MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

It's a powerful message to look at what one farm can grow in Wisconsin, and how many families it supports.  Supports not only with good paying jobs, but produce that keeps them fed.  Meet Roderick Gumz from Endeavor.  Their diversified farm grows corn and soybeans, carrots, onions, potatoes and mint!  Pam Jahnke finds out about the marketing side. HPAI in dairy, and now testing in beef, has federa...

Biologic agents are growing in popularity for Wisconsin farming practices.  Bob Bosold talks to Matt Oemichen from Short Line Ag in Colby about how biologics work and how they improve an entire plant system. Storm season is upon us and it's critically important that farms are prepared.  From refreshing your memory on insurance policies to making sure that back-up generator is ready to go.  Constru...

Welcome back as we feature specialty crops across Wisconsin and the producers who not only grow them but welcome you to the farm for an agricultural experience. Today, we take a walk through the rolling pastures of Bull Brook Keep in Clear Lake, Wisconsin. They’re about 65 miles northeast of the Twin Cities. In the pasture, you’ll come across what looks like, at first glance, weeds. In reality, th...

Mick Homb is no stranger to the dairy sector.  He's been making milk move for decades. So it took a little nudge from staff and family to get him to step into the new role as General Manager for FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative . Homb visits with Pam Jahnke about the areas he knows well within FarmFirst - logistics of moving milk and making sure that milk has a home every day.  Homb says the questions...

Wisconsin farms and rural landowners need to slow down and pay attention to lengthy agreements they're being offered for the land and solar development.  Bill Oemichen, Law Professor for UW-Extension says some of these agreements can be 10-14 pages in length, full of details you'll have to live with.  Stephanie Hoff leads us through some of the top items to look for. Blain's Farm & Fleet just...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a significant regulatory change affecting certain over-the-counter animal medications, prompting a shift towards prescription-only status. This decision, aimed at enhancing oversight and safety, particularly impacts medications commonly used by farmers and horse owners, such as oxytetracycline. Oxytetracycline, previously as accessible as i...

I’ll bet you probably think of Budweiser when you think of the Clydesdale horses. The commercials have certainly made this breed popular. What you may not know is that they are on the endangered species list. We talk about it with Nancy Osterhaus, past president of the Midwest Draft Horse Enthusiasts. First, she tells me about the association and how she cares for these gentle giants -- weighing a...

The Curly is a breed of horse from North America known for its unique gene that gives their coats, manes, and tails princess curls. Curly owner Amy Wall of Peshtigo tells us about this rare breed that could be your next best friend. The Curly Horse is often considered the only hypoallergenic horse breed. Wall says the horses are also friendly and their hair can be used in fiber arts. See omnystudi...

The Mauston School District picked up one of Wisconsin's Farm-to-School grants, and it's moving their locally grown food effort forward.  Charitee Seebecker finds out what's happening with school coordinator, Jacqui Peyer. Craig Trnka is the CEO of the World Championship Blacksmiths, LLC. He explains how blacksmithing has evolved and gives us perspective into the life of a blacksmith. USDA is impl...

Dr. Jonathan Levine is on his way to Wisconsin from Texas A&M University to take over at the UW-School of Veterinary Medicine.  Pam Jahnke finds out more about where he hails from and what his passion is in veterinary medicine. Craig Trinka is a veteran blacksmith with over 40 years experience.  He says getting into the business can be tough so he founded the World Championship Blacksmith comp...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has just launched a federal order that says lactating cows must test negative for the bird flu before they are transported. Specifically, the cows will get tested for Influenza A viruses which include the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The federal order starts on Monday. Alan Bjerga with the National Milk Producers Federation has the details.  See omnystudio....

In the world of sports, there are those who seek the thrill of competition, pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to excel. For Brandy Von Holten, a former competitive martial artist with dreams of Olympic glory, the journey took an unexpected turn towards the art of mounted archery.  “Mounted archery found me," she remarks, reflecting on the moment she first tried her hand at shooting f...

