July 10, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Valley. This is Iglife. My name is Bob Quinn,
with you for the next hour talking about agricultural production
here in the valley in all across the country. We
start off with a look at the hog numbers with Rod.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Bain more hogs and pigs inventory as of June first.
That's the indication per USDA's latest quarterly Hogs and Pigs
Report USDA Livestock ls Michael mccattell starts by breaking down
the numbers.

Speaker 3 (00:26):
There was seventy five point one four million hogs and
inventory as of June first. That's just slightly more than
last year, less than one percent. For breeding purposes, there
is five point ninety eight million hogsdal slowly from last
year's six point h one.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
As for the us pig crop, for the tide frame
of March through May.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
There was two point nine to one million farlings, which
is about slightly less than last year. However, that was
more than offset by a fish perliter rate of eleven
point seventy five, which is two percent higher than last year.
So all that resulted in a pig crop in the
last quarter of about thirty four point one seven million pigs.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
So what were the wies behind the numbers and the
June quarterly Hogs and Pigs report.

Speaker 3 (01:04):
Markets have been indicating that we've are a little bit
tiny hog supplies over the past couple of months, but
this seems to indicate that for the second half of
twenty twenty five and perhaps into nearly part of twenty
twenty six, we should see a little bit of growth
in the hog supplies as those hogs that were born
in the past couple months come to market.

Speaker 2 (01:17):
While the breeding herd has been stable the last couple
of years, we're.

Speaker 3 (01:21):
Getting more hogs bout having more more pay safe per
litter in that higher liter rate, that should bring more
hogs into the production system and should be supportive of
pork production the second half twenty five and into twenty six.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
And McConnell adds that consisted higher pigs per litter rate
growth over the past couple of years is a continuation
of a longer term trend.

Speaker 3 (01:39):
As producers kind of improve their management practices, improve the
technology to basically increase the productivity that they get out
of each litter.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
Another factor in the rise at hogs and pigs inventory
as of Jude first.

Speaker 4 (01:49):
Some of the other competing animal proteins.

Speaker 3 (01:51):
In particular, the beef market has been relatively tight and
we've seen strong prices there, so that has been supportive
for other species. And pork prices are one of those
as a market where we're seeing some if it's a
term of the higher port prices as a result of
higher bef prices, that might be giving some signals to
producers to kind of give them the go ahead to
maybe increase their production.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
Outlook.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Rod Bain reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington,
d C.

Speaker 1 (02:13):
This is Aglife, Bob Quinn. Here was some farm news
this morning. Friends. Well, a new USDA plan is aimed
to help improve national security by protecting agriculture. Chad Smith
has more on the initiative.

Speaker 5 (02:27):
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a new initiative from
USDA that focuses on agriculture is a key component of
protecting national security. Sam Keefer, vice president of public Policy
for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the plan covers
a wide swath of issues. Well, it's a seventh part
plan for addressing agriculture security, and it includes limiting ownership

(02:51):
of American farmland by adversaries of the United States. Also
involves enhancing supply chain resilience and safeguarding both plant and
animal health. Perhaps most importantly, the Agriculture Secretary has been
added to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
Keefer says it's logical that the Secretary of Agriculture has

(03:12):
a seat on the committee, also known as Scipious. They
investigate and consider and approve or disapprove any US business
merging with or being acquired by foreign investors, so it
only makes sense that the Secretary of the United States
Department of Agriculture also serve in that capacity. This is
a positive step towards managing who contributes to our food

(03:35):
supply chain. Keefer says it's important to keep this issue
in perspective as only about three percent of all privately
held US agriculture land is foreign owned. We understand and
appreciate the need to protect the sensitive aspects of the
American food system, and it's important to remember that food
security is indeed national security, and we want to ensure
that any steps by USDA or by the Trump administration

(03:58):
protect American agriculture while also preserving the freedom and abilities
of farmers to develop to invest and to sell their land,
depending on their unique circumstances. For more information, go to
fb dot org. Chad Smith, Washington Well Friends. Farmers in
Washington and around the country are trying to figure out
how to deal with the fear of immigration raids on farms.

