>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2018
WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
SHOULD LAKE MICHIGAN WATER BE
DIVERTED FOR INDUSTRIAL USE AT
THE FOXCONN PLANT?
GOODBYE BOSTON STORE.
WE'LL CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THE
BON-TON LAYOFFS IN WISCONSIN.
AND WITH THE WEEKEND HAVING MILD
TEMPERATURES, A LOOK AT WHAT THE
LATE-SEASON SNOWFALL MEANS TO
FARMERS.
AND REMEMBERING ATTORNEY AND
ACTIVIST, THE LATE VEL PHILLIPS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
APRIL 20.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> A MAJOR DECISION FROM THE
STATE DNR IS FAST APPROACHING.
THE AGENCY IS EXPECTED TO RULE
AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK WHETHER TO
ALLOW RACINE TO DIVERT SEVEN
MILLION GALLONS A DAY OF LAKE
MICHIGAN WATER FOR THE USE BY
FOXCONN.
THAT DECISION COULD SET A NEW
PRECEDENT FOR THE GREAT LAKES
COMPACT, WHICH BANS DIVERSIONS
OF WATER OUTSIDE THE LAKE BASIN.
THE CITY OF WAUKESHA WAS ALLOWED
TO DIVERT LAKE MICHIGAN WATER IN
2016 UNDER THE CAM THE COMPACT.
IS THE FOXCONN REQUEST
DIFFERENT?
AS MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS, A UW
PARK SIDE PROFESSOR OF
GEOSCIENCES SAYS THE TWO
REQUESTS ARE DIFFERENT.
>> THIS IS THE AREA WHERE
THEY'LL RETURN THE FLOW TO THE
ROOT RIVER.
>> DR. JOHN SKALBECK IS A
PROFESSOR OF GEOSCIENCES AT
UW-PARKSIDE SPECIALIZING IN
HYDROGEOLOGY.
HE SEES THE 2008 GREAT LAKES
WATER COMPACT AS AN IMPORTANT
MEASURE IN PROTECTING THIS
NATURAL RESOURCE FROM THOSE
OUTSIDE THE BASIN.
>> HAD THAT COMPACT NOT BEEN IN
PLACE AT THAT TIME, THERE WOULD
BE A LOT MORE PRESSURE ON THE
GREAT LAKES AS FAR AS SUPPLYING
WATER TO OTHER AREAS.
>> WHEN THE CITY OF WAUKESHA,
LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE BASIN,
APPLIED TO DIVERT WATER FROM
LAKE MICHIGAN, SKALBECK SAW IT
AS THE FIRST TEST OF THE
COMPACT'S METTLE.
>> THERE WAS A NEED FOR THE
WATER AND THEY MET ALL THE TERMS
OF THE COMPACT.
>> WAUKESHA NEEDED UNANIMOUS
APPROVAL FROM THE GREAT LAKES
STATES, UNLIKE A PENDING
DIVERSION APPLICATION FROM
RACINE, WHICH WOULD ONLY HAVE TO
GET APPROVAL FROM THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> RACINE IS APPLYING FOR THE
WATER ON BEHALF OF FOXCONN.
>> SKALBECK SAYS THERE ARE TWO
MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
WAUKESHA'S DIVERSION APPLICATION
AND RACINE'S, THE FIRST BEING
WHO THE WATER IS INTENDED FOR.
>> THE PROVISION THAT I HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH WITH THE RACINE
APPLICATION IS OVER THE INTENT
FOR IT TO BE PUBLIC USE.
>> THE OTHER DIFFERENCE.
>> THERE WAS NO INFORMATION IN
THE APPLICATION ABOUT WHAT THAT
WASTE STREAM WOULD CONTAIN.
>> NOT KNOWING WHAT WILL BE IN
THE WATER WHEN IT LEAVES
FOXCONN.
>> AGAIN, THE DNR IS EXPECTED TO
MAKE THE DECISION AS SOON AS
NEXT WEEK ON WHETHER OR NOT TO
ALLOW FOXCONN TO USE LAKE
MICHIGAN WATER.
