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

From the heart of the Driftless Region to the global supply chains of brands like Starbucks and Nestlé, the health of soil and water is top of mind. Today we’re looking at the first results of the Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration project. We have a researcher and a farmer from the project here to share what’s been going on – Jack Herricks is a Cashton dairy farmer who gave the go ahead for researchers to take a look at his fields. Mara Cloutier is a soil scientist and program manager. She tells Stephanie Hoff about how sustainable soil practices are securing the future of the dairy industry.

From the heart of the Driftless Region to the global supply chains of brands like Starbucks and Nestl&eacute;, the health of soil and water is top of mind. Today we&rsquo;re looking at the first results of the Dairy Soil &amp; Water Regeneration project. We have a researcher and a farmer from the project here to share what&rsquo;s been going on &ndash; Jack Herricks is a Cashton dairy farmer who gave the go ahead for researchers to take a look at his fields. Mara Cloutier is a soil scientist and program manager. She tells Stephanie Hoff about how sustainable soil practices are securing the future of the dairy industry.

Regeneration Project Delivers Data - Hear It From The Farmer & The Researcher

There's more than meets the eye at June Dairy Celebrations around Wisconsin.  Helping to guide those activities and educational opportunities are farm families all across the state and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

Pam Jahnke visits with Dan Hinz of Pickett.  Hinz is a fourth generation dairy operator that represents other dairy farms in Outagamie and Winnebago counties.  Hinz believes that "America's Dairyland" isn't just a phrase, it's something that's been built for generations. He's proud to help people understand that today's dairy operations are family-rooted: 99% of farms are family-owned with multi-generational legacy and first-generation passion.

Sharing the committment to care that dairy operators have is another reason Hinz enjoys June Dairy Month.  Telling the story of the deep care for cows farms have, and the professionals they enlist to help like nutritionists, for hands-on daily care.  The care doesn't end there.

Stewardship of land: protecting soil and water for future generations and working hard to blend tradition with the latest innovation makes dairy a dynamic industry.  A perfect example of that is the Master Cheesemaker program unique to Wisconsin.  ONLY Switzerland has another Master Cheesemaker program. Those cheesemakers are also a part of the multi-generational dairy story shared through June Dairy events.  Remember, 99% of the cheese proudly produced in Wisconsin ends up being consumed beyond our state borders, and well into the global marketplace.

As Dan Hinz put it, “Some places make dairy,  Wisconsin was Born to Dairy.”

To find all the June Dairy Celebrations happening across the state, go to June Dairy Month on the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin website and follow all the stories and shares on social media too!

There's more than meets the eye at <a href="https://www.wisconsindairy.org/june-dairy-month/Dairy-Breakfasts">June Dairy Celebrations</a> around Wisconsin.&nbsp; Helping to guide those activities and educational opportunities are farm families all across the state and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.
Pam Jahnke visits with Dan Hinz of Pickett.&nbsp; Hinz is a fourth generation dairy operator that represents other dairy farms in Outagamie and Winnebago counties.&nbsp; Hinz believes that "America's Dairyland" isn't just a phrase, it's something that's been built for generations. He's proud to help people understand that today's dairy operations are family-rooted: 99% of farms are family-owned with multi-generational legacy and first-generation passion.
Sharing the committment to care that dairy operators have is another reason Hinz enjoys <a href="https://www.wisconsindairy.org/june-dairy-month/Dairy-Breakfasts">June Dairy Month.</a>&nbsp; Telling the story of the deep care for cows farms have, and the professionals they enlist to help like nutritionists, for hands-on daily care.&nbsp; The care doesn't end there.
Stewardship of land: protecting soil and water for future generations and working hard to blend tradition with the latest innovation makes dairy a dynamic industry.&nbsp; A perfect example of that is the Master Cheesemaker program unique to Wisconsin.&nbsp; ONLY Switzerland has another Master Cheesemaker program. Those cheesemakers are also a part of the multi-generational dairy story shared through <a href="https://www.wisconsindairy.org/june-dairy-month/Dairy-Breakfasts">June Dairy events</a>.&nbsp; Remember, 99% of the cheese proudly produced in Wisconsin ends up being consumed beyond our state borders, and well into the global marketplace.
As Dan Hinz put it, &ldquo;Some places make dairy,&nbsp; Wisconsin was Born to Dairy.&rdquo;
To find all the June Dairy Celebrations happening across the state, go to <a href="https://www.wisconsindairy.org/june-dairy-month/Dairy-Breakfasts">June Dairy Month</a> on the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin website and follow all the stories and shares on social media too!

