MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

If your farm has been in the family for more than 100 or 150 years, you may want to start looking at documentation to prove that lineage. Today, we’re joined by Jeremy Schoenike, the Waupaca County Register of Deeds. His office is responsible for safeguarding land records and vital records like birth, death, and marriage certificates. If your family farm is looking to apply for the Century o...

Maple syrup, beef, and family history -- that's the story from this Centennial Farm in northeastern Pierce County. With help from Compeer Financial, we're celebrating one of Wisconsin’s proudest traditions -- the Century and Sesquicentennial Farm Program. These are farms that have been in the same family for more than 100 or 150 years, carrying on a legacy of hard work, stewardship, and comm...

Fall is coming and to go along with the pumpkins, spiced lattes, and changing leaves, we also have corn Mazes. And a special one in Lodi is paying homage to the state we call home. Ben Jarboe talks to Angie Treinen an owner of the Treinen Farm Corn Maze.  So why is Wisconsin the focus of this year's maze and what does it take to encapsulate the details? She says this maze is on 15 acres...

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin has partnered with the Wisconsin Sports Network to celebrate high school athletes who also work or are involved in dairy farming. “WSN is a perfect partner,” said Jessica Kelley, DFW district director for Richland and Sauk counties. “They have strong roots in local athletics, and by working with them, we’re able to highlight student-athletes who n...

When life throws unexpected challenges at farm families, whether it’s illness, injury, or disaster, Farm Rescue is there to keep the wheels turning. With the help of dedicated volunteers, they step in to plant, harvest, haul, and even feed livestock, making sure families can keep farming through the toughest times. Today, we’re talking with Wade Peterson of Baraboo, who has been lendin...

Attend one or more of the free Agricultural Community Engagement (ACE) Twilight Meetings on August 25, 26, 27, and 28 from 6-8:30 p.m., in Durand, Tomah, Newton, and Watertown. Each meeting will kick off with a farm tour at 6 p.m., followed by ice cream and open discussions. In an interview with Mid-West Farm Report, Duane Chapman of Chapman Farms Dairy in Tomah (Tuesday's host) explains why these...

We’re heading to Airy Point Farms in St. Cloud, Wisconsin, where thousands of dahlias burst into bloom each summer. Nicole and Derek Sippel made the leap from six generations of conventional dairying into agricultural tourism -- hosting U-pick flowers, festivals, and community events. Nicole shares the challenges and opportunities of running a direct-to-consumer business, and why Dahlia Days...

Retirement is something that’s usually celebrated with parties and congratulations. But in farming, it doesn’t quite go like that. There are a few reasons for this, but the main one is a question of identity. If you’re not a farmer, then who are you? That question typically delays farm transitions and succession planning. University of Missouri Extension Farm Transition Specialis...

Hemp harvest has begun. It is the ideal time to harvest hemp for fiber. Grain harvest is in its early stages. Overall, it has been a good growing season as the crop likes warm conditions with adequate moisture.  Late season precipitation and higher humidity creates ideal conditions for insects. Producers will watch these pressures into the fall. Phillip Alberti is a Research Program Manager i...

Wisconsin soybean harvest is right around the corner but before farmers get in their combines, the Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA) is reminding growers to enter the 2025 Wisconsin Soybean Yield Contest before the Aug. 31, 2025, deadline.  “You can’t win if you don’t enter,” said WSA Director Shawn Conley, a professor in the agronomy department at the University of...

Wisconsin has a history in hemp production that dates back to 1908 when farmers started growing the crop.  The state played a key role during World War II when hemp was being used for rope. Today, hemp is used in a variety of products but the key is growing a crop that meets market quality requirements.  Kiley Allan visits with UW-Madison Hemp Research Program Manager, Phillip Alberti.&n...

Imagine going from bystander to lifesaver in just minutes. That’s the mission of Stop the Bleed – a provider of bleeding control training. The goal is to empower anyone, anywhere, to take three simple actions that can control severe bleeding and save a life. Kathi Hegranes joins us from the Trauma Center at ThedaCare Neenah and the Fox Valley Regional Trauma Advisory Council. She says...

