The Wisconsin Beef Council is crisscrossing the state in the month of May, promoting beef and the recipes that are making it great!

Kaitlyn Kesler, Director of Communication & Outreach for the Wisconsin Beef Council tells Pam Jahnke that their annual "Best Beef Burger" campaign has been overwhelmed with entries!  Here's your Elite 8:
Elite 8:
11:11 Burgers & Beignets - Fond du Lac
Brazen Head Pub - West Bend
Brothers On Oak - Baraboo
The Dump - Cambria
IRON Horse Saloon - Hurley
Local Press Burger Bar - Kewaskum
Mihm’s Charcoal Grill Menasha - Menasha
Straight Home – Eland
Kesler says that the panel of judges will be logging miles to make sure that the best of the best are announced as winners at the end of the month!

Speaking of the month!  All month long in May, pay attention to the beef messages you'll hear and see at your Kwik Trip pumps!  Thanks to a partnership with Kwik Trip and Pit Boss, you could score not only great beef - but a Pit Boss Navigator grill/smoker. You can use store visits to enter, and get an additional entry by making a fresh beef purchase.

Checkoff Chat is brought to you courtesy of the Equity Livestock Sales Cooperative Sales Association.

 

The <a href="https://www.beeftips.com/">Wisconsin Beef Council</a> is crisscrossing the state in the month of May, promoting beef and the recipes that are making it great!
Kaitlyn Kesler, Director of Communication &amp; Outreach for the <a href="https://www.beeftips.com/">Wisconsin Beef Council</a> tells Pam Jahnke that their annual "Best Beef Burger" campaign has been overwhelmed with entries!&nbsp; Here's your Elite 8:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.beeftips.com/">Elite 8:</a>
<ul>
<li>11:11 Burgers &amp; Beignets - Fond du Lac</li>
<li>Brazen Head Pub - West Bend</li>
<li>Brothers On Oak - Baraboo</li>
<li>The Dump - Cambria</li>
<li>IRON Horse Saloon - Hurley</li>
<li>Local Press Burger Bar - Kewaskum</li>
<li>Mihm&rsquo;s Charcoal Grill Menasha - Menasha</li>
<li>Straight Home &ndash; Eland</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Kesler says that the panel of judges will be logging miles to make sure that the best of the best are announced as winners at the end of the month!</li>
</ul>
Speaking of the month!&nbsp; All month long in May, pay attention to the beef messages you'll hear and see at your Kwik Trip pumps!&nbsp; Thanks to a partnership with Kwik Trip and Pit Boss, you could score not only great beef - but a Pit Boss Navigator grill/smoker. You can use store visits to enter, and get an additional entry by making a fresh beef purchase.
Checkoff Chat is brought to you courtesy of the <a href="https://www.equitycoop.com/index.cfm?show=10&amp;mid=191">Equity Livestock Sales Cooperative Sales Association.</a>
&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

Every time a Wisconsin farmer sells an animal, a portion of that sale is dedicated to that commodities check-off program.  The program directs those funds toward research, education and promotion.

The Wisconsin beef industry includes not only cow/calf producers, feedlot operations, and breeding operations - but it also includes the depth of Wisconsin's dairy industry since many of those cows, steers, and calves will ultimately become a part of the beef industry.

Checkoff Chat, sponsored by the Wisconsin Beef Council and Equity Livestock Sales Assocation, keeps producers and consumers aware of where money's being spent and how consumers are reacting to their product.

Checkoff Chat

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

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

Full Dance Card During May Beef Month - Kaitlyn Kesler

Braunschweiger, landjägers, and Berkshire hams -- it's enough to make your mouth water! These are a sample of the premium meats you can get for the Easter holiday at Bavaria Sausage. Scott Stowell tells Stephanie Hoff why their "old-world" recipes have remained a Wisconsin staple for over 60 years. From creamy, marbled hams to artisan pâté, authentic meats turn a simple Easter dinner into a deep-seated family memory. Whether you’re looking to fill a holiday basket with German candies or find the perfect centerpiece for your table, visit BavariaSausage.com. 

