MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

You've likely heard us talk throughout the month about becoming a rainfall reporter through the National Weather Service's Rain Gauge Rally. But how did this initiative come to be? It all started when the National Weather Service partnered with a creative group of University of Wisconsin-Madison students to develop a fresh and engaging way to encourage people to get involved. One of those students...

The Carbon, Crops + Cows program, hosted by Professional Dairy Producers, helps farmers measure and manage sustainability metrics while exploring future opportunities and challenges. This one-day event will be held on March 25 in Kewaunee, and March 26 in Sun Prairie, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with lunch and materials provided. Executive Director Shelly Mayer has the details. Learn more: https://pdpw...

With weather starting to warm up farmers are thinking about the upcoming planting season. One of the top questions ahead of planting is whether a field should be tilled or cultivated or not. Francisco Arriaga a soil science specialist with UW-Extension says that whenever possible do not till. Choosing not to till allows nutrients to stay within the soil to better this year's crop while also decrea...

Typically, through mid-March Wisconsin has around 30-50 wildfires. This year the state has seen 227. Jolene Ackerman the wildland urban program coordinator with the DNR says that an unusually dry winter may be to blame. Ackerman also says that recent warm days have led to more outdoor activities and burns that have broken containment. She also gives details on the DNR's course of action when a fir...

Sarah Hagenow, Poynette, feels at home in Wisconsin’s agricultural industry and enjoys telling the stories of its hard-working people. She is a senior at the University of Minnesota and will graduate with a degree in agricultural and food business management and a minor in international agriculture. Hagenow’s youth was characterized by involvement in 4-H and FFA, which spurred her to j...

Olivia Lulich, Lyndon Station, currently teaches agricultural education at Viroqua Area Schools. She graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture education. There she held leadership roles in Block and Bridle, National Agri-Marketing Association, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ambassadors, and the International Sales Team. As a 4-H and FFA member, she ow...

Rain Gauge Rally 2025 continues with the National Weather Service asking the general public to engage as rainfall reporters and weather observers. Ben Jarboe finds out more about the staff behind the forecast by talking to Sarah Marquardt, Senior Service Hydrologist / Meteorologist in the NWS office in Sullivan.  She explains how they network with other forecasters to pool information and kno...

Calving season can be one of the most rewarding yet challenging times on the farm. Ensuring healthy deliveries and strong calves requires preparation, vigilance, and the right tools on hand. Charitee Seebecker gets some tips from veterinarian, Dr. Angela Garavet, with Armor Animal Health says that with unpredictable weather and unexpected complications always a possibility, knowing what steps to t...

Farmers now have a new opportunity to improve their crop yields with the launch of BASF’s Real Results Yield Challenge. This initiative aims to show how fungicides can protect yields and maximize returns. Recent USDA data shows that average crop yields were down 5% in late 2024. "We heard many farmers express regret over missed fungicide applications that impacted their yields," said Brady S...

Challenges on the farm? Maybe your mind first moves to equipment malfunctions, animal health, or crop conditions. Weather and markets probably top the list, too. But Farm Management Outreach Specialist Stephanie Plaster says more and more families struggle with navigating child care and health insurance options. She calls these "hidden challenges" on farms. Stephanie is hosting a workshop on how t...

Don’t jump the gun in putting your cattle out on pasture. It could hurt your forage supply in the long run. This is according to Adam Abel. He’s the State Grazing Land Specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service or NRCS. He jokes that when he sees animals grazing already this time of year, he’s got to refrain from knocking on doors. He advises new grazers to g...

Natalie Roe, Monticello, grew up on a 5,000-acre cash crop farm with a commercial grain elevator. Roe graduated from UW-Madison in December 2024 with bachelor’s degrees in dairy science and life sciences communication and a certificate in digital studies. After holding many summer internships in agriculture and communications roles, Roe now works full-time with Broadhead as a social media co...

Mikayla Flyte, Coloma, is completing a master’s degree in exercise science with a concentration in sports psychology from Ripon College. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in English and education from Ripon College in spring 2024 after student teaching at Berlin Middle School and Laconia High School. Flyte competed for five years on the college’s cross-country team and is...

