An early start to this year's asparagus season brought a lot of excitement to the patch. But as the season progressed, the weather didn't pan out any favors. Nathan Boula joins us, he's the owner of Spears R Us. Nathan, tell me about the 2026 asparagus season.

An early start to this year's asparagus season brought a lot of excitement to the patch. But as the season progressed, the weather didn't pan out any favors. Nathan Boula joins us, he's the owner of Spears R Us. Nathan, tell me about the 2026 asparagus season.

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!

Weather Cuts Asparagus Crop In Half

Wisconsin's grape growers have been keeping a close eye on the changing weather.  Kiley Allan gets an early season forecast from Phillipe Coucard, owner/operator of Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac.  With 70 acres of vines to manage, his staff mobilizes early to evaluate conditions.  He says so far things have been going well.  Insect pressure has been low and so has early disease concerns.  He already anticipates a smaller crop this year just because of the colder April temperatures the vines were exposed to. He emphasizes that sunlight is the critical factor for grape quality, as it directly drives sugar content, color, and flavor concentration. The optimal growing season for the vineyard consists of early spring rain followed by dry June and July, a single week of rain in August, and a completely dry stretch leading up to harvest.

It looks like a nice weekend for developing in Wisconsin.  Stu Muck says there will likely be some showers popping up again Saturday afternoon - but then the faucet shuts off and temperatures moderate into next week.

Northwest Wisconsin soybean grower, Andy Bensend, is focused on the weather right now.  He sits on the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board and knows that critical research, funded by soybean growers like him, is happening.  Bensend explains how the board members prioritize the "buckets" to which checkoff dollars are designated.  In-field research is critical.  Bensend says Wisconsin's reputation for it's top-notch research team is well known in the upper Midwest and nationally.  There's also the investment in new products and helping people understand what these products can do.  This is all part of what the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board works on every day.  Paid for by the WI Soybean Marketing Board.

Grapes aren't the only unique Wisconsin crop watching the weather.  Nathan Bula at Spears R Us in Adams has an asparagus crop depending on it.  Bula says asparagus appeared earlier than he's ever seen - but then got delayed by April frost/freezes.  He waited 11 days without a harvest for the spears to develop.

Another big June Dairy celebration weekend is ahead.  Dane county will welcome thousands of people to Swaindale Genetics in Deerfield on Saturday.  With just 25 milking cows, this farm looks different than previous hosts.  Gary Swain and his wife, Dana Kelly, explain why they're hosting and the story they want to share about family and community commitment.  

Wisconsin's grape growers have been keeping a close eye on the changing weather.&nbsp; Kiley Allan gets an early season forecast from Phillipe Coucard, owner/operator of Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac.&nbsp; With 70 acres of vines to manage, his staff mobilizes early to evaluate conditions.&nbsp; He says so far things have been going well.&nbsp; Insect pressure has been low and so has early disease concerns.&nbsp; He already anticipates a smaller crop this year just because of the colder April temperatures the vines were exposed to. He emphasizes that sunlight is the critical factor for grape quality, as it directly drives sugar content, color, and flavor concentration.&nbsp;The optimal growing season for the vineyard consists of early spring rain followed by dry June and July, a single week of rain in August, and a completely dry stretch leading up to harvest.
It looks like a nice weekend for developing in Wisconsin.&nbsp; Stu Muck says there will likely be some showers popping up again Saturday afternoon - but then the faucet shuts off and temperatures moderate into next week.
Northwest Wisconsin soybean grower, Andy Bensend, is focused on the weather right now.&nbsp; He sits on the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board and knows that critical research, funded by soybean growers like him, is happening.&nbsp; Bensend explains how the board members prioritize the "buckets" to which checkoff dollars are designated.&nbsp; In-field research is critical.&nbsp; Bensend says Wisconsin's reputation for it's top-notch research team is well known in the upper Midwest and nationally.&nbsp; There's also the investment in new products and helping people understand what these products can do.&nbsp; This is all part of what the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board works on every day.&nbsp; Paid for by the WI Soybean Marketing Board.
Grapes aren't the only unique Wisconsin crop watching the weather.&nbsp; Nathan Bula at Spears R Us in Adams has an asparagus crop depending on it.&nbsp; Bula says asparagus appeared earlier than he's ever seen - but then got delayed by April frost/freezes.&nbsp; He waited 11 days without a harvest for the spears to develop.
Another big June Dairy celebration weekend is ahead.&nbsp; Dane county will welcome thousands of people to Swaindale Genetics in Deerfield on Saturday.&nbsp; With just 25 milking cows, this farm looks different than previous hosts.&nbsp; Gary Swain and his wife, Dana Kelly, explain why they're hosting and the story they want to share about family and community commitment.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Milking 25 Cows And Ready To Host Dane Co Dairy Breakfast - Meet The Swains

We may be a little biased here in Wisconsin, but the best time of year is here. June Dairy Month is upon us. It's an opportunity to explore, enjoy, and honor the farmers, craftsmanship, and exceptional dairy products that make Wisconsin dairy truly special. Today, we catch up with 78th Alice in Dairyland, Sarah Hagenow. Dairy isn't just something we produce here in Wisconsin. In fact, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin say it best: it's something we're born to do. We're Born to Dairy™. Learn more at wisconsindairy.org. 

We may be a little biased here in Wisconsin, but the best time of year is here. June Dairy Month is upon us. It's an opportunity to explore, enjoy, and honor the farmers, craftsmanship, and exceptional dairy products that make Wisconsin dairy truly special. Today, we catch up with 78th Alice in Dairyland, Sarah Hagenow. Dairy isn't just something we produce here in Wisconsin. In fact, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin say it best: it's something we're born to do. We're Born to Dairy&trade;. Learn more at <a href="wisconsindairy.org">wisconsindairy.org</a>.&nbsp;

Welcome to Wisconsin — America’s Dairyland

While we're still relatively early in this year's growing season, Dr. Emily Bick tells us we've already seen the first wave of pests. She's an Extension Specialist of Insects for Field and Forage Crops. Emily, explains what we're seeing right now in the fields.

More information and tools:

- https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/pest-management/insect-pest-alerts/ for signup for the Pest Text Alert service. 
- Information on the slugNet: https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/slugnet/ and the slugNet dashboard: https://connect.doit.wisc.edu/content/e2188e97-840c-49e1-842c-22a638bafe7a/

While we're still relatively early in this year's growing season, Dr. Emily Bick tells us we've already seen the first wave of pests. She's an Extension Specialist of Insects for Field and Forage Crops. Emily, explains what we're seeing right now in the fields.
More information and tools:
- <a href="https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/pest-management/insect-pest-alerts/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/pest-management/insect-pest-alerts/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1781356500529000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0XaJa1EJ3KFPtd4WvA5pUp">https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/pest-management/insect-pest-alerts/</a>&nbsp;for signup for the Pest Text Alert service.&nbsp; - Information on the slugNet:&nbsp;<a href="https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/slugnet/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/slugnet/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1781356500529000&amp;usg=AOvVaw30qCmjSvkmn5SKRfkeS3CE">https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/slugnet/</a>&nbsp;and the slugNet dashboard:&nbsp;<a href="https://connect.doit.wisc.edu/content/e2188e97-840c-49e1-842c-22a638bafe7a/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://connect.doit.wisc.edu/content/e2188e97-840c-49e1-842c-22a638bafe7a/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1781356500529000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0RjUUi2XToaVCuSjzIjE5W">https://connect.doit.wisc.edu/content/e2188e97-840c-49e1-842c-22a638bafe7a/</a>

Weather Cuts Asparagus Crop In Half

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MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

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