MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

UW-Platteville Professor Ryan Pralle tells Charitee Seebecker about the groundbreaking research that uses high-tech tools to track cow burps' environmental impact. Ben Jarboe catches up with Nick Havlik of Hav Vineyards near Port Washington. The downpours this spring and early summer didn't hurt the crop come harvest. Ben also gets today's weather forecast from ag meteorologist Stu Muck. Even 1,00...

It's a sign of the times.  Slowing sales of larger horsepower tractors.  Ben Jarboe talks with Curt Blade from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers about their latest data and trends. The first official unveiling of the NFL themed corn mazes that have been created around the state was revealed Thursday in Chilton at Polly's Pumpkin Patch.  Aaron Popkey, Director of Public Affairs with the Gr...

What do cheese curds, corn mazes, and football all have in common? It’s a part of the experience you get at Feltz Family Farms and Dairy Store. This week, we head to the Stevens Point dairy farm, which has added a farm store and other attractions for the public to enjoy. Cheesemaker Jake Feltz advises you to enjoy fresh curds while you explore one of their three corn mazes that celebrates the 2025...

Richard and his wife Susan are celebrating two Centennial farms in the family this year -- located next door in Oconto County. The farm we're talking about today belongs to Richard's side. These stories are brought to you courtesy of Compeer Financial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re visiting with Raymond Lamboley. He’s the third generation on his family’s Sesquicentennial Farm recognized by the state of Wisconsin. The Lamboley family farm is located outside of Belleville in Dane County. He tells us how times have changed in the 150 years his family has been on the land, including when they got electricity, indoor plumbing, and machinery. Some things haven't change...

Here at the Mid-West Farm Report, we’re celebrating farm and homesteads that have been in the same family for more than 100 and 150 years. And we’re bringing these stories to you courtesy of Compeer Financial. Today we’re catching up with Kevin Sprang, the fourth generation of Sprang Farms in Two Rivers. This Sesquicentennial Farm grows row crops and Christmas trees. But it didn’t start out that w...

Robert Sandman's family century farm in Bangor, La Crosse County, has a rich history that dates back to his grandfather's arrival from Germany in 1882. His grandfather purchased the land in 1921 and 1924, establishing a farm that initially raised a mix of animals, including pigs, chickens, and cows. Robert's father passed away suddenly in 1978, leaving the farm to him. Over the years, the farm evo...

As farmers gear up for the fall harvest and prepare for the colder months ahead, understanding the latest weather patterns and forecasts is crucial. With changing conditions and unpredictable trends, insight from experts like Wisconsin State Climatologist Steve Vavrus offers valuable guidance for the agricultural community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy nutritionist Henry Holdorf, Purina Animal Nutrition, says this year, corn silage is variable due to when you planted your corn. He is noticing lower fiber digestibility, specifically neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. NDF digestibility is important because it can help determine how well a cow can use feed material, which can positively impact milk production. He advises mixing alte...

It's full steam ahead in the field as soybeans mature earlier than expected. This is according to senior grain merchandiser Josh Grunnet out of Cottage Grove. He says they're still clearing out old crop to get ready for what could be a near-record harvest. Unfortunately, the timing of supply -- an early crop -- is a bearish signal. Rapid harvest of a crop also stresses the supply chain-- another b...

This is the time of the year when all the hard work that gardeners and farmers of all types see their efforts pay off.  Pam Jahnke visits with Liz Lyon, vegetable farm manager at Gwenyn Hill Farm in Waukesha.  This farm is more than 400 acres strong in a largely urban setting.  Lyon has 12 acres dedicated to intensive production of organic vegetables.  She explains how she got started in the farmi...

Pam Jahnke sits down with Dr. Shawn Conley, UW-Extension Soybean Specialist to discuss his Wisconsin soybean harvest observations so far.  Conley says he's pretty confident the state's overall yields will be down compared to a year ago, and cautions operators to be careful with settings on combines to make sure they're getting every bean they've grown. Conley also says the dry weather conditions t...

Jason Schwantz, senior vice president of energy with CHS, says he has a favorable outlook for diesel prices into the fall for two reasons. One is that refineries have been running at "historical highs" increasing supply. The other is that a weaker economy is keeping diesel demand stagnant, meaning the supply stays high. Diesel prices could rise if this season's crop is big and comes on fast with t...