(04:21):
Ben Tendall, executive director at Save Family Farming, says farm
workers and farmers are worried their farm will be the
next target.

Speaker 6 (04:29):
We're hearing from individuals who are closely connected to farm workers.
There is just a lot of unrest, a lot of fear,
a lot of concern, a lot of fear of going
to work because I don't know that it's safe.

Speaker 1 (04:43):
And this, Tendall says, impacts everyone involved.

Speaker 6 (04:46):
This is not just individuals who are undocumented. That these
are individuals who are both documented and undocumented that are
concerned simply because of their job, because of demographic languages
they speak, and color of their and things that really
shouldn't be a concern, but there is fear of that profiling.

Speaker 1 (05:05):
Warranted or not. Tendall says, this is what's happening.

Speaker 6 (05:09):
What we are saying, though, is this issue needs to
be addressed responsibly, and it needs to be addressed in
a way that this back and forth that we're seeing
where one day you're saying, hey, we're going to work
with the farming community, and then the next day you know,
we're going to crack down even harder on immigration. And
never mind what we said two days ago.

Speaker 1 (05:28):
So what can be done?

Speaker 6 (05:29):
How can farmers address this from a farmer's standpoint? Really
they can't. It's outside of their control. This is something
that is happening on a federal level. It's happening from
the immigration level, and farmers are the ones that are
struggling with this.

Speaker 1 (05:44):
Tendall says, it's past time for Congress to step up
and address the issue you had on well. Friends. The
first US bort of entry to reopen to shipments of cattle, bison,
and horses is in Douglas, Arizona. Colin Woodhall, CEO of
the National Cattlemans Beef Association, says his group supports the reopening.
Ag Secretary Brook Rawlins has been focused on America First

(06:05):
policies that support America's cattle producers, like defending us from
the New World screw worm, he said. Now, the Secretary's
decision to reopen the Douglas Port of Entry to live.
Cattle imports will help relieve the economic pain for some
producers throughout the country who depend on cattle moving through
that port for business.

Speaker 4 (06:24):
Now.

Speaker 1 (06:24):
He also points out that cattle moving through the port
will go through a robust double inspection before entering the port.
Cattle will be inspected for any wounds or other health conditions.
If any are detected, the entire lot of cattle will
be rejected by veterinary authorities. Farm News. This morning, you're
listening to WAG Life.

Speaker 7 (06:45):
It's another agnews update. What's happening in the ag economy.
More after this.

Speaker 8 (06:55):
Hi, I'm Debbie Childress, director of the Grayson County Alliance,
a food pantry in rural Kentut. Thanks to a local farmer,
we recently received a twenty five hundred dollars donation from
Americans Farmers Grow Communities sponsored by them on Santo Fund,
a philanthropic arm of Bear. As a result, we expanded
a classroom where we teach families about nutrition and personal finance.

(07:15):
I encourage all farmers to enroll for a chance to
direct a twenty five hundred dollars donation to a local nonprofit.
Visit Growcommunities dot com.

Speaker 7 (07:23):
Mark Edelman is an Iowa State aged economist. On the
aged economy.

Speaker 9 (07:29):
I have a great deal of confidence that the Federal Reserve,
as long as it's allowed to remain independent in making
its decisions, that it will successfully manage the general economy.
My real concern is focused on the egg economy, and
I think the AG economy we.

Speaker 4 (07:49):
Need to get to work.

Speaker 9 (07:50):
We need to get to work on getting the trade
deals done, and we need to get to work to
allow biofuels the capacity to utilize the mastically what we're producing.
And I think that's basically who we're selling to is
our food customers, our fuel customers, and our international trade
cost and right now we aren't expanding the population very

(08:13):
fast domestically, and so when you hear words that we
need to sell more domestically, we're talking about, well, let's
look at fuels and we can produce some additional biofuels
for sustainable aviation fuel going forward, and that would certainly
help the sector out tremendously. And we need to get
those rabbits pulled out of the hat on trade to

(08:36):
get the trade markets up there.

