Wisconsinites are proud to belong in the "frozen tundra." But when those sub-zero temps keep us inside, they can impact our collective mood. From remote workers to the elderly and housebound facing isolation, the walls are starting to feel a little too close for comfort this winter.

Today, we’re exploring the hidden mental toll of what’s known as “cabin fever” and how we can stay connected when the world outside is in a deep freeze. Therapist Cynthie Christensen focuses on rural mental health. She says cabin fever is fairly common.

Wisconsinites are proud to belong in the "frozen tundra." But when those sub-zero temps keep us inside, they can impact our collective mood. From remote workers to the elderly and housebound facing isolation, the walls are starting to feel a little too close for comfort this winter.
Today, we&rsquo;re exploring the hidden mental toll of what&rsquo;s known as &ldquo;cabin fever&rdquo; and how we can stay connected when the world outside is in a deep freeze. Therapist Cynthie Christensen focuses on rural mental health. She says cabin fever is fairly common.

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!

How To Beat Cabin Fever

Wisconsin is home now to 79 weather stations that dot the state.  These stations are generating real time information that farmers and outdoor enthusiasts can tap into.  Pam Jahnke visit with Chris Vagasky, Research Program Manager for Wisconet.  Vagasky says one new element they've added to these stations are soil sensors.  The 400 soil sensors provide "plant available water" readings at multiple depths in the soil profile.  

Heat and humidity are building in Wisconsin today with some severe weather that could develop.  Stu Muck hones in on what areas need to be alert.  

The lull in auction action is over.  Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group tells Pam Jahnke that they're already seeing a surg on auctions being booked for later this fall.  Huhn says by being proactive, clients get the benefit of solid preplanning, preparation and advance promotion.  Paid for by Steffes Group.

The market's continuing to watch development of New World Screw Worm.  Now a total of four cases have been detected, including a dog in New Mexico.  While it's not a food risk, it is a market disrupter.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, joins Pam Jahnke to discuss the chatter online.  He's also watching certain regions in the latest crop progress report.

Wisconsin is home now to 79 weather stations that dot the state.&nbsp; These stations are generating real time information that farmers and outdoor enthusiasts can tap into.&nbsp; Pam Jahnke visit with Chris Vagasky, Research Program Manager for Wisconet.&nbsp; Vagasky says one new element they've added to these stations are soil sensors.&nbsp; The 400 soil sensors provide "plant available water" readings at multiple depths in the soil profile.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Heat and humidity are building in Wisconsin today with some severe weather that could develop.&nbsp; Stu Muck hones in on what areas need to be alert.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The lull in auction action is over.&nbsp; Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group tells Pam Jahnke that they're already seeing a surg on auctions being booked for later this fall.&nbsp; Huhn says by being proactive, clients get the benefit of solid preplanning, preparation and advance promotion.&nbsp; Paid for by Steffes Group.
The market's continuing to watch development of New World Screw Worm.&nbsp; Now a total of four cases have been detected, including a dog in New Mexico.&nbsp; While it's not a food risk, it is a market disrupter.&nbsp; John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, joins Pam Jahnke to discuss the chatter online.&nbsp; He's also watching certain regions in the latest crop progress report.

Market Nervous With New World Screw Worm - Heinberg

The small community of Ashippun in Dodge County is using farmland preservation tools to keep consistency as a part of land transition.  Robert Guenther, dairy farmer and member of the Town of Ashippun Planning Commission says the community  is facing increasing growth pressures, including recent applications for a private golf course and a solar energy farm. Ashippun's growth is largely driven by its location directly north of the rapidly growing village of Oconomowoc. Geunther says the community is learning just how expensive that growth can be.  He  says local studies have shown that every dollar collected in taxes on farmland costs the town about 75 cents in services, whereas every dollar collected from development land costs about $1.25 in municipal expenses.  Ashippun currently operates under A1 and A2 zoning. A1 is prime farmland with highly restrictive  rules, while A2 is less restrictive and includes over 70 different  conditional use opportunities. Because the town of Ashippun is under Dodge County zoning, the local planning commission can only make recommendations while the county holds final approval power. A major point of contention regarding the incoming private golf course is its location directly across the street from a 400-cow dairy farm, which local leaders view as a conflicting land use. A conditional use permit for a proposed solar operation on A1 prime farmland was rejected by Dodge County after unanimous denial recommendations from both the Ashippun planning commission and the town board. Local leaders note that farmland preservation zoning is simply a different zoning district that controls land use. It is often confused with a 15-year state farmland preservation agreement, which is much more restrictive on landowner rights.


We've got a hot, sticky week ahead with some measurable rain.  Stu Muck spells out what to plan for.


