August 5, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Valley. This is Iglife. My name is Bob Quinn,
and I'm with you for the next hour talking about
agricultural production here in the valley and all across the country.
Starting off today with a look at the July Cattle
Inventory Report with.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Rod Bain, The Agriculture Department provided not one but two
perspectives on cattle and calves at feed lots in July.
Along with the monthly Cattle on Feed Report, USDA also
issued a semi annual Cattle Report in July, which also
offered insight into feed lot activity. USDA Livestock analyst Michael

(00:32):
McConnell displays both the similarities and differences of these two offerings.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
The Cattle Report, which is a survey that encompasses basically
all feed lots. The report estimated there's about thirteen million
even head of cattle and feed lots. That compares to
thirteen point one million head of cattle in twenty twenty three,
so about one percent less than two years ago. By comparison,
the Cattle on Feeder Report, which also came out that
survey is just relatively larger feed lots.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
So, in other words, while the annual July Cattle report
provides a comprehensive look at number of cattleid feed lots
for beef production. The monthly CATTLEOG Feed Report looks at
feed lots with over one thousand head of cattle and
regarding the numbers for the July edition of Cattle on Feed.

Speaker 3 (01:12):
As of July first, that report estimated that we have
eleven point one million head of cattle, which is about
two percent less than what we had this time last year.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
As for the wise behind, the fewer ahead of cattal
on feed lots a lot is due.

Speaker 3 (01:24):
To the fact that we had relatively slower placements during
the month of June, as feeder cattle outside the feed
lots right now are getting relatively tight and pretty expensive
for feedlots to replace, and that combined with the fact
that we're at a relatively low point in our cattle cycle,
So just overall, we're looking at relatively tight supplies of
cattle both outside the feedlock coming in for placement as
well as inside the feed lot being marketed for beef production.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
May Cattle provides a further breakdown of the cattle like
calves on feed numbers as of July first.

Speaker 3 (01:51):
During the month of June one point four million head
of cattle were placed into feed lots, which is eight
percent lower than a year ago, and one point seven
million account were marketed from those fee lots, was about
four percent lower than last year.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
Rob Bain reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington,
d C.

Speaker 1 (02:09):
Well, coming up, friends, a look at the latest USDA
Honeybee survey. You're listening to ag Life, Bob Quen. Here
were some farm news this morning, friends. Well, The American
Farm Bureau Federation submitted its policy recommendations to the Make
America Healthy Again Commission. Chad Smith tells US Farm Bureau's
focused on four major areas.

Speaker 4 (02:32):
To make our children Healthy Again. Strategy will be released
by the MAHA Commission on August twelfth. Brian Glenn, director
of Government Affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said
his organization submitted its policy recommendations centering around improving farmers'
ability to meet the needs of a healthy America.

Speaker 5 (02:52):
The cheap, affordable, nutritious food on Americans table. Farmers need
the tools to protect crops and promote sustainability, so our
recommendations really focus on four big buckets, including advancing American innovation,
smart regulatory reform measures to support farmers and ranchers, public
investments in agricultural research, and support for access to effective

(03:13):
pesticide tools.

Speaker 4 (03:14):
He said, America's farmers and the MAHA Commissions share the
same goal of a healthy America, and that's why farmers
need to engage on the issue.

Speaker 5 (03:22):
Farmers and ranchers rely on technology and innovative tools to
provide a safe, abundant, and affordable food supply. It is
important that the Commission listened to farmers and ranchers to
ensure the Commission's recommendations and the strategies they come out
with are grounded in science and informed by farmer and
rancher experiences.

Speaker 4 (03:40):
The Farm Bureau recommendations can directly and positively improve the
American farmer's ability to meet the needs of a healthy America.

Speaker 5 (03:49):
Access to safe and effective tools and technologies, regulatory reform
policy to better support farmers and ranchers in delivering nutritious food,
and investment in agricultural research to fuel innovation is vital
to supporting the important work of farmers and ranchers on
delivering safe and nutritious food every day.

Speaker 4 (04:08):
Chad Smith, Washington, Well frands.

Speaker 1 (04:10):
Fire departments in many parts of rural America are feeling
some stress. Wisconsin is one state that faces serious challenges
to its ability to respond to emergencies. The Wisconsin Office
of Rural Health release the report showing some of the
biggest challenges rural fire departments face.

