The need for affordable housing impacts our rural communities and their economies every day. But there is good news: there's people and programs working to ensure more homes are available.

Done so through grants, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago hopes to incentivize the next generation of real estate developers to focus on the rural housing demand. Tashayanna Mixson sat down with me. She's currently one of their emerging rural development fellows, and she's working right here in Wisconsin. While the program itself focuses on both the rental and ownership side of the equation, Tashayanna tells me that she herself is focused on creating opportunities for affordable homeownership, a situation that she describes as a dire need for rural Wisconsin.

The need for affordable housing impacts our rural communities and their economies every day. But there is good news: there's people and programs working to ensure more homes are available.
Done so through grants, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago hopes to incentivize the next generation of real estate developers to focus on the rural housing demand. Tashayanna Mixson sat down with me. She's currently one of their emerging rural development fellows, and she's working right here in Wisconsin. While the program itself focuses on both the rental and ownership side of the equation, Tashayanna tells me that she herself is focused on creating opportunities for affordable homeownership, a situation that she describes as a dire need for rural 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.

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!

The Push & Pull Of Rural Housing Demand

Sharing the great story of Wisconsin's beef industry can go in many different directions for many different audiences.  Dollars, however, are limited.

That's one of the challenges facing Tammy Vaassen, executive director of the Wisconsin Beef Council.  Vaassen, along with other state staff leaders, will be at the Summer Business Conference of the Cattlemen's Beef Board learning about projects that might fit with Wisconsin's direction.  Presenters will be from several different partners that contract with the Cattlemen's Beef Board.  Each with a particular area of expertise.

Vaassen explains to her board members and producers the simple fact that there's not as many cattle in the U.S. today as there has been.  That directly dictates the operating budget for the Wisconsin Beef Council.  By investigating partnerships with other checkoff funded partners, Vaassen can parlay her limited budget into a bigger bang for Wisconsin producers buck.  Any ideas that she believes are worth pursuing will be shared with her Wisconsin board members for final decision on funding.

In the past, for example, the Wisconsin Beef Council has used these partnerships to create reverse trade missions.  Brining foreign buyers to Wisconsin to learn about the unique system of beef production the state offers.  Vaassen and the staff at the Wisconsin Beef Council welcome questions or suggestions from producers or industry leaders.  The staff will be on hand in the Beef Tent at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days sharing educational materials with passersby.  You can also find more at their informative website - beeftips.com

 

Sharing the great story of Wisconsin's beef industry can go in many different directions for many different audiences.&nbsp; Dollars, however, are limited.
That's one of the challenges facing Tammy Vaassen, executive director of the <a href="https://www.beeftips.com/">Wisconsin Beef Council.</a>&nbsp; Vaassen, along with other state staff leaders, will be at the Summer Business Conference of the <a href="https://www.beefboard.org/">Cattlemen's Beef Board</a> learning about projects that might fit with Wisconsin's direction.&nbsp; Presenters will be from several different partners that contract with the Cattlemen's Beef Board.&nbsp; Each with a particular area of expertise.
Vaassen explains to her board members and producers the simple fact that there's not as many cattle in the U.S. today as there has been.&nbsp; That directly dictates the operating budget for the <a href="https://www.beeftips.com/">Wisconsin Beef Council</a>.&nbsp; By investigating partnerships with other checkoff funded partners, Vaassen can parlay her limited budget into a bigger bang for Wisconsin producers buck.&nbsp; Any ideas that she believes are worth pursuing will be shared with her Wisconsin board members for final decision on funding.
In the past, for example, the <a href="https://www.beeftips.com/">Wisconsin Beef Council</a> has used these partnerships to create reverse trade missions.&nbsp; Brining foreign buyers to Wisconsin to learn about the unique system of beef production the state offers.&nbsp; Vaassen and the staff at the Wisconsin Beef Council welcome questions or suggestions from producers or industry leaders.&nbsp; The staff will be on hand in the Beef Tent at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days sharing educational materials with passersby.&nbsp; You can also find more at their informative website - <a href="https://www.beeftips.com/">beeftips.com</a>
&nbsp;

Charting The Course For 2027 - Tammy Vaassen

This week's crop progress and condition report put out by the USDA says Wisconsin corn and soybeans are well on their way to a fruitful crop. But what are farmers noticing directly in their fields? I sat down with regional crops and soils educator, Anastasia Kurth. She tells us if the boots on the ground observation aligns up with the report.

