MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Wisconsin beef producers joined a nationwide effort among State Beef Councils to amplify the beef industry’s summer grilling campaign.  Kaitlyn Kessler, Communications Coordinator for the Wisconsin Beef Council explains the campaign with Pam Jahnke.  The Wisconsin Beef Council invited women with various stills and areas of influence to learn more about grilling beef.  It was worth their time, thanks to generous support from Pit Boss for the event – which not only included the use of their smokers but also the expertise of Pitmaster Lee Ann Whippen.  Whippen lead the course as a 25 year champion BBQ pitmaster and member of the 2022 BBQ hall of fame. Whippen shared tips and demonstrated how to cook Tri-Tips, Brisket, and burgerbasics. These influencers can then take this knowledge back to their audiences and increase confidence at the grill or smoker.  It was very well received. While giving hands-on skills to those grillers, the WI Beef Council also reached out through virtual experiences.  Kessler says WBC's partnership with the Wisconsin Agriculture in theClassroom, Alice in Dairyland and Poppy Family Farms targeted elementary classrooms across the state with a virtual tour of a beef farm. Hosted by Wisconsin’s 78th Alice in Dairyland, Sarah Hagenow, alongside farmerRebecca Poppy of Poppy Family Farms in Omro, the tour introduced students tocattle, animal care practices and the role beef farmers play in producing a safe,nutritious food supply. Preliminary participation estimates show approximately 35 classrooms and more than 600 students joined the live event. The recorded tour will be made available on BeefTips.com and wisagclassroom.org, allowing educators to access the content throughout theschool year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Janet Keller is the general manager of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. She tells Kiley Allan the details you need to know before you go to this year's event. We'll see you on July 14-16 at No Joke Dairy in Stratford!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 60 years in teaching and broadcasting on the WI Public Radio Station Network, Larry Meiller is retiring.  Bob Bosold (who was a student of Larry's) chats with Meiller about how he started in broadcasting, and how things have changed.  One highlight is the amazingly popula call-in show that Meiller hosted.  Calls from across the state on people's pets! Hot and humid.  That sums up the forecast for this week according to Stu Muck.  Heat indexes will reach the dangerous category for people and animals. School may be adjourned for the summer but the learning continues at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton.  Kiley Allan tells us about a recent donation of land that will be used for hands on education in environmental sciences.  Paul Groell, Department Chair Natural Resources Program, explains what their priorities are for the 160 acres. Tomorrow is USDA's first estimate of planted acres in 2026.  One analyst thinks there were fewer corn acres planted then the government expected.  Josh McClure, head of brokerage and consulting at the Farmer’s Business Network, San Francisco, California says they expect 1.2 million fewer corn acres planted.  He also notes that soybean acreage didn't pick up those extra corn acres. Even with the heat and humidity - fairs must go on.  This week the Stoughton Jr. Fair in Stoughton gets things rolling on Tuesday.  Pam Jahnke gives a brief itinerary update on where folks might want to go for those stories.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Ag Secretary, Randy Romanski, joins Pam Jahnke in the studio to present a 5 year update on how the WI Ag Export Council's been performing and what progress has been made.  Romanski says Wisconsin's dairy exports grew 35% from 2021 to 2025 (the timeframe the program's been in place).  He also notes that the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports program generated a 200-to-1 return on investment for Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association members in the most recent reporting year. It all bodes well, hopefully, for the continuation of the programs. Beautiful weekend on the way for the final gasp of June dairy events.  Stu Muck will be a part of those and paints a pretty decent forecast through the weekend.  He's also got cautionary advice to prepare for heat and humidity beginning on Monday. From a dream to reality.  Meet Brad Laack from rural Plymouth, WI.  He grew up a little removed from agriculture, but found his passion helping to raise beef animals that were designed to make hay disappear.  Once Laack got involved in that, the dream of building his own farming operation started to hatch.  Today, Pam Jahnke visits with Brad at his cash grain and custom operator business just outside of Plymouth.  Over the last year, Brad has taken the next step to elevate his grain handling abilities with the partnership of Schultz's Interstate Ag in Monroe.  Laack says the time they've taken to work through specific details that he was concerned about have solidified this partnership.  Today, Laack and Schultz's Interstate Ag are getting ready for the next phase of grain handling equipment and bins to be installed.  Paid for by Schultz's Interstate Ag. This week Wisconsin dairy operator's got a little good news in the way of a memorandum from the White House.  Pam Jahnke visits with Sam Moheban, immigration specialist with Ruder Ware law firm in Wausau.  The memorandum made clear that dairies that relay of foreign labor to keep things rolling should be sure they're following all the rules and guidelines within the H2A program.  Moheban says while it's not a silver bullet, it does make clear the direction the administration wants agencies to follow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The temperatures are warming up ahead of the Independence Day holiday, and so are the grills. But do you know how much to expect your Fourth of July cookout to cost? The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, as well as the American Farm Bureau Federation, have released their Marketbasket Survey. It's an informal survey performed twice a year by volunteer shoppers. They participate by shopping for 12 different food items that are commonly used in both the Fourth of July cookout and the Thanksgiving holiday. This helps the organizations gauge the food prices across the state and across the country. Cassie Sonnentag, the Director of Public Relations with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, says prices were up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you love grilling in the summer, you're not alone. In fact, it's a trend so consistent that the prices in the summer meat market typically reflect more and more people going outside and choosing to grill. Jeff Swenson along with us, he's DATCP's livestock and meat specialist. He starts by giving us a 30,000-foot view of what the marketplace is doing right now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're seeing farms nationwide as well as here at home in Wisconsin struggling with a labor shortage. UW-Madison's agricultural safety and health specialist John Shutske says that's largely attributed to the low unemployment rate. He says that in order for farms to keep their labor, they must keep their operations attractive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Farm Bill's to international market access, the National Association of State Departments of Ag encompasses it all.  