Speaker 6 (04:28):
What we found was that just under half of the
departments lack the personnel to make a fire response that
involves four people in an engine. So the way that's
being dealt with is that most of the departments are
using mutual aid to fill that gap. And as there's
less and less volunteers available in about eighty percent of
our fire departments from Wisconsin, our staff by volunteers or

(04:50):
near volunteers are paid a small amount to be part
of the department. It's put a pretty significant strain on
the emergency response infrastructure.

Speaker 1 (04:59):
He said. Sixty two percent of departments are worried about
enough firefighters and the cost of equipment.

Speaker 6 (05:05):
It used to be you could buy a new fire
engine for four hundred thousand dollars, maybe up to five
hundred let's say, like ten years ago. That same vehicle
today is pushing a million dollars or more, and then
on top of that, getting the people in place to
staff those apparatus is yet another challenge. I think what
we've seen with our communities is that a lot of

(05:26):
people work outside the communities that they live in. Where
a few decades ago there was manufacturers and things like
that all over the place that we're in the communities
and allowed people to leave and go to fires and
stuff like that. But when that person's working half an
hour or an hour outside the community, that's not realistic anymore.

Speaker 1 (05:42):
As many as eighty five percent of rural fire departments
in Wisconsin operate entirely with volunteers. Well, friends, what are
some of the trends associated with usdas and you will
look at honeybee colonies in the US. Rod Main has
a story a.

Speaker 2 (05:57):
Breakdown of US honeybee colony so far in twenty twenty
five from USDA's National Agricultural Statistic Service.

Speaker 7 (06:06):
January first, we had two point six three million honeybee
colonies here in the US. That was down one percent
from a year earlier. But by April first of this year,
that number was up to two point nine to nine
million colonies, and that's actually up six percent from that
same timeframe. A year earlier.

Speaker 2 (06:24):
Lad's Hoding of USDAS says, the counts are not focused
on honeybee operations, but on colonies themselves.

Speaker 7 (06:32):
Even though we're losing normally ten percent of our colonies
on an ongoing basis, we're adding them back.

Speaker 8 (06:38):
You've also got to take care of the colonies you've got,
and so we did publish some numbers on those renovated
colonies as well, and so, in other words, they're doing
some work there to revitalize things.

Speaker 2 (06:49):
Rod Bain, reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington,
d C.

Speaker 1 (06:54):
Farm US. This morning, you're listening to AAG life.

Speaker 9 (06:56):
It's another agnews update. The lower clothes across the board
were road crops Friday. More after this.

Speaker 10 (07:06):
Hey there the sober Hello, Hello, huh.

Speaker 11 (07:09):
Hey, y'all, Hey la Hi.

Speaker 12 (07:13):
It takes a lot of voices to create the sound
of us. The Why welcomes all of them with open arms,
from career readiness to safe spaces. The Why is there
no matter who we are. Now more than ever, they
need your support, support.

Speaker 9 (07:29):
Your local Why Today The Why or better.

Speaker 10 (07:32):
Us read by members of the Why.

Speaker 9 (07:35):
Oliver's Slope with blue line futures.

Speaker 13 (07:38):
At the close December corn futures down one and three
quarter cents, settling at four nineteen for the week.

Speaker 10 (07:44):
That was eight and three quarter cents lower.

Speaker 13 (07:46):
New crop November soy being slid three and a quarter
cents on Friday, settling at ten twenty one, extending losses
for the week to fourteen cents. Lastly, September Chicago week
futures down three and a quarter cents to five thirty
and a quarter. That was seven cents on the week.
On the bright spot, there were three separate flash sales
this morning from the USCA, two of those for corn

(08:06):
and then one for soybeans. The first corn sale was
for one hundred and three thousand metric tons that was
four delivery to Mexico, and then the other one hundred
and forty thousand metric.

Speaker 10 (08:14):
Tons for delivery to South Korea.

Speaker 13 (08:16):
And then on the soybeans side, the flash sale of
one hundred and forty two thousand metric tons.

Speaker 10 (08:20):
It was four delivery to Mexico.

