December 19. 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Valley. This is aglife. My name is Bob Quinn.
With you for the next hour, we're talking about agricultural
production here in the valley and all across the country. Well, friends,
what has been some of the results to date of
a recent USDA led agricultural trade mission to Mexico. Well
Rod Bain picks up the story for US this morning.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Mexico in twenty twenty four was our nation's largest trade
partner Fitigli. Agriculture Secretary Brook Rawlins recently led a delegation
to Mexico and what is considered the US largest ag
trade mission to date.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
We had with forty one US businesses, thirty three agg
cooperator group, six state departments of agriculture, one hundred and
fifty total participants who participated in over five hundred business
to business matchmaking meetings.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
That's under Secretary for Trade and FORID Agricultural Affairs, Luke Lidberg,
part of the delegation. He notes business so far originating
from the Mexico omission.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
We are already projecting from that mission forty eight million
dollars worth of twelve month sales, which is huge, and
we expect that number.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
To grow even more.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Total USAG exports sales to Mexico last year totaled thirty
billion with a B dollars.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
Which accounted for about seventeen percent of our overall agricultural exports.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
The breakdown based on twenty twenty four sales include nearly
fifty percent of US AG exports to Mexico consisting of
consumer oriented products think meat and meat products, dairy, processed food, fruits,
and vegetables. Bulk commodities last year were valued at ten
billion dollars, including cord, soybeads, wheat, rice, and pulses. The

(01:48):
Undersecretary says, regarding efforts like the recent Mexico AGG Trade mission.

Speaker 3 (01:53):
Our agribusiness trade missions are one aspect of our trade
promotion programs that help build by higher stellar relationships and
put our commodities and our great AGG products into markets
all around the world.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
With a key aspect of that relationship and trade building beating.

Speaker 3 (02:09):
Folks faith to phase, engaging with them and finding those
good partnerships is critically important, and that's where USDA plays
an outsize role.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Rod Bain, reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, d.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
C Well Friends coming up a recap on agriculture this
past year. That's ahead. Also, we'll take a look at
wheait X sports coming out of the US as the
pace has picked up significantly. That's ahead on today's edition
of Aglife. Bob Quinn with some farm news this morning friends.

(02:43):
Well it's twenty twenty five draws to a close. Chad
Smith has a look back on some of the key
moments for US agriculture.

Speaker 4 (02:51):
This past year included many challenges for US agriculture and
the organizations that work to influence positive policy for farmers
and ranchers. Jiby Young, the executive vice president of the
American Farm Bureau Federation, said, despite the challenges, there were
still some big wins for US agriculture.

Speaker 5 (03:10):
The first I think of as the One Big Beautiful
Bill Act and the tax provisions that were in that.
The One Big Beautiful Bill also had about eighty percent
of the Farm Bill programs covered in that legislation. We
had the Adverse Effect Wage rate update, the Waters of
the US Rule we saw just a couple of weeks ago.
This proposed by the administration to bring in that certainty

(03:31):
and clarity to the Clean Water Act.

Speaker 4 (03:33):
AFBF expects to have a lot on its plate in
twenty twenty six with many of the policy priorities set
during the upcoming and youual convention.

Speaker 5 (03:42):
The first thing that I'm thinking about is the fact
that we have more work to do on that bridge
payment program. They recognized that more assistances needed to work
on finding a legislative vehicle to pass that other twenty
percent of the farm bill. Another project we're working on
right here is year round E fifteen.

Speaker 4 (03:59):
Young said he is grateful to witness firsthand the power
of farmers and ranchers using a unified voice to advocate
for their communities.

Speaker 5 (04:08):
Everybody's going through tough times, and yet these Farm Bureau
members and leaders across the country do such a great
job of telling their story and bringing those issues forward
and making sure that policymakers know what's needed out here
and how we're going to continue succeed in agriculture.

Speaker 4 (04:22):
Chad Smith, Washington.

Speaker 1 (04:24):
Well friends, calves are the future generations of any farm.
Doctor Bethany Dato sen a dairy caff and hefer technical
specialist for Vita Plus, so that it's always more of
a challenge caring for calves during the winter months.