Agriculture plays a part in everything we do. Recently, I was surprised to learn that agriculture even has a role in tattoo art. Graham Cassellius joins us from his 34-acre farm named Cassell Hollow Farm in Vernon County. When he bought the farm more than a decade ago, he inherited about 3,500 hazelnut trees. It took a few years for him to decide that it was time to start making something with tho...

Exhibiting livestock is a labor of love. Long hours and late nights in the barn ensure both the animal and the exhibitor are ready for the big day. Extension Youth Livestock Specialist, Bernie O’Rourke,  explains the best practices to keep livestock calm at fairs. She says it all starts at home! From flight zone to proper loading and unloading tips, Bernie tells us how exhibitors can ma...

What stresses are affecting your yield? Ryan Schnoes is the District Leader for Biologicals at Corteva Agriscience. He tells us about common stresses to our corn and soybean crops, and what the company is aiming to accomplish with their products.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wet conditions means crops are more susceptible to diseases. Pioneer Commercial Unit Agronomy Lead Matt Essick talks the major threats to our corn and soybeans and how farmers can be proactive during the early summer months. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Managing weeds is much more of a challenge in our soybean fields. Eric Scherder, Ph. D. is the US Crop Protection Technical Lead at Corteva Agriscience. He tells us about the common weeds in our corn and soybean fields. He focuses on the importance of a pre-emergent application and having a thorough understanding of your fields. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The healthier the pasture, the healthier the cattle. Abe Smith, the Ranch & Pasture Specialist with Corteva Agriscience, tells us how a diverse and thriving pasture can benefit your bottom line. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's that time of year!  Manure pits are being emptied and farm fields are fragrant. Although most think of the DNR as the wildlife enforcers, they're also responsible for monitoring manure management. Jason Knutson, the Watershed Management Director with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources talks to Ben Jarboe. He says they focus on making sure farms stay within their permits a...

The U.S. is at a competitive disadvantage globally when it comes to trade.  That's the summary from Dr. Dave Kohl,  Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Finance and Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship at Virginia Tech.  He talks with Bob Bosold about a SWOT ( Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threat) he's conducting on the U.S.  He says one of the alarms is the...

Peaches may not be the first fruit you think of in Wisconsin, but cold-hardy varieties allow farms like Creek Bed Farmacy in Poynette to grow them successfully. Farmer Julie Schoeneberg says the trees thrive on the farm’s rolling hills, which provide good drainage, and southern Wisconsin’s climate offers the “chill units” peaches need to set buds. While last year&rsquo...

This weekend the 62nd Badger Steam and Gas Engine Club Show chugs into Baraboo.  If you look across the audience, you may notice that it's heavily male influenced, but that doesn't mean that the fairer sex isn't engaged. Heidi Knuth was born into the hobby of collecting John Deere equipment. It's a family tradition for the Knuths. She is proud to be a woman in the hobby and takes pr...

Josie Bailey is the 2025 National Guernsey Queen. Her family lives in Tomah with a herd that is majority Holstein. She fell in love with the Guernsey breed after helping a friend at the state fair. The experience sparked her interest in starting her own herd of the Guernseys. What started nearly 3 years ago with one cow, has become a herd of 11. She utilizes careful breeding an...

It may be late in the growing season, but it isn't too late to monitor the health and wellness of crops. Jacob Getz is a Certified Crop Specialist with Insight FS in the Madison area. Farmers are expecting a good corn and soybean crop. He says there is some pathogen pressure, and it isn't too late to make a fungicide application if deemed necessary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Bob Wilson didn't start out as a bison producer.  The owner/operator of Morning Star Bison in Nanaimo, BC started in beef - until Mad Cow Disease decimated the Canadian market and forced him to rethink his ranching plans. Today Wilson has a herd of 50 bison on roughly 200 acres he's carved from timber land.  He's had to really carefully manage his animals and checkbook with a historical...