There are some amazing ideas in food processing happening in Wisconsin, but some need a little financial support to get started. Pam Jahnke finds out about a recent project with Westby Coop Creamery and the USDA Rural Development Agency. Andrew Iverson is the state director for USDA Rural Development Agency. He explains their overarching duties in working with businesses and organizations on building infrastructure. Iverson describes the challenges being faced by Westby Coop Creamery. It's the only cottage cheese producer in the state and demand for their product has outstripped capacity. USDA Rural Development stepped in with at $15.5 million loan guarantee to help get that project underway.

A calm Tuesday on the way weatherwise for Wisconsin. STu Muck say temps will still move to the upper 80's, and it will feel warm with little breeze today. There is a developing chance of storms moving in by Wednesday evening.

July is an excellent time for preplanning your auction. Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group joins Pam Jahnke to talk about the process his staff is currently going through with a lot of operators looking at auctions later this year. Huhn says once that contract is signed, they start promoting the auction and items offered immediately. Paid for by Steffes Group.

Soybeans led the way up on Monday after rumors of a sale to China inspired traders. So far, the gains have been maintained. John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend joins Pam Jahnke to explain what we know so far on the rumor. He also focuses on areas that are starting to see stress in this weeks crop progress report.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days may be held on a dairy, but that doesn't stop them from remembering their other bovine friends. Dennis Breneman joins us. He's the chairman of the Beef Tent and a member of the State Executive Committee. His passion for beef starts with his own operation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There will be an emphasis on safety in demonstrations at WI Farm Technology Days this year. Jill Welke visits with retired fire chief, Jerry Minor, about the message he wants to convey to attendees. Minor says today's responders lack the farming/agriculture knowledge that responders had 40 years ago when he began as a firefighter. Minor says helping farms communicate directly with their local fire and rescue team members is incredibly important. He shares some insights into some of the tools today's responders have access to that can improve their safety when responding to farm/ag related calls. Minor says a farm's cooperation by providing information before an event is key.

More wet weather will crowd our 4th of July outdoor plans according to Stu Muck. The rain that moved through overnight also brought some minor hail. Muck says that probably won't repeat this weekend.

They may not be on the guest list, but you know they'll show up. Mosquitos. Kiley Allan finds out how Wisconsin's dry May impacted early mosquito development from PJ Leisch, UW-Extension Entomologist. Leisch says Wisconsin is home to about 55 different varieties of mosquitoes, so one is always finding weather it can handle. He says the biggest risk humans have for disease transfer from mosquitoes is West Nile Virus.

Dairy country is dealing with the heat in different ways. Matt Tranel, senior dairy analyst with EverAg in Platteville, tells Pam Jahnke that California is still relatively mild. That's keeping its milk production moving along. Meanwhile, in the EU, people and dairies are struggling against a wave of heat. Tranel points out that many EU farms aren't equipped to handle bouts of heat. He also brings an update on a dryer plant fire at a processor in Arizona. Industry leaders are watching how and where that milk is temporarily relocated.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multiple generations are getting ready to welcome visitors for the 2026 WI Farm Technology Days event. Redetzke's No Joke Dairy outside of Stratford has a story to share about family working together and making a farm work. Bob Bosold visits with family members Sam Redetzke and brother Matt on how they juggle schedules with off farm duties to keep the wheels rolling. The state's largest outdoor agriculture event is coming up July 14-16.

Heat returns to Wisconsin. Stu Muck says we won't likely reach the 90's but it will be warmer. Things should stay dry until at least Thursday according to the forecast.

Today's investment in agriculture aren't just about technology and engineering. Farms and farmers depend on people for good advice and service on the technology that they're investing in. Our example today is Lake Effect Farm in the Plymouth area. Brad Laack, the owner/operator of the farm, has placed a lot of trust in Tim Schultz, owner and operator of Schultz's Interstate Ag in Monroe. Schultz's provides state-of-the-art grain handling technology across the Midwest, including Lake Effect Farm. Schultz visits with Pam Jahnke about the clear communication that's necessary on projects like this to make sure that a farmers dreamed are realized and maintained. Paid for by Schultz's Interstate Ag.

Soybeans are rallying on a Monday morning! An unconfirmed sale of over 500,000 metric ton of soybeans going to an undisclosed destination is inspiring traders. Pam Jahnke also updates the conversations between the U.S. and Canada on renewing USMCA.

Agriculture technology isn't just limited to agriculture. Kiley Allan finds out about the multi-use options for drones. Davis Napier, Owner and Operator at Seek, says he uses drones equipped with high-resolution thermal cameras and spotlights to locate downed deer for hunters who have lost the trail, want to avoid trespassing on neighboring land, or wish to minimize property disturbance. To stay within Wisconsin DNR regulations and avoid hunting with a drone, he requires clients to sign waivers and will only disclose a deer's location if the thermal imaging confirms the animal has already expired. Beyond recovery, the drone captures and stitches together thousands of images to create property maps that are significantly more detailed than satellite imagery, allowing landowners to see specific deer trails and terrain features. During the off-season, the technology is used for herd analysis to help landowners understand deer bedding patterns and population health (buck-to-doe ratios) without disrupting the animals during hunting season. Napier founded his business, Seeker, based on his lifelong passion for hunting and his childhood experience of the heartbreak associated with failing to recover a deer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America's 250th birthday calls for a big celebration, and that's exactly what the Great American State Fair is. It's an opportunity for each state to showcase what makes them unique and special. Joey Hoey joins us, he's the assistant deputy secretary at the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. He was in charge of putting together a display that shows off the best of what Wisconsin has to offer. Joey tells us about the road to the Great American State Fair.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If mosquitoes could talk, I have a feeling they would say the 4th of July is their favorite holiday. From fireworks shows to lake days and barbecues, the influx of people outside basically means we're bringing an all-you-can-eat buffet straight to the doorstep of the homes of mosquitoes. PJ Liesch joins us; he's an Extension Entomologist who keeps an eye on the populations of mosquitoes in Wisconsin throughout the summer. He tells us what he's seen so far.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 burger
basics. 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 the
Classroom, 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 farmer
Rebecca Poppy of Poppy Family Farms in Omro, the tour introduced students to
cattle, 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 the
school 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.