Wisconsin dairy farmer and DFW Board Member Annaliese Wegner shares how everyday farm management translates into impactful industry leadership. She explores how the farmer-led checkoff creates unity among over 5,000 diverse operations to build global demand and protect consumer trust. Whether milking 30 cows or 3,000, Annaliese encourages all producers to lend their perspective to ensure a strong future for the next generation.

Wisconsin dairy farmer and DFW Board Member Annaliese Wegner shares how everyday farm management translates into impactful industry leadership. She explores how the farmer-led checkoff creates unity among over 5,000 diverse operations to build global demand and protect consumer trust. Whether milking 30 cows or 3,000, Annaliese encourages all producers to lend their perspective to ensure a strong future for the next generation.

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

More than $32 million in dairy farmer generated funds are managed by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW).  Headquartered in Madison, DFW focuses on enhancing the value of all Wisconsin produced dairy products.

Ultimately the goal is to return those dairy invested dollars back to the farm gate.

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin connects with farmers and consumers to take them behind the curtain of marketing, analytics, and consumer trends to try and show them the value generated on their behalf.

This program is sponsored by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin

Daily audio and podcasts from the Mid-West Farm Report Madison!

Daily audio and podcasts from the Mid-West Farm Report Madison!

From The Parlor To The Boardroom -- Dairy Farmers Are Leaders

Beef is back in the center of the plate thanks to the new Dietary Guidelines that influence all food programs funded by the government, explains J. Garrett Edmonds, senior director of government affairs with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. But how can beef producers keep that momentum going? Edmonds talks to Bob Bosold. 

A beautiful day on the horizon with near-record highs. But what goes up must come down, forecasts Stu Muck in the Compeer Financial Ag Weather Update. 

You can see that wild birds are on the move, which brings risks to poultry producers. We’ve seen, just ahead of the weekend, more highly pathogenic avian influenza cases on poultry farms in Jefferson and Walworth Counties, bringing the 2026 case count to four. Migratory Bird Management has a humane method to keep wild birds away from livestock, trading a scarecrow for a light show.

Wisconsin’s Farm Service Agency Executive Director Sandy Chalmers tells Ben Jarboe how farmers can sign up for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program to recover losses caused by trade retaliation and inflation.

Congratulations to the 79th Alice in Dairyland top candidates: Faith Baerwolf, Kelly Herness, Gabrielle Huitema, Jessica Moor, Anastasia Poull, and Michelle Stangler. Pam Jahnke was there for the announcement.

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin board member Sandy Madland from Lyndel Dairy, LLC in Lyndon Station, is focused on encouraging other dairy operators to step up and join the board in the next round of elections.

Beef is back in the center of the plate thanks to the new Dietary Guidelines that influence all food programs funded by the government, explains J. Garrett Edmonds, senior director of government affairs with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. But how can beef producers keep that momentum going? Edmonds talks to Bob Bosold.&nbsp;
A beautiful day on the horizon with near-record highs. But what goes up must come down, forecasts Stu Muck in the Compeer Financial Ag Weather Update.&nbsp;
You can see that wild birds are on the move, which brings risks to poultry producers. We&rsquo;ve seen, just ahead of the weekend, more highly pathogenic avian influenza cases on poultry farms in Jefferson and Walworth Counties, bringing the 2026 case count to four. Migratory Bird Management has a humane method to keep wild birds away from livestock, trading a scarecrow for a light show.
Wisconsin&rsquo;s Farm Service Agency Executive Director Sandy Chalmers tells Ben Jarboe how farmers can sign up for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program to recover losses caused by trade retaliation and inflation.
Congratulations to the 79th Alice in Dairyland top candidates: Faith Baerwolf, Kelly Herness, Gabrielle Huitema, Jessica Moor, Anastasia Poull, and Michelle Stangler. Pam Jahnke was there for the announcement.
Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin board member Sandy Madland from Lyndel Dairy, LLC in Lyndon Station, is focused on encouraging other dairy operators to step up and join the board in the next round of elections.

Beef Is Back On Center Plate & Wild Birds Threaten Domestic Birds

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.

From The Parlor To The Boardroom -- Dairy Farmers Are Leaders

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MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

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