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Wisconsin Ag Outlook Forum

The fourth-annual Wisconsin Agricultural Economic Outlook Forum held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Wednesday. U.W. Extension Dairy Policy Analyst Mark Stephenson told attendees the big challenge for dairy producers this year will be the price of feed. Stephenson expects milk prices to be weak in the first half of the year but then rebound nicely in the second half.

U.W. Extension Ag Economist Bruce Jones talked about the fact it is going to take more money to plant crops this year with higher fertilizer, fuel and seed costs. High commodity prices are also helping to push cash rent values up on farmland. Jones stresses it is very important to know your cost of planting a crop so you know what kind of price you need on the other end.

U.W. Professor Emeritus Ed Jesse talked about the changing face of the average Wisconsin farm; he notes we are seeing fewer but larger dairy farms along with an increasing number of “life style” farms.

AUDIO: Stephenson, Jones & Jesse comments 3:00 mp3

*thanks to Sevie Kenyon at CALS for his contribution to this story