Emergency service providers in Wisconsin are warning that rural communities might not have the fire response they need.
“What we found was that just under half the departments lack the personnel to make a fire response that involves four people and an engine. So, the way that’s being dealt with is that most of the departments are using mutual aid to fill that gap, and as there’s less and less volunteers available, and about 80 percent of our fire departments in Wisconsin are staffed by volunteers, or near volunteers who are paid a small amount to be part of the department. It’s put a pretty significant strain on the emergency response infrastructure,” said James Small, the EMS Outreach Program Manager for the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health.
Small warns that more than 60 percent of rural fire departments have expressed concerns about staffing and budget levels. A big problem, he says, is that more and more folks are taking jobs outside their local communities.
As ag lawmakers in the Senate await the House vote on the Farm Bill, they are eager to discuss the challenges farmers face before it is their turn to take up the critical legislation.
March 26, 2026 04:29 PM
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Productivity gains are supporting supply despite limited herd expansion.
March 26, 2026 03:23 PM
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Elena Chavez with Halter provided insight into the company’s virtual fencing technology, its adoption in the U.S., and the impact of recent funding on ranching operations.
March 26, 2026 03:21 PM
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The Biden Administration launched the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access (ILCMA) program in 2023 to help underserved farmers facing barriers to land ownership.
March 26, 2026 02:20 PM
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Justin Tupper with the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association joins us to discuss the USDA’s voluntary labeling updates, industry priorities, and the outlook for U.S. cattle producers.
March 26, 2026 12:26 PM
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Higher machinery costs are raising per-acre production expenses.
March 26, 2026 10:34 AM
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