MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

We can expect a chill down leading into the weekend, but it looks to be great for Memorial Day according to ag meteorologist Stu Muck.

If you've been to a restaurant recently you may have noticed higher prices on the menu. Pam Jahnke chats with Susan Quam, the executive vice president of the Wisconsin Restaurants Association, to figure out why.

It is once again a Wyffels Wednesday and Ben Jarboe checks in with Luke Bird, the district 17 manager, to see how planting is going in southern Wisconsin.

The Fabulous Farm Babe chats with Tammy Vaassen to see what the Wisconsin Beef Council has up their sleeve for May Beef Month. 

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Today's dairy operator's are being asked a lot.  Many industry partners need to share details about sustainability practices with their consumers, but need the dairy story as part of the dialog.  Stephanie Hoff talks with Jennifer Block, director of value chain partnerships, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative.  Dairy farmers have improved efficiency for decades, but they have lacked a consistent, credible way to quantify these efforts to receive financial recognition in the marketplace. There  is increasing pressure on the supply chain to report Scope 3 emissions -- the carbon footprint generated directly on the farm -- making verified data more critical than ever. Empower+ provides a structured, third-party verified framework to turn everyday improvements into measurable climate outcomes that the value chain can trust. Unlike top-down mandates from corporations, this program allows farmers to choose the practices that fit their specific business, whether that is genetics, cow nutrition, or  manure management. There are three pillars of implementation: 1) Gathering a complete baseline across feed, herd, manure, and cropping; 2) Running "what-if" models to identify the biggest efficiency gains before a farmer invests capital; 3) Using third-party audits to prove to processors and buyers that a reduction has actually occurred. The program  focuses on an "insetting" model, keeping the carbon value within the dairy value chain (farmer, processor, and buyer) rather than selling it  to outside industries. Most farmers already have an ongoing wish list of improvements; the ultimate goal is to ensure no value is left on the table as the global market shifts toward carbon-conscious sourcing.

Rain moves through the state this morning.  Stu Muck says some of the storms may have measurable rain, and strong winds.  Once we're past this front, he says things calm down, and dry out.

Steffes Group is still open to your item for their bi-monthly sale.  Ashly Huhn tells Pam Jahnke about how this opportunity fits many elements of equipment.  Paid for by Steffes Group.

The Indy 500 will have a dairy presence again this year.  Jenni Browning,  CEO of the American Dairy Association of Indiana says it’s a time-honored tradition.  One new change this year is making milk available for purchase during the race.

China has agreed to a $17 billion commitment to the U.S. and its annual agricultural purchases.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend says the market can only trade off that for so long.  Heinberg's also watching the wheat ratings as those crop scouts finish their observations.

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On Saturday evening in Wausau, Anastasia Poull was introduced as the 79th Alice in Dairyland.  Poull holds 3 degrees from South Dakota State University along with 2 minors.  She tells Bob Bosold a little bit more about herself, and what she imagines she might focus on as the states next agriculture ambassador.  DATCP also announced that Milwaukee County will host the 80th annual Alice in Dairyland Finals, May 13-15, 2027.

Windy, wet conditions will greet you on a Monday.  Stu Muck says temps will stay above average, but so will the chance of light rain.

Not so fast!  Although Anastasia Poull may have been introduced as the next Alice in Dairyland, Sarah Hagenow still has some work to do.  Hagenow explains how grateful she is for the chance to hold the position through June Dairy Month, and has a little advice for any person considering applying for the job next.

For many rural citizens, going to the mailbox everyday is part of their routine.  Unfortunately, the poor financial performance by the U.S. Postal Service could put that letter service at risk.  Ian Lee is an associate professor in Canada that's using their federal mail service as an example of what could come.  Lee says the Canada Post is bleeding money, with fee answers on how to keep the service viable beyond next March.

