August 1, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Valley. This is Aglife. My name is Bob Quinn,
with you for the next hour talking about agricultural production
here in the valley and all across the country. Well, friends,
farm based big data systems and tools have come a
long way since they first appeared in the form of
yield monitors on the harvester. Rod Bain has our opening

(00:21):
story today.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Farmers.

Speaker 3 (00:23):
You might actually remember with the big data revolution started
in agriculture.

Speaker 4 (00:29):
Years ago, probably the initial source of big data was
on harvesters. Yield monitors were one of our first big
data generation machines that.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
We had on farm.

Speaker 3 (00:39):
Ad Kendall Kirk of KLEB said University also reminds us
that with this first step in the evolution of big
data all the farm took place.

Speaker 4 (00:47):
The cloud computing opportunities where cost has gone down to
enable some of that, those weren't there. Connectivity was not there.

Speaker 3 (00:54):
So if a producer wantted data from their harvesters and
their yield monitored displays, it.

Speaker 4 (01:00):
Wasn't to put it on a jump drive. Instead, it
was to put it on an SD card and in
some cases floppy drives.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
Even prior to that, to say, the systems of agricultural
big data, how the tools used to collect it have
come a log way is perhaps an understatement, especially with
advances in connectivity and all.

Speaker 4 (01:19):
Of a sudden, now you've got not only data coming
from a yield monitor that shows you, for instance, and
during grain harvest, how much grain did you harvest from
this area of the field versus that area of the field.
But now we have vensors on our planters, we have
sensors on our irrigation systems. We have soil moisture sensors
that we install in the field. We have soil information

(01:40):
that we collect with machines such as electrical conductivity.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
Another revolution in big data has been how this information
is managed. Kirk acknowledge is that out of necessity as
technology advanced, most big data was collected additially through proprietary systems,
proprietary as a company and by piece of equipment, creating
proprietary silos.

Speaker 4 (02:04):
At first, it's sort of been an organic growth of
how it needed to develop. And now what we're seeing
in the agside is similar to what I think we've
seen a lot of energy directed towards isobus on connecting
implements to tractors to where we have sort of standard
communication across those machines, and we're starting to see the
same thing on some of the data.

Speaker 3 (02:25):
Current developments and research and agricultural oriented big data include
a project called agrec. Kirk describes it as an open
source data resource containing shared, cooperative extension resources and information
that a community or the world could share without going
into an extension office or reading a physical manual. Our

(02:47):
broadband reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington,
d C.

Speaker 1 (02:52):
Well Friends, coming up a story on agricultural labor and
special needs in the dairy industry moving forward, and an
update on apple harvest in the Pacific Northwest. You are
listening to ag Life, Bob Quinn. Here were some farm
news this morning, friends, US Darry has very specific needs

(03:13):
for improving the foreign labor program. Glenn Wagen has a
report for US this morning.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
And mini sectors of agriculture are trying to make sure
their voice is heard and not lost in the shuffle.

Speaker 5 (03:24):
Now.

Speaker 2 (03:24):
A good example of that is the Idaho Derryman's Association
IDA CEO Ricknerrabaut continues to stress that the H two
A program does not work for livestock since the focus
is on temporary workers, But what a workable program looks like.
Naerabout says, they're not going to get too caught up
in the details, whether that's updating the existing program or

(03:46):
perhaps starting over from scratch.

Speaker 6 (03:48):
We need a livable visa program, so you know, that's
going to be our folks, because and the other piece
of our focus will be legalizing the existing workers. So
work them into whatever that visa program looks like. Find
a way to work them into it. And that involves,
you know, a background check and a monetary penalty. We
understand they've committed a misdemeanor being in country without status,

(04:11):
and that there should be some sort of background check
with them being in country. We've got no issue with that.
We've got no issue with, you know, pay the monetary penalty.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
Neabout noted that if those hurdles can be clear, then
the dairy industry should be in a good position to
continue to feed the United States and the world. But
the question remains, does DC understand the needs of the
forming community, specifically the livestock sector. Thereabout says, the Idaho
delegation gets it.

Speaker 6 (04:38):
It does feel like every time we start to get
some momentum, when we start to get a piece of
legislation to move. You've got other politics that come into
play that disrupted, that derail the effort, and we end
up with nothing. But those are those are things that
are completely out of our control.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
Thereabout said. Other delegations and states will need to step
up if true egg labor reform is is going to
take place. I'm Glenn bog and reporting well.

