The Farm

Successful 2023 Elk Hunting Season

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is celebrating a successful elk hunting season. The state’s sixth elk hunting season opened Saturday, Oct. 14 and closed Sunday, Nov. 1. All four state licensed hunters filled their harvest authorizations.

The four hunters who participated in this year’s hunt were selected at random from a pool of 21,312 applicants. One hunter successfully harvested a bull elk in the first weekend of the season. The second was harvested during the first week. The third elk was harvested at the end of October, about two weeks before the end of the first open period. The final harvest occurred on the last day of the first hunting period.

“It’s exciting that we have the opportunity in Wisconsin to pursue elk in our home state,” said Josh Spiegel, DNR Wildlife Biologist. “Every hunter’s experience is unique each year, and this year’s hunters definitely lived up to that standard.”

Elk Status And Management

Wisconsin’s annual elk hunt takes place in the Clam Lake Elk Range, home of Wisconsin’s longest tenured elk population since reintroduction (1995). The DNR also supplementally released elk in the Clam Lake region in 2017 and 2019. In 2023, the estimated population of the Clam Lake elk herd is 355 elk. Bulls have been harvested across this range each year since the hunt started in 2018.

Elk were also reintroduced in Jackson County in 2015 and 2016 to form the Black River Falls herd. The Black River Falls herd is estimated at 160 individuals in 2023, bringing the statewide total to approximately 515 elk. This year’s statewide estimate is a 10% increase from the prior year.

The 2024 elk hunt application period for Wisconsin residents is expected to open March 1 and run through May 31, 2024. For more information on elk in Wisconsin, visit the DNR’s Elk webpage.

by The Farm

Beef Exports Down

The following report was prepared and written by Jeff Swenson, DATCP’s livestock and meat specialist the week of 11/12. This report draws information from several sources, including trade publications, radio broadcasts, agricultural news services, individuals involved in the industry as well as USDA reports.

Cattle

Fed cattle prices were $4.25/cwt lower last week, with the weighted average for a beef breed steer of $180.81. December Live Cattle contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange managed to end the week $1.85 higher. Many analysts are saying this is a price correction based on the larger than expected feedlot inventory and placement shown in the October Cattle on Feed Report.

Feeder cattle volume has been higher than expected, up 5.6% since Labor Day. October feeder cattle volume was up 2.4%, leading to expectations October placements will be above last year. Volume has dropped below year ago levels in November. Many cow calf producers are marketing their feeders early, and selling most, if not all, their heifer calves to capitalize on the strong feeder cattle market. Feeder prices have come off their earlier highs but remain higher than 2022.

The Choice beef cutout cannot gain traction and fell $4.56 to average $300.15 last week. The estimated harvest last week was 618,000 head, 14,000 less than the previous week and down 52,000 from a year ago.

September beef exports totaled 98,757 metric tons, down 15% from a year ago and the lowest of 2023. For January through September, exports were 13% lower in volume. Beef export value per head was down just 2% from a year ago to $398.73. Exports accounted for 13.4% of total September beef production.

Cattle Prices

Fed cattle prices were lower. High Choice and Prime beef breed steers and heifers brought $168 to $173/cwt with highs of $181/cwt. Choice steers and heifers ranged from $160 to $167/cwt. with mixed grading and those likely to grade Select bringing $150 to $160/cwt. Holstein steers were steady to lower, bringing $150 to $158/cwt with some lots from $158 to $161. Lower grading steers brought $125 to $150. Silage fed, under finished or heavy dairy breed steers brought $75 to $125/cwt. Dairy x Beef steers were bringing $126 to $168/cwt.

Cows were steady to $2 lower. A bulk of the cows brought $65 to $93/cwt with some fleshier dairy and beef cows selling to $110/cwt. Doubtful health and thin cows were bringing $65/cwt and down.

Dairy breed bull calves were steady, bringing $100 to $300/cwt with some heavier, well-managed calves selling to $410. Beef and Beef Cross calves were lower, selling up to $710/cwt.

Hogs

The lack of profitability in the pork sector remains the main story. Harvest pace continues to run ahead of last year with an estimate last week of 2.576 million hogs making it 95,000 head below the previous week and 75,000 more than the same week last year. The pork cutout value was $1.70 higher, averaging $89.70 last week. Strength in belly prices continued into this week, although hams turned lower.

Corn and soybean yields higher than expected in the U.S., and ample global grain supplies have helped reduce production costs. In a recent National Hog Farmer article, Steve Meyer of Kerns and Associates in Ames, Iowa, noted production costs are lower, but still 40% higher than prior to 2021. Like other proteins in 2021-2022, Meyer writes, “pork benefited from high consumer incomes and those were largely the result of government stimulus payments that are not likely to return.

