memories shared with family. Celebrating more than 150 years, the farm family is keeping the land agricultural by renting out the 113 acres. Steinhauer says he hopes the sixth and seventh generations take up farming, even if it starts small...

Wisconsin’s rural communities and residents have access to a new and growing directory of resources and success stories offering aid and inspiration on topics ranging from affordable housing and economic development to cultural programs and environmental protection. Office of Rural Prosperity Director Marcy West shares the details of ruralwi.com with the Mid-West Farm Report. See omnystudio....

Lamb is gaining in popularity with U.S. consumers that have been trying new dining experiences during the pandemic.  Aaron Zimmerman visits with Susan Schultz with the American Sheep Industry, about trends she's watching and why lamb and sheep production's finding favor with a new demographic. Beth Helding, grain merchandiser with Alcivia, explains how important it is to have a strategy in pl...

Supply chain disruptions are just a few of the things that the seed industry worldwide is working through.  Stephanie Hoff talks to Adam Lavigne from ASTA, the American Seed Trade Association, explains some of the challenges they're working through and items that people may not even realize impact seed availability. Ashley Huhn with the Steffes Group talks with Stephanie Hoff about upcoming a...

The complexity of production agriculture today dictates paying attention.  John Schoenfeld, Safety Director for Alcivia, explains the different areas of emphasis they focus on the make sure employees go home safely everyday. From animal feed and crop inputs, to energy and grain marketing - Alcivia places a premium on operating safely.  Find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) invites individuals with a passion for promoting agriculture to apply for the 75th Alice in Dairyland position through February 4, 2022.  Julia Nunes, 74th Alice in Dairyland joins farm assistant Aaron Zimmerman with more details. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The USDA will release its first World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report of the year on Jan. 12. This report will set the pace through March, says Total Farm Marketing Advisor John Heinberg. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A hot topic for many lately is management of carbon markets and renewable energy.  Farm director Pam Jahnke visits with Tim Baye, state energy specialist on what things are looking like in Wisconsin.  Baye, along with many others in the industry continue to try and navigate the unknown and figure out the value of these things. Many conferences and conventions will be taking place across...

Consumer demand for local food continues to rise, and local processing facilities are feeling the pressure from both farmers and consumers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking ahead into 2022, the USDA is working to expand export opportunities for American agriculture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As snow begins to accumulate this winter, farm building safety and maintenance are integral in preventing total roof collapse, says David Bohnhoff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans and cows have more in common than you might think, including the need for probiotics in a balanced diet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-Madison's Department of Food Science is hosting two consecutive ice cream-related workshops next week. The first, Jan. 10-11, focuses on business aspects. The other, Jan. 12-14, focuses on manufacturing techniques, explains course instructor and Professor Scott Rankin. For registration details on each course, visit  www.dairyfoods.wisc.edu. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

January is National Radon Action month -- the time of year when all 50 states recognize radon as a public health issue. The reason being is that radon enters homes through cracks in the home's slab or basement and utility lines. In the winter, when doors and windows are closed, radon is most dangerous, explains Jessica Maloney, the indoor air and radon program manager at the Department of Health S...

Agriculture always faces challenges, but always works to find solutions to the issues that surround the industry.  The National Farmers Union is one organization that has an eye on many of these issues.  Bob Bosold chats with Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union to see what topics they are focusing on and where things are headed. Production in agriculture is always very dat...

There are many challenges in agriculture and our society these days.  These things can cause mental stress to many in rural Wisconsin.  Stephanie Hoff visits with Chris Frakes, Program Director at Farm Well Wisconsin about why farmers and rural residents need to focus on their mental health, and how others can be trained to help those in need. Meat processing continues to be a hot topic...

As you gather around the table for holiday dinner, will you know where the meat on your table came from? A new report investigates the effects consolidation in the meat processing industry has had on family farms, small and mid-scale processors, and consumers. Earlier this year, Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU) convened a Meat Processing Task Force that developed a series of webinars and panel discus...