MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

At the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s 104th annual convention in the Wisconsin Dells, one of the topics among members, aside from the weather and crop yields, is health care. Wisconsin Farm Bureau introduced a bill that would allow the organization to provide members with a health coverage plan. The idea is that this plan would be an affordable option for members who don’t qualify for existing...

The much anticipated Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover is now open to the public after their grand opening today. Andy Reitz is the executive director of the new center located on Innovation Drive off of Interstate 39. Andy tells Mid-West Farm Report how it feels to have finally opened the doors to this state-of-the-art facility. At its core, the building is meant to connect people to where...

Harvest is wrapping up in Wisconsin and now begins the preparations for 2024.  Steve Nicholson, the global sector strategist for grains and oilseeds at Rabo bank says the USDA's revised figures, had a substantial increase in corn yields, although this wasn't entirely unexpected given the circumstances.  Reflecting on earlier expectations, he emphasized the surprise factor, considering the dry weat...

Beekeeper Hannah Sjostrom is working on an expansion plan for her family’s third-generation apiary in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin. Her family raises about 200 hives during the summer. In the winter, she sends them across the country to pollinate almonds. When the bees come back to Wisconsin, that’s when the expansion process starts. “The last couple years have really been spent on making sure we have q...

Today more than 90% of dairy operations nationwide are involved in the FARM program.  FARM stands for Farmers Assuring Responsible Management.  It concentrates efforts on animal care across dairy facilities regardless of size.  FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative is an active participant in the FARM program, and dedicates resources to help their farmer members learn more about animal care. One resource pe...

Grieving the  loss of a loved one  is a deep and difficult challenge at any time. The holiday season can magnify our sense of loss and sorrow. Seasonal events can be painful reminders of the absence of loved ones. At the same time, they can also be comforting rituals where we connect with family and friends, focusing on good memories and trying to recapture our  sense of joy . Amber Miller, Associ...

Charlie Koenen, once thriving in the computer business, found himself drawn into a different world—the world of bees. Transitioning from tech to agriculture, Koenen has gained a passion for bees and being an advocate for pollinator awareness. Driven by a quest to change traditional beekeeping methods, Koenen delved into industrial design to reinvent beehives. After nine years of innovation, he unv...

As we’ve heard from agronomists, brokers, and growers throughout the harvest: yields have been better than expected in most areas after this year’s drought. But what is this telling us when it comes to next year’s planting plan? Jed Norman, sales agronomist with LG Seed, reminds us that every growing season is likely to be different than the year before. He offers advice when it comes to deciding...

Just because the Farm Bill deadline got extended to fall of 2024, doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a lot of time for more discussion, says Mary Kay Thatcher, senior manager of federal government and industry relations with Syngenta. She says the upcoming election year might make Farm Bill negotiations messy. Before we look ahead to 2024, Thatcher says there’s regulation in the works now that will...

It's the busiest time of the year for our Wisconsin Christmas Tree Growers.  Stephanie Hoff ventures out to Hann's Christmas Tree Farm to visit with Gregg Hann about the growing season, consumer trends and more. There's a brand new cheese processing facility coming online in Wisconsin just outside of Madison.  Nate Zimdars visits with Tim Omar, President and Managing Director of Emmi Roth.  Their...

Did someone say there’s a new cheese facility in Wisconsin? You Cheddar believe it. Emmi Roth, the U.S. subsidiary of Switzerland-based Emmi Group that makes award winning cheeses that are sold all across the world, just cut the ribbon to their new corporate headquarters and production facility in Stoughton. Tim Omer is the President and Managing Director for Emmi Roth and shares his first thought...

Wisconsin bankers have their voice heard in Washington DC thanks to the American Bankers Association (ABA). They represent 83 percent of all banks nationwide and have agricultural loans in their portfolio. Ed Elfmann, Senior Vice President of Agricultural and Rural Banking Policy for ABA says recent conversations in the lending space have been focused around commodity prices. Addressing these conc...

This week, another Wisconsin farm family is making a transition out of farming.  Laverne and Randy Theis have operated their cash grain operation on the outskirts of Madison since the 1930's.  After December 2nd, the final phase of their well maintained equipment will leave the yard for the last time. Listen in as they explain how their neighborhood has changed.  The Theis farm equipment sale is b...

