With school out for the summer, many Wisconsin families face a growing challenge: feeding their children. According to Feeding Wisconsin, around 400,000 kids in the state lose access to regular school meals during summer break. “We always see a spike in food pantry demand during these months,” said Jackie Anderson, Executive Director of Feeding Wisconsin. That’s because parents must now fill the gap once covered by school breakfasts and lunches. “We’re seeing the biggest increase in childhood hunger since the Great Recession,” Anderson added. Statewide, more than 618,000 people are considered food insecure. That means they don’t always know where their next meal will come from. “That’s the reality too many are living in,” Anderson said. “One in 10 adults and one in six children in Wisconsin face food insecurity.”

Bill Hemling served as the co-chair for this years Classic Green Reunion. He talks the event and organization itself, their partnership with FFA and his personal interest and collection of John Deere equipment.

Kwik Trip has recently been named the best gas station brand in the US and the best food from a gas station in the US. Ben Leibl with Public Relations for Kwik Trip says a lot of this is because of Wisconsin. He says they get all their products from within 100 miles of their headquarters in Lacrosse. Leibl shares that they sell 150K dozens of eggs every week and 100 pounds of butter daily. Kwik Trip thanks all the farmers for their hard work because without them, they would not be able to achieve these accomplishments.

The farm workforce in Wisconsin might be made up of family, foreign-born labor, or people across different generations. How can farm managers better retain those employees? Michael Hoffman is the president of Igniting Performance, working closely with agricultural organizations such as Professional Dairy Producers. He specializes in helping develop leaders in the family business. One of the presentations he gives to dairy farmers is on how to make farm employees feel comfortable and valued in the workplace. He tells us the top challenges for farm families when it comes to managing farm labor.

County fair season begins this week in Wisconsin.  One theme you'll hear is "You Make The Difference".  Jayme Butke, executive secretary of the WI Fair Association joins Pam Jahnke to talk about a national directive that all fairs are being encouraged to adopt.  It's about finding the next generation of volunteers and evaluating where your fair is going and what value it brings to the community, county, state. Hot and sticky to start the week.  That's the summary from Stu Muck for Wisconsin weather. Tina Peterson with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin joins Charitee Seebecker to talk more about why these stories and connections matter.  Paid for by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, fairs happen once a year.  There's a lot riding on a few days of good weather and community interaction.   What about those buildings that fairs use, and the uncertainty of the weather.  Can fairs protect themselves from these elements? Stephanie Hoff talks to Robert Holmes, the president of Spectrum Weather and Specialty Insurance. His clients are nationwide, but his roots are in the Upper Midwest. Robert grew up in Minnesota and then came to college in Wisconsin. He worked as a weather researcher at UW-Madison for eight years before starting his business. His job today is to help fairs protect their bottom line in case of a severe weather event or the countless other things that could go wrong.

Jefferson County is investing in their economic development with a new food and beverage innovation Campus. Kikkoman foods has already started construction on their new factory with OnegoBio coming soon. Deb Reinbold is the President of ThriveED in Jefferson County and she says that all the advancements are part of an updated strategic plan for the county. She also says there is about $563 million invested into this new campus. The end goal is to boost the county's economy and create more jobs to attract new residents. To go along with this campus, they are making housing renovations and allowing more businesses to move into the area, so the county becomes a powerhouse.

When most people think of 4-H, they picture the fairgrounds—livestock shows, ribbons, and maybe a few arts and crafts. But the organization is so much more, offering hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity, build confidence, and meet youth where they are. That’s exactly the approach Alex Galston is taking as the Jackson County 4-H Educator. With a fresh perspective and a passion for making 4-H accessible beyond the traditional mold, Galston is working to expand the program’s reach into after-school spaces and underserved communities.

The Wisconsin FFA Convention was back this year at Alliant Energy Center in Madison WI, for the 96th year. Cheryl Zimmerman the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association FFA tells us about the historic year they have been able to have. Including a brand new record of membership with over 27,000 members. And a brand new attendance record at the convention hall with over 4,500 attendees over the span of the 4 day convention. She also expresses the importance of the many faces behind the scenes that help make the convention run, and the organization prosper all year long. 

Amalia Draxler of the Glenwood City FFA Chapter will serve as the 2025-2026 Wisconsin State FFA President. Draxler, daughter of Mike and Rebecca, is a student at UW-Madison, working toward a degree in agricultural and applied economics. She’s involved in the Association of Women in Agriculture and hopes to use her experiences to continue to advocate for agriculture through a career in agricultural communications. Her Journey in agriculture started on her families dairy farm where her passion for advocating for agriculture grew in experiences such as the showing at the far, FFA, and even county fairest of the fair. 

The 96th Wisconsin State FFA Convention drew to a close on Thursday.  One of the special guests that was traveling down memory lane was Mary Schreiber, past Wisconsin State FFA Officer, currently serving as a National FFA Vice President.  Jill Welke visits with the Wisconsin native, happy to be home in familiar surroundings. More sun than rain for the weekend.  That's great news for all the outdoor events coming up according to Stu Muck. This weekend may be warmer, but overall Wisconsin's lagging behind in heat units.  Steve Baile, branch manager for the Helena Agri location in Monroe talks to Pam Jahnke about their strategy in battling weeds and bugs, while micromanaging plant health for performance.  Paid for by Helena Agri. Amalia Draxler from Glenwood City has been named the 2025-26 Wisconsin Association of FFA President.  Right after the announcement, Aubrey Schlimgen chatted with Draxler about the agenda she's bringing to the position.  Draxler explains her unique path from dairy farm kid to state leader.

With escalating prices everywhere, what decisions are consumers making with their dollars at the grocery store?  That's the question posed to Dr. Glynn Tonsor, Professor, Dept. of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University.  Tonsor works cooperatively with the beef checkoff and pork checkoff programs to survey consumers on a monthly basis for the Monthly Meat Demand Monitor.   Tonsor tells Pam Jahnke that consumers are still investing in beef at the grocery store, but there are conflicting opinions that could bring changes to that scenario.  Tonsor says broader issues like tariffs and potential unemployment worry consumers.  On the other hand, he says consumers want meat protein in their diet and that more respondents self declare as 'meat consumers'. Tonsor says retail demand is holding firm for beef, but food service purchases have taken a hit.  Tonsor also notes that even consumers who are purchasing beef may be changing which cut of beef they're buying to reflect a tighter pocketbook.  Tonsor's Monthly Meat Demand Monitor also helps gauge what consumers know about the food system.  He explains that survey respondents have confidence in the food inspection service, and that taste and freshness are the most important elements shoppers are looking for.  That remains the biggest decision maker for customers, even overriding price. Checkoff chat brought to you courtesy of the Wisconsin Beef Council and underwritten by Equity Livestock Cooperative.

Brusveen, of Randolph-Cambria-Friesland FFA, is a young entrepreneur that began Seed Clean when he saw a need in his community. He cleans grain to be used in cover crops. The operation began with a grain cleaner from his grandfather and continues to expand today. His business has expanded to include new equipment, such as a larger cleaner and conveyor lines. As his business evolves, he continues to prioritize efficiency and accuracy.

Oleson, of Adams Friendship FFA, began her operation by completing everyday tasks familiar to many cattle producers. She spent time feeding, cleaning waterers and mucking pens. As she continued to grow in her skillset, her involvement in the operation expanded as well. Today, she makes breeding decisions, operates machinery and performs artificial insemination for the herd.

When Berg, of Granton FFA, was in eighth grade, she simultaneously took agricultural and science classes. This experience kick started her interest in agriscience. After a recommendation from her advisor, she began to participate in the Wisconsin FFA Agriscience Fair. Her interests haven taken her to explore the fertilizers. Berg’s first experiment reflected the impacts of natural, inorganic and synthetic organic fertilizer on plant growth, of which she found natural fertilizer to be the best. Her following project was a comparison of natural fertilizers that are commonly used in gardening.

Krueger’s family, of Campbellsport FFA, has a rich history in agriculture. Her family’s operation is rooted in the swine industry. She began her operation with a registered Hampshire gilt to produce county fair and feeder pigs for local buyers. Now, she has introduced a new species to her family’s operation: cattle. Her first purchase of a Simmental Heifer was the beginnings of her passion for the beef industry.

A consistent message from farm groups nationwide is that labor is a No. 1 issue in the agricultural economy. Jeremy Foltz is a professor of agricultural and applied economics at UW-Madison. He’s currently gathering data on what the farm workforce looks like on dairy farms across the state. It’s research done through the UW Dairy Innovation Hub. He paints the picture for us on what the survey results have shown so far, and he agrees lack of farm labor is a problem.

