MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

The Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee is continuing to work quickly to get the Farmers to Families food boxes out across Wisconsin.  Those boxes include a lot of Wisconsin food products.  Pam visits with Sherrie Tussler, director of the task force. The covid vaccine rollout is underway, but scammers are targeting the elderly and people in underserved areas like rural Wisconsin.  Sean V...

The Wisconsin Farmers Union is preparing for a stripped down version of the annual business meeting at the end of the month.  Scott Schultz discusses the 90th annual event with WFU President, Darin Von Ruden. More than 15 agriculture associations in the state have signed a strongly worded letter to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services documenting why farmers, farm workers and food proc...

Since the 1970's the grey wolf was on the endangered species list.  In 2019, that changed.  In 2021, Wisconsin will launch its first wolf hunt monitored by the DNR.  Josh Scramlin talks with DNR staff, and farmers impacted by the wolf. WI mink producers have been put toward the top of the list for receiving the covid vaccine.  Why?  WI acting Ag Secretary, Randy Romanski,...

Carbon monoxide and radon are nothing to fool with especially at this time of the year.  For farmers working in tight spaces like machine sheds and animal housing units - paying attention to those levels is critical.  Kaitlyn Riley talks with Jana Davidson from the Progressive Agriculture Foundation about monitoring. How hungry are China's consumers for pork and will they be able to rebu...

This edition of Fishers & Farmers - Neighbor to Neighbor takes us to Jo Daviess County Illinois where the Apple/Plum Watershed is.  The Apple/Plum Watershed encompasses 950,000 acres including parts of southwest Wisconsin, northeast Iowa, and northwest Illinois.  All of that geography drains to the Mississippi River. With karst topography and wooded blufflands in the Galena area near...

It won't be nearly as international as normal, but the WI Cheesemakers Association's going forward with its Cheese Expo this spring.  John Umhoeffer, executive director of the association, discusses the adjustments they've made. Pork sausage - who'd have guessed it would find favor with consumers in light of the pandemic - but it has!  Josh Scramlin's got some interesting statistics that...

The ethanol industry has been battling with agencies over administering the Renewable Fuel Standard evenly across processors.  Kaitlyn Riley brings us an update on where the conversation stands. Some times all you do is trip over them and fill their feed bowl.  Other times they quite literally could save your life.  The 2021 Farm Dog of the Year is an Australian shepherd in New York...

The nation's pork producers have endured incredible stress because of the pandemic.  Where do they stand in 2021?  Bob Bosold talks to AV Roth, Wisconsin producer and president of the National Pork Board. The state lost another 360 dairy herds in 2020 but that doesn't mean cows.  There's still 1.28 million head in the state keeping us America's Dairyland.  Suzanne Isige, Market...

Are there any changes farmers need to be aware of in the ARC/PLC options for 2021?  Josh talks to UW Ag Economist, Paul Mitchell, about details they don't want to overlook. It's still sinking in - no Alice in Dairyland selection for 2021.  Kaitlyn Riley talks to WDATCP Administrator, Krista Knigge, about the decision to postpone the selection of the next Alice in Dairyland until 2022. Ma...

Kaitlyn Riley, a former Alice in Dairyland herself, talks with Krista Knigge, Administrator of DATCP’s Division of Agricultural Development, which houses the Alice in Dairyland program. They discuss how the decision to cancel the Alice Finals came to be and give some historical context of the decision. Ginseng producers continue to be hit hard by the pandemic. Pam Jahnke chats with Jackie Fe...

Luke Wavrunek, a 23 year-old dairy farmer in Brown County, is planning to take over his family's operation in the future. Josh Scramlin talks with Wavrunek about the succession process, difficult conversations, and tips he has for any other young producers wanting to become the next generation. The Alice in Dairyland Finals have been canceled for 2021. Josh Scramlin gives you the details on that,...

Jennifer Blazek, the Director of UW-Madison's Farm and Industry Short Course, joins Pam Jahnke to deliver some good financial news for folks that want to attend Short Course. Connectivity continues to be an issue for many rural Wisconsinites. Even though there has been money put towards combating this issue, Congressman Ron Kind doesn't believe it to be sufficient. Also, the bison industry is faci...