Speaker 6 (04:38):
So what we want to do in the winter is
add as much energy in as we possibly can and
reduce the energy that's coming back out. And there's lots
of different ways to do this. I like to talk
about energy out first because this tends to be a
little more economical. Right, we don't have to put our
dollars and cents into putting more energy in. We could
just reduce the amount that she's sending back out. So

(05:00):
this looks like really practical things like making sure that
she has ample dry bedding. I tend to recommend straw
bedding for that because it's the most insulative. We recommend
a nesting score of three with that, so especially for newborns,
that means that they're sitting inside that straw and you
can't see their feet and legs.

Speaker 1 (05:18):
Calf jackets are a good option for keeping those little
calves as warm as possible.

Speaker 6 (05:24):
Another avenue of this is calf jackets. You probably hear
a lot about calf jackets this time of year as well. Really,
any of the jackets out on the market are doing
a pretty great job of insulating that calf and again
reducing that energy that's going out.

Speaker 1 (05:37):
Proper ventilation is another thing to consider.

Speaker 6 (05:41):
If you are housing in a calf barn, it's really
tempting to just close that barn up tight right to
reduce that energy out, But we also have to balance
that with air quality. We want to target about four
to six air changes per hour in our calf barns
this time of year to make sure that we're not
generating a lot of ammonia or moisture that leads to
respiratory disease. So it's kind of a balancing act of

(06:03):
making sure our curtains are working properly and that we're
using something like positive pressure to ventilation in order to
reduce the drafts but still keep presh air in.

Speaker 1 (06:12):
Doctor Bethany Dato Sin with Vita Plus with US looking
at exports now, US is exporting wheat at a fast
pace late this year. Laurie Boyer has more on what's
happening in wheat.

Speaker 7 (06:24):
As the US wheat market remains comfortable with current supply levels.
Crossroads co Op regional manager Brian Eiri says a lack
of export demand continues to limit any upside movement.

Speaker 8 (06:35):
Wheat is a very interesting commodity. Right at the moment,
our exports have been just extraordinary. I don't want to
say we're going at a breakneck pace, but we're exporting
wheat at a pace where the USDA probably needs to
add one hundred million to exports at some point down
the line. Here, our crop is in pretty good shape,
the one that was planted this fall.

Speaker 7 (06:55):
Iri explains most US wheat states are in good shape
when it comes to moisture. Global supplying demand pressures continue
to weigh in on the market.

Speaker 8 (07:03):
I think global implications are we're keeping a cap on
the wheat market. Australia's crop has gotten bigger, Argentina's crop
is in very good shape, and the Russian crop was
bigger than anticipated. So I think we're seeing a little
bit of pressure on wheat from foreign countries, but we
really can't complain about the export pace and usage here

(07:25):
in the US. I think we just have a lot
of wheat stocks that we've got to get work through
and that's keeping US capped on the wheat side.

Speaker 7 (07:32):
Here for the moment, Ryan Irie with crossloads co op.

Speaker 1 (07:35):
Ri Boyer reporting for US Farm US This morning, you're
listening to WAG Life.

Speaker 9 (07:40):
It's another AG news update. Ethanol output hitting the new record,
farm credit Titans, Christmas tree growers facing impoort pressure. More
after this, you're going to need neat.

Speaker 10 (07:52):
You're going to need us, all of us.

Speaker 11 (07:55):
You're going to need our help with your water, your air,
your food.

Speaker 12 (08:00):
You're going to need our determination, our compassion.

Speaker 11 (08:04):
You're going to need the next generation of leaders to
face the challenges.

Speaker 13 (08:07):
The future will breed.

Speaker 11 (08:09):
And we promise we'll be there when you need us.
Today forage is growing, the next generation of leaders support
us at fourage dot.

Speaker 9 (08:19):
Org us ethanol production setting a new weekly record as
plants reached one point one to three million barrels per
day to close November, even while gasoline demand slid to
a twenty six week low and domestic blending sloth. Stocks
rose modestly. Exports jump nearly forty percent, highlighting strong international

(08:44):
interest heading into winter. At the same time, Kansas City
federal reserves as farm credit conditions tightened again in the
third quarter, with lower crop margins eroding working capital, increasing
loan renewals, and pushing capital spending to its lowest pace
since early twenty twenty. Those steady land values do continue

(09:08):
to provide stability and especialty crops. US Christmas tree growers
contending with a long production cycle, rising labor and pest pressures,
and the rapid expansion of imported artificial trees, largely sourced
from China. Exporters facing rising ocean freight rates. Last quarter,

(09:32):
green shipping costs from the Gulf and Pacific Northwest climbed
seven to seventeen percent. It's another ag news update.

