MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Vegetable processors across the country are feeling price pressure due to tariffs on steel, according to the Midwest Food Products Association. It's amped up the competition with foreign processors. Wisconsin is one of the top states in the production of the major processing vegetables, notably green peas, snap beans, and potatoes. This year, at least two Wisconsin food processors are closing their doors. MWFPA President Jason Culotta represents food processors in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. He says in 2023, the U.S. became a net food importer for the first time. He says this is a problem because food processors cannot compete with the prices of foreign competitors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney Flick manages her family farm Jazzy Jerseys in Lodi. They milk about 800 cows. She says while 1 billion people will celebrate Earth Day on April 22 this year, it's something she lives every day. “We rely on the land to take care of our family and the cows.” Jazzy Jerseys has reduced water usage by recycling. They use cold water from the well to cool down the milk. That same water is used for the cows and calves. That water eventually ends up in the manure which helps the farm spread the nutrients on the field more evenly. In the field, Jazzy Jerseys utilizes buffer strips to prevent soil erosion and nutrient runoff. Buffer strips are narrow areas of grass that act as a physical barrier between fields, slowing the flow of water. The buffer strips don’t make it easier to farm – it can make things more tedious – but they preserve the soil. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Decisions are being made today about county fair animals and exhibits you'll see later this summer.  Stephanie Hoff talks with UW-Extension Youth Livestock Specialist, Bernie O'Rourke, about getting started on the right foot and establishing a partnership with your veterinarian early. The College for Rural Wisconsin may not be a name you're familiar with but it's working to raise awareness.  Jennifer Blazek is the program director for College for Rural Wisconsin and tells Pam Jahnke what they're offering rural school districts to help offset financial constraints and lack of ample school counselors to help students make college or tech college decisions. Today is the final day to enter the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship, coming up Saturday in Dodgeville.  Charitee Seebecker talks to Jenna Vondra, Exec. Dir. of the Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce.  She says they're expecting at least 70 sandwich entries this year. Fits and jerks.  That phrase might describe what's been going on with cheese prices lately.  Mike North, president of the producer division of EverAg, joins Pam Jahnke to discuss.  North says consumers are signaling they'll cook at home more versus eating out.  That has an impact on not only cheese, but also products like cream.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s an artistry to making cheese. There’s also an art to sandwich making. And those two things come together at the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Sandwich Championship. Jenna Vondra, Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director shares how this event got started and what attendees can expect for this year. The event takes place Saturday, April 20th, at the Lee Memorial Pavilion in Harris Park, Dodgeville. Doors will swing open at 10:45 a.m., kicking off a day filled with cheesy delights and culinary excitement. Admission to the event is just five dollars for individuals aged 16 and older, while children aged 15 and younger can enter free of charge. As an added bonus, general admission ticket holders aged 16 and older will receive discount cards valid at 10 participating businesses in the Dodgeville area, as well as a complimentary cup of soup and bottle of water while supplies last. "We've got a diverse panel of 14 judges, including certified barbecue experts and local food enthusiasts," explains Vondra. "It's all about celebrating the artistry and innovation of grilled cheese."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For those whose primary experience with corn is the butter-drenched corn on the cob variety, it might come as a surprise that other forms of sweet corn are in trouble. There has been an ongoing decline in sweet corn production for frozen and canned products and other processed vegetables. Bill Tracy is the Director of the UW Sweet Corn Program and works directly with processors on projects regarding canned veggies. He says this shift is due to changing consumer preferences.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is impacting more farm animals than poultry. Dairy cows in several states have also contracted the virus, and it has people concerned about the safety of dairy and meat. Adam Brock joins us, Administrator of the Division of Food and Recreational Safety. he says he’s been getting phone calls about whether eggs, milk, and meat are still safe to eat. He says yes, you can eat all of those things thanks to robust food safety measures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2024 Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors wrapped up their convention on Saturday in Madison and it was full of great meat offerings and great hands on learning.  