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 pay any favors. Nathan Bula joins us, he's the owner of Spears-R-Us. Nathan, tells Kiley Allan 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 pay any favors. Nathan Bula joins us, he's the owner of Spears-R-Us. Nathan, tells Kiley Allan 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

America's Dairyland has had a problem.  It's estimated that dairy operations have an estimated 5,000-10,000 year-round immigrant laborers, rather than temporary seasonal visa holders, that help keep cows milked and fed.  There's no federal work program that applies to that unique situation.  Recently the U.S. Dept. of Labor announced some clarification on H2A governance and how it can be used.  It clarified that dairies should qualify for that tool.  Sam Moheban, immigration attorney at Ruder Ware law firm in Wausau, says that's good news but shouldn't lull dairies into a false sense of security.  Pam Jahnke finds out what he means.

Over 2 inches of rain reported in places like Belgium, Valders and the Green Bay area yesterday.  Stu Muck says that moisture is leaving after today, but heat is right behind it.  Muck say we'll easily be back in the 90's by the weekend.

Over 700 youth from 44 states and Canada, plus around 2,000 head of cattle are making the Junior National Hereford Show a success in Madison.  A mom and Hereford enthusiast from Lancast, WI, is keeping things rolling.  Kiley Allan talks with Jaclyn Bevans, board member of National Hereford Women, about the benefits exhibitors see beyond the ribbons and trophy's.  Bevans puts the accents on the family time spent preparing animals, and the skills youth participants are picking up in the 1400 skill based contests they've held this week too.

HoHum.  That sums up the dairy market story lately.  Why won't if budge?  Ryan Yonkman, vice president of EverAg, joins Pam Jahnke to talk it through.  Yonkman says consumer demand is flat at best.  Pizza sales have continued to slip, and the European Union is giving the U.S. plenty of price competition.  The good news is that U.S. dairy product continues to move in the export space, but will it continue.  Yonkman says a lot will depend on how the "holiday" buying season ramps up in the next few weeks.  He notes that schools will be starting to come back online in August, and the Labor Day holiday can be an indication of early holiday demand.

America's Dairyland has had a problem.&nbsp; It's estimated that dairy operations have an estimated 5,000-10,000 year-round immigrant laborers, rather than temporary seasonal visa holders, that help keep cows milked and fed.&nbsp; There's no federal work program that applies to that unique situation.&nbsp; Recently&nbsp;the U.S. Dept. of Labor announced some clarification on H2A governance and how it can be used.&nbsp; It clarified that dairies should qualify for that tool.&nbsp; Sam Moheban, immigration attorney at Ruder Ware law firm in Wausau, says that's good news but shouldn't lull dairies into a false sense of security.&nbsp; Pam Jahnke finds out what he means.
Over 2 inches of rain reported in places like Belgium, Valders and the Green Bay area yesterday.&nbsp; Stu Muck says that moisture is leaving after today, but heat is right behind it.&nbsp; Muck say we'll easily be back in the 90's by the weekend.
Over 700 youth from 44 states and Canada, plus around 2,000 head of cattle are making the Junior National Hereford Show a success in Madison.&nbsp; A mom and Hereford enthusiast from Lancast, WI, is keeping things rolling.&nbsp; Kiley Allan talks with Jaclyn Bevans, board member of National Hereford Women, about the benefits exhibitors see beyond the ribbons and trophy's.&nbsp; Bevans puts the accents on the family time spent preparing animals, and the skills youth participants are picking up in the 1400 skill based contests they've held this week too.
HoHum.&nbsp; That sums up the dairy market story lately.&nbsp; Why won't if budge?&nbsp; Ryan Yonkman, vice president of EverAg, joins Pam Jahnke to talk it through.&nbsp; Yonkman says consumer demand is flat at best.&nbsp; Pizza sales have continued to slip, and the European Union is giving the U.S. plenty of price competition.&nbsp; The good news is that U.S. dairy product continues to move in the export space, but will it continue.&nbsp; Yonkman says a lot will depend on how the "holiday" buying season ramps up in the next few weeks.&nbsp; He notes that schools will be starting to come back online in August, and the Labor Day holiday can be an indication of early holiday demand.

Hereford Youth Energize Wisconsin And Holiday Buying For Dairy Around The Corner - Yonkman

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

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.

Weather Cuts Asparagus Crop In Half

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