Speaker 14 (09:41):
Here's farmer and landowner John True.

Speaker 15 (09:44):
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, so we
didn't call to get it located. The work on our
property led to the damage of a light crude pipe platte.
Fortunately no one was hurt, but it could have been.

Speaker 14 (10:01):
Never assume the location or depth of underground lines. Always
call eight one to one or visit clickbefore youdig dot
com before you start work. A message from the pipeline
operators for egg Safety campaign American Cattle News. What's the
importance of vitamin A for cattle? We'll find out after this.

Speaker 1 (10:22):
You're going to need.

Speaker 4 (10:23):
Need You're going to need us, all of us.

Speaker 11 (10:27):
You're going to need our help with your water your air,
your food.

Speaker 2 (10:32):
You're going to need our determination, our compassion.

Speaker 11 (10:36):
You're going to need the next generation of leaders to
face the challenges the future will break, and we promise
we'll be there when you need us Today. Four H
is growing the next generation of leaders. Support us at
fourah dot org.

Speaker 9 (10:53):
Kansas State Beef System specialist Emma Briggs So.

Speaker 13 (10:57):
A matters a lot, especially in the reproductive cow heard right, So,
vitamin A plays an essential role for a vision, immune function,
reproductive success, as well as just overall growth and metabolism,
especially for cattle that are pregnant, lactating, or just throwing

(11:18):
young cattle in general. Vitamin A is mostly found in
green forges, and so we're talking green less pastures. That's
an excellent source. Lots of beta carotene in plants that
cattle can convert to vitamin A. Cattle can also convert
beta caroteen into vitamin A naturally, and during the pasture

(11:39):
season when we really see a lot of green growth
in those pastures, cattle can typically assue we can assume
that there's a meeting about three to five times the
requirement of vitamin A and they can typically store it
for about four months or so worth of vitamin A
in the liver, which can help them get through the
winter slump when we don't have a lot of available

(12:01):
greenforge for those cowss. There's always toxicity levels with everything. However,
in my personal experience, I have not seen an issue
where we're actually having vitamin A toxicity, especially for cows
that are out on pasture. We're mostly concerned about the deficiency.

Speaker 9 (12:20):
Side, and even blindness.

Speaker 13 (12:22):
So cows just have a hard trouble seeing. However, that
is a severe, severe deficiency. We are not seeing those
quite too often because cow has got to be dangerously
low for a really long time in order to get
to that point. But they can cause vision issues and
just not being able to see properly.

Speaker 9 (12:42):
American Cattle News.

Speaker 1 (12:48):
This is Dairy Radio. Now it's time for.

Speaker 16 (12:51):
Our Feet for on Friday with doctor Mike Hutchins, Professor
Emeritis from the University of Illinois.

Speaker 1 (12:56):
Hello, Mike, Welcome.

Speaker 17 (12:57):
To today's feed form and our topic is going to
be discussion on short corn for corn size production. This
disappeared in the August issue of the Journalidairy Science, and
this is research done by Michigan State Group. What do
you mean by short corn. Basically, these are new hybrids
that have a mutation that has a shorter stature. In
other words, there's less a distance between the internotes of

(13:20):
the cornstock. It's interest on this it would be number one,
greater standability, but still maintain corn heels. But if you're
making corn silence, the question is what effects would that
have on the amount and the quality of the corn silage.
And that's what Michigan State looked at. They took forty
Holstein cows and they were in middle actation here and
they looked at three different short novel hybrids, compare that

(13:44):
to a normal tall corn silage, and then brown mid
or BMR. It was a Latin square design for sixty
three days, and they looked at the combinations of these
five different types of corn products in Michigan. Besides being
a shorter internode area, so it tends to have a
more erect leaves and therefore has a shorter plant height.
Here are the results bill that are kind of interesting.

