>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF OUR "HERE AND NOW"
2018 WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & 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 WHILE THE WEEK ENDED WITH MILD TEMPS,
LATER IN THE PROGRAM A LOOK AT WHAT THE LATE-SEASON SNOWFALL
MEANS TO FARMERS EAGER TO GET THEIR CROPS PLANTED.
AND REMEMBERING ATTORNEY AND ACTIVIST, THE LATE VEL PHILLIPS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR APRIL 20.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & 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 TO THE VILLAGE OF MOUNT PLEASANT 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.
AREAS OF MOUNT PLEASANT ARE IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN BUT
THE CITY OF WAUKESHA WAS ALLOWED TO DIVERT LAKE MICHIGAN WATER IN
2016 UNDER THE COMPACT.
IS THE FOXCONN REQUEST DIFFERENT?
AS MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS WITH OUR PARTNERS AT WISCONTEXT,
A UW-PARKSIDE 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.
THEY DEMONSTRATED THAT NEED 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 FOR 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 WITH ANSWERS
TO MORE OF OUR QUESTIONS.
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 DIVERSION DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF
PROCESS THAN THE WAUKESHA APPLICATION, LIKE TIME LINE,
FOR EXAMPLE?
>> WELL, THE WAUKESHA APPLICATION FELL INTO THE
PROVISION OF A 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 SKALBECK, THANKS FOR JOINING US TWICE.
WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT. 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 OFFICES IN 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 CHANGIN0G LANDSCAPE OF RETAIL?
AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SHOPPING MALLS,
NOW LOSING THEIR ICONIC ANCHOR STORES,
NOT TO MENTION THE ECONOMICS OF IT?
FOR THAT WE RETURN TO RUSS KASHIAN,
DIRECTOR OF THE FISCAL AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH CENTER 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 YOUNKERS AND BOSTON STORES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
EACH ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO PEEL OFF SOME JOBS.
AND SO IT'S NOT SIMPLY ONE FIRM GOING UNDER ONE PLACE,
THERE'S AN IMPACT IN ALMOST EVERY SINGLE 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 GRAND AVENUE MALL.
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.
I BELIEVE THE LAND-- THE PROPERTY DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE
WILL BE REUSED.
IT'LL 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 YOUNKERS THAT'S THERE
IS THE LAST REMAINING VESTIGE OF THAT MALL.
I DON'T SEE IT BEING REPURPOSED VERY EASILY.
SO I THINK THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE CREATIVE WHAT TO DO
WITH THAT FACILITY.
YOU HAVE JANESVILLE.
COMPOUNDING THIS IS THE CHALLENGES THAT SEARS AND
PENNEY'S HAVE ALL.
SO IN A LOT OF THESE COMMUNITIES,
YOU'LL HAVE THREE ANCHOR TENANTS.
AND THE ANCHORS ARE YOUNKERS, SEARS AND PENNEY'S.
ALL THREE OF THEM ARE UNDER ASSAULT.
>> I READ ONE EXPERT IN REGARD TO THIS 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 HEYDAY 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 TO
THE 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 SHOPPING MALL.
THAT'S CHALLENGING WHEN I CAN SIMPLY PARK MY CAR STRAIGHT IN
FRONT OF THAT SPECIALTY STORE, THE LANDS' END STORE.
>> YOU TALKED A MOMENT AGO ABOUT E-TRADE,
SO IT'S KIND OF THE AMAZONS OF THE WORLD,
THIS ONLINE SHOPPING THAT IS PUTTING THIS PRESSURE ON BRICKS
AND MORTAR RETAIL?
>> IT IS. IT IS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THE DEATH KNELL OF BRICKS AND MORTAR,
BUT I THINK BRICKS AND MORTAR HAS TO RESPOND.
>> GIVEN THE EMPLOYMENT PICTURE THOUGH 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 JOBS 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 EDUCATOR FOR UW-EXTENSION
IN DANE COUNTY.
HEIDI, 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?
>> NOT AT THIS POINT.
I MEAN WE TYPICALLY HAVE A LOT OF RAIN IN APRIL ANYWAYS AND
COLD SOILS.
OUR MAIN CROPS ARE REALLY WARM SEASON CROPS,
SO CORN AND SOYBEANS.
SO WE DON'T WANT THEM IN THE GROUND WHEN IT'S THIS COLD.
THE SOIL REALLY NEEDS TO WARM BEFORE THEY CAN GET PLANTED.
SO REALLY THE RESEARCH THAT WE HAVE FROM UW 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?
>> WELL, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE MOISTURE
AND WE WANT TO HAVE THE SUBSOIL REALLY RECHARGED WITH MOISTURE
SO THAT IS A GOOD THING.
I MEAN 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.
[LAUGHTS]
>> AS YOU SAY, 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 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 THEN WARMER NIGHTS,
WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE QUICKER.
THEY'VE GOT THINGS TO DO BEFORE PLANTING LIKE TILLAGE OR PUTTING
MANURE OUT, SO THERE'S SOME ACTIVITIES THEY NEED TO GET DONE
PRIOR TO PLANTING SO WE NEED A DRY SPELL FOR THEM TO GET SOME
OF THAT STUFF DONE TOO.
>> 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 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 AWARE, GENTLEMEN, THAT 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 PHILIPS: DREAM BIG DREAMS ."
YOU CAN WATCH THE ENTIRE DOCUMENTARY ONLINE
AT WPT.ORG AND ON MONDAY, APRIL 23RD,
THE FILM WILL BE SHOWN ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION
AT 9:00 P.M.
EARLIER IN TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, WE COVERED THE JOBS FALLOUT
RELATED TO THE BON-TON CORPORATE DEMISE.
TUNE INTO WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S MORNING PROGRAM
ON MONDAY AT 6:00 A.M.
FOR MORE COVERAGE ON THAT TOPIC.
KATE ARCHER KENT AND HER GUESTS WILL DISCUSS WHAT THE IMPACT
OF BON-TON'S DEPARTURE MIGHT MEAN
FOR THE BROADER RETAIL LANDSCAPE.
NEXT WEEK ON "HERE & NOW" A NEW LAW RELAXES SOME REGULATIONS
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 & NOW" IS PROVIDED, IN PART,
BY FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "HERE & NOW'S" 2018 ELECTION COVERAGE,
GO TO WISCONSINVOTE.ORG.