MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

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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Nobody ever schedules an accident, but they still happen. That's why resources like the Wisconsin Poison Center are so crucial. I sat down with Bri Campbell, she's the program coordinator, and Tammy Holzer, clinical educator for the Wisconsin Poison Center. They tell me they're trying to reach a broader, more rural audience.

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The consumers, and therefore, the vendors that attend farmers' markets are rapidly evolving. Bret Shaw, an Extension Communications Specialist and a team at UW-Madison, recently received a grant that allowed them one of the first closer looks into this trend in nearly a decade. Brett sat down to explain what they discovered.

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Holy smokes, Wisconsin! The sky has been so eerie that it looks straight off the set of a horror movie to me, and the air quality may actually be some people's worst nightmare. Brent Elliott is the director at the Stratford Area Fire Department EMS. He explains the severity of the smoky air quality that Wisconsin has been experiencing.

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The Beef Quality Assurance program has been around for a while, but it's always evolving.  Jill Welke finds out from one of the best!  Dr. Sandy Stuttgen, Associate Professor and Ag Educator with UW-Madison Extension in Taylor County leads coordination of the states program.  She tells Welke that it's a serious responsibility, providing food for consumers.  Through the BQA program, beef producers can perform at the level that consumers and processors expect.

Milder weather today gives Wisconsinites a break.  Stu Muck says what's missing is rain.  Although there were storms that moved through the state, it brought with it very little rain.  Muck says there's not much on the horizon either.

Christmas in July may seem like excessive planning, but auction planning in July is not.  Ashley Huhn with the Steffes Group joins Pam Jahnke to talk about it.  He says July has routinely turned out to be their busiest booking month.  Huhn says that kind of advance planning allows his team to work ahead on everything from pictures to descriptions.  Paid for by Steffes Group.

The Wisconsin State FFA Officer team just returned from Washington, D.C. and the annual Leadership Conference.  Cheryl Zimmerman, state executive director of the WI FFA Association, says they had an accelerated course on advocacy before heading to "the hill" for conversations.

It's all about weather and tariffs in the marketplace this morning.  John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing out of West Bend says heat and dry are the buzz words.  Crop quality ratings slipped a bit in some areas this week at a key time when some crops are at critical growth stages.  At the same time, the government has announced a 25% increase in tariffs against Brazilian soybeans/oil. That's caused the market to surge higher on domestic supplies.

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Dr. Temple Grandin has spent her career observing the habits of animals.  Today she visits with Bob Bosold about the supporting structure on animal handling that really worries her.  People!  Grandin says she's worried about the skill set most graduates bring to the marketplace.  With escalating retirements, Grandin says there's no new candidates in the pipeline to fill these voids.

Smoke's still around but temperatures are moderating.  Stu Muck says we get back to "normal" temperatures this week with a little rain added in.

July is National Ice Cream month and Wisconsin will not be left out of the celebration.  Kiley Allan catches up with Carolyn Alsteen, who represents district 2 on the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board of Directors and farms in Coleman.  She highlights some of the ice cream production consumers may not realize originates in Wisconsin.  Paid for by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

Fairs continue around Wisconsin this week.  While you visit, keep your eyes open for informational plaquards that may be present.  It's part of a public education mission the WI Fair Association is on.  Pam Jahnke reviews with Jayme Butke, executive secretary of the WI Fair Association.  She says the financial footprint fairs have on the state is incredible.  Now they want to find out about the intrinsic value of fairs on communities.

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While June is National Dairy Month, July is just as sweet. National Ice Cream Month brings us a great opportunity to celebrate the people and the cows who make the sweet treat possible. We're catching up with just one of those people today. Carolyn Alsteen is a dairy farmer who represents District 2 on Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board of Directors. She farms in Coleman, Wisconsin. She tells us how she's celebrating National Ice Cream Month. Learn more at wisconsindairy.org. 

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This week shows how important animal handling is.  With the weather element included, paying attention to what an animal sees in its surrounding is critical.  Bob Bosold talks with one of the industry leaders in that field.  Dr. Temple Grandin.  Grandin explains her focus when it comes to animal handling systems, and some of the simple things that can often be overlooked by farmers.  

Temperatures may be a few degrees cooler today, but you won't notice much of a change with the smoke.  Stu Muck steers us through what the weekend has in store for with weather.

Beginning on Tuesday, Wisconsin is implementing some new restrictions on animals coming into the state from areas affected by New World Screwworm.  Teri Barr listens to what WI Ag Secretary, Randy Romanski, has to say about the plan.

Dairy farmer Mitch Breunig is one of those that's been spending long hours trying to keep his cows comfortable.  Breunig owns/operates Mystic Valley Dairy in Roxbury.  He tells Pam Jahnke that every piece of technology from high capacity fans to sprinkler systems has been key.  He even has deployed "fitbits" for cows to monitor their respiration and feed intake.

As the 2026 WI Farm Technology Days show drew to a close in Stratford, questions were already popping up on where the show will be in 2027.  Pam Jahnke talks with Janet Keller, show general manager, about that point and others.  Keller says they've got plenty of farms interested in hosting future shows, and she says the restructure they implemented three years ago is helping.ed

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Wisconsin is tightening import requirements for livestock and other warm-blooded animals entering the state in an effort to keep the destructive New World screwworm (NWS) from reaching farms and rural communities.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced a temporary order which adds new health requirements for animals coming from states with active NWS-infested zones. The order takes effect on Tuesday, July 21, and will remain in place until it is lifted by the Wisconsin state veterinarian.

Teri Barr explains some details with Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Randy Romanski.

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 The state's 79th Alice in Dairyland is on the job!  Meet Anastasia Poull.  This native of Port Washington is excited to help educate consumers about all Wisconsin agriculture has to offer.  Pam Jahnke gets an update on "National Ice Cream Month" from Poull, and why it matters to many of the state's ice cream shops and manufacturers!

Hot, sticky weather continues again today - coupled with noticeable smoke drifting in from wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota.  Stu Muck explains what's happening and how long we can expect this combination in the state.

Mel Pittman has been a long time supporter of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. Today the retired dairy farmer from Plum City, WI is finding a new agriculture interest raising beef cattle.  Still, he's maintained an active presence on the WFTD Executive Board for over a decade.  Pittman talks with Pam Jahnke about the changes he's seen in the show, attendees, and the featured equipment.  Yes, he admits the show's facing some challenges, but he believes the combination of curious farmers and cutting edge technology still works.

You've seen the headlines.  The U.S. is experiencing the smallest beef heard in over a half a century. That small cattle herd also impacts available funds for the WI Beef Council.  Tammy Vaassen, executive director of WBC is already making plans for precision use of available dollars for 2027.  That involves partnering with the Cattlemen's Beef Board and their contracting partners to make dollars go further. She explains.  Plus, they're visiting with folks at WI Farm Technology Days as well!

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