(14:06):
First of all, starch levels are actually up about one
percent in the short corn silage, primarily because obviously a
more concentration of the starch itself with the less plant material,
and that starch levels ran right around a twenty five
percent for the control ones and a twenty six percent
in the novel corn short corn side as well, and

(14:28):
because of the increase in starch, not surprisingly bill the
NDF levels went down about one percent as well. There
was no difference in dry matter intake. These couns average
about fifty seven pounds of dry matter intake all five
of the corn silages being fed. The novel corn silas
is produced about one and a half to four and
a half pounds more milk varied from one hybrid to

(14:49):
the other Compared to the tall corn silage and the BMR,
milk production in these mid location counts averaged about seventy
one and a half pounds of milk. The butterfat test
was slightly higher in the tall corn silages at four
point four to three percent. The shorter corn sidges we
had four point three zero, probably again reflecting at more
of a starch load in these cows as well. The

(15:12):
taller corn interestingly and BMR has had higher NDF digestibilities
compared to the shorter corn silages, but the short corn
siages had higher starts digestibility went fed to these cows
no differences in terms of protein, digestibility, terms of yield.
It was pretty interesting. Two of the shorter stature corn
siages had very similar dry matter yields per acre under

(15:33):
those conditions there in Michigan compared to the tall corn
side there was no differences and feed efficiency went fed
to these dairy cows. So the takeoll message here would
be that short stature corn may be a useful highbrid
to look at here in the future, but it's not
via mode. Some of our listeners know that several of
the companies that produce brown midrip corn is no longer

(15:54):
produce it here in the near future. Standability could be
a real plus here in the future, But in state
people caution that this is just one study done under
different environmental conditions could be different. It was conducted in
the areas in the United States. Well, that completes the
program for today. Thanks, Hey, I have a great day.

Speaker 16 (16:11):
Thanks Mike. That's doctor my Cutchinz, Professor emeritus from the
University of Illinois, featured every Friday here on our feed
for on Friday on Dairy Radio. Now, what were some
of the notable news items from USDA's December Look at
Milk production, trade and prices. USDA Radio's Rod Baine got
up with a World Agricultural Outlook board chair.

Speaker 2 (16:30):
Due to a potential leveling out of cow inventories.

Speaker 18 (16:33):
Didn't make any change to our twenty twenty five milk
production forecasts, and for twenty twenty six we pulled our
milk production forecast back by about one hundred million pounds
modest reduction.

Speaker 2 (16:44):
USDA World Agricultural Outlook board Chair Mark jack Adowski says
that the suber Milk Outlook includes a trade forecast focused
on butter.

Speaker 18 (16:52):
US butter supplies are high, prices relatively low under some pressure,
so that is going to encourage US exports about it
and discourage imports.

Speaker 2 (17:02):
With strog supplies at most dairy categories. Cheese prices were
recorded lower both years.

Speaker 18 (17:08):
The one area in terms of dairy products that is
showing some strength, including some price strength, is I weigh
and other dry products, reflecting relatively strong protein demand in
the US AD.

Speaker 2 (17:19):
The all built price forecast at lower for twenty twenty
five and twenty six from the previous month of broad
bad reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, d.

Speaker 16 (17:29):
C Affordability is the keyword right now, consumers wondering if
they can afford to live and eat, and dairy farmers
whether they can afford to stay in business. High ground Dairies.
Kara Murphy will talk about it with Lee Milky on Monday.
I'm Bill Baker, Dairy Radio.

Speaker 19 (17:45):
Nown Protecting tree crops from damaging nematodes. I'm Patrick Cavanaugh
with the California Tree Nut Report. Rob Kiss does a
customer business advisor with Bearcrops Science, and he said vellum
is very efficacious on tree crops.

Speaker 20 (18:03):
You can apply it through the sprinklers. We have a
new two double E Spray it on the ground and
incorporate it with water two. So talk to your bear
rep to make sure that you get the right application methods.

Speaker 19 (18:12):
The nematodes are immobilized with contact or ingestion of the vellum.

Speaker 20 (18:16):
There is a very extensive nematode list that this is
effective on, and it's effective on virtually all nematodes found
in almonds, including Patrick the ring nematode, which is all
over the place.

Speaker 19 (18:27):
Kiss says it's very easy to use. You can put
it on through the micro or drip and.

Speaker 20 (18:32):
Like indicated, we have a new two double E registration
where you could spray it or band it on and
then incorporate it with micros or sprinklers or anyway with water.
It's really simple to put on. You basically irrigate your soil,
get the root zone, wet, apply the vellum and then
clear the system out. Get it into the root zone
and it'll do its thing.

Speaker 19 (18:50):
Kiss said, right now, this time of year, it's spring,
the best time to apply vellum.

Speaker 20 (18:55):
When the soil temperatures warm up and the root starter grow.
Guess what else pops up?

