MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

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 te...

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.

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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.

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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 gro...

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!

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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 memo...

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 mon...

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...

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 ...

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 J...

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 s...

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 Hof...

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 t...

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!  Tod...

Maintaining a record system for all of Wisconsin's livestock is no small feat, but the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC) is up to the task. Every three years, WLIC contacts everybody who's actively in the system to renew their registration, and in 2025, the organization did just that. Julie Sweeney is the Executive Director. She tells us about the success they saw during the renewal and their priorities for 2026.

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Miltrim Farms in Athens, Wisconsin, is a family operation that has grown from its 1988 roots into a powerhouse milking 3,000 cows. David Trimner tells Stephanie Hoff about how they use technology and conservation research to promote sustainability, including measuring carbon through the Professional Dairy Producers' Your Farm, Your Footprint program. After all, carbon seems to be becoming the next big frontier for the modern dairy ...