Pam Jahnke talks with CEO, Ted McKinney, about how they navigate a diverse member population (Democrats and Republicans) while still doing the most for production agriculture and agribusiness in their individual states.  He says their priority now is to get a finished Farm Bill. Wow - wet, wild weather in Wisconsin overnight.  Stu Muck runs down rainfall totals, along with contributions from the Mid-West Farm Report Talk/Text line.  Green Bay ended up with streets flooded.  Other areas saw minor hail.  It's all gone now, though with pleasant weather ahead. This year's 4th of July picnic is going to cost as much as it ever has according to the WI Farm Bureau Federation's Market Basket Survey.  Feeding 10 will cost over $75 in total.  Beef is the big leader on price increases, up over 23% compared to a year ago.  Explaining that high price on beef is exactly what they'll be focused on in the Beef Tent and WI Farm Technology Days.  The state's largest outdoor farm show will happen at Redetzkes’ No Joke Dairy in Marathon County.  Although it's a dairy operation - the beef tent will at the show will help attendees understand what's happening with beef production in the state and beyond.  Kiley Allan visits with  Dennis Breneman, Chairman of the Beef Tent and a member of the State Executive Committee @ Farm Technology Days.  He's managing his herd of Scottish Highland cattle and happy for the opportunity to educate consumers. Another 2% increase in milk production announced for the month of May.  Jenny Wackershauser, dairy analyst with EverAg says that's what the market has come to expect.  She notes that the U.S. cheese price remains competitive globally, and we'll need the international sales to stay robust.  She also notes that major dairy processing facilities are finding a way to pay the bills by offsetting lower cheese prices with the high value whey the process produces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protein continues to have a moment in the marketplace, and it's not a short-term fad. Consumers continue to reach for snacks that are not only high in protein but are also made with whole ingredients. Abbi (Prins) Groves joins Kiley Allan behind the microphone. She's a Livestock Economist at CoBank. She sat down to tell me about a new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange that says meat snacks represent a major area for product innovation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mushrooms!  It's another crop from Wisconsin.  Bob Bosold learns a little more about mushroom production, the varieties that are popular and how they grow!  Steve Scholtz, a mushroom grower in Eau Claire explains how he produces his crop indoors to avoid contamination.  He's finding a vibrant market for his product in many different areas. Rain is drifting into Wisconsin and will stay for most of the day.  Stu Muck says as we move through Wednesday, we'll move closer to dry weather and sunshine. The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee released its text of the Farm Bill on Tuesday.  One group that's paying close attention is the NASDA - Nat'l Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Ted McKinney's their CEO.  He tells Pam Jahnke that agriculture has been a bipartisan gathering spot in Washington, D.C.  He says while many elements of the Farm Bill were dealt with in the Big Beautiful Bill, the policy side has gone unattended.  That's what McKinney says is needed now. Farm bankruptcies look just as robust this year as last, which is not good news.  Austin Peiffer, an attorney with Ag and Business Legal Strategies in Hiawatha, Iowa, is tracking the numbers.  He says in the first quarter of 2026, there were approximately 158 Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings.  He says the tough part is that many of those farms filed early, and may have received more bad financial news when they started planting, impacted by high fuel prices and escalated fertilizer costs. The NASDA is holding its summer meeting in Madison, which wraps up today.  While each state faces unique challenges, data centers seem to be a common denominator.  Brian Baldrige is the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.  He says they've got about 200 data centers in the state now, and they hope tools like farmland preservation help buffer where future centers are located.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's National Lightning Awareness Week and Wisconsin farmers, golfers, gardeners, joggers should all heed the warnings.  In Wisconsin, more people have died by lightning strikes since 2006, than by tornadoes since 1986.  Chris Vagasky, Research Program Manager, Wisconet and Lightning Data Specialist, National Lightning Safety Counci, explains how people can protect themselves, and farmers can protect their livestock and assets. Rain starts moving back in by late Tuesday night.  Stu Muck says it won't really amount to much but sets up a change in pattern that will bring very hot weather to the state by the weekend. A record breaking price on a tractor has gotten a lot of attention for the Steffes Auction Group.  Ashley Huhn tells Pam Jahnke that live auctions are still drawing a crowd with money to spend.  He explains the record sale.  Paid for by Steffes Group. While Wisconsin communities continue to struggle with the data center question, Texas is now regretting some of their decisions.  Sid Miller, Texas Ag Commissioner, says he hears about it every day.  To date, Texas is home to about 575 data centers that consume about 430 million gallons of water daily.  Miller contends they're overbuilt and using water resources most of Texas just doesn't have. Wisconsin crops are matching up about equal with other Midwest states as far as development.  John Heinberg joins Pam Jahnke to discuss.  Heinberg, with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, says that there's really no weather threat to get the market to move.  At the same time, South America's harvest is moving along smoothly bringing more product to the marketplace.  While the crop may be moving, Heinberg also explains the financial strain that South American farmers are facing as bankruptcies there increase.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At this year's Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, held at Redetzkes' No-Joke Dairy in Stratford, Wisconsin, they're serious about farm safety. Melissa Ploeckelman-Brown joins us. She's the Outreach Specialist for the National Farm Medicine Center. They're bringing the "FRESH Area" to Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. FRESH stands for Farm Rescue, Education, Safety, and Health. She tells us what we can expect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At Wisconsin's 97th FFA Convention, 4 Stars Over Wisconsin were named. This honor comes from an evaluation of student's SAE. The winners are: Agribusiness: Oscar Stowell Waupun FFA; Agriscience: Owen Hemling, Beaver Dam FFA;  Agricultural Placement: Katelyn Wunder, Waterford FFA; Farmer: Liv Lucas, Greenwood FFA Kiley Allan sat down with Owen Hemling moments after the acheivement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We start our morning with Jill Welke in Eau Claire! She catches up with Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation's Brad Olson about roundtable conversations that could shape agricultural policy.   