Wisconsin potato growers are battling both uncooperative weather and tough market conditions this fall. Prolonged heat delayed harvest across the Midwest, forcing farmers to work overnight to protect crop quality, while the frost now threatens what’s left in the ground. Despite decent yields, prices have fallen under pressure from oversupply and reduced demand. Alsum Farms Manager Ryan Walther says they’re hoping for a market turnaround soon, as smaller operations face increasing difficulty weathering low prices and tight margins.

Wisconsin potato growers are battling both uncooperative weather and tough market conditions this fall. Prolonged heat delayed harvest across the Midwest, forcing farmers to work overnight to protect crop quality, while the frost now threatens what&rsquo;s left in the ground. Despite decent yields, prices have fallen under pressure from oversupply and reduced demand. Alsum Farms Manager Ryan Walther says they&rsquo;re hoping for a market turnaround soon, as smaller operations face increasing difficulty weathering low prices and tight margins.

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!

Heat, Frost & Tough Markets For Potato Growers

Jeff Endres, chair of Yahara Pride Watershed, tells Stephanie Hoff about the critical role of farmer-led conservation. This is the 2026 cost-share sign-up period for Yahara Pride Farms. Established over a decade ago to address water quality in the Madison chain of lakes watershed, the group has grown from a dozen initial farms to a network of 80 participating operations. 

Jeff Endres, chair of Yahara Pride Watershed, tells Stephanie Hoff about the critical role of farmer-led conservation. This is the 2026 cost-share sign-up period for Yahara Pride Farms. Established over a decade ago to address water quality in the Madison chain of lakes watershed, the group has grown from a dozen initial farms to a network of 80 participating operations.&nbsp;

Farmers Lead The Charge On Water Quality Amid Urban Sprawl

Today marks the beginning of the World Champion Cheese event at Monona Terrace Convention Center in downtown Madison.  With more than 3,300 entries from around the world and 56 world class judges ready to go - it draws a crowd.  One person that's witnessed the excitement first hand is Steve Stettler.  Stettler is a Master Cheesemaker himself and owner/operator of Decatur Dairy in Brodhead.  He says it's been fun to watch the event grow in size and overall appeal.  He thinks Wisconsin is the ideal place to host this gathering of the world's greatest cheesemakers.  He takes Pam Jahnke behind the curtains with show details.

Get those rain gauges out!  Stu Muck says today will bring a little precipitation around the state, but more measurable rain is expected by late this week.

Rain, sleet, snow - it's not really going to stop farms from handling some spring clean-up.  Ben Jarboe listens in as a member of Pennisula Pride Farms watershed explains how calculated they are on manure management in spring.  Barry Bubolz works with NRCS demonstration farms in Door County.  He says farming along the lakeshore is different then other areas of the state, and that has to be respected by the farms managing nutrients and changing weather.

Markets are being whiplashed again this morning in response to the US-Israel-Iran war.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, emphasizes the areas that farms and agriculture are monitoring.  Crude oil will drive headlines.  Heinberg also advises that growers know where your fertilizer is and make sure you're going to get it.  Plus, soybeans and wheat catch a rally.  Be sure and capitalize on it.

Today marks the beginning of the World Champion Cheese event at Monona Terrace Convention Center in downtown Madison.&nbsp; With more than 3,300 entries from around the world and 56 world class judges ready to go - it draws a crowd.&nbsp; One person that's witnessed the excitement first hand is Steve Stettler.&nbsp; Stettler is a Master Cheesemaker himself and owner/operator of Decatur Dairy in Brodhead.&nbsp; He says it's been fun to watch the event grow in size and overall appeal.&nbsp; He thinks Wisconsin is the ideal place to host this gathering of the world's greatest cheesemakers.&nbsp; He takes Pam Jahnke behind the curtains with show details. Get those rain gauges out!&nbsp; Stu Muck says today will bring a little precipitation around the state, but more measurable rain is expected by late this week.
Rain, sleet, snow - it's not really going to stop farms from handling some spring clean-up.&nbsp; Ben Jarboe listens in as a member of Pennisula Pride Farms watershed explains how calculated they are on manure management in spring.&nbsp; Barry Bubolz works with NRCS demonstration farms in Door County.&nbsp; He says farming along the lakeshore is different then other areas of the state, and that has to be respected by the farms managing nutrients and changing weather. Markets are being whiplashed again this morning in response to the US-Israel-Iran war.&nbsp; John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, emphasizes the areas that farms and agriculture are monitoring.&nbsp; Crude oil will drive headlines.&nbsp; Heinberg also advises that growers know where your fertilizer is and make sure you're going to get it.&nbsp; Plus, soybeans and wheat catch a rally.&nbsp; Be sure and capitalize on it.

Farms Need To Watch Markets Reaction To War Plus World Cheese Championship Is On

Consumers continue to buy beef despite escalated prices.  Unfortunately, those prices don't reflect the profit level at the farm or processing level.  Ben Jarboe finds out why beef processing facilities are closing with these high beef prices.  Dr. Brenda Boetel, ag economist from UW-River Falls, explains the dynamics of what's happening.

Nice day today but watch out for the commute tomorrow morning.  Stu Muck says that Wisconsin's beginning to see some springlike weather patterns that include milder temperatures and rain.  Sometimes freezing rain.Time for another Mid-West Farm Report Ride Along!  Where we investigate the technology and innovations Wisconsin farms are using or experimenting with. 

Today we travel to Curtiss, Wisconsin to chat with Kathy Berry from Berry Farms.  Looking her in the eye is a critical component of doing business for Kathy.  When her dad, Ralph, and she decided it was time to expand - that was the deal breaker.  Look her in the eye and acknowledge she's a decision maker.  The folks at Schultz's Inter-State Ag "got it".  They began a partnership at a meeting during WI Farm Technology Days, and it continues today.  Pam Jahnke visits with Kathy Berry about the project's origin and future direction.  She also talks with Tim Schultz, owner and operator of Schultz's Inter-State Ag about their history, and how technology is changing.  Providing growers like Kathy a modicum of time management and improved quality of life.  Paid for by Schultz's Inter-State Ag.


Financial markets are taking a dive pre-open this morning after the upheaval in Iran over the weekend.  On the other side, right now, commodities are remaining firm.Do you have a college student that's thinking about "taking the summer off"?  Could be a bad move.  Not having an internship experience can be a deal breaker from some employers perspective.  Stephanie Hoff learns that 4 out 5 employers today prefer candidates that have some real-world, hands on experience.  NaCole Johnson, global talent acquisition specialist with URUS says that even candidates without a farming background can make up some space with internships.

Consumers continue to buy beef despite escalated prices.&nbsp; Unfortunately, those prices don't reflect the profit level at the farm or processing level.&nbsp; Ben Jarboe finds out why beef processing facilities are closing with these high beef prices.&nbsp; Dr. Brenda Boetel, ag economist from UW-River Falls, explains the dynamics of what's happening.
Nice day today but watch out for the commute tomorrow morning.&nbsp; Stu Muck says that Wisconsin's beginning to see some springlike weather patterns that include milder temperatures and rain.&nbsp; Sometimes freezing rain.Time for another Mid-West Farm Report Ride Along!&nbsp; Where we investigate the technology and innovations Wisconsin farms are using or experimenting with.&nbsp;
Today we travel to Curtiss, Wisconsin to chat with Kathy Berry from Berry Farms.&nbsp; Looking her in the eye is a critical component of doing business for Kathy.&nbsp; When her dad, Ralph, and she decided it was time to expand - that was the deal breaker.&nbsp; Look her in the eye and acknowledge she's a decision maker.&nbsp; The folks at Schultz's Inter-State Ag "got it".&nbsp; They began a partnership at a meeting during WI Farm Technology Days, and it continues today.&nbsp; Pam Jahnke visits with Kathy Berry about the project's origin and future direction.&nbsp; She also talks with Tim Schultz, owner and operator of Schultz's Inter-State Ag about their history, and how technology is changing.&nbsp; Providing growers like Kathy a modicum of time management and improved quality of life.&nbsp; Paid for by Schultz's Inter-State Ag.
 Financial markets are taking a dive pre-open this morning after the upheaval in Iran over the weekend.&nbsp; On the other side, right now, commodities are remaining firm.Do you have a college student that's thinking about "taking the summer off"?&nbsp; Could be a bad move.&nbsp; Not having an internship experience can be a deal breaker from some employers perspective.&nbsp; Stephanie Hoff learns that 4 out 5 employers today prefer candidates that have some real-world, hands on experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;NaCole Johnson, global talent acquisition specialist with URUS says that even candidates without a farming background can make up some space with internships.

Heat, Frost & Tough Markets For Potato Growers

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