Shoes are fashionable, whether they're for humans or horses. And There was a time when every community had a blacksmith, and their work was focused on utility.  Today's blacksmith's still focus on utility and function, but there's also a certain art to what they do.  Farriers, the modern-day equivalent of historical blacksmiths, now focus primarily on the craft of horseshoeing. This transition fro...

Horses and chickens – it turns out that they complement each other well. So if you have one, you may consider getting the other, says Twain Lockhart. Lockhart is a poultry specialist with Nutrena and gives us insight on how to run your horses and chickens together. He’s also witnessed trends in the poultry industry over the years that he shares with us today. This knowledge has earned him the nick...

How often should a farrier come over? Should my horse be sore after a farrier visit? What can I look for in my horse to stay ahead of any health problems? These are some of the common questions that Dean Moshier can answer. Moshier is an accredited farrier with the International Association of Professional Farriers. He operates The Balanced Hoof and Horse, Inc. out of Ohio, but works with the equi...

This is the first episode of a new series that features farm destinations across Wisconsin and highlights the bounty of specialty crops that these farms produce. Over the next several months, we’ll go to strawberry patches, vineyards, cranberry bogs, fields of flowers, and more with the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association. Executive Director Sheila Everhart joins us in-studio to remind us t...

With graduation just around the corner, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Agriculture is buzzing with anticipation and celebration as students prepare to embark on their next adventures in the agricultural industry. Amidst the final exams and job interviews, the job market for these grads is looking good. According to Platteville’s School of Agriculture Director, Tera Montgomery, t...

A big smile comes across my face when I see the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile weaving through traffic, how about you? Samantha Benish joins us in-studio. She’s a brand ambassador for Oscar Mayer and drives the Wienermobile across the country. Her official title is Hotdogger, which is a one-year position with the company. She tells us what it takes to drive the hot dog on wheels.  See omnystudio.com/lis...

Helping farms understand all the data they can collect on a daily basis can be a little overwhelming.  The good news is that data could hold financial value for the farm.  Stephanie Hoff finds out about how JJ Pagel of Pagel's Ponderosa in Kewaunee County, and agronomist, Carson Dugger keep track. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers are going to make their presence felt with a wide display...

In Wisconsin agriculture, we talk about every day being Earth Day.  Jill Welke talks about farming practices with Kyle Nilsestuen. He owns Solhjeim Farms in the driftless area of Wisconsin- south of Arcadia. He talked about the conservation practices he uses every day - not just Earth Day. Love is in the air and summer weddings on the way!  If you're planning a wedding at barn event venue - unders...

Growing up in the agriculture industry, you may have heard the phrases, cowboy up or cowgirl up. But for Amberley Snyder, her will to cowgirl up is stronger than most.  Amberley is a professional barrel racer that turned tragedy into triumph and shows just how resilient the agriculture industry really is. Snyder's love for horses began at a young age, leading her into the world of rodeo. By the ti...

From marketing your agribusiness to doing your schoolwork -- broadband is not a luxury, it's a requirement. Bringing high-speed internet to rural Wisconsin has been a focus at both the state and federal levels, and rural providers want to see it continue. Millions of dollars have trickled down to providers to not just lay the fiber, but get what they call the ‘last mile’ of service to the end user...

Dust off your boots and grab your cowboy hats because the Midwest Horse Fair is about to get a whole lot wilder as 5 cowboys and 5 cowgirls will compete in the Top Hand Challenge. Pam bound, the competition chair says  A competition of grit, showcasing a range of speed, roping and precision, all for $5,000 in cash. "We took the top five riders, both men and women, who had to qualify for this prest...

When you think of the dairy industry, it doesn't take long for people to identify the dairy farm family taking care of the land, the animals, and producing that top quality milk.  You recognize the milk truck/semi that's transporting that milk.  You obviously recognize the end products of that milk - cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc.  One element you may not think about is all the quality control me...

It's been just a year since Wisconsin launched an effort at reaching high school students working to make decisions about what their "next step" might be.  College?  Tech College?  No college?  If you're the first person in your family to consider these options, your questions can outweigh answers.  That's why the College for Rural Wisconsin(CFRW) was created. Headquartered on the UW-Madison campu...