DNR Warns Against Baiting & Feeding Deer
Baiting and feeding encourage deer to congregate unnaturally around a specific location, creating an environment where infected deer can quickly spread diseases like CWD. / Photo Credit: iStock/ricardoreitmeyer
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tThe Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters and the public to help keep the state’s deer herd healthy by following all baiting and feeding bans and refraining from baiting and feeding in areas where no bans are in effect.
Baiting is the intentional placement of any material, including food, scented materials, salts, minerals and grains, to attract wild animals for hunting purposes. Feeding is the deliberate placement of material used to feed or attract wild animals for non-hunting purposes, including recreational and supplemental feeding, except as allowed for birds and small mammals.
Baiting and feeding encourage deer to congregate unnaturally around a specific location, creating an environment where infected deer can quickly spread diseases like chronic wasting disease (CWD) through direct contact with healthy deer or through indirect contact in the environment.
Infected deer can also leave infectious CWD prions behind in their saliva, blood, feces and urine, creating a risk to any healthy deer that may visit the site in the future. It can spread rapidly when these prions remain in an area where more deer are sure to congregate, such as a feed pile.
CWD
CWD is an always-fatal disease that affects the nervous system of deer, elk, moose and caribou caused by a misshapen prion protein. The disease can spread through contact with an infected animal’s saliva, urine, feces or blood. It can also spread indirectly through exposure to a contaminated environment. CWD prions are extremely resilient, and they can stay in the soil for a long time, making containment of an affected area a challenge.
To mitigate these risks and slow the spread of CWD, state law directs the DNR to impose baiting and feeding bans within any county with a confirmed CWD-positive wild or captive deer or any county within 10 miles of the location of the positive deer.
As directed by state statute, counties fall under a three-year baiting and feeding ban when a wild or farm-raised deer tests positive for CWD in the county. If the CWD-positive deer is found within 10 miles of a county line, the adjoining county will fall under a two-year ban.
If additional CWD cases are found during the lifetime of a baiting and feeding ban, the ban will reset for an additional two to three years. Therefore, the date when a baiting and feeding ban is scheduled to expire within a given county may change due to new farm-raised and wild CWD positive detections.
In counties where baiting and feeding bans are in effect, individuals may still feed birds and small mammals provided feeding devices are within 50 yards of a human dwelling and at a sufficient height or design to prevent access by deer.
Find more information on baiting and feeding regulations and a map of counties with active bans on the DNR’s Baiting and Feeding Regulations webpage.
New Series Puts Farm Family Mental Health in the Spotlight
A new fictional television series is taking a very real look at some of the struggles facing farm families — from financial stress and depression to grief, family relationships, and the pressure to keep going.
Perfect Sundays, a six-part limited series from the team behind the grain-entrapment film SILO, will screen its premiere episode September 29 at World Dairy Expo in Madison.
The event will feature a discussion with series creator and producer Sam Goldberg along with actor Jim Parrack. They will talk about the project and its approach to using fictional storytelling to connect with farmers on an emotional level.
A farm family’s story
Perfect Sundays follows the Weeks family, beginning two years to the day after family patriarch Ed dies by suicide.
His widow, Marla, decides to revive a family tradition of Sunday ice cream sundaes. But when she realizes her son may be struggling in ways similar to his father, she begins looking for a way to keep the family farm financially afloat. Her answer is to turn her passion for ice cream into a retail business.
The six-episode series follows the family as they try to work their way out of financial trouble while also confronting the emotional wounds left behind by Ed’s death. The story is fictional, but the issues at its center are familiar to many farm families.
Watch the trailer for “Perfect Sundays” here:
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Using storytelling to start difficult conversations
Goldberg says the goal isn’t to create another discussion about mental health in agriculture, but to reach people in a different way.
“Our goal is to bypass the brain and go straight to the heart,” Goldberg explained.
Goldberg says farmers may find it particularly powerful to see a fictional version of themselves dealing with challenges that can be difficult to discuss in real life.
“Perfect Sundays, being as authentic as it is, provides an emotional outlet — and a conduit for conversation — that is often hard to find,” he said.
The series was developed using documentary-style research, with the filmmakers working to create an authentic picture of rural life. That authenticity also extended beyond the story itself. Farms, animals, organizations, individuals and industry partners all contributed to bringing the project to life.
Dairy industry connection
Agricultural machinery company LELY is sponsoring the World Dairy Expo event. Xavier Drake of LELY says the company first connected with the Perfect Sundays team last summer while the series was being filmed.
“We knew from the beginning that their innovative approach to storytelling could really help farmers during these challenging economic times,” Drake explained.
