How To Maximize Fertilizer Investment Returns
Recent policy changes are providing hope for farmers grappling with high fertilizer costs, particularly for phosphate. The removal of tariffs on phosphate imports is expected to ease pricing, though global demand remains high.
“We’re seeing that already,” says Ben Pratt, vice president of public affairs at The Mosaic Company, adding that potash prices, supplied largely by Canada, are already affordable for growers.
The federal government’s recent decision to include phosphorus and potassium on the critical minerals list is also seen as helpful. For the 2026 growing season, growers face tight margins, prompting a careful look at input purchases, especially since the big 2025 harvest heavily depleted soil nutrients.
“Growers, if they want to achieve the same kinds of yields as they did in 2025, they’re going to need to apply nutrients,” Pratt says.
To help maximize profitability, farmers are increasingly exploring biological solutions to enhance their Return on Fertilizer Investment. Mosaic’s relatively new biosciences business offers products like PowerCoat and BioPath to boost nutrient use efficiency or help more of the applied nutrients find their way into the plants.
Ross Bender, director of product development and a Wisconsin farmer, shares his personal experience.
“The margins on my farm are tight. And what I’m trying to think about is how I can make sure that I’m supplying the crop with the nutrition it needs within the budget that I have?”
Bender is exploring how biological tools can enhance the availability of nutrients on his farm to get more value out of that fertilizer. While these new biological tools are proving effective, the company emphasized that they are not a replacement for traditional fertilizers, but rather a valuable complement to a comprehensive nutrient program.
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WFBF’s 35 Under 35 Program Top Individuals Announced
Five individuals have been selected to receive top honors in Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s 35 Under 35 Award program. The award is presented by WFBF’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist program in partnership with Insight FS.
The 35 Under 35 program recognizes the creativity and innovation of young farmers and agriculturists who are preserving agriculture through leadership in environmental, social and economic activities.
Applications were evaluated for their involvement in one of five categories – Sustainable Future, Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Service, Sustainable Storytelling and Sustainable Self.
Finalists were recognized at WFBF’s Annual Meeting and YFA Conference in Wisconsin Dells on Dec. 6. Each finalist received a $100 cash prize and apparel item. The top individual in each category received a $500 cash prize.
2025 Finalists
The Sustainable Environment category recognizes individuals who are good stewards of the land and their resources. The top individual in the Sustainable Environment category was Jeff Huber from Adams County. Jeff is the agronomy manager at Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc.
The Sustainable Future category recognizes individuals who are preserving generational success on the farm. The top individuals in the Sustainable Future category were Justin and Kristyn Jensen from Dunn County. Justin and Kristyn operate a crop and beef farm in Menomonie.
The Sustainable Self category recognizes individuals that are serving their community through leadership, mentorship and mental health advocacy. The top individual in the Sustainable Self category was Andrew Dal Santo from Grant County. Andrew is the precision agronomy instructor at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore.
The Sustainable Service category recognizes individuals who are serving agriculture through trade skills or advisory roles. The top individual in the Sustainable Service category was Isaac Christenson from Polk Burnett Farm Bureau. Isaac is an agriculture and commercial loan officer at Pillar Bank in Amery.
The Sustainable Storytelling category recognizes individuals who use their platform to share agriculture’s sustainability successes. The top individual in the Sustainable Storytelling category was Sarah Hetke from Sauk County. Sarah is the Director of Farmer Outreach for Dairy Management, Inc.
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Joan Ballweg Receives Distinguished Service Award
Former State Senator Joan Ballweg received the Distinguished Service to Wisconsin Agriculture award for her outstanding contributions to Wisconsin’s agriculture community. She received the award during the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s 106th Annual Meeting.
Sen. Ballweg has been a steadfast advocate for Wisconsin agriculture throughout her legislative career. She has consistently worked to ensure that farmers and rural communities are represented in policy discussions at the Capitol. Known for her thoughtful and steady leadership, Sen. Ballweg has been recognized for effectively communicating the needs of farmers to her colleagues. She also receives the award for her part in supporting practical, farm-focused solutions.
Sen. Ballweg’s public service began in local government while working at her family’s farm implement business. She was elected to the Markesan City Council in 1986 and later served as mayor in 1991, winning reelection twice. In 2004, she was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly. There, she served eight terms and held caucus leadership roles, including majority caucus chair. In 2020, she was elected to the state Senate and was elected caucus vice chair in 2023.
During her legislative tenure, Sen. Ballweg served on the Joint Finance Committee for several state budgets. Throughout her time, she helped to secure continued growth and support for Wisconsin’s agricultural programs. She championed the Farmland Preservation Program, prioritized rural broadband expansion, promoted local conservation efforts and advanced agricultural transportation initiatives essential to the success of farms and rural communities.
Sen. Ballweg understood the organization’s mission and worked closely with members to address their concerns, as a longtime Farm Bureau member herself. She regularly attended county meetings and events, listening to members and serving as a trusted partner in shaping policy solutions. Her dedication and deep roots in agriculture have earned her the respect of farmers and colleagues alike.
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Hunters Have Late Season Opportunities
The Wisconsin DNR reminds deer hunters that although the 2025 nine-day gun deer season is now closed, additional harvest opportunities remain available throughout the late fall and early winter.
Late Season Firearm Hunting Opportunities
- Muzzleloader – Dec. 1-10
- Statewide Antlerless-Only Hunt – Dec. 11-14
- Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt – Dec. 24-Jan. 1, 2026, in select Farmland Zone units
Hunters may use any unfilled antlerless harvest authorization during any of these hunts, but the authorization must be used in the zone, county, and land type designated on the harvest authorization. Only antlerless deer may be harvested during the statewide antlerless-only and antlerless-only holiday hunts, regardless of weapon type.
Wisconsin’s archery and crossbow seasons remain open statewide through Jan. 4, 2026. These seasons extend until Jan. 31, 2026, in metro sub-units and certain deer management units. There have been changes to the deer management units across the state, so hunters are encouraged to review the hunting regulations: https://widnr.widen.net/s/xl2s58fsbf/2025-wisconsin-hunting-regulations
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Pork Battles Patchwork Regs & MAHA Uncertainty
The National Pork Producers Council is engaged in multiple battles across the U.S., citing key concerns over labor, trade, and the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
A major concern is the proliferation of state-level animal housing regulations, led by California’s Proposition 12, which mandates specific space requirements for breeding pigs and other animals. It’s influencing laws in other states like Oklahoma and Massachusetts.
Lucy Russell, NPPC’s director of producer engagement, says the organization is pushing for a legislative fix in the next Farm Bill to prevent a costly patchwork of conflicting regulations. She previews a ballot initiative that will likely show up in Oklahoma in 2026.
“There is a group in Oklahoma that wants to make Oklahoma the most animal-friendly state in the union. They have positioned a Prop 12-similar bill,” Russell explains. “There is a different square footage requirement for it, so that would make all of the conversions that pork producers have already made for California’s compliance obsolete.”
NPPC also works with 42 different state groups to proactively influence new legislation to provide a more permanent solution for these issues.
The “Make America Healthy Again” movement introduces challenges around food classifications, particularly the lack of a national standard for “ultra-processed food.” This definition is critical. It could impact the use of “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) provisions for additives used in pork products. These additives preserve both nutritional integrity and shelf-stability.
Russell stresses the need for a scientific basis in these decisions, as this is a concern for both food products and animal feed ingredients, which also fall under the GRAS category.
The NPPC is currently collaborating with the administration, with a formal definition of “ultra-processed food” expected to be released alongside the Dietary Guidelines for America.
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Measuring the True Value of Wisconsin County Fairs: Beyond Education to Economics
For decades, the educational and community-building value of Wisconsin county fairs has been widely recognized. Now, a statewide economic impact study is helping put a value on the financial benefits fairs bring to their local communities.
Jayme Buttke, executive secretary of the Wisconsin Fair Association (WFA), explains the evolving challenge: “We’ve known for decades about the educational value that county fairs bring to their community, but the challenge now is trying to arrive at an economic benefit that the community derives as well.”
The 2025 WFA Convention: A Shift in Mindset
The WFA is pushing its leaders to look beyond the immediate operational challenges of running a fair and focus on long-term strategy and legacy.
During the 2025 Wisconsin Fair Association annual convention in January, fair leaders heard from Ian Hill, Founder of the You Make THE Difference National Initiative. Hill helped attendees find a renewed belief in their mission. At the 2026 convention, Hill will challenge these leaders to move past survival mode, structure their gathered data, and focus on building an enduring fair legacy.
“It’s really about changing the mind frame of today’s fair leaders,” Buttke notes, emphasizing the need for discipline and strategic planning that Hill will guide.
Celebrating 60 Years of the “Fairest of the Fairs” Program
A major highlight of the 2026 WFA convention in Wisconsin Dells will be the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the “Fairest of the Fairs” ambassador program.
All former “Fairest” ambassadors have been invited to return for the milestone celebration. Buttke says they have 36 applicants for the 2026 position. Obviously the enthusiasm to promote Wisconsin’s fairs remains strong!
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Lamb Market Sees Late Week Surge
Lamb
Last week brought firm live prices and steady cutout values to the lamb market. U.S. lamb production remains lower than last year. Light lambs weighing 60-90 pounds are higher with strong demand. Sheep and lamb harvest last week was estimated at 34,000, which was 3,000 fewer than the previous week and equal to the same week last year. The lamb carcass cutout value was $510.20 last Friday. While lower than the previous week, it surged $8.10 from Thursday’s price. New crop lambs were mixed, selling from $202 -$234/cwt. Light lambs sold from $205-$230/cwt.
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WABA Releases Recipients Of Future Ag Leader Scholarships
WABA is proud to announce the first recipients of its new Future Ag Leader Scholarship. This is an annual award created to support Wisconsin students pursuing careers in agriculture. The 2025–26 scholarships have been awarded to two exceptional college seniors. They have demonstrated strong dedication to the agricultural industry and their local communities. Both recipients will be formally recognized at the 2026 Wisconsin Agribusiness Classic.
Parker Litterick is a senior at Iowa State University studying agricultural communication. She grew up on a small dairy farm in Theresa, Wisconsin. Throughout her college career, she has focused on building her skills as an agricultural communicator. Parker serves as a student ambassador for ISU’s College of Agriculture and contributes to Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. Her experience also includes serving as a Wisconsin State FFA Officer and completing internships with WHO Radio’s Big Show and Agri-Pulse Communications in Washington, D.C.
Paige Sweatt, from Dane, Wisconsin, is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is majoring in agricultural business with a minor in animal science. Paige plans to pursue a career as an Agricultural Loan Officer. This will be combining her farm background and academic training to help producers access vital financial resources. She is also committed to consumer education, helping the public better understand how food is produced and the importance of modern agriculture.
WABA congratulates Parker and Paige on being selected as the inaugural Future Ag Leader Scholarship recipients. The Association looks forward to recognizing their achievements and presenting their awards during the 2026 Wisconsin Agribusiness Classic.
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Wasn’t The Best Year, Says Honey Producer
A Rhinelander-based beekeeper reports that 2025 was a challenging year due to colony losses last winter and reduced honey harvest this summer.
Chris Hansen of Hansen Honey Farm tells Mid-West Farm Report the season began with an aggressive focus on recovery because of high overwintering losses.
“Coming off last year being just an absolute horrible year for losses, pretty widespread,” he says, noting that high bee sales and prices added to the burden.
He attributes many of these losses to mite-related issues and possibly new viruses. Following a wet spring, an intense dry spell hit during the summer months, greatly reducing honey flow. Hansen explains that the moisture pattern reversed a trend that usually favors production.
“What we made in the spring, we ate all summer, trying to keep the bees alive,” Hansen states.
He reported that his own farm’s average honey production dropped dramatically, going from a typical 45-50 pound average to only about five pounds this year.
To prepare for the next season, beekeepers were focused on fall management, including mite and disease control, and ensuring ample feed supplies. Hansen also advocates for better support systems for pollinators. He would like to see better management of forage and pesticides in order to protect bees and their habitats.
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Pork Market Enters Late-Year Decline Amid Supply Increases
Prepared and written by Jeff Swenson, DATCP Livestock and Meat Specialist. The Market Update draws information from several sources, including trade publications, radio broadcasts, agricultural news services, individuals involved in the industry as well as USDA NASS and AMS reports.
The hog and pork market has fallen into its usual late-year pattern of larger supplies and lower prices. Harvest totals have moderated somewhat after an uptick in early November. Hog weights are an area to watch in the coming weeks. The latest data showed the IA/MN average live weight of butcher hogs at 293.8 pounds, making it the third highest on record. The pork cutout averaged $96.55 last week, and that was $2.73 lower. There are still questions regarding the trade agreement with China. There has not been much talk about where or how pork fits into the equation. There is speculation that China’s hog herd has recovered from the disease issues that began there in 2018. If that is the case, their needs will be focused more on feed than pork. Lean Hog futures made significant gains during 2025 but recent volatility and pressure have caused prices to reverse course and are now where they were at the beginning of the year.
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