Pam Jahnke talks to Dr. Jeff Sindelar, UW-Extension Meat Specialist, about the state-of-the-art Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery Center that helped with hands on learning.  It acts as a shining gem attracting new meat processing talent to the state.  Jake Sailer, outgoing president of WAMP, says there's a lot of exciting developments coming this year including promotion of their "meat map".Greenhouses help people manage around the weather, and that's exactly why Dane County Extension pursued a greenhouse.  Charitee Seebecker talks to Lisa Johnson, UW-Extension Horticulture Specialist, about the new greenhouse and how they're using it.Auctions are still happening at a feverish pitch before farmers are focused full time on planting.  Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group updates Pam Jahnke on the trends they're seeing with equipment and land values.Paid for by Steffes Group.Are consumers changing their buying patterns because of inflation and higher beef prices?  Mike Simone, executive director of research for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, explains how checkoff investments help uncover consumer buying patterns and preferences before they become a problem for producers.  Paid for by Wisconsin Beef Council.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all have a responsibility to use our resources wisely. And farmers are great examples of how it’s done because they work hard every day to meet the needs of tomorrow. Scott Timm joins us, he comes from a diversified farming operation in Green County and has prioritized environmental sustainability, including cover crops. He was named as one of Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s 35 under 35 for his work. He says he doesn’t do it alone – he belongs to a group of farmers that is committed to protecting the soil and the water.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers make up less than 2 percent of the population, yet they are responsible for feeding the world. That’s why preserving natural resources for generations to come is vital in agriculture. For farmers, Earth Day is every day. Brooke Trustem joins us in-studio. She is a 6th generation farmer and works on her family’s dairy farm in Evansville, Larson Acres. She tells us how they've reduced the number of trucks on the road through innovative technology. The family does about 5-10 tours every month: https://larsonacres.com/. World Dairy Expo named the family the 2024 Producer of the Year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin 4-H is asking the state's businesses and agribusinesses to sound off on how 4-H can prepare future employees for their opportunities.  Jill Jorgensen, UW-Extension 4-H Specialist in Green Bay talks with Pam Jahnke about how the survey's constructed and what they hope it accomplishes.  Survey results are being gathered until the end of the month and will be shared once completed. Ashley Hagenow, current Alice in Dairyland, is starting to tally up her miles and her stories.  During the first few days of May, six candidates that want to be the next "Alice" will be going through their final phase of interviews.  Ashley remembers the feeling and shares her memories to date.Graduation is on the horizon for high school students as well as college grads.  The job market is ripe!  That's the word from Dean Mike Orth at UW-River Falls CAFES.  He shares the story with Stephanie Hoff about internships that turn into jobs, and the diversity of opportunities students have to choose from. The latest crop progress report shows 10% of Wisconsin oats planted, 11% of potatoes are in the ground.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend joins Pam Jahnke.  The market's monitoring the Iran-Israel situation.  No major issues with current planting pace in the U.S. but analysts are still monitoring what's really going on in Brazil and Argentina.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jill Jorgensen, WI Youth Development 4-H Animal Science and Agriculture Outreach Specialist in Green Bay is helping spread the word about an important survey underway, gauging employers views on 4-H programming. University Extension 4-H programs from throughout the upper Midwest are conducting the survey on Food, Agriculture, & Related Businesses Workforce Needs. The information gathered in the survey will enhance 4-H initiatives in promoting career pathways in the agriculture, food & forestry career industries with a better understanding of the workforce needs. Ideally Wisconsin will get at least 300 participants with knowledge of their business to complete this study so that we have state level data.  Study results will be available once it is complete.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demand for beef has remained strong as consumers repeatedly claim they will continue purchasing beef, both in retail and foodservice settings.  Consumers continue to rank beef as a top source of protein, superior in taste, nutritious, and good for social gatherings and special occasions. At the same time, the beef industry is observing some decline in demand, as retail sales begin to slip in terms of volume of beef sold while prices trend higher.   