Speaker 13 (08:23):
Hotter temperatures across much of the corn belt are expected
to work their way further south next week, with near
normal temperatures across the Midwest back and the forecasts and
Precipitation forecasts looked near normal as well. The weekly drought monitor,
when compared to where we started the month, does show
some improvement throughout the corn belt, most notably in parts
of Iowa and Nebraska. However, there are still some isolated

(08:45):
stress pockets in Indiana and Illinois.

Speaker 9 (08:48):
It's another agnews update.

Speaker 10 (08:51):
Before I started working as a soil scientist, before.

Speaker 4 (08:54):
I became assistance engineer, before I got started in aerospace, how.

Speaker 10 (08:59):
Was a kid making discoveries? I did my first live experiment,
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Speaker 14 (09:08):
H one million new ideas. Learn more and see how
you can help at four h h dot Org.

Speaker 9 (09:21):
American Cattle News Some surprises for USDA and their cattle
on feed report More after this.

Speaker 15 (09:30):
Hey there the super Hello, Hello, huh, hey, y'all, hey,
or la Hi.

Speaker 12 (09:37):
It takes a lot of voices to create the sound
of us. The Why welcomes all of them with open arms,
from career readiness to safe spaces. The Why is there
no matter who we are. Now more than ever, they
need your support, support your local why today. The Why
for better.

Speaker 9 (09:56):
Us read by members of the Why did markets in
the week last week oliver slope is with blue line.

Speaker 16 (10:05):
Futures features were lower on Thursday, but gained some ground
back and Friday's trade ahead of the Cattle on Feed
report at the closed October live cattle futures a dollar
higher to two twenty three fifteen for the week. That
was three dollars and thirty two cents higher and marked
the fifth weekly gain in a row. September feter cattle
they edged out August futures in terms of trade volume.

(10:28):
September futures two dollars and fifty five cents higher on Friday,
settling at.

Speaker 10 (10:32):
Three thirty two to twenty.

Speaker 13 (10:33):
That was eight dollars higher on the week, and then
over on the snout side it was more mixed. Front
month August futures fifty cents higher, while the next three
contract months saw minor losses.

Speaker 10 (10:44):
This afternoon's Cattle on Feed report that showed on.

Speaker 13 (10:46):
Feed at ninety eight point four percent That was below
the lower end of the expectations, placements at ninety two
point one percent, also below the lower end of expectations,
and marketings ninety five point six percent.

Speaker 10 (10:58):
You guessed it below the low end of expectations.

Speaker 13 (11:02):
This morning's wholesale box fee for bort was Softer Choy
Scott sixty three cents lower to three sixty seven forty
six and Slack hut to dollar thirty nine lower to
three forty five sixty one. The five very average price
for live sears was reported at two thirty one eighty
eight on Thursday. Volume has been really light throughout much
of the week. Thursday afternoons slaughter was reported at one

(11:23):
hundred and seventeen thousand head, which put the week today
total at four hundred and forty eight thousand. That's about
thirty five thousand less than the same period last year.

Speaker 9 (11:31):
Oliver Slope, Blue Line Futures, Cash cattle last week in
the South two thirty up to two thirty two, two
forty to two forty two in the North, three eighty dress.
American Cattle News.

Speaker 1 (11:45):
This is Dairy Radio Now with Bill Baker.

Speaker 17 (11:51):
On our Producer Tuesday is sponsored by the Professional Dairy Producers.
Today's guest is Brian Brown of ever Egg, who grew
up on a family farm and realized the opportunity for
innovative technology as it relates to calf care. Brian chers
his insights from a recent PDP dairy signal.

Speaker 18 (12:07):
The mother of innovation is technology, and we actually are
looking at saving baby calves and their mothers with this technology.
Our whole goal is to try to reduce steel bursts,
reduce dystocia leading to exits in the first sixty days,
and we're able to have solutions that do that via

(12:27):
software and looking at what are the big problems in
the transition stage for the dairy cow and their offspring.
So definitely dystocia something that is usually happening when the
cow is pushing for too long and things get swollen.
The calf can't come out naturally. And if that cow

(12:47):
is damaged anyway, she's not going to breed back. She's
going to have a lot of transition health problems, and
of course that that calf is going to have a
much rougher time coming in and staying into this world.
So the current rates of dustotia being up to eleven
percent and still burst up to ten definitely have a

(13:07):
room for improvement. From one to two weeks out from calving.