The fifth annual Wisconsin Arts & Peony Festival will be here June 13-15 in Beaver Dam, and this year, it’s attracting an international audience. Today, we’re catching up with Michelle Ovans of Ovans Peony Farm in Beaver Dam - the state’s largest fresh-cut peony farm. Michelle cares for more than 1,600 peony plants representing about 100 varieties. Her farm is on display during the upcoming festival. And while her flowers are exquisite, there’s even more to look forward to this year.  Stephanie Hoff finds out more about the event, and the flowers. A mix of clouds and showers are on the way for Wisconsin.  Stu Muck breaks out the regions. The stars were out Wednesday night and it had nothing to do with the sky.  The 96th annual Wisconsin FFA Convention announced the new officer team, and also the Wisconsin Stars of FFA.  Kiley Allan speaks with Ashton Brusveen from the Randolph-Cambria-Friesland chapter - the new Star in Agribusiness.  Brusveen has spent a lot of time on his seed business.  Seed Clean is his own enterprise that purchases seed bulk from area farmers and then cleans it and resells it.  Brusveen will now advance to national competition in October. The butter market has been performing above expectations lately.  Katie Burgess, dairy risk manager with EverAg joins Pam Jahnke to discuss the differences between U.S. produced butter and the world marketplace.

University Extension Specialist, Dr. Shawn Conley, is advising wheat growers across the state to be monitoring their fields for possible fungal diseases.  Conley says there's already been aerial applications going on wheat fields in southern Wisconsin to mitigate Fusarium head blight.  Conley says there's also been scattered reports of Stripe Rust. For more details on risks and rewards, check out the new Badger Crop Network website with the latest information.

A 15 year old from Trempealeau County is on her way to Portugal thanks to her dog.  Addison Connolly from Galesville and her 6 year old border collie, Cooper, have qualified as a part of Team USA for the Junior Open Agility World Championship.  She's worked her dog up from hand signals to just verbal commands.  Cooper responds to 7 different commands just to manage through the jump obstacle alone.  Charitee Seebecker hears the details. Hot.  That's the outlook for Wisconsin today with the possibility of some heavy weather coming in tonight.  Stu Muck details the forecast. Some Oliver farm equipment got some record prices last week with the Steffes Auction group.  Ashley Huhn tells Pam Jahnke what seemed to attract the big group of online bidders.  Paid for by Steffes Group. There's 16 different June dairy celebrations happening on Saturday alone across the state.  One family in Cambridge will host the Dane County Dairy Breakfast for the second time.  Pam Jahnke talks to Tina Hinchley about their operation that features robotic milking.  Hinchley is passionate about educating the public about all facets of dairy life.

Looking for a sign that spring has finally settled in? For many, it’s the arrival of rhubarb — that bright red, tart stalk that finds its way into everything from pies to sauces. At farms across Wisconsin, rhubarb season is in full swing, and one farm in particular is seeing their best crop yet.  Ed Bures, owner of the farm, says this year’s rhubarb is some of the best he’s grown in 25 years. “We’ve probably got 1,000 pounds of rhubarb out there,” he says. “It’s the best-looking rhubarb I’ve ever had.” Each of their 200 rhubarb plants is grown on raised mounds, spaced about three feet apart. The plants are irrigated regularly and were originally transplanted from an organic farm nearby. “We added compost and horse manure when we planted,” Bures explains. “It helped them get well-established.” This season’s cooler temperatures have helped the rhubarb grow without stress. “Cool springs are great for early crops like rhubarb,” he says. “We’ve also seen very few insects, which makes a big difference.”

Processing manure or combining it with other materials to create a more sustainable or valuable product is a fairly new concept. But researchers are on it to see if novel manure products can work to reduce environmental impact while improving a farm’s bottom line. Since 2021, UW-Platteville has been involved in a national project focused on regenerative agriculture. The six-state research initiative is called the Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration project. Dennis Busch joins us. He’s a UW-Platteville professor working on this eight-year project. He says there are a lot of moving parts across the six states as they study novel manure products. Research takes into account feed production, soil health, manure management, greenhouse gases, and forage yield, for example. UW-Platteville has a unique focus as well -- water quality.

Support clean, healthy lakes with Clean Lakes Alliance’s 13th Annual Loop the Lake Bike Ride. Loop the Lake is an at-your-own-pace bike ride around Lake Monona on June 14 that raises funds to protect and preserve Greater Madison’s lakes. “If we all do our part, urban and rural, we can help our lakes,” says Founder and Executive Director James Tye. Find more information: https://www.cleanlakesalliance.org/loop-the-lake/

Hinchley’s Dairy Farm is no stranger to opening its doors to guests far and wide. On June 14, the Hinchley family will welcome community members to their farm for the Dane County Breakfast on the Farm.  Featuring a menu of cheesy scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, milk, and coffee, the breakfast offers something for everyone. Visitors can expect a real, family-owned, farming experience. Designed to be an educational experience, the event will feature more than just a hearty breakfast. Attendees will see the farm in action, hear from industry professionals, and witness cheese carving, among other things. Learn more: https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2025/06/08/see-farm-life-first-hand-at-hinchleys/

