MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Getting out of the classroom doesn’t mean leaving learning behind — for some students, it’s just the beginning. At Reedsburg High School, one senior found a way to turn hard work, real-world skills, and hands-on experience into a path for his future. Senior Jared Behn is in his second year of participating in their Youth Apprenticeship Program. He shares more about his experience...

Elizabeth Yost is one of two managers for Wisconsin Farmers Union's Kamp Kenwood on Lake Wissota. She’s finalizing the attendance for their scheduled camps this summer and organizing volunteers to get the property cleaned up for guests. There’s still time to get your kiddos signed up, but space is filling up fast for their pinecone, junior, and senior options. Yost says parents see a d...

While it is early in the season, Badger Crop Doc Damon Smith says there's a particular disease growers should already be getting ready to monitor. White mold is problematic in Wisconsin. Smith, a professor and Extension specialist with the Department of Plant Pathology at UW-Madison, says growers are probably familiar with Sporecaster, a smartphone app that helps farmers decide how to mitigate whi...

Over 40% of Wisconsin's 2025 potato crop is in the ground!  That's a good start on what producers hope will be a good year.  Ben Jarboe finds out about some of the challenges their facing domestically and internationally with Tamas Houlihan.  Houlihan is the executive director of the WI Potato and Vegetable Growers Association.  Right now he says growers are worried about a dec...

In 2010 a new tool was created to help dairy operators take care of their cattle.  It was called the Dairyland Initiative.  Today, a group of researchers housed on the UW-Madison campus, within the School of Veterinary Medicine, continue to create programs, tools, and apps that help today's dairy producers take care of their cattle, create blueprints for facilities, and manage through ch...

In today's world, gaining real-world experience can be just as important as what happens inside a classroom. For some students, the best lessons come from rolling up their sleeves, stepping outside, and tackling real work head-on. Reedsburg High School senior Wyatt Oetzman is proving that sometimes, the best education starts when the school day ends as he participates in their Youth Apprenticeship...

The implementation of broadband into Wisconsin communities has been a multi-year effort. Alyssa Kenney, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission Director of Broadband and Digital Equity, says that when covid hit that expedited the process. Currently there are only 450,000 locations in the state without broadband and 250,000 of those locations are currently in the process of getting it. The federal...

The latest crop progress report from USDA shows just under 10 percent of soybeans are planted across the state. Badger Crop Doc Damon Smith is hoping to plant soybeans this week at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station. While it is early in the season, Damon says there's a particular disease growers should already be getting ready to monitor. White mold is problematic in Wisconsin.  See...

Wisconsin farms may be unaware that labor trafficking in agriculture could be happening right in front of them. Stephanie Hoff gets familiar with this issue with Mariana Rodriguez, Director of UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee. She gives advice on what farms should be looking for when hiring contract labor to avoid legal implications. She starts us off by explaining what labor trafficking i...

All eyes are on the weather as we gear up for planting season. County Fair Boards also watch the forecast closely. With entertainment and attendance depending on good weather, success can be like flipping a coin. That makes insurance a necessity. Robert Holmes is the president of Spectrum Weather and Specialty Insurance. His clients are nationwide, but his roots are in the Upper Midwest. Robert gr...

Welcome back as we feature specialty crops across Wisconsin and the people who grow them. Today, we’re digging into what it takes to build a small business, take care of the land, and introduce people to grains that haven’t been used in generations. Rochelle Schnadt joins us from Heartland Craft Grains in Lodi. Her family is reviving heritage wheat and other time-honored grains for pas...

Just like farmers in Wisconsin, Australian agriculturists have had to change their game plan often to stay financially viable.  Bob Bosold talks with auctioneer/farmer/land broker, Daniel McCulloch, about how farms have pivoted to beef production and thoughtful selection of genetics.  He also paints the picture of Australian land values that farms must manage. Severe weather is likely on...

Songbirds are in danger because of a threat you may not think of.  Windows.  Ben Jarboe visits with Lisa Gaumnitz from Save Our Songbirds.  She says that every year approximately 3.5 billion birds die from running into windows. SOS is trying to raise awareness about the issue and educate consumers on what they can do to help. Severe weather cascaded across Wisconsin last night.&nbsp...

