MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

It's not just people who can get their COVID-19 shots. It's animals too -- big cats, badgers, even bats are susceptible to coronavirus, explains Gary Hartlage, the lead zookeeper at Henry Vilas Zoo. The Zoetis vaccine is free. Zoetis donated them to all of the AZA zoos participating in this vaccine program. There were over 40 other institutions that received vaccines. Henry Vilas Zoo began adminis...

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Over the last year during the pandemic it’s no surprise there has been an increase in online shopping, mobile banking, video conferences, and other online activities and in general as we evolve into a more tech-savvy generation. This is a great time for us to educate consumers on the dangers of identity theft, common scams that are going aro...

The Madison area is home to the Agrograph headquarters -- a global agri-finance startup focused on improving ag lending, crop insurance and more for industries that support farmers. Using satellite imagery and Artificial Intelligence, it can deliver precise, field-level data to help companies anticipate trends and manage risk. For example, the satellite image looks at the reflectance back of the l...

The holiday season is approaching. That means lutefisk dinners for some folks in the Midwest. Chris Dorff is the president of Olsen Fish Company in Minneapolis. Olsen Fish Co. makes the Norwegian lutefisk and pickled herring. As they ramp up production for the busy season, the supply chain poses an issue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infrastructure has become a major challenge for Wisconsin agriculture, and capitalizing on the international marketplace.  Now, federal, state and private funds are coming together for a major upgrade at the Port of Milwaukee.  Stephanie Hoff visits with DeLong Company's Bo DeLong about the investment and pay offs. Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group says all types of farm machinery are m...

Wisconsin is seeing unprecedented activity with fall armyworm!  Aaron Zimmerman discusses why this is happening and what the outlook is with Dr. Bryan Jensen, Integrated Pest Management Specialist with UW-Extension. Finding financing will be a challenge for some farmers in 2022 with escalating input costs.  In the Alcivia Coop Talk program, Hans Pfleiger, manager of Verity Financing for...

If you are a livestock producer, you know what kind of preparation and work it takes to care for animals in the winter like cattle, hogs, horses and other farm animals.  What about when it comes to the zoo?  What kind of preparation does it take to care for giraffes, rhinos or flamingos?  How do they deal with the harsh winter conditions here in Wisconsin?  Gary Hartlage, lead...

Oklahoma-based technology companies LandScout ,  AgBoost  and  SmartStock  recently announced a partnership to integrate their agricultural software platforms. The alliance was formed to benefit cattle ranchers and livestock producers both statewide and across the nation. Farm assistant, Aaron Zimmerman was able to catch up with Trent Stoker of LandScout to discuss the partners...

Milk Source founders -- John Vosters, Todd Willer and Jim Ostrom -- were World Dairy Expo’s 2020 Dairy Producers of the Year for their "instrumental contributions to the dairy industry and their communities.” Vosters says this honor and the continued success of their farms can be attributed to their ongoing commitment to sustainability, measured in environmental stewardship, top-shelf...

Steve Quade is the district sales manager for Wyffels Hybrids in south central Wisconsin.  He's happy to report that Wyffels varities have topped several area test plots as the harvest continues See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A manure digester facility in Middleton is turning cow manure into water. While the water is technically drinkable, it's actually distributed into the surrounding lakes and streams. The advanced filtration technology by Aqua Innovations helps remove phosphorus from the watershed. Service technician Scott Hynds shares more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disabilities don't have to stop farmers from continuing to farm.  Easter Seals and WI Agrability work with impacted farmers and their families to come up with creative ways that they can continue farming.  Stephanie Hoff talks to Ami Cooper from FARM about the options. Wisconsin farmers are preparing for winter - piling up feed, winterizing buildings.  If you're an animal from Afric...

Wisconsin fairs resumed across the state, but there were still some disruptions noticed - like food!  Jayme Butke, executive secretary/treasurer of the WI Fairs Association discusses what they've learned with Pam. Technology is a major part of today's modern farm.  The shortage of semiconductor chips has impacted everything from combines to data collection in the dairy.  Pam has an...