Welcome back as we introduce you to specialty crops around Wisconsin and the growers who make it happen. Today, we’re taking you to the strawberry fields before the berries ripen up for the season. For Roger Basse of Basse's Taste of Country in Colgate, this season is about more than the tasty red fruit. It’s about bringing the community out to the farm to make memories. He tells us all about how the berries go from blossom to basket and how this agritourism destination came to be!  If you’re looking to generate an additional revenue stream for your farm by offering agricultural tourism experiences, join the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association. WATA is there to help you navigate not just all that goes into ag tourism, like marketing, licensing, and developing educational experiences. But they’re also an advocate for you in policy development.  This podcast series is brought to you by Specialty Crop Block Grant 23-10. Learn more at gowiagtourism.com.

Sustainability is a phrase often used in agriculture and food production.  Definitions of sustainability can differ from one operation to another, however.  Jill Welke visits with Barron County native and farmer, Andy Bensend, about how he approaches the sustainability conversation. Bensend's been involved in multiple boards across the state and nationally that have wrestled with practices and priorities.  He explains what he thinks needs to be priorities when it comes to farmer practices and compensation. Sunshine's back on the plate for today's forecast.  Stu Muck says heat's building and so is the possibility for some severe weather later in the week. A record breaking number of FFA members engaged in the Day of Service organized by the Wisconsin FFA.  Kiley Allan and Aubrey Schlimgen shadowed some of the projects and talked with Scot from Meals of the Heartland and students involved in building beds for families without. The latest crop progress report documents improvement in the state's wheat, oats and alfalfa crops.  Meanwhile, the sometimes overlooked rhubarb crop is thriving too!  Ed Bures from Bures Berry Patch in Barneveld says its the best crop he's seen in 25 years.  Wisconsin's strawberry crop is also on the way with some patches already open! Pretty quiet on the news front for commodity traders.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend.  Cattle capture headlines this morning with more record prices.

Biodiesel is growing in the Midwest, and Illinois is a primary example. The folks accelerating biodiesel programs just south of us also want to see Wisconsin expand biodiesel usage. Stephanie Hoff was recently in Illinois and Chicagoland with Clean Fuels Alliance America, looking at the whole chain of biodiesel production from the beans getting dropped off at the plant to riding on a boat on the Chicago River that runs on biodiesel. The state has tax incentives for using biodiesel, and it’s also helping advance sustainability goals. Pete Probst is the president of Indiginous Energy, which is a renewable energy consultant, working with groups like the Illinois Soybean Association and the Chicago Park District. Pete tells Stephanie Hoff that he loves renewable diesel so much, he rigged up his own ride back in the day to run on used cooking oil. He also talks about his role helping members of the B20 Club -- a partnership between the Illinois Soybean Association checkoff and the American Lung Association. It supports fleets running on biodiesel blends of 20 percent or higher.  More showers possible today, but it's the wind you'll likely notice.  That's the update from Stu Muck.   Summer camp is something many kids look forward to.  While the initial goal might be just having fun, it doesn't hurt to include some educational experiences too.  Ben Jarboe finds out about the 4-H Summer Academy.  It offers attendees a variety of track-based activities, seminars, campus tours, performances, and hands-on experiences. Summer Academy will be held at the UW-Madison Campus, where youth and adult chaperones will stay at Sellery Residence hall. Youth will be participating in a wide variety of track-based activities and seminars. They will be able to visit different locations on Campus and in Madison. They will also have the opportunity to hear from speakers, watch a performance from the 4-H Drama Company, and participate in a variety of fun hands-on activities! Polk County 4-H Agent, Lindsay Spindler, about why she's excited to be a part of the event. The spirit of June Dairy celebrations is crossing in waves across the state, but what about taking the enthusiasm outside the state?  In this edition of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin discussion, Pam Jahnke finds out about the value that trade shows bring to dairy producers.  Samantha Castro is the Director - Buyer Missions & Trade Shows at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.  The volume of people and decision makers that can be reached at one trade show helps move the needle on product placement and ingredient inclusion for a lot of Wisconsin dairy processors.  She explains how they use limited trade floor space to make sure they're involving Wisconsin cheesemakers in telling the story.  Paid for by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

