MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Pictured: Dan Schaefer with his vitamin E research colleagues Kris Scheller-Stewart and Quingping Liu. Dr. Dan Schaefer joined the UW-Madison Animal Science Department in 1981 as an assistant professor. During his nearly 40-year career with the university, he led ground-breaking research in feeding Holstein steers. His work in supplementing vitamin E in rations to improve meat color is still used...

The 45th anniversary of the Midwest Horse Fair is slated to bring in a record number of horses. This year, over 800 horses from 45 different breed and discipline groups are expected to make their way to the Alliant Energy Center. Teri Giannetti is the Executive Director for the event and tells us the agenda has something for everyone. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a Wyffels Wednesday and Brent Tharp a technical products manager with the company joins Ben Jarboe to talk about what the current planting looks like. He gives insight into their planting progress map and what their new products for the year are. If you have questions make sure to visit wyffels.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Wisconsin farmers, researchers, and residents, changes in the weather carry a lot of weight. Today, we’re sitting down to discuss the unpredictable shift from spring snowstorms to record rainfall, and how the Wisconsin State Climatology Office is hitting the road to hear directly from you. Amanda Latham, climate outreach specialist with the Wisconsin State Climatology Office, tells Steph...

With the spring storms we’ve been experiencing, it’s more important than ever to offer precise measurements of precipitation from your own backyard. David Paulson is a volunteer for the National Weather Service who turned a casual interest in local weather into a daily mission. David first heard about CoCoRaHS through a Water Action Volunteers newsletter. At first, he thought his neigh...

Last night's thunderstorms provided some impressive rainfall totals and fierce winds. Ag Meteorologist Stu Muck says we can expect more precipitation throughout the week. Bob Bosold takes us on a trip to Arizona to learn about olives and olive oil. Different olives produce different types and qualities of oil. The oil you choose depends greatly on use and taste. Bob learns more. Pam catches up wit...

Wisconsin dairy farmer Virgil Haag joins Stephanie Hoff to discuss the powerful partnership between the state’s producers and the Alice in Dairyland program. Explore how this ambassadorship uses high-reach media campaigns and personal community engagement to build lasting consumer trust. Sharing the story of Wisconsin’s dairy heritage today ensures a thriving industry for the next gene...

The cattle industry is currently navigating a period of historic highs and complex challenges, Jeff Swenson tells Stephanie Hoff. Swenson, meat and livestock specialist with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, says with cattle supplies at their tightest levels in years, the balance of power has shifted toward the producers, though high input costs continue to squeeze prof...

Artificial Intelligence is now involved in our everyday lives and this includes on the dairy farm. Ben Jarboe learns more about where you can find it on the farm with Jeffery Bewley. He is the executive director of genetics and innovation for Holstein Association USA. He says it is exciting, but worried that people will forget the backbone of dairy farming if they rely too much on AI. It was a wet...

Spring has sprung which means boats will be comin out on the water. John Sinclair joins host Ben Jarboe to give a reminder on boating laws and considerations. Davion Freeman joins the show to talk early spring time fishing and favorite baits to use when the fish are lethargic.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tucker Brown has taken to social media to connect producer and consumer as an influencer. Jill Welke chats with him to learn more about his ranch, the R.A. Brown Ranch, in Texas. He says he has been able to blend his two passions together with social media and agriculture. The morning started off wet on this Friday with rainfall reports coming in, Ag meteorologist Stu Muck says that it may not be...

Springtime means there's many raindrops falling on our heads, but that's no reason to cry! Instead, it's a great reason to sign up for CoCoRaHS. COCORAHS is the acronym that stands for Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network. It’s a network of volunteers who work together to measure precipitation of all forms across the nation. Richard Janke has been contributing to the network fo...

Do you enjoy comparing rainfall totals with your friends at the local coop? Do you have a trick knee that can predict a storm perfectly? The National weather service is interested in hearing about the totals you found in your rain gauge. COCORAHS is the acronym that stands for Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network. It’s a network of volunteers who work together to measure precip...

