MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Mindy Brashears discusses new funding opportunities to help Wisconsin expand small meat processing operations and train additional workers for careers in meat processing.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers play a crucial role in keeping our natural resources, like our water and soil, healthy. And the folks at the Wisconsin Water and Soil Health Conference know the importance of keeping farmers at the forefront of that conversation. Laura Paletta, a co-chair for the conference, sits down with Kiley Allan. She says we can expect some exciting speaker panels that feature almost exclusively farmers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus is otherwise known to the pork industry as PEDv. Because of the effect it can have on producers' herds, it was an obvious decision for the Wisconsin Pork Association and the National Pork Board to begin working towards elimination of the virus. Morgan Worek, a pork producer here in Wisconsin and Program Director for the Wisconsin Pork Association, joins Kiley Allan and Marisa Rotolo, the Director of Swine Health at National Pork Board. Morgan says the desire to eliminate the virus began with the producers.   Photo courtesy of National Pork Board, Des Moines, Iowa.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you say giant pumpkin - we're talking GIANT pumpkin!  Kiley Allan visits with a man whose entire goal has been to raise a 2,000 pound pumpkin.  His name is Brian Turner.  He's been growing giant pumpkins for the last 6 years. After  four years of aiming for a 2,000-pound pumpkin, Bryan Turner achieved a 2,069-pound pumpkin at the Stillwater Harvest Fest, exceeding his calculated estimate of 1,920 pounds.  To improve his growing setup, Turner installed a phone-controlled drip irrigation system with an IBC tote, pump, and sprinkler controller to deliver precise, automated watering 3–4 times daily. Turner documents his six-year journey of giant pumpkin growing under "The Turner Ranch" on social media platforms (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook), attracting millions of views. Roof should be open at American Family Field tonight for game one of the World Series.  Stu Muck gives us a few tailgating highlights in the forecast. Everyone faces energy costs, but farms really get big bills!  Jessica Mlsna is following up on some of the projects they've worked on this year.  As the calendar year starts to close, she reminds partners to get their paperwork in!  Paid for by Focus on Energy. Wisconsin's already got some winners!  Addison Johnson from the Alma FFA is the National FFA Dairy Production Placement Proficiency award winner at the national convention in Indianapolis.  She explains their farming operation and how the UW Farm and Industry Short Course at River Falls helped her hone her goals. In Dodge County we visit with the Leb Farm. It's a century farm. Here to tell us the story of the farm is husband and wife, Bob and Mary Loeb, and Bob's sister, Nancy Koenings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Family traditions look a little bit different for everybody. For Olivia Jennrich, her family's tradition is a love for Guernsey cattle. She carries that tradition on now serving as the National Guernsey Queen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.