Now that graduates have crossed the stage, what's next?  Ben Jarboe chats about graduate demand in the agriculture field with Tammy Jensen, president of Agri-Careers recruiting agency.  She says there's been more unemployment in agriculture over the last 12-18 months then normally experienced.  Right now Jensen says graduates are looking for sales and manager jobs but may be left out.  Jensen says they're finding demand for "hands-on" jobs that need to be filled now, but may turn into advanced positions quickly.   Should be a beautiful Saturday for June Dairy Celebrations, but rain returns Sunday.  That's the outlook from Stu Muck. Her passion for her pooch, Cooper, is taking a Trempealeau County 4-H member to Portugal in July.  Charitee Seebecker finds out about the excitement, 15-year old Addison Connolly of Galesville is preparing for.  Through her 4-H dog project, Connolly and her 6 year old border collie, Cooper made the cut on Team USA for the Junior Open Agility World Championship. Connolly says in the beginning she used hand signals, but now it's all vocal commands.  Cooper can understand going left or right, and has about 7 different commands/cues for just the jump obstacle alone. All the June dairy celebrations popping up across the state don't just happen.  It takes a tremendous amount of time, coordination and volunteers to bring it all together.  Green County has over 40 years of experience when it comes to pulling things together. Stephanie Hoff talks to two staples of the Green County history.  Bob and Nancy Faith recall memories from their experience hosting the first-ever Green County Breakfast on the Farm 45 years ago. They started a few traditions as trailblazers, which are unique to the Green County breakfast: coffee cake instead of pancakes, and strawberries served on the ice cream.

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin partners with a variety of cheese and dairy companies and food processors. These partners not only incorporate Wisconsin dairy into their products, they also give us a clear shout-out on their packaging through the use of our badge, making it easier for consumers to identify the quality products produced in Wisconsin.  In addition, over 200 cheese brands now feature the Proudly Wisconsin Cheese logo, and in-store promotions have increased 26 percent over the past year. With continued exposure, sales and demand continue to climb as well.  Making those in-store promotions, restaurant features and ingredient partnerships is part of what trade show appearances mean for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.   Samantha Castro is the director of buyer missions and trade shows for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.  She tells Pam Jahnke about some recent trade show events that partnered DFW staff with Wisconsin companies that were trying to crack into a broader food and retail market.

Dan Christensen is the general lab manager at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, providing testing to private veterinarians and working closely with state animal health officials on disease outbreak response, including the highly pathogenic avian influenza. Right now, they’re undergoing the national milk testing surveillance program. He says it took Wisconsin a little longer to get started with the testing surveillance because our industry is unique from other states – we’re testing individual farms instead of a group -- silo -- at once. The WVDL has a robot to increase efficiency at the lab. Wisconsin has also been instrumental in helping California with its milk testing. Wisconsin has not had a positive case in dairy cattle. 

On the farm, ingenuity is the name of the game. Farmers are self-starters, entrepreneurs, and jacks of all trades. Those attributes are even seen in the marketplace as growers get together to solve problems and bring more value to their businesses. Today, we’re taking a look at how biodiesel got started several decades ago. Tom Verry is the director of outreach and development with Clean Fuels Alliance America. Tom has been promoting biodiesel with soybean farmers even before the organization was started. A lot of success has come from trial and error, such as soy foam and biodiesel. Instead of bringing gallons of biodiesel to truck pulls, trying to get people started on it, Tom says the success story has taken them to international markets as the world looks to cleaner fuels. 

Some critical information is coming soon from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It could mean the difference between whether a biofuel plant stays open. Paul Winters joins us. He's the director of public affairs with Clean Fuels Alliance America. Paul says the renewable fuels industry is waiting for an answer from the EPA on renewable volume obligations or RVOs under the Renewable Fuel Standard. These mandate how much renewable fuel must be blended into gasoline and diesel. Paul says the capacity that exists to produce renewable diesel and biodiesel is more than 7.5 billion gallons. Using that capacity at 70 percent would produce more than 5 billion gallons of fuel. Paul references the Chevron Renewable Energy Group plant closure, announced March 2024. Chevron blamed the EPA for the decision after the last administration set its renewable fuel standards "very low."

It's just about county fair season and already livestock's moving around the state.  Remembering biosecurity before you leave the farm is an important message this year.  Jeff Morris, UW-Extension Swine Outreach Specialist visits with Pam Jahnke about the simple measures exhibitors can take to protect not only their animals, but their entire enterprises. Smoke is back in Wisconsin this afternoon.  Mild temperatures roll in.  That's the update from Stu Muck. Tariffs and human health are turning into interesting stories in the "Windy City".   Known for Lake Michigan beaches and urban parks, the Chicago Park District is using ever-higher biodiesel blends to reduce emissions and improve air quality in America's third-largest city. Lawn mowers, beach rakers, truckers, and tree trimmers are operating on blends up to B100 (100 percent biodiesel), achieving up to an 86 percent reduction in carbon emissions. The Chicago Park District estimates it has saved people about $67,000 in health care costs by improving the air quality with biodiesel. Michael Dimitroff, manager of Art Initiatives with Chicago Parks, wants to see the City of Chicago utilize more biodiesel across its fleets. He visits with Stephanie Hoff during a Clean Fuels Alliance tour, about the measures. Cody Koster, dairy analyst with EverAg, catches up with Pam Jahnke to focus on how dairy's maneuvering through tight heifer supplies and incredible prices for baby calves. Koster says this is a trend that will no doubt influence milk production, probably by this fall.