Stu says we may have to dodge a little rain for Father's Day, but otherwise looking to be a sunny weekend!  Traditionally, Father's Day means family outings and bbqs. A recent report from CoBank says the grill isn't the only place people are choosing protein. Abbi (Prins) Groves is a Livestock Economist who says that meat snacks are rising in popularity. She predicts whether it's a short-term fad or a long-term trend. Sarah Hagenow stops in with a quick recipe that pairs June Dairy Month and Father's Day nicely. Hands-on learning doesn't stop after school. There are many career education opportunities that benefit from acting out scenarios. Brad Zellner from the Luxemburg Fire Department says old farm houses being prepared for demolition make great training opportunities for local crews. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hunger Task Force, based in Milwaukee, received a $2.5 million grant from the WI Department of Ag., Trade and Consumer Protection to connect Wisconsin farms with individuals who need a little extra assistance putting food on their plates.  Pam Jahnke helps people understand the scope of work being done through the grant with Jonathan Hansen, chief strategy officer at Hunger Task Force.  He explains the 180 different locations they help coordinate statewide.  Hansen says they're also accumulating names and contact information for Wisconsin farms looking to partner with the Hunger Task Force.  Hansen estimates that the network serves approximately 180,000 people every month. Showers should've moved through Wisconsin for now.  Stu Muck recaps some of the rainfall amounts over the past 24 hours.  He says temperatures will stay mild into the weekend when another chance of rain redevelops. It was an evening of honors for students, teachers, and adult leaders at the 97th Wisconsin State FFA Convention.  Kiley Allan was there.  Four amazing high school students were named as the "Stars Over Wisconsin" elite.  They will represent the state at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis later this year.  Allan congratulates the following Stars: Star in Agribusiness: Oscar Stowell, Waupun FFA; Star in Agriscience: Owen Hemling, Beaver Dam FFA; Star in Agricultural Placement: Katelyn Wunder, Waterford FFA and Star Farmer: Liv Lucas, Greenwood FFA.  Hemling explains how his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) has led him to a collegiate career he hopes to pursue at MIT.   The evening also brought the announcement of the 2026-27 State Officer Team.  Pam Jahnke congratulates:  Suki Gatica, Amery FFAEli Bell, New Richmond FFAJosie Bailey, Tomah FFAAlyvia Ruegsegger, Black Hawk FFAOwen Moore, Mischicot FFARylee Brattlie, Cambridge FFAOscar Stowell, Waupun FFAJordan Berg, Granton FFANatalie Rieth, Oconto Falls FFAOwen Bronecki, Mayville FFA Meanwhile, Wisconsin dairy operators are watching the nonfat dry milk price waste away.  Collin Aardema, dairy analyst with EverAg, joins Pam Jahnke to talk about that.  Aardema says the U.S. is still above the international price on nonfat, so more adjustment is coming.  He also updates us on the milk capacity that's been built, and is coming online.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the gift that will keep giving!  Fox Valley Technical College just received a generous donation of land that they're already putting to work for students.  Kiley Allan gets the story from Paul Groell, Department Chair Natural Resources Program @ Fox Valley Technical College.  Fox Valley Technical College received an anonymous donation of a 160-acre plot of land, intended to preserve the habitat from development and serve as an educational tool for the school's two-year Natural Resources program. The property acts as a powerhouse of biodiversity, containing mixed forested areas, prairies, ponds, wetlands, and a navigable stream. This variety allows students to study forestry, soils, water and wildlife all in one location. Students are already utilizing the land as a safe place for practical coursework including chainsaw safety, tree limbing, trail maintenance, and wildlife data collection using camera traps. The program prepares students for versatile technician or wildland firefighting roles, and benefits from close partnerships with four-year institutions to offer an easy transfer path for students looking to continue their education after their associate degree. From hail to measurable rain - that's what Wisconsin saw on Tuesday.  There could be more of the same today!  Stu Muck shares the outlook on showers and thunderstorms that have already started moving into the state. Yes, Wisconsin FFA continues to grow, but finding teachers to execute the lesson plans connected to those chapters is tough.  Pam Jahnke visits with Cheryl Zimmerman, executive director of the Wisconsin FFA Association, about current worries going into the next school year.  She says they're already aware of 10 teacher retirements that will need to be filled.  While Zimmerman acknowledges that tools like experience based licensing have added some staff to schools, it doesn't negate the huge need for agriculture educators.  She says they currently have about 28,000 members statewide with 6 newly chartered chapters.  Zimmerman also says they're considering opening options to students as young as 5th grade to keep the pipeline full of potential members. From t-shirt designs to empowering women at the grill - the Wisconsin Beef Council is busy.  Kaitlyn Kessler, Communications Director for the WI Beef Council takes a minute to recap some of the action so far this spring.  She explains how they enlisted top chefs to educate several female influencers about the finer points of using the grill.  Well the event was well received, however, she said they also learned that finding the right cuts of meat for the grill was a bit of a challenge for some of the women.  Fortunately, the chefs on hand and the resources at beeftips.com helped steer them in the right direction.  Paid for by Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're taking the time, and spending the money to dine out, you want to know what you're getting.  Susan Quam, executive vice president of the WI Restaurant Association says information is power - even for restaurant menus.  Quam tells Pam Jahnke that today diners are looking for "clean labels" on menus.  The "buy local" mantra continues, and restaurants are complying.  Quam says heat and spice continue to be popular flavor profiles that attract shoppers, but there's other taste bud tempting options becoming popular in the state too.  Comfort foods and value menus are a magnet, and Quam says "smash burger" are showing up with many different options. Rain is back on the way to Wisconsin with some strong winds to boot.  