MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

As spring lawn care season ramps up across Wisconsin, homeowners are beginning to mow, fertilize, and battle weeds in hopes of achieving a healthy yard. But according to Doug Soldat, an extension turfgrass specialist with University of Wisconsin–Madison, many people may actually be harming their lawns without realizing it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Graduation has happened for many high school, tech college and college students!  Excitement and ambition abound, but what about job opportunities?  Ben Jarboe finds out about different ag related job fields from Tammy Jensen, CEO of AgriCareers, Inc. in Iowa gives an overview of high-demand spots.  She also has a little advice for graudates that might be in an area with a little mo...

The Apple Pest Cooperator Network is a group of apple orchards throughout the state of Wisconsin that monitor insect populations through pheromone traps. Growers who participate in the program record the number of pests found in their trap and send those details to DATCP. From there, folks like entomologist Krista Hamilton record the numbers and publish the counts to their website and Field Notes...

The highs and lows of farming aren’t easy, but Danielle Clark of Mayberry Farms says they’re worth it. When Danielle and her husband purchased their Mayville farm in 2017, it had a rich history of opening its gates to the community for a pick your own strawberry experience. With the goal of keeping the farm in production and raising their children in agriculture, the Clarks continued t...

As an Extension Entomologist, PJ Liesch spends a lot of time thinking about ticks. Technically arachnids, ticks are obligate blood feeders. This means they need to take a blood meal so they can go to the next phase of their life cycle. This means that many outdoor enthusiasts often run into them while getting some fresh air. Many people have been saying this is a good year for ticks. So I asked PJ...

Woods Equipment designs and manufactures tractor equipment. They have things for earth-working, such as backhoes, but their bread and butter are products for mowing grass, brush, roadsides and even shredding crops. And that's exactly why it makes sense for them to celebrate their 80th anniversary by supporting UW-Madison's Turfgrass Association Field Day this coming August. Jillian Love, the Marke...

It is a Wyffels Wednesday and Luke Bird, the District 17 manager, joins Ben Jarboe to talk about what's happening. He says in his area they are around 95% planted and are now looking for some rain. Wyffels is also celebrating it's 80th anniversary and Luke says they have some exciting things coming up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We can expect a chill down leading into the weekend, but it looks to be great for Memorial Day according to ag meteorologist Stu Muck. If you've been to a restaurant recently you may have noticed higher prices on the menu. Pam Jahnke chats with Susan Quam, the executive vice president of the Wisconsin Restaurants Association, to figure out why. It is once again a Wyffels Wednesday and Ben Jarboe c...

Today's dairy operator's are being asked a lot.  Many industry partners need to share details about sustainability practices with their consumers, but need the dairy story as part of the dialog.  Stephanie Hoff talks with Jennifer Block, director of value chain partnerships, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative.  Dairy farmers have improved efficiency for decades, but they have l...

On Saturday evening in Wausau, Anastasia Poull was introduced as the 79th Alice in Dairyland.  Poull holds 3 degrees from South Dakota State University along with 2 minors.  She tells Bob Bosold a little bit more about herself, and what she imagines she might focus on as the states next agriculture ambassador.  DATCP also announced that Milwaukee County will host the 80th annual Ali...

Agriculture plays a crucial part in the state of Wisconsin's economy, and that's exactly why the folks at the Food and Farm Exploration Center feel it's important to honor the people who make the industry run. Kathleen O'Leary, a member of the board of directors for the Food and Farm Exploration Center, and Amy Wiernik, the donor development director, stopped by to tell us about their Rooted in Gr...

Dean Edge hails from Rimbey, Alberta, Canada. Edge became only the third Canadian to win the World Livestock Auctioneer Champion  contest, which debuted in 1963.  Edge made a trip to Thorp, WI to appear at the Premiere Livestock Auction yard.  Jill Welke had a chance to find out why this young man decided to pursue this field as his career.   “This world championship...

Regenerative agriculture is finding favor in the dairy industry.  Stephanie Hoff gets some practical knowledge from Mara Cloutier, program manager, and Jack Herricks, Cashton dairy farmer, of the Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration project.  It's an eight-year, multi-state project that began in 2021, focusing on dairy-heavy states including California, Idaho, Texas, Wisconsin,...