The conversation regarding swine health has taken a back seat in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, but the threat is still incredibly prevalent. Kaitlyn Riley chats with Dr. Paul Sonberg of the Swine Health Information Center about monitoring African Swine Fever and other concerns. There are new dietary guidelines out from the federal government. Overall they are positive for dairy but fall s...

Kaitlyn Riley chats with John Latham with the America Seed Trade Association about everything to do with seeds in 2020. From what the ASTA does to the mystery seed packages being received in the mail earlier this year, Kaitlyn and John cover it all. Josh Scramlin has an update on the events that have been unfolding in Green County over the past couple of months. The Maple Leaf Cheese Cooperative s...

Dr. Mark Stephenson, the Director of Dairy Policy Analysis at University of Wisconsin- Madison chats with Bob Bosold about the roller coaster year 2020 was for the dairy industry. They also look ahead to 2021 with predictions of what is to come. One teacher in Columbia County went above and beyond the call of duty this year, which is why she was recently honored as WFBF's Outstanding Teacher of th...

Michael Torrey is a consultant for th3e Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and he says 2021 will be the year for farmers to share their story with lawmakers. Torrey tells Kaitlyn Riley that many of the longtime members of Congress that had the know-how to write ag policy will no longer be in DC. That means it's time to reach out to new members and make them aware of what the people that make our food n...

Pam Jahnke catches up with John Shutske, a specialist with UW-Madison Extension, about how farm families can take care of their mental health. 2020 has been a gut punch and during winter in Wisconsin it's easy to feel down about things even when a pandemic isn't happening. Shutkse provides some clarity. Josh Scramlin has a whip-around on your agribusiness news; China is buying more corn than ever...

Believe it or not, a reindeer named Rudolph calls The Badger State home. Jeff and Cindy Phillips are reindeer farmers in Washington County and Rudolph is just one of the reindeer that reside at their farm. Josh Scramlin talks with Jeff Phillips about raising these amazing animals in our state. The Wisconsin FFA Foundation gave chapters around the state a gift this Christmas! 40 chapters in all cor...

Online cheese sales are through the roof! Suzanne Fanning with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin chats with Pam Jahnke about just how enormous e-commerce cheese sales have been in 2020. There's big news regarding the Farm and Industry Short Course at UW-Madison. Pam Jahnke catches you up on the latest regarding that while Josh Scramlin breaks down some of the items that are in the latest coronarivurs rel...

Bob Bosold catches up with the folks at Iowa State University to learn more about their new creamery, which opened in August. The university has always been known for their world-renowned agricultural programs and with this they hope to get back into the dairy game. Christmas is just a few days away...do you have your holiday meal plans ready? Angie Horkan from the Wisconsin Beef Council chats wit...

Cheese sales around the holiday season are always big for Wisconsin cheesemakers. Traditionally, consumers purchase cheese boxes and cheese boards; but according to Master Cheesemaker Steve Stettler, consumers are wanting cheese curds around the holidays as well. Josh Scramlin has the story on that trend. When will people that work in the food supply chain be able to get the vaccine? Once healthca...

Are you still searching for the perfect Christmas gift for the people you love? Look no further than Progressive Ag- they've got gift ideas that are both safe, fun, and festive. Kaitlyn Riley joins us from La Crosse with the full story. For dairy producers looking to get ahead in 2021, there's a webinar happening on December 18th at 11 AM CT. Dustin Jonasson with TFM by Stewart-Peterson tells Josh...

The Wisconsin Fair Association has decided to postpone their 2021 annual meeting until 2022.  Jayme Buttke, Secretary of the WI Fair Association, says they're all excited at the possibility of returning to full fair activities in 2021, but the financial responsibilities may be too much for some.  Pam talks with her. We have the finalists!  A record number of entries for this year's...

Every day's been a little different as far as direction for our WI milk producers.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, says that China continues to be an influence in the world dairy market - and that could be good news for 2021. Josh Scramlin talks with Larry Plapp from the Badger FFA about their seasonal poinsettia sales.  Perhaps not as popular as th...

Tainter Creek is a tributary of the Kickapoo River, located in the northeast corner of Crawford County in southwest Wisconsin.  The watershed has extensive agriculture in a county that has heavy recreational land ownership.  Many streams in this area have DNR fishing easements, and unfortunately, eroding stream banks. Listen in as we talk with leader of the Tainter Creek Farmer-led Water...