He says LELY is pleased to help introduce the series to people throughout the dairy industry. And for World Dairy Expo attendees, the filmmakers are offering a special discount code, “WDE,” for those who want to watch the series from home.
Bringing the series into local communities
The creators of Perfect Sundays hope the series will become more than something people watch individually. They are encouraging communities to organize their own screenings in churches, high school auditoriums, movie theaters, and other community or cultural spaces.
The series will also be available to stream through the Perfect Sundays website through the end of 2026 for people who cannot attend an in-person screening.
The larger mission behind the project is what Goldberg calls “cultivating community.” Using stories about rural America to help people connect, start conversations and better understand the challenges facing farmers and their families. And for the team behind Perfect Sundays, that conversation may be just as important as the story itself.
World Dairy Expo screening
The Perfect Sundays presentation and premiere screening will be held at 1 pm. on September 29 at World Dairy Expo in Madison.
The event gives the agricultural community a first look at a series that puts farm life, family and mental health at the center of its story — while challenging viewers to talk about subjects that can be difficult to bring up in real life.
Senator Baldwin will Push for Dairy Support as Lawmakers Return to Washington
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There will be a limited number of legislative days when lawmakers return to Washington, and Congress breaks again before the midterm elections. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin plans to push for dairy support while keeping an eye on the farm bill and other issues affecting Wisconsin agriculture.
Baldwin, who does not serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee, discussed the legislation, along with concerns about imported beef during a recent visit to Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese in Waterloo. The event celebrated the farm’s new Burrata cheese. But Baldwin also highlighted the federal Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, which she helped establish in the 2018 Farm Bill. The program provides support to small and mid-sized dairy businesses working on new products, improving efficiency and developing markets. Baldwin’s office says the program has supported 600 businesses, including Crave Brothers.
“I travel the state, visit many dairy farms and, you know, folks are really struggling,” Baldwin said. “So it’s so wonderful to celebrate success, celebrate innovation.”
LISTEN as Senator Baldwin discusses the importance of dairy support with Teri Barr here:
Baldwin watching farm bill developments
The Senate Agriculture Committee will again be working on a new farm bill on September 15. It’s meant to include comprehensive legislation covering agriculture, nutrition, conservation. and forestry programs. Baldwin says lawmakers can introduce individual bills and work to have those provisions included in the larger farm bill.
One issue she is watching is country-of-origin labeling for beef, particularly as the Trump administration moves to increase foreign beef imports.
“I think a lot about the beef cattle industry here in the state of Wisconsin,” Baldwin explained. “We’ve got a lot of folks who are doing grass fed and we have a lot of meat processing operations that are local and we want to keep them healthy.”
She said increased imports could put additional pressure on Wisconsin cattle producers and processors.
Country-of-origin labeling for beef is currently not required in the way it once was. And “Product of U.S.A.” claims are voluntary, but subject to U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements.
Baldwin says she plans to continue working with colleagues on legislation addressing those issues as Congress returns to Washington. She believes the farm bill can provide greater support for farmers, rural communities, and agricultural markets.
Doug Monson Receives National Honors
He’s proof that prioritizing and nurturing relationships in the agriculture industry pays off.
Forward Minded Media is proud to announce that its Vice President of Agriculture, Doug Monson, has been recognized with a 2026 Professional Development Award of Excellence from the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA).
Monson is being recognized for excellence in Marketing Communications, honoring his longstanding contributions to agricultural communications and marketing. The recognition adds to a career that has spanned more than a decade of helping agricultural organizations tell their stories, connect with audiences and promote the value of agriculture.
“Doug brings a level of experience and knowledge to our team that is difficult to replicate,” said Jake Ward, founder and president of Forward Minded Media. “When we launched our agriculture department, we knew we needed someone who understood both the importance of agriculture and how to communicate its story effectively. This recognition from NAMA is another reflection of the impact Doug has made throughout his career.”
Monson joined Forward Minded Media as vice president of agriculture in June 2025 following 12 years with Ag Management Solutions, where he led communications efforts for Minnesota Soybean and other agricultural clients across the country.
During his tenure, he built a nationally award-winning marketing and communications team and became the longest-tenured communications leader among Minnesota’s commodity groups.
“I’m humbled to receive this recognition from NAMA and grateful for the people who have been part of this journey,” Monson said. “Agriculture has given me the opportunity to work with incredible farmers, organizations and professionals who are passionate about telling agriculture’s story.”
Monson will accept his award at the NAMA Fall Conference Oct. 13-15 in Des Moines.
Make Safety A Priority This Season
The DNR urges waterfowl hunters to wear a life jacket and make boat safety a priority this hunting season. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds waterfowl hunters to take extra precautions when heading out on the water this fall.