As weather warms, insects make their way to Wisconsin.  Charitee Seebecker talks with the man keeping his focus on their migration.  P.J. Leisch, UW-Extension Entomologist says that with the extra moisture we've seen, insect levels will likely pick up. Wet weather and smoke are back in the forecast today according to Stu Muck. Now is the time to start thinking through a partial sale or auction for some farms.  Ashley Huhn with the Steffes Group tells Pam Jahnke that their bookings are already ticking up, and that giving yourself time is a key to success.  Paid for by the Steffes Group. Manure spills can happen at any time in Wisconsin, and the state's DNR is always monitoring.  A recent spill in Monroe County has the DNR gathering data on fish kill and volume spilled.  Ben Jarboe talks with Nathan Nye, fish biologist with the DNR. Does your lawn have you scratching your head?  Bewildered about why it won't catch?  Doug Soldat, UW-Extension Turf Specialist struggles with it on his personal lawn.  Seed and water are two key ingredients to success.  He visits with Charitee Seebecker.

Biodiesel is growing in the Midwest, and Illinois is a primary example. The folks accelerating biodiesel programs just south of us also want to see Wisconsin expand biodiesel usage. Stephanie Hoff was recently in Illinois and Chicagoland with Clean Fuels Alliance America, looking at the whole chain of biodiesel production from the beans getting dropped off at the plant to riding on a boat on the Chicago River that runs on biodiesel. The state has tax incentives for using biodiesel, and it’s also helping advance sustainability goals. Pete Probst is the president of Indiginous Energy, which is a renewable energy consultant, working with groups like the Illinois Soybean Association and the Chicago Park District. Pete loves renewable diesel so much, he rigged up his own ride back in the day to run on used cooking oil.

Known for Lake Michigan beaches and urban parks, the Chicago Park District is using ever-higher biodiesel blends to reduce emissions and improve air quality in America's third-largest city. Lawn mowers, beach rakers, truckers, and tree trimmers are operating on blends up to B100 (100 percent biodiesel), achieving up to an 86 percent reduction in carbon emissions. The Chicago Park District estimates it has saved people about $67,000 in health care costs by improving the air quality with biodiesel. Michael Dimitroff, manager of Art Initiatives with Chicago Parks, wants to see the City of Chicago utilize more biodiesel across its fleets.

As the weather warms and lawns begin to green up, many homeowners are eager to fire up the mower and get to work. But before diving into spring lawn care, it’s worth hearing from one of Wisconsin’s top turf experts. Doug Soldat, UW-Extension Turf Specialist, shares timely advice to help ensure your lawn stays healthy from spring through fall—and it all starts with one simple step you might be overlooking.

"Turn it Up" is the theme for the 2025 Wisconsin State FFA Convention.  Thousands of members will gather at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.  Jill Welke talks to WI State FFA President, Jescey Thompson, about planned convention highlights and the overall mood of the convention.  Thompson says he was always raised to believe that "success breeds success", and thinks that's part of the energy members feel when they get together. Some severe weather could be making its way to Wisconsin today.  Stu Muck focuses on some of the cells developing that could produce not only rain, but a thunderstorm. Tractor enthusiasts, especially those fond of John Deere, are getting ready to swarm the Washington County Fair Park and Conference Center mid-June.  Pam Jahnke finds out about the history of the Classic Green Reunion from Sheila Everhart, executive director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association.  She's helping highlight the educational programs that are scheduled, as well as the unique combination of the county's dairy breakfast being held at the same facilities. Uncertainty that's been created over tariff's is again influencing the markets.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing, joins Pam Jahnke to explain which commodities are feeling the pinch. He also highlights an inaccurate social media post that tanked cattle prices on Monday.  The false report claimed screwworm had been located in the U.S.  After the U.S. Department of Agriculture called out the inaccuracies, the market started to reset but is still at a discount this morning.