In this episode, Portage, Waushara, and Wood County Board Director Stephanie Hughes highlights how Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is shaping the next generation through youth and school initiatives. We dive into key partnerships with the FFA and WIAA, including DFW’s role in sponsoring high-level agricultural competitions and being the official beverage of Wisconsin high school sports. Plus, discover the massive impact of the "Adopt a Cow" program, which connects over 55,000 students across rural and urban classrooms with life on the farm. Learn more at wisconsindairy.org.  Paid for by DFW.

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Agriculture plays a crucial part in the state of Wisconsin's economy, and that's exactly why the folks at the Food and Farm Exploration Center feel it's important to honor the people who make the industry run. Kathleen O'Leary, a member of the board of directors for the Food and Farm Exploration Center, and Amy Wiernik, the donor development director, stopped by to tell us about their Rooted in Gratitude event. It's an annual fundraiser for the Food and Farm Exploration Center. With this year being the first year for the event, Amy and Kathleen sat down to tell me exactly why it's important to the organization.

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Dean Edge hails from Rimbey, Alberta, Canada. Edge became only the third Canadian to win the World Livestock Auctioneer Champion  contest, which debuted in 1963.  Edge made a trip to Thorp, WI to appear at the Premiere Livestock Auction yard.  Jill Welke had a chance to find out why this young man decided to pursue this field as his career.  

“This world championship might be connected to my name for the next year, but it’s not mine,” Edge said. “It’s ours. I’m going to be working for us for the next year to the very best of my ability to get out there and promote what we do.” As the reigning World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, he will spend the next year driving the custom-wrapped World Livestock Auctioneer Championship pickup all over the country to showcase his talents and promote the livestock industry. Edge can’t wait.

Some storms and strong winds are on the way for the weekend.  Stu Muck estimates rainfall amounts and temps for the weekend.

Coming from a dairy farm in Watertown, Michelle Stangler has a deep skillset to offer as an Alice in Dairyland candidate.  Stangler, a graduate from UW-River Falls, has spent a lot of time traveling the state gathering stories about Wisconsin agriculture.  She's also ventured beyond the state to get perspective on what the state has versus other geographies.  The Alice in Dairyland finale will be Saturday in Wausau.

Greenhouse operators in Wisconsin faced some steep heating bills earlier this year.  For Bergmann Greenhouse in Clayton, WI, starting those plants begins in January.  This operation, located in Polk County, decided it was prudent to try and invest in equipment upgrades.  Focus on Energy became their partner on smart renovations that brought them great rebates, and tremendous energy savings.  Evan Croft, Energy Engineer and Technical Reviewer for Focus on Energy, worked with Jeanne and Invanna Bergmann.  Bergmann's is a six-generation greenhouse operation that pays close attention to details.  Jeanne explains the savings they've witnessed, and the ease they found in dealing with Focus on Energy.  Paid for by Focus on Energy.

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Regenerative agriculture is finding favor in the dairy industry.  Stephanie Hoff gets some practical knowledge from Mara Cloutier, program manager, and Jack Herricks, Cashton dairy farmer, of the Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration project.  It's an eight-year, multi-state project that began in 2021, focusing on dairy-heavy states including California, Idaho, Texas, Wisconsin, Vermont, and New York. Major global players like Nestle and Starbucks are involved, signaling an industry-wide urgency to create more resilient supply chains. Dairy Management Inc. provides support through the dairy checkoff program to find better tools for farmers.

Beautiful day on the way for Wisconsin.  Winds settle down and temperatures keep climbing.  Stu Muck says there's a chance of rain creeping in overnight.

Meet Anastasia Poull from Port Washington!  Poull doesn't come from a farming background, but she definitely has found her passion in production agriculture.  During her first four years at South Dakota State University, Poull earned three bachelor's degrees in animal science, agricultural leadership, and agricultural science, with two minors in agricultural business and communication studies. Her extracurricular involvement, including the 2020 Wool Judging Team and ambassadorship for the College of Agriculture, helped develop important connections for her Master of Arts in communication and media studies. Through her studies and work opportunities, Poull found a strong disconnect between producers and consumers and hopes to help bridge this gap through agricultural communications.

E-15's year round use was approved by the House yesterday!  Now it's up to the Senate.   Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, explains why this is a game changer for consumers and corn growers.

The cheese export market keeps rocking!  Katie Burgess, dairy analyst with EverAg joins Pam Jahnke to discuss international access that dairy counts on.  How are prices trending with global uncertainty?  Burgess shares some topics to keep an eye on.

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Spring field activities have been accelerated because of the cool, wet start.  Ben Jarboe finds out about insects adding more pressure to the system. Dr. Emily Bick, UW-Entomologist says that alfalfa weevil seem to be a little delayed in their presence this spring. Bick says it's important that farmers don't lose sight on the threat the small insect can bring to an otherwise healthy alfalfa field.

It'll be another breezy day around Wisconsin which continues to help with drying field conditions.  Stu Muck says milder temperatures may be hard to notice with the breeze.

With those drier field conditions, more acres of corn have been planted.  Pam Jahnke finds out what worries Cooper Humphries, district sales manager with Wyffels Hybrids.  Humphries says his biggest concern is proper field preparation.  Humphries notes if sidewalls are compacted around that seed, it will cost yield in the end.  Paid for by Wyffels Hybrid.

Meet Jessica Moor from Wilson!  She's another candidate for the 79th Alice in Dairyland position.  Moor has dabbled in several different career areas, including completing a business administration degree at UW-River Falls.  She's currently a dental assistant, but ready to take on Alice's duties!

Good ideas were swirling on the UW-Madison campus Tuesday during the annual Dairy Innovation Hub's spring summit.  Chuck Nicholson, professor of supply chain management at Penn State University and a UW-Madison affiliate in the Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences presented on Tuesday.  He's completed a survey showing consumers would love a lactose-free ice cream option.  Nicholson says reducing lactose in ice cream is a  relatively simple process that involves adding a substance to the mix to break lactose down into its two component sugars. A study using a real-life auction revealed that lactose-intolerant consumers significantly value lactose-free ice cream over regular or reduced-lactose options. The study found that a person's specific degree of lactose tolerance is a major predictor of how much they value lactose-free dairy products. Despite the higher value placed on it by certain consumers, both local outlets like the UW Babcock store and national brands like Breyers currently price lactose-free ice cream the same as regular ice cream. Initial rough evaluations suggest that the increased costs of ingredients and labor to produce lactose-free ice cream are lower than the value consumers are willing to pay for it -- a valuable opportunity for ice cream manufacturers.

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Stephanie Hoff explores the collaborative powerhouse of the UW Dairy Innovation Hub through interviews with the agricultural deans of UW-Madison, UW-Platteville, and UW-River Falls. From 3D printing with spoiled milk to cutting-edge nutrient modeling, the high-impact research and new academic programs drive Wisconsin's dairy industry forward. Glenda Gillaspy, Carrie Keller, and Michael Orth also discuss how they navigate economic shifts and legislative advocacy to ensure the Hub's future.

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Ice cream is a staple of the Wisconsin experience, but for the millions of Americans who struggle with lactose intolerance, it has long been a treat enjoyed with hesitation or avoided entirely. 

A new collaborative study between researchers at UW-Madison and UW-River Falls is looking to change that by proving that lactose-free dairy is not just scientifically simple, but a potentially lucrative business move for the state’s manufacturers. 

Professor Chuck Nicholson shares the details with Stephanie Hoff.

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In this episode, Portage, Waushara, and Wood County Board Director Stephanie Hughes highlights how Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is shaping the next generation through youth and school initiatives. We dive into key partnerships with the FFA and WIAA, including DFW’s role in sponsoring high-level agricultural competitions and being the official beverage of Wisconsin high school sports. Plus, discover the massive impact of the "Adopt a Cow" program, which connects over 55,000 students across rural and urban classrooms with life on the farm. Learn more at wisconsindairy.org. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.