MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Another episode of Top Chef Wisconsin will air tonight on the Bravo Network.  Stephanie Hoff talks with some of the contestants on their impression of the event and the emphasis on Wisconsin commodities.  She also chats with some of the Wisconsin cheesemakers that made appearances on the show. High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is still making headlines nationwide.  Wisconsin sits in a unique...

Wisconsin is moving away from carbon-based fuels such as coal, and moving toward renewable energy such as wind and solar. This means there are more opportunities for farmers to add value to their farms with solar arrays. But you’re going to want to proceed with caution. Bill Oemichen joins us in-studio. He’s a professor of law at the UW-Madison Divison of Extension. He says roughly 100 or more sol...

Blake Foraker joins us. He’s an assistant professor of meat science at Washington State University. His expertise lies in beef on dairy cross animals and how to improve the traits in these cattle to keep their value in the beef market. He says beef on dairy cross animals isn’t new, but they haven’t been this popular until fairly recently. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soil health remains a top-of-mind concern for farmers. With spring planting season just ahead, it’s important to take proper steps before and after planting to better control weeds.  Rodrigo Werle, UW-Extension Cropping Systems Weed Specialist, says recent snow and rain has helped soil moisture improve which will help farmers manage their weeds in the long-term. “According to the latest drought mo...

Agriculture has increasingly relied more and more on automation to improve safety, production, and quality. Regardless of the final product,  many growers, processors, and transporters use automated equipment or rely on support and utility systems. Vinny Endres is the president of Bitmasked Automation and uses his personal farm experience to help farms of all sizes reach their goals with automatio...

Did you know that wind farm blades last between 20-30 years, depending on where it is?  Today, while many wind farms continue to produce, some of the blades that have been doing the work for decades are getting re-powered, meaning they'll keep using the site and the turbine, but the blades need to be replaced.  But what do you do with a piece of fiberglass that's anywhere from 140-200 feet long, a...

Wisconsin apple growers are still on high alert over weather conditions that might jeopardize their crop.  Charitee Seebecker talks to Steve Louis from Oakwood Fruit Farm in Richland Center about what he's observing, and how he's preparing for what could be a dry spring. New technology is allowing farms to try and remove some of the punch neighbors experience as they're handling manure.  Strong Mi...

University Extension 4-H programs from throughout the upper Midwest are conducting a survey on Food, Agriculture, & Related Businesses Workforce Needs.  The information they gather in the survey will enhance 4-H initiatives in promoting career pathways in the agriculture, food & forestry career industries with a better understanding of the workforce needs. Pam Jahnke talks to Jill Jorgenso...

Melissa Wienkes is the second generation on her family bison farm in Seymour, raising over 100 head. She’s also active in the Wisconsin Bison Producers Association, actively promoting and preserving the American bison in Wisconsin. Maybe you’ve had a bison burger from the association’s famous food truck. Melissa says you can check out your local bison producer for even more cuts and products. WBPA...

Agriculture exists everywhere in the world - but it can look different than Wisconsin.  Bob Bosold visits with Oscar Vargas, an agriculture guide in Costa Rica, about their labor force and the type of agriculture you'll see there. Today's solar eclipse could cause animals around the farm to act a little odd today, at least for the few minutes the eclipse occurs.  Beekeepers around the country are...

As the weather starts to warm up, dairy producers face the looming challenge of heat stress in their dairy herds. With temperatures rising earlier than usual, the need to manage the heat becomes increasingly urgent. Heat stress poses a considerable risk to the health, well-being and production of dairy cows. As we approach the summer months, it’s critical to have prevention and control strategies...

In a heartwarming testament to the joys of farm life and family bonds, author Chase Pagel of Kewaunee announces the release of her debut book, "Rosco's Sweet Treats." Inspired by her own experiences growing up on a family farm, Pagel brings to life the endearing tale of her daughter Kylie and her beloved Jersey steer, Rosco. The narrative of "Rosco's Sweet Treats" revolves around Kylie's adventure...

