Business

A year of gains and losses: How the 2012 drought affected Wisconsin agriculture

Submitted by Yilang Peng, Madison Commons Reporter

Thursday, March 14th, 2013, 8:01am

A year of gains and losses: How the 2012 drought affected Wisconsin agriculture

Economist: Crop yield down, but price spike levels revenue

Chad Myar grows corn and soybeans and houses 44,000 chickens on his farm 20 minutes north of Madison. In the wake of the severe 2012 drought, Myar said his farm was “doing all right.”

His yields of corn and soybeans declined by 30 to 40 percent because of the drought, yet his poultry and eggs generated consistent revenue.

Wisconsin farmers and residents are still exploring the widespread and lingering effects of last year’s drought. And yet, according to an estimate from the 2013 Status of Wisconsin Agriculture report, released by the Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics at UW-Madison in January, the state actually reached its second highest net farm income on record last year.

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Contest offers website help to area non-profits

Submitted by Tabatha Wethal, Channel3000.com Community Reporter

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013, 8:59am

Area businesses collaborate for 'Wish on a Website'

A Monona woman together with three area businesses are offering their services to a lucky Dane County non-profit through a contest.

Maggie Baum of Maggie B. Communications partnered with Waterfront Graphic Design, Beth Skogen Photography and StoryFirst Media to create the "Wish on a Website" promotion, offering the opportunity of a variety of services to help out a community organization.

In a news release on her website, Baum said the idea behind the contest is to give back to the community.

"In this economic climate organizations are really fighting for resources and fundraising dollars and this is one small way we can help make their efforts go a little farther," Baum wrote.

The winner will receive a website design, a photography session with free images, a 2-minute documentary video and copywriting to help the chosen organization better reach the community.

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Retailer, nonprofit team up for clothing drive

Submitted by Tabatha Wethal, Channel3000.com Community Reporter

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013, 4:52pm

Retailer, nonprofit team up for clothing drive

Area stores collect used business wear for women

A Baraboo clothier will hold a charity clothing drive to benefit business women with economic challenges.

The Dressbarn at the Tanger Factory Outlet is asking area folks to drop off unneeded, new or nearly new suits March 7-10. The donated items go to Dress for Success, a not-for-profit organization that helps women who cannot afford professional attire for job interviews.

A spokeswoman for the national Dressbarn stores said the program helps women gain economic stability.

"A woman's professional wardrobe, or lack thereof, should not deter her from entering the workforce," Veronica Valladares, Dressbarn's AVP of marketing.

Baraboo’s Dressbarn assistant manager Toni Danalache said Wednesday that contributors will receive coupons for each item donated during S.O.S. weekend.

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Olbrich expansion project seeks public input

Submitted by Christian Von P... on Friday, February 15th, 8:28 pm

Olbrich Gardens to host redevelopment meetings

Olbrich Botanical Gardens will host a series of meetings for public input on a development plan for new buildings.

Olbrich is working with HGA, an architectural firm, to evaluate building needs. Final recommendations may include additions and renovations, a news release said.

An upcoming meeting on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on pre-design planning is the second in a series of planning forums.

Three more meetings will be held through May 20.

The planning process will begin with a declaration of guiding principles. Schematic design input forums will follow.

Olbrich said it will maintain up-to-date information on meeting notes on its website.

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Craft brewing business is growing in Wisconsin

Submitted by Channel3000 Web Staff

Friday, February 15th, 2013, 8:33am

Craft brewing business is growing in Wisconsin

Craft brewing is a booming business in Wisconsin, which ranks ninth among breweries per capita by state.

Last fall, Brian Destree took over brewmaster duties at Middleton's Capital Brewery, one of southern Wisconsin's craft brew staples since 1986.

Before Capital Brewery, the University of Wisconsin-Madison grad worked for Miller-Coors, giving him a unique perspective between craft brewers' personal touch and the bottom line of big business brewing.

"Kind of as I progressed from the corporate ladder at Miller, the farther and farther away I got from actually being in a brewery and doing hands-on brewing work," Destree said.

And while beer makers Miller-Coors and Anheuser-Busch sell the most beer, Wisconsin's craft breweries continue to find a larger piece of the market.

There are 75 breweries statewide, which translates to about 75,000 people for every Wisconsin brewery.

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Review: New brew house brings unique ale to north side

Submitted by Brian Lee

Sunday, February 10th, 2013, 1:04pm

Review: New brew house brings unique ale to north side

Karben4 Brewing opened in late December in the former home of Ale Asylum, which relocated months earlier to a larger facility closer to the airport. Add One Barrel Brewing Co. to the mix, and you have a nice triangle of places to grab a beer on the east/north side of town.

On tap right now:

LadyLuck Irish Red ($5)
UnderCover Session Ale ($5)
Silk Scorpion Black IPA ($6)
NightCall Smoked Porter ($5)
SamuRyePA Rye American Pale Ale ($5)
Block Party Amber Ale ($5)

Get the scoop on the beers and Karben4 facility in the EatDrinkMadison.com review

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Senator to talk with seniors on mining bill

Submitted by Tabatha Wethal, Channel3000.com Community Reporter

Saturday, February 2nd, 2013, 9:00am

Senator to talk with seniors on mining bill

Democrat will discuss issues on the controversial legislation at forum

The Madison Senior Center downtown will host a presentation with Senator Tim Cullen in mid-February on mining legislation.

Cullen, D-Janesville, will talk about mining issues and take questions on Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. in a political forum at the center.

As part of a Senate committee on mining, Cullen heard testimony from experts and people affected by the proposal to mine iron ore in Northern Wisconsin. He drafted a bill to permit mining without changing environmental protections.

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