MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

When the combines have wrapped up the harvest, the real work of marketing all that grain starts to unfold.  Regardless of where it's going, a lot of that grain will travel the Mississippi River.  Kiley Allan catches up with Captain Jimmy "JRock" Cheatam, Hines Furlong Line Inc.  He makes trips up and down the Mississippi daily.  He says recent rains have temporarily relieved drought conditions across the Upper  Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio rivers, allowing barges to operate  without major tonnage restrictions. Fuel prices are at near-record highs, significantly reducing profit margins for towing companies and raising shipping surcharges for agricultural clients. He also discusses the shortage of available and trained labor.

Tonight Wisconsin starts experiencing some dramatic weather changes.  Winds pick up.  Rain moves in and temperatures drop.  Stu Muck says it's only temporary though.

Beginning next week, thousands of Wisconsin youth are heading to the 99th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.  If you're a parent that's not familiar with this event, you might worry.  Larry Lee visits with Cheryl Zimmerman, executive director of the Wisconsin FFA Association and also the National Secretary of the National FFA.  She says parents can rest easy that advisors and adult chaperones have things under control, and the National FFA makes a unified effort with Indianapolis to keep kids safe.

Milk prices are finally starting to rebound after a trough of tough weeks.  Pam Jahnke finds out why from Owen TeVelde, dairy market advisor with EA Risk.  He says that seasonal buying has finally moved in creating a swirl of activity focused on the holiday season.

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What do corn mazes, bumblebees, comedy, and Wisconsin farming have in common? SCIENCE! The Wisconsin Science Festival is underway, and you don't need a lab coat to join the fun.

Festival Director Samantha Mulrooney and Organizer Francesca Long tell Teri Barr how more than 800 events connect agriculture, nature, and everyday life with science -- in communities across the state.

The Wisconsin Science Festival runs for 10 days, through October 25, 2026.

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Executive Director Chad Zuleger says several good things were accomplished in the nearly-completed Wisconsin legislative session, but there's still work to do.

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The National FFA Convention begins soon, and Cheryl Zimmerman discusses what happens at convention, as well as how so many students without a production ag background have become involved in their school's FFA chapter for everything from a class that interested them to gaining leadership training.  And for the parents without an FFA or ag background, don't worry about sending your son or daughter to Indianapolis for this event!

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Someone once told Brian Turner that giant pumpkins are 90% water and 10% magic. While he can confirm that the water content is definitely high, he can't exactly prove that they're magical. However, he says the feeling of a big win at a weigh-off definitely is. Brian lives in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, and has been growing giant pumpkins for six years. For the last four years, he's been trying to grow a pumpkin that breaks the 2,000-pound threshold. After getting as close as 1,986 pounds, he implemented new strategies this year that helped him achieve his goal.

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Child care in rural communities is a major hurdle for families.  Child care available during the harvest is an outright nightmare.  Jill Welke finds out more about thos challenges and the complex answers from Dr Florence Becot.  Becot is a Rural Socioligist and Lead of the Agricultural Safety & Health Program at Pennsylvania University.   For over 20 years, farm safety experts have argued that one of the best way to prevent farm incidents is through the supervision of children by a dedicated childcare provider off the worksite. Besides connections to the safety of farm children, childcare arrangement also impact farm parents’ productivity and a range of farm business decisions. While farm parents experience challenges accessing and paying for childcare that parallel those of working parents across the United States, there has been little in-depth research examining farm families’ actual experiences with childcare and the types of childcare arrangements and supports that would increase their ability and willingness to use childcare. Becot is working to find answers.

You'll start to notice the change in Wisconsin's weather pattern today.  By the time we get to Friday night, almost everyone in Wisconsin will have experienced a frost if not a freeze.  Those are the warning words from Stu Muck.  Wet and cool before the frost though.

Wisconsin farmers have been using the mild weather to roll through soybeans.  The latest update from the WI Ag Statistical Service proves that.  Lucas Clayton with Wyffels gives Pam Jahnke an update from the fields.  The good news is that corn is drying down without costing farms energy.  Yields have been better than average from those farms already in that harvest mode.  Paid for by Wyffels.

During the harvest, growers aren't just focused on operating combines.  They're also sharing their adventures with thousands if not millions through social media.  Kiley Allan finds out how an Iowa grower began sharing his stories years ago.  While he admits, it's boring to other farmers, his content still attracts thousands that want to know what it's like being that combine operator.  Waiting in line at the elevator.  All daily tasks for most growers that fascinate people that aren't connected to agriculture.  Meet Dan Venteicher of Honey Creek Dairy in northeast Iowa.

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For nearly two months, dairy farmers faced a relentless slide in market values, watching cheese prices stair-step lower week after week. The spot market for block cheddar plunged as low as $1.27, reaching prices not seen in nearly a decade. However, after weeks of grinding lower, the market finally hit a turning point. Extremely low prices triggered a wave of buying activity, driving Class 3 milk contracts sharply higher over consecutive trading days.

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When you sign up for a social media platform, you sign up for something called a handle. It's like your digital name tag. It's uniquely yours, and people can find you easily by typing it into the search bar. In just 2010, when Dan Venteicher took the handle "IowaDairyFarmer," he had no idea what was in store. Now, the dairy farmer has nearly 3 million followers on social media where he shares the story of the American dairy industry.

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Grant Holley from the Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association discusses this year's harvest, some of the new technology being used by growers, and what they hope it means in the future.  He also shares some information about ongoing health studies using cranberries.

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The Wisconsin Beef Council recently partnered with Chef Noah and the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. culinary team to provide hands-on beef education to culinary students at WCTC and MATC, as well as an educational dinner with the ACF of Milwaukee Chapter. Chef Noah is the  Associate Director of Culinary Services with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. 

Chef Noah demonstrated how to break down a beef Chuck Roll and talked with participants about ways to use a variety of beef cuts.

The goal was to give both future culinary professionals and current foodservice professionals practical knowledge they can take directly into the kitchen.

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