Speaker 19 (18:59):
Yatodes and that happens in the springtime.

Speaker 20 (19:02):
Man, that's the best time to get this on.

Speaker 19 (19:04):
That was Rob Kiss. He's a customer business advisor with
Bearcrops Science, and he recommended that growers contact their pest
control advisors find out how to use vellum this spring.

Speaker 21 (19:14):
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 19 (19:30):
Oh?

Speaker 21 (19:30):
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 station

(19:54):
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 now as they listen to what is important to
their farm operation. They trust us, They'll trust you with

(20:16):
the AG Information Network. I'm Patrick Cavanaugh, Welcome to AG Life.
I'm Dwayne Murley with your farm News.

Speaker 2 (20:24):
Public comments are being accepted through January twenty seventh. Thought
a final rule designed to expand producer access to crop
insurance and other risk protections USDA Risk Batch but Agency
Administrator Pats Watson says the focus of the Expanding Access
to Risk Protection Final Rule herp.

Speaker 22 (20:43):
Is to reduce burden some regulations and burden some paperwork
for our farmers, just to help make the program more
accessible for our farmers and easier for our agents to
deliver the programs.

Speaker 2 (20:56):
Among those aspects of IRP scheduled to take effect begin
to give the two twenty six crop year improve land
access through preventative planting relief, streamline production reporting to crop
insurance agents, simplification of dispute resolution processes, and placing policy
dates like end of insurance policy provisions to create greater

(21:18):
flexibilities all the county level.

Speaker 23 (21:20):
In our current regulation, we had it in there that
there was three requirements in order for this physical piece
of land to be considered and qualified to receive the
prevented planting payment, that had to be planted, harvested, and insured.
And what we were finding was that the insured piece
was really difficult to find the answered and so it

(21:42):
was becoming really burdensome for our farmers to find that
piece of information. So we decided just to remove that
word from the rule. So now farmers just have to
prove that the land had been planted and harvested, which
I think is a much easier thing. Once in the
last four years. We still want to do the same
year reporting, but if the farmer's moving to a different

(22:02):
insurance provider, it's not required now for them to go
back to their previous agent to make that production report.
One of the things that was happening is if they
changed agents and stayed within the same insurance provider, it
was pretty easy for the insurance provider to help the
agent with that transition. But if it was moving agents
and moving to a different insurance provider, a different company,

(22:24):
then it made it more difficult. And what was happening
is the penalty for the producer to not get that
production reported with that old agent. With the previous agent
was they would get an assigned production. So what we
did is we removed that burden because really the farmer
sho be penalized if the previous agent wasn't providing that

(22:45):
information and keying it into the systems. All the dates
that are involved in like termination dates and cancelation dates
and end of insurance dates, we're just removing those from
the federal regulations so that they're more nimble, so we
can make changes as we've seen necessary without having to
make this into a final rule. We can do it
now much easier, and it just makes it more nimble

(23:08):
for the program to be able to see, oh, there's
an issue here with maybe the termination date, which creates
a billing date or a time when a farmer has
to pay by and so this is just going to
make that easier for us to move those dates outside
of a final rule, which is only done twice a year.

Speaker 2 (23:25):
USDA's the Seberworld Cord Outlook focuses not so much on
South America according to World Agricultural Outlook Board chair Mark Jackatowski.

Speaker 18 (23:34):
But main changes to the data this month for mainly
truing up to harvest results in the Northern Hemisphere, so
these are crops that were just harvested.

Speaker 2 (23:43):
So while Canada, former Soviet Union States and Ukraine report
lower cord production from the prior month, increases are noted
for the European Union and Russia debt result a three
point three million ton reduction at Bunth over month global
cord production the Southern Hemisphere so was highlighted in the
World Cord Ballance Sheet.

Speaker 18 (24:02):
As Argentina's corn exports have really been underperforming relative to
our earlier expectations despite the elimination of export taxes, so
on the back year twenty twenty four to twenty twenty five,
we reduced their export forecast by two million tons in
terms of the US Ballance Sheet, particularly for the new

(24:24):
crop year for the current crop year crop that was
just recently harvested. We are seeing really strong export demand
for US corn showing up very clearly in the data.
So we raised our corn export forecast by one hundred
and twenty five million bushels, so now it sits at
a record large three point two billion bushels, up from

(24:45):
last year's record of just under two point nine billion bushels.
So we're doing a really good job of exporting US
corn and that is showing up clearly in the balance sheet.
And this year, with the increase in exports we made
this month, that reduces ending by the same amount by
one hundred and twenty five million bushels. We didn't make
any change to our season average price forecast for US

(25:07):
core and it remains at four dollars pro bushal, and
that would be down twenty four cents probushal from last year.

