Dairy Gets Ready For Changes June 1st And MAHA Commission Report Is Out

MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Beginning June 1, dairy producers and processors will see noticeable changes to the way milk is priced. After years of discussion and debate, finally the Federal Milk Marketing Orders have seen some revision. In Wisconsin, that could mean some lower prices initially. Leonard Polzin, UW-Extension Dairy Markets and Policy Outreach Specialist, has done all the modeling for the new orders. He says everything continues to focus on the value of fluid milk, but it also should protect Wisconsin dairy operators for big losses when other categories are in demand. Bob Bosold gets the breakdown.
Memorial weekend may not be real warm in Wisconsin, but it should be dry. Stu Muck goes through the weekend forecast which still has a frost advisory out for much of northern Wisconsin.
Thursday the Make America Healthy Again commission finally released their much anticipated report. Agriculture was quick to respond with overall disappointment. Chad Smith speaks with Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau for reaction. Kieffer says any efforts to adjust the food system have to be based on science.
Some people are looking forward to camping this Memorial weekend. Sheila Everhart, executive director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association(WATA) tells Pam Jahnke that one of the most popular breaks for people is to "glamp". Basically that's a camping experience in a unique location - like a farm. In Wisconsin, however, that can come with permit expense and inspection. Everhart says WATA is working on changing language in state statutes that would allow farms to offer campsites for up to 3 locations without that requirement. Everhart says it's just a language change with no expense to tax payers, but the senator that's working on the bill says he wants at least 10 farmers to commit to testify for the change before he'll introduce it.

Spring planting continues as weather allows. Matt Wagenson, grower and board member of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, gives Pam Jahnke a quick planting update from his tractor cab. Wagenson says they just concluded a consumer survey designed to find out both opinion and knowledge of what soybean growers do and provide to them product-wise. Wagenson tells Jahnke that older consumers generally still have confidence in farmers and the practices they use. Younger demographics however are less engaged, and have less knowledge about the unique products they use everyday that contain soy-based products. Paid for by the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.
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