Consumer habits have changed since the pandemic, and this includes how much we’ve all been snacking! Convenient, healthy snacks are trending, and it’s an opportunity for the dairy industry. This is according to Audrey Girard, an assistant professor in the Department of Food Science at UW-Madison. She recently got a grant from the UW Dairy Innovation Hub to look at how to get some lower value, nutritional dairy components into snack foods. The goal would be to meet market demand while raising the value of those components.

Consumer habits have changed since the pandemic, and this includes how much we’ve all been snacking! Convenient, healthy snacks are trending, and it’s an opportunity for the dairy industry. This is according to Audrey Girard, an assistant professor in the Department of Food Science at UW-Madison. She recently got a grant from the UW Dairy Innovation Hub to look at how to get some lower value, nutritional dairy components into snack foods. The goal would be to meet market demand while raising the value of those components.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Daily audio and podcasts from the Mid-West Farm Report Madison!

Daily audio and podcasts from the Mid-West Farm Report Madison!

Adding Value To Whey Via Snack Food

From Farm Bill's to international market access, the National Association of State Departments of Ag encompasses it all.  Pam Jahnke talks with CEO, Ted McKinney, about how they navigate a diverse member population (Democrats and Republicans) while still doing the most for production agriculture and agribusiness in their individual states.  He says their priority now is to get a finished Farm Bill.

Wow - wet, wild weather in Wisconsin overnight.  Stu Muck runs down rainfall totals, along with contributions from the Mid-West Farm Report Talk/Text line.  Green Bay ended up with streets flooded.  Other areas saw minor hail.  It's all gone now, though with pleasant weather ahead.

This year's 4th of July picnic is going to cost as much as it ever has according to the WI Farm Bureau Federation's Market Basket Survey.  Feeding 10 will cost over $75 in total.  Beef is the big leader on price increases, up over 23% compared to a year ago.  Explaining that high price on beef is exactly what they'll be focused on in the Beef Tent and WI Farm Technology Days.  The state's largest outdoor farm show will happen at Redetzkes’ No Joke Dairy in Marathon County.  Although it's a dairy operation - the beef tent will at the show will help attendees understand what's happening with beef production in the state and beyond.  Kiley Allan visits with  Dennis Breneman, Chairman of the Beef Tent and a member of the State Executive Committee @ Farm Technology Days.  He's managing his herd of Scottish Highland cattle and happy for the opportunity to educate consumers.

Another 2% increase in milk production announced for the month of May.  Jenny Wackershauser, dairy analyst with EverAg says that's what the market has come to expect.  She notes that the U.S. cheese price remains competitive globally, and we'll need the international sales to stay robust.  She also notes that major dairy processing facilities are finding a way to pay the bills by offsetting lower cheese prices with the high value whey the process produces.

From Farm Bill's to international market access, the National Association of State Departments of Ag encompasses it all.&nbsp; Pam Jahnke talks with CEO, Ted McKinney, about how they navigate a diverse member population (Democrats and Republicans) while still doing the most for production agriculture and agribusiness in their individual states.&nbsp; He says their priority now is to get a finished Farm Bill.
Wow - wet, wild weather in Wisconsin overnight.&nbsp; Stu Muck runs down rainfall totals, along with contributions from the Mid-West Farm Report Talk/Text line.&nbsp; Green Bay ended up with streets flooded.&nbsp; Other areas saw minor hail.&nbsp; It's all gone now, though with pleasant weather ahead.
This year's 4th of July picnic is going to cost as much as it ever has according to the WI Farm Bureau Federation's Market Basket Survey.&nbsp; Feeding 10 will cost over $75 in total.&nbsp; Beef is the big leader on price increases, up over 23% compared to a year ago.&nbsp; Explaining that high price on beef is exactly what they'll be focused on in the Beef Tent and WI Farm Technology Days.&nbsp; The state's largest outdoor farm show will happen at Redetzkes&rsquo; No Joke Dairy in Marathon County.&nbsp; Although it's a dairy operation - the beef tent will at the show will help attendees understand what's happening with beef production in the state and beyond.&nbsp; Kiley Allan visits with&nbsp; Dennis Breneman, Chairman of the Beef Tent and a member of the State Executive Committee @ Farm Technology Days.&nbsp; He's managing his herd of Scottish Highland cattle and happy for the opportunity to educate consumers.
Another 2% increase in milk production announced for the month of May.&nbsp; Jenny Wackershauser, dairy analyst with EverAg says that's what the market has come to expect.&nbsp; She notes that the U.S. cheese price remains competitive globally, and we'll need the international sales to stay robust.&nbsp; She also notes that major dairy processing facilities are finding a way to pay the bills by offsetting lower cheese prices with the high value whey the process produces.

