MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

If mosquitoes could talk, I have a feeling they would say the 4th of July is their favorite holiday. From fireworks shows to lake days and barbecues, the influx of people outside basically means we're bringing an all-you-can-eat buffet straight to the doorstep of the homes of mosquitoes. PJ Liesch joins us; he's an Extension Entomologist who keeps an eye on the populations of mosquitoes in Wisconsin throughout the summer. He tells ...

Wisconsin beef producers joined a nationwide effort among State Beef Councils to amplify the beef industry’s summer grilling campaign.  Kaitlyn Kessler, Communications Coordinator for the Wisconsin Beef Council explains the campaign with Pam Jahnke.  The Wisconsin Beef Council invited women with various stills and areas of influence to learn more about grilling beef.  It was worth their time, thanks to generous...

After 60 years in teaching and broadcasting on the WI Public Radio Station Network, Larry Meiller is retiring.  Bob Bosold (who was a student of Larry's) chats with Meiller about how he started in broadcasting, and how things have changed.  One highlight is the amazingly popula call-in show that Meiller hosted.  Calls from across the state on people's pets!

Hot and humid.  That sums up the forecast for this week...

Wisconsin Ag Secretary, Randy Romanski, joins Pam Jahnke in the studio to present a 5 year update on how the WI Ag Export Council's been performing and what progress has been made.  Romanski says Wisconsin's dairy exports grew 35% from 2021 to 2025 (the timeframe the program's been in place).  He also notes that the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports program generated a 200-to-1 return on investment for Wi...

The temperatures are warming up ahead of the Independence Day holiday, and so are the grills. But do you know how much to expect your Fourth of July cookout to cost? The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, as well as the American Farm Bureau Federation, have released their Marketbasket Survey. It's an informal survey performed twice a year by volunteer shoppers. They participate by shopping for 12 different food items that are common...

From Farm Bill's to international market access, the National Association of State Departments of Ag encompasses it all.  Pam Jahnke talks with CEO, Ted McKinney, about how they navigate a diverse member population (Democrats and Republicans) while still doing the most for production agriculture and agribusiness in their individual states.  He says their priority now is to get a finished Farm Bill.

Wow - wet, wild weather...

Protein continues to have a moment in the marketplace, and it's not a short-term fad. Consumers continue to reach for snacks that are not only high in protein but are also made with whole ingredients. Abbi (Prins) Groves joins Kiley Allan behind the microphone. She's a Livestock Economist at CoBank. She sat down to tell me about a new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange that says meat snacks represent a major area for product i...

Mushrooms!  It's another crop from Wisconsin.  Bob Bosold learns a little more about mushroom production, the varieties that are popular and how they grow!  Steve Scholtz, a mushroom grower in Eau Claire explains how he produces his crop indoors to avoid contamination.  He's finding a vibrant market for his product in many different areas.

Rain is drifting into Wisconsin and will stay for most of the day.  ...

It's National Lightning Awareness Week and Wisconsin farmers, golfers, gardeners, joggers should all heed the warnings.  In Wisconsin, more people have died by lightning strikes since 2006, than by tornadoes since 1986.  Chris Vagasky, Research Program Manager, Wisconet and Lightning Data Specialist, National Lightning Safety Counci, explains how people can protect themselves, and farmers can protect their lives...

At this year's Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, held at Redetzkes' No-Joke Dairy in Stratford, Wisconsin, they're serious about farm safety. Melissa Ploeckelman-Brown joins us. She's the Outreach Specialist for the National Farm Medicine Center. They're bringing the "FRESH Area" to Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. FRESH stands for Farm Rescue, Education, Safety, and Health. She tells us what we can expect.

See omnystudio.com/listener ...

At Wisconsin's 97th FFA Convention, 4 Stars Over Wisconsin were named. This honor comes from an evaluation of student's SAE. The winners are: Agribusiness: Oscar Stowell Waupun FFA; Agriscience: Owen Hemling, Beaver Dam FFA;  Agricultural Placement: Katelyn Wunder, Waterford FFA; Farmer: Liv Lucas, Greenwood FFA

Kiley Allan sat down with Owen Hemling moments after the acheivement.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

We start our morning with Jill Welke in Eau Claire! She catches up with Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation's Brad Olson about roundtable conversations that could shape agricultural policy.

Stu says we may have to dodge a little rain for Father's Day, but otherwise looking to be a sunny weekend! 

Traditionally, Father's Day means family outings and bbqs. A recent report from CoBank says the grill isn't the only place people ...

Hunger Task Force, based in Milwaukee, received a $2.5 million grant from the WI Department of Ag., Trade and Consumer Protection to connect Wisconsin farms with individuals who need a little extra assistance putting food on their plates.  Pam Jahnke helps people understand the scope of work being done through the grant with Jonathan Hansen, chief strategy officer at Hunger Task Force.  He explains the 180 different locat...

It's the gift that will keep giving!  Fox Valley Technical College just received a generous donation of land that they're already putting to work for students.  Kiley Allan gets the story from Paul Groell, Department Chair Natural Resources Program @ Fox Valley Technical College.  Fox Valley Technical College received an anonymous donation of a 160-acre plot of land, intended to preserve the ha...

If you're taking the time, and spending the money to dine out, you want to know what you're getting.  Susan Quam, executive vice president of the WI Restaurant Association says information is power - even for restaurant menus.  Quam tells Pam Jahnke that today diners are looking for "clean labels" on menus.  The "buy local" mantra continues, and restaurants are complying.  Quam says heat and spice continue to be...

New World Screw Worm.  It's all over agriculture headlines.  Could that worm ever make its way into Wisconsin and our livestock/pet population?  That's the question poised to P.J. Leisch, UW-Madison Extension Entomologist.  Leisch has been watching this worm for a while.  He tells Pam Jahnke that this insect has been around since at least the 60's in numbers that threatened livestock.  He says experien...