PROFESSOR SKALBECK JOINED US ON
THE BANKS OF THE ROOT RIVER.
HE JOINS US NOW IN STUDIO.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> PICKING UP ON SOMETHING YOU
TALKED WITH MARISA ABOUT, WHAT
IS YOUR ISSUE WITH THE
APPLICATION THAT SAYS THAT THE
WATER DIVERTED WILL BE USED FOR
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY PURPOSES?
>> WELL, THE GREAT LAKES COMPACT
HAS LANGUAGE REGARDING PUBLIC
WATER SUPPLY, AND IT SAYS THAT
IT SHOULD BE PRIMARILY FOR
RESIDENTIAL, WITH SOME
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USE.
>> WELL, I GUESS FOXCONN WOULD
BE THAT COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL USE, SO IT SEEMS AS
THOUGH IT FITS WITHIN THE
LANGUAGE OF THE COMPACT.
>> YES, BUT THE DIVERSION, THIS
ASK, IS PRIMARILY FOR FOXCONN,
SO A SINGLE COMMERCIAL USER.
>> AND IS THAT SOMETHING THEN
THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELVES HAVE
MADE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT AND
THAT THE DNR IS NOW REVIEWING?
>> YES.
SO I ATTENDED THE PUBLIC MEETING
IN STURTEVANT AND THEN FOLLOWING
THAT PUBLIC MEETING I PRESENTED
A LETTER AS A PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> AND SO IN YOUR MIND IT'S NOT
ENOUGH, THIS PUBLIC USE OF THIS
WATER THAT A PORTION OF IT IS
GOING TO COMMERCIAL USE.
>> WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT
BE STRAINING THE INTENT OF THE
LAW, THE COMPACT.
>> YOU ALSO RAISED THE ISSUE OF
WHAT WILL BE IN THE WASTEWATER,
WHAT THAT MIGHT CONTAIN.
BUT THE DNR SAYS THAT THE WATER
WILL BE TREATED TO MEET
APPLICABLE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.
SO WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> THAT'S FINE, BUT THE PUBLIC
SHOULD KNOW WHAT THE WASTE
STREAM CONTAINS AND THAT I
BELIEVE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF
THE APPLICATION, TO KNOW WHAT
KIND OF CHEMICALS THAT FOXCONN
WOULD BE DEALING WITH.
>> SO WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS
THERE?
>> JUST THAT IT'S CLEAR TO THE
PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, WHAT WILL BE
COMING OUT OF THAT WASTE STREAM
AND MAKE SURE THAT RACINE KNOWS
THAT AND CAN MONITOR FOR THAT IF
THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO ACCEPT
THAT WASTE.
>> HOW IS THIS APPLICATION FOR
WASTE DIFFERENT THAN THE PROCESS
FOR THE WAUKESHA APPLICATION,
LIKE TIME LINE, FOR EXAMPLE?
>> WELL, THE WAUKESHA
APPLICATION FELL INTO THE
PROVISION OF COMMUNITY WITHIN A
STRADDLING COUNTY, AND SO THAT
REQUIRED APPROVAL FROM THE EIGHT
GREAT LAKES STATES AND THE TWO
CANADIAN PROVINCES AND THAT TIME
LINE WAS FAIRLY LENGTHY.
IT WAS A VERY RIGOROUS REVIEW.
THIS ONE FALLS UNDER THE
CATEGORY OF A STRADDLING
COMMUNITY, SO IT REQUIRES JUST
APPROVAL FROM WISCONSIN.
>> IS IT YOUR SENSE OR CONCERN
THAT THE STATE DIDN'T TAKE
ENOUGH TIME?
>> NO.
I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THE
TIME LINE, YOU KNOW, IF IT CAN
GET A CAREFUL AND QUICK REVIEW.
THAT'S FINE.
MY MAIN CONCERN WAS THAT IT
SEEMED TO BE STRETCHING THE
INTENT OF THE COMPACT LANGUAGE.
