The cost and availability of propane didn't take the spotlight in 2023 with such a warm fall. This is making propane prices favorable, according to Michael Newland, the director of agriculture business development at the Propane Education Research Council. He says inventories are at their highest levels in the last 5 years.

When it comes to implementing something new on the farm, do you look at what your neighbors are doing to get ideas? Well now you can. Wisconsin farmers are sharing how they use cover crops and helping to improve cover cropping for farmers all around the state through the Wisconsin Cover Crop Survey. Dan Smith, Southwest Regional Agronomist for UW-Madison, says this survey has helped them to fill critical knowledge gaps concerning the performance of cover crops after different harvest cycles.

Everett and Janet Beckius share the history of their Century farm that is now divided between their 3 sons and their families as part of our  Compeer Financial Farm Salute Friday.

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Navigating Your Ag Business: From Stress to Success combines online self-paced learning with live online group meetings. The course started on Jan.1, but you can still register before the first meeting on Feb. 2. The learning continues through March, says Division of Extension Specialist Joy Kirkpatrick. By the end of the course, you'll be able to prioritize your unique stressors; select which financial camp they are in; develop a vision and goal for the family farm; and design an action plan to address your stress and reach your goals. Space is limited. Registration is free: https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/programs/navigating-your-ag-business/

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University of Nebraska Economist Cory Walters says in the Farm Bill debate, crop insurance is going to stay, but who should get the money is a question. Beyond the policy picture, Walters tells Bob Bosold that China and Russia are wild cards when it comes to international grain supply and demand.

Between the holidays and finances, this time of year is stressful for people. It doesn’t help that in the dead of winter, there's downtime to dwell on issues. UW Extension Specialist Joy Kirkpatrick introduces us to a free course that will help turn those negative thoughts into a new focus -- bettering the farm business.

Ethanol industry leaders are optimistic about 2024. American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings tells Charitee Seebecker they're facing an oversupply, but the Renewable Fuel Standard and Inflation Reduction Act help expand the market.

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Auctioneering is a rewarding career for Jenny Gehl of Bravo Benefit Auctions in North Prairie. Jenny grew up in an auctioneering family, often working alongside her parents when she wasn't in school. While she thought she was going to get away from the family business in college, she couldn't help but come back home to help run the lunch wagon or work the ring. When she realized she couldn't shake her love for the sale, she went to auctioneering school to master the trade. She tells Mid-West Farm Report what it takes to be an auctioneer and the resources that students have to get into the career.

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A team at UW-Madison has a plan to turn plant waste into plastic. Some of the goals are to cut greenhouse gas emissions and create economic opportunities in rural Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Energy Institute got $4 million from U.S. Department of Energy to turn a fibrous plant material called lignin into nylon — used to make textiles, carpets and molded plastic — for roughly the same cost as the petrochemical version but with only a fraction of the pollution. If successful, the project will demonstrate the commercial viability of a lab-tested process that could be key to developing sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, says Shannon Stahl, a UW-Madison professor of chemistry who is leading the project. Photo by James Runde.

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A rich heritage of beekeeping, spanning three generations, has grown into a thriving enterprise for one dedicated individual in Southeast Wisconsin. Nick Thill, owner of Honey Grove Apiaries and the president of the Wisconsin Honey Producers Association (WHPA), was introduced to beekeeping when he was only 12 years old when his aunt gave him his first six hives. Little did he know that this would seed a lifelong passion. 

“I have grown my operation from the original six hives my aunt gave me to now having about 350,” says Thill. “We specialize in direct-to-consumer sales, predominantly in Southeast Wisconsin, particularly the Milwaukee area.”

However, like many beekeepers across Wisconsin, Thill faces a plethora of challenges. Dealing with issues like brood mite infestations and the changing agricultural landscape, which leans more towards mono-cropping, has significantly impacted bee nutrition and foraging opportunities. Moreover, the unexpected arrival of black bears in Southeast Wisconsin has become a pressing concern, resulting in the establishment of the Black Bear Advisory Committee.

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There’s a new tractor coming to market, and you won’t be taking a look under the hood. That’s because the hood doesn’t open. And if it did, there’s not much to see – just batteries and an electric motor. That’s just one of the differences between your traditional diesel utility tractor and the new all-electric tractor with autonomous features by New Holland. Lena Bioni is the product marketing manager for the tractor coming to market in 2024.

Honey Acres has redefined the landscape of honey production by creating value-added products. The journey began with a five-generation legacy of beekeeping that traveled continents from Armenia to the West Coast of the United States. Charitee Seebecker speaks with Narek Gabriellian, the Chief Executive Officer at Honey Acres, as he explains more about their business and how they use honey to make  chocolate honey patties and honey spreads.

Kathleen Wolfley, agriculture broker with ever.ag speaks with Charitee Seebecker about the mixed start to 2024 for dairy markets. She says we should keep an eye on the dry whey markets as a penny move in the dry whey market influences about 6 cents in class III. Whey prices are relatively stable and if the market tightens, that could give the class III market a boost.

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Do you struggle to find the right mix of microbes to add to your soil? Instead of relying on traditional methods of adding a select few microbial strains to the soil, experts advocate for activating the natural balance of hundreds of existing microbes. This approach yields benefits in nutrient availability, crop health, and environmental sustainability.

“Some microbes specialize in nitrogen fixation, others in phosphorus solubilization, while collectively contributing to making essential micronutrients readily available to plants,” explains Nick Becker, Director of Field Sales for Sound Agriculture. “This multifaceted approach fosters a balanced ecosystem within the soil, optimizing nutrient uptake by crops.”

He added that while initially perceived as a cost-effective solution, an over-reliance on synthetic nitrogen disrupts the soil's equilibrium, leading to the tie-up of crucial nutrients. This not only limits the effectiveness of expensive inputs but also starts soil degradation over time.

By activating native microbes, farmers can reduce waste, enhance their return on investment, and uphold soil integrity. 

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Corey Rosenbusch, president and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute, tells Mid-West Farm Report what growers can expect from fertilizer prices this year. He also touches on some of the regulatory and political hurdles that face the industry.

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Agriculture markets are volatile, which can make it risky for ag lenders to work with growers who don’t have equity or experience, according to Michael Meil. He’s a loan officer with Ag Resource Management. ARM is a nontraditional ag lender whose loans are based on crop insurance. Michael tells me that they are uniquely positioned to be an asset for a small or beginning farms, especially with the headwinds in 2024.

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