Speaker 1 (05:03):
Friends. The Washington apple industry is anticipating a large twenty
twenty five crop with a potential for strong quality as well.
Washington Apple Commissioned President Michael Schadler says what looks to
be a pretty good productive harvest is quickly creeping up
on producers.

Speaker 5 (05:20):
It is hard to believe. We're just a few probably
a few weeks away from getting started on some of
the early varieties. Pretty much across the board, everybody says
it's going to be a good crop. Looks like it's
going to be on the bigger side, probably in line
with the last two seasons.

Speaker 1 (05:34):
And the weather has been great.

Speaker 5 (05:35):
We've had optimal growing conditions starting in the winter through
the spring through the summer. So far it's been really good.
So trees are healthy, fruit looks good, big crop.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
A minor issue, Schadler says could be a bit smaller apples.

Speaker 5 (05:50):
The sizing of the fruit is probably a little bit
on the small side compared to average, but nothing extreme.
You know that kind of that often goes hand in
hand when you have a bigger crop on the tree.

Speaker 1 (06:00):
Overall, Chidler says, things are looking.

Speaker 5 (06:02):
Of course, we'd love to have the supply demand equilibrium
just work out perfectly and everybody gets the price that
they want. But in the world of tree food, it
can take a while to kind of fine tune those
levels to the point where growers can get the return
that they really need.

Speaker 1 (06:20):
One of the biggest concerns is having enough labor to
bring in that twenty twenty five apple crop well. Friends.
Casey Matski is the next president of the American National
Cattle Women. Matski said she doesn't come from a traditional
background in agriculture.

Speaker 7 (06:35):
I will say my grandparents had some cattle when we
were little out at our dearly, a place that we
go hunting and stuff. I had some, I saw some,
but it wasn't until after I got into college that
the ag background kind of grew for me. I ended
up taking an animal science class as an elective for
my degree, and I immediately fell in love with it.
It was just animal science one on one, but it
was just the basic understanding of all the different species

(06:57):
and the livestock species, and I said, this is where
I need to be, and so after that I added
it as a double major and then things kind of
took off from there. I joined the Aggie Cattlewoman Collegiate
Chapter and that's kind of where my passion for the
industry really blossomed.

Speaker 1 (07:11):
Matski talks about the American National Cattle Women.

Speaker 7 (07:14):
It is made up of I want to say close
to twenty five, maybe twenty eight different state affiliates across
the United States AMCW. The three pillars that we have
is education, promotion, and legislation. So one thing that we
do is we go to and advocate and legislate for
the beef industry. Every year we take a trip to
DC and do that, and then we also have education

(07:35):
and promotional activities too that we do. It's a great
organization and it is something that we're happy to have
a bunch of states involved in.

Speaker 1 (07:43):
Casey Matski incoming President American National Cattle Women. Some farm
news this morning, You're listening to AG life.

Speaker 8 (07:49):
It's another agnews update. We've seen a weaker dollar this year.
Is that good or bad?

Speaker 9 (07:57):
More after this Shaquille O'Neill reminding you that anytime is
a good time for the cooling, drying freshman of gold
bond powder spread like after.

Speaker 10 (08:07):
The gym oh grab it elevator ride.

Speaker 1 (08:10):
For golf Oh working with bomb animals.

Speaker 9 (08:13):
For hard day's work, Stay cool with gold bonb powder spread,
stay with.

Speaker 8 (08:18):
Cold bonha talking the week dollar Richie Torre's representative from
New York with FED chair Jerome pal surepower.

Speaker 11 (08:28):
Following the so called Liberation Day tariffs in early April,
we saw something the US economy had not seen in decades,
a flight not to the US dollar as a safe haven,
but away from it. And since President Trump's inauguration, the
US Dollar Index has fallen by nearly ten percent, marking
the worst first half performance for the dollar since nineteen

(08:49):
eighty six. At the same time, Japan, America's largest sovereign creditor,
just saw the worst twenty year Japanese government bond auction
since the nineteen eighties, raising fears that it could reduce
its holdings of US treasuries. Given these developments. Do you believe,
as I do, that the US may be transitioning from
a period of dollar dominance to a period of dollar decline.

Speaker 12 (09:11):
Well, let me say we FED does not have responsibility
for the dollar. That's really the Treasury.

Speaker 11 (09:17):
But I'm asking for your analysis.

Speaker 1 (09:18):
I wouldn't.

Speaker 12 (09:20):
I wouldn't. I wouldn't make that statement. No, I think
it's things have been volatile, the markets are digesting things,
and I think, you know, the treasury market's been fine
by many measures, that the dollar is still.