Cooler temperatures, unpredictable weather and heavy gear can turn a routine outing into a dangerous situation if safety isn’t a top priority.
“Waterfowl hunting is a time-honored tradition in Wisconsin, and the DNR wants every hunter to enjoy the season safely,” said Lt. John Sinclair, DNR boating law administrator. “Remember, a balanced boat is a stable boat, and wearing a life jacket and following basic safety protocols can make all the difference.”
The DNR recommends the following safety tips for hunters using boats this season:
- Always wear your life jacket. One of the most critical safety measures is wearing a life jacket. As water temperatures drop, the risk of hypothermia increases significantly. Life jackets keep you afloat and conserve your energy, allowing you to stay warm and increase your chances of survival. The DNR suggests choosing a life jacket color that makes you easily visible if in the water.
- Avoid overloading your boat. Too much weight can make your boat unstable and prone to capsizing. Account for all passengers, hunting dogs and gear placement. Keep gear stowed low and centered to prevent capsizing.
- Check the weather. Fog, wind and sudden storms can create hazardous conditions. Check forecasts before launching.
- Transport firearms safely. When transporting firearms by boat, ensure they are unloaded and secured so they won’t go overboard.
- See and be seen. Ensure your boat has proper lighting, especially during low-light conditions. Visibility is key to avoiding collisions and navigating safely.
- Inform someone of your plans. Share your hunting plan with someone on land, including your expected return time and location.
As Wisconsin’s waterfowl and other fall hunting seasons ramp up, it’s important for all hunters to do their part to keep Wisconsin a safe place to hunt by following these firearm safety rules:
- T – Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- A – Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
- B – Be certain of your target, what’s before and beyond it.
- K – Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1973, must have a hunter education certification to purchase a hunting license unless hunting under the Mentored Hunting Law. Learn more about safe hunting in Wisconsin and register to take a hunter education course on the DNR website.
For a complete guide to regulations, reference the 2026-2027 Wisconsin Hunting Regulations.
Be an Ag Tourist and Explore Wisconsin Farms this Fall
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Fall is kicking into gear in Wisconsin and there’s more for you to do than just admire the changing leaves. Across the state, farms are open for corn mazes, orchard visits, winery adventures, and more. It’s all meant to give you the opportunity to experience agriculture firsthand.
Wisconsin’s Agricultural Tourism Fall Season runs through November 1. Governor Tony Evers issued a proclamation recognizing the important role agricultural tourism plays in connecting visitors directly with farms and rural communities.
Turn a fall weekend into an ag-venture
The Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association (WATA) has created a searchable online directory to help visitors find agricultural tourism destinations around the state. You can search by location or activity, making it easy to build a fall itinerary that fits your interests.
Want to pick apples? There’s a farm for that.
Looking for a corn maze? Wisconsin has hundreds.
Prefer a slower-paced weekend in the country? Farm stays, wineries, and other agricultural destinations offer additional ways to experience rural Wisconsin.
WATA has also introduced two digital passports to make exploring even more fun: “Fall on the Farm – Fall Bingo” and the “Hill & Valley Exploration Tour Free Savings Pass.” So instead of simply talking about taking a fall road trip, you can turn it into a challenge.
Why go to a farm this fall?
There’s a bigger purpose behind all that pumpkin picking, apple eating, and corn-maze wandering. WATA shows about 1.2% of the population works directly in agriculture. This leaves most Americans several generations removed from life on a farm. Agricultural tourism offers a chance to close that distance without requiring visitors to trade their city shoes for a pair of chore boots.
“Most people are two, three, or even four generations removed from life on the farm,” Sheila Everhart, executive director of WATA, explained. “There’s a growing hunger to get back in contact with the soil, to see working farms, and to shake the hand that feeds them.”
For families, a farm visit can turn agriculture into something kids can see, touch and experience, rather than simply something they may learn about in a classroom.
“Wisconsin farms are the perfect places to participate in something different, fun, and educational,” Everhart said.
Wisconsin’s fall maze challenge
If getting lost in a cornfield sounds like your idea of a good time, WATA has another challenge for you. Visitors who navigate a corn maze at a WATA-member farm can enter to win prizes by posting a photo of their adventure on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #WATAMAZE.
“There are hundreds of corn mazes in Wisconsin, some of the best in the Midwest,” Everhart said.
But the maze isn’t just about finding your way out. It can also be an opportunity to learn where corn is grown and experience a working farm in a way that a drive past a field simply can’t provide.
Make a fall farm stop
Wisconsin’s agricultural tourism season continues through November 1, giving you time to plan a weekend adventure or simply add a farm stop to your next fall drive.