Speaker 7 (08:37):
It's another Agnews update.

Speaker 10 (08:40):
Here's farmer and businessman James wood.

Speaker 11 (08:43):
We farm about thirty five hundred acres. There's pipelines everywhere.
The contractor working on my property did not have the
lines located before he began work, and if resulted on
a strike on the natural guest popular. Fortunately no one
was hurt, but it could have been much worse.

Speaker 10 (08:59):
Never assumed the location or depth of underground lines. Always
call eight one to one or visit Click before you
Dig dot com before you start work. A message from
the pipeline Operators for ag Safety Campaign American Cattle News.
Today we take a look at heavier weights and competing proteins.

Speaker 8 (09:19):
After this Hi, I'm Debbie Childress, director of the Grayson
County Alliance, a food pantry in rural Kentucky. Thanks to
a local farmer, we recently received a twenty five hundred
dollars donation from Americans Farmers Grow Communities sponsored by the
Monsanto Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bear. As a result,
we expanded a classroom where we teach families about nutrition

(09:40):
and personal finance. I encourage all farmers to enroll for
a chance to direct a twenty five hundred dollars donation
to a local nonprofit. Visit Grow Communities dot.

Speaker 7 (09:49):
Com Bob Maur with Menduka Trading in Chicago.

Speaker 12 (09:53):
Average weights are still strong. They're up year on year
at about eight hundred and sixty five pounds on average
versus eight forty one line last year, so twenty four
pounds heavier on average. Five year average for weights is
about eight hundred and twenty two pounds, so if you
look at it that way, we're up about forty three
pounds on average. So more beef per head despite fewer

(10:17):
animals is the logic there, and we'll see how that
plays out through the marketplace. Major takeaways from the cattle markets.
You've got in the short term here those potential labor disruptions,
you got lighter production that leans towards a more bullish tone.
And really what I thinkers going to be looking out
on the horizon here would be looking for the July
eleven WISE report. I mean, we got the acreage numbers

(10:39):
today and that was a big report. Grainstock's number today
and that was a big report. Next one on tap
would be the July eleven WISD And obviously the grain
grain prices could impact the cattle markets at any moment,
so we'll keeping on that and then also how the
packers respond to post holiday once we get pass this
fourth of July holiday demand.

Speaker 13 (10:59):
For the hogs.

Speaker 12 (11:00):
That June twenty seven report was slightly bearish, but really
didn't see a whole lot of follow through selling, so
that's relatively strong manage money still on the long side
holds a record net long position is always the fear
that if they all had to hit the exit at
the same time, it would push the market down pretty quickly,
but net net, they're still willing buyers. The cm lean

(11:20):
hogg indecks higha since August twenty twenty four at about
Jeshiva one to twelve. That was a little over four
bucks week one week. Slaughter's still decent. Cutout values broke
a little bit, so we'll keep an eye on that.

Speaker 7 (11:32):
One American Cattle News, This is Dry Radio now with
Bill Baker.

Speaker 14 (11:43):
Joining US doctor Robert Vanzon, professor at Penn State University.
We know there are so many aspects that impact transition cows,
and he touches on just a little bit of that today.

Speaker 15 (11:53):
First of all, if I'm going to ask producers to
spend money and purchasing minerals and vitamins, I want to
serve give them a good excuse or a good reason.
I've been studying the transition cow metabolism and disease since
my early vennory years, for nearly forty years now. The
goal that we have for getting our cows managing our

(12:15):
cows through the transition period is good milk production. We
don't want them to lose a lot of body condition
because we know what negative effects that has on reproduction.
To achieve those two things, we need to have a
low prevalence of periparturian diseases. So the milk fever, the
ketosis that displaced Apple Mason, that retained placentas, and so on.
And then the hot topic that everybody is focusing in

(12:38):
on now is the immune system became compromised. But now
we think it's just shifting gears, and we don't want
it to be too active, but we need it active
enough to make sure that big cow can clear her
reproductive track of the damage and the pathogens or bacteria

(12:58):
that occur during the ca having process.