>> SO WHAT ARE CLOSE OBSERVERS
LIKE YOURSELF OF THIS FOXCONN
WATER DIVERSION EXPECTING THE
DNR TO DO HERE?
>> WELL, I WOULD GUESS THEY
WOULD MAKE THEIR DECISION BASED
ON THE APPLICATION AND THE
PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND I GUESS
WE'LL WAIT AND SEE WHAT THEY
DECIDE.
>> WHAT'S YOUR BEST EDUCATED
GUESS AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL
DECIDE IN FAVOR OF THIS
DIVERSION?
>> WELL, THE STATE HAS INITIATED
INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY.
THERE'S ROADS THAT ARE BEING
MODIFIED.
THERE'S PIPELINES THAT ARE BEING
LAID.
SO I WOULD -- I GUESS I WOULD
SPECULATE THAT THERE WOULD BE
SOME PRESSURE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE'S A PERMIT THAT'S ISSUED.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO IN THAT EVENT, IN THE EVENT
THAT THE DNR IN FACT APPROVES
THIS DIVERSION, IS IT YOUR
EXPECTATION THAT THIS WOULD
RESULT IN LITIGATION ON THE PART
OF PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE IT?
>> I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THERE
WAS NOT LITIGATION AROUND THE
APPROVED PERMIT.
I THINK SOME FOLKS HAVE ALREADY
MADE OVERTURES DURING THE PUBLIC
MEETING AND AS WELL AS DURING
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
>> ON THE BASIS OF WHAT?
>> ON THE BASIS OF THE PUBLIC
SUPPLY.
>> NOW, EVEN THOUGH, AS WE'VE
DISCUSSED, THE RACINE WATER
DIVERSION ONLY NEEDS STATE
APPROVAL, HOW HAVE OTHER GREAT
LAKES STATES WHICH ARE A PART OF
THE COMPACT REACTED TO THIS
PARTICULAR PROPOSED DIVERSION?
>> WELL, I DID SEE ONE LETTER
FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK THAT
WAS ALSO QUESTIONING THE PUBLIC
SUPPLY, AND THEN I BELIEVE THERE
WAS A LETTER FROM ILLINOIS ABOUT
THE ISSUE OF THE CONTAMINANTS IN
THE WASTE STREAM, SO THEY WERE
JUST LOOKING FOR MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, JOHN SCAL SKALBECK, THANKS FOR
JOINING US TWICE.
WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GO TO wiscontext.org FOR
NEW REPORTING ON THIS TOPIC.
>> THEY'VE BEEN SOMETHING OF A
FIXTURE ACROSS WISCONSIN FOR
MORE THAN 120 YEARS.
TONIGHT, A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
CLOSING OF BON-TON STORES, WHICH
INCLUDE BOSTON STORE AND
YOUNKERS.
BON-TON, WITH CORPORATE OFFICE
NOTICE MILWAUKEE AND
PENNSYLVANIA, WILL CLOSE 260
STORES IN 24 STATES, 13 OF THEM
IN WISCONSIN.
THE WISCONSIN STORES EMPLOY MORE
THAN 2200 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 700
AT THE MILWAUKEE HEADQUARTERS.
WHAT DOES THIS CLOSURE SAY ABOUT
THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF
RETAIL?
AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR
SHOPPING MALLS, NOW LOSING THEIR
ICONIC ANCHOR STORES, NOT TO
MENTION TD ECONOMICS THE ECONOMICS OF IT?
FOR THAT WE RETURN TO RUSS
KASHIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN WHITEWATER.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW, FROM A BUSINESS
PERSPECTIVE, HOW STUNNING IS IT
TO LOSE 2200 JOBS ACROSS THE
STATE, 700 BON-TON CORPORATE
JOBS IN MILWAUKEE?
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO
DO IS REDUCE IT FROM THE
AGGREGATE TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
WE HAVE TO SAY IT ISN'T SIMPLY
2200 JOBS IN A STATE WITH
MILLIONS OF JOBS.
IT'S JOBS IN EVERY COMMUNITY
ACROSS THE STATE.
