MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

At Wisconsin's 97th FFA Convention, 4 Stars Over Wisconsin were named. This honor comes from an evaluation of student's SAE. The winners are: Agribusiness : Oscar Stowell Waupun FFA; Agriscience: Owen Hemling, Beaver Dam FFA;  Agricultural Placement : Katelyn Wunder, Waterford FFA; Farmer: Liv Lucas, Greenwood FFA Kiley Allan sat down with Owen Hemling moments after the acheivement. See omnys...

We start our morning with Jill Welke in Eau Claire! She catches up with Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation's Brad Olson about roundtable conversations that could shape agricultural policy.   Stu says we may have to dodge a little rain for Father's Day, but otherwise looking to be a sunny weekend!  Traditionally, Father's Day means family outings and bbqs. A recent report from CoBank says t...

Hunger Task Force, based in Milwaukee, received a $2.5 million grant from the WI Department of Ag., Trade and Consumer Protection to connect Wisconsin farms with individuals who need a little extra assistance putting food on their plates.  Pam Jahnke helps people understand the scope of work being done through the grant with Jonathan Hansen, chief strategy officer at Hunger Task Force. ...

It's the gift that will keep giving!  Fox Valley Technical College just received a generous donation of land that they're already putting to work for students.  Kiley Allan gets the story from Paul Groell, Department Chair Natural Resources Program  @  Fox Valley Technical College.  Fox Valley Technical College received an anonymous donation of a 160-acre plot of...

If you're taking the time, and spending the money to dine out, you want to know what you're getting.  Susan Quam, executive vice president of the WI Restaurant Association says information is power - even for restaurant menus.  Quam tells Pam Jahnke that today diners are looking for "clean labels" on menus.  The "buy local" mantra continues, and restaurants are complying.  Quam...

New World Screw Worm.  It's all over agriculture headlines.  Could that worm ever make its way into Wisconsin and our livestock/pet population?  That's the question poised to P.J. Leisch, UW-Madison Extension Entomologist.  Leisch has been watching this worm for a while.  He tells Pam Jahnke that this insect has been around since at least the 60's in numbers that threatene...

Wisconsin's grape growers have been keeping a close eye on the changing weather.  Kiley Allan gets an early season forecast from Phillipe Coucard, owner/operator of Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac.  With 70 acres of vines to manage, his staff mobilizes early to evaluate conditions.  He says so far things have been going well.  Insect pressure has been low and so has early...

We may be a little biased here in Wisconsin, but the best time of year is here. June Dairy Month is upon us. It's an opportunity to explore, enjoy, and honor the farmers, craftsmanship, and exceptional dairy products that make Wisconsin dairy truly special. Today, we catch up with 78th Alice in Dairyland, Sarah Hagenow. Dairy isn't just something we produce here in Wisconsin. In fact, Dairy Farmer...

An early start to this year's asparagus season brought a lot of excitement to the patch. But as the season progressed, the weather didn't pay any favors. Nathan Bula joins us, he's the owner of Spears-R-Us. Nathan, tells Kiley Allan about the 2026 asparagus season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we're still relatively early in this year's growing season, Dr. Emily Bick tells us we've already seen the first wave of pests. She's an Extension Specialist of Insects for Field and Forage Crops. Emily, explains what we're seeing right now in the fields. More information and tools: - https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/pest-management/insect-pest-alerts/  for signup for the Pest T...

Hands-on educational opportunities are crucial for students going through their academic career. It can also play a crucial role in career-specific trainings. Luxemburg Fire Department is taking advantage of all hands-on opportunities they can get. Brad Zellner joins us. He's the safety and training officer for the fire department. He tells me about a recent hands-on training opportunity provided...

Fair season in Wisconsin brings with it a few changes for livestock exhibitors.  Jill Welke chats with Dr. Meg Mueller about her engagement in the dialog.  Also, while New World Screw Worm may not make it to the state, Dr. Mueller says it could still deal a financial blow to local producers.  Her priorities include sourcing animals from outside the state and making pet owners who mi...

