MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

In the 12 states that make up the southeastern United States, there are less than 2,000 dairy farms. This is much less than the 6,000 dairy farms in Wisconsin alone. However, the southeast is hoping to increase their dairy capabilities. Much of this work is happening through the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative. Their mission is to spur growth for dairy producers and processors in th...

From removing molars to milking cows – that’s quite the transition, but so far it’s working for Tollemissov Mahan. He is a dentist by training in southern Kazakhstan but has recently taken an interest in agriculture. He's in Wisconsin exploring best herd management practices and farm technology with UW-River Falls. He’s been dairy farming for a year now and is waiting on news from the Kazakhstan g...

Fifteen residents from the central Asian country of Kazakhstan toured UW-River Falls and visited World Dairy Expo in an effort to learn more about dairy farming. The group was made up of mostly farm owners and a couple of government officials. The Kazakhstan government wants to boost the dairy sector in that nation. Domestic dairy production fulfills just 25 percent of the nation’s milk needs, and...

The 56th World Dairy Expo is in the books. Stephanie Hoff grabs a quick recap with the show's general manager, Laura Herschleb. She says Expo not only captured existing Dynasties in Dairy -- the theme of this year's event -- but they also found new dynasties in the making with huge youth and international turnout. Next year's theme is The Golden Age. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Ever wanted to travel abroad and experience a different culture doing something you love? If you're involved in dairy, there is an opportunity called Global Cow. Global Cow provides work experiences for Americans and residents of other countries to live abroad and do dairy work. Jill Stahl Tyler is the program founder and coordinator. She shares what the program does and the benefits of cross-cult...

As farmers navigate their financial state and investment decisions, they often have numerous questions. Whether they are new to farming or transitioning into a farm, they face challenges in gathering the necessary information. Katie Wantoch, UW-Extension Farm Management Outreach Specialist says the first step is to assess the historical performance of the farm in order to plan for the future. Farm...

Rodrigo Werle, UW Extension Weed Specialist explains what he's seeing so far in the fields. He says waterhemp is one of the worst that he's seeing. The United States and Canada have a close relationship and share many similarities. This is especially true with agriculture, though there are some key differences including farm size and how milk is regulated. Hugh Hunter is a Canadian dairy farmer fr...

Don't be kicking yourself at the end of the year when grain prices rise. Ever. Ag agent broker Jenny Wackershauser says now is a feed-buying window for dairy producers. Meanwhile, as we get harvesting our corn and beans in the states, South America is putting their crop into the ground. Why does this matter? Their success dictates our export business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

If you get 100 dairy farmers in a room, will they all agree? That's the upcoming challenge in narrowing down what's going to work best for the Federal Milk Marketing Order for the Upper Midwest. Luckily, Tim Trotter, CEO of Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and Dairy Business Association, is optimistic that the industry is coming together to work out solutions in front of the USDA jury in Carmel, Indi...

With help from the UW Dairy Innovation Hub, UW-Madison Professor and Extension Specialist Jennifer Van Os is answering the most common question she's gotten from the industry: can you train my employees to handle dairy cattle? In early 2024, her research team is releasing a video game that acts as a simulator for handling livestock. Don't let the cartoon cows fool you -- this game is harder than i...

Technology is used throughout agriculture. Farmers often use different technology for different purposes. Most of these software packages don't "talk" with each other. iYOTAH is a new software hub that will address that problem. Pam Jahnke speaks with Kari Spaan, the Founder and CEO of iYOTAH, about how this will streamline technology use.  Pam Jahnke speaks with Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group...

Rep. Travis Tranel, Assembly Ag Committee Chair, says they’re working on where to draw the line between foreign land owners who are a threat versus a good partner. Two bills regarding foreign land ownership are in the committee. Cows? Check. Grilled cheese? Check. Ice cream? Yes please! The GEA Farm Technologies ice cream stand is in its 19th year at World Dairy Expo in Madison. Sue Begg leads the...

