What are the benefits of grazing livestock? When will interest rates come back down? Will plant-based beverages win out over fluid milk? We cover it all on a Monday morning. 

Extension Specialist Randy Jackson says Wisconsin is making an effort to increase grazing. Grassland 2.0 underscores the importance of grazing and grasslands to ensure clean water and a desirable landscape. They're working on how to make it more productive or attractive to farmers.

Interest rates are a pain point, especially for shorter-term loans, but lenders say it won't get as bad as it was during the farm crisis 30 to 40 years ago. Wisconsin Bankers Association Ag Lending Board Chair Darla Sikora says she's noticed that loans to expand the farm, particularly on dairies, have slowed. Farmers have been keener on paying off debts with extra monies. 

We're seeing more and more non-dairy beverages in stores. John Lucey, director of the Center for Dairy Research joins Mid-West Farm Report courtesy of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. He says dairy is using its resources, like the Center, to develop innovative products to stay ahead of consumer trends. He doesn't anticipate dairy-based drinks (coffees, protein shakes, etc.) to overrun fluid milk.  

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UW-Madison grad student and researcher Kaylee Riesgraf says she finds value in the Dairy Innovation Hub because it connects the research to the farm. And the upcoming Dairy Summit is one of the ways anyone can see how the state's investment is making a difference in the industry. Riesgraf, who earned her undergrad at UW-River Falls, will be presenting her research at Wednesday's Summit in River Falls. Her research is about the impact of maternal and early life stressors on heifer feed efficiency.

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The Dairy Innovation Hub is at work for Wisconsin dairy producers – and the third annual Dairy Summit will prove it. The Dairy Innovation Hub will showcase its investments and research at the Nov. 16 Summit at UW-River Falls. This free, public event will be held in person on campus with live stream and on-demand options. Professor Steven Kelm is the Dairy Hub campus liaison at UW-River Falls. He tells Mid-West Farm Report about the projects that he'll help introduce at the Dairy Summit. But first, he talks about the changes he’s already seeing on campus as a result of the Dairy Innovation Hub investments.

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Supporting and recognizing farmers and agriculturists has always been a priority for Culver's. They strive to create programs that do just that while also benefiting FFA chapters which are the future of the agriculture industry.

Alison Demmer, Public Relations Manager at Culver's, shares more about their new farmer appreciation program, To Farmers With Love.

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John Lucey, Director of Center for Dairy Research, speaks with Pam Jahnke about the innovations they're helping develop for dairy based products in the beverage aisle.

Lucey says that dairy has a tremendous advantage over plant based beverages if people just look at the components involved.  He says while dairy offers natural components for things like protein, plant based beverages have to add it, manufacture it, or require you to consume more to equal dairy.

Lucey thinks those points need to be a driving focus for future product development in the dairy industry - and the Center for Dairy Research is there to help with formulations! Sports drinks, meal replacements - it's a growing food category!

• The Center for Dairy Research is funded by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin – dairy checkoff

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The "buy local" movement continues to find momentum in Wisconsin.  Jill Welke visits with the operator of the Caledonia Market outside of Portage.  This market has proved to be a connecting point between farmers that want to market, and consumers looking for farmers.

With transportation still creating problems for movement of Wisconsin grain, Sen. Joan Ballweg points out possibilities on the Great Lakes.  She talks with Pam Jahnke about the Port Milwaukee project that's infusing over $35 million into port upgrades that will ultimately allow Wisconsin grain to flow into the world marketplace via the Great Lakes.

Butter saw another big bump up on Wednesday and Mike North with EverAg says that's probably going to continue through the holiday entertaining period.  He joins Pam Jahnke live for the discussion.

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Jeff Kratochwill crosses the state of Wisconsin working to connect under-served farmers and veterans, with available resources that can help restore some normal tempo to their lives.

As Director of FARM & Vocational Services, Jeff hires, trains and supervises the Technical and Program Assistants, Rural Rehabilitation and SES Specialists, and HelpLine Coordinator. 

The FARM Program recently received a three-year grant funded by the USDA’s 2501 Program. The grant will help provide outreach to current and new Wisconsin veteran farmers and Socially Disadvantaged (SDA) farmers and ranchers with awareness of, increased access to, and participation in USDA programs and services within the three-year project period.

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From your farm to Antarctica - the tools being used to predict weather patterns are the same.  Carrie Mess visits with UW Meteorologist, Matt Lazzaro, about what trends they're noticing.

The harvest might have slowed down due to weather, but interest in equipment is still red hot.  Ashley Huhn with the Steffes Group visits with Pam Jahnke about an upcoming consignment opportunity in Wisconsin, as well as how to get your "wish list" filled with Steffes staff.  Paid by Steffes Group.

John Hineberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing, joins Pam Jahnke with the latest update on what's influencing the trade.

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With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza still popping up in Wisconsin, bird owners are still nervous about their birds being infected.  Pam Jahnke talks to Bill McFarlane from McFarlane's Pheasants in Janesville.  They're the largest pheasant producer in North America and all their birds are outside.  Bill McFarlane says he's still nervous about what could happen.

Steve Quade, DSM with Wyffels Hybrids joins Pam to talk about the latest update on harvest conditions and hybrid performances.  Paid for by Wyffels Hybrids.

Friday is Veterans Day and Easterseals of Wisconsin is reaching out to those veterans with services to help them.  Pam Jahnke talks to Jeff Kratchowill, Easterseals Wisconsin Farm Program coordinator, about new USDA grants they've received and how they're using to help underserved farmers and veterans.

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There are currently three important grant programs that open to different factions of Wisconsin agriculture and agribusiness.

Sen. Joan Ballweg, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committe, says that dairy processors, agribusinesses working on breaking into the international market and private citizens and business owners with rural wells should all be checking these resources.

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