Speaker 11 (09:32):
You feel the safe haven status of the dollars is
as strong as it's ever been.

Speaker 12 (09:36):
I think it's I think the dollar is still the
number one safe haven currency, and I don't think it's
you know, I would say these narratives of decline are
premature and a bit overdone.

Speaker 8 (09:47):
It's another agnews update. Here's farmer and landowner John Pruf.

Speaker 13 (09:52):
We purchased the land about three years ago and there
was an old farmstead on there with trees, and we're
going to clear the lands we could farm through it.
We thought we knew where the pipe was, we didn't
call to get it located. The work on our property
led to the damage of a light crude pipeline. Fortunately
no one was hurt, but it could have been much worse.

Speaker 8 (10:08):
Never assumed the location or depth of underground lines. Always
call eight one to one or visit clickbefore you dig
dot com before you start work.

Speaker 14 (10:16):
A message from the pipeline operators for egg safety.

Speaker 8 (10:18):
Campaign American Cattle meuse, what's the importance of grazing on
federal lands? More after this?

Speaker 15 (10:29):
When you look at me, you might see a person
with Parkinson's disease.

Speaker 16 (10:34):
But if you look closer, you'll see a warrior mom,
an endurance.

Speaker 17 (10:39):
Athlete, someone with a lot of fights.

Speaker 13 (10:41):
Every nine minutes, someone is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Speaker 3 (10:45):
And every one of them can turn to the American
Parkinson Disease Association.

Speaker 18 (10:49):
Look closer, my spirit istaable.

Speaker 2 (10:53):
Visit APDA Parkinson dot org to learn more and show
your support.

Speaker 8 (10:59):
Today pickling glovers with the Public Lands Council.

Speaker 15 (11:03):
Livestock grazing controls those fine fuels that support in a
backwards way. They support ignition of these big fires, and
these fires then get rolling. They have such momentum, that's
why they become so hot, so fast moving, and so catastrophic.
You know, and for a long time One of the
things that grazers that ranchers have faced is this sort

(11:25):
of you know, being a second tier tool, a second
class tool. The federal agencies have always preferred chaining or
other mechanized efforts, prescribed fire or even herbicides because it's
more standardized. Right, But this role of target grazing, this
expansion of using grazing animals to conduct fine fuels management

(11:46):
at scale, is gaining traction. We have more than a
handful of bills this Congress alone. We have very clear
direction from the Secretary of the Interior in a recent memorandum.
We have an executive order from President Trump identifying the
need for USDA ANDDI to work better together in not
only putting these fires out, but preventing the catastrophic conditions

(12:10):
and from those fires becoming too big. And So, whether
you're talking about sage grouse, or you're talking about fire
and fuels management, or you're even just talking about protecting watersheds, right,
from a various number of factors, you're really seeing grazing
having a moment.

Speaker 18 (12:27):
Right.

Speaker 15 (12:27):
It's not just goats in city parks, but it's cows
and sheep, and technology and drones and satellites and all
of the big scientific and technology pieces coming together with
one of the most traditional, reliable, effective tools in grazing,
and it's.

Speaker 8 (12:47):
Exciting American Cattle News.

Speaker 1 (12:53):
This is Dairy Radio Now with Bill Baker.

Speaker 16 (12:56):
It's time for our feed for on Friday with doctor
Mike Hutchins Tessa Emeritus from the University of Illinois.

Speaker 19 (13:02):
Hello, Mike, Well, welcome to today's feed form and we're
going to talk probiotics. Probiotics can be enzymes, primarily more
important with monogastric animals. These are live bacteria that compete
inhibit inefficient bacteria in the room in itself and block
pathogenic bacteria and also scavage oxygen which keeps the room

(13:22):
in anaerobic for optimal fermentation that occur. This was reported
in a presentation by Isaac A. Sulfur from the University
of Minnesota at the for State Conference here Health in Lacrosse, Wisconsin.
He points out that there is communication between the probiotic
and also the gut and the microbes that you will
find in the room itself. He talked not only about probiotics,

(13:45):
but probiotics these are basically feeds that improve gut health
could be the roommen and the small intestine. And of
course there are products on the market that contain a
combination of both probiotic and probiotic, and their called symbiotic
out there in the program. The products that he highlighted
in his presentation would be the lacic acid fermenting bacteria.