Speaker 14 (13:01):
Comments from doctor Robert van Zon from Penn State, who says,
when it comes to research, it's a collaborative effort.

Speaker 15 (13:07):
You know, with a lot of the work that Wisconsin
in Michigan State people have done with of SYNC and
all the other things. One of the key areas that
many of us have been working on is the dietary
supply of energy, metabolizable energy and metabolizable protein. It's really
important that we understand the change in intake and the
variation in intake within our transition groups to make sure

(13:30):
that we're delivering the right amount of energy and protein.
What's unique about vitamin and mineral nutrition in this transition
cow many years of research that all our macro minerals
and microminerals can efficiently cross the pulsena, and the fetus
is really unique in being able to capture these minerals
and not only use them for fetal growth, but to

(13:52):
store them in the liver. On the other side, the
fat soluble vitamins are sort of an enigma. They don't
cross the pulcente very well except for a very early ingestation,
but colostrum, if the dam is well supplemented, can be
very very high in trace mineral. So this puts another
onus on the importance of colostrum feeding to our young caves.

(14:16):
So the other thing is vitamin E and vitamin A
are antioxidants. Antioxidants are necessary to sort of keep any
inflammatory process under control, and if the animal is in
a good metabolic state, they could have a fairly rapid
resolution to that inflammation that occurs around the time of

(14:39):
calving and adjusting from a pregnant state to a lactating
state and ultimately normal xtra cycles and good fertility. However,
if the antioxidant system or the immune system is perturbed
in some way or inefficient in processing this inflammatory system,
then you could have this much more or slower resolution

(15:01):
or go out of control. And what this results in
is greater negative energy balance, which this DAN is the
stepping stone into metabolic diseases and ultimately infertility. So more
seriously consider the vitamin mineral supplementation in their Dreichou program.

Speaker 14 (15:18):
That's doctor Robert van Zon from Penn State College of
Agricultural Sciences.

Speaker 2 (15:22):
What might the AGS sector find regarding budget legislation signed
into law Independence Day by President Donald Trump? What is
extension of various farm bill programs through the year twenty
thirty one. Examples include farm safety net offerings such as
agricultural risk coverage, price loss coverage, and dairy margin coverage,
conservation programs and trade promotion offerings regarding as state planning to.

Speaker 11 (15:46):
Protect two million family farms and other small businesses.

Speaker 16 (15:50):
We're eliminating the estate tax or the death tax.

Speaker 2 (15:53):
Various biofuel programs and tax credits received extensions as well,
including the Clean Fuels Production Credit forty five Z, which
Emily Score of Growth Energy explains it.

Speaker 17 (16:04):
Is technology neutral and the incentive is to growers. The
incentive is to ethanol producers.

Speaker 8 (16:08):
We know what we can do. We know the technologies
at the ethanol plant, we know the technologies and the
farm with our grower partners.

Speaker 17 (16:14):
We just need that incentive.

Speaker 2 (16:16):
Rod Bain reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington,
d C.

Speaker 14 (16:21):
I'm Bill Baker, Dairy Radio Narrow.

Speaker 18 (16:28):
We're in mid production season in California on the tree
nuts and we're wondering how's the season going. I'm Patrick
Cavanaugh with the California tree Nut Report, part of the
vastag Information Network. We're speaking with Brent Holtz. He's a
ucn OR farm advisor and County director of San juaan
Quing County.

Speaker 19 (16:48):
You know, actually compared the last year where we had
the high temperatures in June, I think We've been pretty
lucky so far. We only had one weekend where they
got into the triple digit, so we're just covering around
ninety degrees now, and actually that seems cool compared to
what we went to last year.

