The mantra behind many of the most successful big events is "many hands make light work." The same is true for Farm Technology Days. I sat down and talked with one of the many volunteers, Maria Meyer. And she's not just a volunteer, her family is widely involved across the event. She tells us what brought her to sign up.

The mantra behind many of the most successful big events is "many hands make light work." The same is true for Farm Technology Days. I sat down and talked with one of the many volunteers, Maria Meyer. And she's not just a volunteer, her family is widely involved across the event. She tells us what brought her to sign up.

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!

Farm Tech Volunteer Contributions Go Beyond The Event

The Junior National Hereford Expo is a week-long event that brings an opportunity for kids to showcase their cattle as well as their talents. The event itself rotates across the country every year, and this year, it's taking place in Madison. An event of this magnitude can't be pulled off without the generous support of many people. Jaclyn Bevans sat down with me. She's a board member of the National Hereford Women, as well as a mother, farmer, and a wife. National Hereford Women is one of the organizations that supports Junior Hereford activities both during the Junior Nationals, as well as all year long. She tells us what their mission is.

The Junior National Hereford Expo is a week-long event that brings an opportunity for kids to showcase their cattle as well as their talents. The event itself rotates across the country every year, and this year, it's taking place in Madison. An event of this magnitude can't be pulled off without the generous support of many people. Jaclyn Bevans sat down with me. She's a board member of the National Hereford Women, as well as a mother, farmer, and a wife. National Hereford Women is one of the organizations that supports Junior Hereford activities both during the Junior Nationals, as well as all year long. She tells us what their mission is.

Hereford Association Brings More Than Cattle To Madison

The hosts for the 2026 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, No Joke Dairy in Stratford, are examples of what a partnership with Focus on Energy can accomplish.

Pam Jahnke visits with Matt Redetzke, one of the brothers farming, about their fifth-generation family farm in Marathon County.  Through careful planning with Focus on Energy, the farm has achieved considerable savings on several projects around the farm. Focus on Energy Advisor, Kevin Weiler, explains the amount of energy saved - and the money that was kept in the farm families pocket!

 

Energy Efficiency Upgrades with Focus on Energy

No Joke Dairy has implemented a series of energy-saving improvements in partnership with Focus
on Energy:
• Livestock Waterers (Installed in 2022 and 2023)
o Installed new waterers that use less electricity and keep water from freezing in winter.
The cows always have clean water to drink, even during the colder months. These
waterers save money on energy bills and keep the animals comfortable.

• LED Exterior Lighting (2023)
o Replaced exterior lights with LED lights. LEDs make outdoor areas safer for everyone
and last longer, reducing the need to replace them as often.
• Refrigeration Heat Recovery (RHR) System (2020)
o Installed an RHR system that takes heat from the milk-cooling process and uses it to
warm water for the farm. The farm needs less electricity or fuel to make hot water
for cleaning.

• Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Vacuum Pump (2019)
o Upgraded to a vacuum pump with a VFD to allow the milking system to run at the power
needed, instead of at full power all the time. This reduces electricity use and extends
equipment life.

• High-Bay LED Fixtures (2019)
o Improved lighting inside the barn with high-bay LED fixtures to create a brighter, safer
workspace while using less energy than traditional high-intensity lamps.

The hosts for the 2026 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, No Joke Dairy in Stratford, are examples of what a partnership with <a href="https://focusonenergy.com/business/agribusiness">Focus on Energy</a> can accomplish.
Pam Jahnke visits with Matt Redetzke, one of the brothers farming, about their fifth-generation family farm in Marathon County.&nbsp; Through careful planning with Focus on Energy, the farm has achieved considerable savings on several projects around the farm. <a href="https://focusonenergy.com/business/agribusiness">Focus on Energy</a> Advisor, Kevin Weiler, explains the amount of energy saved - and the money that was kept in the farm families pocket!
&nbsp;
Energy Efficiency Upgrades with Focus on Energy No Joke Dairy has implemented a series of energy-saving improvements in partnership with Focus on Energy: &bull; Livestock Waterers (Installed in 2022 and 2023) o Installed new waterers that use less electricity and keep water from freezing in winter. The cows always have clean water to drink, even during the colder months. These waterers save money on energy bills and keep the animals comfortable.
&bull; LED Exterior Lighting (2023) o Replaced exterior lights with LED lights. LEDs make outdoor areas safer for everyone and last longer, reducing the need to replace them as often. &bull; Refrigeration Heat Recovery (RHR) System (2020) o Installed an RHR system that takes heat from the milk-cooling process and uses it to warm water for the farm. The farm needs less electricity or fuel to make hot water for cleaning.
&bull; Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Vacuum Pump (2019) o Upgraded to a vacuum pump with a VFD to allow the milking system to run at the power needed, instead of at full power all the time. This reduces electricity use and extends equipment life.
&bull; High-Bay LED Fixtures (2019) o Improved lighting inside the barn with high-bay LED fixtures to create a brighter, safer workspace while using less energy than traditional high-intensity lamps.