Technology is often something talked about in production agriculture, but you might be surprised at what levels. Karen St. Germain is the Director of Earth Science at NASA.  She shares with Ben Jarboe the work they do to support US farmers and says they are looking for more farmers to work with to further their research. Smoke alert for Wisconsin!  Stu Muck says there's an air quality advisory in effect for the entire state until 6 a.m. Saturday because of wildfires in Canada. If you're familiar with an electric fence for your backyard as pet control, then you might be able to get your arms around farms using the same concept.  Virtual fencing has been discussed for a while, but now a researcher at Oklahoma State University is working on refining the technology so farms can use it in wide open spaces. Dr. Ryan Reuter, a professor of animal and food sciences at Oklahoma State University, says animals would be fit with a collar that allows them to sense when they're close to the fence.  He acknowledges that some animals will learn faster than others, just like some farmers will grasp how to manage the technology faster than others. Ivy league schools have found themselves in headlines when the federal government removes funding or stops supporting research efforts.  The financing uncertainty isn't limited to just colleges of a certain tier.  Stephanie Hoff talks with UW-Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean, Glenda Gilaspy, on where she worries about funding being cut.  Gilaspy also says they're expecting a very large freshman class on campus this fall, and how they're planning to handle the load.

Right now Wisconsin dairy operators are enjoying a pretty healthy milk check.  Will that be the case later this year?  Bob Bosold discusses the dairy price outlook with Leonard Polzin,  Dairy Markets and Policy Outreach Specialist at UW-River Falls. Hot weather on the way today with some measurable rain.  That's the outlook from Stu Muck. A new food company is on its way to Jefferson County.  Ben Jarboe finds out about the Finland based, OnegoBio Wisconsin native Chris Landowski is a co-founder and Chief Technical Officer for OnegoBio. He explains how they are able to work around the bird flu by brewing egg whites. Landowski also says that this Finland based company is building a new factory in Jefferson Wisconsin. In order to pick this they did a nationwide survey and Wisconsin's access to corn starch and great reputation as a food processing state made it an easy choice. Landowski also says that this new factory will be part of the Food and Beverage Innovation campus that is under way in Jefferson.This new factory looks to create 2,160 jobs during construction and 136 indirect jobs annually. They will also employ 81 direct full time employees to man the factory. You may not think about it daily, but there's a lot of research ongoing about pet food and livestock feed.  Lara Moody is the executive director of the Institute for Feed Education and Research, a charity that works on behalf of the feed industry. One of their responsibilities is determining what’s trending in the pet food space. Moody tells Stephanie Hoff and the Mid-West Farm Report what's becoming available in the byproduct supply chain that meets the nutrition requirements for fur babies and the desires of pet parents. 

Scott Alsum at Alsum Sweet Corn in Randolph catches up with Stephanie Hoff at the Dane County Farmers Market. He says it's too early for fresh sweet corn -- his crop will be ready in July. But for the past several years, he's been providing frozen sweet corn for the first few months of the farmers market season. It's one example of how consumers can access local produce even when the growing season has just begun. 

Ants in the muffins meant they had to ask the sheriff to deliver all the donuts he could find! Bob and Nancy Faith recall memories from their experience hosting the first-ever Green County Breakfast on the Farm 45 years ago. They started a few traditions as trailblazers, which are unique to the Green County breakfast: coffee cake instead of pancakes, and strawberries served on the ice cream.

Mike Brown serves as the vice president for dairy market intelligence at T. C. Jacoby & Company, Inc. He's an expert on milk pricing policy who has worked for both farmer-owned cooperatives and proprietary businesses for nearly four decades. Throughout his career, he has been a big proponent of university research. Mike says university research has provided him with the facts and tools to be creative and try new things.

UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Dean Glenda Gillaspy talks to Mid-West Farm Report about the work stoppages and funding freezes going on in research within CALS. She says she's looking for guidance on why certain research gets flagged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In other news, the college is expecting its largest class in the fall after introducing new majors to better meet the needs of students pursuing a career in agriculture, including veterinary medicine and food animal management.

Something as simple as the name of a food can be a trade barrier for U.S. dairy. Shawna Morris is the executive vice president for trade policy and global affairs for the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council. She says there are quite a few unfair trade policies that the European Union forces on the United States. Geographical Indications are an example -- GIs are a protective label for products with a specific geographical origin. Morris explains why GIs are problematic for dairy products that, according to other places in the world, have a common name.

The soybean industry has been working diligently to make sure all the soybeans grown in the U.S. have a place to go and the united soybean board has been a large part of this. Mary Stewart works with the Health and Nutrition demand side of the United Soybean Board to gives a look into the health benefits soybeans have as well as the work USB is doing to find new markets for these soybeans. She says that they feel continuing to find new domestic markets for soybeans is the key to a healthy industry.

