August 25, 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,
are they leftovers or planned overs? Rod Bain starts us off.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Oh, Heyton, just trying to find some leftovers in the
fridge to make a stack. Uh, Julie Garden Robinson of
North Dakota State University Extension. What do you mean you
already use them?

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Think of your leftovers as planned overs because they allow
you to cook once and eat two or three times,
so they can save you time and money in the
long run.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Frankly, at this moment that strategy doesn't help my appetite.
But I get what you mean by planned overs. It's
another way to create your meal plans ahead of time,
like when you cook or crock pot several meals on
a weekend to freeze and use throughout the week.

Speaker 3 (00:54):
It all comes down to planning, and we certainly advise
that people should plan their meals because that gives you
a game plan for your upcoming week.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
And with plaid overs, this allows.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
All of us in our homes to use that food
and not allow it to become spoiled or stale or otherwise.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Unusable, reducing food waste. So what about some examples of
plaid overs guard Robinson says there are three food items
that come to mind that can be stretched over a
couple of days or more as part of a pland
over strategy.

Speaker 3 (01:28):
For example, you could make a beef roast and enjoy
it first day, and then use the remaining meat to
make stir fry, chili or caesadea so you're making something
different with the leftover food.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
Here's another idea as a plaid over ingredient, hard boiled eggs.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
Hard cooks several eggs, make eggs salad sandwiches the first day,
and then maybe the next day or the following day,
you can serve the remaining eggs on a chef salad.

Speaker 2 (01:54):
And how about this as a plaid over participate bow
tie pasta.

Speaker 3 (01:58):
Make a double batch of type pasta, have it with
spaghetti sauce the first meal, refrigerate it next night. Take
that bow type pasta, add some mao, chopped vegetables and
cantuna or planned over roasted chicken, and you have a
main dish pasta salad.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah, you're allowed to mix and match planned over ingredients
and food items into next evening's made dish or side.
In fact, perhaps you have been creative and you inadvertently
made a planned over dish in the form of that
popular meal time offering a casserole.

Speaker 3 (02:29):
Certainly a lot of people like to make casseroles, or
we call them hot dish in my area of the world.
And there's an infinite number of ways that you can
use this. It allows you to take what you have
in your fridge or in your cupboard and use them
with some basic ways to make your own castrole or
your own soup or some other dish.

Speaker 2 (02:50):
And since it appears that my fridge is barren of leftovers,
I should do some planning before my trip to the
store to create some meals for the week via planned overs.
I'm Rod Bain, reporting for the US Department of Agriculture
in Washington.

Speaker 3 (03:04):
D C.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
Farm News Ahead, you're listening to Aglife Bob Quinn. Here
are some farm News Today friends. Well, there's no question
that times are challenging for US farmers and ranchers. Chad
Smith has more on the economic challenges.

Speaker 4 (03:19):
Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that
inflation is slowing, though farmers and ranchers are still facing
many other economic challenges. Barrett Nelson, an economist with the
American Farm Bureau Federation, says this economic squeeze has been
going on for several years.

Speaker 5 (03:37):
So if we look at USDA's recent price indexes for
prop producers, the index for a price is paid for supplies, repairs, inputs,
things like that has been higher than the index for
prices received for our crops grown over the last five years,
and the gap for these prices received in prices paid
has grown particularly wider since twenty twenty three.

Speaker 4 (04:00):
Since, says, farmers are also trying to balance lower commodity
prices with rising interest rates.

Speaker 5 (04:05):
For many that means losses for three years in a row.
These losses have increased credit use in the industry, all
while interust rates have climbed. This results in a rising
amount of money being spent on interest that service is debt,
and it adds to the bleeding that's already being felt
from crop losses on our farmers balance sheets.

Speaker 6 (04:23):
He said.

Speaker 4 (04:24):
The Federal Reserve's Board of Governors will decide to either
lower interst rates or leave them higher for a little
longer during their September meeting.

Speaker 1 (04:33):
So, on one.

Speaker 5 (04:34):
Hand, they have a decision to leave rates where they are.
This would keep inflation from increasing again, but it would
also continue to dig deeper into our farmer's pockets. On
the other hand, if they would decrease interest rates, this
would make credit less expensive and this would kind of
slow that interest to income ratio, but it could risk
inflation flaring up again.

Speaker 4 (04:53):
You can learn more on the market intel page at
fb dot org. Chad Smith, Washington.

Speaker 1 (05:00):
Well friends. Washington continues to produce more apples than any
other state, but this year's crop forecast to be at
or near a record. As for the available apple varieties,
John Devanny, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association,
says the top of the list hasn't changed.

Speaker 7 (05:17):
Well. Gala continues to be the number one pariety, forecasting
to be about eighteen percent of our state's apple crop next.

Speaker 1 (05:24):
Devani says Granny Smith has been displaced at number two.

Speaker 7 (05:28):
What's interesting is that honey crisp continues to grow in volume,
and it's quite popular, as a lot of folks know,
and it would be in the number two position this year,
forecast to be around fifteen percent of the.

Speaker 1 (05:40):
Crop and for the first time, Devanny says Cosmic Priss
makes the top five.

Speaker 7 (05:45):
It sure has. In fact, this year it's about forecast
to be about nine point six percent. They're just short
of ten percent of the crop and breaks into the
top five and variety's forecast for the first time.

Speaker 1 (05:55):
It's also expected to continue growing.

Speaker 7 (05:58):
That variety is continuing to take off towards the stars,
as its name would suggest, and it reflects a lot
of the investment our growers have continued to make over
many years in developing new varieties and looking for novelties
and new taste experiences for consumers within the apple category
to make sure that we can meet the needs of

(06:18):
diverse customers.

Speaker 1 (06:20):
Gala the number one at eighteen percent of production, followed
by Honeycrisp but fifteen percent, moving ahead of both Red
Delicious and Granny Smith, which were at fourteen point seven percent.
Well Friends pork is often called a friend to all
foods thanks to its versatility and being a carrier food.
As one of the most widely consumed proteins globally, it's

(06:43):
a natural fit for various meals. Emily Krauss, Director of Nutrition,
Health and Wellness initiatives at the National Pork Board. Says
pork is well received within the industry's health and wellness
community called Pork and Partners.

Speaker 8 (06:56):
Dietitians other healthcare professionals are really gravitating towards that because
oftentimes when people think of healthcare professionals, they think we're
demonizing certain foods, and often that's not the case. We
want people to consume all types of foods, but make
choices that they are supporting the foods that make them
feel good, and so we want to see all foods
fit on the plate.

Speaker 1 (07:17):
Younger consumers have a different approach to food than previous generations.
Rather than seeing pork as the main dish, they view
it as an ingredient.

Speaker 8 (07:24):
Put it into a mixed dish. Then you can have
all these different flavors and food groups really come together,
and you're often having more fruits, vegetables, and grains which
provide more nutrients. So we say it's a carrier food.
It's a carrier not only for nutrition but also flavor.

Speaker 1 (07:42):
As a registered dietitian, Kraus emphasizes the importance of eating
more fruits and vegetables and says incorporating pork as an
ingredient is a delicious and practical way to help achieve
that goal.

Speaker 8 (07:52):
As a dietitian working for the National Pork Board, when
I can say there's research to show that when pork
is on the plate, people consume more fruits and goshables,
that is a huge win for people that are focusing
on nutrition. And we also have research that shows the
one hundred and eleven flavor nuances of pork.

Speaker 1 (08:10):
Consumers can explore more pork recipes at pork dot org.
Farm News. You're listening to Waglife.

Speaker 9 (08:18):
It's another agnews update foreign ownership of domestic farmland. More
after this.

Speaker 10 (08:28):
This is Shaquille O'Neill reminding you that anytime is a
good time for the cooling, drying freshmen of gold bond
powder spread, Like after the gym.

Speaker 11 (08:36):
Auto grabbed elevator.

Speaker 9 (08:38):
Ride for golf, working with farm animals.

Speaker 10 (08:42):
Or a hard day's work. Stay cool with gold bond
powder spreads.

Speaker 9 (08:45):
Stay with gold night Huh. Arkansas Governors Sarah Huckabee Sanders
on prohibiting foreign ownership of farmland.

Speaker 4 (08:55):
The last couple of months.

Speaker 12 (08:56):
We've passed new legislation just this year allowing us to
prohibit them from now not only owning farmland in our state,
but from building or buying land around our military bases
and critical infrastructure. It is something that has to happen
and something that states have been leading.