Original cheese recipes, yodeling, Master Cheesemakers, polka dancing... it'll all be on display at Green County Cheese Days Sep. 20-22 in Monroe. Cheese Days King Tony Zgraggen and Queen Esther Zgraggen expect more than 100,000 people from across the country to celebrate. What's in store? Shopping, eating, drinking, dancing, and singing. It celebrates how Wisconsin got its identity from European...

Wisconsin’s love for cheese is set to shine once again as the highly anticipated "Cheese, Fair Off the Square" event returns to Madison. With an expanded lineup of cheesemakers and a new location, this year’s event promises to be bigger and better, drawing thousands of cheese enthusiasts from across the region. Rachel Kerr, Vice President of Brand Marketing for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin joins us...

With the new school year under way UW-River Falls is seeing an interesting change of demographics in their College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES). Charitee Seebecker talks to the CAFES Dean Mike Orth on what he is noticing. The World Beef Expo is coming up this weekend and it coincides with the Harvest Fair at State Fair Park in West Allis. The president of the Expo Cody Q...

People are paying attention to dairy cows in a way you wouldn’t expect—by analyzing their burps! It may sound strange, but at UW-Platteville, groundbreaking research is using high-tech tools to track the gases cows emit and what that means for both their health and the environment. Dr. Ryan Pralle, Assistant Professor of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, explains how this innovative research...

You might be driving by soybean fields on your commute to work or to school... but your connection to soybeans goes further than that. It just so happens that soybeans are a big part of the products that we use every day in the office and in the classroom. Sara Stelter is a Wisconsin soybean farmer and a director on the United Soybean Board. She tells us what these everyday products are. See omnys...

Crop insurance deadlines are coming, and it might influence what you’re doing in the field this fall. Jessica Sarbacker is a vice president and crop insurance manager at Lake Ridge Bank covering the southern half of the state. She says it’s not uncommon for your plans to change in between the planting season and the harvest. (Thanks, Mother Nature). Jessica tells us what your options are at this p...

The Wisconsin State FFA Executive Director Cheryl Zimmerman talks with Jill Welke about new charters, teacher changes and numbers, as well as the FFA's goals and Challenges. It is a Compeer Farm Friday and we hear from Bruce Peterson of Fair Oaks Farms in Fond du Lac County. He gives the story of his farm and what some of his fondest memories are. Erika Schade gives an overview of the Adopt-A-Cow ...

Why settle for a typical classroom pet when you can adopt a cow for free? Say goodbye to the guinea pig and hello to a 100-pound dairy calf as your new classroom mascot through the Adopt-A-Cow program.  Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and Discover Dairy are thrilled to announce the return of the Adopt-A-Cow program. This engaging initiative offers classrooms the chance to "adopt" a cow from three parti...

We’re kicking off the fall ag-venture season here in Wisconsin, and what better way to do that than at a pumpkin patch? Today we head to a celebration in Bonduel called Farmtoberfest at Porter’s Patch. Troy Porter is our guest today who is gearing up for opening day on Sep. 20. He’s harvesting pumpkins now, and says he's happy with this year's crop. They raise 55 varieties. He’s also walked throug...

The largest beef producer in Alaska markets about 600 animals a year.  Scott Mugrage from Delta Junction tells Pam Jahnke that he'd love to market more animals but Alaska's infrastructure for processing just doesn't exist. Four finalists have been named for the 2024 WI Leopold Conservation Award.  Bartling's Manitowish Cranberry; Full Circle Farm; Joe Hovel of Conover and Glacial Lake Cranberries...

The sport of herding sheep with stock dogs is not going away any time soon. This month, the Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trials competed for their 21st year in Wisconsin. It attracted more competitors than in years past. John Wentz organizes the competition. When he’s not helping at a stock dog trial, he’s raising the sheep to help train handlers and their dogs for the sport. He tells us about th...

The USDA is estimating there to be over 24,000 bears in Wisconsin, and they're tracking them further and further south in the state. Randy Johnson, a large carnivore specialist in the state, explains what hunters should expect this season. As well as how they get their data, and how to prevent human-bear conflicts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.