MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Jim Versweyvld, UW-Extension Farm Management Specialist says farms need to slow down and think about how they introduce new employees to their farming duties.  Clear communications about duties and policies like cell phone use are key. It's all about the numbers.  The latest Census of Agriculture painted a pretty bleak picture if you looked at the cumulative trend for Wisconsin farms.  Stephanie H...

Whether you're getting married at the farm or your farm is the venue -- put insurance on the to-do list! Carmen Brueggen Katsma is a Rural Mutual Insurance agent out of Poynette. She says she’s seen the wedding barn industry boom in her neck of the woods and she serves a number of them on their insurance needs. She walks us through the basics: the type of insurance you'll need, how to customize th...

Vegetable processors across the country are feeling price pressure due to tariffs on steel, according to the Midwest Food Products Association. It's amped up the competition with foreign processors. Wisconsin is one of the top states in the production of the major processing vegetables, notably green peas, snap beans, and potatoes. This year, at least two Wisconsin food processors are closing thei...

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that beauty is turning into a new marketing opportunity for Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association. Curt Larson, President and CEO of Equity Livestock says their acquisition of the former United Livestock Center in Maquoketa, Iowa, is coming along as they focus on replacing scales and updating fences. The facility in Iowa marks the 12...

It has been my great pleasure over the course of my farm broadcasting career to visit with Jerry Apps.  If you've had a chance to enjoy Jerry in a lecture, during his broadcasts on Wisconsin Public Television, or through his endless list of written works, you know why I'm a fan.  Jerry resonates Wisconsin - rural Wisconsin at that! I sat down for an extended conversation with my friend.  He admits...

Sydney Flick manages her family farm Jazzy Jerseys in Lodi. They milk about 800 cows. She says while 1 billion people will celebrate Earth Day on April 22 this year, it's something she lives every day. “We rely on the land to take care of our family and the cows.” Jazzy Jerseys has reduced water usage by recycling. They use cold water from the well to cool down the milk. That same water is used fo...

Decisions are being made today about county fair animals and exhibits you'll see later this summer.  Stephanie Hoff talks with UW-Extension Youth Livestock Specialist, Bernie O'Rourke, about getting started on the right foot and establishing a partnership with your veterinarian early. The College for Rural Wisconsin may not be a name you're familiar with but it's working to raise awareness.  Jenni...

There’s an artistry to making cheese. There’s also an art to sandwich making. And those two things come together at the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Sandwich Championship. Jenna Vondra, Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director shares how this event got started and what attendees can expect for this year. The event takes place Saturday, April 20th, at the Lee Memorial Pavilion in Harris P...

For those whose primary experience with corn is the butter-drenched corn on the cob variety, it might come as a surprise that other forms of sweet corn are in trouble. There has been an ongoing decline in sweet corn production for frozen and canned products and other processed vegetables. Bill Tracy is the Director of the UW Sweet Corn Program and works directly with processors on projects regardi...

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is impacting more farm animals than poultry. Dairy cows in several states have also contracted the virus, and it has people concerned about the safety of dairy and meat. Adam Brock joins us, Administrator of the Division of Food and Recreational Safety. he says he’s been getting phone calls about whether eggs, milk, and meat are still safe to eat. He says yes,...

The 2024 Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors wrapped up their convention on Saturday in Madison and it was full of great meat offerings and great hands on learning.  Pam Jahnke talks to Dr. Jeff Sindelar, UW-Extension Meat Specialist, about the state-of-the-art Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery Center that helped with hands on learning.  It acts as a shining gem attracting new meat...

We all have a responsibility to use our resources wisely. And farmers are great examples of how it’s done because they work hard every day to meet the needs of tomorrow. Scott Timm joins us, he comes from a diversified farming operation in Green County and has prioritized environmental sustainability, including cover crops. He was named as one of Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s 35 under 35 for his work. H...

Farmers make up less than 2 percent of the population, yet they are responsible for feeding the world. That’s why preserving natural resources for generations to come is vital in agriculture. For farmers, Earth Day is every day. Brooke Trustem joins us in-studio. She is a 6th generation farmer and works on her family’s dairy farm in Evansville, Larson Acres. She tells us how they've reduced the nu...