The Wisconsin potato industry's season is off to a fast start with some starting planting on April 10th. Tamas Houlihan the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association gives an update on the progress producers have made in the fields. He says there are multiple farms that already have over 3,000 acres planted. Houlihan says there are some worries for the industry i...

In Green Bay, football and cheese collided to create unforgettable memories at this years NFL Draft. Many people made special memories during the NFL Draft events, including one talented artist: Vicki Janisch. Known for her love of dairy, Vicki turned heads by carving Wisconsin cheese into touchdown-worthy works of art. Last week, she was the focal point at the NFL Taste of the Draft event held in...

Erin Avila-Vissers plucked her family out of the city of Madison and moved them to the country to get back to her own farming roots. Instead of raising corn, soybeans, and cattle like her family did in Indiana, Erin opted for tulips. Four Acres Flowers in DeForest is a startup agribusiness growing tens of thousands of flowers in the spring, summer, and fall. Rain is in the forecast today, but shou...

In today’s fast-paced world, understanding how different generations think, communicate, and make decisions isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. Jack Kasel of the Anthony Cole Training Group says that for ag bankers working with farm families across multiple age groups, connecting effectively can be the key to building trust, navigating transitions, and helping operations t...

What does it take to host one of Wisconsin’s most iconic agricultural traditions? For Crawford County, it’s a mix of pride, preparation, and a deep love for their rural roots. As the countdown to the 78th Alice in Dairyland finale continues, we’re catching up with Kaitlyn Kesler—a familiar face in Wisconsin agriculture and a key member of this year’s host committee. S...

Uncertainty is nothing new in agriculture—but how farmers and lenders prepare for it can make all the difference. With market shifts, rising costs, and global trade tensions affecting the ag economy, now is a critical time to take stock. Industry veteran Sam Miller, Principal at Fox Street Advisors, shares insight from decades of experience and offers practical advice for navigating today&rs...

Supper clubs are deeply ingrained in Wisconsin culture. They play a big role in not just the state’s dining scene, but our social fabric as a community hub. The organization GENYOUth used this concept as a theme for its exclusive Taste of the Draft event to inspire the community to fight against child hunger. Globally recognized Chef Andrew Zimmern was one of the famous faces at the event. Y...

Roughly 250,000 people are in Green Bay for the 2025 NFL Draft, and Titletown is pulling out all of the stops. GENYOUth is an organization harnessing the hype to raise awareness of child hunger. CEO Ann Marie Kroutheim tells Mid-West Farm Report how their event, "Taste of the Draft," is going to support 50,000 Wisconsin students across 90 schools. Roughly 900 people participated in this exclusive...

The Draft in Green Bay offers something for everyone – foodies, sports enthusiasts, history buffs, and even high schoolers preparing themselves for careers. Ryan Demers is a family and consumer science teacher at Pewaukee High School. He’s at the NFL Draft with his ProStart students as they get real-world experience in culinary arts and customer service before graduating. ProStart is a...

It is day one of the 2025 NFL draft in Green Bay and ag meteorologist Stu Muck says the draft goers may be getting wet. It has been about 2 years since the AMPI plant in Portage had a fire that shut down production for six weeks. Charitee Seebecker talks with Sarah Schmidt, the vice President of Marketing for AMPI about the rebuilding process and how they overcame the event. It is warming up outsi...

Using duct tape as a bandage is common for farm kids and farm kids at heart, but you can’t put duct tape on a stroke. As we enter the busy planting season, be aware of the signs of stroke so that you can seek help before it’s too late. Shannon Huettl, a stroke coordinator at the ThedaCare Appleton location and a nurse on the stroke floor in Neenah, has advice for farmers to both preven...

Amid rising concerns about bird flu affecting dairy cows, experts want the public to know one thing clearly: pasteurized milk is safe. Dr. Keith Poulsen, Director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, emphasized, “Pasteurization is 100% effective. This is not a food safety issue.” He also shared reassuring news: no bird flu virus has been found in Wisconsin dairy cows to d...