Spring field activities have been accelerated because of the cool, wet start.  Ben Jarboe finds out about insects adding more pressure to the system. Dr. Emily Bick, UW-Entomologist says that alfalfa weevil seem to be a little delayed in their presence this spring. Bick says it's important that farmers don't lose sight on the threat the small insect can bring to an otherwise healthy alfalfa f...

Stephanie Hoff explores the collaborative powerhouse of the UW Dairy Innovation Hub through interviews with the agricultural deans of UW-Madison, UW-Platteville, and UW-River Falls. From 3D printing with spoiled milk to cutting-edge nutrient modeling, the high-impact research and new academic programs drive Wisconsin's dairy industry forward. Glenda Gillaspy, Carrie Keller, and Michael Orth also d...

Ice cream is a staple of the Wisconsin experience, but for the millions of Americans who struggle with lactose intolerance, it has long been a treat enjoyed with hesitation or avoided entirely.  A new collaborative study between researchers at UW-Madison and UW-River Falls is looking to change that by proving that lactose-free dairy is not just scientifically simple, but a potentially lucrati...

In this episode, Portage, Waushara, and Wood County Board Director Stephanie Hughes highlights how Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is shaping the next generation through youth and school initiatives. We dive into key partnerships with the FFA and WIAA, including DFW’s role in sponsoring high-level agricultural competitions and being the official beverage of Wisconsin high school sports. Plus, dis...

Consumers are continuing to confront high beef prices at the store. Is the industry closer to helping resolve the imbalance?  Stephanie Hoff finds out with the help of Jeff Swenson, meat and livestock specialist, DATCP.  Swenson says high cattle prices are leading to larger swings in both directions, influenced by fluctuating harvest rates and packer demand. Despite market volatility, fa...

Wisconsin farmers are definitely making up for lost time!  The latest planting progress report showed 31% of the corn was in the ground as of Sunday, 5/10.  Cooper Humphries, district sales manager with Wyffels Hybrids says that growers don't want to make mistakes in a rush to catch up. Humphries specifically notes sidewall compaction and press wheel pressure when it comes to planter set...

Despite challenging weather conditions, Wisconsin potato growers still could take to the fields!  While they may be focused on day-to-day planting chores, they can't help but wonder how their market will look by harvest.  Ben Jarboe does a deeper dive on the situation with Tamas Houlihan, executive director of the WI Potato and Vegetable Growers Association.  Houlihan says there's b...

Host Ben Jarboe Takes us through how fishing for him has been since the Governors Open on May 2nd. Curtis Cecchi, a guide with Fox Valley Outdoors, also joins the show to give a look at how the Northwoods fishing has been. He says now is the perfect time to head up there and hook into some trophy smallmouth. This episode is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops in Sun Prairie and Petland in Janesville....

Between Wisconsin’s unpredictable weather patterns, shifting global policies, and volatile market prices, much of a producer's success depends on factors outside their control. Susan Brugger, an agent with Rural Mutual Insurance based in Dodgeville and Fennimore, shares her expertise on how farmers, from Wisconsin hobbyists to large-scale operators, can use insurance to protect their "b...

The Agricultural Road Improvement Program, or ARIP as the Department of Transportation (DOT) likes to call it, is a program that has seen a real, big-time impact on Wisconsin's infrastructure and economy, according to John DesRivieres. He's the communication director for the Wisconsin DOT. The program is a dedicated state funding source that improves the roads used by farmers and producers to tran...

Mary Lewandowski works on her family’s dairy farm in Wisconsin. Her great-great-great-grandparents founded the farm more than a hundred years ago. Today, the farm has some fifty cows that must be fed, milked, and kept happy and healthy. Corn and alfalfa need to be planted and harvested for their feed. It’s all a lot of work for Mary, but she loves her cows, and they provide us with mil...

We often think of our food starting at the farm and ending on our forks, but there is a massive middle ground that keeps the entire system running: the processing stage. But what happens when food processors are disrupted, particularly with labor strikes? UW-Madison Assistant Professor Jeff Hadachek with the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and the Division of Extension, tells Step...