MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

In an effort to streamline Wisconsin’s agricultural resources, REAP Food Group has announced a partnership with Wisconsin Farmers Union to expand the reach of the Farm Fresh Atlas. The collaboration comes as the atlas prepares for its landmark 25th-anniversary publication in 2026.

Aidan Coffin Ness, director of the Farm Fresh Atlas at REAP Food Group, tells Mid-West Farm Report that the program started as a small guide for th...

Large portions of what would normally be a Farm Bill have already been included in the "Big Beautiful Bill".  That's part of the update from Congressman Derrick VanOrden.  The western Wisconsin representative tells Ben Jarboe about several components designed to protect food safety elements, animal health, and international competition.

The last of the snow may be gone around most of Wisconsin by the end of the day today....

With the average consumer of pork increasing in age, the National Pork Board and the National Pork Checkoff are taking a closer look at the younger consumer. Recently, they developed a new consumer campaign entitled, Taste What Pork Can Do. The campaign aims to shift a decades-old mindset that pork's only place is the centerpiece of the plate. Neal Hull, Director of Domestic Market Development at National Pork Board, tells us how t...

As the weather gets colder, people bundle up with more layers of warm clothing, livestock also needs to stay warm as well. In the winter, producers pull out things like heaters and heat lamps, but it is important to also keep a few safety tips in mind. Michael Wos is the Executive Director of the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation. He tells us how to best prevent barn fires.

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While the state has faced significant mill closures in recent years, Wisconsin Paper Council President Scott Suder highlights how $500 million investments in new facilities and a robust supply chain are stabilizing the local economy. The conversation addresses common misconceptions about the industry, emphasizing that modern papermaking is high-tech, environmentally sustainable, and offers high-paying careers. We also examine the c...

 Regenerative agriculture is a term we are hearing more and more from Washington, D.C. Kiley Allan talks to a fifth-generation farmer, Rick Clark, who has been on a regenerative journey for 17 years. He says the biggest benefit has come in the form of healthier soil.
So you got snow this weekend? Today's Compeer Financial Ag Weather Update calls for balmy temperatures and rain to take it all away.
From the Rural Mutual I...

This edition of the Mid-West Ride Along takes us to the Agronomic Research Center in Malta, IL where Syngenta is crafting the next wave of in-field technology that farmers will be looking for in corn rootworm defense.

Pam Jahnke gets a lab tour, and some background on how long it takes to develop a product like DuraStak before it ever makes it to a farmers field.  Brad Bernhard is an Agronomic Research Scientist with Syngenta ...

Think of your cheese going through TSA before it gets to you -- metal detectors, X-rays... and the careful eyes of the farmer, processor, and the dairy sanitation specialists with the state of Wisconsin. But sometimes, issues still happen. Stephanie Hoff is getting a look at the recall process today with Elsie Lundquist. She’s one of about 20 dairy sanitarians with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Nobody in Wisconsin's dairy community can deny - it is tough right now.  Milk prices are low, margins are tight, and there’s a lot of frustration out there. How does Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin view the year farmers just lived through?

That's where the conversation starts with Pam Jahnke and Ben Miller, Vice President of Industry Relations who's recently been named Chief Operating Officer at DFW. Bills don't wait, costs s...

Rep. Clint Moses, vice chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and supporter of AB488, says the bill introduces a legislative fix that allows first responders to use state funds to purchase eco-friendly, soybean-based fire suppressants. The initiative supports local farmers and protects firefighters by replacing PFAS chemicals with a safer alternative that works with existing department equipment. With the bill already thr...

Chelsea Weadge explains how Organic Valley balances seasonal milk fluctuations caused by cows moving off pasture during the winter months. Unlike the conventional market, the cooperative doesn't compete on volume. It maintains its premium pricing by focusing on consumer values. Looking ahead to 2026, the brand is leveraging new grants to modernize its Wisconsin processing plant with a focus on sustainable packaging and high-protein...

As the average age of farmers continues to rise, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are becoming a growing concern in rural and agricultural communities. Dr. Julie Bobitt an Assistant Professor at the Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science at the University of Illinois Chicago explains the early warning signs of dementia, how the disease can impact farm safety, and when families may need to reconsider a l...

Don't let hopes dim on the possibility of getting a Farm Bill done.  That's the encouragement from National Farmers Union President, Rod Larew.  He talks with Bob Bosold about the inches they're gaining in Washington, D.C., and how critical it is that farmer growers continue to voice their needs.

We hit the peak today as far as warm temperatures are concerned.  Stu Muck says from here on out, temps drop and sn...

It's "go time" at the state capitol for policy and policymakers.  Pam Jahnke chats with Sen. Pat Testin, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Revenue Committee.  Testin is spearheading efforts to try and protect the state's hemp industry from a federal mandate that could end the entire industry by the end of the year.  He's got a public hearing slated for Thursday.

Another foggy start for Wisconsin, but another...

The Insect Eavesdropper is a revolutionary sensor that identifies pests by listening to them eat. Join UW Entomologist Emily Bick as she explains how piezoelectric microphones are turning plant vibrations into vital data for farmers and researchers across the globe. From tracking underground rootworms to reducing insecticide use, the technology is changing the future of crop protection and gaining interest from commercial entities.

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