Mid-west Farm Report - Madison

Good Friday may have acted as a distraction from policy attention at the governor's mansion. Wisconsin Senator Pat Testin, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Revenue Committee, says that Good Friday was a bad day for livestock operations in the state.  Governor Tony Evers decided to veto legislation that would have put a freeze on proposed fee increases proposed by the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.  These annual fee increases range from 205% to nearly 1,700%!  The livestock, marketing and trucking industry had collaborated with DATCP to find some common ground, but it wasn't enough for the governor. On a positive note, it looks like there will be some state funding made available for farmers, land owners, and municipalities dealing with the fallout of PFAS contamination.  Testin says many of the impacted parties may have been unaware of the PFAS risk when practices were put into place.  This money would be targeted at clean up of impacted areas.  A

If you're from Wisconsin, chances are good that you've enjoyed a June Dairy celebration somewhere in the course of your life.  Organizing the volunteers and all the educational opportunities is one mission supported by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. Mitch Kappelman is a fifth generation dairy operator that sits on DFW's board of directors.  He represents dairy operators in Manitowoc and Calumet counties.  Kappelman reminds us that there's more to June Dairy month then just the food and friendship.  These face-to-face events allow Wisconsin dairy to tell its story.  Kappelman says the care of our dairy animals and the dedication to preserving land and water resources is something he does everyday.  However, sharing that story with consumers isn't something that happens everyday. Kappleman notes that 99% of all Wisconsin dairy operations are family owned and operated.  That's not a story that consumers pick up just driving by.  The work farms do with conservation practices t

You can travel thousands of miles and see different terrain, but still find yourself in a conversation that feels like "home".  Pam Jahnke shares some comments from Rhys Lougher from Ty Tanglwyst dairy in Wales.  Lougher, his brother and father operate the dairy.  It includes not only providing milk to the general public, but also top end genetics to area dairy farms that may be rebuilding after suffering losses from bovine tuberculosis.  Ty Tanglwyst was one of the agriculture stops on the recent farm tour of England and Wales. We've got some hit and miss chances at sunshine this week.  Stu Muck says today the wind will catch your attention. Turning tragedy into something positive isn't easy.  Carol Anderson, program director with Rural Minds, says that's how their organization started.  After losing a family member in a farm suicide the family decided to focus energy on mental health challenges in rural communities.  Ben Jarboe visits with Anderson about the

Hog production in the Nevada desert.  Really?  Yep!  Bob Bosold's on the trail of a hog operation outside of Las Vegas that actually uses some of the food remnants from the hotel/casino industry to feed its hogs. Rain, rain and more rain for Good Friday and the weekend.  Stu Muck also says the winds will remain strong until at least Sunday. A lakeside community in Green Lake County decided it wanted to play an active role in documenting weather events impacting their community.  Ben Jarboe finds out about it with volunteer Jim Goyette.  He got involved through the Green Lake Association and other citizen science programs like Water Action Volunteers.Participants collect rainfall data that contributes to historical records and more accurate weather forecasting. Monitoring precipitation is especially important for agriculture, water quality, and maintaining aquifers and streams. Goyette chose his rain gauge location based on provided guidelines, placing it in an open area away

The Wisconsin Beef Council sponsored the Best Beef Entrée award at the recent Wisconsin ProStart Invitational, inspiring the next generation of culinary leaders. Brady Weiland, a beef and dairy producer from Columbus, tells us about the experience as a judge, and tasting the creative ways that students prepared decadent beef dishes. He also gives us a firsthand look at why representing the dairy perspective on the state checkoff board is vital for the entire beef industry's success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 There's a Wisconsin specialty crop that captures the attention from people around the world. Ginseng is a root crop that thrives in our fresh climate here in Wisconsin. We're joined by 78th Alice in Dairyland, Sarah Hagenow, to tell us more about the crop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 I scream, you scream, we all scream for 50 years of Cedar Crest Ice Cream. Marketing Manager at Cedar Crest Ice Cream, Shannon Simon, celebrates the anniversary by taking us back to the beginning and tells us about the company's history that is as rich as the ice cream they serve.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are right in the thick of the spring confectionery season, but if you’ve noticed your favorite Easter basket treats look a little different this year, or cost a little more, you're not alone.  Billy Roberts, Senior Analyst of Food and Beverage with CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division, tells Stephanie Hoff that in a world of volatile cocoa prices, the candy aisle landscape is changing.  Faced with years of extreme cocoa price volatility, major chocolate manufacturers are increasingly leaning into non-chocolate alternatives, such as gummies and nut-filled confections, to protect their bottom lines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Wisconsin's most well known dairy businesses is celebrating a big milestone in 2026. Kiley Allan gets the review of the last 50 years of Cedar Crest Ice Cream with Shannon Simon, their Marketing Manager. Rain is here and looks to hang around for the next couple of days according to ag meteorologist Stu Muck. He also says to watch out for ice during travels. This April rain provides a good chance to be a volunteer weather observer for CoCoRaHS. Stephanie Hoff gets the details on how easy it is to be a weather observer from Cynnara Montag. Jan Prins a dairy broker from EverAg joins the show after a day of mostly higher dairy prices to talk with Ben Jarboe about how National and International happenings are affecting the markets. He says the Iran conflict is affecting butter the most.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manure management is a standard part of Wisconsin farm life, but as operations grow and liquid storage systems become more common, the risks associated with manure pits are trending upward. This is according to UW-Madison Professor and Division of Extension Specialist Rebecca Larson. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or a new hand, here are five critical safety tips to keep in mind before you head out to the pits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 When a program has been honed and developed for nearly 70 years, real success can happen. That's exactly what the Wisconsin Beef Improvement Association has experienced with their sale. Alan Arndt sat down with Kiley Allan. He's the Wisconsin Beef Improvement President, Simental Director and a longtime consigner at the sale. He tells us about the sale's rich history and what consignors and buyers can expect this Saturday at the sale. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes. We’ve all seen a day start with a frost and end with a sunburn. But here’s the thing -- while the atmosphere is unpredictable, our ability to track it shouldn't be. No matter what curveballs the sky throws at us, you can be a part of this historic weather story. You see things a satellite can’t. You know that the rain gauge on your porch might tell a completely different story than the one on the farm just two miles down the road. Mid-West Farm Report is inviting you to join more than 500 of your neighbors across the state as a volunteer weather observer for CoCoRaHS -- Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network. By reporting what’s happening right outside your window, you’re helping the National Weather Service determine the true impact and severity of every storm. Take it from Cynnara Montag, a proud weather observer since 2021, when she answered the call from her local watershed group to help the National W

