The norm has always been to house calves individually; and that is the common practice for good reason. But, according to research by Dr. Jennifer Van Os of UW-Madison, there are a plethora of benefits in housing calves in pairs or in groups.

Josh Scramlin chats with Dr. Van Os about how she came to this realization and what exactly the benefits are.

The norm has always been to house calves individually; and that is the common practice for good reason. But, according to research by Dr. Jennifer Van Os of UW-Madison, there are a plethora of benefits in housing calves in pairs or in groups.
Josh Scramlin chats with Dr. Van Os about how she came to this realization and what exactly the benefits are.

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!

Benefits of Pair or Group Calf Housing

We often think of our food starting at the farm and ending on our forks, but there is a massive middle ground that keeps the entire system running: the processing stage. But what happens when food processors are disrupted, particularly with labor strikes? UW-Madison Assistant Professor Jeff Hadachek with the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and the Division of Extension, tells Stephanie Hoff why strikes happen, how they get resolved, and what happens in the supply chain and to your food bill when there’s a stalemate.

We often think of our food starting at the farm and ending on our forks, but there is a massive middle ground that keeps the entire system running: the processing stage. But what happens when food processors are disrupted, particularly with labor strikes? UW-Madison Assistant Professor Jeff Hadachek with the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and the Division of Extension, tells Stephanie Hoff why strikes happen, how they get resolved, and what happens in the supply chain and to your food bill when there&rsquo;s a stalemate.

The Economics Of Food Industry Strikes

The tractors are rolling across the fields and the dust is flying, marking that planting season has officially sprung. Lucas Clayton is a District Sales Manager in Southwest Wisconsin for Wyffels Hybrids. Our Wyffels Wednesday conversations always lead to good insight on the newest genetics and innovations at the company, and today is no different. Lucas tells Kiley that each year he plants test plots to see the hybrids in action.

The tractors are rolling across the fields and the dust is flying, marking that planting season has officially sprung. Lucas Clayton is a District Sales Manager in Southwest Wisconsin for Wyffels Hybrids. Our Wyffels Wednesday conversations always lead to good insight on the newest genetics and innovations at the company, and today is no different. Lucas tells Kiley that each year he plants test plots to see the hybrids in action.

Tracking Planting Progress Is Easy With Wyffels

We talk about drivers and motorcycle operators using care when sharing the road with large farm equipment.  We also must focus attention on the farm youth that could be operating those implements.  Ben Jarboe talks with Brittany Marquard, the education and programing manager at The Food and Farm Exploration Center in Plover.  She says the with distracted drivers causing more accidents then ever before, it's important that young operators receive some training before operating.  Marquard says even for 'farm kids', there's training necessary.  Parents need to also have realistic expectations on what their kids can do.  Understanding their body size and maturity are key components.  Marquard says with all the increased horsepower on today's farm, even a small string on a hoodie can become a lethal entanglement that youth need to be aware of.

Nice day on the way - and dry!  Stu Muck says he's been seeing some seeders out, fertilizers getting spread - all thanks to drier conditions.  Temperatures will cool a bit today, and there's still a chance of frost in the forecast through Thursday mid-morning.


Auctioneering is a people to people service.  Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group joins Pam Jahnke to recap some comments from clients that have worked with the group.  Huhn says every employee in their firm makes a human connection with the client.  That's a difference maker.  Paid for by Steffes Group.


Weather is causing problems for more than just Wisconsin farmers.  Alyssa Kenney, State Broadband and Digital Equity Director for Public Service Commission of Wisconsin says some broadband internet projects got held up too.  Kenney notes that Wisconsin has about 92% of their connectivity projects complete, but areas in Door County that received a lot of late snow are delayed.  Still, she believes the state is well on its way to attaining statewide connectivity by 2030.

Crop progress report had a few items of note this week.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend joins Pam Jahnke to review.  Lots of risk for Wisconsin farmers to monitor and manage coming up over the next 10 days according to Heinberg.

We talk about drivers and motorcycle operators using care when sharing the road with large farm equipment.&nbsp; We also must focus attention on the farm youth that could be operating those implements.&nbsp; Ben Jarboe talks with Brittany Marquard, the education and programing manager&nbsp;at The Food and Farm Exploration Center in Plover.&nbsp; She says the with distracted drivers causing more accidents then ever before, it's important that young operators receive some training before operating.&nbsp; Marquard says even for 'farm kids', there's training necessary.&nbsp; Parents need to also have realistic expectations on what their kids can do.&nbsp; Understanding their body size and maturity are key components.&nbsp; Marquard says with all the increased horsepower on today's farm, even a small string on a hoodie can become a lethal entanglement that youth need to be aware of.
Nice day on the way - and dry!&nbsp; Stu Muck says he's been seeing some seeders out, fertilizers getting spread - all thanks to drier conditions.&nbsp; Temperatures will cool a bit today, and there's still a chance of frost in the forecast through Thursday mid-morning.
 Auctioneering is a people to people service.&nbsp; Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group joins Pam Jahnke to recap some comments from clients that have worked with the group.&nbsp; Huhn says every employee in their firm makes a human connection with the client.&nbsp; That's a difference maker.&nbsp; Paid for by Steffes Group.
 Weather is causing problems for more than just Wisconsin farmers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Alyssa Kenney,&nbsp;State Broadband and Digital Equity Director for&nbsp;Public Service Commission of Wisconsin says some broadband internet projects got held up too.&nbsp; Kenney notes that Wisconsin has about 92% of their connectivity projects complete, but areas in Door County that received a lot of late snow are delayed.&nbsp; Still, she believes the state is well on its way to attaining statewide connectivity by 2030.
Crop progress report had a few items of note this week.&nbsp; John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend joins Pam Jahnke to review.&nbsp; Lots of risk for Wisconsin farmers to monitor and manage coming up over the next 10 days according to Heinberg.

Benefits of Pair or Group Calf Housing

MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

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