Kevin Weiler - Matt Redetzke - 7-15-26

The smoke that's been inundating Wisconsin is impacting everything that takes a breath - including plants.  Kiley Allan talks with Brent Elliot, Director at Stratford Area Fire Department EMS.  He says the area is experiencing thick, poor air quality due to Canadian wildfire smoke, which was forecasted by the National Weather Service alongside high heat and humidity. Individuals with respiratory illnesses (asthma, COPD, emphysema) and cardiovascular conditions are at high risk, as poor lung oxygenation directly strains the heart and body tissues. Individuals should immediately rest if they experience "the dangerous triad": feeling winded/struggling to breathe, feeling dizzy or lightheaded (signs of low oxygenation), or experiencing heavy chest tightness. Those at risk should stay in air-conditioned indoor spaces. If outdoors, it is advised to stay hydrated, spend 15–20 minutes of every hour in shaded shelter (such as a tent or an air-conditioned vehicle), and monitor companions. Event medical staff are equipped to handle respiratory distress early with roaming teams, air-conditioned facilities, and oxygen therapy, preventing minor symptoms from escalating into emergencies.

Not much smoke in our forecast today!  Stu Muck says the cooler temperatures we're enjoying today also give us an air advisory break.  Muck says this pattern will stick around for about 36 hours, and then it's back to more heat and potentially more smoke.

Ice cream provides a nice, cool treat to break the heat of July.  Teri Barr reports that it's also acting as a conversation starter for the 79th Alice in Dairyland, Anastasia Poull.  Poull is using ice cream as the platform to educate consumes about Wisconsin's roll in delivering the tasty treat.

Beef cattle supplies will continue to be tight into 2027.  That's driving live animal prices even higher.  Pam Jahnke reports that the chair of the World Ag Outlook board is expecting those prices to keep ratcheting up into 2027.

One of the elements that attracts people to Wisconsin is our green space, including our forests.  What you may not realize is that more than 56% of all our forests in the state are owned by private land owners. That's between 9-11 million acres.  If those land owners don't have a plan on how to maintain and manage those lands, there's a problem.  Kiley Allan introduces us to Tony Johnson, Forestry Outreach Specialist with UW-Madison.  He says only 25% of Wisconsin woodland owners have a written forest management plan.  His goal is to help others create a blueprint for getting what they want out of their woods.

The&nbsp;smoke&nbsp;that's been inundating Wisconsin is impacting everything that takes a breath -&nbsp;including plants.&nbsp; Kiley Allan talks with&nbsp;Brent&nbsp;Elliot, Director at Stratford Area Fire Department EMS.&nbsp; He says the area is experiencing thick, poor air quality due to Canadian wildfire smoke, which was forecasted by the National Weather Service alongside high heat and humidity.&nbsp;Individuals with respiratory illnesses (asthma, COPD, emphysema) and cardiovascular conditions are at high risk, as poor lung oxygenation directly strains the heart and body tissues.&nbsp;Individuals should immediately rest if they experience "the dangerous triad": feeling winded/struggling to breathe, feeling dizzy or lightheaded (signs of low oxygenation), or experiencing heavy chest tightness.&nbsp;Those at risk should stay in air-conditioned indoor spaces. If outdoors, it is advised to stay hydrated, spend 15&ndash;20 minutes of every hour in shaded shelter (such as a tent or an air-conditioned vehicle), and monitor companions.&nbsp;Event medical staff are equipped to handle respiratory distress early with roaming teams, air-conditioned facilities, and oxygen therapy, preventing minor symptoms from escalating into emergencies.
Not much smoke in our forecast today!&nbsp; Stu Muck says the cooler temperatures we're enjoying today also give us an air advisory break.&nbsp; Muck says this pattern will stick around for about 36 hours, and then it's back to more heat and potentially more smoke.
Ice cream provides a nice, cool treat to break the heat of July.&nbsp; Teri Barr reports that it's also acting as a conversation starter for the 79th Alice in Dairyland, Anastasia Poull.&nbsp; Poull is using ice cream as the platform to educate consumes about Wisconsin's roll in delivering the tasty treat.
Beef cattle supplies will continue to be tight into 2027.&nbsp; That's driving live animal prices even higher.&nbsp; Pam Jahnke reports that the chair of the World Ag Outlook board is expecting those prices to keep ratcheting up into 2027.
One of the elements that attracts people to Wisconsin is our green space, including our forests.&nbsp; What you may not realize is that more than 56% of all our forests in the state are owned by private land owners. That's between 9-11 million acres.&nbsp; If those land owners don't have a plan on how to maintain and manage those lands, there's a problem.&nbsp; Kiley Allan introduces us to Tony Johnson, Forestry Outreach Specialist with UW-Madison.&nbsp; He says only 25% of Wisconsin woodland owners have a written forest management plan.&nbsp; His goal is to help others create a blueprint for getting what they want out of their woods.

Farm Tech Volunteer Contributions Go Beyond The Event

In 1 playlist(s)

MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips