Finding a way to motivate busy farmer growers to attend events is a challenge.  It's a challenge being faced by almost every avenue of Wisconsin agriculture.  Associations, events, educational venues - they all struggle to get their target audience - farmers - to show up!Pam Jahnke visits with Whitney Prestby about how some conservation staff in Wisconsin are taking a different approach to reaching their audience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fairs.com was founded in 2023 in Columbus, OH by people who have actually worked a fair gate — and got tired of watching fairs get squeezed by generic ticketing platforms. That simple motivation has morphed into a business model that's helping fairs of all sizes across the United States - including here in Wisconsin. Pam Jahnke visits with Fairs.com founder/CEO, Scott Hillyer about how they got started, and where they hope to take the service.  Hillyer and his team were special guests at the 2026 WI Fair Association's Annual Convention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Agronomist Ronald Lubeck shares his field observations about this year's corn crop with Mid-West Farm Report's Larry Lee.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. is seeing a drastic shift in milk composition as consumer demand for protein rises dramatically. Cory Geiger, a Dairy Economist with CoBank, sits down with Larry Lee. They discuss the "double-edged sword" producers face in the quest for more protein. Stu Muck brings our Compeer Financial Ag Weather Update and says that the Labor Day weekend will be highlighted by some high September temperatures. Let's talk technology on a Friday! Tyler Walker of Walker Cranberry Company is a 6th generation cranberry grower and in the 5th year of his transition of using drones on his operation. From precision application to inspecting irrigation and monitoring frost protection, he has seen increased efficiency and yield! Teri Barr gives us a 60 second recap of the questions consumers and farmers are asking about imported beef. 150 years of a family farm is certainly something to celebrate!  Jason Baroun tells us the story of his family's Manitowoc County Sesquicentennial Farm. What began as a beef & swine operation has converted to a 130-cow dairy. They utilize robotic milking technology. While the expansion and success of the farm is critical to Jason, his pride and hopes for the next generation take an even greater importance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Putting together a menu of school lunches for students to enjoy isn't as simple as choosing your favorite dishes. Caitlin Harrison is the Director of Food and Nutrition Services at Elmbrook School District. She says it's a complex dance of balancing nutritional guidelines, student preferences, and school budgets. She tells Kiley Allan where she begins the process.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The growers of America's favorite vegetable are back in the field for harvest. Heidi Alsum-Randall joins us, she's the Chief Operating Officer at Alsum Farms & Produce. She tells Kiley Allan what this year's harvest has had in store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wisconsin potato harvest has been underway for a few weeks.  How does it look?  Kiley Allan gets a grower perspective from Heidi Alsum-Randall, Chief Operating Officer at Alsum Farms & Produce in Friesland.  Alsum-Randall says the company is having a high-quality potato harvest, utilizing integrated pest management and new precision drones to scout fields and target pesticide applications only where needed. She says French fries remain the top potato product in the U.S. (where potatoes have  been named the favorite vegetable for nine straight years), with frozen  processing projected to grow 1% annually as processors experiment with  new cuts and scrap utilization. The global market is highly competitive and costly, though European potato production saw significant drops last year, including double-digit declines in countries like Germany, France, and Poland. While the Russet Burbank remains the leading variety for fries, processors are adopting new potato varieties that offer higher bruise resistance and ideal gravity/sugar levels.Consumer perception of potato healthiness is improving nationwide, supported by industry outreach highlighting potatoes as rich sources of vitamin C and fiber.There is rain in the forecast, but so far it has manifested itself on radar.  Stu Muck explains what has to happen for that rain to really materialize, and where.Walk into most elementary school classrooms and you're likely to see a white board, staplers, erasers - stuff like that.  Walk into a third grade classroom in Green Bay and you'll see chickens!  Not just for a day - but everyday!  They're the teaching tool for Ashley VandenBush.  