Speaker 9 (09:15):
The way on.

Speaker 12 (09:17):
But unfortunately our states can't do it alone. That's why
events like today matter so much. That's why leadership from
people like Secretary Rollins matter so much. The fact that
we now have a president who understands who our real
enemies are and is willing to take them on is

(09:37):
making a huge difference, not just in our country but
around the world. We've talked a lot about today a
country's ability to feed itself, but that's not the only place,
and that's not the only role agriculture place. A country
has to be able to feed itself, fuel itself, and
fight for itself to truly be free. And that's why

(10:01):
what this group represents is every component of that, and
we now have a president who understands it and is
willing to do everything within his power to make sure
the United States continues to be the greatest country on
the face of the planet.

Speaker 9 (10:15):
It's another agnews update.

Speaker 13 (10:19):
I'm Russ Koher, a dairyman from Utah. Safety Know your limits.
Heatstroke is life threatening. Know the symptoms confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures,
high body temperature, hot dry skin, and profuse sweating. Reduce
your risk during the heat of the day by working
earlier or later. Allow time for water and rest breaks
by drinking two to four cups of water each hour.

Speaker 14 (10:42):
This public service message is brought to you by Farm
Bureau and the US AGG Centers.

Speaker 9 (10:48):
American Cattle News reopening the southern border with Mexico for
live feeder cattle good or bad? More after this.

Speaker 13 (11:00):
I'm Russ Kohler, a dairyman from Utah. Safety. Know your limits.
Heatstroke is life threatening. Know the symptoms confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures,
high body temperature, hot dry skin, and profuse sweating. Reduce
your risk during the heat of the day by working
earlier or later. Allow time for water and rest breaks
by drinking two to four cups of water each hour.

Speaker 14 (11:22):
This public service message is brought to you by Farm
Bureau and the US AGG Centers.

Speaker 9 (11:28):
The threat of New World screw worm has caused the
US to close the border with Mexico for feeder cattle.
That's recently reopened. Justin Douglass, Arizona, Robbie Kirkland is a
family feeder from Vega, Texas.

Speaker 15 (11:47):
Those cattle are used by you know farmers, backgrounders and
then feed lots, so all different sectors of the of
the you know, of the mar market, of the of
the beach chain. So this cattle will come across and
then like I said, a lot of them will be
fed you know, particularly in our region, I mean the

(12:09):
Texas Cattle feeder region Texas, Oklahoma and Mexico, and then
probably some up into maybe southern part of Kansas. But uh,
you know the majority of them would be fed in
in our region. And so those cattle would come in,
a lot of them will get We'll be put on pasture,
could be gone wheat pasture, could be summer grass pasture,
and then like I said, would go on into the

(12:31):
to the to the feed lots sector. And and that's
kind of how they're used.

Speaker 9 (12:36):
And why is this important to continue.

Speaker 15 (12:39):
Take a million head roughly out of the supply for
you know, shutting off the ports in and between Mexico
and the US. So that's put a really strain on
the numbers in the you know, in the feed lots,
on our grass, on our wheat pasture because of just
you know, just numbers. So that's made a huge impact.

(13:03):
And so in our region we would say that there
would be around fifteen percent of the cattle on feed
or in our possession would be cattle historically from.

Speaker 9 (13:15):
Mexico American Cattle News.

Speaker 1 (13:21):
This is Dairy Radio Now Melchie Monday.

Speaker 16 (13:25):
Lucas fees senior dairy analysts with rival Bank in Chicago. Lucas.

Speaker 1 (13:31):
World trade is so vital.

Speaker 16 (13:32):
To the US dairy industry these days, and President Trump's
tariff reshuffling has certainly impacted every aspect of it. Give
us a quick update and where things stand.

Speaker 17 (13:42):
The most recent news that we've gotten, Lee was just
last week we got the written agreement for the trade
deal between the United States and the European Union. This
is details in writing of the verbal agreement that we
saw last month, but it does mark progress on t
and the deal between the two regions of the world. Importantly,

(14:06):
I think it seems like a win for both sides.
There's not a lot of dairy that leaves the US
heading for Europe, but importantly, there is a significant amount
of high end cheese and butter that does come to
the US from Europe. This also impacts other things like
cars and pharmaceuticals, but it's good to see the writing

(14:26):
of that deal. I think also, just to touch on
this is maybe two weeks ago, but still very important.
The US China negotiations are now extended until November. Don't
forget that. In April and into May, we saw tariffs
of up to one hundred and forty five percent on
US imports of Chinese goods. This decimated our dry way

(14:50):
and permeate trade. We're down forty percent in April, down
seventy percent in May. But in June US exports up
thirty three percent to China after those tariffs were rolled back.
So very important there to watch that US and China
relationship of all.