Get Ready For June Dairy Month - Dan Hinz - DFW Board of Director Member

Wisconsin farmers are dealing with a new pest familiar to gardeners.  Slugs!  Dane Elmquist tells Stephanie Hoff that slugs are becoming a bigger field pest because of conservation practices.  Elmquist is the conservation cropping specialist with the Division of Extension.  Slugs  thrive in no-till and cover crop systems because the heavy crop residue and lack of soil disturbance create a cool, moist microclimate where populations can build up year over year. While they feed on both corn and soybeans, slugs pose a greater economic threat to soybeans; corn is generally more resilient and can often outgrow the damage. Crops are most at risk early in the season as seedlings, particularly when a mild winter is followed by a wet spring that slows down initial plant growth. Recent heavy infestations have been reported in Northeast Wisconsin, specifically within the Fox-Wolf watershed area near Green Bay. To combat the lack of data on slug populations in Wisconsin, researchers launched SlugNet, a monitoring project where volunteers use simple roofing shingles as "traps" to track and report slug activity across the state. Be a part of it by searching SlugNet online! 


Frosty start to our Thursday morning, and that trends going to continue.  Stu Muck, ag weatherman, says overnight frost/freeze warnings will persist into the weekend.

No go on the 2026 Farm Bill yesterday.  Between worries about SNAP budget constraints and E-15 additions, it's headed back to the House Rules Committee for negotiation.  Pam Jahnke shares comments from Brad Olson, President of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.

Nonfat dry milk is at 10 year highs in pricing.  Why?  Collin Aardema, dairy advisor for EverAg, explains that nonfat dry milk is an ideal ingredient in a lot of foods - especially those high in protein. What's different about this rally he says - China's missing.

Wisconsin farmers are dealing with a new pest familiar to gardeners.&nbsp; Slugs!&nbsp; Dane Elmquist tells Stephanie Hoff that slugs are becoming a bigger field pest because of conservation practices.&nbsp; Elmquist is the conservation cropping specialist with the Division of Extension.&nbsp;&nbsp;Slugs&nbsp; thrive in no-till and cover crop systems because the heavy crop residue and lack of soil disturbance create a cool, moist microclimate where populations can build up year over year. While they feed on both corn and soybeans, slugs pose a greater economic threat to soybeans; corn is generally more resilient and can often outgrow the damage. Crops are most at risk early in the season as seedlings, particularly when a mild winter is followed by a wet spring that slows down initial plant growth. Recent heavy infestations have been reported in Northeast Wisconsin, specifically within the Fox-Wolf watershed area near Green Bay. To combat the lack of data on slug populations in Wisconsin, researchers launched SlugNet, a monitoring project where volunteers use simple roofing shingles as "traps" to track and report slug activity across the state. Be a part of it by searching SlugNet online!&nbsp;
 Frosty start to our Thursday morning, and that trends going to continue.&nbsp; Stu Muck, ag weatherman, says overnight frost/freeze warnings will persist into the weekend.
No go on the 2026 Farm Bill yesterday.&nbsp; Between worries about SNAP budget constraints and E-15 additions, it's headed back to the House Rules Committee for negotiation.&nbsp; Pam Jahnke shares comments from Brad Olson, President of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.
Nonfat dry milk is at 10 year highs in pricing.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Collin Aardema, dairy advisor for EverAg, explains that nonfat dry milk is an ideal ingredient in a lot of foods - especially those high in protein. What's different about this rally he says - China's missing.

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

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MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

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