MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Cheese Fair off the Square is a celebration of two things that make Wisconsin so special: our premier dairy products and our premier people who make it happen. I have one of those people along with me now. Jody Miller is one of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin's Wisconsin Originals. She takes the title of "the Barnyard Beautifier." Jody, tell us a little bit about the celebration that is Cheese Fair off the Square.

More information about the Wisconsin Originals at https://wisconsindairy.org/

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Heather Quakenboss says they're fielding a lot of questions about the logistics of canning flour and butter. However, she says there's no way to do so safely. Good news, UW–Madison Extension and Iowa State University Extension have launched a toll-free helpline (1-866-540-4636) where callers can speak to a live expert Monday through Friday (9 AM–12 PM & 1 PM–4 PM) about food preservation, freezing, drying, and fermenting.

Stu Muck says the rain will stick around into Monday for Southern Wisconsin.

A long-awaited farm bill has cleared a major legislative hurdle. The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 in a 12-11 vote. This action pushes the legislation, known as Farm Bill 2.0, to the full Senate. Paul Jarvis is a Wautoma farmer and president of the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association. He sits down with Larry Lee to break down what the bill could mean for Wisconsin farmers.

Dr. Rodrigo Werle, UW-Extension Weed Scientist, visits with Pam Jahnke about the field research he's been conducting to try and come up with answers for Wisconsin growers facing this tenacious weed that seems to keep spreading.

Corey William Janke is celebrating 150 years of his family farming the same land near Bear Creek, in the Union Township of Waupaca County. The fifth-generation farmer reflects on how it has evolved from steam-powered equipment and a family sawmill to a modern beef operation, which he started in 2018 after the dairy cows left the farm.

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When you think farm safety, do you think about protecting your hearing? Teri Barr and Pam Jahnke tackle hearing loss with Audiologist, Dr. Rebecca Younk.

The rain is back. Stu Muck says we can expect a rather rainy weekend as well.

CHS announced that Wisconsin is getting its first soybean processing plant. Larry Lee gets a peak behind the scenes with the folks at CHS.

Dairy Analyst Bryce Windecker with Ever.Ag tells us how the state of the overall economy has a direct impact on the dairy and cheese industry.

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World Beef Expo is coming back to Milwaukee! Jill Welke learns that the folks in charge have everything lined up for a great expo!

Stu Muck says the rain won't be away very long.

Pam Jahnke  catches up with the folks at the Wisconsin Beef Council. Kaitlyn Kesler and Andy Gussert join her. Paid for by Equity Cooperative Livestock on behalf of the WI Beef Council.

Door County organic livestock farmer Josh Mechaelsen discusses why he’s traveling to Washington, D.C., with a group of Wisconsin farmers to meet directly with lawmakers. He also talks about the need for a new Farm Bill, changing farm policy to better support diverse and beginning farmers, and why having farmers personally share their stories with lawmakers can make a difference.

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Nick Novak with the Midwest Food Products Association shares how food processors are also feeling the economic pressure, especially from energy costs, labor, and steel tariffs that make the can your food comes in account for about 40% of the price.

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A $2.5 million state investment is helping Wisconsin farmers find new markets while bringing fresh, locally produced food to families across the state.

Teri Barr talks with Hunger Task Force CEO Matt King to learn how the "Connecting Farms to Families" program is growing beyond anyone's expectations -- and why King is now working to keep these connections successful -- well into the future.  

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Nick Novak discusses economic impacts to the food processing industry, competition from foreign canned goods, labor shortages, and high energy costs with Larry Lee from the Mid-West Farm Report.

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Corey William Janke is celebrating 150 years of his family farming the same land near Bear Creek, in the Union Township of Waupaca County. The fifth-generation farmer reflects on how it has evolved from steam-powered equipment and a family sawmill to a modern beef operation, which he started in 2018 after the dairy cows left the farm.

Janke says his goal now is to maintain the land and continue raising cattle, while highlighting the importance of family, longtime friendships, and the community that has helped build and sustain the farm for five generations. 

You can find more Sesquicentennial and Century farm stories by visiting MidwestFarmReport.com, brought to you courtesy of Compeer Financial.

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