One of the biggest logistical challenges, for many farmers, often occurs on the roads just outside their farms. Wisconsin farmers help feed the world and need to have strong and reliable roads in place to make sure that the food they produce is able to leave the farm and arrive to market quickly, reliably, and efficiently. That’s where the Agriculture Road Improvement Program (ARIP) comes in. 

“The funding in ARIP is targeted to the first-mile roads and bridges that farmers use every day,” Tim Fiocchi, Senior Director of Governmental Relations for Wisconsin Farm Bureau said. “These are the small, Class B and weight-restricted roads that connect our farms to county and state highways. Unfortunately, many of these roads are in awful condition and our small towns need financial support to maintain and improve them. This program fills this need.”

ARIP will offer grants to assist in the reconstruction of vital roads essential for farm operations in rural Wisconsin. The program will operate on a 90-10 matching grant basis, with 90 percent of funds allocated by the state and 10 percent by local authorities. The primary focus of ARIP is to address roads critical for agricultural activities that may not experience high traffic but are indispensable for farmers, especially those affected by weight restrictions.

Funding for the program has already been appropriated, and the first rounds of grants are expected to be released this spring. The Department of Transportation, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, has streamlined the application process to ensure simplicity and accessibility for potential applicants.

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March 15th is the looming deadline for crop insurance decisions that farms will live with for the rest of the calendar year.  Do you have all the answers you need to make the right choice?  Crop insurance rates are basically the same for any company you might work with, but the service you receive can vary.

Jenny Brown is a Rural Mutual Crop Insurance advisor.  She's been involved in production agriculture her entire life, and continues farming with her husband today.  That means she understands the unknowns about growing a crop.  She also thoroughly understands the options that Rural Mutual can present in the form of crop insurance.

Brown sits down to visit with Pam Jahnke about elements that shouldn't be overlooked for risk management strategies in the growing season of 2024, and what you can expect if things don't go your way.  Input costs, poor market prices, uncertain weather patterns, government policy adjustments - she's got her eye on it all for you.

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It’s earlier than normal, but you may see maple syrup producers in Wisconsin already tapping trees and cooking sap. Steve Anderson is one of them. He’s the president of the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association and the third generation of Anderson Maple Syrup in Cumberland. He says the 'January thaw' is lasting weeks instead of days, and it's sparking producers to tap early. He hopes that cooler temperatures and snow will come so that the 'normal' sugaring season arrives accordingly in a few months.

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There's a lot of different discussions happening in Wisconsin about affordable health care options for farm families. 

Our state’s largest general farm organizations are bringing it up as a top priority in this legislative session and have brought different strategies to the table. Wisconsin Farmers Union, for example, is asking the state to expand BadgerCare by accepting federal Medicaid expansion dollars. With the expansion, they hope to reach more farmers. Stephanie Hoff gives us some perspective.

Potato and vegetable growers are gathered together in Stevens Point through today for their annual winter conference.  Blair Richardson leads Potatoes USA, a trade group looking for new opportunities for U.S. potatoes.  He says that they also have to be concerned about misinformation about potatoes that filters not only to consumers, but also health care providers.  He speaks with Stephanie Hoff in Stevens Point.

Fundraising is the primary goal right now for WI FFA Foundation board members.  Past president, Tom Bressler, says WI FFA is experiencing tremendous growth that requires more financial resources to be really effective.

It looks like U.S. cheese prices have finally hit bottom and are starting to come back up - a little.  That's the observation Andy Faulman with EverAg shared with Pam Jahnke this morning.  He also reminded dairy producers to keep an eye on dry whey prices.  He explains the correlation on whey prices to Class III milk prices which drive Wisconsin dairies.

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The Wisconsin FFA Alumni gathered together in Green Bay over the weekend for their annual state convention.  Jill Welke was there to chat with Deb Ihm, the current president of the WI FFA Alumni and Tom Bressler, past WI State FFA Officer now leading a campaign to raise money for the group.

Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group chats with Pam Jahnke at the WI Corn/Soy Expo about the conversations they've been having with producers about the auction business today.  Paid for by Steffes Group.

Charitee Seebecker reminds everyone the deadline's approaching for the Century/Sesquicentennial Farm Recognition program.  Jill Albanese with the WI State Fair says they've surpassed honoring more than 9,000 century farms and over 1,000 sesquicentennial operations.

