In 2005, Jackie Allenbrand founded P.H.A.R.M. Dog USA to help farmers with disabilities or illnesses. The program's name stands for "Pets Helping Agriculture in Rural Missouri," and in 2012, Allenbrand added "USA" to reflect its national reach.

"I started the program after hearing a farmer's story about his dog helping him manage cattle," Allenbrand said. "That inspired me to research ways trained dogs could assist farmers."

P.H.A.R.M. Dog USA focuses on training rescue, shelter, and donated dogs for two purposes: Border Collies for herding tasks and Labradors or Lab mixes for service skills.

For more information about P.H.A.R.M. Dog USA, visit www.pharmdog.org.

In 2005, Jackie Allenbrand founded P.H.A.R.M. Dog USA to help farmers with disabilities or illnesses. The program's name stands for "Pets Helping Agriculture in Rural Missouri," and in 2012, Allenbrand added "USA" to reflect its national reach.
"I started the program after hearing a farmer's story about his dog helping him manage cattle," Allenbrand said. "That inspired me to research ways trained dogs could assist farmers."
P.H.A.R.M. Dog USA focuses on training rescue, shelter, and donated dogs for two purposes: Border Collies for herding tasks and Labradors or Lab mixes for service skills.
For more information about P.H.A.R.M. Dog USA, visit <a href="http://www.pharmdog.org">www.pharmdog.org</a>.

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!

Herding Hope, Healing Hearts: P.H.A.R.M. Dog USA's Impact

Using duct tape as a bandage is common for farm kids and farm kids at heart, but you can’t put duct tape on a stroke. As we enter the busy planting season, be aware of the signs of stroke so that you can seek help before it’s too late. Shannon Huettl, a stroke coordinator at the ThedaCare Appleton location and a nurse on the stroke floor in Neenah, has advice for farmers to both prevent and respond to symptoms of a stroke. She says the good news for Central Wisconsin is that there’s going to be more access to clinics.  

Using duct tape as a bandage is common for farm kids and farm kids at heart, but you can&rsquo;t put duct tape on a stroke. As we enter the busy planting season, be aware of the signs of stroke so that you can seek help before it&rsquo;s too late. Shannon Huettl, a stroke coordinator at the ThedaCare Appleton location and a nurse on the stroke floor in Neenah, has advice for farmers to both prevent and respond to symptoms of a stroke. She says the good news for Central Wisconsin is that there&rsquo;s going to be more access to clinics. &nbsp;

Duct Tape Doesn't Fix A Stroke

Amid rising concerns about bird flu affecting dairy cows, experts want the public to know one thing clearly: pasteurized milk is safe.

Dr. Keith Poulsen, Director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, emphasized, “Pasteurization is 100% effective. This is not a food safety issue.”

He also shared reassuring news: no bird flu virus has been found in Wisconsin dairy cows to date.

While poultry have been hit hard by the H5N1 virus, dairy cows experience it very differently. “We’re not seeing cows die from this virus,” Dr. Poulsen said. “Only about 2 to 3 percent of cows are affected, and most recover.”

Amid rising concerns about bird flu affecting dairy cows, experts want the public to know one thing clearly: pasteurized milk is safe.
Dr. Keith Poulsen, Director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, emphasized, &ldquo;Pasteurization is 100% effective. This is not a food safety issue.&rdquo;
He also shared reassuring news: no bird flu virus has been found in Wisconsin dairy cows to date.
While poultry have been hit hard by the H5N1 virus, dairy cows experience it very differently. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not seeing cows die from this virus,&rdquo; Dr. Poulsen said. &ldquo;Only about 2 to 3 percent of cows are affected, and most recover.&rdquo;

No Bird Flu in Wisconsin Dairy Cattle

At the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors annual convention in Middleton, two industry leaders were inducted into the 2025 Meat Industry Hall of Fame: Fritz Usinger of Fred Usinger, Inc., a 144-year-old family meat business in Milwaukee, and Dan Sutherland of Johnsonville, who has held various roles since 1982. Sutherland, a third-generation member of the Milwaukee Stockyards, shared insights into his start in the industry and how meat companies navigate seasonal consumption trends.

Ag meteorologist Stu Muck says despite some more mild and above normal temps ahead, rain is still in the forecast.

Dairy farmers take cow comfort to the next level because they know that if they take care of the cows, the cows take care of them. Today, we’re exploring one of the many ways dairy farmers prioritize animal welfare. Nick Knaapen is a sales manager for Bioret Agri. He joins Stephanie Hoff and says on many farms, the cows sleep more comfortably than their farmers do thanks to animal welfare technology. Nick essentially sells waterbeds for dairy cattle.

 Ashley Huhn from Stephas Group provided an update, noting that while some farmers are anxiously tilling to dry out fields, aggressive markets are currently in Canada. Due to weather delays, Canada is seeing more equipment auctions than regions like Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, where farmers are preparing to hit the fields.  Paid for by Steffes Group.

Pam Jahnke has a conversation with Brian Luck, a biological systems engineer with UW-Madison Extension, about changes to the custom operator survey.

At the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors annual convention in Middleton, two industry leaders were inducted into the 2025 Meat Industry Hall of Fame: Fritz Usinger of Fred Usinger, Inc., a 144-year-old family meat business in Milwaukee, and Dan Sutherland of Johnsonville, who has held various roles since 1982. Sutherland, a third-generation member of the Milwaukee Stockyards, shared insights into his start in the industry and how meat companies navigate seasonal consumption trends.
Ag meteorologist Stu Muck says despite some more mild and above normal temps ahead, rain is still in the forecast.
Dairy farmers take cow comfort to the next level because they know that if they take care of the cows, the cows take care of them. Today, we&rsquo;re exploring one of the many ways dairy farmers prioritize animal welfare. Nick Knaapen is a sales manager for Bioret Agri. He joins Stephanie Hoff and says on many farms, the cows sleep more comfortably than their farmers do thanks to animal welfare technology. Nick essentially sells waterbeds for dairy cattle.
&nbsp;Ashley Huhn from Stephas Group provided an update, noting that while some farmers are anxiously tilling to dry out fields, aggressive markets are currently in Canada. Due to weather delays, Canada is seeing more equipment auctions than regions like Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, where farmers are preparing to hit the fields.&nbsp; Paid for by Steffes Group.
Pam Jahnke has a conversation with Brian Luck, a biological systems engineer with UW-Madison Extension, about changes to the custom operator survey.

Herding Hope, Healing Hearts: P.H.A.R.M. Dog USA's Impact

In 1 playlist(s)

MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips