Meet John W. Miller, the new president and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. He emphasizes that the health of the state depends on the sustainability of its smaller towns. Miller tells Stephanie Hoff the economic challenges ahead aren't just finding workers, but ensuring those workers have a place to call home.

"Affordable housing is actually probably the number one issue that we have in attracting and retaining workers and residents in keeping our rural communities growing," he tells Mid-West Farm Report's Stephanie Hoff. 

The strategy involves "holistic" redevelopment, specifically repurposing iconic, vacant structures like former elementary schools and banks. By providing state grants, the WEDC helps private developers bridge the financial gap that often exists in smaller-market projects.

Meet John W. Miller, the new president and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. He emphasizes that the health of the state depends on the sustainability of its smaller towns. Miller tells Stephanie Hoff the economic challenges ahead aren't just finding workers, but ensuring those workers have a place to call home.
"Affordable housing is actually probably the number one issue that we have in attracting and retaining workers and residents in keeping our rural communities growing," he tells Mid-West Farm Report's Stephanie Hoff.&nbsp;
The strategy involves "holistic" redevelopment, specifically repurposing iconic, vacant structures like former elementary schools and banks. By providing state grants, the WEDC helps private developers bridge the financial gap that often exists in smaller-market projects.

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!

Don't Tear It Down! Are Vacant Buildings The Solution For Rural Housing?

Stephanie Hoff visits with the new FISC Program Director Mary Holle, who dairies in Baldwin. FISC is a 16-week course specifically designed for the "slow season," running from the last week of October to the second week of March. Students spend roughly 80 percent of their time at the Mann Valley lab farm, working directly with cows, silages, and industry professionals. While the current curriculum is dairy-focused, there are plans to add business, horticulture, agronomy, and soil science electives by the 2026–27 school year. Prospective students can reach out directly to the program via a dedicated email address: fisc@uwrf.edu.

Stephanie Hoff visits with the new FISC Program Director Mary Holle, who dairies in Baldwin. FISC is a 16-week course specifically designed for the "slow season," running from the last week of October to the second week of March. Students spend roughly 80 percent of their time at the Mann Valley lab farm, working directly with cows, silages, and industry professionals. While the current curriculum is dairy-focused, there are plans to add business, horticulture, agronomy, and soil science electives by the 2026&ndash;27 school year. Prospective students can reach out directly to the program via a dedicated email address: fisc@uwrf.edu.

Meet The New FISC Director!

Veterinarian Kendra Wells with Valley Veterinary Clinic tells Stephanie Hoff that the dairy industry has shifted its perspective on calves, moving from seeing them as future earners to recognizing them as the immediate, high-value "future of the farm." Due to the use of sexed semen and beef semen, farms are raising fewer replacement heifers, meaning each individual calf must be of higher quality than in the past. Veterinarians are increasingly using lung ultrasounds to detect pneumonia lesions early, as calves are prey animals that instinctively hide symptoms of illness until they are severe.

Veterinarian Kendra Wells with Valley Veterinary Clinic tells Stephanie Hoff that the dairy industry has shifted its perspective on calves, moving from seeing them as future earners to recognizing them as the immediate, high-value "future of the farm."&nbsp;Due to the use of sexed semen and beef semen, farms are raising fewer replacement heifers, meaning each individual calf must be of higher quality than in the past.&nbsp;Veterinarians are increasingly using lung ultrasounds to detect pneumonia lesions early, as calves are prey animals that instinctively hide symptoms of illness until they are severe.

Precision Care Redefines The Modern Calf Barn

Wisconsin's dairy industry is thriving and always changing.  Looking for the "next big thing".  Some dairy sheep owners in western Wisconsin hope the next big thing is vodka.  From sheep whey.  Ben Jarboe gets the story from Scott Kring, Co-owner of Birch Point Distillery in Westby.  Thanks to a grant from the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), Birch Point Distillery is producing vodka made from sheep whey. Co-owner Scott Cream said the idea came after connecting with Hidden Springs Creamery, a local sheep dairy cheese producer. Traditional distilling uses grains for fermentation, while whey distillation relies on lactose from leftover whey. The whey is first ultrafiltered to remove proteins and fats, leaving a lactose solution. That solution is then concentrated because the natural sugar levels are too low for fermentation. Lactase is added to break lactose into sugars the yeast can ferment. The DBIA grant helped pay for specialized equipment, including a filtration skid not typically used by traditional distillers. Demand for the sheep-whey vodka has grown enough that the distillery now sources whey from more than one sheep dairy. 

Rain gauges start coming into play beginning today with light showers.  Stu Muck says the more measureable amounts will come in Friday's forecast, but temperatures remain above average.

Data centers remain in the news for many rural communities in Wisconsin.  Sunday, the community of Potosi will act as the gathering spot to learn more about a potential data center in nearby Cassville.  Next Tuesday, citizens are asked to join the informational confirmation in Juneau about the progress of a data center in Beaver Dam.  This trend is not likely to stop according to Jason Valerius, executive director, Capital Area Regional Planning Commission.  He tells Stephanie Hoff that the tools most communities have in place to battle proposed data centers are weak.  With population surges in areas like Dane County, the Fox Valley, Eau Claire, LaCrosse and SE WI, land is the critical element of the equation.  Farms want to hang on to it, but can't fight the high prices that data centers are offering.  Valerius says once that land is dedicated to a data center - it'll always be an urban form.  Some communities have been able to fight back.

Dairy markets are anxious like the rest of commodities over the US-Israel-Iran war.  Jan Prins, dairy analyst with EverAg, joins Pam Jahnke to highlight what products are moving where.  The constriction in transportation has forced some buyers to bring product forward for delivery.  Will that create a vacuum in the marketplace later this year?

Wisconsin's dairy industry is thriving and always changing.&nbsp; Looking for the "next big thing".&nbsp; Some dairy sheep owners in western Wisconsin hope the next big thing is vodka.&nbsp; From sheep whey.&nbsp; Ben Jarboe gets the story from Scott Kring, Co-owner of Birch Point Distillery in Westby.&nbsp; Thanks to a grant from the&nbsp;Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), Birch Point Distillery is producing vodka made from sheep whey. Co-owner Scott Cream said the idea came after connecting with Hidden Springs Creamery, a local sheep dairy cheese producer. Traditional distilling uses grains for fermentation, while whey distillation relies on lactose from leftover whey. The whey is first ultrafiltered to remove proteins and fats, leaving a lactose solution. That solution is then concentrated because the natural sugar levels are too low for fermentation. Lactase is added to break lactose into sugars the yeast can ferment. The DBIA grant helped pay for specialized equipment, including a filtration skid&nbsp;not typically used by traditional distillers. Demand for the sheep-whey vodka has grown enough that the distillery now sources whey from more than one sheep dairy. Rain gauges start coming into play beginning today with light showers.&nbsp; Stu Muck says the more measureable amounts will come in Friday's forecast, but temperatures remain above average. Data centers remain in the news for many rural communities in Wisconsin.&nbsp; Sunday, the community of Potosi will act as the gathering spot to learn more about a potential data center in nearby Cassville.&nbsp; Next Tuesday, citizens are asked to join the informational confirmation in Juneau about the progress of a data center in Beaver Dam.&nbsp; This trend is not likely to stop according to&nbsp;Jason Valerius, executive director,&nbsp;Capital Area Regional Planning Commission.&nbsp; He tells Stephanie Hoff that the tools most communities have in place to battle proposed data centers are weak.&nbsp; With population surges in areas like Dane County, the Fox Valley, Eau Claire, LaCrosse and SE WI, land is the critical element of the equation.&nbsp; Farms want to hang on to it, but can't fight the high prices that data centers are offering.&nbsp; Valerius says once that land is dedicated to a data center - it'll always be an urban form.&nbsp; Some communities have been able to fight back. Dairy markets are anxious like the rest of commodities over the US-Israel-Iran war.&nbsp; Jan Prins, dairy analyst with EverAg, joins Pam Jahnke to highlight what products are moving where.&nbsp; The constriction in transportation has forced some buyers to bring product forward for delivery.&nbsp; Will that create a vacuum in the marketplace later this year?

Don't Tear It Down! Are Vacant Buildings The Solution For Rural Housing?

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