The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat in their care. One of the four finalists, Joe Hovel, is a woodland owner who manages 3,300 acres of land in several Northwoods counties. In addition, he owns County Line Wood Products and serves as President and one of the founders of Partners in Forestry Landowners Cooperative. Hovel speaks about the conservation practices he has been leaning on for over 50 years. 

The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat in their care. One of the four finalists, Joe Hovel, is a woodland owner who manages 3,300 acres of land in several Northwoods counties. In addition, he owns County Line Wood Products and serves as President and one of the founders of Partners in Forestry Landowners Cooperative. Hovel speaks about the conservation practices he has been leaning on for over 50 years.

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!

For A Love Of The Land

The American Farm Bureau Federation believes that long-term workforce stability will come through a more streamlined and flexible H-2A visa program. The association says workers should be allowed to continue with an employer for as long as the employer has a need – up to three years. This allows farmers with year-round labor needs, such as dairy farms, to use the program and avoid disrupting their essential business operations. Sam Kieffer says the House Agriculture Committee has set up a bipartisan working group to make policy recommendations on farm labor programs. In the meantime, AFBF is keeping up with constant rule changes coming from the Department of Labor that impact farmers using the existing H-2A program. 

The American Farm Bureau Federation believes that long-term workforce stability will come through a more streamlined and flexible H-2A visa program. The association says workers should be allowed to continue with an employer for as long as the employer has a need – up to three years. This allows farmers with year-round labor needs, such as dairy farms, to use the program and avoid disrupting their essential business operations. Sam Kieffer says the House Agriculture Committee has set up a bipartisan working group to make policy recommendations on farm labor programs. In the meantime, AFBF is keeping up with constant rule changes coming from the Department of Labor that impact farmers using the existing H-2A program.

AFBF Sees A Positive Sign For H-2A Visa Reform

The good news ahead of the summer driving season is that gas and diesel prices are lower than last year, and Wisconsin prices are below the national average. Patrick De Haan is the head of petroleum analysis at Gas Buddy, a technology company that tracks fuel prices across the U.S. and Canada. He says he's watching a few red flags that could reverse the drop in gas prices, such as unrest in the Middle East and hurricane season later this summer. But for now, he expects smooth sailing ahead.

The good news ahead of the summer driving season is that gas and diesel prices are lower than last year, and Wisconsin prices are below the national average. Patrick De Haan is the head of petroleum analysis at Gas Buddy, a technology company that tracks fuel prices across the U.S. and Canada. He says he's watching a few red flags that could reverse the drop in gas prices, such as unrest in the Middle East and hurricane season later this summer. But for now, he expects smooth sailing ahead.

Good News On Gas Prices

Wisconsin Senator Joan Ballweg from Markesan is ready for the conversations happening today at the state capitol. 

In a conversation with Pam Jahnke, Ballweg cited two specific areas that she believes rural residents will want to watch.  First, the ongoing battle over PFAS management.  Ballweg says their goal with the veto override on PFAS funding focuses on not punishing innocent people caught in the process.  Ballweg cites farms that allowed local municipalities to land spread sludge from their facilities onto farm ground.  That sludge carried PFAS that has now, in some instances, contaminated private wells in rural communities.  The veto would allow funding to flow to those impacted parties.

Ballweg also notes that they're targeting another veto at restoring some authority to the DNR over wolf management.  She says the last time there was a monitored population count of Wisconsin wolf, they were well over the targeted 300 animal unites.  The veto would allow the DNR to put together a comprehensive plan on what's happening with the wolf population and options to manage.

We'll continue to monitor progress in the discussion today.

Wisconsin Senator Joan Ballweg from Markesan is ready for the conversations happening today at the state capitol. 
In a conversation with Pam Jahnke, Ballweg cited two specific areas that she believes rural residents will want to watch.  First, the ongoing battle over PFAS management.  Ballweg says their goal with the veto override on PFAS funding focuses on not punishing innocent people caught in the process.  Ballweg cites farms that allowed local municipalities to land spread sludge from their facilities onto farm ground.  That sludge carried PFAS that has now, in some instances, contaminated private wells in rural communities.  The veto would allow funding to flow to those impacted parties.
Ballweg also notes that they're targeting another veto at restoring some authority to the DNR over wolf management.  She says the last time there was a monitored population count of Wisconsin wolf, they were well over the targeted 300 animal unites.  The veto would allow the DNR to put together a comprehensive plan on what's happening with the wolf population and options to manage.
We'll continue to monitor progress in the discussion today.

For A Love Of The Land

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