Because in Wisconsin, fall isn’t just something you watch happen outside your window. Sometimes, you have to get out there and get a little lost in it.
Visitors can find destinations, events, travel tips, blogs, podcasts, and the new digital passports at wiagritourism.com
Back To Brazil – Rodrigo Werle Hosting 2027 Farmer Tour
Wisconsin farmers are constantly looking for strategies to boost their yields. Field efficiencies are always being evaluated. Maybe there’s something you could learn from Brazilian farmers?
Dr. Rodrigo Werle, UW-Madison Extension Weed Scientist will be leading a tour group to Brazil looking for some of those insights. Werle, a native of Brazil, says you’ll see high-intensity cropping systems while you’re there, plus have access to the growers. Following a successful trip in 2025, organizers are planning a second educational tour for January 2–10, 2027. Participants will return in time for the Wisconsin Ag Classic on January 11.
The nine-day tour showcases Brazilian crop production across São Paulo, Paraná, and Mato Grosso. The focus will be on advanced technology, intensive irrigation, and multi-crop rotations. In some regions, farmers harvest five crops every two years. The trip focuses on the networks farmers/farms rely on – so anyone in agribusiness or production agriculture should consider coming along.
Werle says, “Information is priceless. You go, you share, and then you get some high-level information back that influences how you think and how you operate.”
This tour is already filling. Organizers encourage interested farmers, lenders, agribusinesses and crop consultants to reserve spots right away. To join the January 2027 tour, email Rodrigo Werle directly at [email protected].
Farm Favorites: 5 Stories To Know
The Mid-West Farm Report is dedicated to keeping you up to date on all things Wisconsin agriculture. Everyday, we bring you the latest news and insights from the world of farming, from market trends to new technologies and everything in between. Here’s a look at this week’s top 5 stories that you won’t want to miss!Don’t miss these stories as they happen—tune in to the Mid-West Farm Report Podcast! Catch every episode on Apple Music, Spotify, or click on the story you want to hear to stay up to date with the news, insights, and voices shaping agriculture across the Midwest.
Dairy Group Wants States To Investigate Use of Special Interest-Funded Attorneys
The American Dairy Coalition (ADC) is demanding state lawmakers investigate a controversial legal practice: allowing privately funded attorneys to wield government power over environmental regulations.
Climate and environmental policies increasingly impact dairy farms. These rules cover everything from water quality to greenhouse gas emissions. Because of this growing regulatory burden, the ADC wants states to scrutinize the use of outside-funded lawyers in government enforcement actions.
This call to action stems from a recent Wisconsin legislative investigation. Lawmakers probed the use of privately funded Special Assistant Attorneys General (SAAGs). These attorneys handle climate, clean energy, and environmental cases. They hold the power to shape investigations, litigation, and settlements affecting agriculture.
The controversy centers on a fellowship program. The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at New York University School of Law operates the initiative. NYU places these attorneys in state attorneys general offices and pays their salaries and benefits. However, the attorneys work directly under state officials.
A Wisconsin legislative committee investigated Attorney General Josh Kaul’s use of this program. The committee found the arrangement bypassed state hiring, budget, and oversight laws. Their report states, “This arrangement created clear legal and ethical violations. Specifically, the Committee found that the individual private attorneys paid for by special interests, who were not hired through Wisconsin’s authorized civil service and budgetary processes, were exercising the powers and responsibilities of state attorneys.“
Kaul disputes these findings and maintains the appointments were legal. The committee, however, highlighted the broad powers these privately funded lawyers exercised. These duties included developing litigation strategy, participating in investigations, negotiating settlements, and steering enforcement priorities.
The American Dairy Coalition’s CEO Laurie Fischer says, “Dairy farmers are already navigating environmental regulations involving water quality, manure and nutrient management, air emissions and a growing focus on methane and other greenhouse gases,” She says, “When attorneys have the power of the state to influence environmental enforcement and litigation that can affect farms, farmers deserve to know those positions were authorized through a transparent public process — not privately funded outside of it.”
This issue has sparked previous legal battles. The Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and Venture Dairy Cooperative sued over the SAAG arrangement before the legislative probe began. The dairy groups accuse these private attorneys of wielding the exact same authority as official state prosecutors. They note these outside lawyers brought enforcement actions and represented state agencies in court, all while an external organization funded their positions.
A Wisconsin circuit court recently allowed that lawsuit to move forward.
The practice also extends far beyond Wisconsin. NYU reports placing fellows in attorney general offices across Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
The ADC wants lawmakers in these participating states to launch their own investigations. States must determine if these fellowships violate public employment, appropriation, and conflict-of-interest laws. Lawmakers also need to expose exactly what role these attorneys play in agricultural regulations.