Stu Muck says today you might actually feel a chill with winds that could gust up to 35 mph.  This cycle of weather continues for about the next 48 hours. I bet you never thought of an auctioneer as a partner in your estate plan.  It happens.  Ashly Huhn explains to Pam Jahnke how the Steffes Group many times gets involved in Section 1031 exchanges.  This helps land owners primarily avoid heavy taxes by finding other properties to invest in.  Paid for by Steffes Group. Monday was the "Day of Service" for approximately 700 Wisconsin FFA members in Madison before the 97th State FFA Convention.  Amanda Draxler, WI State FFA President, says that the hands on labor of those members, coupled with seeing the finished product gives them a real sense of accomplishment and giving back to their host community.  Draxler says there were about 11 different targeted activities within Dane County that mobilized the members.  From pulling weeds to building beds, it was an important staple for the convention attendees.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New World Screw Worm.  It's all over agriculture headlines.  Could that worm ever make its way into Wisconsin and our livestock/pet population?  That's the question poised to P.J. Leisch, UW-Madison Extension Entomologist.  Leisch has been watching this worm for a while.  He tells Pam Jahnke that this insect has been around since at least the 60's in numbers that threatened livestock.  He says experience has taught researchers that trying to spray the insect away just isn't effective.  Bio controls like sterile male flies are the most successful way to manage this worm.  Leisch says Wisconsin's climate would be the ultimate demise of the worm if it did arrive.  It cannot survive below 40 degrees. Very mild temperatures start the week according to Stu Muck.  Winds will pick up and there is a chance of rain moving back in by Tuesday evening. 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, Kiley Allan catches 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.  Paid for by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. Celebrating 250 years!  It's a major milestone that the United States is noting in many different ways.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture's communication division is focused on highlighting their own milestones.  The Agriculture Department's Radio Service has served the public for one hundred years as of 2026 - almost as old as the medium itself. And over its century, USDA Radio has provided information about farming, ranching, and the Department in a variety of ways and formats. Rod Bain presents the second of a series of programs on USDA Radio over the years in this edition of "Agriculture USA". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hands-on educational opportunities are crucial for students going through their academic career. It can also play a crucial role in career-specific trainings. Luxemburg Fire Department is taking advantage of all hands-on opportunities they can get. Brad Zellner joins us. He's the safety and training officer for the fire department. He tells me about a recent hands-on training opportunity provided by a local farm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fair season in Wisconsin brings with it a few changes for livestock exhibitors.  Jill Welke chats with Dr. Meg Mueller about her engagement in the dialog.  Also, while New World Screw Worm may not make it to the state, Dr. Mueller says it could still deal a financial blow to local producers.  Her priorities include sourcing animals from outside the state and making pet owners who might adopt aware of the risks. Wow - severe weather on Wednesday is causing clean-up on Thursday.  Stu Muck explains some of the areas of impact, and what's on the radar already this morning.  He thinks it's going to be another 'alert day' with severe weather and high winds. Alzheimer's is a disease that does not discriminate.  It doesn't matter where you live, or what your financial situation is.  It's also random.  Dr. Bill Stork, a retired veterinarian in Lake Mills, watched his mother slip away from Alzheimer's.  Sunday, he's spearheading "Minds over Mountains" MOMs, in honor of his mother.  The event in Lake Mills helps connect people with others handling the disease, researchers investigating it, and fund raising mechanisms to help further research.  Stork says he's encouraged by the research progress he's seen in just the past few years.  He also reminds people that they can control some of their outcome by thinking about their health today.  Pam Jahnke visited with him. All eyes are on nonfat products in the marketplace.  Zach Bowers, dairy analyst with EverAg, joins Pam Jahnke to discuss.  That non-fat complex has drawn Wisconsin's Class III prices higher, and is likely moving lower now.  Bowers says demand for U.S. dairy remains robust - especially cheese.  Keeping an eye on what type of dairy product catches the globes attention will be what drives us next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hot, sticky weather is conducive to insects, and Wisconsin's a perfect example.  Kiley Allan gets a quick update on what new arrivals have made Wisconsin home from Dr. Emily Bick.  Bick is a UW-Madison Extension Entomologist that tracks everything from armyworm to alfalfa weevil.  Both of those insects pop up in this conversation. It's an alert day for much of Wisconsin.  Warm, moist air and gusting winds will create some potentially severe weather statewide.  Stu Muck focuses in on specific areas of risk. Summer fun is just around the corner now that the kids are exiting school.  That fun can still pose safety risks.  Chris Schlechta, Safety and Loss Control Officer with Rural Mutual Insurance says those fun outdoor activites need to be approached cautiously.  Schlechta says when we're ready to go 4-wheeling, boating or building that campfire, our brains or in the "relaxed" mode.  That can expose us, our friends and family to unexpected incidents.  Schlechta presents some scenarios that make the point. New World Screw Worm is being found in more animal populations of the south.  Could it make it to Wisconsin.  PJ Leisch, UW-Madison Extension Entomologist says it's doubtful.  Leisch does explain how the worm could still cause disruption for Wisconsin farmers. Keeping the focus on New World Screw Worm.  Wisconsin's got a big heart when it comes to displaced pets.  That's why many cats and dogs from places like Texas routinely end up in Wisconsin.  What do we need to know about those rescue operations and the animals they're moving.  Rod Bain with the USDA communications department explains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW–Madison's Data Science Institute is a campus-wide research institute that focuses on data science and artificial intelligence. The group isn't just working with computer scientists, though. Rather, they work with researchers across campus to leverage artificial intelligence in their individual products. Kyle Cranmer is the director for the Data Science Institute. He gave Kiley Allan a closer look at the research they're doing to tie together artificial intelligence and the dairy industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer is a busy time on Wisconsin farms. While we're between planting and harvest, farmers are checking fields, monitoring crops, maintaining equipment, and preparing for the months ahead. Unfortunately, this time of year also brings safety risks that can have devastating consequences.  