Braunschweiger, landj&auml;gers, and Berkshire hams -- it's enough to make your mouth water! These are a sample of the premium meats you can get for the Easter holiday at Bavaria Sausage. Scott Stowell tells Stephanie Hoff why their "old-world" recipes have remained a Wisconsin staple for over 60 years. From creamy, marbled hams to artisan p&acirc;t&eacute;, authentic meats turn a simple Easter dinner into a deep-seated family memory. Whether you&rsquo;re looking to fill a holiday basket with German candies or find the perfect centerpiece for your table, visit BavariaSausage.com.&nbsp;

For Many, Old World Flavors Spark Fond Family Memories

Milk cooling is one of the biggest energy users on a dairy. Inefficient systems force compressors to run longer and harder, driving up energy costs.  That's a message that resonated with Jordan Matthews from Rosy Lane Holsteins in Watertown.  This dairy operation milks about 1,600 cows across two sites.  The Watertown (Main Farm) site houses all calving operations, high-production cows, and wet calves through six months.  The Paoli (Second Site) is a rented milking facility that manages around 700 pregnant and late-lactation cows.  Two very different setups, but both rely on dependable milk cooling systems.

Listen in as Terry Pernsteiner, Focus on Energy Advisor, explains the routine examination that Rosy Lane Holsteins goes through to keep their equipment working well.  Through the team of professionals that Focus on Energy works with, there's actually very little for the farm to do except collect the rebates and savings.  Pernsteiner explains what happens.

If you're a busy dairy operator or someone involved in production agriculture, isn't there a motor, fan, compressor or some other electric device that might need a tune up.  Request a visit from one of Wisconsin's Focus on Energy Advisors and find out!

Go to Focus on Energy's website and request a visit from an advisor, or call 800.762.7077 for assistance.

Milk cooling is one of the biggest energy users on a dairy. Inefficient systems force compressors to run longer and harder, driving up energy costs.&nbsp; That's a message that resonated with Jordan Matthews from Rosy Lane Holsteins in Watertown.&nbsp; This dairy operation milks about 1,600 cows across two sites.&nbsp; The Watertown (Main Farm) site houses all calving operations, high-production cows, and wet calves through six months.&nbsp; The Paoli (Second Site) is a rented milking facility that manages around 700 pregnant and late-lactation cows.&nbsp; Two very different setups, but both rely on dependable milk cooling systems.
Listen in as Terry Pernsteiner, <a href="https://focusonenergy.com/business/agribusiness">Focus on Energy</a> Advisor, explains the routine examination that Rosy Lane Holsteins goes through to keep their equipment working well.&nbsp; Through the team of professionals that Focus on Energy works with, there's actually very little for the farm to do except collect the rebates and savings.&nbsp; Pernsteiner explains what happens.
If you're a busy dairy operator or someone involved in production agriculture, isn't there a motor, fan, compressor or some other electric device that might need a tune up.&nbsp; Request a visit from one of Wisconsin's <a href="https://focusonenergy.com/business/agribusiness">Focus on Energy</a> Advisors and find out!
Go to <a href="https://focusonenergy.com/business/agribusiness">Focus on Energy's website</a>&nbsp;and request a visit from an advisor, or call 800.762.7077 for assistance.

Maintenance Now - Rebates & Better Performance Later - Rosy Lane Holsteins

Railroads have long been a staple for Wisconsin agriculture and 2026 is no exception. Brad Peot is the commercial sales manager with WATCO railroad.   Watco is a full-service supply chain solutions company. They provide rail, transloading, terminal and port, and logistics services. The company is privately owned and headquartered in Pittsburg, Kansas.  Ben Jarboe learns that right now railroads face unique challenges  during winter when rivers freeze and barge traffic stops.  Extremely cold temperatures slow rail operations because trains rely on air brake systems that work less efficiently in dry, cold conditions. In very cold weather, trains may need to run with fewer railcars to meet air pressure requirements for braking systems. Let's not forget about the crews!  They're working in the outdoors to connect and disconnect railcars, creating safety risks like frostbite during extreme cold.  Peot says that WATCO is responsible for most of the grain movement in Wisconsin today.

Snow piles are starting to disappear thanks to warming temperatures.  Stu Muck says today that means a little early morning for.  For southern WI, temps will sneak back toward 60 by the weekend.

