Railroads have long been a staple for Wisconsin agriculture and 2026 is no exception. Brad Peot is the commercial sales manager with WATCO railroad.   Watco is a full-service supply chain solutions company. They provide rail, transloading, terminal and port, and logistics services. The company is privately owned and headquartered in Pittsburg, Kansas.  Ben Jarboe learns that right now railroads face unique challenges  during winter when rivers freeze and barge traffic stops.  Extremely cold temperatures slow rail operations because trains rely on air brake systems that work less efficiently in dry, cold conditions. In very cold weather, trains may need to run with fewer railcars to meet air pressure requirements for braking systems. Let's not forget about the crews!  They're working in the outdoors to connect and disconnect railcars, creating safety risks like frostbite during extreme cold.  Peot says that WATCO is responsible for most of the grain movement in Wisconsin today.

Snow piles are starting to disappear thanks to warming temperatures.  Stu Muck says today that means a little early morning for.  For southern WI, temps will sneak back toward 60 by the weekend.

Warmer weather means farms can resume manure management plans in certain areas.  Safety has to be a priority.  That's the message from Kevin Erb, Conservation and Nutrient Specialist with UW Extension.  He tells Kiley Allan that over half of manure-handling accidents occur on the road, with 55% of those happening at intersections due to speed, taking corners too sharply, or failing to account for the sloshing of the liquid in the tank. Approximately 20% of incidents occur when turning into field driveways; many existing culverts and entrances are too narrow for modern, larger farm equipment, requiring infrastructure updates or more cautious maneuvering.  It's not just farmers that need to pay attention.  Erb says civilian drivers share the responsibility for safety. Motorists are encouraged to practice patience, as attempting to pass wide farm machinery in a hurry often leads to preventable collisions.

State senate leaders have wrapped up their work.  Pam Jahnke gives a brief rundown on some of the agribusiness and rural related items that are off the governor's desk.

Wild winter weather undid the first meeting of the WI Agriculture Youth Council this week.  Stephanie Hoff has accepted a board position with WAYC.  Others that have been involved with the council include Mary Schreiber, past National FFA Officer from East Troy.  She explains the unique human connections she made on the council that turned into friendships on the collegiate level.  Likewise, Jersey Thompson from Ettrick is currently a student at Iowa State.  He also served as a past WI State FFA President.  He says the exposure to people already in key positions for agriculture help inspire the desire for hands on experiences.