Pam Jahnke visits with Chris Schlechta, Safety and Loss Control Manager for Rural Mutual Insurance.   Together they have a quick conversation on the things we all look forward to in the summer.  Relax, grill out, ride and ATV/UTV - just have fun.  Schlechta is all for fun - but it comes with safety as one of the responsibilities. Schlechta says without thought and supervision, things like ATV/UTV's, bonfires, boating - can all turn "fun" into an incident you never wanted to have happen.  Around the farm, thinking through risks and making sure family, friends, visitors and yourself stay safe has to be a priority.  Are signs posted for guests?  Do you have your first aid kit and fire extinguisher available and clearly visible?  Those things don't take long to check, but can make a massive difference in an incidents outcome. Schlechta reminds anyone that wants to work through a safety review, or needs to have some information to help execute a safety plan, to head over to the Rural Mutual website.  There you'll find a complete toolbox with manuals, lists and resources to do just that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin is home now to 79 weather stations that dot the state.  These stations are generating real time information that farmers and outdoor enthusiasts can tap into.  Pam Jahnke visit with Chris Vagasky, Research Program Manager for Wisconet.  Vagasky says one new element they've added to these stations are soil sensors.  The 400 soil sensors provide "plant available water" readings at multiple depths in the soil profile.   Heat and humidity are building in Wisconsin today with some severe weather that could develop.  Stu Muck hones in on what areas need to be alert.   The lull in auction action is over.  Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group tells Pam Jahnke that they're already seeing a surg on auctions being booked for later this fall.  Huhn says by being proactive, clients get the benefit of solid preplanning, preparation and advance promotion.  Paid for by Steffes Group. The market's continuing to watch development of New World Screw Worm.  Now a total of four cases have been detected, including a dog in New Mexico.  While it's not a food risk, it is a market disrupter.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, joins Pam Jahnke to discuss the chatter online.  He's also watching certain regions in the latest crop progress report.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The small community of Ashippun in Dodge County is using farmland preservation tools to keep consistency as a part of land transition.  Robert Guenther, dairy farmer and member of the Town of Ashippun Planning Commission says the community  is facing increasing growth pressures, including recent applications for a private golf course and a solar energy farm. Ashippun's growth is largely driven by its location directly north of the rapidly growing village of Oconomowoc. Geunther says the community is learning just how expensive that growth can be.  He  says local studies have shown that every dollar collected in taxes on farmland costs the town about 75 cents in services, whereas every dollar collected from development land costs about $1.25 in municipal expenses.  Ashippun currently operates under A1 and A2 zoning. A1 is prime farmland with highly restrictive  rules, while A2 is less restrictive and includes over 70 different  conditional use opportunities. Because the town of Ashippun is under Dodge County zoning, the local planning commission can only make recommendations while the county holds final approval power. A major point of contention regarding the incoming private golf course is its location directly across the street from a 400-cow dairy farm, which local leaders view as a conflicting land use. A conditional use permit for a proposed solar operation on A1 prime farmland was rejected by Dodge County after unanimous denial recommendations from both the Ashippun planning commission and the town board. Local leaders note that farmland preservation zoning is simply a different zoning district that controls land use. It is often confused with a 15-year state farmland preservation agreement, which is much more restrictive on landowner rights. We've got a hot, sticky week ahead with some measurable rain.  Stu Muck spells out what to plan for. Weather did not deter the crowd from showing up Friday in Chippewa County for President Donald Trump and U.S. Ag Secretary, Brooke Rollins.  Mid-West Farm Report's Bob Bosold was there.  A round table was arranged so the president could hear directly from farmers on the issues they believe matter.  One farmer that testified was Steve Rooney, owner/operator of Rooney Grain.  He says the situation agriculture finds itself with monopolies is untenable.  Rooney implored the president to look at ways to invest in producing things like fertilizer, seed and ag chem in more than one company. Multiple farms hosted throngs of visitors for June Dairy events over the weekend.  That included Jody Miller from Miller Time Farms in Avoca.  She talks with Pam Jahnke about why that kind of face-to-face interaction with consumers is so meaningful and important.  Miller sits on the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin board.  She's also one of the persona that's been amplified through the "Born to Dairy" campaign.  Miller is a "Barnyard Beautifier" who enjoys featuring flowers everywhere around her farmstead.  She says portraying the proper visual message to consumers is important to her.  Miller notes that a clean, well-kept farmstead lets consumers know that farmers care about their land, water and animals.  Paid for by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fox Valley Technical College is the only place in the state of Wisconsin where students can explore a two-year natural resources education program. It's recently received an addition that has campus buzzing with excitement. A 160-acre anonymous donation was made by a community member who wanted their land to stay in habitat and not be developed. A priority in education made the program the right fit for the donation. Paul Groell is the chair of the Natural Resources Department at Fox Valley Technical College. He says they were very surprised but very pleased with the donation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 As agriculture's ever-changing landscape sees high input costs and changes in the marketplace, Dan Schaefer of Schaefer Beef Consulting has been getting a lot of phone calls. We started our conversation with one of the two most common question he's been receiving. How can anyone make any money when calves are valued at $1,500 at just three days old? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The loss of a crop is awful.  The loss of a tradition, even more painful.  This year's erratic weather has caused some Wisconsin strawberry growers to rethink their plan.  Kiley Allan gets the story from Danielle Clark of Mayberry Farms in Mayville.  