MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

It's definitely interesting times in the dairy industry these days.  Milk production remains flat.  The overall cow herd number is down.  Many dairies are pivoted toward beef production with their offspring versus replacement heifers.  Is this a time for some dairies to consider growth? During World Dairy Expo, Pam Jahnke asked that question of two dairy lending specialists with Compeer Financial....

Calves are valuable no matter how you plan on using them, such as replacement heifers or beef. So how can you protect that investment in your own barn? It may seem obvious, but where there’s manure, there’s bacteria. And while manure is a natural element in a barn, it might have negative implications for your calves. Patrick Lecavalier is the vice president of market development with Acepsis. He e...

Wind, moisture, and freezing temperatures can lead to ill chickens if you don't make preparations now to keep them comfortable. Division of Extension Poultry Specialist Ron Kean joins Stephanie Hoff in-studio with tips on how to prepare your backyard birds for winter. He walks us through recommendations on feed, heat, housing, and water. And he addresses salmonella and HPAI prevention. See omnystu...

Fall is a beautiful time of year for a drive in the country to witness a Wisconsin harvest with a backdrop of changing leaves. Badger Farms LLC in Deerfield sweetens the deal with a stunning and historical event barn overlooking 500 acres of canary grass. Dave Muehl says agritourism and the special forage crop business balance each other out to keep his farm alive. He adds the canary grass has bro...

Joe Hovel has been dedicated to conservation and enhancing the environment for decades.  His work has not only safeguarded thousands of acres for future generations but also inspired a broader movement toward sustainable land management. Im Through a combination of hands-on stewardship and collaborative partnerships, Joe has made a lasting impact on the health of critical ecosystems and has been n...

When you think cattle thieves, you probably think about old westerns and something that happens in wide open spaces.  Surprise!  It's happening in Wisconsin.  Just this spring, $20,000 worth of livestock were taken from a beef operation in Jackson County. Lt. Evan Mazur worked on the case. Stephanie Hoff gets the details. Harvest is nearly done with soybeans and about 30% complete with corn.  Coop...

The Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association (WSCGA) announced the Governor’s Proclamation of Cranberry Grower Appreciation Week, running from October 14-20, 2024. This week celebrates the hard work, innovation, and dedication of cranberry growers throughout the state, including prominent family-owned operations like Cutler Cranberry Company, founded in 1923 by Guy Potter. Lisa Potter, a repr...

A group of 20 Italian farmers were in Wisconsin over the past few days on vacation visiting agribusinesses.  Tour guide and translator Elio Mastrangelo says his travelers can't help but do some work on this trip asking questions about business since Wisconsin farmers are willing to share answers.  "When you visit a farm, you speak with the farmer... you have some questions," he says. "They are ver...

The state’s farmland preservation managers are seeing more interest in the preservation programs thanks to the higher incentives approved by the state Legislature late last year. Tim Jackson is the agricultural land use planning and ordinance specialist and Wednesday Coye is a farmland preservation program manager at DATCP. They share with us some of the preliminary data that’s coming in. See omny...

Wisconsin’s agricultural community is banding together as a challenging situation unfolds for poultry producers across the state. The closure of Pure Prairie Poultry, a Minnesota-based processing plant, has left contracted growers in Wisconsin and surrounding states with an unexpected burden: thousands of birds to care for with no financial support. "Unfortunately, we’ve seen the story unfold with...

Get ready, cheese lovers! Today is dedicated to one of Wisconsin’s tastiest treasures — the squeaky, savory, irresistible cheese curd. Whether you love them fresh, fried, or flavored, National Cheese Curd Day is the ultimate celebration of this beloved snack. So, how are you planning to indulge in curd heaven this year? John Freeman, Director of Sales & Marketing for Ellsworth Cooperative Crea...

Cooper Humphries is following the combines in Dodge, Columbia and Jefferson counties these days.  He says corn continues to dry down in the fields and he's just starting to get a look at some of his plots and the hybrids that are dominating. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weather and breakdowns can shut the harvest process down quickly.  Ben Jarboe finds out what farm equipment suppliers are doing to help minimize the time lost with breakdowns.  He talks with Danielle Waterworth the vice president of Dealer and Customer Support for Case IH and New Holland Ag dealers. There might be a little rain in the forecast for this weekend, but Wisconsin is still very dry.  Da...

Bird migration continues over Wisconsin.  Pam Jahnke talks with Ryan Brady, board member of Save Our Songbirds.  Thousands of birds fly over Wisconsin heading south - and most of their travel happens overnight. Ashley Huhn with the Steffes Group says they've got at least 122 more auctions before the end of the calendar year.  He updates Pam Jahnke.  Paid for by Steffes Group. It's National Cheese...

Federal Milk Marketing Orders, a new Farm Bill, international conflicts.  It's all influencing where markets are going and what decisions farms need to make for 2025.  Bob Bosold visit with Dan Basse, ag economist with Ag Resource, to get direction. It's Wisconsin Science Fest week statewide and agriculture is it's focus!  One educational offering is Badger On Tap.  It combines Bingo, beer and sci...

We're walking into a very stressful time of year between the harvest, the holidays, and the upcoming election. 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...

Lely's Yellow Revolution introduces three new products for dairy farms. The new products – a manure robot that is also applicable for barns with sand bedding, an automatic feed pusher for large-scale farms, and a concept for smart monitoring of cows and barn operation – are the newest answers to the challenges that dairy farmers worldwide face. All products focus on further improving animal welfar...

Imagine being able to predict when a calf isn't feeling its best – before it even shows signs of being sick. Thanks to cutting-edge technology, dairy farmers can now keep a watchful eye on their young stock around the clock, with smart tags that track each calf’s daily habits. Brant Kreuscher, Dairy Business Development Manager for Merck Animal Health says you can forget playing guesswork with sic...

While it’s technically fall in Wisconsin, people are still out with their lawnmowers, sprayers, and hoses as if it’s already time to get ready for spring. It just so happens that these last months before winter are key to a successful lawn for next year. Professor and Turfgrass Extension Specialist Paul Koch works with commercial businesses and homeowners alike on their lawns. He says mowing, mulc...

Of the top four dairy producing states, Wisconsin is the only one to not have a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza case in dairy cattle. But America’s Dairyland producers can still be a part of the Dairy Herd Status Program. It’s a voluntary, incentive-based program that will monitor your herd so that you can stay ahead of HPAI if it does hit Wisconsin. Rosemary Sifford is a deputy administrator fo...

Whether you're on the farm or at your desk, knowing about the economy is crucial for making smart choices in farming. And With changing global markets, shifting weather patterns, and new policies, keeping up with economic trends can greatly affect your farming business. Dan Basse, an agricultural economist at Ag Resource Company shares what farmers should pay attention to as we move into the fall...

Conservationist Joe Hovel has spent decades dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and ecological integrity of forested lands across the Upper Midwest. His work has not only safeguarded thousands of acres for future generations but also inspired a broader movement toward sustainable land management. Through a combination of hands-on stewardship and collaborative partnerships, Joe has made a la...

There’s a chance for you to explore the world of agriculture while enjoying a beer or two. The Wisconsin Science Festival is going on Oct. 14-20. This is a statewide celebration of activities for all ages from hands-on science exhibitions to pub nights. This year, the theme of the festival is agriculture. Fran Puleo Moyer, associate director of outreach programs for UW Connects, says they are laun...

Clara Hedrich of LaClare Family Creamery is our next guest in this specialty crop series with the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association. Clara knows a thing or two about turning an idea into a thriving business model. Her experience starting a farm business, a goat milk cooperative, and an agricultural tourism destination is among the wisdom a farm can glean from joining WATA. In this episode...

It is hard to start a new farm in today's world, with inflation and less land being available. There are resources available to help like the Food Finance Institute. Tera Johnson the founder of the Food Finance Institute explains why she started the resource with the University as well as how they are able to help new food businesses and farmers whether it be one on one consulting or through their...