(14:06):
This perhaps has more application in human aspects than in
dairy colls at this point, but certainly that can be
a factor. The basilla's organisms produce another classification, produce enzymes
and of course compete with Clustradia, which is an undesirable
microbe in the digestive tract. Propionic bacteria producing bacteria will

(14:28):
actually convert lactate over to propriate. Of course, proprinate then
converts by the delivery into glucose, so that increase energy
to namics in these cous And then the fourth category
was megaspheri Alsininia, which again is another lactate user in
the program and can increase a butterfat test. So we're
going to be looking at this microbiome, looking at such
things as a sequencing of the genes, when are these

(14:50):
genes turned on turn off? And what effects does it
have a metabolic rates of these cols itself. Another presentation
in the same time period was doctor Jesse Thompson coming
from a commercial company and showed their program. They are
looking at eighty two thousand different probiotics strains, so they
do this by DNA and gene analysis, and they then

(15:13):
challenging these probiotics with five hundred thousand different pathogenic isolates,
trying to find which ones are going to be most
effective on these pathogenic organisms as well, and of course
they are selling products based on that as well. The
strains have to be very functional, and they discovered that
there's regional differences. In other words, some probiotics are more

(15:34):
effective in certain parts of the United States, And of
course they're looking at shifting the micro biome in dairy
cows to improve fiber digestability which will increase VFA production
in dry matter intake as well. Other roles that probiotics
can have he reported on was embedding to reduce growth

(15:54):
of bacteria, inoculation in silages young calves, to increase dryma intake.
Starter intake also are leading to less of scoluring at
this point, and actual manure treatments trying to reduce loss
of nutrients and order coming off manure as well. So
their criteria would be one increased performance and they're looking

(16:14):
typically on their good products around three to four pounds
more melt and remain stable in the room itself. So
take a messages from both presenters. One is that not
all are equal, that they have differences. Number two diets
will have an impact on the response. Therefore it is
farm dependent and certainly it will have impact on microbial
status both in the women and in the small small intestine. Well,

(16:37):
I complete the program for today. Thanks, Hey, I have
a great date.

Speaker 1 (16:40):
Thank you, Mike.

Speaker 16 (16:41):
That's doctor Mike Hutchens, Professor Emeritis from the University of Illinois,
featured every Friday here on our feed Forum Friday on
Dairy Radio Now.

Speaker 3 (16:49):
A reminder to those eligible producers wishing to nominate themselves
or a farmer in their USDA Farm Service Agency Local
Service area.

Speaker 20 (16:58):
All nomination forums to be postmarked or received in the
local FSA office by August.

Speaker 3 (17:04):
First, according to FSA Administrator Bill beeB among the duties
of county committee members.

Speaker 20 (17:10):
Committees enable producers to make important decisions on how federal
programs are administered locally to best serve local community needs.
Make determinations on strange decisions, or assist with local education
or outreach efforts.

Speaker 3 (17:25):
More details about county committee nominations, eligibility requirements, and the
election process are available through local FSA offices or online
at FSA dot USDA dot gov SLASH Elections. Elections will
take place this November. Broad Bay and Reporting for the
US Department of Agriculture in Washington, d C.

Speaker 10 (17:49):
Most consumers know that walnuts are very healthy, they're superfoods.
I'm Patrick Cavanaugh with a California TREETA report part of
the vastag Information Network. Me is Assistant International Marketing Director
for the California Walnut Board. She said, the Walnut Board
aggressively promotes that health benefit of walnuts.

Speaker 11 (18:09):
Absolutely.

Speaker 21 (18:09):
We have agencies and all of our markets that we
have programs in and we conduct hundreds of activities every year.
And even with our additional ATP funding has been extremely
successful to us. That's the program for the USDA. It's
allowed us to open a trade program in Canada, retail
programs in the UK and Spain, and advertising in Korea
as walleys, Germany.

Speaker 10 (18:30):
And there's a lot of promotions directed to healthcare professionals.

Speaker 21 (18:33):
Yes, all of the health research that we do here
and it's really conducted around the world. It's used in
all of our market it resonates everywhere. And as we know,
health sells walnuts.

Speaker 10 (18:42):
And the industry knows that if you stop anybody on
the street, they tend to know that walnuts are good for.

Speaker 21 (18:47):
They know walnuts are good for you. I just had
someone ask me, you know, what's what's more healthy A
walnut or an almond? You know, and really all nuts
are healthy for you.

Speaker 11 (18:55):
All nuts are.

Speaker 21 (18:56):
But you know, walnuts do have a mega threes which
they have a significant amount, which is incredible for heart health.

Speaker 10 (19:01):
At LEASTA, they make sure that health media knows as well.