Speaker 18 (17:07):
We as holts about insect pressure. Are we seeing much
out there?

Speaker 19 (17:11):
I have heard that mites are starting to show up
in a few places, but and you know, I think
we're worried about that carpopolis beetle as well. From you
know that that's getting established in our California orchards, and
several entomologists I know, like Jilenda Resol and David Havlin
and are looking at control measures for it. And it's

(17:31):
been in Australia and that industry has been fighting it
for quite a while, so we're learning a lot from
them on that.

Speaker 18 (17:37):
In more news, pecan production in California is a much
smaller industry than all mens walnuts and pistachios, but there
are opportunities for pecans. Rowers can diversify, but really must
consult with experts on the challenges of the crop.

Speaker 17 (17:52):
Farm work is tough, and so is staying safe on
the road. Every year, accidents happen when Tractors and traffic
share the same space whether you're behind the wheel of
a tractor or a car. Here's what you need to remember.
Tractors move slower, be patient, don't pass on hills or curves.
Farmers make sure your slow moving vehicles. Signs and lights
are visible and everyone's sailor. Especially on rural roads, one

(18:14):
moment of caution can save a light. Let's work together
to keep our roads and are firm safe. This message
was brought to you by the AG Information Network.

Speaker 20 (18:22):
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 specialty crops
like apples, almonds, and cherries. We report on stories that

(18:43):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The Egg Information Network trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 18 (18:51):
With the AG Information Network. I'm Patrick Kavanaugh. Good morning,
you're listening to AGG Life. I'm Dwayne Merley.

Speaker 2 (19:00):
Not much to talk about in the lytish US Route
Monitor USDA b urologist brad ridpy First explains the numbers.

Speaker 16 (19:06):
For the period ending July.

Speaker 21 (19:08):
First, almost one third of the country thirty two point
four percent, was experiencing drought. That is up two point
eight percentage points from four weeks ago on June third.

Speaker 16 (19:18):
Now he adds this caveat.

Speaker 21 (19:20):
If you look at all of the regions of the
United States, there was only one of them where we
saw an increase in drought coverage, and that was across
the eleven state Western.

Speaker 16 (19:28):
Region, with sharp month over month increases.

Speaker 21 (19:31):
In the West, we started the month of June at
about fifty one percent drought coverage, and that jumped to
sixty four point five percent by July first, to more
than a thirteen percentage point increase in the Western.

Speaker 2 (19:43):
United States, much of that originating in the Pacific Northwest.
In contrast, the Midwest recorded a halving of drought coverage
during June.

Speaker 21 (19:52):
In the Midwest, we saw basically a halving of drought
coverage from ten point seven percent of the Midwest on
June third all the way down to five point six
percent by July first. That's more than five percentage points
of reduction. So when you start talking about a lot
of our major crop areas across the Midwest and even
the plains, and certainly moving into the south and east,

(20:13):
there is not much drought to talk about right now
in the Northwest. That is where the drought hotspot is
right now. For example, in Oregon, as recently as May twentieth,
there was no drought in the state of Oregon. By
July first, that has jumped to forty two percent. And
then we have seen almost a quadrupling of drought coverage

(20:34):
in Washington and Idaho over the last couple of months. So,
for example, in Washington State on that May twentieth date,
eighteen percent drought coverage and that has jumped to sixty
seven percent by July first. And in Idaho we have
also seen a big increase in drought coverage from twenty
three percent on May twentieth all the way up to
eighty six percent by the first of July. That is

(20:57):
an area we will be watching in coming weeks for
while our potential surface has really dried out, and from
an agricultural perspective, that has put an increasing stress on
rangeland pastures and especially rain fed summer crops and even
irrigated crops. Have required a lot more water from irrigation.
As you move to some of the individual states, we

(21:17):
have a fairly short list of states where we have
our higher end drought that would be your D three
and D four on the US Drought Monitor extreme to
exceptional drought. Now most of those are in the Western
United States. So of our eleven Western states, there are
seven of them where we have some degree of extreme
or exceptional drought. Continuing to lead the pack is Arizona