Speaker 2 (25:13):
I'm Rod Bain, reporting for the US Department of Agriculture
in Washington, d C.

Speaker 19 (25:19):
Thanks for being with us.

Speaker 2 (25:20):
You're listening to AG Live. If I'm Dwayne Merley.

Speaker 24 (25:24):
It's time for California Egg today on the AG Information Network.
I am Hailey's ship. Well as we get ready to
kick off the new year, the California Department of Fish
and Wildlife is seeing a change at the helm. Director
Chuck Bonham will be stepping down from his role as
he prepares for a new chapter. The Nature Conservancy has
announced that Bonham has been selected as executive director of

(25:47):
its California Chapter, a position he will assume on January
twenty sixth. Now he'll bakeate his role at CDFW prior
to taking that new position. Bonham was first appointed director
of CDFW by then Governor Jerry Brown in twenty eleven,
and it is the longest serving director in the agency's history.
Overseeing a wide range of wildlife and natural resource issues

(26:11):
across the state, Bonhom's tenure wasn't always sunshine and roses,
at least as the California Cattleman's Association tells it in
a recent newsletter. The association says that Bonhom's time at
CDFW included overseeing the state's response to the return of
gray wolves to California, which CCA says has coincided with

(26:32):
increasing wolf livestock conflicts. The association also highlights Bonhom's oversight
of efforts to restrict the permitted take of Mountain lions
and other predator species. We'll keep you informed as this
leadership transition at CDFW unfolds.

Speaker 10 (26:50):
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(27:11):
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Speaker 21 (27:19):
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 organizations, from major crops
like wheat and corn, to animal agriculture to specially crops
like apples, almonds, and cherries. We report on stories that

(27:41):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The Egg Information Network trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 24 (27:50):
With California agg Today on the ag Information Network, I
am Hailey's ship.

Speaker 1 (27:55):
Bob Quinn with some farm news This morning, Friends, well,
it's twenty twenty five draws to a close. Those Chad
Smith has a look back on some of the key
moments for US agriculture.

Speaker 4 (28:05):
This past year included many challenges for US agriculture and
the organizations that work to influence positive policy for farmers
and ranchers. Jiby Young, the executive vice president of the
American Farm Bureau Federation, said, despite the challenges, there were
still some big wins for US agriculture.

Speaker 5 (28:25):
The first I think of as the One Big Beautiful
Bill Act and the tax provisions that were in that.
The One Big Beautiful Bill also had about eighty percent
of the Farm Bill programs covered in that legislation. We
had the adverse Effect wage right update, the Waters of
the US Rule. We saw just a couple of weeks
ago this proposed by the administration to bring in that
certainty and clarity to the Clean Water Act.

Speaker 4 (28:48):
AFBF expects to have a lot on its plate in
twenty twenty six with many of the policy priorities set
during the upcoming annual convention.

Speaker 5 (28:57):
The first thing that I'm thinking about is the fact
that we have more work to do on that bridge
payment program. They recognize that more assistance is needed to
work on finding a legislative vehicle to pass that other
twenty percent of the farm built. Another project we're working
on right here is year round E fifteen.

Speaker 4 (29:14):
Young said he is grateful to witness firsthand the power
of farmers and ranchers using a unified voice to advocate
for their communities.

Speaker 5 (29:23):
Everybody's going through tough times, and yet these farm ber
members and leaders across the country are do such a
great job of telling their story and bringing those issues
forward and making sure that policymakers know what's needed out
here and how we're going to continue succeed in agriculture.

Speaker 4 (29:37):
Chad Smith, Washington.

Speaker 1 (29:39):
Well friends calves are the future generations of any farm.
Doctor Bethany Dato sen, a dairy caff and heffer technical
specialist for Vita Plus, said it's always more of a
challenge caring for calves during the winter months.

