Wind, moisture, and freezing temperatures can lead to ill chickens if you don't make preparations now to keep them comfortable. Division of Extension Poultry Specialist Ron Kean joins Stephanie Hoff in-studio with tips on how to prepare your backyard birds for winter. He walks us through recommendations on feed, heat, housing, and water. And he addresses salmonella and HPAI prevention.

Wind, moisture, and freezing temperatures can lead to ill chickens if you don't make preparations now to keep them comfortable. Division of Extension Poultry Specialist Ron Kean joins Stephanie Hoff in-studio with tips on how to prepare your backyard birds for winter. He walks us through recommendations on feed, heat, housing, and water. And he addresses salmonella and HPAI prevention.

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!

Prepare Your Backyard Chickens For Winter

It won't be long before Wisconsin roadways will have some large, heavy equipment heading to the fields.  Safety has to be a paramount concern for the farmers operating it, and the drivers sharing the road.  Kiley Allan gets a refresher course on what to remember from WI State Trooper.

Warmer temps are coming to Wisconsin from Canada.  Stu Muck says there's still a chance for rain in the forecast, and for people farther north - possible snow again.

Farmers are preparing to head to the fields for spring planting.  Once that seed is out of the bag and in the ground - they're committed.  But what happens if their agribusiness partner, which was going to buy that product closes or goes bankrupt before the harvest?  What's their recourse?  Stephanie Hoff talks with Randy Fleishauer of Plover River Farms, Stevens Point.  He currently sits on DATCP's Producer Security Council which is designed to deal with that dilemma, if it happens.  Fleishauer says losing a specialty crop processor disrupts the essential rotation needed for potatoes; without a "place to go" with secondary crops, growers cannot maintain soil health or yield. Unlike row crops like corn or soybeans, canning crops are "timely" and cannot be stored on-farm. If a processor can’t take them, the crop is often disced back into the dirt or sold as cattle feed. And potato growers have limited on-farm storage.  A shift in crop types forces local fertilizer and equipment suppliers to pivot their entire inventory, often driving up costs for the grower due to last-minute supply chain demands.  Fleishauer site the Del Monte bankruptcy last summer as an example of when this council comes into play.

The first crop progress report for 2026 was released on Monday.  Pam Jahnke reports that moisture situations look adequate statewide.  Only about 2% of oats have been seeded so far.

Corn and soybeans have decoupled from the Iran War in the marketplace.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend says that's lessened the swings on prices.  Triggers are still out there with crude oil until June, when there appears to be a "break".  Heinberg also notes that live cattle prices continue to climb.  Drier conditions in the west put critical grazing land in question for many cow/calf operators.

It won't be long before Wisconsin roadways will have some large, heavy equipment heading to the fields.&nbsp; Safety has to be a paramount concern for the farmers operating it, and the drivers sharing the road.&nbsp; Kiley Allan gets a refresher course on what to remember from WI State Trooper.
Warmer temps are coming to Wisconsin from Canada.&nbsp; Stu Muck says there's still a chance for rain in the forecast, and for people farther north - possible snow again.
Farmers are preparing to head to the fields for spring planting.&nbsp; Once that seed is out of the bag and in the ground - they're committed.&nbsp; But what happens if their agribusiness partner, which was going to buy that product closes or goes bankrupt before the harvest?&nbsp; What's their recourse?&nbsp; Stephanie Hoff talks with Randy Fleishauer of Plover River Farms, Stevens Point.&nbsp; He currently sits on DATCP's Producer Security Council which is designed to deal with that dilemma, if it happens.&nbsp; Fleishauer says losing a specialty crop processor disrupts the essential rotation needed for potatoes; without a "place to go" with secondary crops, growers cannot maintain soil health or yield. Unlike row crops like corn or soybeans, canning crops are "timely" and cannot be stored on-farm. If a processor can&rsquo;t take them, the crop is often disced back into the dirt or sold as cattle feed. And potato growers have limited on-farm storage.&nbsp;&nbsp;A shift in crop types forces local fertilizer and equipment suppliers to pivot their entire inventory, often driving up costs for the grower due to last-minute supply chain demands.&nbsp; Fleishauer site the Del Monte bankruptcy last summer as an example of when this council comes into play.
The first crop progress report for 2026 was released on Monday.&nbsp; Pam Jahnke reports that moisture situations look adequate statewide.&nbsp; Only about 2% of oats have been seeded so far.
Corn and soybeans have decoupled from the Iran War in the marketplace.&nbsp; John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend says that's lessened the swings on prices.&nbsp; Triggers are still out there with crude oil until June, when there appears to be a "break".&nbsp; Heinberg also notes that live cattle prices continue to climb.&nbsp; Drier conditions in the west put critical grazing land in question for many cow/calf operators.

Corn & Beans Decouple From War - Heinberg

Jan Prins a dairy broker from EverAg talks about how National and International happenings are affecting the markets. He says the Iran conflict is affecting butter the most due to inability to transport products through the Strait of Hormuz.

Jan Prins a dairy broker from EverAg talks about how National and International happenings are affecting the markets. He says the Iran conflict is affecting butter the most due to inability to transport products through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran Conflict Hits Dairy

Good Friday may have acted as a distraction from policy attention at the governor's mansion.

Wisconsin Senator Pat Testin, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Revenue Committee, says that Good Friday was a bad day for livestock operations in the state.  Governor Tony Evers decided to veto legislation that would have put a freeze on proposed fee increases proposed by the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.  These annual fee increases range from 205% to nearly 1,700%!  The livestock, marketing and trucking industry had collaborated with DATCP to find some common ground, but it wasn't enough for the governor.

On a positive note, it looks like there will be some state funding made available for farmers, land owners, and municipalities dealing with the fallout of PFAS contamination.  Testin says many of the impacted parties may have been unaware of the PFAS risk when practices were put into place.  This money would be targeted at clean up of impacted areas.  At this moment, the PFAS funding mechanism is waiting for the governor's signature.

Good Friday may have acted as a distraction from policy attention at the governor's mansion.
Wisconsin Senator Pat Testin, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Revenue Committee, says that Good Friday was a bad day for livestock operations in the state.&nbsp; Governor Tony Evers decided to veto legislation that would have put a freeze on proposed fee increases proposed by the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.&nbsp; These annual fee increases range from 205% to nearly 1,700%!&nbsp; The livestock, marketing and trucking industry had collaborated with DATCP to find some common ground, but it wasn't enough for the governor.
On a positive note, it looks like there will be some state funding made available for farmers, land owners, and municipalities dealing with the fallout of PFAS contamination.&nbsp; Testin says many of the impacted parties may have been unaware of the PFAS risk when practices were put into place.&nbsp; This money would be targeted at clean up of impacted areas.&nbsp; At this moment, the PFAS funding mechanism is waiting for the governor's signature.

Prepare Your Backyard Chickens For Winter

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