As an Extension Entomologist, PJ Liesch spends a lot of time thinking about ticks. Technically arachnids, ticks are obligate blood feeders. This means they need to take a blood meal so they can go to the next phase of their life cycle. This means that many outdoor enthusiasts often run into them while getting some fresh air. Many people have been saying this is a good year for ticks. So I asked PJ if he's seeing the same.

As an Extension Entomologist, PJ Liesch spends a lot of time thinking about ticks. Technically arachnids, ticks are obligate blood feeders. This means they need to take a blood meal so they can go to the next phase of their life cycle. This means that many outdoor enthusiasts often run into them while getting some fresh air. Many people have been saying this is a good year for ticks. So I asked PJ if he's seeing the same.

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!

Is It Actually A Heavy Tick Year?

Protein continues to have a moment in the marketplace, and it's not a short-term fad. Consumers continue to reach for snacks that are not only high in protein but are also made with whole ingredients. Abbi (Prins) Groves joins Kiley Allan behind the microphone. She's a Livestock Economist at CoBank. She sat down to tell me about a new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange that says meat snacks represent a major area for product innovation.

Protein continues to have a moment in the marketplace, and it's not a short-term fad. Consumers continue to reach for snacks that are not only high in protein but are also made with whole ingredients. Abbi (Prins) Groves joins Kiley Allan behind the microphone. She's a Livestock Economist at CoBank. She sat down to tell me about a new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange that says meat snacks represent a major area for product innovation.

Meat Snacks Are Having A Moment

Mushrooms!  It's another crop from Wisconsin.  Bob Bosold learns a little more about mushroom production, the varieties that are popular and how they grow!  Steve Scholtz, a mushroom grower in Eau Claire explains how he produces his crop indoors to avoid contamination.  He's finding a vibrant market for his product in many different areas.

Rain is drifting into Wisconsin and will stay for most of the day.  Stu Muck says as we move through Wednesday, we'll move closer to dry weather and sunshine.

The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee released its text of the Farm Bill on Tuesday.  One group that's paying close attention is the NASDA - Nat'l Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Ted McKinney's their CEO.  He tells Pam Jahnke that agriculture has been a bipartisan gathering spot in Washington, D.C.  He says while many elements of the Farm Bill were dealt with in the Big Beautiful Bill, the policy side has gone unattended.  That's what McKinney says is needed now.

Farm bankruptcies look just as robust this year as last, which is not good news.  Austin Peiffer, an attorney with Ag and Business Legal Strategies in Hiawatha, Iowa, is tracking the numbers.  He says in the first quarter of 2026, there were approximately 158 Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings.  He says the tough part is that many of those farms filed early, and may have received more bad financial news when they started planting, impacted by high fuel prices and escalated fertilizer costs.

The NASDA is holding its summer meeting in Madison, which wraps up today.  While each state faces unique challenges, data centers seem to be a common denominator.  Brian Baldrige is the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.  He says they've got about 200 data centers in the state now, and they hope tools like farmland preservation help buffer where future centers are located.

Mushrooms!&nbsp; It's another crop from Wisconsin.&nbsp; Bob Bosold learns a little more about mushroom production, the varieties that are popular and how they grow!&nbsp; Steve Scholtz, a mushroom grower in Eau Claire explains how he produces his crop indoors to avoid contamination.&nbsp; He's finding a vibrant market for his product in many different areas.
Rain is drifting into Wisconsin and will stay for most of the day.&nbsp; Stu Muck says as we move through Wednesday, we'll move closer to dry weather and sunshine.
The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee released its text of the Farm Bill on Tuesday.&nbsp; One group that's paying close attention is the NASDA - Nat'l Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Ted McKinney's their CEO.&nbsp; He tells Pam Jahnke that agriculture has been a bipartisan gathering spot in Washington, D.C.&nbsp; He says while many elements of the Farm Bill were dealt with in the Big Beautiful Bill, the policy side has gone unattended.&nbsp; That's what McKinney says is needed now.
Farm bankruptcies look just as robust this year as last, which is not good news.&nbsp; Austin Peiffer, an attorney with Ag and Business Legal Strategies in Hiawatha, Iowa, is tracking the numbers.&nbsp; He says in the first quarter of 2026, there were approximately 158 Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings.&nbsp; He says the tough part is that many of those farms filed early, and may have received more bad financial news when they started planting, impacted by high fuel prices and escalated fertilizer costs.
The NASDA is holding its summer meeting in Madison, which wraps up today.&nbsp; While each state faces unique challenges, data centers seem to be a common denominator.&nbsp; Brian Baldrige is the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.&nbsp; He says they've got about 200 data centers in the state now, and they hope tools like farmland preservation help buffer where future centers are located.

