The Wisconsin cranberry harvest may still be a few weeks away, but it's looking like a healthy crop.  Jim VanWychen, one of the owners and operators of Weatherby Cranberries in Warren talks to Bob Bosold about how things are coming along.  VanWychen says they'll start harvesting early varieties in September, with the bulk of the berries coming in October.

Record breaking rainfall in southeast WI, as well as along the lakeshore up to Door County tops our weather updates.  Stu Muck recounts volumes received and what's coming our way early this week.

A majority of the Wisconsin winter wheat is already harvested in the state.  Alex Beaver, crop specialist with Insight FS tells Stephanie Hoff that yields look good, test weights held up and moisture wasn't too bad either.

Meanwhile Wisconsin's potato harvest has begun.  Larry Alsum, President and CEO of Alsum Produce in Friesland says they've started harvesting fresh yellow and red spuds in Arena and Adams. He says they'll start the Russet harvest around August 20th.

School bells will ring soon and bring with it an opportunity for kids to learn more about Wisconsin's dairy industry.  Pam Jahnke visits with Tasha Schlies, a Kewaunee County dairy producer who also sits on the board of directors for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.  She's an active participant in the "Adopt A Cow" program that connects classrooms with the life of a calf on a Wisconsin dairy farm.  Schlies explains how she works to document the calves and their daily routine, as well as their quirks and personalities for the kids.  Schlies says the interaction with teachers and kids is amazing - and it's all free to schools and includes classroom lesson plans they can incorporate too.  Paid for by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

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The Shelton homestead lies in Clyde, Wisconsin, which was started by Pat's great, great, great-grandfather in 1856. Pat currently tends to 250 acres of property. His mother received the Centennial Award for the farm. Currently, the farm has 30-40 acres enrolled in the CRP program. An organic farmer is working another 30 acres. The rest is rented out. The family stopped actively farming in the late 1950s and moved off the farm. Today, Pat manages the CRP land, property upkeep, and the refurbishing of the original barn. He hopes that one of his three kids continues the work. His youngest son has been showing some interest. Back in the 1940s, their family actually harvested hemp and the crop still creeps up once in a while. 

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Kendall and Greg Peterson of the Peterson Farm Bros rose to fame in 2012 with their viral parody video “I’m Farming and I Grow It,” a twist on LMFAO’s hit song. Since then, they’ve continued using social media to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers through music videos and educational content. Stephanie Hoff caught up with the brothers at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, where they shared how their advocacy not only promotes agriculture in a positive light but also supports their central Kansas farm and growing families through speaking appearances and public engagement.

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Drones are becoming a bigger and more important tool in production agriculture.  Kiley Allan finds out about the diverse applications they can assist with from Julia Guerra, Solutions Architect and a licensed drone pilot at FlyGuys. He says there's a multitude of ways farmers can use drones to provide supplemental information to their operations.  He also says this technology can help not only in row crop management, but livestock operations too.

Dangerous temperatures and humidity ahead for the weekend. Stu Muck says the only bright spot is the possibility of some rain moving in as soon as Saturday afternoon.

Stephanie Hoff visits with Dawn Roth of Roth's Sugarbush in Cadott while at the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis. Dawn chairs the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Association's booth in the Wisconsin Products Pavilion. She tells us about the tasty treats they have in store for fairgoers as they taste their way through Wisconsin agriculture -- the dollars support homegrown syrup and young producers.

While the Wisconsin wheat harvest rolls on, there's another crop being harvested you might have missed. Mint!  Richard Gumz of Gumz Farms shares what the start of mint harvest has provided. They are seeing a decrease in oil production this harvest season. While they are exploring other possibilities, they suspect the cloudy days in early July, as well as the smoke haze, greatly affected sunlight penetration. It will be a matter of time (7-10 days) to determine if it changes throughout the remainder of the season.  Kiley Allan has the details.

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Today’s farms run on advanced technology, face high financial risk, and operate under ever-changing policy landscapes. Yet even with all that, farmers still find time to serve their communities—whether it’s mentoring youth or volunteering at the county fair. That’s exactly the kind of well-rounded excellence the Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer Program seeks to recognize. Cindy Matton leads the program. She joins us to share the history, goals, and application details.

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Clinton Farms is a 1,000-cow dairy operation, with 850 cows actively milking and a total herd of 2,200 animals on-site. With roots dating back four generations, the family has adopted modern technology and sustainable practices to keep the business thriving while maintaining environmental responsibility. Clinton Farms shows how energy-efficient systems can power productivity.

Pam Jahnke visits with co-owner Brad Clinton, and Focus on Energy Advisor, Jessica Mlsna, about the projects they've partnered on to save Clinton Farms not only money on energy, but also reduce their carbon footprint!

Energy Efficiency Upgrades with Focus on Energy
Clinton Farms has implemented a comprehensive series of energy-saving improvements in partnership with Focus on Energy:
Key Projects:
• LED Lighting (Installed 2018–2023):
o Over 180 high-efficiency fixtures across barns, parlors, and outdoor spaces.
• Variable Frequency Drives on:
o 70+ circulation and ventilation fans.
o Dairy vacuum and milk pumps.
o Primary and secondary water systems.
• Automatic barn fans and curtains tied to temperature sensors.
• High-efficiency livestock waterers.
• Plate heat exchangers and refrigeration heat recovery systems to recapture heat from milk cooling.
• Condensing hot water boilers for greater efficiency.
Results & Savings
Annual Energy Savings:
• 454,454 kWh.
Annual Cost Savings:
• $57,352.
Focus on Energy Incentives Received:
• $35,458.
Environmental Impact:
• 673,127 pounds of reduced CO2 emissions each year. This is equivalent to taking 70 cars off the road for a year.

You can contact a Focus on Energy advisor to start saving on your project.  Whether it's new construction or a renovation, getting them involved early in the process could pay big dividends.  Again, go to Focus on Energy or call 8007627077.

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Tracing back to the original settlers from New Glarus, both Klassy farms have proudly been in the family for over 150 years. Over generations, they’ve raised dairy cows, hogs, and crops, building a legacy of hard work. Their Swiss heritage is celebrated in their family t-shirt, designed by their grandson for a recent celebration breakfast at Wisconsin State Fair Park. The journey hasn’t been without challenges: Larry's father lost his mother at just 15; Larry survived a tractor accident nearly 50 years ago, and recently endured the passing of his wife, who had been central to the farm’s ongoing success. Yet through it all, Larry recalls his father’s tireless work ethic, starting to rent the farm at age 15, and sees that same determination alive in the next generation. His daughter Amy helped milk cows and manage the hay, while her brothers focused on equipment, all contributing to the farm’s continued vitality. Larry hopes it will remain in the family for many more years to come. These stories are brought to you courtesy of Compeer Financial.

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Rural hospitals are applauding a move by the state that ensures they will get adequate reimbursement for Medicaid. It happened in two ways. First, the state budget raised access payments. This is essentially a reimbursement to hospitals to cover the care of Medicaid patients. The other item in the state budget was a tripling of hospital assessments, or a revenue tax. That money will help sustain the Medicaid program AND invest in Wisconsin hospitals, explains Jeremy Levin. Levin is the director of advocacy for the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, representing about 40 member hospitals. He has the details.

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Alex Beaver is the crop specialist for Insight FS, with a footprint circling Jefferson from Lake Mills to East Troy. He says the wheat harvest is about finished in his region, and growers have been satisfied with test weights, low disease levels, and yields. Dry conditions last fall prevented some wheat stands from reaching full potential. The summer rain slowed some harvest. With a good yield and value-added straw bales, Beaver says growers have been satisfied with the balance sheet. 

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This Pierce County Centennial Farm has been in the family since 1917. Ken Peterson's grandfather purchased the 40-acre farm. He raised pigs, chickens, cows, and horses. Ken's father got the farm after World War II. His father had a stroke in 1998, leaving Ken to inherit the farm when he passed. Ken recalls a lot of struggles that the family went through, such as mortgage payments in the 1920s that didn't get settled until Ken's father took over. He also recalls doing a lot of the milking growing up and being able to use only one bucket. Ken doesn't miss the cold mornings of milking and using the cows to warm up, but he cherishes those memories now as he rents out the farm. The future, nonetheless, is bright as his granddaughter and great-grandkids will continue the farm. 

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