Speaker 21 (19:04):
Yeah, it goes along with our health program. You know,
it comes with all of the studies that we do
and the press releases and the influencers were used to
communicate those health studies on cognition.

Speaker 22 (19:14):
And a big one part health exactly. Farm work is
tough and so is staying safe on a road. Every year,
accidents happen when tractors and traffic share the same space,
whether you're behind the wheel of a tractor or a car.
Here's what you need to remember. Tractors move slower, be patient,
don't pass on hills or curves. Farmers, make sure your
slow moving vehicles, signs and lights are visible, and everyone sailor,

(19:36):
especially on rule roads. One moment of caution can save
a life. Let's work together to keep our roads and
our farms safe. This message was brought to you by
the ag Information Network.

Speaker 23 (19:46):
For over forty years, the AG Information Network has been
providing news and information for the most important industry in
the world, agriculture. The EGG Information Network gives you worldwide
updates from local producers to regional organization, from major crops
like wheat and corn, to animal agriculture to specially crops
like apples, almonds, and cherries. We report on stories that

(20:08):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The AG Information Network trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 10 (20:16):
With the AG Information Network, I'm Patrick Kavanaugh.

Speaker 3 (20:20):
In the event of a natural disaster.

Speaker 18 (20:23):
Significant lowland and river flooding, widespread freezes, dust storms, significant
wildfire activity, dozens of tornadoes, drought coverage.

Speaker 3 (20:32):
A variety of programs and information to assist in recovery
efforts is available. Courtesy of the US Department of Agriculture,
items include.

Speaker 24 (20:42):
Technical and financial assistance to help producers recover from droughts, hurricanes, wildfires,
winter storms and more.

Speaker 3 (20:49):
And food safety tips.

Speaker 25 (20:51):
Just kind of knowing the general basics about food safety
and power outages and some tips and things to do.

Speaker 18 (20:56):
Can be helpful in saving your food.

Speaker 3 (20:58):
I'm Rod Bay Prologists Brad Rippey, Farm Service Agency Administrator
Bill Beebe and food safety expert Meredith Corruthers joins US
as we look at USDA suite of emergency assistance offerings
in this edition of Agriculture USA. Twenty twenty five has

(21:19):
already been an eventful year disaster wise. Impacts on residents
and ag operations in areas were events such as significant flooding,
major dust storms, tornadoes, wildfires, and other activity have taken
place is noted. What may not be as well known
is a suite of offerings, programs, and tips provided by

(21:40):
the Agriculture Department for disaster recovery efforts. Farm Service Agency
Administrator Bill beeB says an addition to federal crop insurance
that producers can use, his agency offers various assistance programs, such.

Speaker 24 (21:54):
As the Non Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program or MAP,
provides financial assistants to protect against disasters and result in
lower yields, crop losses or prevents crop planting. Producers must
have obtained their MAP coverage for the year in which
the loss occurs.

Speaker 3 (22:11):
Other offerings include the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Emergency Assistance
for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm Raised Fish Program ELAP, and
the Tree Assistance Program. Regardless of what program an impacted
producer or landowner applies for, administrator BEAM offers this reminder
of needed documentation for eligibility.

Speaker 24 (22:34):
Such things as arm records receives pixtures of damage or losses.

Speaker 3 (22:38):
With details on these programs, crop insurance and other assistance
options such as the Natural Resources Conservation Services Emergency Watershed
Protection Program available online at Farmers dot gov. That website
also contains disaster assistance tools to determine program or disaster
load options. Food safety also becomes a concern in a disaster,

(23:02):
whether it is prolonged power outage or flooding. Preparation in
advance of a disaster or advice after disaster strikes comes
in the form of tips from USDA via its Meat
and Poultry Hotline one eight eight eight MP hotline or
email at mp hotline at USDA dot gov or via

(23:23):
chat at ask dot USDA dot gov. USDA food safety
expert Meredith Corruthers says knowing what to do depends on
whether the need is to be proactive or reactive. For instance, proactive,
in the event of an upcoming flood.

Speaker 25 (23:41):
It's helpful to take food items and elevate them onto
a higher surface, put them on a higher shelf, put
them as high up that you can to hopefully avoid
them coming into contact with floodwater.

Speaker 3 (23:50):
Or reactive in the middle of a power outage.

Speaker 25 (23:53):
On average, a refrigerator that has no power is going
to keep a safe temperature for about four hours. So
your power outage has lasted more than four hours, that
food either needs to be transferred to a cooler with
ice or something like that to help keep it cold
until the power comes back on, or that food needs
to be discarded.