4th Of July Picnic Price Goes Up And Milk Growth Doesn't Surprise The Market - Wackershauser

Protein continues to have a moment in the marketplace, and it's not a short-term fad. Consumers continue to reach for snacks that are not only high in protein but are also made with whole ingredients. Abbi (Prins) Groves joins Kiley Allan behind the microphone. She's a Livestock Economist at CoBank. She sat down to tell me about a new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange that says meat snacks represent a major area for product innovation.

Protein continues to have a moment in the marketplace, and it's not a short-term fad. Consumers continue to reach for snacks that are not only high in protein but are also made with whole ingredients. Abbi (Prins) Groves joins Kiley Allan behind the microphone. She's a Livestock Economist at CoBank. She sat down to tell me about a new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange that says meat snacks represent a major area for product innovation.

Meat Snacks Are Having A Moment

Mushrooms!  It's another crop from Wisconsin.  Bob Bosold learns a little more about mushroom production, the varieties that are popular and how they grow!  Steve Scholtz, a mushroom grower in Eau Claire explains how he produces his crop indoors to avoid contamination.  He's finding a vibrant market for his product in many different areas.

Rain is drifting into Wisconsin and will stay for most of the day.  Stu Muck says as we move through Wednesday, we'll move closer to dry weather and sunshine.

The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee released its text of the Farm Bill on Tuesday.  One group that's paying close attention is the NASDA - Nat'l Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Ted McKinney's their CEO.  He tells Pam Jahnke that agriculture has been a bipartisan gathering spot in Washington, D.C.  He says while many elements of the Farm Bill were dealt with in the Big Beautiful Bill, the policy side has gone unattended.  That's what McKinney says is needed now.

Farm bankruptcies look just as robust this year as last, which is not good news.  Austin Peiffer, an attorney with Ag and Business Legal Strategies in Hiawatha, Iowa, is tracking the numbers.  He says in the first quarter of 2026, there were approximately 158 Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings.  He says the tough part is that many of those farms filed early, and may have received more bad financial news when they started planting, impacted by high fuel prices and escalated fertilizer costs.

The NASDA is holding its summer meeting in Madison, which wraps up today.  While each state faces unique challenges, data centers seem to be a common denominator.  Brian Baldrige is the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.  He says they've got about 200 data centers in the state now, and they hope tools like farmland preservation help buffer where future centers are located.

Mushrooms!&nbsp; It's another crop from Wisconsin.&nbsp; Bob Bosold learns a little more about mushroom production, the varieties that are popular and how they grow!&nbsp; Steve Scholtz, a mushroom grower in Eau Claire explains how he produces his crop indoors to avoid contamination.&nbsp; He's finding a vibrant market for his product in many different areas.
Rain is drifting into Wisconsin and will stay for most of the day.&nbsp; Stu Muck says as we move through Wednesday, we'll move closer to dry weather and sunshine.
The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee released its text of the Farm Bill on Tuesday.&nbsp; One group that's paying close attention is the NASDA - Nat'l Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Ted McKinney's their CEO.&nbsp; He tells Pam Jahnke that agriculture has been a bipartisan gathering spot in Washington, D.C.&nbsp; He says while many elements of the Farm Bill were dealt with in the Big Beautiful Bill, the policy side has gone unattended.&nbsp; That's what McKinney says is needed now.
Farm bankruptcies look just as robust this year as last, which is not good news.&nbsp; Austin Peiffer, an attorney with Ag and Business Legal Strategies in Hiawatha, Iowa, is tracking the numbers.&nbsp; He says in the first quarter of 2026, there were approximately 158 Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings.&nbsp; He says the tough part is that many of those farms filed early, and may have received more bad financial news when they started planting, impacted by high fuel prices and escalated fertilizer costs.
The NASDA is holding its summer meeting in Madison, which wraps up today.&nbsp; While each state faces unique challenges, data centers seem to be a common denominator.&nbsp; Brian Baldrige is the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.&nbsp; He says they've got about 200 data centers in the state now, and they hope tools like farmland preservation help buffer where future centers are located.

Adding Value To Whey Via Snack Food

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MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

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