Their strawberry harvest is over before it started. They have pick-your-own strawberries, honeybees, row crops, and a newly planted apple orchard, backyard livestock collection of chickens and show lambs, makes skincare with farm grown ingredients such as strawberries, beeswax, tallow and lard. Agronomist believes Phytophthora attacked their plants - putting an end to their season before it started.  Clark says they had a little last year, but removed diseased plants but because soil doesn't drain well and the spring was cool and wet it accelerated it to a  total loss. One of their brand pillars is authenticity, so Danielle felt it was important to give the community an open and honest announcement that they would not have pick your own strawberries this year. She felt it was important to give enough time to digest the information and determine where they will go instead. The farm was met with an overwhelming amount of support from the community. The farm will convert the affected soil to an apple orchard expansion. Rain is just starting to move into Wisconsin this morning.  Stu Muck says it'll hang around through the day Friday, but allow for a beautiful weekend of drier weather. What do Wisconsin livestock owners need to think about regarding New World Screw Worm?  Curt Larson, president and CEO of Equity Livestock Sales Association in Baraboo feels confident that Texas has the insect under control.  Larson says market disruption so far has been minimal.  He also says the chances of the insect making it to Wisconsin are thin.  Still, for Wisconsin livestock operators that house/grow/breed their animals in other states, thinking through possible quarantine restrictions is not a bad plan.  Pam Jahnke visits with Larson. The state's largest outdoor agriculture event depends on volunteers, weather and commercial exhibitors.  How's the 2026 show coming together?  Stephanie Hoff gets a preview from Janet Keller, general manager, Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.  Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is currently managing a "critical mass" of calls from potential exhibitors and sponsors to build the schedule and finalize the official program. The organization recently expanded its small staff by hiring Kate Borren as program coordinator and Abby George to handle financial bookkeeping. Unlike most other agricultural shows, this event moves to a different site within the state. Reorganized in 2023 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the show’s mission focuses on education and  resources for agriculture, health, safety, and food sourcing for both  farmers and consumers. The event requires a minimum of 200 acres to host—ideally on a modern dairy farm—and must be booked several years in advance so host farms can properly adjust their crop rotation schedules. The event logo changes every year to reflect the host county's unique identity. For 2026, the logo features the outline of Marathon County, the town of Stratford, and dairy cows representing the host farm, No Joke Dairy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The states weather network keeps getting upgrades that help Wisconsin farmers, and anybody that enjoys the outdoors.  One of the latest tools added is Plant Available Water readings.  Chris Vagasky, Research Program Manager for Wisconet, the states mesonet of weather stations, says they now have 400 soil sensors to tip off farmers when things are too dry, or too wet. Vagasky says the soil sensors measure moisture at 2, 4, 8, 20 and 40 inches of depth.  It compares the values to the maximum amount of water a plant can extract from the soil.  This blanket of sensors puts Wisconsin near the top as one of the most comprehensive soil moisture networks in the United States. All information is accessible real-time at wisconet.wisc.edu's dashboard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, Wisconsin's spring weather was good for a lot of different crops. The same is true for the rhubarb crop. Kathy Burrs is the owner and operator of Burrs Berry Patch in Barneveld, Wisconsin. She tells us about this year's crop growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Field demonstrations are a core attraction at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. Ron Zygarlicke, field demonstration chairman, tells Stephanie Hoff about the firsthand look at machinery and techniques in action showgoers can expect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The loss of a crop is awful.  The loss of a tradition, even more painful.  This year's erratic weather has caused some Wisconsin strawberry growers to rethink their plan.  Kiley Allan gets the story from Danielle Clark of Mayberry Farms in Mayville.  Their strawberry harvest is over before it started. They have pick-your-own strawberries, honeybees, row crops, and a newly planted apple orchard, backyard livestock collection of chickens and show lambs, makes skincare with farm grown ingredients such as strawberries, beeswax, tallow and lard. Agronomist believes Phytophthora attacked their plants - putting an end to their season before it started.  Clark says they had a little last year, but removed diseased plants but because soil doesn't drain well and the spring was cool and wet it accelerated it to a  total loss. One of their brand pillars is authenticity, so Danielle felt it was important to give the community an open and honest announcement that they would not have pick your own strawberries this year. She felt it was important to give enough time to digest the information and determine where they will go instead. The farm was met with an overwhelming amount of support from the community. The farm will convert the affected soil to an apple orchard expansion. Rain is just starting to move into Wisconsin this morning.  Stu Muck says it'll hang around through the day Friday, but allow for a beautiful weekend of drier weather. What do Wisconsin livestock owners need to think about regarding New World Screw Worm?  Curt Larson, president and CEO of Equity Livestock Sales Association in Baraboo feels confident that Texas has the insect under control.  Larson says market disruption so far has been minimal.  He also says the chances of the insect making it to Wisconsin are thin.  Still, for Wisconsin livestock operators that house/grow/breed their animals in other states, thinking through possible quarantine restrictions is not a bad plan.  Pam Jahnke visits with Larson. The state's largest outdoor agriculture event depends on volunteers, weather and commercial exhibitors.  How's the 2026 show coming together?  Stephanie Hoff gets a preview from Janet Keller, general manager, Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.  Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is currently managing a "critical mass" of calls from potential exhibitors and sponsors to build the schedule and finalize the official program. The organization recently expanded its small staff by hiring Kate Borren as program coordinator and Abby George to handle financial bookkeeping. Unlike most other agricultural shows, this event moves to a different site within the state. Reorganized in 2023 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the show’s mission focuses on education and  resources for agriculture, health, safety, and food sourcing for both  farmers and consumers. The event requires a minimum of 200 acres to host—ideally on a modern dairy farm—and must be booked several years in advance so host farms can properly adjust their crop rotation schedules. The event logo changes every year to reflect the host county's unique identity. For 2026, the logo features the outline of Marathon County, the town of Stratford, and dairy cows representing the host farm, No Joke Dairy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout the month of June, farms across Wisconsin are opening their doors for visitors. Most of those farms are dairy farms because, after all, June is dairy month. But there's another farm, an herbal farm, opening their doors to visitors. Jane Hawley Stevens joins us. She's the owner of Four Elements Organic Herbals. They're 130 acres in Baraboo Bluffs. There, her and her husband, both former horticulture grads from the UW-Madison, have been certified organic since 1987. She grows herbs that go into their herbal wellness line. They make functional creams, lip balms, soaps, tea, and more with the herbs that they grow. She tells us about the event they're hosting on Saturday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephanie Hoff is looking at what it takes to bring the community together for one of the most anticipated ag events of the season: Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. Vicki Halupka is the chair of the volunteer committee for the show. Sign up for a shift today: https://www.wifarmtechdays.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Janet Keller, general manager of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, gives Stephanie Hoff a behind-the-scenes look at the massive undertaking that is this unique show. The event is July 14-16 at No Joke Dairy in Stratford.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deans from Wisconsin's schools of agriculture are standing is support of the Dairy Innovation Hub.  The Hub acts as a collaborative "nexus," uniting the unique strengths of UW-Madison, UW-Platteville, and UW-River Falls to benefit Wisconsin's broader  agricultural and education landscape. For example at UW-Platteville, faculty members from the chemistry and mechanical engineering departments successfully patented a method to turn spoiled milk into 3D printing material.  Researchers at UW-River Falls developed a more affordable lactose-free ice cream, which is currently being sold to the public at the campus’s Freddy’s Dairy Bar. UW-Madison is utilizing high-level science, such as SNAP plus modeling, to create new nutrient strategies that help farmers contain phosphorus and nitrogen. The deans say despite the rising "cost of doing business," state funding for the Hub has not been adjusted for inflation since it was established around 2019 or 2020. To ensure the Hub’s value is understood during budget cycles, the universities host major public events—ranging from Lafayette County Dairy Breakfasts to field days at Madison’s 12 regional ag research stations—where lawmakers can see the impact firsthand. Heat will be noticeable today in Wisconsin and so will the wind.  Stu Muck says that wind will be bringing with it a chance of rain and thunderstorms beginning overnight. On Wednesday evening, USDA confirmed the first case of New World Screw Worm in Texas.  USDA Secretary, Brooke Rollins, says they've mobilized APHIS staff and are implementing a 20 km quarantine radius to monitor and contain livestock movement.  She stresses this is NOT a food safety issue. Dairy will be keeping an eye on the New World Screw Worm situation.  Collin Aardema, dairy analyst with EverAg tells Pam Jahnke that the impacted geography right now isn't a heavy dairy populus, but if the quarantine expands - it could impact milk flow.  Right now Idaho IS catching some attention because of a few outbreaks of HPAI in dairy.  Aardema says the curious piece is that it's impacting calves more than cows.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

St. Mary's School educator Mary Cooper shares with Stephanie Hoff how she blends her deep-rooted background in the dairy industry with innovative STEM education. As a member of the Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Educator Ambassador Team, Mary discusses how she uses free, standards-aligned resources and multi-grade school challenges to make agricultural literacy accessible to all students.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As commercial fertilizer prices have farmers rethinking their nutrient strategies, real-time sensor technology is turning highly variable manure into a precise economic asset. Stephanie Hoff interviews Joe Sanford about his UW Dairy Innovation Hub research exploring how near-infrared spectroscopy tools can help large-scale dairies and custom operators track nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on the fly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To date, the hilarious campaign from Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin - "Born to Dairy" - has already racked up more than 10.5 million views, and counting!  Today we’re joined by one of the stars of the campaign! Welcome, Jody Miller — also known as The Barnyard Beautifier! Jody and her family farm in Avoca at Miller Time Dairy.  Currently they're planning to host the Iowa County Breakfast on the Farm, which is a perfect example of how Jody works to add beauty to the barnyard. Pam Jahnke visits with Miller about the excitement she feels with the "Born to Dairy" persona's and the messages they relay.  Miller also believes that this platform is a wonderful way for dairy farmers to connect with consumers on a "real" level.  For Miller, there's a lot of truth behind her "Barnyard Beautifer" persona.  She cares deeply about the image her dairy operation portrays to the general public.  She believes that it's a visual example of how much the family cares about what they do.  Their devotion to taking care of their animals.  Their focus on improving the soil and water they depend on today for the next generation. Miller is also proud of the other personalities involved in "Born to Dairy".  She says the campaign shows that dairy farmers are real people with humor, creativity, traditions, and passions outside of the work itself. Dairy operators work incredibly hard, but she adds that they also know how to laugh at themselves a little. Which persona do you match with?  Where's your next June Dairy Adventure?  You can find all the answers at Wisconsin Dairy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horses and horse owners from across North America will make their way to the MN State Fairgrounds in St. Paul for the Percheron World Congress.  Bob Bosold explains the elements of the horse, and the show components with Jim Day, co-chair of the event.  Day says this horse was initially bred for battle in the Middle Ages, but has advanced to being great in the harness, or saddle.  He also explains the different colors that the breed can feature. Get your outdoor plans and tasks wrapped up today and tomorrow.  