Super Bowl Sunday is on the horizon and Wisconsin food and agriculture industries are looking to capitalize on people's pallets.  Stephanie Hoff chats with Tom Super, the communications lead at the National Chicken Council.  It looks like it's going to be another record breaking year for wing consumption this weekend! 

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The Wisconsin Soybean Association marks a significant milestone as it celebrates 50 years of growth, innovation and dedication to Wisconsin soybean growers. Tony Mellenthin, a farmer from Eau Galle Wisconsin and director on the United Soybean Board says membership is growing, and more farmers are actively promoting soybeans. Those types of things haven’t been happening for a long time. He explains more about trends he’s seen over those 50 years and what’s ahead for the next 50, including a project of remodeling a house with all soybean based products and success with checkoff dollars.

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In an effort to preserve Wisconsin’s farmland for future generations, the state's Farmland Preservation Program has undergone a substantial update. The program, which serves as a crucial tool for farmers to protect their land, has received revisions aimed at enhancing its effectiveness and ensuring its alignment with evolving agricultural needs. Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Randy Romanski says the Farmland Preservation Program is more than just a policy—it's a commitment to the future of agriculture in Wisconsin. 

"Preliminary data for claims made in 2022 shows that more than 9,000 agricultural landowners claimed the farmland preservation tax credit. Currently, there are more than 7.8 million acres located in an eligible zoning district, Agricultural Enterprise Area, or both."

Wisconsin Farm Bureau member Robert Nigh of Vernon County says this program helps farmers in his area overcome concerns about preserving their land. 

Wisconsin Farm Bureau extends its gratitude to those who supported this program and their commitment to safeguarding Wisconsin's agricultural legacy. To find out if you are in an eligible Farmland Preservation area, contact your local land conservation department.

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"Love is in the air. You know what that means—it's time to dust off those cheesy pickup lines and get ready for Valentine's Day as it approaches faster than cupid's arrow ! But before you panic-buy a giant teddy bear or a heart-shaped box of chocolates, let's take a moment to appreciate the unsung heroes of this romantic holiday: florists.

Have you ever wondered how florists prepare for the surge of orders and the details behind crafting those stunning arrangements that capture the essence of love? Well Nichole Campbell, owner of Petal Pusher Floral Studio and Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Florists Association president, says they actually began prepping all the way back in December. She shares more about how she gears up for the valentines day rush and other trends throughout the year.

While roses remain a favorite, other flowers are also in high demand during this romantic season. Tulips, in particular, have gained popularity, especially in regions where winter seems endless.

"We make thousands of deliveries and go through thousands of stems of flowers on Valentine's Day alone," says Campbell. "It's a monumental task, but one that we're well-prepared for."

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What do 49ers fans, Chiefs fans, and Swifties all have in common? They'll likely be eating wings on Super Bowl Sunday! 

According to the National Chicken Council’s 2024 Wing Report, Americans will devour 1.45 billion wings while watching Kansas City and San Francisco battle for the championship trophy.

“Football is great. Wings are great. But they’re even better together,” said Council spokesman Tom Super. “Sure, you can have your chips, your guacamole, your pizza. But when it comes to menus next Sunday, wings rule the roost. So, grab a wet nap and enjoy America’s favorite party food for the Big Game.”

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Wisconsin's dairy industry isn't the only one suffering with lower prices.  Cow numbers are decreasing and the amount of milk per cow is remaining stable. Despite stable milk production per cow, innovative feeding and breeding strategies led to an 11% increase in butterfat per cow. Managing through all these trends will take sharp managers.  Charitee Seebecker talks with UW-Extension Dairy Economist, Chuck Nicholson, about what he sees lining up for 2024.

The phrase "Midwest Dairy Challenge" may lead you to believe the contestants are from a dairy background.  Today, that's not the case.  Wisconsin will host over 100 college and tech school students beginning tomorrow in the Green Bay area.  Pam Jahnke talks to Ted Halbach, dairy instructor at UW-Madison and organizer behind the Midwest Dairy Challenge event.  He says a majority of the competitors don't come from dairy, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't be welcome additions to dairy operations and dairy agribusiness.

Concerns were voiced last week during Cattle Con in Orlando about how consumers will react to continued tight supplies of beef cattle in 2024.  Kevin Good, vice president of market analysis at CattleFax, says this beef herd isn't going to grow quickly, but consumer prices at the store need to flatten and hold.

John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing makes his regular appearance on the show.  Today he talks with Pam Jahnke about last week's cattle inventory number and anticipated consumer reaction down the road.  He also looks ahead to Thursday's USDA projections on what's coming out of South America.

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