MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits will not be reissued starting Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown. Jackie Anderson joins us. She’s the executive director of Feeding Wisconsin. She says food banks are already seeing demand rise with the news that FoodShare benefits will be delayed indefinitely. Food pantries statewide are preparing for an influx of need from famil...

Recently, Wisconsin Farmers Union partnered with Farmers Union Enterprises to donate 35,000 pounds of pork to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Each year, the donation goes to a different part of the state. This year, the pork went to Appleton to be further distributed. Darin Von Ruden, the President of the Board of Directors of Wisconsin Farmers Union, says the donation comes at a cruc...

Tracy Vinz and John Rosenow are just two of the many farmers in the state who are feeling the pinch in the labor force, highlighting the uncertainty that many are experiencing across the nation. Their words helped to spark the Grow It Here campaign aiming to find a sturdy labor force for farmers of all sectors.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As farmers wrap up harvest and turn their attention to next year, many are finding themselves navigating extra challenges at their local Farm Service Agency offices. FSA plays a critical role for farmers, who rely on the agency for credit and crop reporting. Today, we visit with Lake Ridge Bank’s Senior Vice President of Agriculture Lending, Rene Johnson, and Vice President of Crop Insurance...

The 98th National FFA Convention officially begins today in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Jill Welke is there with Wisconsin's State FFA President, Amalia Draxler.  Draxler previews some of the planned events and duties the state's officers will be undertaking to help the convention move along. Sunshine should dominate Wisconsin's weather today.  Stu Muck says the temperatures stay consis...

Currently in Wisconsin there are 47 data centers proposed with one of these being in Janesville. These proposals have sparked concerns from the communities leading to rallies. Cassandra Pope is the organizer of the No Janesville Data Center group. She says one of the biggest worries is the not knowing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Varied progress so far on the corn for grain harvest in Wisconsin, according to the 2025 Harvest Progress Report from Wyffels Hybrids at  https://www.wyffels.com/agronomy/harvest-progress-report . Today, we’re catching up with Luke Bird, district manager out of Rock, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha counties. He says that as the government continues to be shut down and we don’t get a...

What we're hearing across all sectors of agriculture is that having a reliable workforce remains a number one challenge today. Karen Gefvert, chief policy officer for Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and Voice of Milk, says it’s an issue the organization is deeply engaged in. In talking with Stephanie Hoff, Gefvert notes that this has been a 40-year battle. She says the current system doesn't w...

Transportation of this fall's harvest faces some new challenges with market reconfiguration.  Ben Jarboe talks with Dean Beaver, grain merchandiser in southern Wisconsin, who says the international market glitches have changed the prices available to farmers.  That means that some are opting to store on farm, or in off-farm storage.  Beaver sales available capacity is going to be ti...

When it comes to conservation, the Brattset Family Farm doesn’t just talk the talk - they graze! In Jefferson County, this mother-daughter duo, Weenonah Brattset and Kirsten Jurcek, have been rotationally grazing beef cattle since 2005. The entire family has transitioned the farm into a thriving ecosystem of healthy soil, clean water, and biodiversity. Their efforts to integrate cropland int...

With the habits flies have of harboring and spreading diseases, it's no wonder people are annoyed when they buzz through their barn. Gene Spellman, Territory Sales Manager with Central Life Sciences, shares their company's simple solution: prevent flies before they start. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Armed with a facelift and an emphasis on precision ag, Supreme International's rebranding is hot off the press. Willem Van Der Kooi is the Territory Sales Manager for the Great Lakes Territory and the SE United States. He tells us about the company's new look and the technology they're leaning into. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harvest is a busy time of year in rural America, and while tractors are rolling through the fields, there’s a team behind the scenes keeping the field crews fueled. Katy Katzman farms in the Whitewater area with her husband, Wes, and their two adult sons, Jake and Aaron. In their business model, Katy holds the title of Business Manager. She tells us what she does to keep morale high during t...

National FFA Convention kicks off this week in Indianapolis, Oct. 29-Nov. 1. FFA members from across the U.S., representing all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are expected to attend the convention, with a select few competing for national glory. This includes Wisconsin native Tyler Leuch. He’s currently a freshman at Iowa State University, studying agricultural business...

The comment period is over for the livestock fee increases proposed by the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. In some cases, the increase would be up to 1,700 percent. DATCP has the rule-making authority to go through with its proposal, but the state Legislature is setting up a bill to keep prices where they are for Wisconsin livestock yards, haulers, and ultimately, produc...

In New Zealand’s Waikato District, a region known as the heart of dairy country, Jo Sheridan is making waves. She was named the 2025 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year for her work on the farm and as demonstration manager on the Owl Farm. She shares her dairy farm story with us and makes some comparisons between dairying on an island and what she’s learned here about dairy farming in Wis...

Water is the number one nutrient needed for animal health and is crucial for crop growth. In the state of Wisconsin, most agricultural operations are groundwater dependent. Adam Freihoefer, the Water Use Section Manager at the Department of Natural Resources, says it's crucial to be good stewards and understand your operation's need for water. He encourages people to treat water like any other com...

When it comes to dairy policy, eyes tend to drift to Washington, D.C., but there’s plenty happening closer to home. Chad Zuleger, executive director of the Dairy Business Association, joins us to share what’s brewing at the state level and how those decisions impact farmers right here in Wisconsin. The conversation with Stephanie Hoff includes a grazing initiative to benefit beef on da...

The customers of Shamrock Cow Care are a little bigger than those that sit in most manicurists' chairs. Edwin “Skip” Blake owns Shamrock Cow Care and prides himself in helping herds across Wisconsin keep their hooves healthy. He tells us what we need to know about keeping hooves healthy year round. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MoDak Dairy has been in operation for over 130 years, and over that time, they’ve had to evolve with a changing ag landscape. The dairy milks 2600 head and breeds for milk quality as well as maintaining a beef-on-dairy program. Greg Moes explains how they utilize Akauski genetics to lean into a niche market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a chill in the air which means it is time to start running furnaces across the state. One great way to do this is with propane. Here to give some details on what is being seen within the propane industry is Cheryl Lytle. She is the Executive Director of Wisconsin Propane Gas Association and says that this year may require a bit more heat in our homes compared to recent times. See omnystud...

On Thursday October 16th President Trump let it slip that the US will be buying Argentine beef to lower prices for the consumers. On the other side the domestic beef industry had a knee-jerk reaction to the news, causing some stir. Here to give the producers' side of the story is Brady Zuck. He is a producer out of Ladysmith Wisconsin and former president of the Wisconsin Cattleman’s associa...

Mike Berg is taking a page from his father's playbook on the 500 acres he owns in Lafayette County.  Berg is one of the finalists in the Leopold Conservation award cycle.  One of the reasons he's being considered is the care and management he deploys on the driftless region he oversees.  The Pecatonica River flows through his property and has caused a lot of issues over the cou...

Today we highlight another farm being celebrated as a finalist for the Leopold Conservation award.  Jill Welke talks to Marathon County farmer, Pat Socha. While growing crops, the Sochas utilize precision technology, no-till practices, and cover crops to reduce erosion and prevent nutrient losses. Buffer strips and a pollinator plot promote biodiversity. To manage timber production and w...

On the farm or on the trail, the ability to maneuver rough terrain is something some people take for granted. Monica Spaeni is the President and Cofounder of Access Ability Wisconsin. She tells us about the organization's chairs and the opportunities they bring to people in rural communities who use them. Their chairs tilt with the terrain, and they can go over corn stalks and rocks. This allows u...