The revamped Farm and Industry Short Course began over a month ago on the UW-River Falls campus. To complement what is being done at River Falls, UW Madison will be hosting the FISC Ag Forward event series in January. UW Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Outreach Coordinator Heather Gayton. She shares what FISC students and others can look forward to at the upcoming event.  See omn...

Early data shows that hunters registered 173,942 deer during the 2023 gun deer season, including 85,390 antlered and 88,552 antlerless deer.  Compared to 2022, the total firearm deer harvest was down 17.6 percent statewide, with the antlered harvest down 14.7 percent and the antlerless harvest down 20.3 percent. However, Deer Program Specialist Jeff Pritzl says 2022 and 2023 are not an "apples to...

Beekeepers across the nation face a common challenge during winter - preserving bee colonies against harsh conditions. Enter Hive Hugger, a game-changer designed to transform how beekeepers approach winterization and declining hive populations. Inspired by a heartfelt mission and years of extensive research, registered nurse turned beekeeper, Peggy DeSanto, says, "The loss of tens of thousands of...

As the seasons shift, ensuring optimal ventilation becomes a crucial consideration for farmers in maintaining healthy livestock during winter. Just like we bundle up on layers to stay warm, farmers also “bundle up” their cows for the cold. “Ventilation in winter isn't just about keeping animals warm, it's about safeguarding their health," says Nesli Akdeniz, Livestock Controlled Environments Exten...

You may be thinking Christmas trees today, but Wisconsin's timber industry is much more robust than that.  Nate Zimdars talks to Logan Wells, timber instructor at the Northern Wisconsin Technical College in Wausau.  He explains the depth, diversity and quality that the state's timber industry offers the world. During the pandemic all eyes were watching the meat processing industry.  Faced with lab...

During the pandemic's peak, as pork plants shut down, farmers faced challenges harvesting hogs. However one person stepped up to provide an outlet for these farmers in her area. Keri Retallick and her family started their business known as The Meat Schoppe in 2021. They collaborated with small locker plants across the state, and ensured surplus pigs reached food banks. Now a few years later, Retal...

Winter's in Wisconsin provide all kinds of challenges to anyone who lives here.  For farms and agribusinesses, there's some especially unique situations that can develop with colder weather, along with snow and ice. Carl Thomfohrda and Tony Aguado are two Rural Mutual Insurance agents in Northwest Wisconsin that have seen it all.  From roof collapses after heavy snowfall, to a call about a vehicle...

The official session may be over for state legislators in Madison, but work continues.  Stephanie Hoff gets an update from Rep. Travis Tranel, chair of the Assembly Ag Committee, on what they're looking forward to. Farm wages for hired workers went up both this summer, and during the fall harvest.  While Wisconsin farms pay for more available labor, what can they do to keep and retain those employ...

The potato industry is supporting a new grant that aims to bolster potato research at UW-Madison. The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association gave funds to Extension Specialist and Soil Science Professor Matt Ruark, making him the first-ever BCS Chair. BCS is an acronym that honors past researchers at the university: Larry Binning, David Curwen and John Schoenemann. Ruark will get $85,0...

The latest innovations and opportunities for crop protection aren’t necessarily new but rather improved use in stabilizers. Tim Swanson, product manager for CHS shares more about opportunities in crop protection and nutrition and shares insights for retailers and growers to help navigate the next growing season. He says, "If you can store products through the winter, do so. Take what you can now a...

About 300,000 Wisconsinites went without health insurance in 2023. Maybe you’re one of them. Open enrollment for health insurance is happening now through Jan. 15. Wisconsin's Commissioner of Insurance encourages you to look into some of the affordable coverage options that are out there. There's at least three options in every county, and premiums as little as $10 per month. Commissioner Nathan H...

As farmers we wear many hats. So when we’re in the field combining, we need things to run smoothly so we’re not behind on the rest of our to-do list. Ryan Kau, Harvesting Marketing Manager at Case IH, says their Harvest Command technology helps farmers do just that. He says their improvements are made through a customer-driven approach. He adds that looking ahead to 2024, supply chain issues shoul...