Ag meteorologist Stu Muck says we are looking at some very comfortable weather, but also a lot of smoke for the weekend.

The past couple days if you stepped outside and noticed a smog covering the sky. This is once again the Canadian wildfires making an appearance. Although these fires are not in Wisconsin, the state is still helping fight them. Stephanie Hoff learns more about how Wisconsin shares resources for these massive fires from Forest Ranger Mark Sass

The labor shortage is nothing new to the agriculture industry, but recent trends show that it may be partially self-inflicted. Ben Jarboe chats with Lynn Paulson, the Senior Vice President of Agribusiness Development for Bell Bank, on how this generation is producing far less kids than are needed for farm labor. 

Wisconsin Farm Tech Days will be in full swing from August 5th through the 7th at Clinton Farms in Bear Creek. Stephanie Hoff gets the details from Farm Tech Days planning Committee member Don Zietlow on what the field demonstrations look like for this year.

Kiley Allan talks with Morgan Worek, the Program and Marketing Director of the Wisconsin Pork Association, about all the things they have going on at the State Fair.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ag meteorologist Stu Muck says we are looking at some very comfortable weather, but also a lot of smoke for the weekend. The past couple days if you stepped outside and noticed a smog covering the sky. This is once again the Canadian wildfires making an appearance. Although these fires are not in Wisconsin, the state is still helping fight them. Stephanie Hoff learns more about how Wisconsin shares resources for these massive fires from Forest Ranger Mark Sass The labor shortage is nothing new to the agriculture industry, but recent trends show that it may be partially self-inflicted. Ben Jarboe chats with Lynn Paulson, the Senior Vice President of Agribusiness Development for Bell Bank, on how this generation is producing far less kids than are needed for farm labor.&nbsp; Wisconsin Farm Tech Days will be in full swing from August 5th through the 7th at Clinton Farms in Bear Creek. Stephanie Hoff gets the details from Farm Tech Days planning Committee member Don Zietlow on what the field demonstrations look like for this year. Kiley Allan talks with Morgan Worek, the Program and Marketing Director of the Wisconsin Pork Association, about all the things they have going on at the State Fair.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

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!

Wisconsin Fights Western Fires & Less Kids, Less Labor

A recent waiver from DATCP eliminates PRRS and PEDv testing before transportation of swine across the state of Wisconsin. Jeff Morris, the Extension Swine Outreach Specialist, explains the logistics of the waiver. He explains the impact of PRRS and PEDv on the swine industry.

A recent waiver from DATCP eliminates PRRS and PEDv testing before transportation of swine across the state of Wisconsin. Jeff Morris, the Extension Swine Outreach Specialist, explains the logistics of the waiver. He explains the impact of PRRS and PEDv on the swine industry.

"Hardship" Lifted For WI Pork Producers

The Farm and Industry Short Course has a new leader.  Mary Holle is the new program director at UW-River Falls Farm and Industry Short Course.  Mary and her husband operate a 480-acre farm in Baldwin, Wisconsin, where they manage a herd of 50 registered Holsteins. She tells Stephanie Hoff about the 16-week course which is specifically designed for the "slow season," running  from the last week of October to the second week of March. Students  spend roughly 80% of their time at the Mann Valley lab farm, working directly with cows, silages, and industry professionals. While the current curriculum is dairy-focused, there are plans to add business, horticulture, agronomy, and soil science electives by the 2026–27 school year. Mary aims to rebuild the FISC advisory board and restart the agricultural tour to connect current students with successful program graduates. Prospective students can reach out directly to the program via a dedicated email address: fisc@uwrf.edu.

Snow totals continue to impress on a Tuesday morning.  Stu Muck runs down tally's from around the state.  He also cautions that more snow could be coming back around.  Drifting will continue to be a challenge.


As agriculture grows, so does the size of the buildings it's using.  Ben Jarboe finds out about some of the challenges that have to be met in constructing those buildings from Jason Ullmer.  Ullmer is an ag construction advisor in the Fox Valley.  In Wisconsin, current milking parlors were probably built around 2000.  That means it could be time for an upgrade. He explains that expansion projects take time and a lot of attention to details.

Soybeans moved limit lower yesterday in Chicago.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend says it was sparked by rumors that the US/China meeting will be postponed.  He says that there was also a brief comment made by China that they were interested in almost everything except U.S. soybeans.  If you're looking for a positive from all the snow - think river levels.  Heinberg says at least for the upper Mississippi River transports, levels are good.

