Meet The New FISC Director!

Stephanie Hoff visits with the new FISC Program Director Mary Holle, who dairies in Baldwin. FISC is a 16-week course specifically designed for the "slow season," running from the last week of October to the second week of March. Students spend roughly 80 percent of their time at the Mann Valley la…

Precision Care Redefines The Modern Calf Barn

Veterinarian Kendra Wells with Valley Veterinary Clinic tells Stephanie Hoff that the dairy industry has shifted its perspective on calves, moving from seeing them as future earners to recognizing them as the immediate, high-value "future of the farm." Due to the use of sexed semen and beef semen, …

Data Center Land Fights Spread And War Disrupts Dairy Product Movement - Jan Prins

Wisconsin's dairy industry is thriving and always changing.  Looking for the "next big thing".  Some dairy sheep owners in western Wisconsin hope the next big thing is vodka.  From sheep whey.  Ben Jarboe gets the story from Scott Kring, Co-owner of Birch Point Distillery in Westby.  Thanks to a gr…

From Football To Farming And World Cheese Workers Shine

UW-Badger standout and NFL Hall of Famer, Joe Thomas, has turned farmer in southwest Wisconsin.  Stephanie Hoff finds out what lured the offensive lineman to transition from field battles on turf, to field battles on pasture.  Thomas is using his halloffamebeef.com product to elevate awareness and …

Labneh: A New Contender At The World Championship Cheese Contest

Stephanie Hoff learns all about labneh at the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest in Madison. Expert judge Aileen Kacvinsky discusses the debut of labneh, a versatile Middle Eastern-style cultured dairy product that balances the texture of sour cream with the tang of yogurt. The conversation hig…

Balancing Urban Demand & Farmland Preservation

As cities like Madison, or counties like Dane, expand at record rates, we’re faced with a puzzle: how do we house a booming population without paving over the farmland that defines our state? Capital Area Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Jason Valerius tells Stephanie Hoff that his j…

Elections Approach For Dairy Farmers of WI - Get Involved Like Sandy Madland

It’s election time for the 9 open districts for the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board of Directors, so it’s a great time to talk about farmer leadership and their voice. Today, we learn the story of Sandy Madland, a Wisconsin dairy farmer and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board Director.  Madland was …

Farmers Lead The Charge On Water Quality Amid Urban Sprawl

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 gro…

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

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 Stettle…

Meet Berry Farm Plus Internships Become Key Component For Employment

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, e…