Speaker 16 (15:09):
Well, speaking of China, the July dairy import data was
issued last week. What was your takeaway there?

Speaker 17 (15:15):
We saw some pretty significant weakness on both whole and
skin milk powder imports. However, on a year to date basis,
those products are mixed overall. But I think importantly when
we're focusing on again products that the US sends to China.
Looking at that way category, China's imports up seventeen percent

(15:36):
in July from the US up twenty two percent, and
I think that is product hitting China's ports that was
exported from the US in June, so that data aligning
pretty well with US export data. I think US exports
overall still a pretty impressive year, regardless of all of
the up and downs here and all the trade and

(15:58):
tariff talk. Cheese and butter again having a very very
good year, which is great for the industry.

Speaker 16 (16:05):
Thank you, Lucas Lucas Fees, senior dairy analysts with Rabble
Bank in Chicago. Here's dairy farmer Hank Wagner and his
daughter Laura with another simple miracle moment.

Speaker 18 (16:16):
Time is like a river in that it is always moving,
and after the water has already passed a point, it
cannot go back. Life is like that, it is always
moving and some moments are not able to be repeated.

Speaker 19 (16:28):
It may just be our kids first missing tooth or
first and last day of school every year. Wouldn't it
be nice to be able to freeze those special moments
to be able to relive them later.

Speaker 18 (16:36):
I love to take pictures. I have over thirty thousand
pictures on my hard drive and over fifteen thousand on
my phone. Those precious moments cannot be lived again, but
pictures can help you replay them over and over again.

Speaker 19 (16:48):
Pictures can bring back memories but also rekindle emotions. Pictures
can bring joy and laughter or help us heal after
losing a loved one. Miracles are attached to taking pictures.
If you carry a cell phone, you carry a camera,
take those pictures.

Speaker 20 (17:03):
That's Hank Wagner and Laura Rod's, author of the book
Simple Miracles for More Go to Become Better Leaders dot com.

Speaker 1 (17:10):
This is Dairy Radio now.

Speaker 20 (17:12):
While domestic milk production is expected up in twenty twenty
five and the following year according to USDA, so is
consumer demand as seen in forecast and exports World Agricultural
Outlook Board chair Mark Jekanowski.

Speaker 21 (17:26):
We still continue to see very strong export competitiveness for
US dairy products. A lot of strength in both butter
and cheese so fat basis exports, as well as non
fat dry milk and way so supporting those skim solid
basis exports.

Speaker 2 (17:43):
A slight rise in skim solid imports for both years
is also forecasted. Minimal changes were reported in the milk
product and class categories for this month. The result no
change in the twenty twenty five all milk price of
twenty two dollars per one hundredweight at a one quarter
rye in the twenty twenty six all milk price forecast

(18:03):
to twenty one dollars ninety cents per hundredweight. I'm Rod Bain,
reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington.

Speaker 10 (18:10):
D C.

Speaker 1 (18:12):
Dairy Radio.

Speaker 11 (18:13):
Now, the country of India is a big market for
the alman industry for.

Speaker 22 (18:25):
Health reasons alone. I'm Patrick Cavanaugh with a California Trina
report part of the vastagg Information Network. Elena Himbler is
the Associate Director of Nutrition Research at the Alma Border California,
overseeing the nutrition research program.

Speaker 23 (18:41):
Yeah, India is an incredibly important market for California almonds.
And of course, you know there's such a huge population
in India and a huge population of people with cardiovascular
disease and diabetes and pre diabetes, all conditions that really
we have a lot of research that almonds can be
very beneficial in helping. With so much potential in India currently,

(19:02):
almonds are very a very traditional part of the Indian
diet at the moment. In Aurveda, the traditional Indian medical
system they do call out almonds as being beneficial for
mental acuity. So a lot of people in India are
already eating almonds, already associate them with the health benefits,
but the portion size is quite low. You know, people
well in the morning will eat you know, four to

(19:24):
seven almonds typically, and really to get the health benefits,
we want people eating many more than that. We have
a lot of research in India looking at people with
pre diabetes and we show that almonds can have pretty
significant health impacts if they're eating around two servings a day.
So there's a really big opportunity here to really increase
almond consumption to have very significant public health benefits in India.

