Everyone's keeping an eye on interest rates - including farmers.  Charitee Seebecker talks with Steve Nicholson with Rabobank.  Input costs in 2023 are still expected to be high, but Nicholson says most farms are still in a decent financial position.

Consumers have probably been witnessing higher prices at the grocery store.  Maybe it was the Thanksgiving turkey or availability of fresh produce.  Now, egg prices are catching attention.  Carrie Mess visits with UW-Extension Poultry Specialist, Dr. Ron Keane, about why this is happening and how long consumers can expect the trend to stay in place.

Andy Faulman, broker analyst with EverAg joins Pam Jahnke, talking about seasonal holiday buying patterns influencing cheese and butter, and what 2023 holds in store.

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Agronomy manager Ryan Gentle of Wyffels keeps a close eye on what develops in corn fields from Illinois to southern Wisconsin. He tells Mid-West Farm Report about the patterns revealed by Wyffels Corn Root Worm Monitoring Program. He also explains how lessons learned in 2022 will help in 2023.

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This weekend during the Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Young Farmer and Agriculturists (YFA) Conference, there will be a passing of the gavel.  Bob Nash from Ozaukee County will be stepping down as president, after enjoying some life altering experiences.

Pam Jahnke visits with Nash about how his passion for agriculture developed despite the fact that he doesn't come from a farming background, and owns no land or animals today.  Nash also explains the network of friends he's cultivated through the past year's involvement with YFA.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist program is for members between 18 and 35 years old. The YFA program offers opportunities for leadership and skills development, along with the chance to meet and network with peers.

The YFA program also offers some competitive events for members.

Farming for the Future Award
The Farming for the Future Award judges participants for their on the farm work, goals for the future, leadership ability and participation in Farm Bureau and other civic and service organizations. Applicants derive a majority of their income from on-farm production agriculture.

Outstanding Agriculture Professional Award
The Outstanding Agriculture Professional Award judges participants on their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other civic and service organizations. Applicant(s) for this award must derive a majority of their income from an off-farm job. Examples would be an agriculture teacher, fertilizer salesperson, veterinarian, farm employee, agricultural writer or marketer.

Discussion Meet
The YFA Discussion Meet gives a young member an opportunity to demonstrate his or her speaking skills on agricultural-related topics. A contestant is judged on his or her problem-solving skills as he or she discuss timely topics with colleagues.

35 Under 35
The 35 Under 35 program recognizes and celebrates the creativity and innovation of young farmers and agriculturists who are preserving agriculture through leadership in environmental, social and economic practices. This is the inaugural year of the program developed by the YFA committee.

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The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is reminding consumers to check for invasive pests before purchasing live out-of-state Christmas trees and holiday décor.

Pam Jahnke visits with Shahlah Werner, Plant Protection Section Manager with DATCP, about some of the previous encounters the state has had with invasive bugs and holiday decor.  She says although minuscule in size, they pack a powerful punch of potential damage to Wisconsin's ecosystem.

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For many people, the internet is the source of news and communication on a daily basis.  In rural areas of Wisconsin, however, broadband internet is not taken for granted.  Stephanie Hoff talks to Jason Wied from Bug Tussel Wireless about grant monies they've received to work on providing internet access to all of rural Wisconsin.

Wyffels Hybrids wraps up the growing season with a conversation featuring Dr. Brent Tharp, Technical Program Manager at Wyffels.  He explains what will be happening all winter for the seed corn company.

It's time for crop consultants and growers to fine tune their agronomy skills.  This year, University Extension staff are combining efforts to bring their updates to growers next week.  Dr. Damon Smith, UW-Extension Plant Pathologist, explains the goal and program content.

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The USDA is committed to supporting a diverse range of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners. That includes Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, conservation, and disaster assistance. 

Robert Bonnie is the under secretary for the USDA Farm Production and Conservation. He helps farmers and forest landowners by implementing programs to mitigate risks.

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UW-Platteville announced the Beginning a Career in the Meat Industry programming, a half-day course designed for college and high school students who want to learn more about careers in the meat sector. The project is funded by the Meat Talent Development Program, a $5 million program created to strengthen the state’s meat processing supply chain and workforce. The Beginning a Career in the Meat Industry sessions will cover a variety of topics such as the history of Wisconsin’s meat industry, an overview of career opportunities, the importance of sanitation and food safety, and resume building. Project lead and Prof. Krista Eiseman shares more. According to DATCP, to date, just over $4.2 million of the Meat Talent Development Program initiatives have been announced.

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Have you noticed the price of eggs in the grocery store? While prices have been climbing, some stores are limiting purchases or just running out as holiday feasts and baking are in full swing. With about 10% of the nation’s egg laying chickens being lost to avian influenza this year, egg production is tight and will remain that way for a while. Ron Kean is the UW-Extension Poultry Specialist and he’s joining us to share a little more about Wisconsin egg production and the situation at the store. 

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The cost and availability of propane didn't take the spotlight this year with such a warm fall. Not to mention, the warm, dry weather helped with grain drying. This is making propane prices favorable, according to Michael Newland. He's the director of agriculture business development at the Propane Education Research Council. Newland says the council has several projects underway incorporating propane into the transportation sector. And he’s got good news on the propane supply and demand outlook into 2023. Looking for incentives to bring more propane to your farm? Check out propane.com/farmincentive 

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Fertilizer is a big investment that’s too important to risk. Soil tests help to determine what nutrients you need. Having a good balance between agronomics and the rising cost of fertilizer is key moving into 2023.

Galynn Beer is the national strategy and product management lead for AgroLiquid. He works with farmers to attain good agronomy skills in order to handle high-priced inputs and ensure a return on investment. 

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