THERE ARE COUNSEL CUSTOMERS YOWRCHG YOWN CUSTOMERS AND
BOSTON STORES ACROSS THE STATE.
THERE'S AN IMPACT IN EVERY
METROPOLITAN AREA IN THE STATE.
>> AS FOR MILWAUKEE, SPEAKING OF
METROPOLITAN AREAS, THE ICONIC
BOSTON STORE SEEMS TO BE ONE OF
THE LAST BIG RETAILERS STANDING
AT THAT DOWNTOWN AVENUE GRAND
AVENUE MA'AM.
WHAT BECOMES OF THAT PROPERTY?
>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT, OF
COURSE.
I ALWAYS START FROM THE
INDIVIDUAL, CONCERN FOR THE
EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR
LIVELIHOOD.
THIS IS ALSO THEIR LIFE, THEIR
FRIENDS, THEIR FAMILY, THEIR
NEIGHBORS, THEIR CUSTOMERS
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR
MANY YEARS.
THE PROPERTY DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE
WILL BE REUSED AS HOUSING OR
SOME KIND OF BUSINESS PROPERTY.
THE CHALLENGE DOWN THERE IS
GOING TO BE HOW IT IMPACTS THE
OTHER STORES IN THE GRAND
AVENUE.
AND THE REASON YOU HAVE AN
ANCHOR TENANT IS THE ANCHOR
PROVIDES STABILITY FOR THE MALL.
WHEN YOU LOSE THAT ANCHOR, IT'S
GOING TO LIST.
AND THAT'S MY CONCERN, IS LESS
THE BOSTON STORE SITE.
IT'S WHAT'S NEXT-DOOR TO IT.
>> WELL, RIGHT.
IN TERMS OF WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN
FOR THE DOWNTOWN, WHICH CIVIC
LEADERS, AS YOU KNOW, ARE TRYING
REALLY HARD TO RE-INVENT.
>> CORRECT.
AND YOU'RE LOSING A MAJOR RETAIL
PLAYER, WHICH WILL BRING OTHER
PEOPLE INTO DOWNTOWN.
>> NOW, FOR SMALLER CITIES THAT
WILL LOSE THEIR MAJOR DEPARTMENT
STORE, WHAT COULD THAT SPELL?
>> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S
GOOD.
I LOOK AT A CITY LIKE MANITOWOC,
WHERE THE COUNSEL YOUNKERS THAT'S THERE
IS THE LAST REMAINING VESTIGE OF
THAT MALL.
THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE
CREATIVE WHAT TO DO WITH THAT
FACILITY.
YOU HAVE JANESVILLE.
COMPOUNDING THIS IS CHALLENGES
SEARS AND PENNIES PEN PENNEYS HAVE ALL.
ALL THREE ARE UNDER ASSAULT.
>> I READ AN EXPERT SAYING
RETAIL IS IN A STATE OF
DISRUPTION RIGHT NOW AND THE
ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT STORE HAS
CHANGED.
HOW REAL IN YOUR MIND IS THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S ENTIRELY
ACCURATE.
I THINK THE CHALLENGES -- WE'RE
DOING -- WE DO FINE IN THE STRIP
CENTER WHERE YOU HAVE THE UNIQUE
STORE, WHERE SOMEONE PULLS IN,
RUNS INTO THE STORE, GETS THEIR
GOODS AND COMES BACK OUT, THE
BED, BATH AND BEYOND OR THOSE
TYPES OF STORES.
THE ERA OF THE LARGE
METROPOLITAN MALL I THINK HAS
SEEN ITS HEYDEY A LONG TIME AGO,
AND THIS IS THE FINAL FOOTPRINT
OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
>> WHY IS THAT?
>> WELL, A LOT OF IT IS E-TRADE.
YOU KNOW, WE TALKED FOR YEARS
ABOUT THE CHALLENGE THAT HAVING
THE MALL.
THE WALMART WAS BUILT ON THE
EDGE OF TOWN AND IT HOLLOWED OUT
THE DOWNTOWNS.
