MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

How do you prioritize traits like productivity, health or temperament in your breeding program? Whether it's dairy or beef, farmers face critical decisions regarding which traits to prioritize in their breeding endeavors.  According to Dr. Silvia Abel-Caines, nutritionist for Organic Valley, the first step in any breeding program is a thorough analysis of the genetic makeup of the herd.  “Identify...

Farmers aren't quite ready to head to the fields yet, so there's time to try and make sure you're aware of what's happening (or not) with the Farm Bill.  Remember, the current working framework is actually the 2018 Farm Bill that's been extended until September. A Republican lawmaker from Florida, Cong. Kat Cammack, told Agriculture of America, " mid-March being our timeline to have draft text pre...

Farmers everywhere are trying to increase the value of their livestock. Bill Halfman, extension beef outreach specialist says the most important way to add value is simple: raise good-quality animals.  "Putting together a good ration that aligns with the type of cattle and market goals is essential. Whether it's implementing a backgrounding program or transitioning to a finishing ration, producers...

Wisconsin’s farmers strive to be stewards of the land with good management practices and over the past 60 years Jerry Huth of Huth Polled Herefords in Oakfield has established a reputation for outstanding environmental stewardship. He grazes about 270 acres and says he does this because of the benefit it has not only for his cattle but his land. "We've seen the ability to create better soils and i...

Just because you may not see those bright red cranberries in the bogs this time of year, that doesn’t mean those growers are getting a vacation or time off.  During the winter months, cranberries undergo dormancy. This dormancy period extends into spring, signifying a critical phase for farmers as the cranberries begin to awaken. “Springtime is a time of vigilance for us. We closely monitor our cr...

We talk about it more now than ever before — mental health in production agriculture. And the conversation includes Wisconsin farmers. Jeff Ditzenberger is the founder of TUGS, a support system that he created from his personal experiences with mental health. His story has moved to a bigger stage, including the film “Greener Pastures” coming to PBS on Monday, March 25: https://www.pbs.org/independ...

"Telling the story of Wisconsin agriculture is important for each of us as the impacts of this industry are far-reaching," says DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. "Even those who are unfamiliar with how a cheese curd is made or how cranberries are grown are impacted by the food, fuel, and fiber produced by people in Wisconsin agriculture." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workforce is a primary challenge for Wisconsin agriculture. Improving the workplace "culture" on the farm can help recruit and retain a good team of people. Linda Swindling is a professional negotiator – she got that title following her law school days. She helps people turn complainers into contributors and understands the unique family dynamics of the farm. She says: "You can't fire your mom," b...

In today's economy, Elsa Condon, vice president of agricultural banking at Nicolet National Bank, has noticed farmers looking at alternative revenue streams, not necessarily farm expansions. These include value-added markets (selling beef on the farm) or vertical integration (having a shop on the farm).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you think of cheese you think of Wisconsin. But the love of cheese has no boundaries as a french native found himself drawn to the world of cheesemaking. Orphee Paillotin, owner of Alpinage Cheese in Oak Creek is one of the few cheesemakers that makes raclette cheese. He says that’s where his French background comes in handy. "Just over two years ago, we took the leap of faith, quitting our j...

The Wisconsin Beef Council continues to gather nominations for their first ever Best Beef Burger campaign.  Individuals and restaurants are welcome to nominate their best all beef burger before the end of March. Also happening, a unique t-shirt campaign.  The Wisconsin Beef Council is partnering with Feeding Wisconsin to raise awareness that everyone deserves food security.  The t-shirts and sweat...

As extreme weather events become more common, such as the ongoing drought in Wisconsin, growing crops for top-notch feed quality and optimal dairy profit might get tricky. But other options exist... it just may be a little outside the box. Dr. Joe Bender joins us from the University of Pennsylvania, where he's been looking at creative feed solutions that can also tackle food waste. For example, re...

"You can't manage what you can't measure" was the thought that drove Pagel's Ponderosa in Kewaunee County to be one of the 11 pilot farms in the new Your Farm - Your Footprint program through PDPW. JJ Pagel recommends other dairy farmers take advantage of this tool that calculates your farm's carbon score. He says it was easier than he thought because the data the consultants need to calculate you...