(21:37):
forty seven percent extreme to exceptional drought coverage on July first,
closely followed by New Mexico at thirty three percent. Also
in double digits, but just barely Nevad at ten percent
D three to D four coverage. Now you move out
of the Western United States, there's only three states where
we have any D three or D four coverage at all.
We still do see some D three and D four

(21:57):
across West and South Texas, and that is encompassing thirteen
percent of the state overall. Besides that, Hawaii, D three
can find to the Big Island, covering less than two
percent of the state overall, and then just a spot
of D three coverage in South Florida.

Speaker 2 (22:12):
Broad Bain reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC.

Speaker 22 (22:18):
A new product from Country Croc labeled dairy free butter
has sparked concern within the dairy industry. This labeling of
a non dairy product is butter, is a violation of
federal standards. That's according to Chris Galen, the executive director
of the American Butter Institute.

Speaker 23 (22:34):
Butter has rebounded and things like margins and plant spreads,
plant based spreads are in decline. So if you're a
manufacturer of those imitation butters steak butters, where you do
you design to label yourself as something called dairy free butter,
which is a total oxymoron because you can't have butter
unless it comes from a dairy ingredient like cream. But
this is a concern because we see these products in

(22:56):
the marketplace.

Speaker 22 (22:57):
The American Butter Institute is half the usd to intervene,
saying Country Crocs a dairy free butter not only violates
federal standards, but it misuses the term butter.

Speaker 23 (23:08):
The good news here, hopefully, is that there's a lot
of interest in the part of the Trump administration to
have people eat more real foods. Whole foods. This country
crop product is a combination of canola and palm oil,
but it's not legal to call it that, at least
not in our view, and hopefully that'll be the view
of the FDA. And we're hoping that in this whole
era of the making America Healthy again and this commission

(23:30):
report that came out, they will look at this complaint
that we have more sympathetically.

Speaker 22 (23:35):
Again. That is Chris Galen, executive director of the American
Butter Institute. You're listening to AGG Life. I'm Dwayne Merley.

Speaker 24 (23:45):
It's time for California AGG today on the AG Information Network.
I am hatily shipped. Following closures in May due to
New World screwworm concerns, the USDA has begun a phased
reopening of livestock ports along the southern border. As of
July seventh, the Douglas, Arizona Port is once again accepting cattle, bison,

(24:06):
and equines from Mexico under strict protocols. US Secretary of
Agriculture Brook Rawlins said that that decision follows strong collaboration
between the USDA and Mexico's animal health officials.

Speaker 17 (24:18):
In recent weeks, APHIS teams from.

Speaker 24 (24:21):
The us visited multiple sites in Mexico, assessed response efforts
and confirmed consistent sterile fly dispersal, now totaling over one
hundred million flies per week. Additional ports are set to
reopen in phases. We've got Columbus, New Mexico on the fourteenth,
Santa Theresa, New Mexico July twenty first, del Rio, Texas
August eighteenth, and Laredo, Texas on September fifteenth, each contingent

(24:45):
on continued progress and risk evaluations. Only cattle and bison
from Sonora, ARCHIEUAHWA or those treated under NWS protocols are
eligible for entry. Equines can import from anywhere in Mexico
with a required seven day quarantine. The USDA says it
remains focused on preventing the pest's spread and protecting American ranchers.

Speaker 1 (25:07):
Bob Quinn Here was some farm news this morning, friends.
While a new USDA plan is aimed to help improve
national security by protecting agriculture, Chad Smith has more on
the initiative.

Speaker 5 (25:19):
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a new initiative from
USDA that focuses on agriculture as a key component of
protecting national security. Sam Keefer, vice president of public Policy
for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the plan covers
a wide swath of issues. Well, it's a seventh part
plan for addressing agriculture security, and it includes limiting ownership

(25:43):
of American farmland by adversaries of the United States. Also
involves enhancing supply chain resilience and safeguarding both.