Speaker 24 (19:47):
Farm work is tough, and so is staying safe on 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,
be patient, don't pass on hills or curves. Farmers make
sure your slow moving vehicles, signs and lights are visible,
and everyone's sailor, especially on rule roads, one moment of

(20:10):
caution can save alife. Let's work together to keep our
roads and are firm safe. This message was brought to
you by the ag Information Network.

Speaker 25 (20:18):
For over forty years, the AGG 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 organizations, from major crops
like wheat and corn, to animal agriculture to specially crops
like apples, almonds, and cherries. We report on stories that

(20:40):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The Egg Information Network trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 22 (20:48):
With the ag Information Network, I'm Patrick Kavanaugh.

Speaker 2 (20:51):
Temporary cool down and much of the West in recent
days will soon conclude as.

Speaker 26 (20:57):
The heat is coming back this week and for many
areas of the West, it is going to be a
hot last several days of August here as we try
to finish out the month, and it does look like
a lot of areas outside of the monsoon circulation. Once
you get outside of the Great Basin and the central
and southern Rockies and parts of the Southwest, it's going
to be generally quite hot and dry.

Speaker 2 (21:17):
With USDA beurologist Brad Rippy say those conditions will intensify
the further north and west you go.

Speaker 26 (21:25):
Toward the Pacific Coast and into the Northwest, rather hot
and dry to finish.

Speaker 14 (21:28):
Out the month.

Speaker 2 (21:29):
Increased heat also increases concerns about wildfires in the region.

Speaker 26 (21:34):
Anytime you get lightning strikes or human activity, we can
get new fires burning, and it remains a concern in
some of the drier areas, particularly the northwest into California
as we finish out the month of August. Taking a
look at the National Weather Service two week outlook, and
this will finish up August, the last six days of
August and the first day of September. The pattern that

(21:55):
we see this week, with cold fronts making increasing progress
southward is going to continue as we move into the
second week of the outlook. We expect below normal temperatures
from the central and southern Great Plains eastward through the
mid South, the Midwest, the mid Atlantic, and the northeast. However,
we do expect some late summer heats across the Northwest
and the deep South, generally stretching from the southern Rockies

(22:17):
to South Georgia and Florida. In terms of precipitation, most
of the country expecting near or above normal precipitation. Greased
likelyhood of those wet conditions, and this is some good news,
will be in the Western United States, an area that
really needs the moisture. Also looking at wetter than normal
conditions along the Atlantic seaboard that could be related to
tropical activity, so stay tuned for any news on that. Meanwhile,

(22:39):
the only area expected to be drier than normal last
six days of August in the first day of September
will be the Western Gulf Coast region.

Speaker 2 (22:45):
I'm broad Bain, reporting for the US Department of Agriculture
in Washington, d C.

Speaker 6 (22:51):
Even on a time of high prices that US cattle
producers need to have the opportunity to add value to
their animals. Sarah Cover, the supply of the program manager
for the Greater Omaha Packing Plant, talks about the company's
Herford Affidavid program that launched in late February.

Speaker 27 (23:09):
We worked with the American Herford Association to build this
new Herford Affidavid super easy to implement from like a
sale barn perspective, they're customers that they're consigning. The commercial
cowcaff man gets an Affidavid either in pay per form
or a DOCU sign and then prove that their cattle
are fifty percent Herford genetics sired by a registered Herford animal,

(23:32):
and they can sell those with the Affidavid attached.

Speaker 6 (23:35):
She talks about the advantages of Herford producers.

Speaker 27 (23:39):
Our feedlocked customers they're supplying cattle to us love this
because then they don't have to go through the process
of potentially not hitting that fifty one percent requirement. They
automatically stamp Herford because we know they're breeding, and it
even helps with some issues on thirty months, So it's
putting quite a bit of money back into the feedbot's

(24:01):
pockets that maybe was guesswork before, but now it's guaranteed.