This week's crop progress and condition report put out by the USDA says Wisconsin corn and soybeans are well on their way to a fruitful crop. But what are farmers noticing directly in their fields? I sat down with regional crops and soils educator, Anastasia Kurth. She tells us if the boots on the ground observation aligns up with the report.

Boots-On-The-Ground Crop Condition Report

Field demonstrations have become a staple of successful WI Farm Technology Days events.  This year looks to be no exception.  Bob Bosold visits with one of the volunteers who has repeatedly been involved with this element of the show.   Ron Zygarlicke has served on the field demo committee for more than a decade.  This year, he's adding a twist by including Italian ryegrass in the mix.

There's already rain moving into western Wisconsin this morning.  Stu Muck says that the cold front moving in will bring measurable rain from LaCrosse to Green Bay throughout the day.  The rest of the state can expect it later tonight and into Thursday.

Anastasia Poull is officially on the job as the 79th Wisconsin Alice in Dairyland.  She's got a sweet task this month promoting July at National Ice Cream month.  Pam Jahnke is happy to participate!  Poull explains her background and passion for agriculture, and why explaining the state's role in ice cream production is a treat!

Affordable housing is a conversation plaguing many Wisconsin communities.  Finding affordable housing in rural communities is like finding a needle in a haystack - and nobody wants to talk about building more needles for that haystack!  Kiley Allan gets the background from Tashayanna Mixson, Emerging Development Fellow (Emerging Rural Development Fellowship).  The gap in available rural housing forces residents out of their hometowns and shackles local businesses from recruiting and retaining employees.  Sponsored by grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, the rural development fellowship trains the next generation of developers to tackle rural housing shortages with custom, community-tailored projects rather than massive, urban-style apartment complexes. To achieve affordable homeownership, she advocates for the Community Land Trust model—a system gaining traction in Wisconsin that operates similarly to a condo model and helps secure long-term, attainable housing.  Highlighting the scale of the crisis, Wisconsin's Office of Rural Prosperity projects that the state will require between 140,000 and 227,000 additional housing units by the year 2030.

Field demonstrations have become a staple of successful WI Farm Technology Days events.&nbsp; This year looks to be no exception.&nbsp; Bob Bosold visits with one of the volunteers who has repeatedly been involved with this element of the show.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron Zygarlicke has served on the field demo committee for more than a decade.&nbsp; This year, he's adding a twist by including Italian ryegrass in the mix.
There's already rain moving into western Wisconsin this morning.&nbsp; Stu Muck says that the cold front moving in will bring measurable rain from LaCrosse to Green Bay throughout the day.&nbsp; The rest of the state can expect it later tonight and into Thursday.
Anastasia Poull is officially on the job as the 79th Wisconsin Alice in Dairyland.&nbsp; She's got a sweet task this month promoting July at National Ice Cream month.&nbsp; Pam Jahnke is happy to participate!&nbsp; Poull explains her background and passion for agriculture, and why explaining the state's role in ice cream production is a treat!
Affordable housing is a conversation plaguing many Wisconsin communities.&nbsp; Finding affordable housing in rural communities is like finding a needle in a haystack - and nobody wants to talk about building more needles for that haystack!&nbsp; Kiley Allan gets the background from Tashayanna Mixson, Emerging Development Fellow (Emerging Rural Development Fellowship).&nbsp;&nbsp;The gap in available rural housing forces residents out of their hometowns and shackles local businesses from recruiting and retaining employees.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sponsored by grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, the rural development fellowship trains the next generation of developers to tackle rural housing shortages with custom, community-tailored projects rather than massive, urban-style apartment complexes. To achieve affordable homeownership, she advocates for the Community Land Trust model&mdash;a system gaining traction in Wisconsin that operates similarly to a condo model and helps secure long-term, attainable housing.&nbsp;&nbsp;Highlighting the scale of the crisis, Wisconsin's Office of Rural Prosperity projects that the state will require between 140,000 and 227,000 additional housing units by the year 2030.

The Push & Pull Of Rural Housing Demand

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