MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Although summer is a busy time, it's important to fuel yourself as you would with equipment. Chris Frakes, Program Director of Farm Well Wisconsin, says, "We partner with farmers, farm workers and families, and community members who are interested in improving the health and well-being of the agricultural community." Frakes says she hears many farmers go-to meals are, "Snickers and a 6 pack of mou...

After attending college classes for a semester to pursue a possible career in the automotive industry, Lily Kussman changed her major after missing the community in agriculture! Kussman is a CHS Larsen Crop Scout Intern and began with not much prior knowledge about the industry. Now, Kussman is considering to pursue a career in the agronomy pathway. Kussman says, "I first found my passion for agri...

We are deep into county fair season and just days away from the Wisconsin State Fair.  Youth across the state have been working hard on preparing their livestock projects all summer to hit the show ring.  Weather forecasts for the near future show some continuing high temperatures, which means we must be mindful of animals' wellbeing.  Bernie O'Rourke, youth livestock specialist wit...

Helping landowners preserve or plant more native habitat that is good for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife is what Julie Peterson, Farm Bill Biologist with Pheasants Forever Wisconsin, strives for.  Peterson says, "In order to grow native species, you need patience." Listen to hear more of how to maintain native species, resources, and benefits there are to preserve the native habitat!...

Wisconsin Women in Conservation is holding an event with a tour at the Full Circle Community Farm in Seymour, Wisconsin looking at their conservation practices. Val Dantoin, Farm Host, has over 200 acres using conservation practices and managed grazing to raise cattle, pigs, and chickens. Dantoin says, "The event is a chance for women landowners to come together and talk among themselves in a very...

La Crosse County has launched a public survey on the future of farmland in the county. To participate, please go to publicinput.com/envision2050 .  “It doesn’t matter where you live in La Crosse County, your input on the future of our farmland matters,” says La Crosse County planner Charlie Handy. “Agriculture brings food to our table, protects the landscape that...

Yahara Bay Distillers in Fitchburg prides itself on using local ingredients. From apples and cherries to corn and rye, most of the distillery's ingredients can be traced to Wisconsin or the Midwest region, says owner Nels Forde. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Little John's -- a community kitchen located in Fitchburg -- is on a mission to take grocer food excess and transform it into chef-quality meals for all, regardless of their means, according to owner Chef Dave Heide. Since October of 2020 Little John's, in partnership with Metcalfe's Market, has rescued 46 tons of food that would have otherwise landed up in landfills. See omnystudio.com/listener f...

DATCP Secretary-designee Randy Romanski says statewide ag education through the Alice in Dairyland program is an asset to Wisconsin's ag industry. He also touches on DATCP's efforts in connecting producers impacted by a disrupted supply chain during the pandemic to food pantries needing more volume to support families in need. He predicts those direct connections between producers and consumers wi...

Dane County is hosting the 75th Alice in Dairyland Finals, which will take place May 19-21, culminating at the Monona Terrace in Madison. The 73rd and 74th Alice in Dairyland Julia Nunes is looking forward to learning more about Dane County's ag industry in the months leading up to the event. She also shares with the Mid-West Farm Report how her summer has been on the road at county fairs, Wiscons...

You've probably seen it, a large flowery yellow weed growing in ditches, pastures and grassy areas all around the state. Wild parsnip, an invasive weed species in Wisconsin, continues to spread and grow in more places. Not only is this weed just obnoxious and everywhere, it can also be harmful to humans. Mark Renz, weed specialist with UW-Extension shares details about this invasive weed including...

Hi-capacity wells are a part of doing business if you're a farmer in central Wisconsin.  Now a new Supreme Court reversal is calling into question future hi-cap wells.  Pam visits with attorney, Jordan Lamb, from the DeWitt Law Firm in Madison.  She works closely with the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association and helps walk through some of the details on the ruling and...

You may see a new slogan promoting fluid milk - especially during the Olympics. “You’re Gonna Need Milk For That".  Melissa Malcolm is with Milk PEP - the Milk Processor Education Program.  They are working to reimage milk. She tells Pam about trends they followed during the pandemic that continue today.  When things got tough, Americans reached for milk. Families saw mi...

With temperatures easily in the 90's this week, Wisconsin farmers need to take care of their skin when outside taking care of chores.  Melissa Ploeckelman with the National Farm Medicine Center in Marshfield says farmers are usually surprised at their high risk. Repeated days exposed to the sun can be the beginning of skin cancer.  Aaron Zimmerman brings us the story. Semiconductor chip...

The Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center will celebrate three years of operation with activities, animals, equipment, special guests, and food samples Thursday, July 29 – Saturday, July 31. Abigail Martin, Program Manager, says it's "Perfect for the whole family and it's a great excuse if you've never been out to our discovery center!" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelsey Erf, Communications Intern at World Dairy Expo, says "When the opportunity to intern at World Dairy Expo came up, it was an opportunity I could not pass up on." She can be seen writing press releases, helping with social media, and creating show-related materials. Erf wants to stay involved in agriculture since she finds great satisfaction in it as dairy she says, "supplies those nutritious...

The DATCP Farm to School Program Specialist April Yancer says a pilot will roll out in the fall aiming to create a farm-to-school minimally processed fruit and vegetable line. The pilot is a partnership between DATCP and Midwest Foods. This will process local foods in larger capacities. Midwest Foods is expanding their local food purchasing and moving it through their minimally processed line. See...

Sweet Corn is now ready for many producers and demand from last year allowed many producers to increase production scale. Kevin Oppermann of Stoneman's Famous Sweet Corn in Fitchburg says, "We increased our production by about 50% based on the demand from last year." Last weekend, was their opening weekend. This year, Oppermann says, "We're expecting the same demand (this year) if not more." Hear...

Pasture and rangeland conditions are significantly deteriorating across the United States, especially in places facing extreme drought conditions.  Jeff Swenson, DATCP Livestock and Meat Specialist shares how this is affecting cattle producers and what this might mean for cattle on feed and markets. Region 5, the southwestern corner of the United States specifically has seen a 58% increase in...

Julia Griffith of Historic Milwaukee Inc. explains why the Wisconsin State Fair is in West Allis and what Milwaukee's connection to agriculture is. Historic Milwaukee Inc. is a nonprofit that preserves and educates the public about history and architecture through public education programming. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doug Foemmel of the Wisconsin Potatoes and Vegetable Growers Association tells us all about the Spudmobile, a 38-foot self-contained, classroom on wheels.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beer is near the top of things Wisconsin is known for... but what about what goes into beer? Wisconsin accounts for 50 acres of the 65,000 acres of hops in the U.S. It is a small, but mighty industry in Wisconsin, according to Matt Janzen of the Wisconsin Hop Exchange.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marieke Penterman of Marieke Gouda in Thorp is greeting fellow farmers and consumers with a smile and a cheese sample in Innovation Square at the Wisconsin Farm Technology Days in Eau Claire.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin's known for its dedication to the dairy industry, and the Dairy Initiative administered through the UW-School of Veterinary Medicine, is one of the programs designed to help.  Stephanie Hoff talks to Dr. Nigel Cook from the UW-Vet School about the tools available to dairy operations around the world through the click of a mouse. All for one!  It's a phrase that speaks to a wond...

Josh LePine, Certified Golf Course Superintendent at Maple Bluff Golf Course, says, "We're seeing record number of golfers." LePine says, "We relate this to the Tiger Woods Era" which was back in the 1990's when there were many people interested in golfing. His education is important to him and there are a few different ways to receive education including a 4 year degree, but LePine says, "If you'...