Jeff Endres, chair of Yahara Pride Watershed, tells Stephanie Hoff about the critical role of farmer-led conservation. This is the 2026 cost-share sign-up period for Yahara Pride Farms. Established over a decade ago to address water quality in the Madison chain of lakes watershed, the group has grown from a dozen initial farms to a network of 80 participating operations. 

Jeff Endres, chair of Yahara Pride Watershed, tells Stephanie Hoff about the critical role of farmer-led conservation. This is the 2026 cost-share sign-up period for Yahara Pride Farms. Established over a decade ago to address water quality in the Madison chain of lakes watershed, the group has grown from a dozen initial farms to a network of 80 participating operations.&nbsp;

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!

Farmers Lead The Charge On Water Quality Amid Urban Sprawl

As cities like Madison, or counties like Dane, expand at record rates, we’re faced with a puzzle: how do we house a booming population without paving over the farmland that defines our state? Capital Area Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Jason Valerius tells Stephanie Hoff that his job is to focus on water quality and land use, which come together to require conversations about the relationship between ag and urban areas. It starts with a look at how the population is changing in Dane County. He has statistics.

As cities like Madison, or counties like Dane, expand at record rates, we&rsquo;re faced with a puzzle: how do we house a booming population without paving over the farmland that defines our state? Capital Area Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Jason Valerius tells Stephanie Hoff that his job is to focus on water quality and land use, which come together to require conversations about the relationship between ag and urban areas. It starts with a look at how the population is changing in Dane County. He has statistics.

Balancing Urban Demand & Farmland Preservation

It’s election time for the 9 open districts for the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board of Directors, so it’s a great time to talk about farmer leadership and their voice.

Today, we learn the story of Sandy Madland, a Wisconsin dairy farmer and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board Director.  Madland was elected to represent Adams, Juneau, and Monroe counties. As a Director, she helps represent farmers, guide how checkoff dollars are stewarded, and make long-term decisions that support demand for Wisconsin dairy.

Madland's story is like many others in Wisconsin.  Their family operation in Lyndon Station involves 500 registered Holsteins, and their two sons.  Madland's involvement in the boys 4-H projects helped elevate her to county dairy activities, which fed her curiosity about Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

Are you ready to step up and be a voice for fellow dairy operators?  Madland believes that Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is your checkoff and your voice. Farmer leadership is how we keep Wisconsin dairy strong for the next generation. She says if the DFW Board is not an option, consider running for a leadership position at the county level. Ask questions, bring your voice and advocate for Wisconsin dairy!


 

It&rsquo;s election time for the 9 open districts for the<a href="https://www.wisconsindairy.org/Our-Story/Board-of-Directors-Elections"> Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board of Directors,</a> so it&rsquo;s a great time to talk about farmer leadership and their voice.
Today, we learn the story of Sandy Madland, a Wisconsin dairy farmer and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board Director.&nbsp; Madland was elected to represent Adams, Juneau, and Monroe counties. As a Director, she helps represent farmers, guide how checkoff dollars are stewarded, and make long-term decisions that support demand for Wisconsin dairy.
Madland's story is like many others in Wisconsin.&nbsp; Their family operation in Lyndon Station involves 500 registered Holsteins, and their two sons.&nbsp; Madland's involvement in the boys 4-H projects helped elevate her to county dairy activities, which fed her curiosity about Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.
Are you ready to step up and be a voice for fellow dairy operators?&nbsp; Madland believes that Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is <a href="https://www.wisconsindairy.org/Our-Story/Board-of-Directors">your checkoff and your voice</a>. Farmer leadership is how we keep Wisconsin dairy strong for the next generation. She says if the DFW Board is not an option, consider running for a leadership position at the county level. Ask questions, bring your voice and advocate for Wisconsin dairy! 
&nbsp;

Elections Approach For Dairy Farmers of WI - Get Involved Like Sandy Madland

Today marks the beginning of the World Champion Cheese event at Monona Terrace Convention Center in downtown Madison.  With more than 3,300 entries from around the world and 56 world class judges ready to go - it draws a crowd.  One person that's witnessed the excitement first hand is Steve Stettler.  Stettler is a Master Cheesemaker himself and owner/operator of Decatur Dairy in Brodhead.  He says it's been fun to watch the event grow in size and overall appeal.  He thinks Wisconsin is the ideal place to host this gathering of the world's greatest cheesemakers.  He takes Pam Jahnke behind the curtains with show details.

Get those rain gauges out!  Stu Muck says today will bring a little precipitation around the state, but more measurable rain is expected by late this week.

Rain, sleet, snow - it's not really going to stop farms from handling some spring clean-up.  Ben Jarboe listens in as a member of Pennisula Pride Farms watershed explains how calculated they are on manure management in spring.  Barry Bubolz works with NRCS demonstration farms in Door County.  He says farming along the lakeshore is different then other areas of the state, and that has to be respected by the farms managing nutrients and changing weather.

Markets are being whiplashed again this morning in response to the US-Israel-Iran war.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, emphasizes the areas that farms and agriculture are monitoring.  Crude oil will drive headlines.  Heinberg also advises that growers know where your fertilizer is and make sure you're going to get it.  Plus, soybeans and wheat catch a rally.  Be sure and capitalize on it.

Today marks the beginning of the World Champion Cheese event at Monona Terrace Convention Center in downtown Madison.&nbsp; With more than 3,300 entries from around the world and 56 world class judges ready to go - it draws a crowd.&nbsp; One person that's witnessed the excitement first hand is Steve Stettler.&nbsp; Stettler is a Master Cheesemaker himself and owner/operator of Decatur Dairy in Brodhead.&nbsp; He says it's been fun to watch the event grow in size and overall appeal.&nbsp; He thinks Wisconsin is the ideal place to host this gathering of the world's greatest cheesemakers.&nbsp; He takes Pam Jahnke behind the curtains with show details. Get those rain gauges out!&nbsp; Stu Muck says today will bring a little precipitation around the state, but more measurable rain is expected by late this week.
Rain, sleet, snow - it's not really going to stop farms from handling some spring clean-up.&nbsp; Ben Jarboe listens in as a member of Pennisula Pride Farms watershed explains how calculated they are on manure management in spring.&nbsp; Barry Bubolz works with NRCS demonstration farms in Door County.&nbsp; He says farming along the lakeshore is different then other areas of the state, and that has to be respected by the farms managing nutrients and changing weather. Markets are being whiplashed again this morning in response to the US-Israel-Iran war.&nbsp; John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, emphasizes the areas that farms and agriculture are monitoring.&nbsp; Crude oil will drive headlines.&nbsp; Heinberg also advises that growers know where your fertilizer is and make sure you're going to get it.&nbsp; Plus, soybeans and wheat catch a rally.&nbsp; Be sure and capitalize on it.

Farmers Lead The Charge On Water Quality Amid Urban Sprawl

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