Speaker 10 (13:11):
This is the.

Speaker 18 (13:12):
Spot where you have either full time or some part
time staff watching these animals looking for those signs of calving.
The problem is that each person has their own subjective
point of view on when is this cow actually going
to calv when should I move her, etc. So what
we're looking at is installing computer vision technology inside the

(13:36):
closeup pen and not just monitoring a cow in a
point of time, but actually tracking her specifically and tracking
her history. We don't want to just say this cow
looks like she might be caving now, we want to
watch for the long term, which is something that humans
can't do. You can't create a trend analysis of that

(13:59):
cow when you see here for one or ten seconds
raising their tail. For ten minutes, we track that if
they go from showing calving symptoms, moving across to a
different camera and showing calving symptoms again, we still persist that.
So we're able to aggregate that and actually create an
index for calving. So this was probably one of the

(14:19):
hardest parts of development, something that I don't think has
ever been done before, especially in dairy, being able to
look at the movements of each individual cow, look at
the ideas of the animal, and then also track other
activities that happen in that pen and what those cows
are doing. Anything that gives us clues as to how

(14:42):
imminent calving is and we create an index from that
and we send an alert allowing the employees to make
accurately timed movements. Why we focused on the maternity area specifically.
We do have another system that covers the whole freestall
barn for the milking pens, but the maternity area is
a significantly smaller footprint, so it's a smaller investment to

(15:05):
get going, even though the opportunity in this area is huge.
This is not going to replace labor, and you're still
going to need somebody to move the cow, but this
definitely can reallocate that labor to be working on other
things and not constantly have to run back to go
through that pen stir up the cows for no reason

(15:27):
unless there's an action to take. And with this subjective
symptom detection when cows are moved will be much more accurate.
And then leading back to the ROI, which is quantifiable
less still bursts, less dustotia, less exits in the first
sixty days. Like that, that's what we're signing up to
deliver for these farms.

Speaker 17 (15:46):
That's Brian Brown of ever Egg from a recent PDP
Dairy signal that you can hear in its entirety for
free simply by going to pdpw dot org. While farm
internet use remains steady over a two year period, how
growers use the Internet to have changed. According to a
USDA survey Lantonik with a National Agricultural Statistics Service, eighty.

Speaker 7 (16:06):
Five percent of farms this year reported that they have
Internet access. Fifty percent reported that they actually purchase inputs
for their operation on the web. That's up eighteen percentage
points from what they reported back in twenty twenty three.
So even though overall access hasn't necessarily changed, what they're
doing is certainly moving forward.

Speaker 1 (16:27):
I'm Bill Baker, Dairy Radio.

Speaker 19 (16:29):
Now almond pasteurization is required for North American product, but
not for export. I'm Patrick Kavanaugh with the California Trina Report,
part of the vastag Information Network. Tim Birmingham is the
director of Quality Assurance and Industry Services for the Almond
Border California. We asked them about that perceived gap of

(16:52):
food safety for Almand's shipped export.

Speaker 20 (16:55):
You would think that, but if you remember back in
two thousand and seven when the rule was launched, there
was a serious pushback from the European market, which is
a major market against pastorization, and the reason being is
because most of the product in Europe is further manufactured
including a pasturization step. So they really wanted to take
that responsibility upon themselves and so we recognize that and

(17:15):
that is why, you know, the program really only applies
to the North American market. However, we do want to
make it very clear that that product that is being
shifted that is non pasteurized, it does have the potential
for contamination with all kinds of microorganisms. It's a raw
agricultural commodity. And so what we recommend is that customers,
you know, in addition to the mandatory labeling requirements stating unpasteurized,

(17:36):
that they also discussed with their customer the need for
that customer to really take on that burden for the
pastorization for their particular application, and that's very important. We
still have, you know, a little bit of a disconnect
with some of the buyers around the world that are
asking for cva's for pathogen free product a Salmonella civa
for instance.

Speaker 11 (17:54):
That's Tom Birmingham with the Almond Board. 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 AGG Information Network, reaching coast

(18:16):
to coast, deep roots and farming. In decades of reporting,
the AGG Information Network trusted and transparent journalism for generations.

Speaker 14 (18:25):
Farm work is tough, and so is staying safe on road.

Speaker 15 (18:27):
Every year, accidents happen when tractors and traffic share the
same space, whether you're behind the wheel of a tractor
or a car.

Speaker 14 (18:34):
Here's what you need to remember.

Speaker 15 (18:35):
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's sailor, especially on rule roads. One moment
a caution can save alif let's work together to keep
our roads and are farm safe. This message was brought
to you by the AG Information Network.

Speaker 19 (18:54):
With the AG Information Network, I'm Patrick Cavanaugh.

Speaker 2 (18:58):
Plant germplasm and it comes to survival of people on
our planet. It rinks right up there with resources such
as air, water, sunlight as essential a critical resource to
protect the.

Speaker 21 (19:10):
Source of material. If something came through and wiped out
a crop, this is how we're safeguarding to bring it back.

Speaker 2 (19:18):
Eric Galerdo is one of several curators of USDA germ
plasm collections across the country, designed not only to protect
the genetic diversity of plant species, but as colleagu Rebecca
Populis explains, a big part of.

Speaker 22 (19:31):
The mission or the germ plasm collections its to not
just maintain the health of the collection, but to actually
distribute it so it gets used.

Speaker 2 (19:37):
As new varieties of foods and products of consumer interest
become available through cross breeding efforts. I broad Bay coming
up the importance of plant genetic and seed baits in
this edition of Agriculture USA. Assuring our nation and the
world protects plant genetic diversity for the food fibrin feed

(19:58):
crops we produce and inter sure food security domestically and internationally.
That is the primary focus of a network of USDA
Agricultural Research Service ged banks.

Speaker 23 (20:10):
We are part of the National plan germ Plasm System
which is part of the Agricultural Research Service, and we
maintained the world largest collection of crop genetic Resources.

Speaker 2 (20:19):
Seventeen repository facilities across the country. According to Zach Stancil,
he is one of the genetic collection curators within USDA's
Plant Resources Genetic Unit in Upstate New York, a collection
featuring diverse offerings for apples, grapes, vegetables, and the newest
crop within the National Plant Germplasm System, the Genetic Material Collection.

(20:40):
Stancil overseas hemp.

Speaker 23 (20:42):
Right now, we have five hundred and twenty two unique
varieties of hemp collected from about forty different countries. It
has almost an uncountable number of uses.

Speaker 2 (20:53):
Yet, as Stancel notes, as hemp was once a historic
fiber crop in the nation prior to becoming a league
for several decades, genetic material and research associated with it
is well several decades behind other crops. Plant Resource Genetic
Unit colleague Rebecca Pavelis curates the Vegetable Germplasm Collection, noted

(21:13):
for the largest.

Speaker 22 (21:14):
Collection of NATO germplasm in the world on site that's
well over six thousand different types of tomatoes.

Speaker 2 (21:20):
Part of Plant Genebank's role in agricultural diversity is not
just as a seed or plant repository, but in many
ways a historical agricultural repository as well Begudieri's oversees the
Apple Genetic Collection at PRGU. He calls it a beloved
collection by those who utilize materials for research and development

(21:40):
of new crop varieties and those who appreciate the family tree,
so to speak, of apples.

Speaker 24 (21:46):
Because of air efforts to go and collect germplasm, we
kind of were able to piece together the story of
apple coming out of Asia through cloning and grafting. Some
of the cultivars that we have have been around since
the Roman period. So we have the Lady Apple, which
can trace back its lineage thousand plus years, or the
Roxbury Russet, which is truly one of the first American
apples that were developed here.

Speaker 2 (22:05):
The excitement about genetic research and development of new varieties
of various crops is one found across the board. Aaron
Galerno says the ars grape collection she curates has a nickname,
one provided by geneticis at shared facilities at Cornell University
a candy store.

Speaker 21 (22:21):
It is a place that they get to go shopping
for new flavors for resistance against various diseases. If they're
looking for something with more color or specific type of color.
They walk through my collection and find what they want.

