MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Everyone goes crazy for it. It sells out faster than you can say cheese curd. It's the legendary CurderBurger from Culver's, and it's making its long-awaited return on Oct. 2. It will be available this time around until Oct. 31 or while supplies last. Culver's cheese curds are made here in Wisconsin at LaGrander's Hillside Dairy in Stanley. Master Cheesemaker Ryan LaGrander gives Mid-West Farm Rep...

It’s very likely that when you ask a Wisconsinite what their favorite season is… it’s autumn. And one of the top reasons for that – fall colors! And it is that time of year – leaves are changing. But what role does the weather play in the length of fall colors or the vibrancy of the leaves? Brad Hutnik has the answer for us. He’s a forest ecologist with the Wisconsin DNR. He gives us the ins and o...

Wild rice is found in gently flowing rivers and lakes throughout Wisconsin. Harvesting rice is a culturally important part of tribal communities in the state. In recent decades, others have also learned how to harvest wild rice which involves getting in a canoe and using a rice stick to collect the rice. Jason Fleener, wetland habitat specialist  for the Wisconsin DNR, shares what goes into harves...

Wyffels hybrids are focused on research and information gathering.  For 10 years, Wyffels   has been conducting their own in-field research to try and help guide producers on product selection and management decisions. Andy Grebner, District Sales Manager for Dane & Green Counties, says that's why he put out more than 87 sticky yellow traps to monitor corn rootworm insect levels specifically. ...

The Coolest Thing Made In Wisconsin Contest is underway, and you have the chance to vote and highlight agriculture. Nick Novak, vice president of communications and marketing at Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, puts on this contest. He highlights for us the agricultural businesses who are contenders this year from butter chips to cow pasture shades. He says the contest aims to increase awaren...

Grocers know that prices matter to their shoppers. They are constantly navigating the supply chain and regulations to keep prices low for consumers while also staying in business. Brandon Scholz is the president and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association. Part of his role is to work on policy for their membership. He talks to lawmakers to make sure that Wisconsin’s grocery stores can continue to...

Discussion continues on the next Farm Bill.  Although the bill technically expires at the end of September, taking time to craft a proper bill is critical.  Bob Bosold talks with Darrin VonRuden, president of the WI Farmers Union, about what they've been crafting. State Rep. Travis Tranel is monitoring discussions that might define where solar panel farms can/cannot be located in Wisconsin.  The A...

U.S. Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack, visited Wisconsin to celebrate the government's investment in "Climate Smart Commodities".  Stephanie Hoff poses the question of why agriculture is getting so much attention, and responsibility, for such a big issue.  Vilsack says it's all about the resources that agriculture has available to manage. Foreign land ownership in Wisconsin is getting a closer look by th...

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s (WFBF) Promotion and Education Committee is hosting a one-day Leadership Boot Camp on October 28 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Fond du Lac. The Leadership Boot Camp Series was created to provide a fast-paced, one-day leadership development opportunity for individuals who may not have the time to participate in longer programs.  This year's fo...

Hispanic Heritage Month began September 15th and lasts through October 15th. To honor Hispanic Heritage Month and the many Hispanic workers in agriculture, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese created a Hispanic Heritage Month Recipe Contest. Participants must submit a recipe that uses at least one of Crave Brothers cheeses. Roseanne Crave shares details on the contest. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

World Beef Expo kicks off on Thursday at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis for its 31st year! And while Wisconsin is known as America's Dairyland, we draw quite the attendance for beef cattle shows and youth cattle judging. Expo President Cody Quam joins us with some of the unique elements of the show, including a growing number of youth involvement. He welcomes everyone to be a part of the...

The cranberry harvest is just around the corner.  Jill Welke catches up with UW-Extension Cranberry Specialist, Allison Jonjak, about how the crop is shaping up. The inaugural class of the Farm and Industry Short Course is about to launch at UW-River Falls.  Pam Jahnke talks with UWRF coordinator, Dr. Steve Kelm, about applications and coursework. If your kids are in elementary school across the s...