Intercompatibility and speed are essential for farmers to have with their equipment, and with the labor shortage getting worse each year, producers need to be able to work faster with less hands. Ben Jarboe talks with Dave Smarts, the team leader for the Agricultural Electronics Foundation's High Speed Isobust Research, to see how they are working to make equipment computers 4,000 times faster. Today will see a dip in temperatures according to ag meteorologist Stu Muck during the Compeer Financial Ag Weather Update. The rest of the week holds warmer temperatures, but also some rain.  Wisconsin's dairy farmers are always looking for new ways to diversify and many have found success with beef on dairy. Kiley Allan chats with Casey Jentz, the COO of the American Angus Association, to see why the angus crosses are finding success in the market. Keeping animals well fed and healthy with tightening margins is always a difficult task, but there are ways to do it. Stephanie Hoff gains insights with Jake Guenzler

Rain looks like it will be here to stay for a few days according to ag meteorologist Stu Muck. Warmer weather gives the feeling of summer right around the corner and one staple of the summer is bees. Jill Welke chats with Galen Klisiewicz, the Director of the Chippewa Valley Beekeepers, to see why it has been a bit tough in recent times. Farmers are constantly looking to get the most out of their operation and for dairy farms that might mean carbon credits. Stephanie Hoff talks with Jennifer Block, the director of value chain partnerships with Edge Dairy Cooperative, to see how their EmPower+ program can help farmers get more out of their carbon credits. Ben Jarboe talks with John Heinberg, a market advisor with Total Farm Marketing, to get a preview on upcoming reports and discuss what is happening with cattle. He says today's report may be heavily dictated by fertilizer for planting acres.--See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After graduating from St. John’s University, a North Dakotan farm boy found himself returning to the family operation at an interesting time in the farming community. In the late 1970s, Rusty Volk was excited bring his new bride back to the family’s 1900 acre, 100 head dairy farm, but that didn’t mean things were easy. Rusty reminds us of the importance of resilience in the face of a changing agricultural landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Haag of Haag Dairy in Dane tells Stephanie Hoff about the mutual benefits of hosting Girl Scouts on the farm. Stephanie was one of the 11 workshop presenters on Saturday as the troops earned their dairy patch. Bomaz Farms in Hammond relies on immigrant labor to help the family care for 1,500 cows 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Even though their employees are E-Verified and have no criminal record, the thought of getting targeted by immigration officials keeps Ashley Zwald up at night, Pam Jahnke reports. The Compeer Financial Ag Weather Update calls for a beautiful day before April showers and cooler temperatures arrive mid-week. The "BeSure!" campaign by Bayer promotes best management practices for treating seeds with neonicotinoids to protect pollinators. It advises farmers on handling treated seeds, minimizing dust, and protecting flowering habitats. Pam Jahnke gets the details from Lillian Brzostowski. Austin Gellings, senior director of agriculture at AEM, says due to tight margins, farmers are ch

Host Ben Jarboe gives a look at what has been working for him recently fishing and Pat Hasburgh joins the show to share what he has been hearing and provides regulation insights. Brian Cordel with Clint's Custom Baits joins the show to explain how their basement lure making operation can make some of the most unique baits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the Compeer Financial Ag Weather Update, Ag Meteorologist Stu Muck says we can expect a few rain showers before we see warmer weather. Stephanie Hoff visits with two council graduates today about how this program is a backstage pass to the world of ag policy and career networking. Mary Schrieber and Jescey Thompson are both now college students after successful stints in the FFA. Mary, originally from East Troy, was a National FFA Vice President. Jescey, who calls Ettrick home, was a Wisconsin State FFA President. Their career interests started in high school, when they saw the opportunity to apply for the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council. Pam Jahnke talks land auctions with the Steffes Group. Kiley catches up with Matt Crimmins. He tells us about the importance of livestock identification in the meat processing industry.  At the WPS Farm Show Ben Jarboe has a lot of fun learning about some of the new technology on the market. He talked to Justin Premo about the realities of upgrading equipment

Yesterday was an exciting day for the Fitchburg Fire Department, as the Wisconsin Soybean Program donated a bunch of soy foam. This is meant to be an environmentally safe way to fight fires. Jonathan Gibbs, a Farmer Director for the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, shares how it all came together and why the soy foam is so important. Scott Sarver the fire chief and emergency manager for the Fitchburg fire department, shares what it means for them to be able to use this and why they feel this is going to be beneficial in the long run.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.