Joe Seltzner’s farm has seen four decades of transformation, rooted in family legacy and shaped by change. In 1980, his father started farming the land with little more than a barn, a house, and a few tractors. He sold it to Joe and his wife two decades later. Since then, the house has been expanded four times, a new one built nearby, and nearly every original building is gone. What was once a humble start with chickens and corn cribs is now a 350-acre operation bordering the ever-encroaching city of Sun Prairie. Joe knows development pressure is closing in, but he’s holding fast. If the farm is ever sold, he dreams of starting fresh, somewhere quieter. Still, his favorite memory remains simple: his grandfather, handing out apples from his pocket after a long day baling straw.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Howard Gust's family story began in Germany. His great-grandfather's uncle moved to Dane County in the 1900s, purchasing the family farm in 1916. After this uncle passed away, Howard's great-grandfather, Rudolph, purchased the farm. Rudolph had also come from Germany to the United States at just 6 years old. Howard's grandparents, Ralph and Ethel Gust, moved to the farm in 1929. Electricity came to the farm in 1937 after the new dairy barn went up in 1935.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Smith grew up with four brothers, leading them to name the farm Foursome Acres. Bob's brothers have since passed the farm duties off to just him. He recalls the type of farm chores they did as boys, and how the farm has changed over time. In 1980, the barn suffered a fire. Bob still farms today -- the cows are gone, but the crops remain.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Bosold catches up with Darin Von Ruden following Wisconsin Farmers Union's summer meeting. The new Market on River is already proving to be a valuable asset. Von Ruden says Farmers Union Industries as a whole is having a profitable year. WFU continues to be vocal in Madison and Washington, D.C. to keep agriculture at the forefront of policymaking.

Compeer Financial Ag Weather Update warns that a heat advisory starts at noon. If you're golfing the WSA Clean Fuels Classic (like the Mid-West Farm Report team), drink water!

For 101 years, one treat has been a staple for the Wisconsin State Fair. This is the Cream Puff. New advancements will now allow them to produce more of these sweet treats than ever before. Lisa Immel, chief programs officer, tells Ben Jarboe the new bakery makes the sky the limit for this time-honored tradition.

Pam Jahnke visits with the Clinton Family, the host of the 2025 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. Jim Clinton walks Pam through the farm history, including a time the family produced cabbage. He's looking forward to welcoming the public to see how well the animals are taken care of.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Independence Day has passed which usually means the meat industry goes into a lull, but this year there is an interesting phenomenon taking place. Jeff Swenson the Meat and Livestock Specialist with DATCP is here to give an inside look into why the meat markets are holding strong when it comes to beef and pork as well as how the recent new tariffs may impact the US producers. He says that lamb is also holding strong due to a new market in the Bahamas. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 101 years one treat has been a staple for the Wisconsin State Fair. This being the Cream Puff. Now new advancements will allow them to make more of these sweet treats than ever before. Lisa Immel, the Chief Programs Officer for the Fair, is a bit of an expert on this magnificent dessert. She is here to give an inside look at how the new bakery will make the sky the limit for the time honored tradition of the cream puff.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aphids are a common concern in soybean operations. Ron Geis is a Market Development Specialist with Corteva Agriscience. He tells us how they have changed throughout the years, and what we can do to stop them. He also tells us about the corn crops' #1 public enemy - corn rootworm. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin State Fair Park CEO Shari Black tells Mid-West Farm Report about new renovations in Ag Village that will make the livestock barns more accessible and noticeable for fair audiences. She reminds fairgoers to check out the Wisconsin Products Pavilion to treat themselves to local sweets and fair foods while learning about the state's agriculture industry. Finally, stay tuned for upcoming renovations coming to State Fair Park in West Allis after the state budget approved dollars for the fair to look into a remodel of the swine barn and other nearby facilities.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I’m really proud of the incredible work Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship has done since its founding in 2010,” says Joe Tomandl, a fourth-generation dairy farmer in central Wisconsin. “Dairy Grazing Alliance expands on this work in order to grow the sector as a whole. “

Tomandl is the founder of Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship and Dairy Grazing Alliance.

“As consumer demand for pasture-raised dairy intensifies, more attention and investment is needed across the value chain,” he says. “We’re confident the Alliance will usher in an exciting new chapter for dairy grazing and dairy grazing farmers.”

Dairy Grazing Alliance stakeholders will work directly on financing, market development, farm profitability, production systems, research, policy, and advocacy for dairy grazing.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

County fairs continue around Wisconsin regardless of the weather.  Kiley Allan visits with UW-Extension Youth Livestock Specialist, Bernie O’Rourke.  She explains the best practices to keep livestock calm at fairs. With so many variables at the fair, exhibitors must take the time at home to properly desensitize their livestock to different noises and experiences. The proper understanding of the animal's flight zone is essential for a smooth fair experience. She also explains the best ways for exhibitors to answer questions from fairgoers about interacting with their animals.

​Severe weather impacted some communities in NE Wisconsin overnight with multiple tornadoes and power outages.  Stu Muck says the severe stuff is passed, but the heat and humidity will stick around.

It's still early, and fairs have 30 days to report attendance numbers, but unfortunately, thunderstorms, tornado warnings, and heat have had an impact on county fair events. Luckily, Wisconsin's fairs are prepared. Stephanie Hoff gets an update from Jayme Butke, executive secretary of the WI Fair Association, on how fairs prepare for weather events.  She also notes that many fairs are changing their focus from large music acts and attractions to more locally focused aspects like "Battle of the Bands" and pie contests.  Butke says it helps fairs manage their finances a little more, and hopefully attract a groundswell of local attention.

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is less than two weeks out.  Don Zietlow is one of the volunteers prepping grounds for the big crowds.  Zietlow says planning the field demonstrations for Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is almost like a homecoming for him.  He remembers being a part of the field demos a previous time the Clinton Family hosted the show -- he was a natural recruit for the job this year.

Global milk production is something to keep an eye on according to Ryan Yonkman, vice president of EverAg.  U.S. milk production in June was up over 3% - quite a surprise to the market and analysts like Yonkman.  Nearly perfect weather on the west coast means there won't likely be any dip in production because of heat.  He also remains optimistic that the slough of international trade deals that have been signed will be friendly dairy. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.