MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

As we gear up for a new administration and a new makeup in Congress, agriculture groups watch closely. The people advocating on the hill for agriculture policy are charged with building new relationships and crafting the message they hope will resonate with lawmakers and President Trump’s cabinet leaders. Ethan Lane is among them. He’s the vice president of government affairs with the National Cat...

As Wisconsin’s open enrollment period for health insurance begins, Insurance Commissioner Nathan Houdek is encouraging farmers and families across the state to take action. With approximately 312,000 Wisconsin residents uninsured, Houdek stresses the importance of exploring affordable health coverage options now. "While Wisconsin is fortunate to have a competitive health insurance market, there ar...

What do a high-performance car and a dairy cow have in common? Well, it’s all about the details. A luxury car needs the right road and maintenance to perform at its best. Similarly, dairy cows need proper care, environment, and management to reach their full potential. Chlem Nash, Technical Manager for Novus International, highlights the importance of this connection. Advancements in genetics and...

Philip Schroeder’s family farm in Sauk County has a rich history dating back to the 1800s, with the original deed tied to the War of 1812. Purchased by his family in 1874, the farm has seen its share of challenges, including a legal battle over a 40-acre parcel in 1923. Throughout the years, the farm has remained a staple of dairy production, with Philip continuing the tradition until his retireme...

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has released a long-awaited final decision with reforms to pricing formulas used by the Federal Milk Marketing Order system. “While not all of our proposals were included in the final decision, and we believe more could have been done to enhance the pricing formula, we are satisfied that the changes do not negatively impact our dairy farmer members," says Ed...

There's no doubt about it - Wisconsin has a lot of manure to manage year round.  Keeping track of where it goes is not only good fertilizer management, it's necessary nutrient management accountability.  Stephanie Hoff talks to a UW-Extension Specialist, Chris Clark, who's introducing a new app that makes it easier.  Manure Tracker App can advise applicators when they're in an area of a field that...

Aztalan Bio, a leading ethanol producer, has made significant strides in refining its processes, according to CEO Jeff Oestmann. As the corn harvest comes in early this year, Oestmann notes that the crop's dry quality is beneficial. "Corn is coming out of the field very dry, which is great for maintaining the quality of the harvested grain," he says. One of the key innovations at Aztalan Bio is th...

With winter fast approaching, Wisconsin farmers are preparing for a season of unpredictable weather, following a warmer-than-usual winter last year. Steve Vavrus, Wisconsin’s State Climatologist, shares key insights into what the winter outlook holds. "We’re not expecting the extreme warmth of last winter," Vavrus explains. "In fact, NOAA’s National Weather Service is forecasting an equal chance o...

There's a new requirement for farms that are organized as an LLC or corporation.  Bridget Finke with Valley Crossing Law explains the details to Bob Bosold. Wisconsin's staying above average with temperatures for the next 48 hours according to Stu Muck, ag meteorologist. Cody Quam from Lodi has been recognized as the Outstanding Young Breeder by the American Angus Association.  The honors were pre...

With colder temperatures arriving, homeowners may soon find themselves playing reluctant hosts to unwelcome guests like mice and squirrels. Marcus Mueller, owner of Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, shares insight into why rodents become more active as winter approaches. “As soon as temperatures start to drop below freezing at night, we see a rise in rodent activity,” he explains. “They’re lookin...

February 6-7, 2025, the Kalahari Resort will come to life with farmers from across the upper Midwest for the annual Corn/Soy Expo. Adam Kask, executive director of the Wisconsin Soybean Association and the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, tells Pam Jahnke that exhibit space is more than half spoken for already, and speakers are stacking up with excellent content for growers. Growers are being en...

Jeff Morris the UW-Extension Swine Specialist is busy planning a meeting happening tomorrow in Madison.  Morris tells Pam Jahnke that the states hog population continues to grow, and features a lot of diversity.  From larger operations to pasture raised to 4-H projects.  His seminars are focused on seasonal questions that new pork producers might have. Trace amount of rain reported by rainfall rep...