AND THE MALL WAS BUILT AT THE
EDGE OF TOWN.
SOUTHRIDGE MALL WAS BUILT IN A
CORNFIELD IN THE 1960s.
AND NOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
THEY'RE BUILDING THE AMAZON
DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN BETWEEN
SEVERAL MSAs, BETWEEN SEVERAL
METROPOLITAN AREAS.
AND SO THE HOLLOWING OUT IS
MOVING OUT EVEN FURTHER.
AND SO THIS IS JUST WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE '60s AND
'70s DOWNTOWNS IS NOW
HAPPENING TO THE MALLS AS THINGS
CONTINUE TO MOVE OUT.
>> THE ONE THING THAT I'VE SEEN
THAT APPARENTLY DEVELOPERS ARE
DOING IS BUILDING THESE KIND OF
OPEN AIR MALLS, AS OPPOSED TO
THESE GIANT ENCLOSED MALLS WITH,
AS YOU SAY, THE ANCHOR STORES.
WHAT IS AN OPEN AIR MALL ABOUT
IN A CLIMATE LIKE WISCONSIN?
>> IT'S ABOUT THE SPECIALTY
STORE.
AND THE CLIMATE OF WISCONSIN IS
CHALLENGING SOMETIMES.
BUT I GREW UP IN WISCONSIN.
95% OF THE TIME IT'S PRETTY
GOOD.
YOU CAN RUN OUT OF YOUR CAR AND
RUN INTO THE SPECIALTY STORE AND
GET THOSE GOODS THAT YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR AND GET BACK TO YOUR
CAR WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVERSE
AN ENTIRE SHOPPING MALL.
THE CHALLENGE WAS THE DEPARTMENT
STORE WAS DESIGNED TO BRING THE
PEOPLE INTO THAT STORE, AND THEN
THEY WOULD KIND OF MOSEY ON DOWN
TO THE SPECIALTY STORE INSIDE
THE MALL.
IF THE DEPARTMENT STORE ISN'T
THERE, THEN YOU HAVE TO GO TO
THE SHOPPING MALL AND WANDER
AROUND THE SHAPING MALL.
THAT'S CHALLENGING WHEN I CAN
SIMPLY PARK MY CAR STRAIGHT IN
FRONT OF THAT SPECIALTY STORE,
LANDS END STORE.
>> YOU TALKED A MOMENT AGO ABOUT
E-TRADE, SO IT'S KIND OF THE AM
DISONS OF THE WORLD, THIS ONLINE
SHOPPING THAT IS PUTTING
PRESSURE ON BRICKS AND MORTAR
RETAIL?
>> IT IS.
IT IS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THE DEATH
KNELL OF BRICKS AND MORTAR, BUT
BRICKS AND MORTAR HAS TO
RESPOND.
>> GIVEN THE EMPLOYMENT PICTURE
RIGHT NOW, IS IT LIKELY THAT
EMPLOYEES WHO LOSE THEIR JOBS
OUT OF THIS WILL BE ABLE TO FIND
OTHER WORK?
>> WELL, IT'S EASY TO SAY, WELL,
WE HAVE A VERY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE.
THEREFORE, THEY CAN GO DO
SOMETHING ELSE.
I GO BACK TO THE QUESTION IS
MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO --
MAYBE THEY LOVE THEIR JOB.
AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF CONCERN AND EMPATHY FOR
THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED AT BOSTON
STORE IN A SOCIAL SENSE.
OF COURSE, THEY CAN GO WORK
SOMEWHERE.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE
BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THEIR
SPECIALTY WAS.
THIS IS WHAT THEY WERE TRAINED
TO DO.
>> YEAH.
I APPRECIATE THE IDEA OF EMPATHY
AND THE FOCUS ON THE INDIVIDUAL
AS OPPOSED TO JUST MAKING IT
SOUND LIKE A STATISTIC AND, OH,
THERE'S PLENTY OF JOHNS OUT
THERE.