The National Cattlemen's Beef Association invests beef checkoff dollars to find out about consumer trends and help guide the research, information and promotion they guide.  Mike Simone is the Executive Director of Market Research at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.  He explains decisions consumers are making today about their beef consumption habits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin has more than 500 independent large, medium and small meat processors that dot the state, and Jake Sailer, president of Sailer Meat's in Elmwood, wants all of them involved with the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors (WAMP)! Sailer is the outgoing president of WAMP, excited about what the board has lined up for 2024.  He highlighted some of the new messages they'll be sharing on Discover Wisconsin through the summer.  Sailer says, "I want every meat processor in the state involved in WAMP," because WAMP will help tell their story.  Sailer ways they've created a "meat map" to help guide visitors to the state, or someone investigating new territory, to their local meat processor. Sailer also helped bring the Wisconsin State Fair's Meat Products Competition to their annual meeting for judging and evaluation.  Sailer said it just made sense to let their judges also evaluate WI State Fair entries.  Normally the judging would have taken place at a separate time and separate location.  Sailer says this allows them to help bring more visibility and awareness to the competition from within WAMP, and also save time and energy getting products gathered, classified and judged. Sailer will now hand the reins of WAMP over to incoming president, Danny Geiss from Geiss Meats in Merrill as the new president of the organization.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coffee to Costa Rica is like milk to Wisconsin.  Bob Bosold visits with tour guide Miquel at Doka Coffee Estate about everything from weather to the best way to brew a cup.The Dane County Farmers Market kicked off its summer season on the Capitol Square Saturday.  Jamie Buegel, Farmers Market Manager, talks about the volume of vendors they have this year, as well as a waiting list for those that want to join the group.Farmers or land owners being approached by solar energy companies for leasing options should tap the brakes before signing.  Stephanie Hoff gets the caution flag from Bill Oemichen, ag attorney and instructor for UW-Madison Extension.Reputation takes a long time to establish but can go away quickly.  Charitee Seebecker talks to Ken Heiman, dairy producer, cheese plant owner and former Dairy Farmer of Wisconsin board member about how much attention goes into protecting Wisconsin's dairy reputation.  Paid for by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dane County Farmers Market is ready to return to the Capitol Square. As the largest producer only farmers market in America, it will be celebrating its 52nd year on the square.  “The Dane County Farmers Market was founded in September of 1972 with just five farmers set up on the Capitol Square,” says Jamie Bugel, Market Manager for the Dane County Farmers Market. “Now, with over 250 producers, it has grown to be a tradition in Madison.” The Dane County Farmers Market returns to the Capitol Square Saturday, April 13 starting at 6:15 a.m. Bugel says vendors will be there until about 1:45 p.m., but if you've got something specific you're shopping for - get there early, while supplies are available. This year, the State Street corner of the Capitol Square – West Mifflin Street and North Carroll Street – will be closed to vehicle traffic each Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. until the end of the market at 1:45 p.m. Customers who use vehicles to pick up large orders from that corner of the Square can do so before 8AM, or arrange an alternative pick up site with the farmer. Through early May, East Mifflin Street will also be closed to vehicle traffic due to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station construction. BRT station construction on West Main Street will also impact traffic, with only one lane available, so she recommends avoiding this area until construction is completed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The excitement on the UW-Rivers Falls campus is palpable as seniors wrap up their last semester and prepare to accept their diplomas. The news from the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences is that the job market for these grads is looking good. So good, that students have to weigh the benefits of each job offer carefully before deciding. College Dean Michael Orth tells us where the numbers are trending for agriculture students entering the workforce. We also talked with three graduating seniors about their job-hunting experience and what led them to choose their careers after graduation. Not one of them mentioned the word "salary" or "pay." It was all about how they connected with their future coworkers, their shared values, and how the job can help them transition from student to employee.  In a few weeks, Ben Steffes will hold his degree in animal science. He’s looking forward to working with ABS as a reproductive technician serving farms in Clark County.  