This year had some adverse weather in the state of Wisconsin, and it has led some farmers to finally tile their fields after multiple years of drought. Troy Aalsma, a sales representative with Kartechner Brothers, speaks to the demand increase they have seen. He also explains why they have seen this demand, as well how they have seen it change throughout the year with the transition from near floo...

Schoepp Farms, led by Ron Schoepp, is a pioneer in sustainable agriculture in Wisconsin. Established in 1949 when Schoepp's father moved to the area, the farm has embraced conservation practices that keep it thriving today. Schoepp Farms manages a rotational grazing operation, dairy heifers, beef cattle, and various row crops, including alfalfa, wheat, and cover crops. Over the years, the farm has...

If you depend on the U.S. Postal Service, you’ll want to pay attention to proposed changes in delivery times. It’s going to have the biggest impact on rural Wisconsinites. The postal service’s new operational plan will save them $3 billion per year, but it will be at the expense of rural residents, explains Congressman Tom Tiffany. Rural areas will see an additional day for delivery and no more af...

Sauerkraut is being reimagined in a small northeast Wisconsin community.  Flanagan Sauerkraut has been produced by local farms in Bear Creek, WI for decades.  Now Fermented Food Holdings, Inc. is investing $13 million to expand local production in Bear Creek and relocate its corporate headquarters to Madison. CEO Jorge Azevedo explains their plans and their new flavors to Pam Jahnke. Stu Muck's wa...

Wisconsin's Legislature doesn't look the same after this election cycle, which took place under new district maps. This year, all 99 Assembly seats and half of the 33 state Senate seats were up for grabs. Representative Travis Tranel kept his seat. He chairs the Assembly Agriculture Committee. He says his Republican caucus has a slimmer majority this year, and that not all agriculture leadership w...

David Johnson's family has deep roots in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, with a farm dating back to 1919. His grandfather, originally from Sweden, worked his way across the world before settling in Merrill, where he purchased the farm and began farming with his wife and four daughters. Over the years, the farm weathered the hardships of the Great Depression, a devastating tornado, and the challenges of...

The Mayer family's sesquicentennial farm in Washington County, Wisconsin, has a rich history that dates back to 1853 when it was homesteaded by the family. Originally a 50-acre wheat farm, the property transitioned into a dairy farm around the turn of the century. Over the years, the farm has been passed down through generations, and today, it serves not only as a thriving agricultural operation b...

As the seasons change, calves can face increased health challenges. Dr. Ryan Breuer, Clinical Assistant Professor and Diagnostic Case & Outreach Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, emphasizes the importance of maintaining vigilant health practices for young calves. “Calf issues occur year-round, but seasonal changes often bring an increase in disease proce...

As Thanksgiving approaches, a common question is will there be enough turkey for everyone? The answer is yes. Ashley Kohls, the Executive Director of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association gives the outlook on the supply, as well as some helpful tips for finding and cooking the turkey for your gathering. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next week the Leopold Conservation Award winners for 2024 will be announced.  Charitee Seebecker reintroduces us to Bartling Cranberry operations in Manitowish Waters. They are one the farms up for the prestigious honors. The Rocky Mountains have gotten the first measurable snow of the season.  Stu Muck says Colorado Springs is expecting a foot of the white stuff today! As fields have been harvest...

Whether you’ve got 3,000 cows or three chickens, the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium is reminding you to update your premise ID if you have livestock. Julie Sweney is WLIC’s executive director. They are the organization that manages these premise registrations for the state. If there’s an animal disease outbreak, it allows the state to come up with a plan to protect livestock owners....

Jim Flaherty from AARP Wisconsin joins Pam Jahnke to discuss a few holiday scams and what people can do to protect themselves. First let’s start with Package Delivery Scams. Flaherty says these scams start with a text claiming your package is on hold because of an issue. They claim to be from the Postal Service, UPS or FedEx, and they include a link to a website. Once there you’ll be asked to veri...

Wisconsin’s forest products industry contributes $37.8 billion in total economic value to the state and ranks second nationally for production value. The industry also ranks sixth nationally in generating forestry employment, with more than 123,000 jobs in the state. Forest products are not only important to Wisconsin’s economy, but they positively impact our lives. “From paper products such as fo...