MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Will they or won't they hold World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin for 2021?  While the answer's pending, Wisconsin representative, Travis Tranel, wants to go on the record on how important the show is to the state.  Josh Scramlin visits with him. Applications are now being accepted for the second class of the Wisconsin Youth Council.  Grace Atherton from WDATCP explains what they've accomp...

Women in Farming & STEM Address Misconceptions About Dairy & Male-Dominated Industries for Working Moms Day, March 12 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Registration continues to grow for the annual business meeting of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin.  Face-to-face learning and trade show moves to the Kalahari Resort in WI Dells.  Shelly Mayer updates us with Pam Jahnke. Farm women face unique challenges in light of the pandemic.  Jeannie Bishop, a Watertown dairy woman and territory manager for Merck Animal Health, wi...

Brad Pfaff has always been a champion for Wisconsin agriculture - first as ag secretary, and now as a state senator.  He talks with Scott Schultz about the proposed legislation at the state capitol that could impact WI agriculture. World Dairy Expo is shopping for options when it comes to venues for their 2021 show.  The formal announcement came Wednesday that they're entertaining other...

The wolf hunt of 2021 started and ended pretty quickly in Wisconsin.  One dairy farmer who's experienced wolf predation sounds off on the hunt with Josh Scramlin. WI Senator Tammy Baldwin has a new chairmanship that channels dollars to U.S. ag.  Josh visits with the senator about the agenda she sees developing. Wisconsin's more than just cows and corn!  How about cut flowers, saffro...

Good Sport is a dairy based sport drink inspired by a mom.  Michelle McBride worked with Wisconsin's Center for Dairy Research in development.  She talks with Pam Jahnke. Reaction swirls on the possibility of World Dairy Expo moving its show for 2021.  State Rep. Travis Tranel has sent a letter to the governor expressing his displeasure. Weather now is the pleasure of Wisconsin mapl...

California agriculture's facing another year where water is short.  Bob Bosold talks with a former dairy producer who's watching the transition many farms are making from one crop to another just to cope. Two Minnesota dairy cooperatives are coming together to pack a powerful punch in cheese production.  AMPI and First District Association will command more than 7 billion pounds of milk...

Will county fairs be happening or will it be organized chaos again for those folks involved in livestock industry and show animals?  Josh Scramlin visits with a Wisconsin sheep exhibitor that's keeping an eye on it all. Paycheck Protection Program adjustments may mean that more small farming operations and sole proprietor shops have a better chance of getting some financial assistance. ...

Polk County Iowa is home to most populous metro and location of Des Moines, Iowa's state capital city.  Its 592 square miles are about half urban and half rural, with three major rivers flowing through it - the Des Moines, Raccoon and Skunk.  These three rivers drain about 20% of Iowa's most productive agricultural land before reaching the county.  Polk includes four priority waters...

The National Weather Service is dependent on people in rural areas for rainfall information that helps them forecast.  March is the month they reach out for more rainfall reporters.  Taylor Patterson with the National Weather Service explains how you can get involved. Pioneer is hosting a virtual agronomy hour March 16th to focus on the technology you'll be using in your fields this year...

The spring wolf hunt in Wisconsin started, and ended, in a very short period of time!  Josh Scramlin visits with Ryan Klussendorf, farmer in Taylor county who's had his livestock repeatedly attacked and killed.  Klussendorf testified over the matter, and still has questions about the accuracy of the wolf count in the state. The World Cheese Championship is going online, and scaling down...

A 5 in 1 conference is underway now providing information for growers interested in organic farming and grazing.  It wasn't supposed to be this way, but the pandemic brought 5 groups together for the conference.  Kaitlyn Riley talks with one of the organizers on the priorities they tried to keep in place despite the platform. QLA - an acronym that farmers of many crops should be aware of...

Application period opens March 1st and continues through April 30th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Call numbers at the WI Farm Center have more than doubled since December according to Dan Bauer, Program Specialist with the WI Department of Ag., Trade and Consumer Protection.  Pam talks with him about what callers are requesting, and how they help. Wisconsin's wolf harvest is teed up to begin on February 22nd, and hunters and trappers are applying for permits now.  Litigation is also...

Soil health is constantly on the minds of farmers.  Dr. Karl Wyant, VP at Heliae Agriculture says they're taking a unique, new approach to microalgae in soils to help productivity.  Bob Bosold visits with him. What technology will you employ in your fields this year?  Pam starts a series with Pioneer focused on different traits and management strategies.  Will Wynn from southwe...

Wisconsin's got the American Honey Queen after a young woman from Franklin captured that title.  Kaitlyn Riley talks with her about the messages she'll be sharing with consumers about our busy pollinators. Texas continues to suffer with subzero temperatures going into the weekend, and that's tough on people and the food supply they depend on.  Transportation snags are rippling all the wa...

A local meat processor took action when the pandemic hit and backlogs started to slow the harvest.  Josh visits with the owners of Prem Meats in Sauk County on how they've found a silver lining in a dark situation. It's National FFA Week and despite the pandemic, Wisconsin's FFA Officer team is mobilized virtually.  State President Joe Schlies explains their strategy. With warmer Wiscons...

It's National FFA Week and our Wisconsin state officers are staying busy.  They may not be logging road miles, but they're logging Zoom hours!  Bob Bosold visits with Joe Schlies, WI FFA President. Warmer weather across Wisconsin has people pulling out their grills and thinking spring.  Why not think ice cream!  Josh Scramlin visits with Brenda Scheider, WI 4-H Foundation Direc...

GoodSport Nutrition Founder & CEO Michelle McBride conceived the concept after being frustrated with the sports drink category options.  “I didn’t want my son drinking sports drinks filled with artificial ingredients that were being offered to him at his baseball games,” she said. “I gave him chocolate milk as a healthier alternative after his workouts and it provi...

Scott Rowntree, a Pioneer agronomist in south central Wisconsin, joins Pam Jahnke as part of the "Defend your corn crop from pests in 2021" series.  Register for the Pioneer Agronomy Hour, happening March 16th, right here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DzezNwE-RWSu24VZqrykVg   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Wynn, a Pioneer agronomist in southwest Wisconsin, joins Pam Jahnke as part of the "Defend your corn crop from pests in 2021" series.  Register for the Pioneer Agronomy Hour, happening March 16th, right here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DzezNwE-RWSu24VZqrykVg   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Berkevich, a Pioneer agronomist in southeast Wisconsin, joins Pam Jahnke as part of the "Defend your corn crop from pests in 2021" series.  Register for the Pioneer Agronomy Hour, happening March 16th, right here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DzezNwE-RWSu24VZqrykVg   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're planning to build this year, sooner versus later is the advice from Sean Cleary, Cleary Buildings in Verona.  Cleary says that lumber prices continue to climb because of demand, and slow downs caused by the pandemic.  It doesn't stop there though. Cleary says they're also witnessing escalating prices for things like windows, and even door hardward and nails! See omnystudio.com/...

Sherrie Tussler, Executive Director of Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee keeps an eye on how state and federal monies are channeled in combating hunger in Wisconsin.  She says the latest round of purchases in the "Farmers to Families" food box program has been disappointing at best. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Graduating seniors should feel pretty good if they're graduating with a degree related to agriculture or food science.  There's jobs galore!  Josh Scramlin chats with a Purdue University specialist that helped conduct the annual jobs survey and it's got opportunities in many categories. Fourth grade students from across the state will be enjoying a warm bowl of chili next Thursday with a...