Jaiden Miller will take her agricultural business degree to Syngtena following graduation. She’ll be a research associate helping with planting, harvesting, and pollinating plants in research trials. She says she applied for a lot of jobs through online career services, like LinkedIn and Indeed. But in the end, Jaiden decided to go with Syngenta, a company that she interned with. Similar to Ben, she points to the people as the reason why. After earning a degree in agricultural communications, Kendra Jentz is taking a position with Kwik Trip as their campus tour coordinator. She says the personal connection is important for her graduation class because they didn’t get it at the end of their high school careers or the beginning of college due to pandemic restrictions.  CAFES Dean Michael Orth says the unusual pandemic experience and high regard for connection in the workplace set these grads up for success. He says he’s noticed companies looking for these attributes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no better way to understand the dry winter then riding with a barge captain on the Mississippi.  Jim Cheatam is a barge captain with Western River who's also active sharing his stories on social media.  Charitee Seebecker talked with him about current water levels, what's moving on the waterway today, and what worries him about the 2024 season. Wisconsin Senator Joan Ballweg had some home runs and some misses in signed policy this spring.  She recaps fair funding, biofuels initiatives and the Farm & Industry Short Course future with Pam Jahnke. Wisconsin bison owners are trying to raise awareness about their industry.  Stephanie Hoff visits with Melissa Wienkes from the Seymour area.  She explains why bison's becoming a popular choice for consumers looking for lean protein. Pam Jahnke catches up with Volunteer State President of AARP, Leslie Spencer-Herrera.  One of her major areas of interest is consistent, high quality broadband for the entire state.  She says even today, there are huge geographic groups in Wisconsin that are trying to do without.  Spencer-Herrera says that's like asking people to survive without electricity today.  Paid for by AARP of Wisconsin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine you're putting together your own engine. You've gone through the process of picking out the best products and start putting them together to build or rebuild your farm truck or tractor. But then you notice that something is off. Now you have to disassemble the engine and start from scratch. Sound familiar? Baril Engine Rebuilding can help solve those issues. Becky Monahan is the Marketing manager and says they help farmers before they even know they need it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Senator Joan Ballweg is summing up the work completed at the state house like the springtime sport we're watching - baseball.  In a conversation with Pam Jahnke, Ballweg acknowledged there were some successes that crossed the plate like getting additional financial support for the states county fairs, but also missed opportunities due in part, to misunderstanding by Gov. Tony Evers.  Ballweg says a bill designed to protect farms from encroaching local policies limiting farm size was an example.  Ballweg says the bill was misconstrued by the governor to be about animal mistreatment, versus opportunity to expand.  It's an item she intends to readdress next session. Ballweg also noted that there were missed opportunities to support the Farm and Industry Short Course, now at UW-River Falls, but the program will keep moving forward.  She also laments the lack of a supportive signature on revisions to the state's Farmland Preservation Program.  Again, misunderstanding of purpose seemed to be part of the problem.  Ballweg tells Pam Jahnke that the goal of the bill was to allow farms to enroll in the Farmland Preservation Program for actual farmed acres, not ground dedicated to something like a solar project.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Derek Ahl owns and operates Northern Family Farms in Merrillan, WI.  His business focuses on the shrubs and ornamental trees that homeowners are looking for at this time of year.  Jill Welke visits the farm and finds out how the winter impacted their stock, and what customers are looking for this spring.North Carolina has become the seventh state that's detected High Pathogenic Avian Influenza(HPAI) in their dairy herd.  Dr. Mike Martin, NC State Veterinarian, says they're investigating to find out more about how this pathogen is being passed.The weather forecast is calling for gusty winds on Friday.  Spring storms can do major damage to farm barns, outbuildings and sheds.  Knowing what to do after the storm can be critical for clean-up and rebuilding efforts.  Chad Smith introduces us to Jeremiah Fairbanks from Morton Buildings on first steps after a storm.WI Sen. Joan Ballweg says county fairs will be getting a little more financial support from the state to pay their exhibitors the premiums they earn.  Ballweg says that will allow fair boards to reinvest in their facilities and programs for the general public.Katie Burgess, broker analyst with EverAg joins Pam Jahnke to talk about the cheese market movement on the international scene.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.