EnTech Solutions and Northern Biogas LLC formed a joint venture to provide a sustainable energy future utilizing local ag in Middleton. The renewable natural gas facility uses biogas and generators to create energy. Currently, the facility makes electricity, but updates are underway to provide renewable natural gas to the West Coast, says EnTech President Scott Romenesko.  See omnystudio.com/...

Blue corn? Yes! Blue is one of the four colors of corn varieties. And its grown here in southern Wisconsin despite its southwestern heritage. Blue Farm brand tortilla chips are produced and distributed by Randy Hughes and his family of A-Maize-ing Corn Products in Janesville. Randy is a fifth generation farmer. Hughes says the chips are a value-added product to his organic cropping system.  S...

Andy Faulman, broker with ever.ag, says there's definitely a seasonal spike happening in the dairy product complex. The butter market took a six cent jump on Wednesday, indicating seasonal baking is upon us. He says there's been a big jump in the international space, catching up to the rest of the world in terms of price. Milk production has been steadily declining in the U.S., France and Germany,...

These pests are doing damage to alfalfa, winter wheat and other cover crops around the state.  Bryan Jensen, UW-Extension Pest Management Specialist shares that this warmer fall weather has helped to create a "perfect storm" to help these fall armyworm thrive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the weather getting cooler this fall and then into weather, everyone is going try and keep warm.  People aren't alone, different critters in rural areas are going to want to stay warm as well.  To do so, they may try and find shelter within your barns, sheds or even your house.  Ryan Neerland of Kwik Kill Pest Control joins us to discuss ways to prevent this from happening with...

October 15th is National Cheese Curd Day!  Everyone loves those squeaky curds whether they are fresh or fried.  Wisconsin is also home to the nation's only Master Cheesemaker of cheese curds, Steve Stettler of Decatur Dairy in Brodhead, Wisconsin.  Farm assistant, Aaron Zimmerman caught up with him to learn a little more about cheese curd production in Wisconsin and why the curds ar...

Above average temperatures across Wisconsin have made the potato harvest challenging.  Tamas Houlihan, executive director of the WI Potato & Vegetable Growers, says the heat makes storing potatoes problematic. Alcivia Coop Talk today focuses on fall fertilizer prices and trying to give farmers any advantage that may be in the marketplace.  Pam and Bob Bosold talk to Nick Christen on...

Three Wisconsin dairymen were singled out as World Dairy Expo's Dairy Producers of the Year in 2020.  They finally received their award in 2021.  Bob Bosold talks to the owners/operators of MilkSource Genetics about how they got there. Steffes Auction has rolled out a new app to keep shoppers up to speed on changing equipment prices.  Ashley Huhn from Steffes Auction gives the detai...

The apple season is almost done. Connell’s Family Orchard in Chippewa Falls is picking some of its last varieties this week. Rick Connell says a small crew is out right now harvesting that last 2 percent of the crop -- Connell reds, honey golds, and red and golden delicious are some of those late season varieties. Unfortunately, while the orchard will be open through mid-November, their appl...

Now that it is October, that means it's time to celebrate pork month!  Wisconsin's pork industry is a strong one that works each day to serve consumers as well as remain sustainable and relevant.  Keri Retallick is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Pork Association and she shares what it means to celebrate pork month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Port Milwaukee and The DeLong Company’s new $35-million agricultural maritime export facility will be one of the first on the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway system to handle Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles. DDGs are an animal feed supplement derived as a byproduct of ethanol high in nutrients. Future service at the facility will also include the export of Wisconsin-grown soybeans, c...

It's #WyffelsWednesday and time for this week's harvest update with Andy Grebner, District Sales Manager based in Monroe who is talking stalk quality and encouraging farmers to walk the fields after this rain to prioritize fields to be harvested. Also give a listen to hear about @Wyffels Hybrids Serving Those Who Served hybrids!     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.