The soybean industry has been working diligently to make sure all the soybeans grown in the U.S. have a place to go and the united soybean board has been a large part of this. Pat Giberson a Director with the United Soybean Board shares some unique things that soybeans are a part of as well as their work to make the Mississippi River deeper to allow for larger loads. He says soybeans are in nearly everything around us without many people knowing.

John Deere enthusiasts and tractor lovers from around the globe are going to be headed to Washington County in June.  Co-chair Dan Guden of Athens, WI invites you to the Classic Green Reunion June 12-14 at the Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center in West Bend. This family-friendly event will feature over 1,000 tractors, implements, engines, toys, and memorabilia exhibits. Admission will include access to the exhibits, working demonstrations, seminars, kids’ activities, and a daily tractor parade. Wisconsin's heritage will be on display with dairy farm tours, a June Dairy Breakfast, and a Friday night fish fry.  Stephanie Hoff gives us the inside look. A little fog this morning but otherwise a pleasant Thursday according to Stu Muck.  More sun and warmer temperatures are coming this weekend. School is about to conclude for the summer break statewide, but some of the programs that happen in those classrooms are a valuable part of the communities they live in.  Charitee Seebecker talks with Christine Fossen-Rades, teacher at Menominee Indian School District.  What started with students making tea has quietly grown into a much larger movement, one driven by a simple question and a strong desire to be more self-reliant. These students are taking the lead, planting the seeds—literally and figuratively—for a project that ties together culture, community, and sustainability. Rades shares more about how the project came together and what it means for the school and community. The bugs have returned to Wisconsin farm fields.  A new website developed by UW-Extension researchers shows that armyworm and cutworm are infesting fields at a pretty high rate.  Jordan Kampa, interim manager of the state's pesticide applicators program, says if you're treating those insects - be careful. U.S. dairy has gone from the doldrums to comfortable margins in a short period of time.  Ryan Yonkman, vice president and co-founder of EverAg joins Pam Jahnke to discuss.  Yonkman says while tariffs are still a discussion in the marketplace, dairy keeps making sales.  Butter has had a particularly robust international play, which is unusual.  

So far 19 agriculture education programs in Wisconsin are planning for teacher changes next school year.  That's the word from Sally Ladsten, Education Counselor with the Department of Public Instruction.  She oversees agriculture, food and natural resource programs and acts as the Wisconsin State FFA Advisor.  She calls this time of year "crazy" in a conversation with Pam Jahnke.  Last year, Wisconsin experienced 60 teacher turnovers.  Some stay in the state, the profession, and others leave.  Ladsten says they're always scrambling to try and find available teachers to fill the slots of growing programs. Rainfall reporters will be busy again today according to Stu Muck.  Light rain is likely to sweep across the state. Land sales remain firm according to Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group.  In this installment of his conversation with Pam Jahnke, he focuses on the differences bidders experience when they show interest in land.  Paid for by Steffes Group. The state's farmers are starting to see planting in the rear view mirror.  Over 80% of the corn and soybeans have been planted.  Pam Jahnke recaps the planting progress report.  Kurt Lahr with CHS says the state is in a pretty good spot overall. While things are going calmly forward now, there's concerns on the horizon about climate change.  A new survey released by UW-Madison points out that farmers recognize climate change, and are adjusting some of their practices because of it. Changes are being discussed on funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  Stephanie Hoff talks to a Rudolph area farmer who has felt the positive impact of SNAP dollars on the clients he serves at the Dane County Farmers Market and elsewhere. Carl Flaig of Flaig Family Farm in Rudolph features an aquaponics system and cattle ranch that brings fresh produce, fish filets, and beef year-round to Wisconsin consumers, restaurants, and retailers. He says it's a major asset that SNAP recipients can purchase food from farmers' market vendors. Carl was recently in Washington D.C. with Wisconsin Farmers Union asking lawmakers to support a strong Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

The U.S. dairy industry took a milestone step to further collaborations with Indonesia. Shawna Morris is the executive vice president for trade policy and global affairs for the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council. These are two of several organizations that signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia that could result in more dairy exports for U.S. producers. 

B. Kurt Dairy, a first-generation dairy farm passionate about educating people about food and farming, is hosting the Iowa County Dairy Breakfast. Enjoy a locally-sourced breakfast from 6:30-10:30 a.m. that includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. After breakfast, check out the kids' area, petting zoo, live music, a farm tour, and more. No parking on the farm - park at Vortex and take a short bus ride to the farm. Learn more: https://www.wisconsindairy.org/National-Dairy-Month/Dairy-Breakfasts/Detail?eventId=443