MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

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....

Farmers deal with all types of stress.  Weather, prices.  Monica McConkey is a rural mental health specialist and one of two state-funded farm counselors in Minnesota. She has some advice for us on how and when to get help before you or a loved one goes into crisis mode. After all, the agriculture community is even more susceptible to stress and depression due to the weather and crop prices. She d...

In September, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates for the first time in four years. They cut rates by a half point to support the economy. But the move is likely to not play a role in stimulating the ag economy as farmers face low grain prices, explains agricultural banker Jeff Wilke of Green Bay. Wilke is the chair of the Agricultural Banking Section within the Wisconsin Bankers Associatio...

Landmark Creamery has officially moved into its new production space near Monroe and has started bulking up their sheep milk cheese production by nearly triple the amount. Anna Landmark is a cheesemaker and co-owner of Landmark Cheese. She says with support from the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance, they’ve been able to accomplish a long-awaited dream. Landmark Creamery has moved into the former...

Dorothy Harms, the chairperson of the Farmer Angel Network says their goal is to help get the word out about farmer mental health and help families get the help they need for their loved ones. This also led to a sister chapter formed by Jennifer Webster who lost her father to suicide. They each tell their stories and give tips on how to recognize signs of mental distress. The state Department of T...

Have you ever considered giving farm tours on your dairy? Joe Statz, an owner at Statz Brothers Dairy Farms in Sun Prairie, says it's rewarding. His family milks about 4,700 cows and farms 10,000 acres of land. He says farm tours are an opportunity to tell the farm’s history, share their pride, and showcase how they steward the land. Dairy farmers looking to give tours have resources available to...

Beau Hartline, farm manager at Alsum Farms in Arena and Grand Marsh, says it was a bit of a mad dash to get the potatoes out of the ground before the frost on Oct. 15. He says the yield was average or a little bit below this year for many growers. Now, those spuds are going to be in storage for up to 10 months. In other news, the Idaho-based Lamb Weston, the largest producer of french fries in Nor...

As we transition into the winter meeting season, preparations are underway for a significant conference in Wisconsin Dells, set for December 17-18, which combines the Discovery Farms and Wisconsin Cover Crop conferences. This year’s focus will be on managing soil health and water quality while addressing challenges like herbicide-resistant weeds. With over 400 expected attendees, including farmers...

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is taking big steps to improve the roads that farmers rely on every day. Launched as part of the 2023 budget, the Agricultural Road Improvement Program (ARIP), is set to upgrade around 490 miles of agricultural roadways. Joel Nilsestuen, Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation shares more about the program and just how mu...

The harvest this fall has come on fast with the dry weather, and cooperatives are working to make sure farmers have a place for their grain. Justin Friesz, the senior director of commodity training at CHS, explains that with this fast inflow of grain they are working to transport out grain as fast as possible to allow a place for farmers to store. This is creating a stress on the transportation in...

While the county fair season may be over – it’s still on the mind of some. Jayme Buttke shares how this fair season went and what's next for the Wisconsin Association of Fairs. Are you using your refrigerator drawers correctly? Are you extending the shelf life of your apples, onions, or squash to the best of your ability? Rachel Wandrei works with a locally grown program within the Minnesota Depar...

Are you using your refrigerator drawers correctly? Are you extending the shelf life of your apples, onions, or squash to the best of your ability? Rachel Wandrei works with a locally grown program within the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. She tells us how to get the most out of our fall bounty, whether we grew it ourselves or picked it up at an orchard, patch, or farmers market. And guess wh...

It's been 20 years since the cranberry was named Wisconsin's state fruit. Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association Executive Director Grant Holley tells Charitee Seebecker that the cranberry yield looks good as producers continue harvesting through the end of the month. The heat late in the season helped. After harvest, WSCGA will focus on improving workforce development. Cocoa prices have do...