SO PROFESSOR KASHIAN, WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT REPORTS
THIS WEEK THAT WISCONSIN'S
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR MARCH
REMAINS AT A RECORD LOW 2.9% FOR
A SECOND MONTH, UNCHANGED FROM
FEBRUARY.
NOW TO THE SUBJECT EVERYONE'S
BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK,
THE WEATHER, AND AN INSIDE LOOK
AT THE IMPACT ALL THIS SNOW MAY
HAVE ON STATE FARMERS WHO ARE
NEARING PLANTING TIME, A TIME
WHICH IS FAST APPROACHING, EVEN
AS MANY FIELDS ARE CURRENTLY
UNDER A DEEP FROZEN BLANKET.
HEIDI JOHNSON IS THE CROPS AND
SOILS EDUCATE FOR UW-EXTENSION.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> SURE.
>> WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM
FARMERS WHO HAVE PLANTING ON
THEIR CALENDARS BUT NOW ARE
DEALING WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF
SNOW?
>> THEY'RE EAGER TO GET GOING,
BUT THAT'S PRETTY TYPICAL.
THEY ARE USED TO WEATHER.
THAT'S SOMETHING THEY DEAL WITH
EVERY YEAR FOR EVERYTHING THEY
NEED TO DO.
SO THEY'RE PRETTY -- THEY
USUALLY TAKE A PRETTY RELAXED
APPROACH TO IT.
SO LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THEIR SHEDS
GETTING THEIR PLANTERS TUNED UP
AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE
EVERYTHING READY TO GO, SO
THEY'RE KEEPING BUSY.
>> DOES IT PUT THEM BEHIND?
>> AT AT THIS POINT.
WE TYPICALLY HAVE A LOT OF RAIN
IN APRIL.
OUR MAIN CROPS ARE WARM SEASON
CROPS, SO CORN AND SOYBEANS, SO
WE DON'T WANT THEM IN THE GROUND
WHEN IT'S THIS COLD.
THE SOIL NEEDS TO WARM BEFORE
THEY CAN GELT GET PLANTED.
THE RESEARCH THAT'S BEEN DONE
OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, PLANTING
DATES HAVE CHANGED OVER THAT
TIME, OBVIOUSLY.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT YIELDS, WE
REALLY WANT TO SEE FARMERS
GETTING IN THE FIRST WEEK OF
MAY TO OPTIMIZE YIELDS.
>> IS THERE IS UPSIDE TO THE
MOISTURE THAT WILL COME FROM
THIS SNOWPACK?
>> THAT IS A GOOD THING.
IF IT ISN'T SNOW, IT PROBABLY
WOULD HAVE BEEN RAIN.
SO I'M NOT SURE IT'S A HUGE -- I
THINK THEY'D RATHER SEE IT IN
THE LIQUID FORM THAN THE FROZEN.
>> PRODUCERS ARE ALWAYS KIND OF
AT THE WHIM OF WEATHER.
BUT HOW MUCH CAN THEY WEATHER
ECONOMICALLY, WHAT WITH THE
COLLAPSE IN MILK PRICES AND
COMMODITY PRICES?
>> WELL, THAT IS A CONCERN THIS
YEAR.
WE DO NEED A FULL SEASON FOR
CORN AND SOYBEANS TO GROW, AND
SO WHEN WE START TO EAT AWAY AT
PLANTING, THEN WE ARE LOSING
TIME AND THEN THAT GIVES THE
POSSIBILITY OF THE CROP NOT
FINISHING ALL THE WAY, WHICH CAN
INCREASE DRYING EXPENSES OR IT
CAN REDUCE YIELD IF WE CONTINUE
TO PUSH THAT PLANTING DATE BACK.
SO WE DO WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN
SO THAT THEY CAN GET GOOD YIELD.
AND IT'S MOST IMPORTANT THIS
YEAR BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SAID,
WHICH IS THESE CHALLENGING
PRICES.
RIGHT NOW BOTH CROPS AND MILK
ARE -- THE PRICE THAT FARMERS
ARE RECEIVING IS PRETTY MUCH
LESS THAN WHAT THEY CAN MAKE IT
FOR.
>> YEAH.
SO I'VE SEEN IT DESCRIBED AS A
DAIRY CRISIS.
IS THAT TOO STRONG?
>> WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF FARMS
GO BANKRUPT RIGHT NOW, AND A LOT
OF FARMS SELLING COWS AND GOING
-- YOU KNOW, GOING INTO JUST
CROP PRODUCTION BECAUSE THEY
CAN'T KEEP GOING WITH THE DAIRY
PRODUCTION.
SO IT IS GETTING TO THE POINT
WHERE IT'S PRETTY TOUGH OUT
THERE.
THIS IS -- WE'VE HAD EXTENDED
LOW PRICES FOR DAIRY, SO THAT'S
THE PROBLEM AT THIS POINT.
FARMERS CAN WEATHER IT FOR A
LITTLE WHILE, BUT THEN IT GETS
TO THE POINT WHERE THEY CAN'T
KEEP MAKING LESS THAN THEY'RE
GETTING FOR THE PRODUCT -- OR
KEEP MAKING IT FOR LESS THAN
THEY GET IT FOR.
>> FARMERS THAT YOU'VE
INTERACTED WITH, WHAT DO THEY
WANT TO SEE DONE ABOUT THIS?
>> TO SEE DONE ABOUT THE PRICES?
I THINK THEY'D JUST LIKE BETTER
PRICES.
>> RIGHT.
>> THAT REALLY IS THE BOTTOM
LINE, THAT THEY NEED A PRICE
THAT'S MORE THAN WHAT THEY CAN
MAKE IT FOR SO THAT THEY CAN
MAKE MONEY ON IT.
FARMING IS A DIFFERENT INDUSTRY
THAN A LOT OF INDUSTRIES, WHERE
IT'S REALLY GENERATIONS OF
PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THAT FARM.
AND SO WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE
FARMING, IT'S NOT LIKE LEAVING A
DIFFERENT TYPE OF JOB.
IT'S A VERY EMOTIONAL THING
BECAUSE YOU'RE LOSING SOMETHING
THAT'S BEEN IN YOUR FAMILY FOR A
LONG TIME.
>> AND YOU'VE SEEN THAT THIS
YEAR?
>> WE'RE SEEING COWS, GOING,
YES, FOR SURE.
A LOT OF TIMES IF IT'S A DAIRY
FARM, THEY STILL HAVE ACREAGE
THAT THEY'VE BEEN USING TO
PRODUCE FORAGE CROPS, AND IF
THEY SELL THE COWS, THEN THEY'LL
JUST SWITCH TO PRODUCING GRAIN
CROPS, WHICH ISN'T A MUCH BETTER
DEAL FOR THEM RIGHT NOW, BUT
THAT'S OFTEN WHAT WE SEE IS THAT
SWITCH-OVER.
SO IT IS TOUGH AND THERE ARE
FARMS RIGHT AROUND DANE COUNTY
THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD TO SELL
THEIR COWS THIS YEAR BASED ON
THE PRICES.
AND WE KNOW WISCONSIN IS LEADING
IN FARM BANKRUPTCIES.
SO IT REALLY IS A TOUGH TIME.
>> IN TERMS OF BACK TO THE WHIMS
OF WEATHER, JUST AHEAD AND, YOU
KNOW, STARTING TODAY, IT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE KIND OF SUNNY AND
WARM.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO DOES THAT PUT FARMERS KIND
OF OF BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK?
>> YEAH.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY GOING TO
HELP NOW THAT WE'VE GOT GOOD SUN
THAT'S COMING, TOO.
WE WANT TO SEE WARMER WEATHER.
WE WANT TO GET WARMER NIGHTS,
TOO, SO THAT THAT SOIL -- REALLY
SOIL TEMPERATURE IS WHAT'S
DRIVING IT, SO WE WANT TO SEE
THAT SOIL STARTING TO WARM UP.
IF WE HAVE FULL SUN AND WARMER
NIGHTS, WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE
QUICKER.