She teaches third grade at Father Allouez Catholic School in Green Bay. VandenBush did not grow up on a farm, but as a student teacher, she realized very little is taught about Wisconsin agriculture. She educated herself about agriculture so she could share what she learned with her third graders. Early on, she was dismayed when asking the kids about where there food comes from, which prompted her to add lessons in agriculture to her curriculum each year. This led to her class not only adopting a cow, but more recently they adopted chickens! The chickens are IN THE CLASSROOM, so the kids have to care for them. And during the Brown County Fair in August, several of her students took the chickens to the fair. Teri Barr takes us on this unique classroom tour.Wisconsin ag lenders are keeping an eye on farms bottom line.  Rose Oswald Poels, President and CEO of the WI Bankers Association says right now there's no cause for alarm, but the state's crop farmers are facing some really depressed prices.Normally when it comes to gauging cheese prices, the Wisconsin markets eyes look to Europe.  Katie Burgess, dairy analyst with EverAg tells Pam Jahnke that normally the EU would dictate the direction of global cheese prices.  However, lately New Zealand's been stealing the spotlight with lower cheese prices while the EU's go up.  Burgess says that's a concern since a lot of WI/US cheese has found solid markets in Australia.  Given the proximity New Zealand is to that country/continent - it bears monitoring.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lonnie Holthaus from MilkHaus Dairy discusses his family's journey into the A2 cheese market and the financial advice they received from the Food Finance Institute with Larry Lee from the Mid-West Farm Report.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Generosity of beef producers and the consumers that love it is apparent in Wisconsin!  The Wisconsin Beef Council has just concluded its first-ever "United in Beef" t-shirt campaign.  According to Kaitlyn Kessler, Director of Communications & Outreach for the Wisconsin Beef Council, they're getting ready to send high quality beef snack sticks to multiple Boys and Girls Club locations across the state. That's thanks in large part to generous supporters that purchased "United by Beef" t-shirts!  The shirts weave the story of the 250th birthday of the United States with imagery connecting beef producers. Also in studio, Andy Gussert, State Director of the WI Boys and Girls Club.  Gussert explains why this partnership is meaningful.  He notes that club locations stretch beyond the urban centers of Wisconsin.  He says this is not just an urban audience.  Gussert notes that they're serving over 138,500 youth, and two-two thirds are outside Milwaukee & Madison. Most clubs do gardening and hydroponics. Listen in as they discuss the synergy between the two groups bringing high quality beef snacks to those young, hungry minds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pause button has been pressed on tariffs keeping foreign beef from entering the U.S. marketplace.  The window of opportunity is scheduled for 90 days, but it's 90 days of anxiety for beef producers and consumers.  Teri Barr talks with Darren VonRuden, president of the WI Farmers Union about the subject.  American beef producers worry this could upset the financial apple cart they're working with to try and rebuild the domestic herd.  At the same time, consumers want to know where this beef's coming from, how it was grown and inspected, and where it's going to be used in the U.S. food system.  Some things we know.  Many things we dont'.  Michelle Rameriz-White, Government Relations Director at WFU says she hasn't found out if this will actually help consumers. A little rain moving in this morning to start what will be a scorching hot day.  Stu Muck explains that the heat will stick around, and so may the chance of rain.  Watch for thunderstorms. While farmer growers may shake their fist at weeds, the conversations those weeds inspire help direct weed research in WI.  Pam Jahnke finds out that Dr. Rodrigo Werle, UW-Madison Extension finds research inspiration from those spirited conversations.  He says this is the time of the year he counts on WI farmers to share their challenges and what they're seeing with remaining weed pressures.  It may turn into the research projects he focuses on next year. Now that the EPA has spoken, the renewable fuel industry is reacting. Geoff Cooper, the president and CEO of The Renewable Fuels Association, says it's a missed opportunity - one that should infuriate grain growers in the U.S. Right now Wisconsin is awash with fresh produce.  From backyard gardens to farm fields, there's a lot of opportunity to capture summer flavors that can stretch through the winter and longer - if processed properly.  Kiley Allan finds out there's some new partnerships to help disseminate the information home canners are looking for.   Heather Quakenboss, UW-Madison Extension Human Development & Relationships Educator says UW Extension is partnering with Iowa State Extension.  The goal is to provide a resource people can call with any preservation questions they have.  The number is 1-866-540-4636.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.