Weather did not deter the crowd from showing up Friday in Chippewa County for President Donald Trump and U.S. Ag Secretary, Brooke Rollins.  Mid-West Farm Report's Bob Bosold was there.  A round table was arranged so the president could hear directly from farmers on the issues they believe matter.  One farmer that testified was Steve Rooney, owner/operator of Rooney Grain.  He says the situation agriculture finds itself with monopolies is untenable.  Rooney implored the president to look at ways to invest in producing things like fertilizer, seed and ag chem in more than one company.


Multiple farms hosted throngs of visitors for June Dairy events over the weekend.  That included Jody Miller from Miller Time Farms in Avoca.  She talks with Pam Jahnke about why that kind of face-to-face interaction with consumers is so meaningful and important.  Miller sits on the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin board.  She's also one of the persona that's been amplified through the "Born to Dairy" campaign.  Miller is a "Barnyard Beautifier" who enjoys featuring flowers everywhere around her farmstead.  She says portraying the proper visual message to consumers is important to her.  Miller notes that a clean, well-kept farmstead lets consumers know that farmers care about their land, water and animals.  Paid for by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

The small community of Ashippun in Dodge County is using farmland preservation tools to keep consistency as a part of land transition.&nbsp; Robert Guenther,&nbsp;dairy farmer and member of the Town of Ashippun Planning Commission says the community&nbsp; is facing increasing growth pressures, including recent applications for a private golf course and a solar energy farm. Ashippun's growth is largely driven by its location directly north of the rapidly growing village of Oconomowoc. Geunther says the community is learning just how expensive that growth can be.&nbsp;&nbsp;He&nbsp; says local studies have shown that every dollar collected in taxes on farmland costs the town about 75 cents in services, whereas every dollar collected from development land costs about $1.25 in municipal expenses.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ashippun currently operates under A1 and A2 zoning. A1 is prime farmland with highly&nbsp;restrictive&nbsp; rules, while A2 is less restrictive and includes over 70&nbsp;different&nbsp; conditional use opportunities. Because the town of Ashippun is under Dodge County zoning, the local planning commission can only make recommendations while the county holds final approval power. A major point of contention regarding the incoming private golf course is its location directly across the street from a 400-cow dairy farm, which local leaders view as a conflicting land use. A conditional use permit for a proposed solar operation on A1 prime farmland was rejected by Dodge County after unanimous denial recommendations from both the Ashippun planning commission and the town board. Local leaders note that farmland preservation zoning is simply a different zoning district that controls land use. It is often confused with a 15-year state farmland preservation agreement, which is much more restrictive on landowner rights.
 We've got a hot, sticky week ahead with some measurable rain.&nbsp; Stu Muck spells out what to plan for.
 Weather did not deter the crowd from showing up Friday in Chippewa County for President Donald Trump and U.S. Ag Secretary, Brooke Rollins.&nbsp; Mid-West Farm Report's Bob Bosold was there.&nbsp; A round table was arranged so the president could hear directly from farmers on the issues they believe matter.&nbsp; One farmer that testified was Steve Rooney, owner/operator of Rooney Grain.&nbsp; He says the situation agriculture finds itself with monopolies is untenable.&nbsp; Rooney implored the president to look at ways to invest in producing things like fertilizer, seed and ag chem in more than one company.
 Multiple farms hosted throngs of visitors for June Dairy events over the weekend.&nbsp; That included Jody Miller from Miller Time Farms in Avoca.&nbsp; She talks with Pam Jahnke about why that kind of face-to-face interaction with consumers is so meaningful and important.&nbsp; Miller sits on the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin board.&nbsp; She's also one of the persona that's been amplified through the "Born to Dairy" campaign.&nbsp; Miller is a "Barnyard Beautifier" who enjoys featuring flowers everywhere around her farmstead.&nbsp; She says portraying the proper visual message to consumers is important to her.&nbsp; Miller notes that a clean, well-kept farmstead lets consumers know that farmers care about their land, water and animals.&nbsp; Paid for by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

Farmers Speak Up At Trump Rally And June Dairy Duties Call For Dairies

Fox Valley Technical College is the only place in the state of Wisconsin where students can explore a two-year natural resources education program. It's recently received an addition that has campus buzzing with excitement. A 160-acre anonymous donation was made by a community member who wanted their land to stay in habitat and not be developed. A priority in education made the program the right fit for the donation. Paul Groell is the chair of the Natural Resources Department at Fox Valley Technical College. He says they were very surprised but very pleased with the donation.

Fox Valley Technical College is the only place in the state of Wisconsin where students can explore a two-year natural resources education program. It's recently received an addition that has campus buzzing with excitement. A 160-acre anonymous donation was made by a community member who wanted their land to stay in habitat and not be developed. A priority in education made the program the right fit for the donation. Paul Groell is the chair of the Natural Resources Department at Fox Valley Technical College. He says they were very surprised but very pleased with the donation.

How To Beat Cabin Fever

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