Mid-west Farm Report - Madison

The 64th WPS Farm Show at the EAA grounds has seen a strong turnout of visitors and exhibitors, serving as a vital "reunion" for the agribusiness community. Spokesman Matt Cullen highlights the event's success with Stephanie Hoff! Today is the final day, and it includes free admission.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiley Allan visits with Extension Conservation and Nutrient Specialist Kevin Erb about manure handling safety. Did you know over half of manure-handling accidents occur on the road? More than half of those accidents happen at intersections because of speed, taking corners too sharply, or failing to account for the liquid sloshing in the tank. Ag meteorologist Stu Muck says showers and a cool front are expected today before we get back to a warm, dry weekend. April showers are expected next week. The 64th WPS Farm Show at the EAA grounds has seen a strong turnout of visitors and exhibitors, serving as a vital "reunion" for the agribusiness community. Spokesman Matt Cullen highlights the event's success! Today is the final day, and it includes free admission. The Wisconsin Soybean Program has donated an innovative, PFAS-free firefighting foam to the Fitchburg Fire Department. Ben Jarboe talks to Director Jonathon Gibbs and Fire Chief Scott Sarver about the safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to

Stu Muck says we can expect moderate temperatures that fluctuate throughout the week. With current events affecting prices, farm inputs are seemingly on the rise. Pam Jahnke gets a 2026 financial forecast from Bill Moore. Insurance can be complicated to navigate, but it's a necessary part of doing business with both traditional equipment, as well as new technology. Stephanie Hoff sits down with insurance advisor Eric Greening to learn the intricacies of drone insurance. Brittany Marquard is the Education and Programming Manager at the Food and Farm Exploration Center. She talks to Ben Jarboe about a youth farm safety training the center is hosting. John Heinberg weighs in on current issues affecting the marketplace. He walks us through the impact of tensions with Iran. He explains what we expect to come from President Trump's "Celebration of Agriculture."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mother Nature has been a little indecisive. Ag Meteorologist Stu Muck tells us what's in store this week. Bob Bosold joins us this morning from Eau Claire. He talks with a dairy farmer and experts about the new technology in milking barns. Stephanie Hoff learns more about the history of Klondike Cheese from Dave Buholzer. Ben Jarboe joins Dr. John Goeser to learn about considerations farmers should make when including corn silage in their cows’ rations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmer's markets are a great place to get fresh and local foods during the spring and summertime, but in the winter, there's fewer options. Well, thanks to the internet and a can-do attitude from local farmers, that's changing. REKO rings provide an online farmer's market option. Julie Schroeder is the co-founder of the Fond du Lac and Sheboygan County REKO rings. She explains how they work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last 30 years has presented a loss of grasslands and habitat as a whole across America, and we're seeing the effects right here at home in Wisconsin. An organization called Pheasants Forever is dedicated to wildlife habitat conservation. So while pheasants is in their name, the habitat that they encourage benefits all wildlife. Johnny Behrendt is the Precision Ag Conservation Specialist with Pheasants Forever. He sat down to tell us about the health of the pheasant population in Wisconsin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Livestock identification plays a crucial role in the tracking of active livestock diseases, but it's also important in keeping our food system safe. Matt Crimmins is the Procurement Coordinator for Johnsonville Sausage and a recently retired Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium board member. He explains how livestock identification plays an important role in his everyday duties.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Wisconsin, dairy farmers are always trying to get the most milk out of their cattle, and one of the big ways they are able to do that is through the nutrition and the feed they give them. Dr. John Goeser, a dairy nutrition and management consultant with Progressive Dairy Solutions, gives a look at what the current hay supply is like and how corn silage because a bigger part of cattle's diet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin dairy operators are trying to find their way to profitability through 2026, but it's complicated.  Stephanie Hoff asks some tough questions of Leonard Polzin, Dairy Markets and Policy Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison Division of Extension. While  specific data is often private, the IDFA estimates roughly $11 billion  in capital expenditures across 50 projects in 19 states. Major processing growth is concentrated in a "T" shape: running through the middle of the country (Texas, Kansas, Dakotas) and across the Northern U.S. (Washington, Idaho, Wisconsin, and New York). The industry is grappling with "hazy" data regarding how much of this investment is truly new capacity versus replacement for closing plants, as well as the actual ramp-up time for these facilities. U.S. cheese exports saw a significant increase in 2025, but they are moving at steep discounts. This means exports are currently providing a price floor  rather than a price premium for farmers. Leonard