Triticale is a man-made hybridization between rye and wheat. This crop is commonly used as forage and is becoming more popular in the Midwest. Racey Padilla is a plant breeder for TriCal and specializes in breeding triticale so that it can withstand the colder Midwest winters. Padilla shares more about the crop and what its benefits for forage use are.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Cows? Check. Grilled cheese? Check. Ice cream? Yes please! The GEA Farm Technologies ice cream stand is in its 19th year at World Dairy Expo in Madison. Sue Begg is the GEAMarketing and communications manager and she leads the planning for the ice cream stand. It takes her six months to prepare for Expo.  The GEA Technologies ice cream stand is open from 10am-4:30 each day. Each day they will feat...

Technology is keeping Michelle Kohls of northeast Wisconsin on the dairy farm. She says advancements in herd management, such as cow-sorting gates, have allowed her to live "a more regular life." Cow tracking technologies have also resulted in employee retention, as her staff is proud to now have a 'cow eye'.  World Dairy Expo is not only showcasing the pedigree of the cows, but also the lineage o...

Consumer habits have changed since the pandemic, and this includes how much we’ve all been snacking! Convenient, healthy snacks are trending, and it’s an opportunity for the dairy industry. This is according to Audrey Girard, an assistant professor in the Department of Food Science at UW-Madison. She recently got a grant from the UW Dairy Innovation Hub to look at how to get some lower value, nutr...

Agriculture is dependent on weather. It can either help bring a prosperous harvest or ensure a difficult year. Today, technology and better understanding of weather patterns can help farmers understand when they can expect certain weather and how to adapt. The U.S. is expected to experience the El Nino weather pattern this winter, which means a warmer winter for Wisconsin. Eric Snodgrass is the Se...

Does getting up to 300,000 miles on your car seem like a scary idea to you? We’ll it’s a scary thought for many - but not for Tim Lease, Division Manager of Premier Co-op. Tim had his vehicle converted to run on propane and says he can now hit that 300,000 mark with proper maintenance with no worries. He also has some significant cost savings. He explains more about how the conversion works and th...

Despite the drought, there has still been a lot of insect activity. For some it even helped them.  PJ Liesch, the director of the UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab and state entomologist, also known as the Wisconsin Bug guy, says several insects stand out at the moment including Asian lady beetles, box elder bugs, and grasshoppers. But first he talks about another busy insect. Yellowjackets. “It's...

Schumacher Farm Park in Waunakee is probably unlike any other county park you’ve been to. Sure they have walking trails and natural areas, but it’s also a time capsule of what farming and rural living looked like in the early 1900s, all complete with the original farmhouse and red barn. Mark Pelton, president of Friends of Schumacher Farm Park, says they're gearing up for their popular annual even...

Wisconsin's dairy industry will be at center stage for the inaugural Art of Cheese Festival.  The event's attracting interest and guests from around the world .  Nate Zimdars visits with Rachel Kerr of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and explains the itinerary. Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group visits with Pam Jahnke about things people should consider if they're thinking about an auction.  Paid for b...

Cattle should start arriving today for the World Beef Expo at State Fair Park in West Allis.  The event, held in conjunction with Harvest Fair, is into its 31st year.  Stephanie Hoff visits with Cody Quam, WBE board president, about cattle numbers, overall attendance and what trends he's noticing about people involved in the beef industry. It's a Wyffels Wednesday.  Andy Grebner is the district sa...

The USDA provided 3 million dollars to support Wisconsin's Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program and is giving another 5 million to support expanding this program. USDA Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt came to Squashington Farm in Mount Horeb for a roundtable with local producers to hear how the funds are helping their businesses. She shares what the USDA is hoping to see happen with t...

Harvest Fair is this weekend at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis. It sounds like such a blast between the food, the farmers market and pumpkin bowling. I’m Stephanie Hoff for the Mid-West Farm Report. Harvest Fair happens in tandem with World Beef Expo – so you’ve got two agricultural experiences to enjoy while you’re there. Tess Kerksen with the Wisconsin State Fair tells us what's in stor...

The countdown for the 56th World Dairy Expo is on as there is only a few days until the global dairy industry meets once again in Madison. Do you have everything you need to have a memorable and enjoyable experience? Lisa Behnke, Communications Manager for World Dairy Expo says the first step is buying your digital admission passes for this year’s event before arriving at the Alliant Energy Center...