Speaker 3 (24:12):
In the event of a disaster, emergency nutrition assistants can
be available, as explained by USDA Food and Nutrition Service
Administrator jme C.

Speaker 26 (24:22):
Miller Keefin has DOT provide food sort shelter and other
mass beating site distribute to you packaging directly to households,
offer flexibility in nutrition assistance programs and approved eligible state's
requests to operate fns's Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for.

Speaker 3 (24:38):
Those suffering damage or loss of home, residence, business, or
infrastructure related to all those, USDA Rural Development has available
programs and services to help and repair and rebuild. Information
about rural Development, disaster assistants and resources are available online
at www dot com USDA dot gov. Click on the

(25:04):
resources tab on the homepage, then click on the link
to disaster assistance. This has been Agriculture USA Rodbain reporting
for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, d C.

Speaker 27 (25:20):
It's time for California AGG today on the AG Information
Network I in Haley's ship. It's cling peach season in
California's Central Valley and growers are praising the mild summer tempts.
The bony weather helped early fruit size up and stay
blemish free. Good news for quality, But yields, well, that's
a different story. According to an AG alert from the

(25:43):
California Farm Bureau, early harvests are coming in lighter than expected,
down about twelve percent from initial projections. Sutter County farmer
Randi Davitt said that some of his Stanislass peaches are
down about seventy percent from peak production. Whether last year
could be to blame, including a hot summer and warm
January that disrupted dormancy. Despite strong fruit quality, growers are

(26:06):
also feeling pressure from rising labor costs, stalled price negotiations
with canneries, and competition from cheaper foreign imports. California's cling
peach acreage has dropped by more than half over the
past two decades. Meanwhile, canner del Monte, responsible for about
a third of the state's crop, filed for Chapter eleven

(26:27):
bankruptcy this month. Though deliveries continue for now, growers are
left uncertain about next year's market. As Davit put it,
you're never sure what you have into the last bins
out of the field. For more information and to get
the link to that full article, head on over to
aginfo dot net. Attention all growers. Have your packouts been

(26:47):
reduced due to damage caused by heat stress or sunburn?

Speaker 22 (26:51):
This is called tiva.

Speaker 27 (26:52):
We are the manufacturer of Parka. Parka is a plant
based full your product with a unique moay that helps
plants resist and recover from heat stress. Parker reduces heat
stress and sunburn by reducing the development of oxidative compounds
and stressed crops. It allows the plant to continue photosynthetic activity,
which ultimately means your crops continue to perform during times

(27:14):
of excessive heat. As a result, plants treated with PARKA
are better equipped to sustain growth under environmental stress conditions
to deliver high fruit quality and marketable yields. Unlike other
products on the market, PARKA is highly tank mixed compatible
and leaves no residue on fruit or equipment, making it
easy to incorporate into spray programs. The heat is coming.

(27:35):
Is your crop ready to handle the stress? Give us
a call at eight eight eight six three eight nineteen
fifty five, or visit Cultiva dot com with California AGG
today on the ag Information Network. I am Haley's ship.

Speaker 1 (27:49):
Bob Quinn. Here were some farm news this morning friends.
US Dairy has very specific needs for improving the foreign
labor program. Glenn Waughan has a report for us this morning.

Speaker 2 (28:00):
Mini sectors of agriculture are trying to make sure their
voice is heard and not lost in the shuffle.

Speaker 5 (28:04):
Now.

Speaker 2 (28:05):
A good example of that is the Idaho Dryman's Association
IDA CEO Ricknerbaut continues to stress that the H two
A program does not work for livestock since the focus
is on temporary workers. But what a workable program looks like.
Naabout says they're not going to get too caught up
in the details, whether that's updating the existing program or
perhaps starting over from scratch.

Speaker 6 (28:26):
We need a livable visa program, so you know that
that's going to be our focus, and the other piece
of our focus will be legalizing the existing workers. So
work them into whatever that visa program looks like. Find
a way to work them into it, and that involves,
you know, a background check and a monetary penalty. We
understand they've committed a misdemeanor being in country without status

(28:46):
and that there should be some sort of background check
with them being in country. We've got no issue with that,
and we've got no issue with you know, pay to
monetary penalty.

Speaker 2 (28:53):
TV Thereabout noted that if those hurdles can be clear,
then the dairy industry should be in a good position
to continue to feed the United States and the world.
But the question remains, does DC understand the needs of
the farming community, specifically the livestock sector. Thereabouts says the
Idaho delegation gets it.