Farmers are facing a bumpy road ahead as trade policies and global economic shifts create uncertainty in agriculture. Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company, recently shared his insights on these challenges and what they mean for the industry. "We're now trading every headline," Basse explained. "Many experienced traders are stepping away because forecasting decisions has become difficult." On...

For many people in Wisconsin, farming is a way of life, but what if you were to have an accident that changed how you do things forever? John Mitchell of Mitchell Brothers farm shares his story of an accident that had him questioning the future of his operation. After losing his right arm and needing his left foot reattached, he shares how the AgrAbility program has allowed him to continue doing w...

Data on the farm is valuable, not just to the farmer but to other business entities. But who really owns and controls on-farm data coming in through smart devices? Bill Oemichen is a professor of law at UW-Madison's Division of Extension. He tells us where your farm information is going and how you can get additional value from the data. First, he reminds us just how much information a farm can pr...

Michelle Stangler, Watertown, grew up on her family’s dairy farm and was active in 4-H and FFA. She earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism and agricultural marketing communications in May 2024 from UW-River Falls. There she held leadership roles in Collegiate Farm Bureau and other agricultural communication organizations. Stangler completed internships with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Mi...

Allison Foster, Waupun, is an enthusiastic food scientist with a passion for sharing the story of agriculture and food with others. Foster is a Scientist II at Grande Cheese Company where she works to improve cheesemaking processes and create new products. She holds a Bachelor of Science in dairy science from UW-Platteville, where she gained experience in research and communications. In addition t...

A Wisconsin beef producer has been named secretary/treasurer of the Cattlemen's Beef Board.  Terry Quam from Marda Angus in Lodi was named to the position in January.  Bob Bosold visits with Quam about the direction of the industry, challenges identified by CBB, and how they're working to invest checkoff dollars wisely to get answers. Today will be fine weatherwise, but Wednesday gets in...

Calving season can be one of the most rewarding yet challenging times on the farm. Ensuring healthy deliveries and strong calves requires preparation, vigilance, and the right tools on hand. Veterinarian Dr. Angela Garavet with Armor Animal Health says that with unpredictable weather and unexpected complications always a possibility, knowing what steps to take can make all the difference. For addi...

Springtime is busy for the equine veterinarians on staff at IronGate Clinic in Madison. Howard Ketover is one of them. He serves farms, hobbyists, and boarding facilities across Dane County and beyond. He says he puts a lot of miles on in the spring because horses and their owners are in a key transition period. It’s time to move from a less active winter season to a more physical summer rou...

March is National Nutrition Month and "beef" wants to be a part of that conversation! Shalene McNeill, PhD, RDN, NCBA’s executive director of Nutrition Science, Health & Wellness, along with Tammy Vaassen, executive director of the Wisconsin Beef Council both want you to know the truth of beef protein and what it brings to your diet. Driving beef demand begins with research, and recent r...

While the buzz has largely been on the national scene with department cuts and program elimination, here in Wisconsin work is quietly ongoing to craft budget plans and programs.  Ben Jarboe gets an update on one senator's perspective and objectives. Senator Brad Pfaff grew up in agriculture and was temporary Secretary of Agriculture at WDATCP.  He explains to Jarboe what his targets are...

The National Weather Service relies on volunteer weather observers to provide real-time weather data. That data helps meteorologists make more accurate predictions. Tim Halbach is the warning coordination meteorologist for NWS-Milwaukee. He says one weather observer in one town isn't enough because precipitation amounts can vary greatly between miles alone. NWS and Mid-West Farm Report are encoura...

Top of mind for many dairy farmers is the farm's efficiency as well as animal welfare. Emily Skowronski and Katie Darnell with Cattle Care share how their use of cameras tracks employees work while making sure the cattle are comfortable. The cameras have AI for facial recognition so farmers can track each worker throughout the operation. They also watch the cattle's actions and notify the farmer i...