MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Farmers in Wisconsin are reporting early soybean yields, with some fields delivering below-average results due to challenging growing conditions earlier this season. Earl Pelak, Grain Originator for Insight FS in Ixonia, shared insights into the ongoing harvest and expectations for this year's yield.

"It's a relatively early start, but we have had a few producers consistently hauling in now," Pelak stated. "For the most part, yields are ranging in the mid-50s, though we've seen a wide spread this year, with some fields as low as 30 and others hitting 68 bushels per acre."

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Brian Carscadden with Blondin Sires talks with Pam Jahnke, the Fabulous Farm Babe about the extras steps and quarantines needed to travel to and from World Dairy Expo this year from Canada. Take a listen. 

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We had the chance to catch up with Irene Nielsen, a media intern this again this year, who participated in the Intercollegiate Judging Contest and will be a scholarship recipient at tonight's National Dairy Shrine Banquet. 

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We expected it.  After a wet spring, and then a dry summer - we've got erratic corn fields and corn yields.

Andy Grebner, sales representative with Wyffels Hybrids, gives us an early peak at some fresh yields.  He also introduces Wyffels new partnership with Farm Rescue.  Farm Rescue is an organization that provides assistance to families facing crisis.

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Just when you think you've got a good crop established, something like insects or fungus can derail your plans.

Dean Ebert, Branch Manager in West Bend with Helena Agri says he's been spending a lot of time walking fields looking for everything from tar spot, to insect damage.  The windows for controlling those yield robbers are limited, and Ebert says it's important to stay in touch with your agronomist and Helena Agri partner for quick answer and quick response.

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Wisconsin weather has been fickle again this growing season and it could mean compromised stalk health.

Steve Bailie, Branch Manager in Monroe for Helena Agri, says it's going to be important for farms to monitor stalk quality as the harvest gets started.  The pinch or push test are part of the conversation.  Pinching the stalks to see how firm they are, or pushing the stalk to see if it stands, will help determine priority of fields in the harvest.

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Wisconsin Farmers Union wants a Farm Bill done, but inaction might be the continued story for 2024, says President Darin Von Ruden. He tells Bob Bosold he expects a lame-duck session in Congress.

An unseasonably warm day to wrap up September! Stu Muck has the forecast for this year's World Dairy Expo.

Congrats to Alexis Blankenberg from Platteville for topping the senior female division in the Youth Fitting Contest at Expo. Brady McConnel of Lancaster (junior), Kayla Trustem of Evansville (intermediate), and Tyler Leuch of Pulaski (senior) earned honors for topping their divisions in the Youth Showmanship Contest.

At UW-Platteville, groundbreaking research is using high-tech tools to track the gases cows emit and what that means for both their health and the environment, Dr. Ryan Pralle tells Charitee Seebecker.

Grain originator Earl Pelak of Ixonia is noticing a smaller soybean due to heavy rains earlier this growing season.

Dairy nutritionist Drew Johnson with K&S Dairy Consulting walks us through strategies his farm customers are taking to combat quality issues in the corn silage harvest.

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With commodity prices where they are, growers cannot afford to guess about any element of that crop.  From seed to fertilizer and everything in between - you need a sharp pencil.

Steve Bailie, Branch Manager in Monroe for Helena Agri, says they're happy to offer VRT (variable rate technology) to their customers to help find the "sweet spot" on production costs.  Technicians literally evaluate every component of a field to try and find the ideal combination, providing the best return on investment.

Bailie says he's encouraging farms to get started on soil sampling now, as the crop comes off, to give you the best advantage on pre-purchasing for 2025.

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Glacial Lake Cranberries, one of the oldest cranberry farms in Wisconsin, is celebrating its 151st year of commercial cranberry production. Owned and operated by Mary Brazeau Brown, this historic farm continues to thrive, thanks to its strong commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation efforts. The farm was founded in 1873 and has grown into a 2,600-acre operation with an additional 3,000 acres of forested land, managed through a forestry management plan.

"My grandfather bought into the farm in 1923 when he was the attorney for the original owners. He saw great value not only in the cranberry production but also in the surrounding support land of uplands, forest, and the reservoir," said Brown. "I feel blessed that he made that decision."

Brown emphasizes the importance of sustainability, a value passed down through generations at Glacial Lake Cranberries. "We didn't inherit the land from our ancestors; we are borrowing it from our children. That's how I’ve always felt about the property," she said.

Being a finalist for the Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award is a great honor for Brown and her family. "It’s humbling to be recognized for the good work that supports a strong land ethic. We do our best with what we’ve been given to steward, and we hope it makes a difference," she said.

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One of the biggest questions during harvest recently has been if local dealers will have a good parts supply for the harvest season. Danielle Waterworth, the Vice president of the North American ag dealers and customer support for CNH, says that through their research and data, they feel that a normalization has occurred since covid, and dealers are ready to help keep farmers in the field this harvest season.

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