Building healthier soils requires trial and error, and sometimes uncovers side effects. While no-till and cover cropping offer immense benefits to soil heath and water quality, they also create the perfect habitat for slugs. Dane Elmquist, a conservation cropping specialist with the Division of Extension, tells Stephanie Hoff why slugs have become a headline item in his research. You can get involved by searching SlugNet online!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Braunschweiger, landjägers, and Berkshire hams -- it's enough to make your mouth water! These are a sample of the premium meats you can get for the Easter holiday at Bavaria Sausage. Scott Stowell tells Stephanie Hoff why their "old-world" recipes have remained a Wisconsin staple for over 60 years. From creamy, marbled hams to artisan pâté, authentic meats turn a simple Easter dinner into a deep-seated family memory. Whether you’re looking to fill a holiday basket with German candies or find the perfect centerpiece for your table, visit BavariaSausage.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milk cooling is one of the biggest energy users on a dairy. Inefficient systems force compressors to run longer and harder, driving up energy costs.  That's a message that resonated with Jordan Matthews from Rosy Lane Holsteins in Watertown.  This dairy operation milks about 1,600 cows across two sites.  The Watertown (Main Farm) site houses all calving operations, high-production cows, and wet calves through six months.  The Paoli (Second Site) is a rented milking facility that manages around 700 pregnant and late-lactation cows.  Two very different setups, but both rely on dependable milk cooling systems. Listen in as Terry Pernsteiner, Focus on Energy Advisor, explains the routine examination that Rosy Lane Holsteins goes through to keep their equipment working well.  Through the team of professionals that Focus on Energy works with, there's actually very little for the farm to do except collect the rebates and savings.  Pernsteiner explains what happens. If you're a busy

Railroads have long been a staple for Wisconsin agriculture and 2026 is no exception. Brad Peot is the commercial sales manager with WATCO railroad.   Watco is a full-service supply chain solutions company. They provide rail, transloading, terminal and port, and logistics services. The company is privately owned and headquartered in Pittsburg, Kansas.  Ben Jarboe learns that right now railroads face unique challenges  during winter when rivers freeze and barge traffic stops.  Extremely cold temperatures slow rail operations because trains rely on air brake systems that work less efficiently in dry, cold conditions. In very cold weather, trains may need to run with fewer railcars to meet air pressure requirements for braking systems. Let's not forget about the crews!  They're working in the outdoors to connect and disconnect railcars, creating safety risks like frostbite during extreme cold.  Peot says that WATCO is responsible for most of the grain movement in Wisconsin

Every voice counts when it comes to speaking up for agriculture.  Kim Bremmer is the current President of American Agri-Women, and also serves as Executive Director of Venture Dairy Co-op.  Bremmer also holds board positions with the American Dairy Coalition and the Farm Bureau. Her  career is rooted in a childhood on a dairy farm and a degree in dairy science from UW-Madison, followed by 15 years as an on-farm ruminant nutritionist. A major driver for her advocacy is closing the gap between the average consumer and the farm, helping farmers find the confidence to share their stories and represent American agriculture. Through her national leadership, Brummer emphasizes that despite regional differences, farmers share the same challenges and are stronger when they amplify their voices together. She encourages others to get involved by choosing one thing they love, whether it's social media, writing, or school programs,rather than trying to do everything.&

At the intersection of cutting-edge science and agricultural industry improvement is a company called C-Lock. Don Zimmerman is the Precision Livestock Advisor with the company. Boasting accurate data that easily translates to action steps for producers, he explains some of the company’s technology that producers can easily integrate into their operations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attention high school juniors: Are you ready to take your seat at the table? The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is looking for the next generation of leaders to join the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council. The deadline to apply is March 31. 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. Learn more: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/About_Us/AgYouthCouncil.aspxSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk a lot about the art and expertise required to make quality cheese, but that's not the only dairy products we craft from Wisconsin milk. Other products like butter and yogurt take a similar level of attention to detail. Don Tribby is the account manager and business director at International Flavor and Fragrance, and he has been professionally judging dairy products for 20 years. He explains the more intricate details of a staple for many dinner tables: butter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We often talk about the hard data that drives modern agriculture, but what about the everyday observations of a farmer in the field? Pairing those together could prevent $150 an acre from washing away in the spring thaw. Steve Hoffman is the president of InDepth Agronomy. As an independent crop consultant, he works with a lot of farmer-led watershed groups to set up on-farm research plots and demonstration field days. Stephanie Hoff caught up with Steve at a watershed event, who presented on his own kitchen experiment that led to new findings for farmers utilizing cover crops.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With concern over High Path Avian Influenza(HPAI) persisting in Wisconsin, Senator Pat Testin is partnering with other lawmakers to eliminate one element that might cause spread.  Under current law, the Natural Resources Board may sell lands and structures owned by the state that are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources when the board determines that the lands are no longer necessary for the state’s use for conservation purposes. A bill has now advanced out of the senate that could limit those land sales if it's in close proximity to a poultry operation. Testin explains the motivation behind the change.  He also provides an update on the lack of progress on protecting Wisconsin's hemp industry.  Lack of progress in finding reasonable restrictions on Wisconsin hemp producers and marketers means they will still be waiting for a resolution when spring planting begins.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a partnership unique to Wisconsin, that's all about Wisconsin.  Let's do a little deeper dive on how the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation actually helped to start Rural Mutual Insurance! Pam Jahnke is joined by Jenny Martin, Rural Mutual Insurance, Director of Marketing and Mandy Ganser, WFBF, Director of Member Relations.  They explain how farmers need for insurance fueled the beginning of Rural Mutual!  Today, that foundation of serving the rural community continues to resonate. Martin explains that 90 years ago, Wisconsin farmers were having difficulty finding insurance that covered the professions they were involved in.  Through that conversation, Rural Mutual began. Today, Rural Mutual continues to serve that audience and more with over 150 agents statewide.  Rural Mutual is exclusively in Wisconsin so that its agents know the clients they serve. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation began more than 105 years ago giving a voice to agriculture.  Today, that voice is th