Lucas Clayton joins us on a Wyffels Wednesday. Clayton is a district sales manager with Wyffels Hybrids in the Southwest corner of Wisconsin. As you plan for the 2025 growing season, Wyffels Hybrids can help you make the best decision for your field. Since no two growing seasons are the same, having multiple years of data behind a hybrids package is a valuable asset, Clayton explains. Plant your i...

Elanco Animal Health has introduced Bovear, a new feed ingredient that helps dairy farmers cut down on methane emissions from their cows. This innovative product can reduce emissions by up to 30% without affecting milk production. Jose Simas, Executive Vice President of Farm Animal Business for Elanco says that if 1 million cows were fed Bovear, it would be like taking more than 285,000 cars off t...

Rick Adamski and Valerie Dantoin, operators of Full Circle Farm, have been honored as finalists for the prestigious Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award. This recognition highlights their commitment to sustainable farming practices and their innovative conservation efforts on their family-owned farm, which has been in the Adamski family for over 100 years. "My grandparents purchased the farm in 19...

The Wisconsin cranberry industry, led by the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association, continues to thrive amid challenging weather conditions and ongoing shifts in agricultural practices. Grant Holley, the Executive Director of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association, reflects on his experience and the resilience of the cranberry farming community as the 2024 cranberry season unfol...

The Farmer Angel Network has helped bring the issue of farmers mental health to the forefront in Wisconsin. Dorothy Harms, the chairperson of the Farmer Angel Network of South-Central Wisconsin, explains that they started the network after one of her friends passed away by suicide and knew something had to be done to advocate for the issue. This also led to a sister chapter being formed last year...

These last months before winter are key to a successful lawn for next year. Turfgrass Extension Specialist Paul Koch says mowing, mulching, herbicide application, and seeding this fall could improve your property for spring. Wisconsin may look forward to some much-needed rain this week. Ag meteorologist Stu Muck has the details. Your neighbor isn't your No. 1 buyer anymore when it's time to sell e...

Dellait Animal Nutrition & Health has introduced 3D camera technology to help dairy farmers manage their herds better. This advanced tool monitors key health factors like body condition and weight for improved productivity and overall cow health. “This 3D camera has many uses on a dairy farm,” says Abbi Goldenberg, Dellait’s Business Development Manager. “It tracks body condition in heifers fo...

Microorganisms -- good and bad -- are all around us. Farmers can harness these tiny organisms to their advantage by making the farm more productive, sustainable, or efficient. Kassidy Buse is a technical support specialist for Lallemand Animal Nutrition. She gives us real-life examples of how microscopic organisms are improving agriculture. It goes beyond agriculture, too. She says breweries, bake...

Farmers have long prioritized the health of their land, air, water, and animals, a tradition that spans generations. The recent Dairy Producer Survey shows that this commitment is still strong in Wisconsin's dairy industry. Joining us for this month's check-in with Dairy Checkoff is Chad Vincent, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, who shares insights on how the survey highlights Wisconsin's reputa...

It is Monday October 21st and it is going to be another hot day nearing record highs according to Stu Muck during the Compeer Financial Ag weather update. Bob Bosold joins the show with Peter Vitaliano, the vice president for economic policy and market research for the National Milk Producers Federation, to discuss FMMO policies and reform that is needed in the dairy industry. Charitee Seebecker j...

The UW-Madison Division of Extension is once again offering a valuable resource for Wisconsin farmers and agribusinesses with its upcoming Wisconsin Ag Law Update. This virtual event, scheduled for December 4th at noon, will provide crucial information on recent changes in agricultural law that could significantly impact the state's farmers. Kelly Wilfert, the Farm Law Outreach Specialist with UW-...

October is National Pork Month. It's a time to highlight the dedication of Wisconsin farmers and the delicious, nutritious pork they provide.  Historically, October marks the time when pigs raised in the spring and summer were ready for market, which is why the month has become synonymous with pork. "While we promote pork year-round, October allows us to focus on generating excitement about our in...