Stu Muck says the rain and thunderstorms begin popping up in Wisconsin's forecast on Thursday evening. Chickens offer more than just bug eating abilities and eggs.  Kiley Allan gets a whole new appreciation for the creature from  Nelle Kempfer, Park Administrator at Schumaher Farm Park in Waunakee.  Chickens are a magnet for kids, and also adults interested in starting their own flock.  They've turned into a great recruiting tool to bring visitors to the living history farm site. Wisconsin's latest crop progress report bears out that warm dry weather has elevated the crop.  Pam Jahnke runs down the latest ratings from the WI Ag Statistical Service. With the high cost of fertilizer causing concern from Wisconsin farmers, researchers are looking at ways for them to maximize their local grown fertilizers - manure.  Joe Sanford, assistant professor at UW-Platteville and affiliated with the UW Dairy Innovation Hub says. Sanborn's working with industry leaders on developing sensor data to make immediate adjustments from the tractor cab to hit specific nutrient targets (e.g., 150 lbs of nitrogen per acre). Alternatively, they can empty their storages by volume, analyze the collected map data later, and use precise commercial supplements to fill in the gaps.The primary end-users for this expensive technology are large-scale farms with massive storages and high agitation costs, as well as custom operators who pump millions of gallons for hundreds of different clients annually and want to add a premium service. Currently, the sensor functions purely as an internal data collection system; it does not yet satisfy state regulatory requirements for annual laboratory manure analysis. Additionally, some farmers hesitate to adopt the technology due to lingering concerns over data ownership and how potential over-application data might be used.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schumacher Farm Park invites visitors to take a step into history. When this Dane County Park was created, the goal was to preserve the land and create a living history museum that accurately depicted life on the farm in the 1920s and 1930s. At that time, many Wisconsin farms had chickens. Nelle Kempfer, Park Administrator, tells Kiley Allan that the chickens took a year-long hiatus, but they're back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year, when it comes time for us to get a growing update about the state of Wisconsin's diverse and many agricultural crops, we have to check in on grapes. Today's conversation takes us to Prairie du Sac, that's the town that Wollersheim Winery calls home. Philippe Coquard operates the winery alongside his family. He tells me they have 27 acres of grapes with about 700 vines per acre. He sat down to give Kiley Allan an update about how the grapes are growing this season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Schaefer of Schaefer Beef Consulting tells Kiley Allan about common mistakes producers make when transitioning from dairy to beef. Stu Muck outlines a beautiful day in the Revolution Plastics Ag Weather Update. Is manure feeding your crops like it used to? Division of Extension Specialist Chris Clark tells Stephanie Hoff about her latest research out of the UW Dairy Innovation Hub looking at manure micronutrients and where farms are falling short. Ashley Huhn and Pam Jahnke discuss The Steffes Group's auction calendar and resources for both buyers and sellers. Market advisor John Heinberg of Total Farm Marketing walks Stephanie Hoff through the first USDA crop condition ratings and the recent loss of bullish momentum in the grain markets. Heinberg explains that while early corn and soybean ratings landed slightly below market expectations, the primary downward pressure on prices stems from a typical seasonal peak and heavy global competition from South American harvests. Ultimately, he advises producers to look past early-season weather anxieties and implement defensive risk management strategies before the market historically runs out of steam in mid-June.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no question.  Margins are tight for Wisconsin soybean growers.  Andy Bensend from Dallas, WI is one of those looking at those margins.  He also sits on the WI Soybean Marketing Board where decisions are made on how to invest hard earned farmer dollars. Bensend says the investments made by the WI Soybean Marketing Board are calculated, researched and designed for a return on investment.  Even if that return will take some time to develop.  Bensend notes that they're challenged from a number of fronts.  Growing conditions in Wisconsin.  How can they be managed for maximum output?  Developing markets both here and abroad.  What is the world looking for?  Of course education connects all those lines.  Making growers aware of the research findings and how it can help them is a must to keep moving forward.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know keeping your lawn mower blades sharp is a critical key to a great lawn?  Many people don't!  Ben Jarboe finds out about some of the other ingredients that make up a lush, green lawn from Doug Soldat, UW-Madison Extension Turf Specialist. After a few showers this morning, dry moderate weather moves into WI.  Stu Muck says rain shouldn't redevelop until later this week. Traditionally lard was thought of as a key ingredient to flaky pie crusts.  Today - thanks to social media - lard is being used as a moisturizer for skin!  Kiley Allan finds out about it from  Julie Schroeder, Owner of Open Road Ranch.  Schroeder says lard is highly effective for skincare because its pH and lipid profile closely mimic human skin, allowing it to absorb easily. Naturally rich in vitamins and antioxidants, lard serves as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatment for conditions like eczema, rosacea, and minor wounds. An agriculture instructor from Viroqua has been named the 2026 Miss Wisconsin USA!  Olivia Lulich, originally from Lyndon Station, was selected from the field on Saturday evening in Des Moines.  Lulich says her platform of helping people understand where their food comes from will be part of her Miss Wisconsin USA conversations. It's officially June Dairy month in Wisconsin, and farms are ready for visitors.  Stephanie Hoff introduces us to the hosts for the Sauk Co Breakfast on the Farm, the Luxton family from Hillpoint.  Tom and Kay Luxton at Windi Ridge Farm say the breakfast has prompted them on some projects they wanted to get done like installing a new driveway and painting the parlor.  They remind visitors that it's about more than just the breakfast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to host a community dairy breakfast as we tour a family farm in the hilly Driftless region. Stephanie Hoff visits Windi Ridge Farm as part of her Leaders of the Land tour with Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. The 35th annual Sauk County Breakfast on the Farm is bringing together more than 75 local businesses to spotlight the Luxton family's dedication to the community, the animals, and the land. This interview also explores how these "leaders of the land" use contour strips and expert-approved nutrient management plans to preserve soil health for generations to come.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.