Speaker 6 (29:11):
It does feel like every time we start to get
some MoMA, when we start to get a piece of
legislation to move, you've got other politics that come into
play that disrupted, that derail the effort, and we.

Speaker 5 (29:21):
End up with nothing.

Speaker 6 (29:23):
But those are things that are completely out of our control.

Speaker 2 (29:26):
Thereabout said, other delegations and states will need to step
up if true egg labor reform is going to take place.
I'm Glenn Wagin reporting.

Speaker 1 (29:34):
Well, friends. The Washington apple industry is anticipating a large
twenty twenty five crop with a potential for strong quality
as well. Washington Apple Commission President Michael Schadler says what
looks to be a pretty good productive harvest is quickly
creeping up on producers. It is hard to believe.

Speaker 5 (29:50):
We're just a few probably a few weeks away from
getting started on some of the early varieties. Pretty much
across the board, everybody says it's going to be a
good crop. Looks like it's going to be und your side,
probably in line with the last two seasons.

Speaker 1 (30:02):
And the weather has been great.

Speaker 5 (30:04):
We've had optimal growing conditions starting in the winter through
the spring through the summer. So far it's been really good.
So trees are healthy. Fruit looks good.

Speaker 1 (30:13):
Big crop a minor issue, Schadler says, could be a
bit smaller apples.

Speaker 5 (30:18):
The sizing of the fruit is probably a little bit
on the small side compared to average, but nothing extreme.
You know, that kind of that often goes hand in
hand when you have the bigger crop on the trees.

Speaker 1 (30:27):
Anyway, Overall, Chadler says, things.

Speaker 5 (30:29):
Are looking Of course, we'd love to have the supply
demand equilibrium just work out perfectly and you know, everybody
get the price that they want. But in the world
of tree fruit, it can take a while to kind
of fine tune those levels to the point where growers
can get the return that they really need.

Speaker 1 (30:46):
One of the biggest concerns is having enough labor to
bring in that twenty twenty five apple crop.

Speaker 5 (30:51):
Well.

Speaker 1 (30:51):
Friends of New Association is stepping forward to help farmers
and ranchers navigate hosting renewable energy projects on their land.
Jeff Risley, execcative director of the Renewable Energy Farmers of America,
talks about the group and its goals.

Speaker 18 (31:05):
We are a nonprofit, a five oh one C six specifically,
and we just launched the fact we've been working on
it for a little over a year. But the whole
mission of REFA is to help and empower these farmer
and rancher landowners who are either already hosting large renewable
energy projects or those that want to. We want to

(31:25):
help them navigate a very complex process. These are billion
dollar developments on your land, and you should have the
opportunity to get really good information, to talk to other
farmers that have been through it, to know the best
potential leases that you can negotiate. All of these are
things we want to help farmers and ranchers with.

Speaker 1 (31:47):
The goal is to provide every farmer and rancher with
unbiased information about the pros and cons of a potential
project on their land.

Speaker 18 (31:54):
We did research with about one hundred farmers last spring
to test our idea and one of the biggest things
they asked for was just that a trusted third party, unbiased,
nonpartisan that can bring some truth to them in the
language they are understanding how it's going to impact my
land by farming operation. The other thing they really wanted

(32:16):
was the ability to talk to other farmers and ranchers
that have been through this. So part of what we'll
do is peer to peer networking REFA.

Speaker 1 (32:23):
We'll also offer professional services to answer any questions about
leases and their effects on each operation.

Speaker 18 (32:29):
They also told us really help us with professional services,
so we're going to offer non legal lease reviews. We'll
also be able to provide answers to tax questions. So
obviously these leases provide money to the farmers and ranchers,
so it can impact their income, could impact their business practices.
So these are the things that we want to provide

(32:52):
two members along with just a collective voice. I mean,
we are grounded in private property rights. We want to
make sure that farmers and ran enters have the opportunity
to host these projects if they want to, and not
be encumbered by policy that prevents that opportunity.

Speaker 1 (33:08):
More at Renewable energyfarmers dot org farm us. This morning,
you are listening to WAG Life.

