The growing season's been going fairly well for vegetable growers in the state, but that can change quickly. Some tomato and potato growers have seen early blight in their crops. The fungus can lay waste to entire fields. Kiley Allan speaks with Amanda Gevens, professor and Extension Specialist in Potato and Vegetable Pathology. Gevens says growers need to continue monitoring crops for late blight, and take precautions when disposing of infected plants.
Northern Wisconsin could see a light frost overnight with temperatures dipping to the low 40's. Stu Muck's keeping an eye on the forecast. He says the extended forecast starts to return to warmer temperatures beginning next week.
You may not realize it, but a lot of Wisconsin farms need to rely on contract labor to complete a lot of tasks around the farm before the snow arrives. Spreading manure according to regulations, as well as helping with various phases of the harvest and fall tillage are part of the array they turn to with custom operators. Ben Jarboe finds out how the pace of activity's starting to pick up from Jeremy Heim, a custom operator himself who sits on the WI Custom Operators board of directors. He says long days are part of the game, but rates and regulations are changing this fall.
Tomorrow is the beginning of the WI Sheep & Wool Festival in Jefferson. Hedge Becker is one of the festival organizers that says they'll have 30 different breeds of sheep at the show to educate and inform attendees.
Matt Tranel, dairy analyst with EverAg's Platteville office joins Pam Jahnke for an update on how seasonal buying is starting to influence dairy prices. Fast food is rearranging menu items to keep consumers coming in. Will that influence holiday demand?
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