Don’t jump the gun in putting your cattle out on pasture. It could hurt your forage supply in the long run. This is according to Adam Abel. He’s the State Grazing Land Specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service or NRCS. He jokes that when he sees animals grazing already this time of year, he’s got to refrain from knocking on doors. He advises new grazers to get involved with grazing networks in their area. You can find them at grassworks.org. Adam says pasture walks with these groups are a valuable chance to learn from other people’s mistakes and ask graziers what worked and what hasn’t in their pasture management. If you’ve got questions, Adam says the NRCS office is here to help.

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Natalie Roe, Monticello, grew up on a 5,000-acre cash crop farm with a commercial grain elevator. Roe graduated from UW-Madison in December 2024 with bachelor’s degrees in dairy science and life sciences communication and a certificate in digital studies. After holding many summer internships in agriculture and communications roles, Roe now works full-time with Broadhead as a social media coordinator. In this role, Roe combines her love of agriculture and communications. She uses her creativity and strategic thinking to help her agriculture clients achieve success on their respective social media platforms.

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Mikayla Flyte, Coloma, is completing a master’s degree in exercise science with a concentration in sports psychology from Ripon College. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in English and education from Ripon College in spring 2024 after student teaching at Berlin Middle School and Laconia High School. Flyte competed for five years on the college’s cross-country team and is now a graduate assistant coach. She is active in her family’s central Wisconsin fruit and vegetable farm, managing an ice cream truck, selling produce at the Dane County Farmer’s market, and assisting with retail, marketing, and agritourism events.

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Farmers are facing a bumpy road ahead as trade policies and global economic shifts create uncertainty in agriculture. Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company, recently shared his insights on these challenges and what they mean for the industry.

"We're now trading every headline," Basse explained. "Many experienced traders are stepping away because forecasting decisions has become difficult."

One of Basse's primary concerns is U.S. trade policy. "Agricultural markets are driven by either policy or weather," he noted. "Right now, policy is our biggest concern."

He highlighted the potential for growth in biofuels like E15 and sustainable aviation fuel. "If sustainable aviation fuel reaches 5% by 2030, that could mean 12 million more corn acres," Basse said. However, he stressed that the U.S. lacks enough ethanol facilities to meet this demand. "We need investment in new facilities to achieve those goals," he added.

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For many people in Wisconsin, farming is a way of life, but what if you were to have an accident that changed how you do things forever? John Mitchell of Mitchell Brothers farm shares his story of an accident that had him questioning the future of his operation. After losing his right arm and needing his left foot reattached, he shares how the AgrAbility program has allowed him to continue doing what he loves. Mitchell says that the program helped change the controls on equipment and make tools easier for him to use. He looks forward to continuing to share his story so others can keep hope when their life gets turned upside down.  

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Data on the farm is valuable, not just to the farmer but to other business entities. But who really owns and controls on-farm data coming in through smart devices? Bill Oemichen is a professor of law at UW-Madison's Division of Extension. He tells us where your farm information is going and how you can get additional value from the data. First, he reminds us just how much information a farm can provide. Find more resources: https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/

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Michelle Stangler, Watertown, grew up on her family’s dairy farm and was active in 4-H and FFA. She earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism and agricultural marketing communications in May 2024 from UW-River Falls. There she held leadership roles in Collegiate Farm Bureau and other agricultural communication organizations. Stangler completed internships with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Mid-West Farm Report, among other news stations; served as the 2024 Dodge County Fairest of the Fair; and studied abroad in Europe. She now contributes to national ag news media outlets.

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Allison Foster, Waupun, is an enthusiastic food scientist with a passion for sharing the story of agriculture and food with others. Foster is a Scientist II at Grande Cheese Company where she works to improve cheesemaking processes and create new products. She holds a Bachelor of Science in dairy science from UW-Platteville, where she gained experience in research and communications. In addition to her work, Foster coordinates care package services for Operation Not Alone and manages her own Jersey cow herd. Foster combines her technical expertise with strong communication skills to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers.

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A Wisconsin beef producer has been named secretary/treasurer of the Cattlemen's Beef Board.  Terry Quam from Marda Angus in Lodi was named to the position in January.  Bob Bosold visits with Quam about the direction of the industry, challenges identified by CBB, and how they're working to invest checkoff dollars wisely to get answers.

Today will be fine weatherwise, but Wednesday gets interesting.  Stu Muck is reminding rainfall reporters that they're "on deck" for precipitation updates starting tonight.

Mud is one reason why people with livestock might still be keeping animals indoors.  Diet is another.  Stephanie Hoff finds out about some of the items all animal owners, especially horse owners, need to think through before they open the pasture gate from equine veterinarian, Dr. Howard Ketover.

Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of the US Meat Export Federation, says that China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) has not recertified U.S. pork and beef processors for shipment into China.  That's a big deal - just as big he says - as tariffs.

Market eyes are focused on the wheat market according to John Heinberg, from Total Farm Marketing in West Bend.  Dry weather's threatening the crops in the central plains.  Plus a beef plant in South Dakota closed yesterday because of poor margins.  Heinberg says that may be a storyline to follow.

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Calving season can be one of the most rewarding yet challenging times on the farm. Ensuring healthy deliveries and strong calves requires preparation, vigilance, and the right tools on hand. Veterinarian Dr. Angela Garavet with Armor Animal Health says that with unpredictable weather and unexpected complications always a possibility, knowing what steps to take can make all the difference.

For additional resources, Garavet recommends visiting dairy.extension.wisc.edu for helpful videos and in-person events.

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