Pork exports totaled 221,140 metric tons in September, down less than 1% from a year ago, while export value fell 4% to $643.7 million. For the first three quarters of 2023, pork exports increased 9% year-over-year. September pork export value equated to $61.94 per head, down 1% from a year ago, while the year-to-date average was up 5% to $63.16. Export value per head is on a record pace and share of production exported is at the record levels seen in 2020-21. Exports accounted for 28.1% of total September pork production.

Lamb

Traditional market lambs were steady to $1 higher last week with others up to $35/cwt higher. The cutout value was up as well, posted at $471.44 last Friday, a gain of $10.89. The estimated weekly harvest of 38,000 sheep and lambs was 2,000 head higher than the week before and 1,000 more than a year ago. September exports of U.S. lamb totaled 245 metric tons, down 9% from a year ago.

Exports trended higher to the Caribbean, including increases to Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and the Leeward-Windward Islands, but were lower to Mexico and Canada.

Market lambs were lower from $158 to $182/cwt.

by The Farm

Give the Gift of a State Park Pass This Holiday

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the 2024 state park and forest annual admission stickers and trail passes will go on sale Friday, Nov. 24.

Give the gift of the great outdoors by purchasing admission stickers and trail passes for family, friends and co-workers. The DNR recommends purchasing stickers by Friday, Dec. 8 to receive them before the holidays.

Resident and nonresident annual admission stickers are available online. They’re also available at individual state park and forest properties via drive-up window service, self-registration kiosks or over the phone. State trail passes are available only at individual properties or licensed vendors.

“Wisconsin’s state parks, forests, trails and also recreation areas are something to be thankful for, and getting your 2024 annual vehicle admission sticker is a great way to support the places we love,” said Steve Schmelzer, Director of DNR’s Bureau of Parks and Recreation Management. “From biking to camping to skiing, fishing piers and adaptive equipment, our state park system has something for everyone.”

Vehicle admission stickers provide access to more than 60 state parks, forests and recreation areas across Wisconsin. An annual sticker or a daily admission pass is required on all motor vehicles visiting state parks and recreation areas. Some state forest and trail parking areas also require the annual sticker or daily admission pass.

A state trail pass is required for all people age 16 or older biking, in-line skating, horseback riding, cross-country skiing or off-highway motorcycling on specific state trails. A state trail pass is not required for walking or hiking.

An annual vehicle admission sticker costs $28 for Wisconsin residents or $38 for nonresidents. If more than one vehicle is registered to the same household, additional vehicle stickers are available for $15.50 for residents and $20.50 for nonresidents. A senior citizen annual sticker is available for $13 for Wisconsin residents 65 and older. Annual trail passes are $25 for residents and nonresidents.

Those interested in purchasing a bulk order of 20 or more annual admission stickers on behalf of themselves or their organization can email DNRFWPPRWIParksStore@wisconsin.gov, and DNR staff will assist with the order.

by The Farm

Wisconsin FFA Benefits From CHS Grants

Wisconsin FFA Foundation got $22,750 in grants from the CHS Foundation, according to the National FFA Organization.

This was a part of a round of grants totaling $4.3 million to National FFA from the CHS Foundation.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with CHS,” says Molly Ball, president of the National FFA Foundation and chief marketing officer of the National FFA Organization. “Throughout our partnership, CHS has been unwavering in its support and continues to see the potential leaders in each of our members and advisors.”

The grants will help fund FFA programs in 17 states. They will provide scholarships for attending conferences and contests. The grants will introduce students from all backgrounds to ag careers through the workforce development program. They will also support the National Association of Ag Educators in attracting ag teachers and building strong teaching programs.

This is the largest gift in the foundation’s 75-year history to National FFA, according to CHS Foundation President Megan Wolle.

“By supporting FFA, we are creating connections with the next generation of leaders who will empower agriculture and help transform the science, business and technology of agriculture for the future,” Wolle says. “FFA inspires students from all backgrounds to choose ag careers and shapes leadership skills that last a lifetime. Our increased commitment will help FFA elevate and expand its amazing work with ag educators and students.”

by The Farm

2024 World Cheese Contest Features New Classes

For the first time in its history, the World Championship Cheese Contest will be judging raclette cheese in its own class. Raclette is a type of cheese that is typically melted and served as part of a dish of the same name. The cheese has gained popularity in recent years among cheese lovers around the world.

The contest is also introducing a new class for pasteurized process cheese products. This new class will give manufacturers of these products an opportunity to compete for top honors.

In addition to the new classes, the contest is also offering a discounted entry fee of $75 per entry when you enter by December 1. After that date, all entries will cost $90 per product. Submissions can be entered online on WorldChampionCheese.org. All entries must be submitted by January 26, 2024.

Judging for the contest will take place March 5-7 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Entries will be evaluated by an elite team of world-renowned judges.

All questions about the 2024 World Championship Cheese Contest may be directed to Kirsten Strohmenger at kstrohmenger@wischeesemakers.org.

by The Farm