Master Cheesemaker Pam Hodgson from Sartori Cheese has found her audience has expanded after her appearance on Top Chef. This season, the television series is all about Wisconsin. The latest episode focuses on Wisconsin cheese and features more than a dozen decorated specialty cheeses, including Sartori's Bellavitano Merlot. Hodgson was a celebrity guest. She says the exposure brought tremendous v...

Top Chef contestant Dan Jones has been feeling the love from Wisconsin viewers during the season because of his Wisconsin roots. While he's competing on home turf, he says it isn't a walk in the park. He's still getting introduced to new ingredients and challenges. He recently discovered Wisconsin was a top producer of cranberries. Dan encourages his fellow Wisconsinites to enjoy the vibrant food...

The latest episode of Top Chef Wisconsin was all about cheese, but there were some other products thrown in there as well, such as ginseng, Door County cherries, and Kikkoman soy sauce. Michelle Wallace, who scored a top spot in the most recent episode, says all she knew about Wisconsin agriculture before Top Chef was that it was the land of beer and cheese. That was just a fraction of her experie...

Rural nurses are the backbone of healthcare in agricultural communities -to celebrate them, and to promote rural health outcomes, AgriSafe is offering 125 continuing education scholarships for nurses who serve areas designated as “rural and medically underserved.” to take their Nurse Scholar program free of charge.  The deadline to apply for a scholarship is April 8, 2024. To be eligible to receiv...

PepsiCo, Inc. is one of the leading multinational food and beverage companies. And they're zeroing in on consumer trends, including increased demand for sustainable food and agriculture. Director of Government Affairs Dan Christenson says the company's partnerships to meet consumer needs are happening at the local level, such as cutting carbon emissions at Frito Lay in Beloit and investing in ag e...

It doesn't matter what area of agriculture business you're involved in. Chances are you've had to try and hire someone to fill a vacancy. And with spring planting just around the corner, finding quality employees on the farm is more important than ever. The question is, is your operation welcoming to them?  UW-Extension Farm Management Specialist, Jim Versweyveld, says there are simple things that...

A new company's planning a ground breaking on April 23rd in Portage that could lead to a brand new source of power for your clock, computer and eventually car!  The Wisconsin Battery Company is focusing it's energy on bringing a new hemp based battery to the marketplace.  Pam Jahnke visits with Jeff Greene, CEO of the Wisconsin Battery Company about their prospects. 3 billion eggs!  That's the num...

Wisconsin farmers and rural communities have definitely responded to the opportunity for funding on improvements on their local roads and bridges. Pam Jahnke visited with Wisconsin Department of Transportation Assistant Deputy Secretary, Joel Nilsesteun, about where current application levels stand. Nilsesteun says that any completed application that isn't funded in the first round will automatica...

There's no better way to get a first-hand look at the water levels of the Mississippi River and the impacts on shipments than the pilot house of a river tow boat. Jimmy Cheatham, barge captain on the Western Rivers says they’re doing an excellent job at moving freight right now. However, despite this and the recent snowfall we’ve had, he’s still cautious about the future of the water levels. Regar...

Adam Kask is the executive director of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board .  His role is to oversee spending of Wisconsin soybean checkoff dollars, and make sure they're channeled to investments that will pay dividends to growers. Pam Jahnke sits down to talk with Kask about his background, and what he finds exciting about the Wisconsin soybean story and where beans are being used.  A few highl...

Wisconsin is still a patchwork quilt of have's and have-nots when it comes to broadband internet technology.  There are several parts of Wisconsin, especially rural areas in northern parts of the state, that have inadequate internet or no access to high-speed internet at all. Wisconsin needs to do a much better job of creating a stronger broadband infrastructure. The Internet is not a luxury. It's...

Five states have confirmed detections of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in dairy cattle. Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Idaho, and Michigan -- the closest state to Wisconsin. Some states, such as Nebraska, are enacting stricter import rules to control the spread. Wisconsin State Veterinarian Dr. Darlene Konkle says as of right now, Wisconsin officials don’t plan on making any changes. She says...

The Wisconsin Farm Center within the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection offers financial consulting and transition planning. Senior Ag Specialist Kevin Plante says these are among their most popular services. Plante works with farms on topics, such as farm viability, debt structure, ​cost of production, and cash flow. He tells us what call volumes look like this time of year...