The Wisconsin committee proposed several strict reforms. They recommend banning privately funded attorneys from wielding state legal authority. They also want to require legislative approval before agencies accept externally funded staff. Finally, they demand full transparency regarding funding sources, fellowship agreements, and internal communications.
“This should not be a partisan issue,” Fischer said. “Whether the outside organization represents environmental interests or any other cause, private money should not quietly expand the enforcement capacity of government without clear legal authority and public accountability.”
The ADC urges agricultural groups and state lawmakers to demand answers to basic questions. Who pays the attorneys exercising state authority? Who authorized their positions? What specific powers do they hold? Which climate and environmental cases have they influenced? What state laws govern the acceptance of privately funded personnel?
Fischer says, “Wisconsin has given other states a roadmap. State lawmakers should examine these arrangements now rather than wait until farmers or other citizens facing government enforcement are forced to raise the question themselves.”
September USDA Report Predicts Less Corn, More Soybeans & Milk
The latest 2026/27 U.S. corn outlook projects smaller overall supplies, reduced domestic use, and lower ending stocks. Despite these reductions, steady international demand is keeping export forecasts unchanged, leading to an increase in the season-average price for producers.
Corn:
- Rising Prices: The season-average corn price received by producers has been raised $0.30 per bushel to $4.80.
- Lower Production & Yields: Corn production for 2026/27 is forecast at 15.8 billion bushels, down 213 million from last month. This is driven by a 2.2-bushel reduction in yield (dropping from 180.7 in August to 178.5 bushels per acre) and a fractional decrease in harvested area to 88.5 million acres.
- Decreased Domestic Use: Total U.S. corn use is forecast down 150 million bushels to 16.2 billion. This reduction is primarily seen in feed and residual use, which is lowered to 6.0 billion bushels.
- Steady Exports: Despite the lower overall production, exports remain unchanged at 3.3 billion bushels, reflecting expectations of steady global demand.
- Reduced Stocks: Projected beginning stocks for 2026/27 are 23 million bushels lower, based primarily on a larger export forecast for the previous 2025/26 season.
Soybeans & Oilseeds:
- Prices: The U.S. season-average soybean price increased by $0.60 to $12.00 per bushel. Soybean meal also increased by $30 to $340 per short ton, while soybean oil remained steady at 70 cents per pound.
- Global Production: Global soybean production slightly increased by 0.1 million tons to 442.3 million, driven by higher outputs in the U.S. and Canada, which offset lower production in India and the European Union.
- Stocks & Trade: Global soybean ending stocks were reduced by 0.2 million tons to 124.0 million (mainly due to lower U.S. stocks). Global exports and imports both saw upward revisions.
Wheat:
- Prices: The U.S. farm gate price rose from $6.20 to $6.40 per bushel.
- Global Stocks & Consumption: World ending wheat stocks for 2026/27 increased to 276.29 million metric tons. Global consumption rose by 0.5 million tons, as higher feed use more than offset lower food, seed, and industrial use.
- Global Production Shifts: Production increased in Australia (31.0 mmt), Canada (36.0 mmt), and the EU (133.80 mmt). Conversely, Russian wheat production (88.0 mmt) and exports were revised downward, hampered by Black Sea logistical issues.
Dairy:
The latest dairy outlook projects increased milk production for both 2026 and 2027, driven by higher cow inventories and increased output per cow. While export forecasts face reductions, strong overall production has pushed the 2026 all-milk price forecast higher.
- Increased Production: U.S. milk production is forecast at 237.2 billion pounds, marking a 600-million-pound increase from August projections.
- Rising Producer Prices: The 2026 all-milk price forecast is raised to $19.90 per hundredweight (cwt), while the 2027 forecast remains steady at $19.80 per cwt. USDA is also projecting Class III milk (used for cheese) at $16.20/cwt, and Class IV (used for butter) at $18.55/cwt.
- Current Product Values: September commodity prices sit at $1.57 per pound for cheese, $1.595 per pound for butter, $1.67 per pound for nonfat dry milk (NDM), and 67 cents per pound for dry whey.
- Shifting Forecast Values: Looking ahead through 2026 and 2027, price forecasts are decreasing for butter and cheese, but increasing for NDM to reflect recent market trends.
- Trade Adjustments: Commercial export forecasts are lowered for both 2026 and 2027 due to reduced shipments of cheese, butter, whey, and NDM. Import forecasts are mixed, showing reduced imports of casein and miscellaneous dairy, but an increase in butter imports.