Wisconsin 4-H is asking the state's businesses and agribusinesses to sound off on how 4-H can prepare future employees for their opportunities.  Jill Jorgensen, UW-Extension 4-H Specialist in Green Bay talks with Pam Jahnke about how the survey's constructed and what they hope it accomplishes.  Survey results are being gathered until the end of the month and will be shared once completed. Ashley H...

Jill Jorgensen, WI Youth Development 4-H Animal Science and Agriculture Outreach Specialist in Green Bay is helping spread the word about an important survey underway, gauging employers views on 4-H programming. University Extension 4-H programs from throughout the upper Midwest are conducting the survey on Food, Agriculture, & Related Businesses Workforce Needs. The information gathered in th...

Demand for beef has remained strong as consumers repeatedly claim they will continue purchasing beef, both in retail and foodservice settings.  Consumers continue to rank beef as a top source of protein, superior in taste, nutritious, and good for social gatherings and special occasions. At the same time, the beef industry is observing some decline in demand, as retail sales begin to slip in terms...

Wisconsin has more than 500 independent large, medium and small meat processors that dot the state, and Jake Sailer, president of Sailer Meat's in Elmwood, wants all of them involved with the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors (WAMP)! Sailer is the outgoing president of WAMP, excited about what the board has lined up for 2024.  He highlighted some of the new messages they'll be sharing on Di...

Coffee to Costa Rica is like milk to Wisconsin.  Bob Bosold visits with tour guide Miquel at Doka Coffee Estate about everything from weather to the best way to brew a cup. The Dane County Farmers Market kicked off its summer season on the Capitol Square Saturday.  Jamie Buegel, Farmers Market Manager, talks about the volume of vendors they have this year, as well as a waiting list for those that...

The Dane County Farmers Market is ready to return to the Capitol Square. As the largest producer only farmers market in America, it will be celebrating its 52nd year on the square.  “The Dane County Farmers Market was founded in September of 1972 with just five farmers set up on the Capitol Square,” says Jamie Bugel, Market Manager for the Dane County Farmers Market. “Now, with over 250 producers,...

The excitement on the UW-Rivers Falls campus is palpable as seniors wrap up their last semester and prepare to accept their diplomas. The news from the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences is that the job market for these grads is looking good. So good, that students have to weigh the benefits of each job offer carefully before deciding. College Dean Michael Orth tells us where...

There's no better way to understand the dry winter then riding with a barge captain on the Mississippi.  Jim Cheatam is a barge captain with Western River who's also active sharing his stories on social media.  Charitee Seebecker talked with him about current water levels, what's moving on the waterway today, and what worries him about the 2024 season. Wisconsin Senator Joan Ballweg had some home...

Imagine you're putting together your own engine. You've gone through the process of picking out the best products and start putting them together to build or rebuild your farm truck or tractor. But then you notice that something is off. Now you have to disassemble the engine and start from scratch. Sound familiar? Baril Engine Rebuilding can help solve those issues. Becky Monahan is the Marketing...

Wisconsin Senator Joan Ballweg is summing up the work completed at the state house like the springtime sport we're watching - baseball.  In a conversation with Pam Jahnke, Ballweg acknowledged there were some successes that crossed the plate like getting additional financial support for the states county fairs, but also missed opportunities due in part, to misunderstanding by Gov. Tony Evers.  Bal...

Derek Ahl owns and operates Northern Family Farms in Merrillan, WI.  His business focuses on the shrubs and ornamental trees that homeowners are looking for at this time of year.  Jill Welke visits the farm and finds out how the winter impacted their stock, and what customers are looking for this spring. North Carolina has become the seventh state that's detected High Pathogenic Avian Influenza(HP...

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is circulating again, but it’s impacting more than birds. Several states have found this strain of bird flu in dairy cows. Wisconsin has not had a case yet this year, but it has a system in place to help prevent the spread of animal disease if it does come into our state. Wisconsin requires anyone with livestock – whether you have three chickens or 3,00...