THEY'VE GOT THINGS BEFORE
PLANTING LIKE TILLAGE OR PUTTING
MANURE OUT, SO THERE'S
ACTIVITIES THEY NEED TO GET DONE
PRIOR TO PLANTING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
HEIDI JOHNSON, THANKS A LOT FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANKS.
>> FINALLY TONIGHT, THE PASSING
OF A WISCONSIN LEGEND.
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, JUDGE AND
FORMER WISCONSIN SECRETARY OF
STATE VEL PHILLIPS DIED THIS
WEEK AT THE AGE OF 94.
PHILLIPS WAS A POLITICAL
TRAILBLAZER AND AS THIS EXCERPT
FROM A WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY ON HER
LIFE SHOWS, THERE WERE A LOT OF
FIRSTS IN THOSE 94 YEARS.
>> ON AN OVERCAST DAY IN AUGUST,
1967, 200 MEN, WOMEN AND
CHILDREN MARCHED ACROSS THE 16TH
STREET VIADUCT IN MILWAUKEE.
>> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
BRIDGE, THOUSANDS OF WHITE
RESIDENTS WERE WAITING.
>> THEY SHOUTED RACIST TAUNTS,
HURLED FIRECRACKERS, ROCKS AND
BODILY FLUIDS.
ALTHOUGH THEY WERE BATTERED AND
SCARED, THE ACTIVISTS MARCHED
AGAIN THE NEXT NIGHT, AND THE
NEXT, AND THE NEXT.
THE MARCHERS DEMANDED WHAT THEY
BELIEVED WAS A BASIC RIGHT: THE
FREEDOM TO LIVE IN ANY
NEIGHBORHOOD REGARDLESS OF OF
THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN.
THEY CALLED IT OPEN HOUSING.
THE PUBLIC STRUGGLE FOR OPEN
HOUSING IN MILWAUKEE HAD STARTED
FIVE YEARS EARLIER, WHEN ONE
WOMAN DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR A
CHANGE.
>> YOU ARE A RARE GENTLEMAN WITH
THE EYES OF THE NATION.
INDEED, THE EYES OF THE WORLD
ARE UPON MILWAUKEE.
>> HER NAME WAS VEL PHILLIPS.
>> IT WAS LIKE THIS IS MY WORK.
>> SHE DID THINGS THAT WERE
UNHEARD OF FOR HER TIME.
>> VEL PHILLIPS WAS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO
GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN LAW SCHOOL, THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND FIRST
FEMALE ALDERMAN IN MILWAUKEE,
THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN JUDGE
IN WISCONSIN, THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND FIRST
FEMALE TO BE ELECTED TO
STATEWIDE EXECUTIVE OFFICE IN
WISCONSIN OR ANYWHERE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
>> MY MOTHER WOULD ALWAYS TELL
US, IF YOU REALLY WANT IT, DON'T
DREAM SMALL DREAMS.
DREAM BIG DREAMS.
>> VEL PHILLIPS DIED TUESDAY.
SHE WAS 94.
YOU JUST SAW AN EXCERPT FROM THE
WPT DOCUMENTARY "VEL PHILLIPS,
DREAM BIG DREAMS."
YOU CAN WATCH THE ENTIRE
DOCUMENTARY ONLINE AT wpt.org
AND ON MONDAY, APRIL 23, IT WILL
BE SHOWN ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION AT 9:00 P.M.
EARLIER TONIGHT WE COVERED THE
JOBS FALLOUT RELATED TO THE
BON-TON DEMISE.
TUNE INTO WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO
MONDAY FOR MORE ON THAT TOPIC.
KATE AFTERNOON ARCHER KENT AND HER GUESTS
WILL DISCUSS THE TOPIC.
A NEW LAW RELAXES REGULATION ON
RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS.
WE'LL EXPLORE THE IMPACT ON
RENTERS.
THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "HERE
AND NOW'S" 2018 ELECTION
COVERAGE, GO TO
wisconsinvote.org.