Offering tours for over 20 years, Ripp’s Dairy Valley is no stranger to welcoming some of the youngest dairy enthusiasts to the farm. This week, the family is opening their barns to kindergarten classes. On just the first day alone, they’ll have approximately 100 students join them to learn about the life of a dairy cow. I had the opportunity to join the students for lunch, and, after...

NaCole Johnson, global talent acquisition specialist at URUS, and Stephanie Hoff discuss the shift toward hiring for passion, adaptability, and data fluency. Hands-on internships are preparing Gen Z to tackle global challenges in sustainability and food security. A mission-driven mindset is the new gold standard for the next generation of agricultural leaders. Stu Muck is forecasting a favorable d...

As the Wisconsin landscape finally begins to wake up, our local beekeepers are gearing up for a busy season ahead. From hives returning home after a winter down south to the first blooms of spring, there is a lot to track in the world of pollinators. Brooke Nikkila-Sommerfeldt is the Wisconsin State Apiarist and Apiary Program Coordinator. She tells Stephanie Hoff that the state offers free statew...

From the northern end of the world's longest barn, Bob Bosold shares tales from his trails out West, including what it takes to manage the mule concession in the Grand Canyon. John Berry says these mules not only bring people to the bottom of the canyon, but also provisions for the restaurant and cabin accommodations -- there's really no other way to get down there! Although it may be dreary this...

It won't be long before Wisconsin roadways will have some large, heavy equipment heading to the fields.  Safety has to be a paramount concern for the farmers operating it, and the drivers sharing the road.  Kiley Allan gets a refresher course on what to remember from WI State Trooper. Warmer temps are coming to Wisconsin from Canada.  Stu Muck says there's still a chance for rain in...

Jan Prins a dairy broker from EverAg talks about how National and International happenings are affecting the markets. He says the Iran conflict is affecting butter the most due to inability to transport products through the Strait of Hormuz. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Friday may have acted as a distraction from policy attention at the governor's mansion. Wisconsin Senator Pat Testin, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Revenue Committee, says that Good Friday was a bad day for livestock operations in the state.  Governor Tony Evers decided to veto legislation that would have put a freeze on proposed fee increases proposed by the WI Department of Agric...

If you're from Wisconsin, chances are good that you've enjoyed a June Dairy celebration somewhere in the course of your life.  Organizing the volunteers and all the educational opportunities is one mission supported by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin . Mitch Kappelman is a fifth generation dairy operator that sits on DFW's board of directors.  He represents dairy operators in Manitowoc and Ca...

You can travel thousands of miles and see different terrain, but still find yourself in a conversation that feels like "home".  Pam Jahnke shares some comments from Rhys Lougher from Ty Tanglwyst dairy in Wales.  Lougher, his brother and father operate the dairy.  It includes not only providing milk to the general public, but also top end genetics to area dairy farms that...

Hog production in the Nevada desert.  Really?  Yep!  Bob Bosold's on the trail of a hog operation outside of Las Vegas that actually uses some of the food remnants from the hotel/casino industry to feed its hogs. Rain, rain and more rain for Good Friday and the weekend.  Stu Muck also says the winds will remain strong until at least Sunday. A lakeside community in Green Lake Co...

The Wisconsin Beef Council sponsored the Best Beef Entrée award at the recent Wisconsin ProStart Invitational, inspiring the next generation of culinary leaders. Brady Weiland, a beef and dairy producer from Columbus, tells us about the experience as a judge, and tasting the creative ways that students prepared decadent beef dishes. He also gives us a firsthand look at why representing the...

 There's a Wisconsin specialty crop that captures the attention from people around the world. Ginseng is a root crop that thrives in our fresh climate here in Wisconsin. We're joined by 78th Alice in Dairyland, Sarah Hagenow, to tell us more about the crop. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.