Lori Mesik Hamilton's great grandparents, immigrants of the Austria-Hungarian Empire, moved from Colorado to Ashland County after her great-grandmother was struck with tuberculosis. They thought the crisp air would do her good. Lori says crisp was an understatement -- when she was farming as a girl on the Century Farm, she remembers using a crowbar to pick the ice off the barn door to milk cows. This is just one memory she has of her family's farm in Moquah, a dairy farm until 1999. Today, her younger brother farms beef and crops on the 500 acres. This Century Farm story is brought to you by Compeer Financial.

Lori Mesik Hamilton's great grandparents, immigrants of the Austria-Hungarian Empire, moved from Colorado to Ashland County after her great-grandmother was struck with tuberculosis. They thought the crisp air would do her good. Lori says crisp was an understatement -- when she was farming as a girl on the Century Farm, she remembers using a crowbar to pick the ice off the barn door to milk cows. This is just one memory she has of her family's farm in Moquah, a dairy farm until 1999. Today, her younger brother farms beef and crops on the 500 acres. This Century Farm story is brought to you by Compeer Financial.

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

.In partnership with the Wisconsin State Fair, the Mid-West Farm report is highlighting Century and Sesquicentennial Farm and Home Award winners. 

.In partnership with the Wisconsin State Fair, the Mid-West Farm report is highlighting Century and Sesquicentennial Farm and Home Award winners.

Wisconsin Century & Sesquicentennial Farm Salute

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

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

Lori Mesik Hamilton - Bayfield County

Vegetable processors across the country are feeling price pressure due to tariffs on steel, according to the Midwest Food Products Association. It's amped up the competition with foreign processors. Wisconsin is one of the top states in the production of the major processing vegetables, notably green peas, snap beans, and potatoes. This year, at least two Wisconsin food processors are closing their doors. MWFPA President Jason Culotta represents food processors in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. He says in 2023, the U.S. became a net food importer for the first time. He says this is a problem because food processors cannot compete with the prices of foreign competitors.

Vegetable processors across the country are feeling price pressure due to tariffs on steel, according to the Midwest Food Products Association. It's amped up the competition with foreign processors. Wisconsin is one of the top states in the production of the major processing vegetables, notably green peas, snap beans, and potatoes. This year, at least two Wisconsin food processors are closing their doors. MWFPA President Jason Culotta represents food processors in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. He says in 2023, the U.S. became a net food importer for the first time. He says this is a problem because food processors cannot compete with the prices of foreign competitors.

Tariffs Put Pressure On Processors

Sydney Flick manages her family farm Jazzy Jerseys in Lodi. They milk about 800 cows. She says while 1 billion people will celebrate Earth Day on April 22 this year, it's something she lives every day.

“We rely on the land to take care of our family and the cows.”

Jazzy Jerseys has reduced water usage by recycling. They use cold water from the well to cool down the milk. That same water is used for the cows and calves. That water eventually ends up in the manure which helps the farm spread the nutrients on the field more evenly.

In the field, Jazzy Jerseys utilizes buffer strips to prevent soil erosion and nutrient runoff. Buffer strips are narrow areas of grass that act as a physical barrier between fields, slowing the flow of water. The buffer strips don’t make it easier to farm – it can make things more tedious – but they preserve the soil. 

Sydney Flick manages her family farm Jazzy Jerseys in Lodi. They milk about 800 cows. She says while 1 billion people will celebrate Earth Day on April 22 this year, it's something she lives every day.
“We rely on the land to take care of our family and the cows.”
Jazzy Jerseys has reduced water usage by recycling. They use cold water from the well to cool down the milk. That same water is used for the cows and calves. That water eventually ends up in the manure which helps the farm spread the nutrients on the field more evenly.
In the field, Jazzy Jerseys utilizes buffer strips to prevent soil erosion and nutrient runoff. Buffer strips are narrow areas of grass that act as a physical barrier between fields, slowing the flow of water. The buffer strips don’t make it easier to farm – it can make things more tedious – but they preserve the soil.

Earth Day Pt. 3: Conservation Makes A Difference At Jazzy Jerseys

Decisions are being made today about county fair animals and exhibits you'll see later this summer.  Stephanie Hoff talks with UW-Extension Youth Livestock Specialist, Bernie O'Rourke, about getting started on the right foot and establishing a partnership with your veterinarian early.

The College for Rural Wisconsin may not be a name you're familiar with but it's working to raise awareness.  Jennifer Blazek is the program director for College for Rural Wisconsin and tells Pam Jahnke what they're offering rural school districts to help offset financial constraints and lack of ample school counselors to help students make college or tech college decisions.

Today is the final day to enter the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship, coming up Saturday in Dodgeville.  Charitee Seebecker talks to Jenna Vondra, Exec. Dir. of the Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce.  She says they're expecting at least 70 sandwich entries this year.

Fits and jerks.  That phrase might describe what's been going on with cheese prices lately.  Mike North, president of the producer division of EverAg, joins Pam Jahnke to discuss.  North says consumers are signaling they'll cook at home more versus eating out.  That has an impact on not only cheese, but also products like cream.

Decisions are being made today about county fair animals and exhibits you'll see later this summer.  Stephanie Hoff talks with UW-Extension Youth Livestock Specialist, Bernie O'Rourke, about getting started on the right foot and establishing a partnership with your veterinarian early.
The College for Rural Wisconsin may not be a name you're familiar with but it's working to raise awareness.  Jennifer Blazek is the program director for College for Rural Wisconsin and tells Pam Jahnke what they're offering rural school districts to help offset financial constraints and lack of ample school counselors to help students make college or tech college decisions.
Today is the final day to enter the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship, coming up Saturday in Dodgeville.  Charitee Seebecker talks to Jenna Vondra, Exec. Dir. of the Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce.  She says they're expecting at least 70 sandwich entries this year.
Fits and jerks.  That phrase might describe what's been going on with cheese prices lately.  Mike North, president of the producer division of EverAg, joins Pam Jahnke to discuss.  North says consumers are signaling they'll cook at home more versus eating out.  That has an impact on not only cheese, but also products like cream.

Lori Mesik Hamilton - Bayfield County

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