It is a lot to juggle the responsibilities of running a farm, working off farm, and being a parent all at the same time, yet this is what many farm families are doing across Wisconsin day in and day out. Lauren Langworthy is a farmer in Northwestern Wisconsin with a full time off farm job and a young daughter. She speaks of the challenges that her and many other farm parents face in finding child care while managing all of their work responsibilities. 

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The University of WIsconsin - River Falls is continuing to develop its agricultural education facilities. River Falls College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) just opened the brand new Wuetrich Family/Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence. This center will provide state of the art technology and education for students pursuing careers in dairy. Bob Bosold speaks with CAFES Dean Michael Orth and donor Trevor Wuetrich about what this facility will offer students. 

There are many headwinds facing the dairy industry including volatile markets, rising production costs, unstable feed supplies, and weather events. Senator Tammy Baldwin worked with Senate colleagues to create the Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields (O Dairy) Act of 2023 to address those concerns. Senator Baldwin shares with Nate Zimdars what else this act will do to support organic dairy farmers.

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. This is just one of the differences between your traditional diesel utility tractor and the all-electric T4 by New Holland. Stephanie Hoff speaks with Lena Bioni, product marketing manager, about the industry's first all-electric tractor with autonomous features is coming to market in 2024. There are specific geographies and farms where she says this tractor serves farmers best.

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The cranberry is a little, red, tart fruit with a big punch, and Wisconsin produces more of this berry than any other state in the U.S. David Bartling, owner of Bartling’s Manitowish Cranberry Company says they finished harvest two weeks ago and he’s happy with their yields.

“We have just under 200 acres and produce an average of nine thousand pounds of cranberries per day during harvest and this year was no exception,” explains Bartling.

Bartling’s Manitowish Cranberry Company is part of the Ocean Spray cooperative. Bartling says they clean and bin their fruit into 1200 pound bins on site at the farm. This makes them unique as others in the cooperative take their fruit to the receiving station to have it done.

Bartling’s Manitowish Cranberry Company is a finalist for the 2023 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award. Bartling says it's an honor to just be recognized and claims it has to do with the fact that a commitment to conservation has been deeply ingrained in him from his parents.

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The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation has their Annual Meeting every year in December. This year will be their 104th Annual Meeting. This is an opportunity for Farm Bureau members from all across the state to network and vote on policy that shapes the organization. At the same time, the Young Farmers and Agriculturalists also have their Annual Conference. They too have the opportunity to network and participate in various competitions. Wendy Volkert is the Senior Director of Member Relations for Wisconsin Farm Bureau. She shares what is in store for this year's Annual Meeting and Conference. 

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You might not be as crazy as you think. That noise you hear in your walls and attic that sounds like a bear cub, could actually be a mouse, bat, raccoon or squirrel.

For many homeowners, the changing seasons bring with them a common concern – unwanted house guests in the form of insects, rodents, and other critters. These animals often seek shelter from the cold or a place to nest, and they can become quite a nuisance.

Dane Maier, Training Coordinator and Supervisor at Kwik Kill Pest Control, says, “Many times they are going into the corners of your siding, attic space, or insulation in order to beat the cold weather. They also seek shelter in your home for protection from predators.”

 He said that many common invaders follow certain cycles. For example, fall invaders operate on a 12-year cycle. This means that how much we see them varies depending on their position in the cycle. 

“If they’re at year two or three in their cycle, we’re probably not going to see quite as many out and about,” says Maier. “If they’re closer to that 10 or 12 year mark, they will be more prevalent. Understanding these cycles can help predict when certain pests will be more or less active in a given year.”

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Organic agriculture has a rich history in Wisconsin. Wisconsin is currently ranked #2 in the nation for organic farms with 1,455 which is 8% of the nation's total. Because of organic agriculture's widespread presence in our state, our elected officials are paying attention to what those farmers need to be successful. Senator Tammy Baldwin has introduced two legislative packages to support organic agriculture. She dives into what each of these pieces of legislation are designed to do for our organic farmers.

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The Dairy Summit is coming Nov. 15 at UW-Platteville, an opportunity to learn about the latest research projects happening through the UW Dairy Innovation Hub. Chris Wilson will be there talking about his experience working with UW-Platteville on virtual grazing methods. They rotationally and intensively graze their 500 cattle across 900 acres. And moving those electric fences around EVERY DAY is labor intensive. Virtual grazing eliminates the need for fences using on-cow technologies -- similar to a shock collar on a dog, but without the shock. Obviously this comes with its own barriers, such as internet connection or battery power, depending on the system. He says opening up the farm to new ideas and projects is one of the reasons this farm has been in the family for more than 175 years. Register for the Dairy Summit: https://dairyinnovationhub.wisc.edu/dairy-summit/

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With rain comes mud. With mud comes dirty tires and the risk of a fine if you track debris onto the road. Lieutenant Bill Berger with the Wisconsin State Patrol reminds us that leaving mud and manure on the road is against the law. He has some strategies for getting mud off those tires before you get on the roadway. The fine is $200.50. It's common that farmers will try to remove mud or manure from the roadway with a skid loader or a mechanical broom. Berger says you need to consider liability concerns, and make safety a priority. Remove debris when traffic is light. Have flashing warning lights. Have a spotter to watch for oncoming traffic, and make sure they're wearing a safety vest and carrying an orange or red flag. The Wisconsin State Patrol does not endorse farmers clearing the road themselves because it can be dangerous.

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Wisconsin ginseng growers are getting ready for their first trade mission trip to China since the pandemic.  Charitee Seebecker visits with Jackie Fett, executive director of the WI Ginseng Growers, about China's version of Valentine's Day that might turn into a super sale opportunity for WI.

The tricky weather Wisconsin will be maneuvering through the weekend is causing concerns for anyone managing livestock.  Pam Jahnke catches up with Courtney Halbach, outreach coordinator of the Dairyland Initiative.  Halbach focuses on the tools they've developed to help dairy farmers with calf care guidelines under these conditions.

The September milk production figures reflected some of the hot weather dairy regions faced late this summer.  Bryce Windecker, broker/analyst with EverAg, says it wasn't an unexpected surprise to see milk production in places like New Mexico come down, and USDA did adjust its overall forecast. What's disappointing now, according to Windecker, is the lackluster business in cheese during what should be a holiday buying surge.

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Women’s experience within the dairy industry is very unique. As a way to bring together women of all backgrounds in dairy, the Dairy Girl Network was created. The organization connects women to develop personally and professionally to continue moving dairy forward. The organization is celebrating it’s 10 year anniversary. Amanda Borkowski is the partnership lead with Dairy Girl Network. She speaks about the anniversary and what the organization is continuing to do to support women in dairy.

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