Speaker 2 (22:33):
The excitement in several instances carries over to consumers, whether
they are enjoying, say, cotton candy flavored grapes, or, as
Ben Gudieris points out in the case of apples, the
love and loyalty of multiple popular varieties.

Speaker 24 (22:47):
One thing that really excites and resonates consumers is the
aspect of novelty. The red flesh apples are becoming a
popular thing. Typically, the apple pigments are just on the skin,
and some apples produce a lot of pigments in the
flesh the you bide into it. This is kind of
novel surprise, but actually those bread pigments have a nutritional
value as an antioxidant for human consumption.

Speaker 2 (23:06):
A big part of efforts by g bank curators like
Rebecca Pavlus is documenting and distributing germ plasms, whether native,
wild or hybrid, for research or commercial purposes, and that
is where the ARS Germ Plasm Resources Information Network comes in.

Speaker 22 (23:22):
A database that has an online portal Drink Global. Anyone
can go to this website and take a look at
our complete balogue of what plants and varieties we have
on hand, and this is also where breeders can go
to actually order the material.

Speaker 2 (23:36):
This has been Agriculture USA, a broad bane reporting for
the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, d C.

Speaker 25 (23:45):
It's time for California agg today on the ag Information Network.
I am Hailey's ship just out from the office of
US Senator Adam Schiff. At the end of last week,
some strong words for the USDA about a a move
that's not sitting well with folks in California agriculture. In
a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Shift questioned why the USDA's

(24:06):
new plan to relocate staff around the country doesn't include
a single hub in California. He pointed out that the
nearest new office is in Salt Lake City, over five
hundred miles from the Central Valley, and asked why the
top agg producing state in the nation was left out.
According to Schiff's office, this isn't the first time California

(24:26):
has been passed over. He pointed to canceled conservation grants,
disaster raid that's been tough to access, and even the
planned closure of an Agriculture Research Service office in the state.
USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden's of the decision came down
to cost of living and that more disaster raid could
still be coming, but Shiff made it clear California farmers

(24:47):
deserve more than promises. They deserve real access to resources
and support. Absolutely a high tension ongoing story here. For
more on Shift's reaction, as well as more on that
Senate hearing, you can head on over to our website
aginfo dot net.

Speaker 14 (25:03):
Attention all growers.

Speaker 25 (25:05):
Have your packouts been reduced due to damage caused by
heat stress or sunburn? This is Cultiva. We are the
manufacturer of Parka. Parka is a plant based foliar product
with a unique MOA that helps plants resist and recover
from heat stress. Parka reduces heat stress and sunburn by
reducing the development of oxidative compounds and stressed crops. It

(25:25):
allows the plant to continue photosynthetic activity, which ultimately means
your crops continue to perform during times 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

(25:46):
on fruit or equipment, making it easy to incorporate into
spray programs. The heat is coming. Is your crop ready
to handle the stress? Give us a call it eight
eight eight six three eight nineteen fifty five or visit
Cultiva dot org. This is California AGG today on the
AG Information Network. I am Haley Ship. For more agnews,
check us out online at AGG info dot net.

Speaker 15 (26:09):
Bo.

Speaker 1 (26:09):
I'm going back with some farm news this morning. Friends. Well,
an invasive plant has reappeared in the southeastern part of
the US and farmers are warned to be on the lookout.
Mike Davis has our story this morning.

Speaker 26 (26:22):
Tropical spider wort is a troublesome weed for cotton, peanuts,
and other crops. It competes for water and nutrients, and
its sprawling, dense growth can smother fields. North Carolina AGG
Commissioner Steve Troxler says it's been confirmed again in eastern
North Carolina.

Speaker 27 (26:39):
Well, we had topical spinal ward discovered on a cotton
field in Craven County, and so we've got to be
able to outlook for this very trouble some amount of
gressive invasion. Weave in the field. We've had experience with
it in Spotmans before, but we certainly want to get
this stamped out before we just was spread.

Speaker 26 (27:01):
Truxla says, it's not clear how the spider wort got there.

Speaker 27 (27:05):
This thing poses a threat to over twenty important crops,
including soybeans and cotton, and we had no clue how
the weed got to this field, but we know it
can spread through flood waters or migratory birds, or sometimes
contaminated equipment and vehicles that are removed from infected areas.