Speaker 6 (29:53):
So what we want to do in the winter is
add as much energy in as we possibly can and
reduce the energy that's coming back out. And there's lots
of different ways to do this. I like to talk
about energy out first because this tends to be a
little more economical. Right, We don't have to put our
dollars and cents into putting more energy in. We could
just reduce the amount that she's sending back out. So

(30:15):
this looks like really practical things like making sure that
she has ample dry bedding. I tend to recommend straw
bedding for that because it's the most insulative. We recommend
a nesting score of three with that, So, especially for newborns,
that means that they're sitting inside that straw and you
can't see their feet and legs.

Speaker 1 (30:33):
Calf jackets are a good option for keeping those little
calves as warm as possible.

Speaker 6 (30:38):
Another avenue of this is calf jackets. You probably hear
a lot about calf jackets this time of year as well. Really,
any of the jackets out on the market are doing
a pretty great job of insulating that calf and again
reducing that energy that's going out.

Speaker 1 (30:52):
Proper ventilation is another thing to consider.

Speaker 6 (30:55):
If you are housing in a calf barn. It's really
tempting to just close that barn up tight right to
reduce that energy out, But we also have to balance
that with air quality. They want to target about four
to six air changes per hour in our caf barns.
This time of year to make sure that we're not
generating a lot of ammonia or moisture that leads to
respiratory disease. So it's kind of a balancing act of

(31:17):
making sure our curtains are working properly and that we're
using something like positive pressure to ventilation in order to
reduce the drafts but still keep presh air in.

Speaker 1 (31:26):
Doctor Bethany Dato sin with Vita Plus with us well friends.
Cotton growers are beginning to turn their attention to next
year and what varieties to plant, just as several choices
are being released. Mike Davis has our story.

Speaker 25 (31:40):
Deltapon product manager Eric Best just announce the class of
twenty twenty six varieties at their annual New Product Devaluators
Summit in Hollywood, Florida, including three specifically for Texas. He says,
DP twenty six forty four is especially suited for the
southern high planes from Lubbock South.

Speaker 26 (32:01):
One of the things that we noticed with that one
early on in some earlier sea production out in Arizona
was the amount of heat tolerance and the stress tolerance
it had, and we felt it warranted to look an
NPE in West Texas that can be somewhat of a
harsher environment at times, and this year it really showed
out those growers that still have water or are able
to water in higher amounts, those higher input type acres.

(32:24):
It seems to perform very well in that environment as well.

Speaker 25 (32:27):
DP twenty six thirty five is suited for Central Texas
as well as the southeastern US.

Speaker 26 (32:34):
This one is resistant to bacterial blot and does have
an excellent fiber package. Also seems to be something that
maturity range that growers like in a true mid so
depending on the year, depending on in the Eastern Seaboard,
when they're trying to get things out maybe before hurricanes
or name storms or those type things from a harvestability perspective,

(32:54):
and then you know, even on some of those tough
acres in the bottoms and the black lands in Central
Texas going to travel very well. We're excited to see
this one in the lineup as well and receive very
very positive feedback from the growers. I'm bringing this one forward.

Speaker 25 (33:07):
Another variety with bacterial blight resistance is DP twenty six eighteen,
targeted for Central and southern Texas.

Speaker 26 (33:15):
It does have very good strength of terminal and a
lot of times you then go prolonged periods there as well,
So it helps them build that plant to withstand maybe
some of those tougher environments. But with that, we're also
making sure that we watch it and manage it with PGRs. Accordingly,
this one can get very very strong under very high
yield top environments. PGRs are inexpensive. Let's make sure we

(33:37):
keep this one managed on the front end. And I
think it's going to reward us in those geographies of
Central and South Texas up and down that coastal band.

Speaker 1 (33:44):
I'm Mike Davis farm News this morning. You are listening
to WAG Life.

Speaker 27 (33:50):
From the Bag Information Network. I'm Bob Lurson with your
agribusiness update.

Speaker 9 (33:54):
Well.