Hot, sticky weather is conducive to insects, and Wisconsin's a perfect example.  Kiley Allan gets a quick update on what new arrivals have made Wisconsin home from Dr. Emily Bick.  Bick is a UW-Madison Extension Entomologist that tracks everything from armyworm to alfalfa weevil.  Both of those insects pop up in this conversation. It's an alert day for much of Wisconsin.  Warm,...

UW–Madison's Data Science Institute is a campus-wide research institute that focuses on data science and artificial intelligence. The group isn't just working with computer scientists, though. Rather, they work with researchers across campus to leverage artificial intelligence in their individual products. Kyle Cranmer is the director for the Data Science Institute. He gave Kiley Allan a clo...

Summer is a busy time on Wisconsin farms. While we're between planting and harvest, farmers are checking fields, monitoring crops, maintaining equipment, and preparing for the months ahead. Unfortunately, this time of year also brings safety risks that can have devastating consequences.  Pam Jahnke visits with Chris Schlechta, Safety and Loss Control Manager for Rural Mutual Insurance . ...

Wisconsin is home now to 79 weather stations that dot the state.  These stations are generating real time information that farmers and outdoor enthusiasts can tap into.  Pam Jahnke visit with Chris Vagasky, Research Program Manager for Wisconet.  Vagasky says one new element they've added to these stations are soil sensors.  The 400 soil sensors provide "plant available water"...

The small community of Ashippun in Dodge County is using farmland preservation tools to keep consistency as a part of land transition.  Robert Guenther, dairy farmer and member of the Town of Ashippun Planning Commission says the community  is facing increasing growth pressures, including recent applications for a private golf course and a solar energy farm. Ashippun's growth is lar...

Fox Valley Technical College is the only place in the state of Wisconsin where students can explore a two-year natural resources education program. It's recently received an addition that has campus buzzing with excitement. A 160-acre anonymous donation was made by a community member who wanted their land to stay in habitat and not be developed. A priority in education made the program the right f...

 As agriculture's ever-changing landscape sees high input costs and changes in the marketplace, Dan Schaefer of Schaefer Beef Consulting has been getting a lot of phone calls. We started our conversation with one of the two most common question he's been receiving. How can anyone make any money when calves are valued at $1,500 at just three days old?  See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

The loss of a crop is awful.  The loss of a tradition, even more painful.  This year's erratic weather has caused some Wisconsin strawberry growers to rethink their plan.  Kiley Allan gets the story from Danielle Clark of Mayberry Farms in Mayville.  Their strawberry harvest is over before it started. They have pick-your-own strawberries, honeybees, row crops, and a newly plant...

The states weather network keeps getting upgrades that help Wisconsin farmers, and anybody that enjoys the outdoors.  One of the latest tools added is Plant Available Water readings.  Chris Vagasky, Research Program Manager for Wisconet, the states mesonet of weather stations, says they now have 400 soil sensors to tip off farmers when things are too dry, or too wet. Vagasky says the soi...

This year, Wisconsin's spring weather was good for a lot of different crops. The same is true for the rhubarb crop. Kathy Burrs is the owner and operator of Burrs Berry Patch in Barneveld, Wisconsin. She tells us about this year's crop growth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Field demonstrations are a core attraction at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. Ron Zygarlicke, field demonstration chairman, tells Stephanie Hoff about the firsthand look at machinery and techniques in action showgoers can expect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The loss of a crop is awful.  The loss of a tradition, even more painful.  This year's erratic weather has caused some Wisconsin strawberry growers to rethink their plan.  Kiley Allan gets the story from Danielle Clark of Mayberry Farms in Mayville.  Their strawberry harvest is over before it started. They have pick-your-own strawberries, honeybees, row crops, and a newly plant...

Throughout the month of June, farms across Wisconsin are opening their doors for visitors. Most of those farms are dairy farms because, after all, June is dairy month. But there's another farm, an herbal farm, opening their doors to visitors. Jane Hawley Stevens joins us. She's the owner of Four Elements Organic Herbals. They're 130 acres in Baraboo Bluffs. There, her and her husband, both former...