Speaker 6 (24:06):
The plant is running into issues identifying Herford animals because
of new genetics that add more pigment to the animals.

Speaker 27 (24:14):
When a feedbot is selling cattle to us, the packing plant,
we take a look at every single animal and determine
whether it can go into a Herford box by phenotype,
which is how they look and how they're faces. So
if it is not fifty one percent, stamp fifty one
percent white, which these new Herford genetics are throwing more pigmentation,
and that's why we're running into issues that these cattle

(24:35):
are truly sired by Herford bowles, but they're still not stamping.
So now if you get them an affidavit attached, then
they automatically stamp again.

Speaker 6 (24:45):
That is Sarah Kover with a greater Omaha packing plant.

Speaker 28 (24:54):
This is the Agricultural Law and Tax Report brought to
you by Helena agg Managency's and Nutrition with coron CETRA.
Visit Helena Agra dot com for more information. I'm Roger Mcowen.
Increased levels of atmospheric CO two enhances plant growth in
controlled environments like greenhouses. Farmers often elevate CO two levels
to boost crop yields. Studies have shown that higher CO

(25:15):
two levels can lead to faster growth rates, largerly using
greater fruit and seed production in many crops, and elevated
CO two can improve water use efficiency in plants. CO
two is an irreplaceable component of plant biology and a
natural ally of agriculture. Understanding its role helps underscore the
complex relationship between farming and the atmosphere, where both benefits

(25:35):
and challenges exist. Unfortunately, much of the present regulation of
CO two fails to account for its benefits to agriculture.
This has been the Agricultural Law and Tax Report. I'm
Roger Mcowen.

Speaker 29 (25:52):
It's time for California agg today on the ag Information Network,
I am Haley's ship. Solar farms have been a big
point of discossion here in California, and now there's some
fresh news out of Washington. US Secretary of Agriculture Brook
Rawlins has announced that the USDA will no longer use
taxpayer dollars to support large solar projects on productive farmland.

(26:16):
According to Rowlins, subsidized solar farms have been driving up
land costs and making farmland less available, something that's hitting
new and beginning farmers especially hard. The USDA is also
making it clear that panels manufactured by foreign adversaries won't
be allowed in USDA funded projects. The department points to

(26:39):
nationwide trends showing solar development on farmland has increased nearly
fifty percent since twenty twelve. Officials say the new rules
are about protecting food security, keeping America's best farmland in production,
and ensuring taxpayer dollars support American made products for California

(26:59):
farmers and ranch keeping an eye on the solar conversation.
It's a significant policy shift. According to Rollins, it has
been disheartening to see our beautiful farmland displaced by solar projects,
especially in rural areas that have strong agricultural heritage.

Speaker 25 (27:18):
For the last forty years, the EGG 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 AGG Information Network,

(27:39):
reaching coast to coast, deep roots and farming. In decades
of reporting, the AGG Information Network trusted and transparent journalism
for generations. The best place to reach a farmer with
a farming solution message is when they're well farming. It's
easy to find them during the day, as most farmers
are behind the wheel of their pickup truck or farm
equipment with the radio on, listening to this station for

(28:02):
the ag Information Network of the West News. So reach
real farmers right here, right now as they listen to
what's important to their farm operation. Give us a call
and we'll connect you with our local farming community. They
trust us, so they'll trust.

Speaker 29 (28:16):
You on the AG Information Network. I am Hatley's ship.

Speaker 1 (28:21):
Bob Quinn. Here are some farm News Today friends. Well,
there's no question that times are challenging for US farmers
and ranchers. Chad Smith has more on the economic challenges.

Speaker 4 (28:32):
Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that
inflation is slowing, though farmers and ranchers are still facing
many other economic challenges. Barren Nelson, and economists with the
American Farm Bureau Federation, says this economic squeeze has been
going on for several years.

Speaker 5 (28:50):
So if we look at USDA's recent price indexes for properducers,
the index for a price is paid for supplies, repairs, inputs,
things like that has been higher than the index for
prices received for our crops grown over the last five years,
and the gap for these prices received in prices paid
has grown particularly wider since twenty twenty three.

Speaker 4 (29:12):
Nelson says farmers are also trying to balance lower commodity
prices with rising interest rates.

Speaker 5 (29:18):
For many that means losses for three years in a row.
These losses have increased credit use in the industry, all
while indust rates have climbed. This results in a rising
amount of money being spent on interest.