Speaker 26 (27:29):
The weed can be tricky to identify.

Speaker 27 (27:31):
It looks kind of like several native day flower species,
so it makes it hard to ida, but you look
for red hairs on the leaf sheet and the leaf
sheet the leaves are less than twice as long as
they are wide, and it has a more egg sheep

(27:52):
with a rounded edge. And a common look alike is
asiatic dayflower, which is a tapered beef twice as long
and is wise with a point at the mule leaders.

Speaker 26 (28:05):
If you suspect you have tropical spider war in your fields,
Troxler advised is to contact your local extension agent right away.
I'm Mike Davis.

Speaker 1 (28:15):
Next to look at global beef demand. We have a
report from the US Meat Export Federation.

Speaker 28 (28:21):
Tariffs and other trade issues were top of mind for
cattle producers and other beef industry leaders attending the Cattle
Industry Summer Business Beating in San Diego. US Meat Export
Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom said, despite an uncertain
trade environment, producers remain upbeat about robust global demand for
US beef.

Speaker 29 (28:38):
Here in San Diego is I think a very upbeat tone, obviously,
with producer profits being a really good sign compared to
a few years ago. Another thing that was talked about
quite a bit this week was demand, global demand, but
not only global US demand as well. We have the
opportunity to present to the International Marketing Committee here and
this is one of the main points that we continue

(28:59):
to strive and relay to them that the demand around
the world is growing, but it's not just the established markets,
it's emerging markets like a Central American region, for example.

Speaker 28 (29:10):
Aaron Bohr, us MEF Vice President for Economic Analysis address
the current trade impaths with China and other key policy
issues with the International Trade Committee.

Speaker 30 (29:18):
It was a great opportunity for US to be able
to spend a little more time with the producers to
help them understand the complicated nature of the China market
and what we've been through since February, essentially in the
evolving access situation, and most importantly, to explain the value
of that China market for the entire beef industry, and

(29:40):
explaining how US beef was the big winner in the
Phase one agreement with China, and the fact that China
adds additional value to every animal we produce when we
have that market, because not only are they buying two
billion dollars worth of US beef, but they're competing for
every asia item that we produce off that animal, so

(30:01):
that supports those prices. And the fact that we really
need China to again abide by that Phase one agreement
and be able to return to one hundred and fifty
to one hundred and sixty five dollars per head that
China does add to our industry.

Speaker 28 (30:16):
For more, please visit usmef dot org for the Usbeat
Export Federation.

Speaker 10 (30:20):
I'm John Harrith, Well friends.

Speaker 1 (30:22):
For the first time in more than two decades, Australia
will accept shipments of fresh and frozen US beef Kent Bacchus,
Executive director of Government Affairs with the National Cattleman's Beef Association,
says this is a big win. Quoting him, now, there's
been really no scientific justification to keep us out. This
is just a lot of protection in these regulatory burdens

(30:43):
we've had to overcome. Baca says, Australia isn't likely to
be a huge export market for US beef, but it's
really about opportunities in other countries. Quoting him again, the
fact is we are going to continue to be very
competitive against the Australians in those markets. While the US
hasn't exported beef to Australia since the trade agreement between

(31:04):
the two countries was implemented in two thousand and five,
Australia has sold more than twenty eight point seven billion
dollars worth of its beef though into the US Farm News.
This morning, you're listening to ag Life.

Speaker 31 (31:18):
The AAG Information Network. This is your agribusiness update. Mid July,
temperatures in California Central Valley were kind to peaches used
for canning as farmers harvested their early varieties. Growers were
projected to supply around two hundred and twenty four thousand
tons of cling peaches to canneries this year, down slightly
from last year, but the California Canned Peach Association reported

(31:39):
early yields were down roughly twelve percent from initial estimates.
Last summer's extreme heat and an unusual winter and spring
bloom pattern may have hurt some production. A series of
new trade deals between the US and other countries around
the world will directly benefit America's farmers and ranchers. Groups
like the American Farm Bureau support the agreements, noting strong
and enduring agreements helped connect US farmers and ranchers with

(32:01):
global markets. US Grains Council President Ryan Lagrant says these
deals promised to build upon long established trade partnerships worth
more than one billion dollars in the twenty twenty three
twenty four marketing year. Four Senators introduce the Bipartisan Dairy
Pride Act of twenty twenty five. The legislation's goal is
to crack down on the unfair practice of mislabeling non

(32:21):
dairy products with dairy names. The practice, like calling imitation
products milk or yogurt that are actually from a plant, nut,
or grain, hurts dairy farmers who ensure their products meet
health standards and causes consumer confusion about the nutritional value
of dairy versus imitation products.

