State Of Change

State Of Change


Latest Episodes

State Of Change: A WPR Special Podcast Edition
December 16, 2017

The podcast edition of this hour-long special is a collection of select stories going behind the scenes into some of the state’s most important resources and exploring WPR journalists’ insights into their findings from a year of reporting across Wisconsin

As Milk Prices Stall, Wisconsin Dairy Farmers Disagree On How To Turn Market Around
December 16, 2017

As farmers argue whether to focus on supply or demand for milk, the philosophical split among dairy farmers could determine the future of the industry.

Wisconsin Leads The Nation In These 5 Exports
December 16, 2017

Wisconsin is known as America’s Dairyland, but the state actually ranks second in the nation in cheese and whey exports. California may hold that title, but Wisconsin holds bragging rights as being the top exporter of a few other products.

What Will Wisconsin's Climate Look Like In The Future?
December 16, 2017

According to the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts, winter temperatures in the state have increased 2.5 degrees between 1950 and 2006. And in the northwest corner of the state, it’s risen even more. So, what will Wisconsin's climate be like i

How Much Farmland Is Owned By Foreign Interests? It’s Hard To Know.
December 16, 2017

Foreign ownership of farmland has shot up in Wisconsin and across the country. But according to the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting, enforcement of the laws that regulate foreign ownership of farmland is lax. And because of that, we probably do

New Farming Techniques May Save Wisconsin Soil From Climate Change
December 16, 2017

As climate change leads to more frequent heavy rain events in Wisconsin, the risk of soil erosion becomes increasingly pertinent for the state's farmers. Northcentral Technical College’s Agriculture Center for Excellence is working with the farmers of tom

Restoring What's Left Behind From Mining
December 16, 2017

Farm fields, trees and wetlands once graced the site where Flambeau Mining Co. built its copper-gold mine near Ladysmith in the early 1990s. In September, a small group of environmentalists, lawmakers and residents toured the site where wildflowers, grass

As Large Animal Operations Grow In Size And Number, State Grapples With Environmental Impact
December 16, 2017

As of January 2017, Wisconsin was home to nearly 300 CAFOs. While agribusinesses have a tremendous impact on the state's economic viability, they pose the potential to pollute local drinking and surface water.

Wisconsin Apprenticeship Program Prepares Future Dairy Farmers
December 16, 2017

More than half of the people running a farm’s day-to-day operations are over the age of 55, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Census of Agriculture. As the industry ages, young farmers are needed more than ever. While there are many ideas

'Moving Storms' With Computers Reveals Dangers Of Future Floods
November 28, 2017

Researchers think "storm transposition" with computer models can help policymakers prepare for extreme rainfall events.