Speaker 27 (33:54):
AC Secretary Brook Rowland send a letter to Governor Gavin
Newsom demanding California band and a proposal that redistributes agricultural
land based on race, ethnicity, and national origin. This comes
as a draft proposal is considered that facilitates land transfers
and financial assistance exclusively to certain minorities. Rowins rights hardworking
agricultural producers all deserve a shot at the American dream

(34:16):
and should not be shut out because of their race, ethnicity,
or national origin. American farmers reacted to the USDA's new
twelve billion dollar aid package with cautious relief, saying the
funds may help some producers but won't offset major financial
strains facing the industry. The payments, a one time bridge
program aimed at helping farmers manage high input costs and
market disruptions, are designed to provide temporary relief as producers

(34:39):
prepare for planting season. Farm Leaders continue to urge policy
makers to pursue long term market solutions alongside emergency support,
and US dairy markets are seeing major softening and domestic prices,
even as dairy output in some export categories swell. Butter
prices drop nearly a dollar a pound compared to a
year ago. Cheddar cheese and other block cheese prices declined

(35:02):
forty to fifty cents. These shifts reflect both abundant domestic
supply and weaker demand for standard dairy products. USX sports
of value added dairy like certain cheeses and butter, surged
from the Egg Information Network. Increasing your almond yield can
seem like a tough nut to crack, but it doesn't
have to be. Protect your crop with Maravon Funge' sided

(35:25):
bloom for added resiliency against frost, long lasting, broad spectrum
disease control, and proven yield results. See that wasn't tough
at all. Maravon funge a side number one in bloom
for all the right reasons. Always read and follow label directions.

Speaker 28 (35:46):
Today we're talking with aphids and white flies about sophena
insecticide from BASF.

Speaker 10 (35:50):
We just get nailed with it.

Speaker 28 (35:52):
So tell us how you feeling really really weird.

Speaker 10 (35:56):
And you still want to devour this field? No, oh, way, way, bro.
There you have it, folks.

Speaker 28 (36:02):
Safena insecticide is specifically engineered to disorient aphis and wie
flies so they can't eat, and when they can't eat,
they can't destroy.

Speaker 12 (36:10):
He'll protect your alfalfa from aphids with saphena insecticide. Always
read and follow label directions from the Egg Information Network.
I'm Bob Larson with today's agrabusiness update.

Speaker 1 (36:20):
Bob Quin here are some farm news this morning. Friends.
Growers need to be prepared for whatever the season brings
next year. Kad Smith wraps us up cool.

Speaker 4 (36:28):
Wet winters in the Midwest and drier conditions in the
South are in the forecast for twenty twenty six. This
means soybean growers need to be prepared for disease, stress,
or whatever the season brings. Brian Norton, an agronomy service
representative with Syngenta, explains why growers need a seed treatment

(36:49):
they can trust to take their yield to the next
level no matter the conditions.

Speaker 29 (36:53):
As Saltrup delivers upgraded sudden death syndrome protection, strong nematode activity,
and suppression of crown route. It does that with Magna
Safe technology, which actually boosts root and shoot mass.

Speaker 4 (37:06):
Norton says Saltro delivers enhanced crop establishment and plant health
benefits through Magna Safe technology, and this means Saltro helps
soybeans emerge stronger and recover from stress faster.

Speaker 29 (37:19):
So a bigger root system leads to more area for
more nitrogen production. Magasafe technology helps soybeans recover faster from
early tough season conditions. A lot of times we think
about that as being soyborne pass but it might be
weather conditions in some cases can actually include our aggressive
herbicide program. Magna Safe technology promotes bigger roots and shoots,

(37:39):
supporting that stand health and early season vigor, which is
needed then to lead into quicker canopy. Closer healthier start
means beans are better equipped to handle stress and keep growing.

Speaker 4 (37:49):
Strong growers see as synergistic benefit when they apply Saltro
followed by Tendovo herbicide, which helps soybeans grow faster and
stronger both below and above ground.

Speaker 29 (38:01):
Starting with Saltro and following with Tindovo is a winning combination,
a one to two punch against pests so to speak.
Saltro protecting against soil borne pests maximizing its root health
of the swading plant and Tindovo protecting against early season
leaves yet doing it safely to the plant needs. Get
a healthy, protected start, supporting stronger stands, faster candidy closure

(38:21):
and better yield potential and fields. Starting with Saltro followed
by Tindovo, we've seen up to thirty four thousand more
plants per acre than our competition, promoting stronger overall stands
that close the row faster for shading effect. Cruiser maax
Apex plus Saltro followed by Tindovo delivered three point seven
bust with yield advantage over our competitive offerings.

Speaker 4 (38:43):
Again, that's Brian Norton of Syngenta. Learn more at whysaltro
dot com. Always read and follow label instructions. Chad Smith reporting.

Speaker 1 (38:54):
With that Friends, out of time for today, thanks for
joining us. Back Monday morning with another edition of Bag
Life