MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Wisconsin's state FFA officer team is fresh off a leadership conference in Washington, D.C..  While learning the ropes to policy development was part of their goal, honing how to advocate for ag education and agriculture in general was also a major point.  Cheryl Zimmerman, Executive Director of the Wisconsin FFA Association tells Pam Jahnke about the investment being made in these young leaders.

No rain in sight.  Not what a lot of Wisconsin farmers or gardeners want to hear.  Stu Muck explains why we can't seem to wring a bit of moisture out of the atmosphere right now.

Everybody likes to get a gift, and our Wisconsin agriculture teachers are no exception.  Teri Barr explains how saying thank you to agriculture instructors and helping them start the new school year prepared, inspired a Pennsylvania company.  Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow and the Dairy Excellence Foundation teamed up to offer anyone a chance to "gift" a box to an agriculture instructor anywhere.

How much energy does the average 500 cow dairy operation use in a hot month like July?  You might be surprised!  Pam Jahnke talks with Matt Redetzke of No Joke Dairy in Stratford about that expense.  It's just one motivating point that encouraged the hosts of this year's WI Farm Technology Days to partner with Focus on Energy.  Kevin Weiler, one of four Focus on Energy advisors in the state says Marathon County has been taking advantage of the partnership!  Paid for by Focus on Energy.

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As the Wisconsin State Fair gets ready to celebrate its 175th anniversary, part of its history is getting ready to end.

John Yingling has served on the WI State Fair Board for 16 years.  This October, he's announced he'll step away.

Listen in as Pam Jahnke finds out how it all started for Yingling, and what he sees today when he looks at the WI State Fair.

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A surprise gift box full of appreciation delivers encouragement, classroom resources, and a reminder that educators in Wisconsin are valued as they shape agriculture's future. Teri Barr talks with gifter, Pamela Stuttgen, to learn why it's important. 

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You can't believe all the 'fine points' of harvesting hay until you talk to Tom Kilcer.  As a former ag agent in New York state, Kilcer now acts a researcher in Tennessee.  His book. "Hay in a Day" delivers on some of the details producers often overlook that can make a major impact on their finished hay product.  Bob Bosold finds out what those details are!

Another really pleasant day in Wisconsin before heat starts to build back in.  Stu Muck says the smoke threat also seems to be lessening going into the weekend.  Don't get too comfortable though.  Stu says the heat returns next week.

Whether it's heat or cold, wet or dry, our specialty crop providers face it all.  The state has an abundance of potato, vegetable, cranberry and other specialty crop growers that have been maneuvering through weather challenges, as well as global market access issues.  Kiley Allan visits about the terrain with Sandy Chalmers, state executive director of the WI Farm Service Agency offices through USDA.  Chalmers says there's about $1.6 billion that's been set aside for those specialty growers.  Now, the key is to apply by the August 7th deadline.

Wow - big numbers in the June USDA Milk Production report.  Big cow numbers too.  Pam Jahnke visits with Katie Burgess, dairy analyst with EverAg, about the blow it brings to the dairy complex.  Burgess says Wisconsin has approximately 20,000 more milk cows this June compared to 2025.  Those cows are producing too.  The states June production was up 1.6%. 

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Sustainability isn't just about the environment. Experts say carbon scores can help dairy farmers measure efficiency, improve management, and meet growing marketplace expectations.

Teri Barr talks with Grace Moeller, manager of sustainability initiatives with the National Milk Producers Federation to learn how it could be an important management tool for your farm. 

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The Junior National Hereford Expo is a week-long event that brings an opportunity for kids to showcase their cattle as well as their talents. The event itself rotates across the country every year, and this year, it's taking place in Madison. An event of this magnitude can't be pulled off without the generous support of many people. Jaclyn Bevans sat down with me. She's a board member of the National Hereford Women, as well as a mother, farmer, and a wife. National Hereford Women is one of the organizations that supports Junior Hereford activities both during the Junior Nationals, as well as all year long. She tells us what their mission is.

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The hosts for the 2026 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, No Joke Dairy in Stratford, are examples of what a partnership with Focus on Energy can accomplish.