Speaker 1 (29:30):
That service is debt.

Speaker 5 (29:31):
And it adds to the bleeding that's already being felt
from crop losses on our farmers balance sheets.

Speaker 1 (29:36):
He said.

Speaker 4 (29:36):
The Federal Reserve's Board of Governors will decide to either
lower interst rates or leave them higher for a little
longer during their September meeting.

Speaker 5 (29:46):
So on one hand, they have a decision to leave
rates where they are. This would keep inflation from increasing again,
but it would also continue to dig deeper into our
farmers pockets. On the other hand, if they would decrease
interest rates, this would make credit less expense and this
would kind of slow that interest to income ratio, but
it could risk inflation flaring up again.

Speaker 4 (30:06):
You can learn more on the market Intel page at
FB dot org. Chad Smith, Washington Well Friends.

Speaker 1 (30:13):
Washington continues to produce more apples than any other state,
but this year's crop forecast to be at or near
a record. As for the available apple varieties, John Devanny,
president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, says the
top of the list hasn't changed.

Speaker 16 (30:30):
Well.

Speaker 7 (30:30):
Gala continues to be the number one variety, forecasting to
be about eighteen percent of our state's apple crop.

Speaker 1 (30:37):
Next, Devanni says Granny Smith has been displaced at number two.

Speaker 7 (30:41):
What's interesting is that Honeycrisp continues to grow in volume
and it's quite popular, as a lot of folks know,
and it would be in the number two position this year,
forecast to be around fifteen percent of the.

Speaker 1 (30:53):
Crop, and for the first time, Devanny says, Cosmic Priss
makes the top five.

Speaker 7 (30:57):
It sure has. In fact, this year's about forecasts nine
point six percent, they're just short of ten percent of
the crop and breaks into the top five in varieties
forecast for the first time.

Speaker 1 (31:08):
It's also expected to continue growing.

Speaker 7 (31:10):
That variety is continuing to take off towards the stars,
as its name would suggest, and it reflects a lot
of the investment our growers have continued to make over
many years in developing new varieties and looking for novelties
and new taste experiences for consumers within the apple category
to make sure that we can meet the needs of

(31:31):
diverse customers.

Speaker 1 (31:32):
Gala the number one at eighteen percent of production, followed
by Honey Crisp but fifteen percent, moving ahead of both
Red Delicious and Granny Smith, which we're at fourteen point
seven percent. Well, friends, the question surrounding cattle, how much
higher will cattle prices go before the herd expansion gets rolling?

(31:53):
Lee Schultz, chief economists for Livestock with ever Dot Agg says,
cattle prices are not done climbing yet.

Speaker 30 (32:01):
Well, I think it's two fold. It's one is how
much higher can we push these prices? When you look
at fed cattle prices here the second quarter of twenty
twenty five or up twenty percent compared to the second
quarter of twenty twenty four, and we're looking for further
price appreciation in the third and fourth quarters. I mean
my forecast would have them up roughly twenty five percent.

(32:24):
That would give us about a two thirty seven per
hundredweight average on a live weight basis for the third quarter,
and just under that at probably about two thirty four
for the fourth quarter.

Speaker 1 (32:34):
What's ahead for next year?

Speaker 30 (32:36):
It looks like prices could be overall stronger, maybe up
about four percent. So this price escalation is still I
think in front of us some maybe not at the
speed that we've seen it so far, but realizing we're
likely to continue to push these prices higher, I'd say
it's similar for the calf and feeder cattle market where
we could see upwards a thirty percent increase here for

(32:59):
the next seven months as we even get into you know,
more supplies being available seasonally.

Speaker 1 (33:04):
Here, prices are as high as they've ever been. It's
also time for producers to be vigilant about managing risk
as the prices will come down.

Speaker 10 (33:14):
I like to.

Speaker 30 (33:14):
Remind producers, you know, this is the point of maximum
financial risk. Is when we are at these contract highs
and price heights, that's the important time to really look
at the risk from a placement standpoint or from where
these calf prices will be for coylecaff producers and realizing
that there's a lot of reasons to manage some of
that downward price risk.

Speaker 1 (33:36):
Lee Schultz ever, do AG with US FAR News. You're
listening to AAG life.