Professional Dairy Producers has unveiled a new program called Your Farm - Your Footprint, and it’s meant to help farmers calculate their carbon score. Producers can then use that carbon score to advocate for themselves. They may use it to get into a carbon market. Or they may use it to tell their sustainability story to their community. Carson Dugger is a lead agronomist at Sustainable Environmen...

Wisconsin's cattle producers are facing a myriad of challenges, from the persistent wolf issue to unpredictable weather patterns, while also navigating regulatory landscapes at both the state and federal levels. The Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association (WCA) is actively engaged in addressing these challenges and seizing opportunities to bolster the state's beef industry. Despite these challenges, the...

The Farm and Industry Short Course has wrapped up its first year in its new home at UW-River Falls. We’re highlighting one of the graduates today. Taylor Kolls has wanted to be a dairy farmer since he was a youngster but had no dairy farm experience until his late 20s when he began working part-time on a dairy farm after his military career. That’s when he learned about FISC and decided to enroll....

The Farm and Industry Short Course has wrapped up its first year in its new home at UW-River Falls. The overall sentiment from Professor Steve Kelm is that it was a success, and it all started with the diversity of courses they offered. While the class was just nine students -- they wanted 20-25 -- Kelm says it was a good size for the first UWRF FISC. He has 12 seats already filled for the 2024-25...

Just a few generations ago nearly all heifers spent part of the year on pasture. Today, most farmers choose not to implement grazing. But there’s good reason for farms to consider going back to your roots with grazing heifers. And for one farmer in Reedsburg, it’s really paying off. Connor Laukant is the owner of Laukant Farms and also has 3 other businesses. He explains more about why he chose gr...

Are you in need of additional farm workers on a temporary basis? Or finding it difficult to find quality workers for your farm?  Well with spring around the corner, it means it's going back to those long days in the fields and you'll really be wanting that extra help. With the labor shortage still being a factor, some farmers turn towards H2A labor. Walter Conlon, owner of Farm Hands LLC shares ho...

What began with a couple goats has morphed into a one-of-a-kind farmstead culinary experience for one family in Malone WI. Larry Hedrich’s initial focus on growing the dairy goat milk industry has expanded and now led him to provide the highest quality goat kid meat for consumers and restaurants. Today, his business Calanna Specialty Meats continues to set the standard in quality goat meat. "Our m...

The growing interest in native landscaping among Wisconsinites has sparked a surge in options for purchasing low maintenance, drought-tolerant, and beneficial plants. According to Amy Staffen, Conservation Biologist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the enthusiasm for native plants has led to significant developments in the availability of these essential green elements. "Nin...

If you’ve gone through one Wisconsin small town, you have not seen them all. And that’s because each rural Wisconsin community has something unique to bring to the table. The state is working to help strengthen those qualities to keep our rural economies strong. The Office for Rural Prosperity was developed four years ago to help connect rural communities to state resources. The office is also a l...

In Wisconsin, spring showers can lead to more than May flowers. Flooding is a risk over the next few months. And it has Wisconsin Emergency Management on high alert. Andrew Beckett joins us in-studio. He’s a public information officer with WEM. The agency’s role is to support local emergency management offices. If a county or tribe has an emergency issue exceeding their ability to respond, they ca...

Potatoes are America’s favorite vegetable. The average American eats about 46 pounds of spuds every year. So growing potatoes is an important job! And those valuable veggies start from somewhere – a seed. Brooke Babler is the associate program director for the Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program. It takes a lot of manpower, time, and resources to ensure seed potatoes are of high quality fo...

The month of March is well-known for sports, filled with basketball games, March Madness brackets, and the fun of picking your favorite teams against family and friends. 76th Alice in Dairyland Ashley Hagenow says you can make these celebrations complete with Wisconsin dairy products. Throughout the month of March, Hagenow will be conducting the “Wisconsin Artisan Bracket.” This gives Wisconsinite...