Pam Jahnke visits with Matt Redetzke, one of the brothers farming, about their fifth-generation family farm in Marathon County.  Through careful planning with Focus on Energy, the farm has achieved considerable savings on several projects around the farm. Focus on Energy Advisor, Kevin Weiler, explains the amount of energy saved - and the money that was kept in the farm families pocket!

Energy Efficiency Upgrades with Focus on Energy

No Joke Dairy has implemented a series of energy-saving improvements in partnership with Focus
on Energy:
• Livestock Waterers (Installed in 2022 and 2023)
o Installed new waterers that use less electricity and keep water from freezing in winter.
The cows always have clean water to drink, even during the colder months. These
waterers save money on energy bills and keep the animals comfortable.

• LED Exterior Lighting (2023)
o Replaced exterior lights with LED lights. LEDs make outdoor areas safer for everyone
and last longer, reducing the need to replace them as often.
• Refrigeration Heat Recovery (RHR) System (2020)
o Installed an RHR system that takes heat from the milk-cooling process and uses it to
warm water for the farm. The farm needs less electricity or fuel to make hot water
for cleaning.

• Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Vacuum Pump (2019)
o Upgraded to a vacuum pump with a VFD to allow the milking system to run at the power
needed, instead of at full power all the time. This reduces electricity use and extends
equipment life.

• High-Bay LED Fixtures (2019)
o Improved lighting inside the barn with high-bay LED fixtures to create a brighter, safer
workspace while using less energy than traditional high-intensity lamps.

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The mantra behind many of the most successful big events is "many hands make light work." The same is true for Farm Technology Days. I sat down and talked with one of the many volunteers, Maria Meyer. And she's not just a volunteer, her family is widely involved across the event. She tells us what brought her to sign up.

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The smoke that's been inundating Wisconsin is impacting everything that takes a breath - including plants.  Kiley Allan talks with Brent Elliot, Director at Stratford Area Fire Department EMS.  He says the area is experiencing thick, poor air quality due to Canadian wildfire smoke, which was forecasted by the National Weather Service alongside high heat and humidity. Individuals with respiratory illnesses (asthma, COPD, emphysema) and cardiovascular conditions are at high risk, as poor lung oxygenation directly strains the heart and body tissues. Individuals should immediately rest if they experience "the dangerous triad": feeling winded/struggling to breathe, feeling dizzy or lightheaded (signs of low oxygenation), or experiencing heavy chest tightness. Those at risk should stay in air-conditioned indoor spaces. If outdoors, it is advised to stay hydrated, spend 15–20 minutes of every hour in shaded shelter (such as a tent or an air-conditioned vehicle), and monitor companions. Event medical staff are equipped to handle respiratory distress early with roaming teams, air-conditioned facilities, and oxygen therapy, preventing minor symptoms from escalating into emergencies.

Not much smoke in our forecast today!  Stu Muck says the cooler temperatures we're enjoying today also give us an air advisory break.  Muck says this pattern will stick around for about 36 hours, and then it's back to more heat and potentially more smoke.

Ice cream provides a nice, cool treat to break the heat of July.  Teri Barr reports that it's also acting as a conversation starter for the 79th Alice in Dairyland, Anastasia Poull.  Poull is using ice cream as the platform to educate consumes about Wisconsin's roll in delivering the tasty treat.

Beef cattle supplies will continue to be tight into 2027.  That's driving live animal prices even higher.  Pam Jahnke reports that the chair of the World Ag Outlook board is expecting those prices to keep ratcheting up into 2027.

One of the elements that attracts people to Wisconsin is our green space, including our forests.  What you may not realize is that more than 56% of all our forests in the state are owned by private land owners. That's between 9-11 million acres.  If those land owners don't have a plan on how to maintain and manage those lands, there's a problem.  Kiley Allan introduces us to Tony Johnson, Forestry Outreach Specialist with UW-Madison.  He says only 25% of Wisconsin woodland owners have a written forest management plan.  His goal is to help others create a blueprint for getting what they want out of their woods.

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Tony Johnson is a Forestry Outreach Specialist with UW-Madison, and when he thinks of woodlands, he describes a peaceful and serene scene, but a scene such as that can only be achieved with careful planning. He says that only 25% of Wisconsin woodland owners have a written forest management plan. It's the blueprint for getting what you want out of your woods. But if you don't know where to start, he has good news. UW-Madison's extension team is here to help.

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