Speaker 31 (33:43):
From the NAG Information Network. This is your agribusiness update.
The US government has sued California to stop it from
enforcing stringent emission standards for heavy duty trucks that President
Trump recently declared void. In complaints filed last week in
two federal courts. The Justice Department said federal law preemps
the California Air Resources Board from enforcing various emissions rules

(34:03):
governing heavy duty trucks and engines. This comes after a
House committee learned they only allow vehicles that comply with
California's preempted standards. The USDA's World Egg Supply and Demand
Estimates reports The twenty twenty five twenty six US Corn
Outlook shows sharply higher supplies, greater domestic use and exports,
plus larger ending stocks. Corn production is forecast to sixteen

(34:24):
point seven billion bushels, with the yield of one hundred
and eighty eight point eight bushels per acre. With supplies
rising more than usage, ending stocks are up by four
hundred and fifty seven billion bushels. The season average corn
price received by producers dropped thirty cents to three ninety
a bushel. The US Trade Representative's Office launched a Section
three oh one investigation into Brazil for its unfair ethnol

(34:46):
trade practices. Groups like Growth Energy call on the agency
to take action on behalf of American ethnol producers who
face a competitive disadvantage bilaterally and globally due to Brazil's
discriminatory practices. Renewable Fuels Association President y If Cooper says
Brazil's imposition of tariffs without a duty free quota in
recent years has essentially closed the market.

Speaker 25 (35:06):
You've probably been told that to reach a millennial farmer
you have to go digital hmm, Facebook, Vimeo, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn,
and online publication or maybe a podcast hmm, but which one?

Speaker 16 (35:21):
Oh?

Speaker 25 (35:21):
And how receptive is this age group to your sales
pitch during non work social time. Maybe the best place
to reach a farmer with a farming solution message is
when they are well, quite frankly farming. You know, it's
easy for us to find them during the day, as
most farmers are behind the wheel of a pickup truck
or farm equipment with the radio on, listening to this

(35:44):
station for the ag Information Network of the West News.
If you'd like to deliver information about your terrific product
or service, give us a call and we'll connect you
directly with our community of loyal farmer listeners. Reach real
farmers right here, right eight now, as they listen to
what is important to their farm operation. They trust us.
They'll trust you.

Speaker 31 (36:07):
Get the equipment and trucks you need at Richie Brothers
Los Angeles Auction August twenty eighth and twenty ninth. This
absolute unreserved auction is open to the public and registration
is free. For more details, visit rbauction dot com.

Speaker 1 (36:21):
Bob Quinn back to wrap up AG life for today
friends talking about something called an agrahood. A new concept
in residential living is bringing consumers and farmers together right
in the Culdesak. Mike Davis has our final report.

Speaker 32 (36:38):
South Carolina AGG Commissioner Hugh Weathers recently visited one of
the developments that bridges the rural urban divide.

Speaker 33 (36:45):
Well, they have created what they call agrahood, so I
guess as farmers in the hood. They have a farm
and they have contracted with a couple out of Florida
to come and manage. I think they're up in four
or five acres these Well that's not that big, but
they also have a farm store, so they're not only growing,

(37:08):
they're processing llot right there on the property.

Speaker 32 (37:13):
Weather says the idea is proving to be quite popular
with the residents.

Speaker 33 (37:18):
Those folks who pay like a homeowner's assessment, they have
the option to pay just a premium on their homeowner's fees,
have access to all of this extra amenity and the
developers that had a great conversation with them. They compared
it to having a high end golf course available to

(37:43):
a development in terms of popularity.

Speaker 32 (37:46):
Agrohoods are beginning to pop up nationwide and helping to
show consumers firsthand where their food comes from.

Speaker 33 (37:53):
These urban areas are blending in an amenity centered around
agri culture. The home moments participate in that just like
I saw. You know. The point is it's just one
more way to connect farming and the people who consume it.

(38:13):
And just really happy to see these developments, and we
want to encourage others and provide information where we can,
but these types of things to.

Speaker 32 (38:23):
Occur, Weather says, the challenge to all of us is
how to leverage that respect for and interest in farming
to inspire people to fight for our industry.

Speaker 1 (38:35):
I'm Mike Davis with that. Friends, out of time for today,
thanks for joining us. Back tomorrow morning with another edition
of Bag Life