Warmer weather means farms can resume manure management plans in certain areas.  Safety has to be a priority.  That's the message from Kevin Erb, Conservation and Nutrient Specialist with UW Extension.  He tells Kiley Allan that over half of manure-handling accidents occur on the road, with 55% of those happening at intersections due to speed, taking corners too sharply, or failing to account for the sloshing of the liquid in the tank. Approximately 20% of incidents occur when turning into field driveways; many existing culverts and entrances are too narrow for modern, larger farm equipment, requiring infrastructure updates or more cautious maneuvering.  It's not just farmers that need to pay attention.  Erb says civilian drivers share the responsibility for safety. Motorists are encouraged to practice patience, as attempting to pass wide farm machinery in a hurry often leads to preventable collisions.

State senate leaders have wrapped up their work.  Pam Jahnke gives a brief rundown on some of the agribusiness and rural related items that are off the governor's desk.

Wild winter weather undid the first meeting of the WI Agriculture Youth Council this week.  Stephanie Hoff has accepted a board position with WAYC.  Others that have been involved with the council include Mary Schreiber, past National FFA Officer from East Troy.  She explains the unique human connections she made on the council that turned into friendships on the collegiate level.  Likewise, Jersey Thompson from Ettrick is currently a student at Iowa State.  He also served as a past WI State FFA President.  He says the exposure to people already in key positions for agriculture help inspire the desire for hands on experiences.

Railroads have long been a staple for Wisconsin agriculture and 2026 is no exception. Brad Peot is the commercial sales manager with WATCO railroad.&nbsp;&nbsp; Watco is a full-service supply chain solutions company. They provide rail, transloading, terminal and port, and logistics services. The company is privately owned and headquartered in Pittsburg, Kansas.&nbsp; Ben Jarboe learns that right now railroads face unique challenges&nbsp; during winter when rivers freeze and barge traffic stops.&nbsp; Extremely&nbsp;cold temperatures slow rail operations because trains rely on air brake systems that work less efficiently in dry, cold conditions. In very cold weather, trains may need to run with fewer railcars to meet air pressure requirements for braking systems. Let's not forget about the crews!&nbsp; They're working in the outdoors to connect and disconnect railcars, creating safety risks like frostbite during extreme cold.&nbsp; Peot says that WATCO is responsible for most of the grain movement in Wisconsin today.
Snow piles are starting to disappear thanks to warming temperatures.&nbsp; Stu Muck says today that means a little early morning for.&nbsp; For southern WI, temps will sneak back toward 60 by the weekend.
Warmer weather means farms can resume manure management plans in certain areas.&nbsp; Safety has to be a priority.&nbsp; That's the message from Kevin Erb, Conservation and Nutrient Specialist with UW Extension.&nbsp; He tells Kiley Allan that over half of manure-handling accidents occur on the road, with 55% of those happening at intersections due to speed, taking corners too sharply, or failing to account for the sloshing of the liquid in the tank. Approximately 20% of incidents occur when turning into field driveways; many existing culverts and entrances are too narrow for modern, larger farm equipment, requiring infrastructure updates or more cautious maneuvering.&nbsp; It's not just farmers that need to pay attention.&nbsp; Erb says civilian drivers share the responsibility for safety. Motorists are encouraged to practice patience, as attempting to pass wide farm machinery in a hurry often leads to preventable collisions.
State senate leaders have wrapped up their work.&nbsp; Pam Jahnke gives a brief rundown on some of the agribusiness and rural related items that are off the governor's desk.
Wild winter weather undid the first meeting of the WI Agriculture Youth Council this week.&nbsp; Stephanie Hoff has accepted a board position with WAYC.&nbsp; Others that have been involved with the council include Mary Schreiber, past National FFA Officer from East Troy.&nbsp; She explains the unique human connections she made on the council that turned into friendships on the collegiate level.&nbsp; Likewise, Jersey Thompson from Ettrick is currently a student at Iowa State.&nbsp; He also served as a past WI State FFA President.&nbsp; He says the exposure to people already in key positions for agriculture help inspire the desire for hands on experiences.

Full Dance Card During May Beef Month - Kaitlyn Kesler

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