Speaker 14 (32:38):
Farm Work is tough, and so is staying safe on
a road.

Speaker 15 (32:41):
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's sailor, especially on rule roads. One moment
of caution can save a life. Let's work together to

(33:02):
keep our roads and our farm safe. This message was
brought to you by the ag Information Network.

Speaker 11 (33:07):
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

(33:28):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The Egg Information Network trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 4 (33:36):
From the Egg Information Network, I'm Bob Larson with today's
agribusiness update.

Speaker 1 (33:41):
Bob went back to wrap up baglife for today friends.
While turning your harvest into help for the hungry. Chad
Smith has that story.

Speaker 4 (33:47):
Midwest Food Bank invites farmers to join the farm at
Forward program and turn their harvest into help for hungry
neighbors in rural America. Food insecurity is rising in rural
areas due to distance, economic strain, and access. In many
small towns, families struggle to access basic groceries. Farm It
Forward lets farmers use their grain to meet this growing need.

(34:09):
Eric Hodle, CEO of Midwest Food Bank, talks about how
it works.

Speaker 32 (34:14):
Farm It Forward is a program that we have available
for local farmers to donate grain and allow the proceeds
of that donated grain to be given to Midwest Food Bank.
And so there's four easy steps to that program. The
farmer will inform the elevator the number of bushels that
they want to donate to Midwest Food Bank, and then
step number two is they provide the MFB address and

(34:36):
information to the elevator. The third step is then the
elevator will process the cell of the grain and make
out a check to Midwest Food Bank and they'll mail
the proceeds correctly to Midwest Food Bank. And then the
last step is a donor acknowledgement will be sent from
Midwest Food Bank back to the individual to thank them
for their donation.

Speaker 4 (34:56):
It's a program designed to combat food insecurity in rural America,
which has grown in recent years.

Speaker 10 (35:02):
It has food and security.

Speaker 32 (35:04):
It does not select a zip code or a demographic
and even when you think about just the economic robustness
of rural America, it can be pretty difficult in terms
of employment, high earning jobs. Just the income for a
family in rural America typically is maybe a little bit
more strained, and so food and security definitely exists as

(35:26):
well as just then access to food. You know, when
you think about rural America, the ability to get to
a grocery store or to get to a city and
to be able to purchase food, you really have to
kind of optimize that trip.

Speaker 4 (35:38):
Midwest Food Bank provides a lot of food to small
town pantries across rural America.

Speaker 32 (35:43):
That's where Midwest Food Bank, by providing food to our
food pantries is a great support because many of these
small towns and cities do have a food pantry that
allows somebody to be able to go. It could be
at a church, it could be at just a community building.
But Midwest Food Bank provides a variety of nutritious food
to those pantries that allows the individuals that are food

(36:04):
and secure to come and select those items.

Speaker 4 (36:06):
Farmers who'd like to help supply money for food through
a charitable grain donation can check out their website.

Speaker 32 (36:12):
The best place to go is our website, which would
be Midwest Foodbank dot org. And if you go to
Midwest Foodbank dot org you can find the charitable Grain
program and that has a very simple four step process
to follow. And we would just again be grateful for
any producer of grain, and it could be any commodity.
The elevators have the means of selling it, so it

(36:33):
could be corn and soybeans, it could be wheat or milow.
It's a great fit for farmers because they are feeding
the world, but in addition to providing food for the world,
it's an opportunity for them to provide food for those
that can't afford to purchase food.

Speaker 29 (36:49):
Again.

Speaker 4 (36:49):
That's Eric Hodle of Midwest Food Bank. Chad Smith reporting

Speaker 1 (36:53):
With that friends, rut of time for today, Thanks for
joining us back tomorrow morning with another edition, A Bad
Life