As America’s Dairyland, Wisconsin has numerous events that highlight the impact of dairy on our state. This include dairy livestock shows, farm breakfasts during June dairy month, or other events that highlight all of the different dairy products that we have to offer. A new event this year is the Art of the Cheese Festival. This event will be hosted by the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and is taking...

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom is dedicated to providing agricultural information through teaching resources and lesson plans to help K-12 students develop an understanding of how their food is grown and raised. Beth Schaefer, Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom coordinator says they have been working on a lot of exciting projects including a volunteer rally, book of the year program, podcast and more. S...

The FS Crop Tour is underway across the Midwest, including Wisconsin. Crop Specialist Matt O'Leary out of Waupun is one of the scouts canvassing corn fields in Wisconsin. The sample size has been small, but he says folks have been surprised so far at their yield projections after a difficult growing season. The data collected, including estimated yield, is uploaded to the FS Agronomy Yield Analyze...

The UW School of Veterinary Medicine is getting ready for the ribbon cutting of their new, state of the art, addition.  They're also preparing for the departure of Dr. Mark Markel, who's stepping down as dean next summer.  He visits with Pam Jahnke about his decision. Farmers are on the hunt for good, used equipment before the harvest hits full swing.  Pam Jahnke talks to Ashley Huhn from the Stef...

This is National Farm Safety and Health Week in Wisconsin, and rural responders are getting a lot of attention.  Charitee Seebecker talks to Kyle Koshalek, coordinator for upcoming farm safety training for emergency responders.  There are some unique challenges when emergency responders have to respond to a farm accident.  This training should help them be able to efficiently handle the call. Enro...

Every year Wisconsin hosts the Wisconsin International Poultry Show at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Portage at the end of September. The show attracts hundreds of exhibitors from all across the country exhibiting thousands of birds. Kaylyn Schleicher, the current President of the Wisconsin International Poultry Club, the group that organizes the event, dives into what to expect at the show....

Farmers are getting paid to reduce carbon emissions or to keep carbon trapped in the ground. Organic Valley is getting up to $25 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help its members become 'climate-smart'. They’re going to provide payment or other incentives to 500 of their member farmers over the next five years to lower their carbon footprint. Nicole Rakobitsch is the dire...

Who owns the farmland? And are they a threat to the food system or the economy? These are the questions that the Assembly Committee on Agriculture is working through as the issue on foreign land ownership emerges as a priority in the State Capitol. Representative Travis Tranel who chairs the committee, says they’re working on where to draw the line between foreign land owners who are a threat vers...

Many growers faced extraordinary dry conditions this year, and the corn plants responded! Dr. Brent Tharp, Technical Product Manager for Wyffels , says that the plant naturally cannibalizes the stalk to keep functioning.  That leads to questions about stand ability.  His suggestion - push/pull that stalk, to see how long it can stand before the combine needs to arrive. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Karen Nielsen, organization director for the Sheep Dairy Association of Wisconsin shares some of the unique qualities of sheep milk and details about the industry.  Even though the industry is small, producers of dairy sheep are wide spread across the state of Wisconsin.  Most of these sheep dairies ship their milk to be processed into cheese at multiple processors around the state. See omnystudio...

Wisconsin is the nation's leader in dairy production, both when it comes to cows and goats. One less common, but still important piece to Wisconsin's dairy industry is dairy sheep.  Sheep milk products are gaining popularity with consumers. Hygiene products made with sheep's milk are also becoming increasingly popular, especially for people with sensitive skin. Tammy and Brian Michielson, owners o...

The Farm and Industry Short Course was a long time program held on the UW-Madison campus. Short Course was a 2 year program that prepared students who wanted to work in production agriculture. Due to recent changes, the program is now being offered on the UW-River Falls campus. While the location has changed, the program will still remain rooted in tradition and UW-Madison will maintain involvemen...

Nobody wants to get the phone call that there was a farm accident. We assume the worst. And rightly so as farming is one of the most dangerous occupations. That’s why we're celebrating Farm Safety Week ahead of a busy harvest season. No matter the severity of a farm accident, financial stress also becomes a factor. Angela Bunker is a loss control specialist with American Family Insurance. She is t...