MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON Pam Jahnke

Jim Versweyvld, UW-Extension Farm Management Specialist says farms need to slow down and think about how they introduce new employees to their farming duties.  Clear communications about duties and policies like cell phone use are key.It's all about the numbers. 

The latest Census of Agriculture painted a pretty bleak picture if you looked at the cumulative trend for Wisconsin farms.  Stephanie Hoff tries to get a grasp on the trends with the help of Jeff Hadacheck, ag economist, who explains the influences behind the trends.Curt Larson, President and CEO of Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association says they're months away from reopening an idle livestock facility in Maquoketa, Iowa.  Larson says the building was erected back in the 60's and was state-of-the-art at the time.  Now, they're repairing fences and replacing scales.  He said their hope is to have it fully operational by late summer, early fall.  He explains the situation to Pam Jahnke.

MMore jobs than graduates!  That's the story for the graduating class at UW-Platteville's ag school this spring.  Charitee Seebecker discusses numbers and high demand areas with Dr. Tera Montgomery.
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Whether you're getting married at the farm or your farm is the venue -- put insurance on the to-do list! Carmen Brueggen Katsma is a Rural Mutual Insurance agent out of Poynette. She says she’s seen the wedding barn industry boom in her neck of the woods and she serves a number of them on their insurance needs. She walks us through the basics: the type of insurance you'll need, how to customize the insurance, and common claims.
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Vegetable processors across the country are feeling price pressure due to tariffs on steel, according to the Midwest Food Products Association. It's amped up the competition with foreign processors. Wisconsin is one of the top states in the production of the major processing vegetables, notably green peas, snap beans, and potatoes. This year, at least two Wisconsin food processors are closing their doors. MWFPA President Jason Culotta represents food processors in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. He says in 2023, the U.S. became a net food importer for the first time. He says this is a problem because food processors cannot compete with the prices of foreign competitors.
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They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that beauty is turning into a new marketing opportunity for Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association.

Curt Larson, President and CEO of Equity Livestock says their acquisition of the former United Livestock Center in Maquoketa, Iowa, is coming along as they focus on replacing scales and updating fences.

The facility in Iowa marks the 12th full-service market that Equity Cooperative Livestock is operating around the Midwest - its second in Iowa.

The yard was owned by Tom Scheckel for 25 years and operated as a livestock yard for the first 10.  He said he'd been renting the facilities out for the past 15.

Larson said he's anticipating having the refurbished facilities ready for business by sometime this fall.
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Sydney Flick manages her family farm Jazzy Jerseys in Lodi. They milk about 800 cows. She says while 1 billion people will celebrate Earth Day on April 22 this year, it's something she lives every day.

“We rely on the land to take care of our family and the cows.”

Jazzy Jerseys has reduced water usage by recycling. They use cold water from the well to cool down the milk. That same water is used for the cows and calves. That water eventually ends up in the manure which helps the farm spread the nutrients on the field more evenly.

In the field, Jazzy Jerseys utilizes buffer strips to prevent soil erosion and nutrient runoff. Buffer strips are narrow areas of grass that act as a physical barrier between fields, slowing the flow of water. The buffer strips don’t make it easier to farm – it can make things more tedious – but they preserve the soil. 
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Decisions are being made today about county fair animals and exhibits you'll see later this summer.  Stephanie Hoff talks with UW-Extension Youth Livestock Specialist, Bernie O'Rourke, about getting started on the right foot and establishing a partnership with your veterinarian early.

The College for Rural Wisconsin may not be a name you're familiar with but it's working to raise awareness.  Jennifer Blazek is the program director for College for Rural Wisconsin and tells Pam Jahnke what they're offering rural school districts to help offset financial constraints and lack of ample school counselors to help students make college or tech college decisions.

Today is the final day to enter the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship, coming up Saturday in Dodgeville.  Charitee Seebecker talks to Jenna Vondra, Exec. Dir. of the Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce.  She says they're expecting at least 70 sandwich entries this year.

Fits and jerks.  That phrase might describe what's been going on with cheese prices lately.  Mike North, president of the producer division of EverAg, joins Pam Jahnke to discuss.  North says consumers are signaling they'll cook at home more versus eating out.  That has an impact on not only cheese, but also products like cream.
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