MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). Sounds spooky doesn't it.  That's why Teri Barr decided to catch up with Dr. Keith Poulson,  director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, for an update on EHD. This disease has also been detected in tissue from wild and captive deer in the region. Now EHD's been detected in a dairy herd in Waukesha.  Do people need to worry about this?  Teri gets the answers.

Yes there's some rain in the forecast today, but above average temperatures for the rest of the weekend.  Stu Muck says the rain coming into Wisconsin shouldn't be measurable, but it may stop the harvest equipment for a few hours.  After that, some unexpected 80';

Jeremy Sharp is the corn herbicide lead with Syngenta.  Kiley Allan visit with Sharp about the true costs of producing a crop.  Sharp says producers need to look at more than just the 'cost of the jug' when they look at weed control.  Sharp says the economic losses from an inferior product are real dollars lost. Paid for by Syngenta.

The Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector Borne Disease on the UW-Madison College of Ag campus just received a $3 million research grant. The goal to reduce tick populations in Wisconsin and elsewhere, and in turn, reduce tick borne diseases.  Pam Jahnke shares the announcement.

When one farm family exiting a Dodge County parcel, they left a dog behind.  That's how the story began with John and Carol Christian of Lebanon, in rural Dodge County.  They're celebrating 100 years of family ownership of that property that they took over when the  previous owners exited for California.  John says they're not sure why the Gnavocks left for California.  Regardless, the only thing the Gnavocks left behind, aside from the farmstead, was their dog!  The dog, according to John, was quite talented.  He said the dog would carry the lantern to the barn for milking everyday.  In fact the dog reportedly would nip if not allowed to "do his job".  John and Carol also recollect large butchering parties happening at their farm.  Surprisingly, perhaps, they butchered in the basement of the farmstead.  This century farm story sharing made possible by Compeer Financial.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Dairy Expo offers many different experiences, including the opportunity to have conversations about what could shape the future of dairy farming.

Wisconsin Farmers Union Government Relations Director Michelle Ramirez-White tells Teri Barr why she's focusing on policy issues ranging from farm labor legislation, to food policy debates, and the upcoming election cycle -- which includes several close races that could reshape the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One hundred and fifty years is a long time for a family to keep a farm going, but the Gaynor and the Dempze families have done just that.  Heidi Slinkman discusses how growing cranberries has changed over the years, explains how they are cultivated, and even offers a few recipe ideas.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A love for agriculture that was born on her family's century farm sent Josephine Kuhl to her first 4-H meeting. But it's the community of the organization that's kept her coming back. She's now the president of the Beaver Brook Badgers 4-H Club in Polk County. She tells Kiley Allan why she joined the organization.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What began with a little family persuasion turned into a bountiful 4-H career for Allison Emmertson. She's a junior in high school from Amery, Wisconsin, a member of the Beaver Brook Badgers 4-H Club in Polk County. She tells Kiley Allan why she joined the organization.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC) Executive Director Julie Sweney explains how livestock identification and disease traceability help protect Wisconsin farms.

Learn the way WLIC maintains basic information on livestock owners -- and works with animal health officials to quickly track animal movements if a disease outbreak occurs.

Sweney also tells Teri Barr about the tools, like RFID tags, that give cattle a unique identification number, making it easier to trace where an animal came from and reduce the risk of disease spreading. This interview took place during World Dairy Expo.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin set out to find the Wisconsin dairy farmer who was the ultimate football fan. Then we thought, nah. It would be much more fun to find the football legend who might just be the ultimate dairy farmer fan. Enter Pro Football Hall of Famer and Green Bay legend LeRoy Butler.

Long before he became famous for leaping into the stands, Butler had another game-day tradition: two Colby Jack grilled cheese sandwiches. Fuel for the leap, obviously.

At World Dairy Expo, Pam Jahnke caught up with Butler to  snap a photo and be among the first to collect his exclusive Born To Dairy™ LegenDairy Leaper trading card.  He also shared his passion for what Wisconsin dairy operators are doing and the great nutrition he and his family enjoy because of their efforts.

It’s a Wisconsin story that brings football, cheese and dairy farmers together—with one of the state’s most recognizable legends right in the middle of it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From its roots in Germany to five generations on Wisconsin soil, the Hefter Homestead in Washington County is marking a milestone 150 years of family agriculture!

Brother-and-sister duo Larry Hefter and Melinda Wacker reflect on their family's sesquicentennial legacy. The journey began when Martin Hefter immigrated from Germany, leading to John and Catherine Hefter purchasing 60 acres in 1876 to build the homestead. After John tragically passed away at age 46, Catherine persevered through difficult times to raise 10 children and keep the farm running. Over the decades, the farm became a vibrant community hub filled with neighborhood hay-baling days, family traditions, and hard work.

Today, the original buildings still stand proud, the land remains actively farmed, and the family has even transformed two acres into a monarch butterfly sanctuary to give back to the land. Listen in to hear how the Hefter family continues to honor its deep roots and preserve this cherished farm for generations to come!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At Hallstrand Angus, family takes center stage in nearly every aspect of their operation. Kurt Hallstrand has been around cattle his entire life, so it only made sense that he and his wife would build a seedstock operation. Along with their three children, his brother who joined the operation in the early 2000s, they have grown their ranch in both number of acres and number of cattle. He projects that this year they will calve out a little over 300 head of cows. The long-term goal Kurt has been working towards is setting up the next generation to be completely self-sufficient on the cattle ranch. For their operation, a significant step towards that goal was making the transition to an Angus-only herd in the late 1990s.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adequate manpower, fuel prices, and the weather are three topics that the maritime industry and the agricultural industry keep circling back to. Captain Jimmy "J-Rock" Cheatham joins Kiley Allan. He's a barge captain spending much of his time bringing agricultural commodities along the Western rivers. He's just now returning from his most recent shift on the river and explains what it's like right now.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.