Mayo Clinic. Mr. Beast. And the Dairy Industry. These are probably not something you’d normally say in the same sentence. So how do they go together you may ask? Well Dairy farmers pay 15 cents for every hundred pounds of milk they sell. These are called dairy checkoff dollars and are used to promote the dairy industry. Becky Levzow, Dairy Management Inc Vice Chair says this money is what brings those health, gaming, and dairy industries together. 

She says, "the check-off dollars collected from dairy farmers have the power to provide markets, education, and opportunities that showcase the true value of dairy products."

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It looks like a laboratory, but with a humid, earthy smell. It's a sterile environment, but there's fungus growing everywhere -- in jars, in bags -- and that's exactly what's supposed to happen!

Growing mushrooms is a totally different kind of farming than what you’d normally think of here in Wisconsin. Andrew Griffin’s story of how he got to growing mushrooms is just as unique. He’s a Wisconsin native, growing up around farms but without farm experience. He got an education in economics at UW, but preferred working in the food sector either on organic farms or in kitchens. 

It wasn’t until the height of COVID when he decided to pursue growing mushrooms. He jokes part of the reason was no one was hiring at that time. But growing mushrooms was already a hobby he was passionate about. 

Today, Griffin owns MicroMyco Growers in downtown Madison, growing mushrooms for restaurants and farmers' markets.

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Finding affordable child care is a challenge across Wisconsin, even more so in rural areas. There are many places where there are more children than what a child care provider can support. The struggle facing parents, employers, and communities because of the lack of child care and high costs is overwhelming. The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families is on the frontlines supporting providers and families in need. Priya Bhatia is the Administrator for the Division of Early Care and Education at the Department and she shares with me what the greatest challenges are to rural healthcare and how they are trying to make this less of a struggle for families. 

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The fall and winter months usually bring the cold and flu season. We all know how miserable those days can be. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could know we're getting sick before it becomes full on coughing, runny nose, and surviving strictly on Nyquil? Just like it would be nice to have early warnings of if we’re sick, it’s also helpful to have that early detection in our cows. Michael Goeldi, head of customer success at smaXtec, says he has a tool that can do just that.

This device continuously monitors the cow's temperature, rumination activity, and other vital signs. When it comes to mastitis detection, the system looks for a specific temperature increase occurring approximately four to six hours before other signs become visible. This early alert allows farmers to use less expensive treatments and provide support to the cow's immune system, aiding in faster recovery.

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You may have heard that dairy barns are like cow spots – there are no two alike. Just like when building a house you have your family in mind and what will be the most comfortable for you. The same goes for farmers as when they're designing a barn, they have their herd in mind. But Dr. Mario Mondaca, Senior Technical Applications and Research Engineer of VES-Artex says while every barn is different, the design phase can be automated. He explains how the tool he developed helps farmers simplify their barn design into a single output. 

He says, "regardless of who you’re working with to build a barn, you should be asking questions about ventilation and design earlier during the building process rather than afterwards."

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Rachel Harmann is a beef producer out of Algoma. She started as the Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association Legislative Chair in August. Since then, she's already advocated for fellow producers in Washington D.C. and the State Capitol. The top priorities right now are to prevent a government shutdown in order to get the Farm Bill passed on time. 

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Uzbekistan isn't likely on too many dairy businesses' radar, but it's trying to catch more attention.  During World Dairy Expo, Bob Bosold talked with an Uzbekistani trade group ushered by Oybek Thosmatov about what their agriculture looks like, and what they were shopping for at World Dairy Expo.

17 visitors from Thailand and the Philippines visited Wisconsin Friday to explore our state's ethanol industry.  Nate Zimdars talks to Chris Markey with the U.S. Grains Council about the potential business in SouthEast Asia.

Abbey Walker is a field services representative with FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative.  She joins Pam Jahnke in studio to discuss what differentiates FarmFirst from other dairy cooperatives.  Paid for by FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative. 

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Wisconsin's known as "America's Dairyland", so it's no surprise that other states want to know the secret.  Nate Zimdars chats with Russell Plaschka from the Kansas Department of Agriculture.  They made a special effort to bring a group to World Dairy Expo to try and draw a little attention to their state and the resources they're making available to dairies that might want to relocate.

Wisconsin's looking at a wet weather forecast this week, frustrating a lot of farmers' harvest plans.  Stephanie Hoff catches up with UW-Extension Conservation Specialist, Kevin Erb, about what's at risk if farmers decide to push their luck and work muddy fields.

John Hineberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, joins Pam Jahnke to evaluate what's driving the markets.  The cattle complex saw a major collapse after the Cattle on Feed report.  Packers started bringing cattle in from Canada and Mexico to help offset low numbers in the U.S.  That's starting to throw a wrench in all cattle prices.

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Just like parents ensure the comfort and well-being of their children, farmers do the same for their cows. Karen Luchterhand, C.O.W.S. Project Lead for NOVUS says their C.O.W.S. program, gives farmers the tools they need to unlock their herds’ full potential. 

The program assesses more than 600 data points, with a primary focus on improving cow welfare and farm management. Once the assessment is complete, the gathered data is transformed into actionable insights for farmers. The report compares the farm's performance to peer groups. These benchmarks help farmers understand where they stand in relation to their peers and identify areas that need improvement

Through the program, common bottlenecks affecting dairy farms become evident. These bottlenecks can vary from farm to farm but often include concerns related to the time cows spend away from their pens, stocking density, and stall design, among others. Recognizing and addressing these bottlenecks is crucial for optimizing farm performance.

For dairy farmers looking to address bottlenecks and optimize their operations, several key tips can make a significant difference. Ensuring 24-hour feed availability and providing refusals can be easily implemented. Additionally, improvements in ventilation, feed barriers, and other aspects of heat abatement are crucial for enhancing cow well-being and productivity.

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For some farmers, the thought of having foreign visitors at their farm may be intimidating. For others, it is a welcome opportunity to showcase their farm and share how they operate. Howard Hartmann of Hartmann Farms just outside of Lodi is one of those farmers who has had multiple foreign groups visit his farm over the years. He shares more about his operation and why he values having foreign visitors out on his farm. 

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