The end of the year always brings moments of reflection — even when that end of the year also brought a half-foot of snow as it did in much of our region.
Bob Bosold and I did some reflecting about some of the top farm-news stories internationally, nationally and in Wisconsin.
The year 2019 was, in many ways, a tough year for agriculture. But what were the top stories? Most people agree the issues of trade and tariffs were major news stories for the entire year.
While those two issues created stress from the farm to final destinations for our farm products, the news seems to have gotten better towards the end of the year. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement has been passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and is waiting for Senate approval to get signed and put in place. Phase One of a new U.S.-China Free Trade deal also is reportedly done and is just waiting for a signing ceremony. And a new U.S.-Japanese trade deal has also been completed.
Statewide, the major stories would include the challenging weather farmers faced during the planting, growing and harvesting season with many corn fields around the state still not harvested. The 2019 weather has also led to poor-quality feed for this feeding season meaning lower milk and meat production.
Another major story in the state was the removal of Brad Pfaff of Melrose as Wisconsin’s secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Pfaff failed to be confirmed by the state Senate, mainly because of disagreements over mental health funding to rural Wisconsin.
Another major story was the continuing loss of dairy farms across the state. As of Oct. 1, 551 dairy farms shut down. That follows the loss of 638 dairy farms in 2018.
Also this fall, the Wisconsin Farm Technology Days Committee announced there would be no show in 2021 in Jefferson County. That follows low attendance at this year’s show, also in Jefferson county, and the message from exhibitors that they didn’t want to go back there in two years.
But on the bright side, a new University of Wisconsin study shows agriculture now accounts for almost $105 billion of economic activity for Wisconsin — up 19 percent from a similar study in 2012.
While low prices over the past five years have forced many dairy farmers to get out of the business, prices recently have gotten better. In November, the Wisconsin all-milk price reached $22.40 — up $1.90 from October and $5.40 more than last November. That’s better than the U.S. all-milk price, which was $21 in November; all of the 24 major milk-producing states had higher
prices of about $1.10 more than in October.
Happy New Year, from Bob and Scott at the WAXX 104.5 Farm Department. May the new year bring you happiness, joy, safety and prosperity!
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