The Farm and Industry Short Course has a new leader.&nbsp; Mary Holle is the new program director at UW-River Falls Farm and Industry Short Course.&nbsp; Mary and her husband operate a 480-acre farm in Baldwin, Wisconsin, where they manage a herd of 50 registered Holsteins. She tells Stephanie Hoff about the&nbsp;16-week course which is specifically designed for the "slow season,"&nbsp;running&nbsp; from the last week of October to the second week of March.&nbsp;Students&nbsp; spend roughly 80% of their time at the Mann Valley lab farm, working directly with cows, silages, and industry professionals.&nbsp;While the current curriculum is dairy-focused, there are plans to add business, horticulture, agronomy, and soil science electives by the 2026&ndash;27 school year.&nbsp;Mary aims to rebuild the FISC advisory board and restart the agricultural tour to connect current students with successful program graduates.&nbsp;Prospective students can reach out directly to the program via a dedicated email address: <a href="mailto:fisc@uwrf.edu">fisc@uwrf.edu</a>.
Snow totals continue to impress on a Tuesday morning.&nbsp; Stu Muck runs down tally's from around the state.&nbsp; He also cautions that more snow could be coming back around.&nbsp; Drifting will continue to be a challenge.
 As agriculture grows, so does the size of the buildings it's using.&nbsp; Ben Jarboe finds out about some of the challenges that have to be met in constructing those buildings from Jason Ullmer.&nbsp; Ullmer is an ag construction advisor in the Fox Valley.&nbsp; In Wisconsin, current milking parlors were probably built around 2000.&nbsp; That means it could be time for an upgrade. He explains that expansion projects take time and a lot of attention to details.
Soybeans moved limit lower yesterday in Chicago.&nbsp; John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend says it was sparked by rumors that the US/China meeting will be postponed.&nbsp; He says that there was also a brief comment made by China that they were interested in almost everything except U.S. soybeans.&nbsp; If you're looking for a positive from all the snow - think river levels.&nbsp; Heinberg says at least for the upper Mississippi River transports, levels are good.

Resolving Want Versus Need In Ag Buildings And Soybeans Hit With China Comment - Heinberg

The cartels that have been making news in Mexico are impacting more than just local neighborhoods.  Bob Bosold visits with a group of Mexican cattle producers in attendance at the WI Cattlemen's Associaton winter convention.  They explain that doing business in Mexico has become very dangerous, even for farmers!  Now the group is looking at ways to transport their business into the U.S.Weather is the word for everybody in Wisconsin today.  

Most of the state continues with a blizzard warning until 4 p.m.  Stu Muck totals up the snowfall received so far, plus the wind that keeps moving it from one place to another.

Stephanie Hoff has another story of engagement from Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.  Today she visit with dairy farmer and DFW Board Member, Annaliese Wegner .  Wegner shares how everyday farm management translates into impactful industry leadership. She explains how the farmer-led checkoff creates one voice over 5,000 diverse operations to build global demand and protect consumer trust. Whether milking 30 cows or 3,000, Annaliese encourages all producers to lend their perspective to ensure a strong future. Paid for by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

On Friday the WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection effectively cancelled all poultry swap meetings from now until May 5th for about half of the state.  That puts Dale Wheelock, chair of the Fur & Feather Committee in Walworth county, in a tough spot.  He says they planned their spring poultry swap meet for April 4th.  Now, they have to figure out how to cover their expenses as they cancel. 


Is the ban on swap meets effective?  Where does Wisconsin stand now battling against HPAI?  Kiley Allan finds out from Dr. Heather Roney, Program Veterinarian Wisconsin DATCP Division of Animal Health.  She says Wisconsin continues to respond to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak that began in 2022. New cases were confirmed in early 2026 within commercial operations in Jefferson and Walworth counties.  She says with the spring wild bird migration approaching, producers are urged to keep birds indoors, limit visitors, and tighten biosecurity protocols for clothing and equipment.

The cartels that have been making news in Mexico are impacting more than just local neighborhoods.&nbsp; Bob Bosold visits with a group of Mexican cattle producers in attendance at the WI Cattlemen's Associaton winter convention.&nbsp; They explain that doing business in Mexico has become very dangerous, even for farmers!&nbsp; Now the group is looking at ways to transport their business into the U.S.Weather is the word for everybody in Wisconsin today.&nbsp; Most of the state continues with a blizzard warning until 4 p.m.&nbsp; Stu Muck totals up the snowfall received so far, plus the wind that keeps moving it from one place to another. Stephanie Hoff has another story of engagement from Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.&nbsp; Today she visit with dairy farmer and DFW Board Member,&nbsp;Annaliese Wegner&nbsp;.&nbsp; Wegner shares how everyday farm management translates into impactful industry leadership. She explains how the farmer-led checkoff creates one voice over 5,000 diverse operations to build global demand and protect consumer trust. Whether milking 30 cows or 3,000, Annaliese encourages all producers to lend their perspective to ensure a strong future. Paid for by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. On Friday the WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection effectively cancelled all poultry swap meetings from now until May 5th for about half of the state.&nbsp; That puts Dale Wheelock, chair of the Fur &amp; Feather Committee in Walworth county, in a tough spot.&nbsp; He says they planned their spring poultry swap meet for April 4th.&nbsp; Now, they have to figure out how to cover their expenses as they cancel.&nbsp;
 Is the ban on swap meets effective?&nbsp; Where does Wisconsin stand now battling against HPAI?&nbsp; Kiley Allan finds out from Dr. Heather Roney, Program Veterinarian Wisconsin DATCP Division of Animal Health.&nbsp; She says Wisconsin continues to respond to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak that began in 2022. New cases were confirmed in early 2026 within commercial operations in Jefferson and Walworth counties.&nbsp; She says with the spring wild bird migration approaching, producers are urged to keep birds indoors, limit visitors, and tighten biosecurity protocols for clothing and equipment.

Wisconsin Fights Western Fires & Less Kids, Less Labor

MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips