Sweet Harvest as State Farmers Push Through Season of Change

Washington’s continuing gridlock threatens to stall more than just politics. Wisconsin farmers are pushing through a season of change while feeling the real-life impact of a federal government shutdown.

Hans Breitenmoser is a dairy farmer in the Merrill area of Lincoln County. He calls the current closure of Farm Service Agency offices the loss of a lifeline. 

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Watch the entire discussion here:

Loss of a Lifeline

“It stinks,” Breitenmoser says. “The FSA is our connection to federal programs. Right now, when you call, you get a recording that says they’re not there. And that’s hard when you really need them.”

Farmers can’t complete loan paperwork, disaster aid applications, or get crucial market data without access to these federal offices. And Breitenmoser adds it’s not just farmers who are suffering. Those “faceless bureaucrats” are often neighbors and friends across rural Wisconsin who are now sitting idle at home. 

Sweet Apple Harvest and Future Ag Leaders

Luckily, not all the news is bleak. 

This week also marks National 4-H Week. It celebrates the next generation of agricultural leaders.

“It’s so relevant,” Breitenmoser says. “Our kids learn leadership and civic engagement through 4-H. It really does take a village.”

Sheila Everhart is with the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association and  agrees. She points at studies showing 4-H youth are three times more likely to volunteer and serve their communities.

“It’s all about life readiness,” Everhart says. “These kids are planning events, running meetings, and building skills that last a lifetime.”

And as fall is sweeping across Wisconsin, there’s plenty to celebrate in the fields and orchards, too. October is National Apple Month, and Everhart says there’s a sweet harvest underway. Orchards are bursting with color and flavor — from delicious Honeycrisps to the Champagne apple used in local hard ciders.

“Our farmers are innovative,” she explains. “They’re turning apples into new products, from cider to baked goods, and it’s a great way to support our family farms.”

Breitenmoser adds that nothing beats the community feel at local orchards, especially at this time of year.

“Helene’s Hilltop Orchard near me is just a beehive of activity,” he says. “After a hard day’s work, a good hard cider goes a long way.”

So even as uncertainty looms in Washington, Wisconsin’s farmers keep doing what they do best. They are growing, adapting, and sharing the harvest.

“By supporting our orchards, our 4-H clubs, and our family farms,” Everhart says, “you’re supporting the heart of Wisconsin.”

Resources:

Find your local ag adventure, including apple orchards, here.

Learn which apples are available, and where to pick now, here.