MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

For many college students, putting food on the table is a real challenge. At Madison College, nearly 1,600 students turned to the campus food pantry last year, which distributed more than 20,000 pounds of food and supplies. Now, the college is expanding its support with a brand-new pantry space. It’s a major upgrade from the old 14-by-14 closet. The new area spans roughly two classrooms, with added storage and a refrigerator ...

Wisconsin agriculture - agriculture and food production in general - doesn't work without workers.  Wisconsin Congressman, Derrick Van Orden, has been spending time gathering stories that exemplify why foreign born workers remain a critical cog in getting things done.  He says the message to him has been clear.  Now Congress has to get things done when it comes to a legal system that farms and agribusinesses can work...

A Wisconsin native was recognized with special honors during World Dairy Expo.  

Jim Mulhern, Former President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation delivered numerous positive results for America’s diligent dairy farmers by working behind the scenes to have conversations explaining many of dairy’s dynamic and deep issues to elected leaders and policymakers. His work has made lasting impacts on dairy and...

Tyler Witt joins us from Shearwell Data. Tyler is based in Nebraska, where his family runs a ranch in the Sandhills region. Nebraska was one of the latest states to detect a highly pathogenic avian influenza case in dairy cattle. We’ve also got new world screwworm knocking on the door, detected just 70 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border. How does the threat of disease underline the need for animal identification and EASE o...

With the government shutdown, we are missing out on the crop progress reports from USDA, but luckily, we can check in with local elevators on how the harvest is coming along. We’re checking in with grain merchandiser Alex Beaver out of southeast and south central Wisconsin. He tells us not just how the crop is looking coming in, but where it’s going with China boycotting beans. First, he gives us a progress report on th...

Combines are in the fields and the experts at Wyffels Hybrids are tuned in! Lucas Clayton, District Sales Manager at Wyffels Hybrids, says corn harvest is off to a great start, and that both yield and quality are looking good. Wyffels Hybrids has effective tools both in the field and online that help you "Plant Your Independence. Their Harvest Progress Report is showing real time insights into corn harvest. Check it out: https://ww...

As the leaves change and temperatures drop, your yard is getting ready for a new season, too. Don’t overlook landscaping projects this fall! Today, we’re visiting with Dane County Extension Horticulture Educator Lisa Johnson on smart fall landscaping tips to keep your outdoor spaces ready to thrive come spring. First, she says, there’s not a specific date to get your fall landscaping to-do list done. That requires...

This year's Wisconsin Science Festival will feature a special weather event at the Wisconsin Energy Institute on the UW-Madison campus. On October 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wisconet Manager Chris Vagasky tells Stephanie Hoff that it will help introduce people to the behind-the-scenes of weather -- a topic that influences lives every day. He says Wisconsin is a weather hub as it's home to the Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences ...

Animal health and biosecurity are being threatened globally by a few different diseases and virus'.  Ben Jarboe gets the spooky outlook from Jamie Jonker, Chief Science officer with the national milk producers federation.  HPAI as a threat to dairy has been talked about often, but other conditions like Lumpy Skin disease, FMD, and new world screw worm remind producers to stay on their toes. He gives an update on each and ...

Working for a better future in the dairy industry is the goal of the National Dairy Council, and part of reaching this goal is doing research and disproving myths about the health factor of dairy products. Audrey Donahoe, a dairy farmer from New York wears multiple hats to help reach this goal. She is the Chairwoman of the National Dairy Council and the President of the American Dairy Association Northeast. She gives insight into w...

As hunters spend more time in the woods, hoping to fill the freezer with venison and turkey, and as producers harvest beef now that the grazing season is over, jerky recipes start to come out of the cookbook. Today, we talk about best practices for making jerky at home. Extension Meat Specialist Jeff Sindelar has tips on flavoring, food safety, and how to get that perfect chewy texture every time.

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The American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health and Sejfarms Consult Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding for strengthened collaboration to advance Nigeria’s fish production.

Nigeria is the largest aquaculture fish producer in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 52 percent of the total farmed fish production in the region. Yet, Nigeria has a 2 million metric tonne (2.2 U.S. tons) defic...

Taking another approach to solar arrays.  That's the goal of new legislation that's been introduced by Rep. Scott Krug and Sen. Pat Testin.  Testin is the chair of the Senate Agriculture and Tourism Committee.  He tells Pam Jahnke that his goal is to concentrate on using smaller parcels of ground for these solar projects, and focus on poor ground not productive farm soil.  Testin says this approach has worked in...

Wisconsin dairy farmers, cheese makers and dairy processors continue to evaluate the international marketplace for opportunities.  Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin helps them pursue those opportunities.

Chad Vincent, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin says despite tariff talk, demand for Wisconsin's specialty cheeses, as well as things like dried milk, keep finding favor in the international marketplace.  Vincent says continuing...

Labor has been an ever-growing need in the agriculture industry in recent years, and the H2A program has been through some turmoil with making sure foreign workers can stay. This led to Congressman Derrick Van Orden introducing the Agriculture Reform Act of 2025. The Representative says that this new act would allow these workers to continue working given that they go back to their home countries and enter legally.

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What we're hearing across all sectors of agriculture is that having a reliable workforce remains a number one challenge today. Karen Gefvert, chief policy officer for Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and Voice of Milk, says it’s an issue the organization is deeply engaged in.

She also discusses the fact that the actual Farm Bill, the extended version, expired on September 30. Right now, we’re getting along on the Farm Bill...

Dan Schwandt was shocked and disappointed Thursday, October 9 when he learned that poultry shows in Jefferson, Waukesha, Walworth and Rock counties were suspended. Schwandt was in the middle of setting up cages Jefferson County Fair Park when he started getting text messages from friends about the announcement. Schwandt says he's shocked that he wasn't contacted directly by DATCP. He says when previous suspensions were put in place...