Speaker 14 (33:16):
From the Egg Information Network. This is your agribusiness update.
Milk production and the twenty four major milk producing states
in June total eighteen and a half billion pounds, up
three point four percent from June of twenty four May
revised production that nineteen point three billion pounds was up
two point four percent, representing an increase of one hundred
and thirty six million pounds or point seven from last

(33:37):
month's pre production estimate. The number of milk cows in
those states was nine point zero three million head, one
hundred and fifty one thousand more than June of twenty four.
Usuit associates welcome the announced agreement on reciprocal trade between
the US and Indonesia. The proposed trade deal is expected
to directly benefit US wheat farmers through the removal of
Indonesian tariffs on ninety nine US products, a reduction in

(34:00):
non tariff barriers, and new purchase commitments for US egg products.
USW President Mike Spier says we are grateful for this
commitment that includes an earlier agreement between Indonesian flour millers
and the US wheat industry. Critics are decrying the reorganization
plan for USDA announced by Egg Secretary Brook Rawlins. In
a statement, Amy Klobuchar, ranking member of the Senate agg Committee,

(34:22):
condemned the plan as a half baked proposal. Rebecca Wolff,
senior policy analyst at the Food and Water Watch Senior
food says a reorganization of this scale will impact the
USDA's ability to provide critical services to Americans and undermine
the agency's trusted expertise that farmers and families count on.

Speaker 28 (34:40):
Get the equipment and trucks you need at Richie Brothers'
next Sacramento sale on July thirtieth and thirty first. This
online auction features over seventeen hundred items to choose from,
including a wide selection of heavy construction equipment and truck tractors.
Don't miss Richie Brothers Absolute unreserved auction on July thirtieth
and thirty first, Open to the public and registration is free.

(35:02):
For more details, visit rbauction dot com. Again, that's rbauction
dot com.

Speaker 23 (35:10):
For the last forty years, the AG Information Network has
been the source of news for farmers and ranchers. Yet
we have never seen such an assault on farming and
our food supply as we do today. From fuel to fertilizer.
Farmers are facing unprecedented economic challenges. This is why agriculture
news that farmers receive comes from the AG Information Network,

(35:30):
reaching coast to coast, deep roots and farming. In decades
of reporting, the AGG Information Network trusted and transparent journalism
for generations.

Speaker 14 (35:40):
From the Egg Information Network. I'm Bob Lurson with your
agribusiness update.

Speaker 1 (35:43):
Bob Quinn back to wrap up aglie Fordiday, friends. While
the ending stocks to use ratio for corn has decreased
due to a smaller than expected twenty twenty three crop
and strong corn usage, particularly in exports, as Todd Gleeson reports,
this led to a shift in what farmers expect the
market price of corn to do.

Speaker 17 (36:02):
Ending stocks and the stocks to use ratio are really
just two ways to summarize everything we know about the
state of supply and demand in a particular commodity market.
So for corn, the facts on the ground tell us
the supply is tight, very tight, by those two numbers.
But says Joe Jansen from the University of Illinois, does
the market need higher prices to ration out what's left

(36:24):
of last falls corn harvest? Probably not, for two reasons.
The first is that while USDA lowered the size of
last falls corn harvest in January, demand for the crop
has continued to grow through the first six months of
this year. This has both the ending stocks and stocks
to use ratio indicating higher prices. Still, it comes so

(36:46):
late in the season, and this is the second reason
that the Soprina corn crop harvest in Brazil and the
eminent United States bumper crop fall corn harvest have the
market confident it can make it through to September, says
the economist.

Speaker 29 (37:01):
That's absolutely right. We're in a situation when we get
down to the end of the marketing year, things can
get kind of highly variable because just because of you know,
there's this very temporary short term imbalance between maybe supplying
demand in particular locations and at specific moments in time.

Speaker 17 (37:16):
Meanwhile, the future's markets do not need to move higher
to ensure enough is available. This leaves it up to
the cash market where needed, to pull corn from reluctant sellers.
Iowa State University IG economist Chad Hart says farmers must
watch their local basis and decide how to allocate available
storage space, selling some or all of those old crop

(37:37):
bushels to the highest priced local market. He's also concerned
about new crop corn and wondering if the demand the
binge will continue.

Speaker 30 (37:46):
I'm fascinated by, let's call it the strange trade that
we're in the ideas we're continuing to see export pace
on old crop look really good? Will that translate for
US as we're looking for new crop, because we're going
to need that international boost to work through these larger
crops we think we're bringing in this fall.

Speaker 17 (38:07):
USDA will release its first crop production report in August.
Its current corn yield is one hundred and eighty one
bushels to the acre. Nationally, the trade has a number
as high as one eighty seven for University of Illinois Extension.
I'm Todd Glison, and with that, friends around of time
for today. Thanks for joining us back Monday morning with
another edition A Baglife