Senate Version Of The Farm Bill Welcomed By NASDA Plus Mushroom Growing In WI - Yes!

It's National Lightning Awareness Week and Wisconsin farmers, golfers, gardeners, joggers should all heed the warnings.  In Wisconsin, more people have died by lightning strikes since 2006, than by tornadoes since 1986.  Chris Vagasky, Research Program Manager, Wisconet and Lightning Data Specialist, National Lightning Safety Counci, explains how people can protect themselves, and farmers can protect their livestock and assets.

Rain starts moving back in by late Tuesday night.  Stu Muck says it won't really amount to much but sets up a change in pattern that will bring very hot weather to the state by the weekend.

A record breaking price on a tractor has gotten a lot of attention for the Steffes Auction Group.  Ashley Huhn tells Pam Jahnke that live auctions are still drawing a crowd with money to spend.  He explains the record sale.  Paid for by Steffes Group.

While Wisconsin communities continue to struggle with the data center question, Texas is now regretting some of their decisions.  Sid Miller, Texas Ag Commissioner, says he hears about it every day.  To date, Texas is home to about 575 data centers that consume about 430 million gallons of water daily.  Miller contends they're overbuilt and using water resources most of Texas just doesn't have.

Wisconsin crops are matching up about equal with other Midwest states as far as development.  John Heinberg joins Pam Jahnke to discuss.  Heinberg, with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, says that there's really no weather threat to get the market to move.  At the same time, South America's harvest is moving along smoothly bringing more product to the marketplace.  While the crop may be moving, Heinberg also explains the financial strain that South American farmers are facing as bankruptcies there increase.

It's National Lightning Awareness Week and Wisconsin farmers, golfers, gardeners, joggers should all heed the warnings.&nbsp; In Wisconsin, more people have died by lightning strikes since 2006, than by tornadoes since 1986.&nbsp; Chris Vagasky,&nbsp;Research Program Manager, Wisconet and&nbsp;Lightning Data Specialist, National Lightning Safety Counci, explains how people can protect themselves, and farmers can protect their livestock and assets.
Rain starts moving back in by late Tuesday night.&nbsp; Stu Muck says it won't really amount to much but sets up a change in pattern that will bring very hot weather to the state by the weekend.
A record breaking price on a tractor has gotten a lot of attention for the Steffes Auction Group.&nbsp; Ashley Huhn tells Pam Jahnke that live auctions are still drawing a crowd with money to spend.&nbsp; He explains the record sale.&nbsp; Paid for by Steffes Group.
While Wisconsin communities continue to struggle with the data center question, Texas is now regretting some of their decisions.&nbsp; Sid Miller, Texas Ag Commissioner, says he hears about it every day.&nbsp; To date, Texas is home to about 575 data centers that consume about 430 million gallons of water daily.&nbsp; Miller contends they're overbuilt and using water resources most of Texas just doesn't have.
Wisconsin crops are matching up about equal with other Midwest states as far as development.&nbsp; John Heinberg joins Pam Jahnke to discuss.&nbsp; Heinberg, with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, says that there's really no weather threat to get the market to move.&nbsp; At the same time, South America's harvest is moving along smoothly bringing more product to the marketplace.&nbsp; While the crop may be moving, Heinberg also explains the financial strain that South American farmers are facing as bankruptcies there increase.

Is It Actually A Heavy Tick Year?

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