Aaron Zimmerman talks to Henry Vilas Zoo lead zookeeper Gary Hartlage about keeping animals, such as rhinos and giraffes, happy and healthy in the winter. It's more than keeping them fed and watered. Animals need engagement to prevent being bored if they have to stay inside. 

Cranberry processor Ocean Spray sees obstacles and opportunities going into the new year. Tom Tritt, plant manager of Ocean Spray's Craisin facility in Wisconsin Rapids, says the plant is experiencing labor challenges. On the other end of the spectrum, it has seen robust demand for cranberry products.

The increased demand for canned beer is outpacing the supply of aluminum cans, according to Wisconsin Brewers Guild Vice President Zak Koga. The pandemic-induced trend has pushed Ball Corporation to enact new ordering restrictions for cans, upping the minimum order five times over — from about 200,000 cans per brand to 1 million. Koga says it’s hurting craft breweries, which are also facing inflation, supply chain disruption and labor shortages.

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Wisconsin is number one in the nation in cranberry production!  Farm assistant Stephanie Hoff had the chance to talk with Nodji Van Wychen of Wetherby Cranberry Company.  She shared that the 2021 harvest showed a lower yield, but work doesn't stop to prepare for next year.  A challenge for cranberry growers however is finding labor to keep things going year round.

Along with your holiday decorations, lights and Christmas tree, hopefully you've included a Wisconsin grown Christmas wreath.  Greg Hann of Hann's Christmas Trees tells us that Wisconsin is a top producer of Christmas wreaths in the nation and their farm makes about 6,500 wreaths a year!

If you're traveling through Northern Wisconsin for the holidays or anytime soon, you may run across some new pro-agriculture billboards.  These are located on highways 70, 35 & 8 and have replaced some previously more negative billboards.  Kim Bremmer, Executive Director of Venture Dairy Cooperative and owner of Ag Inspirations, shares more about the billboards and the group that came together to make them possible.

Many across Wisconsin may not be seeing a white Christmas this year, but a lack of snow can have an affect on other things besides just a holiday feel.  Our forage crops around the state do somewhat rely on a decent snow cover when the weather gets cold.  Dan Undersander, UW-Extension forage specialist says that luckily crops like alfalfa and cover crops should be okay so far as our ground temperature has stayed moderate so far.  A good snow cover will help insulate however once the soil starts to freeze.

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A new agriculture themed book is out on the market called Ancestral. Pam Jahnke talks with author Dan Smith, president and CEO of the Cooperative Network, a former DATCP administrator and former Illinois dairy farmer. His poetry is about the life cycles in all agriculture.

ALCIVIA President and CEO Jim Dell gives the Mid-West Farm Report insight on what the cooperative's goals are for 2022 after its annual business meeting. He says members are feeling good about their operations after good crop yields. He says the co-op is doing everything it can to make sure it has everything it needs to weather high costs of production in the new year, including the cost of fertilizer.

Stephanie Hoff talks to ever.ag broker Matt Tranel about the latest milk production and cold storage reports that put U.S. dairy on top for export opportunities. Meanwhile brokers keep an eye on how the markets react to COVID-19 variants, especially after a holiday weekend.

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Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, Inc. is pleased to announce that the 2024 Farm Technology Days show will be held in Chippewa County.  The dates for the 2024 show and the host farm will be selected at a later date.

The show, which is the largest outdoor farm show in Wisconsin, is proud to continue the 65 plus year tradition.  Chippewa County last hosted the event in 2004.   The show will be an opportunity to showcase Chippewa County’s diverse agricultural and economic base. Farm director Pam Jahnke caught up with Arnie Jennerman, General Manager of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days to chat about the upcoming show.

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Julie Sweney, head of communications at FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative, says that as winter district meetings wrap up and we head into the new year, now is the time for members to voice their industry related concerns to the cooperative. Some of which have revolved around the ongoing pandemic, new policies and dairy markets.

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The entire energy complex from crude oil to propane has been bouncing all over the place.  That's keeping everyone on their toes on securing supplies and protecting prices.  Stewart Anhalt, Energy Sales for ALCIVIA, says every day is different and producers/consumers need to stay involved in the conversation.

Still need to secure energy supplies.  Talk to an ALCIVIA team member.

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During the holiday season many people pause to donate gifts or money to others.  The dairy industry is in the giving mood too.  Aaron Zimmerman talks to Rebecca Heagney with Dairy Farmers of America about their dairy donation program with food pantries.

U.S. Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack, spent Thursday afternoon at the Hinchley Dairy in Cambridge talking about revisions to the Dairy Margin Coverage program.  He also spoke about the positive things he sees coming from the Wisconsin based Dairy Business Innovation Alliance with Pam Jahnke.

Focus on Energy, funded by Wisconsin utilities across the state, is looking to partner with any farm or agribusiness if they're planning a new building or remodel.  Joel Roltgen, Focus on Energy Advisor, talks with Pam about the process in this paid program conversation.

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Wisconsin Farm Technology Days 2021 is history, but a show of that size needs a little time to wrap up final details.  Bob Bosold talks with board chair, Mike Gintner, about the challenges of keeping a show organized during a pandemic.

Farm parents are being recruited to participate in an awareness project launched by the National Farm Medicine Center in Marshfield.  Do stories of farm accidents change or heighten parents' awareness of children's safety.

Dan Smith is the current CEO/President of Cooperative Network.  He's also a past administrator at the WI Dept. of Agriculture, a previous dairy farmers - and now an author.  Pam Jahnke talks with him about his book Ancestral.

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He's well known across the Upper Midwest.  Charlie Beren's "Manitowoc Minute" connects a lot of people.  Pam Jahnke talks with him about his latest book "The Midwest Survival Guide", and how he finds material that rings so true to many.

Confrontation in policy development is bound to happen, but the River Alliance of Wisconsin is planning to concentrate more on similarities than differences when it comes to water policy and its impact on agriculture.  Pam Jahnke talks with Mike Tiboris, director of Clean Water Farms within River Alliance, and how he's looking to build bridges with local watershed groups led by farmers.

Omicron is back to driving the markets.  John Hineberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend joins Pam for an up to date look at the direction trade is going and what farmers need to be on guard about.

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The looming federal vaccine mandate has many agribusinesses and farms worried about keeping production on track in 2022.  Pam talks with Curt Larson, President/CEO of the Equity Livestock Association about what it could mean to livestock marketing in the state.

Another record breaking auction with the Steffes Auction Group.  Ashley Huhn joins Pam in this paid segment discussing a John Deere planter that sold for nearly $500,000 with buyers in 3 different states competing.

The Wisconsin Corn/Soy Expo is back in 2022.  Dr. Shawn Conley, UW-Extension Soybean Specialist, talks with Pam Jahnke about the programming coming together for the February event - paid for courtesy of the Wisconsin Soybean Promotion Board.

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