The federal government remains shutdown, and Wisconsin farmers are left without many of the tools they count on at this time of the year.  Stephanie Hoff takes a closer look at how private businesses are trying to work through the situation.  Rene Johnson, senior vice president of ag lending at Lake Ridge Bank and Jessica Sarbacker, vice president of crop insurance at Lake Ridge Bank are two trying to work through these processes.  They sayas of Oct. 23, about 2,100 FSA offices reopened nationwide with limited hours (8–4:30) and only two staff per office, focusing on processing ARC/PLC and disaster relief payments. Many beginning farmers rely on the Farm Service Agency for financing, especially those with limited access to commercial credit or bank loans. Joint lending relationships between FSA and local lenders are common, helping new farmers secure funding. On the crop side, most (nearly all) farmers participate with FSA, reporting their planted acres and enrolling in federal programs. Farmers must report fall-planted crops like wheat, cover crops, and alfalfa by the Nov. 15 deadline, which aligns with the crop insurance deadline. Due to limited staffing and backlogs at FSA offices, it’s unlikely farmers will meet the Nov. 15 reporting deadline, prompting expectations of a possible extension. However, crop insurance deadlines typically are not extended, creating pressure for farmers to submit acreage information on time. The two say that the fall season brings peak financial pressure as farmers face high input costs, low commodity prices, and upcoming land rent, loan, and equipment payments, areas where FSA payments can provide crucial relief.

Definitely cooler weather today for Wisconsin with a lot of overcast skies.  Stu Muck says there is a chance you could see some snowflakes by the weekend.

How comfortable are you with foreign ownership of Wisconsin farmland?  That's a question that the Assembly Agriculture Committee's been discussing for several sessions.  Now the chair of the committee says they're close to verbage they believe could pass.  Travis Tranel, chair, says they put an emphasis on the value of private property rights in the U.S. versus the foreign adversaries they're working to keep out.

Weather has cooperated with the fall harvest, allowing farms to get ahead on manure management and fall tillage.  If you're tempted to try and apply some nitrogen this fall, think again.  That's the advice of Dan Smith, UW-Extension Nutrient and Pest Management Program Manager.  He says that normally nitrogen is applied in the spring to eliminate the risk of loss.  Still, if weather allows and growers want to do it, he advises that you apply fall nitrogen after soil temperatures dip below 50 degrees.

Where is the holiday demand for dairy?  Zach Bauers, dairy analyst with EverAg picks up on that conversation with Pam Jahnke.  Bauers says without the federal government supplying information, it's tough to know.  Now Bauers says it'll be about information management since USDA has announced it will begin releasing delayed reports this week.  How will the market manage that "information dump"?