MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

The U.S. Drought Monitor puts most of Wisconsin in an abnormally dry or severe drought. That's likely to get worse as there's no rain in the forecast. Dan Marzu is the north-central region nutrient and pest management outreach specialist with the Division of Extension. He says winter crops will struggle coming out of the ground if that soil moisture isn't at around 50 percent. The good news is tha...

It's National 4-H Week!  Pam Jahnke finds out how membership and activities are trending in the state from Jessica Jens, WI State 4-H Program Manager. Hurricane Milton made landfall last night in Florida.  We get an update on the path of destruction from Stu Muck, ag meteorologist. October is Pork Month, but why.  Christina Meylor, president of the WI Pork Association and a producer herself in Dar...

The migration of birds is currently peaking in Wisconsin, prompting a focus on avian health and conservation. Ryan Brady, a member of the Save Our Songbirds initiative, emphasizes the importance of this campaign. Over the past 50 years, North America has seen a dramatic decline in bird populations, with approximately one in three birds lost. The Save Our Songbirds campaign aims to raise awareness...

Food Banks have become even more important since Covid and one in Wisconsin goes the extra mile by helping those in need and local farmers. Michelle Orge, the President of Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin, says that they are a connector by taking in donations and buying food for farmers and preparing it for food pantries to give out. She also explains that Second Harvest is in danger...

The war in Ukraine creates many hardships for the farmers including worrying about drone strikes. Stephanie Hoff talks to Olga Polozova about how their ability to farm has been impacted by the war. It's a Wyffels Wednesday and Farm Director Pam Jahnke talks to Steve Quade about how their varieties of corn dealt with the wet spring and dry fall. Charitee Seebecker catches up with Marta Kohmann, a U...

National 4-H Week, celebrated from October 6-12, honors the impact of 4-H programs that have shaped youth leaders for over 100 years. In Wisconsin, the tradition continues as youth develop essential life skills through hands-on learning. Angie Ulness, Manitowoc County Dairy Youth Specialist and 4-H alum, shares her 4-H journey and its lasting influence. "I joined 4-H as soon as I was old enough,"...

Alfalfa growers have a tool at their disposal courtesy of Extension that can help them determine the best time to cut their stands. The cut time can dictate just how persistent your alfalfa is. Scott Newell joins us. He’s the alfalfa outreach specialist at the UW-Madison’s Division of Extension. He says fall cutting management is an important part of managing alfalfa persistence and maintaining pr...

Bayer Crop Sciences does its vegetable research and development right here in Wisconsin - DeForest, to be specific. Site lead Ben Stonewall says the research station looks at sweet corn, onions, beans, peas, and carrots, just to name a few. They look at the early stages of these vegetables to ensure a quality seed gets to producers. Stonewall explains that quality seeds are high-yielding and can h...

New research shows dairy calves might be getting too much to eat in their first couple of feedings. Dairy farmers might need to make an adjustment. Luckily, there’s an app for that. Dr. Don Sockett is a veterinarian with the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. And Dr. Tom Earleywine is the director of nutritional services with Land O Lakes Animal Milk Solutions. Together they’ve found a way to em...

Dairy farmers are always on the lookout for ways to boost efficiency and sustainability in their operations. One often overlooked strategy may already be growing in their fields—alfalfa. Beyond being a reliable forage, this crop holds incredible potential to improve soil health and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers. Marta Kohmann, UW-Extension forage specialist, dives into the science behi...

World Dairy Expo makes Wisconsin a hot spot for visiting trade partners. Haley Milan is the global agribusiness team leader at the U.S. Commercial Service. She coordinates delegations from around the world to come to the U.S. and buy products. World Dairy Expo is one of the trade shows where she brings international groups.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About a dozen Ukrainian dairy farmers came to Wisconsin this past week to experience the World Dairy Expo and to explore new technologies to bring back home. Olga Polozova from central Ukraine owns Krasnogirske, LLC and is a member of the Association of Milk Producers of Ukraine. She says it wasn't easy to organize a trade delegation to the U.S. since men need special permission to leave the count...

2024 has been far from ideal for corn growing in Wisconsin.  Now agronomists and farmers across the state are learning about just how resilient corn genetics can be! Steve Quade, Regional Manager for Wyffels Hybrids , has been pulling yield data from key plot locations in Jefferson, Dane, Green and Rock counties.  He notes that a lot can depend on soil type, but yields remain impressive given the...

From growing up on a dairy farm in Brazil to becoming a trusted expert in Wisconsin’s dairy heartland, Dr. Tiago Tomazi has always had cows in his sights. Now a Technical Services Veterinarian with Merck Animal Health, he's bringing his global experience and passion for animal care to the barns of Wisconsin. Tomazi explains what brought him to Wisconsin and how he intends to support our farmers.  ...

The genetics that farmers want in a dairy cow was not the same 10 years ago as it is today. And it won’t be the same 10 years from now, either. That’s according to this year’s World Dairy Expo International Person of the Year Paul Larmer of Semex.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abrielle Kane chats with Pam about how 90% of Wisconsin milk is made into Wisconsin cheese. In tunrn 90% of that cheese is sold out of state. Thanks to programs like Top Chef, they are seeing a bump in the demand and recognition of Wisconsin cheese.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Carolina Farm Bureau President Harry Ott saw Hurricane Helene’s fury first-hand on his family’s crop farm. And he estimates the state’s agriculture industry will lose millions of dollars during a year that’s already been hard for farmers with low prices and poor weather. Ott stresses that the need for the improvements in Farm Bill drafts are critical. He's asking Congressional leaders to get...

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall tells us that natural disasters such as the destruction from Hurricane Helene, underscore the need for a stronger farm economy. He says farm labor solutions, reformed Federal Milk Marketing Orders, and crop insurance updates in the Farm Bill are the keys to a resilient farm economy. He tells us what a timeline looks like for a Farm Bill that w...

World Dairy Expo welcomed Farm Bureau presidents from across the U.S.  Stephanie Hoff caught up with the presidents of South Carolina and North Carolina Farm Bureaus to discuss agriculture damage caused by Hurricane Helene. AFBF President, Zippy Duvall, has roots in dairy.  He says he's glad to be in Wisconsin, and is really enjoying the World Dairy Expo. Center ring at World Dairy Expo is not onl...

What is it like having a hurricane hit your farm? Imagine floods so big it displaces your cattle. Imagine your crop leveled just as you were about to harvest. That’s the story we’re hearing from the Carolinas. Shawn Harding is the president of North Carolina Farm Bureau. North Carolina was one of the states hit by Hurricane Helene, where crops and livestock were among the storm’s victims. Shawn’s...

Pam talks with Richard Edwards with Anpario, a global company based in the UK. Anpario has a number of products for monogatric animals and looks to expand their offerings for products of the future.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Nate Haas chats with Pam about the breaking news of Anpario and Bio-Vet joining forces. The products and faces will remain the same but the opportunity for growth in markets is exciting for all involved.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brad Herkenhoff, Senior Dairy Lending Specialist for Compeer talks to us about risk management for dairies. Dairy cattle numbers are staying steady so finding replacements to expand the dairy can be a challenge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We caught up with Jay Retzer, Senior Dairy Lending Specialist for Compeer Financial. Jay tells us that building costs continue to rise and farms looking to expand are now considering purchasing an existing site. This helps to save money over building and can be helpful with the permitting process as well.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pam Jahnke chats with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin CEO Chad Vincent about the growth of exports and the international demand for Wisconsin dairy products.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.