Speaker 16 (25:51):
Plant and animal health.

Speaker 5 (25:52):
Perhaps most importantly, the Agriculture Secretary has been added to
the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Keefer
says it's logical that the Secretary of Agriculture has a
seat on the committee, also known as Scipious. They investigate
and consider and approve or disapprove any US business merging

(26:14):
with or being acquired by foreign investors, so it only
makes sense that the Secretary of the United States Department
of Agriculture also serve in that capacity. This is a
positive step towards managing who contributes to our food supply chain.
Keefer says it's important to keep this issue in perspective
as only about three percent of all privately held US

(26:34):
agriculture land is foreign owned. We understand and appreciate the
need to protect the sensitive aspects of the American food system,
and it's important to remember that food security is indeed
national security, and we want to ensure that any steps
by USDA or by the Trump administration protect American agriculture
while also preserving the freedom and abilities of farmers to develop,

(26:55):
to invest, and to sell their land depending on their
unique circumstances. For more information, go to fb dot org.
Chad Smith, Washington.

Speaker 1 (27:05):
Cherry harvest underway. Rod Bain has a report cherries.

Speaker 2 (27:10):
This year's crop of this summertime Fourth of July treat
is now big harvested.

Speaker 25 (27:15):
And so they're readily available in grocery stores here very soon. Anyway,
I'm sure we're starting to see some now.

Speaker 2 (27:21):
Lance Holding of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service says harvest
continues until about mid July. You may know there are
two types of cherries, sweet ad tart. How are they
different besides the obvious clues in their names, Hodig explains,
with sweet cherries.

Speaker 25 (27:38):
This time of year, we think about cherries, especially around
the Fourth of July. They tend to be a staple
at some of those Fourth of July picnics and gatherings,
and we're really talking about the sweet cherries, these are
the cherries that are typically eaten fresh. They really don't
store well, and so this is the time of year
when they mature and get harvested, and so they're readily available.

Speaker 16 (27:54):
While with tart cherries.

Speaker 25 (27:56):
This is what you see appearing in your pies and
your pastries and delicious dessert sware cherries are featured, and
because of the nature of that, we freeze them, we
store them, and so we can find those pretty much
year round.

Speaker 2 (28:07):
And when it comes to keeping track of sweeted tart
cherries in USDA production reports, if you.

Speaker 25 (28:13):
Look at when we publish estimates, will publish both sweet
and tart cherry numbers, and you'll never see in an
ass report a total cherry number, and that is simply
because the crops are so unique that it really doesn't
make any sense to put them together.

Speaker 2 (28:25):
So perhaps the question on your mind, will there be
plenty of cherries available this year? Hodig starts with a
look at this year's sweet cherry harvest forecast.

Speaker 25 (28:35):
Which represents the largest crop since twenty seventeen.

Speaker 2 (28:40):
With a projected year over year production increase of four percent,
driving the production gains. The nation's largest cherry growing state Washington.

Speaker 25 (28:49):
They're expecting about a twenty nine percent increase this season.
Weather's been really good for the crop there, and so
great news from both Washington and a national perspective.

Speaker 2 (28:58):
A slight production is also reported in Oregon. The offset
it's wheat cherry production this season is California for some.

Speaker 25 (29:06):
Extreme weather during the bloom, and as a result, they're
actually looking at a crop it's about thirty eight percent
smaller than last year.

Speaker 2 (29:13):
Michigan is far and away the largest tart cherry growing
state in the US, yet Hodig says.

Speaker 25 (29:19):
It's a really tough season for the fact they're looking
at about a forty one percent drop in tart cherry
production this year due to poor weather.

Speaker 2 (29:27):
That poor weather, however, was not a major freeze of
it usually associated with tart cherry production declines.

Speaker 25 (29:35):
That's not the case this year. It's just been not
good weather. It's a pretty big drop in fact, nationally
that means we're only looking at one hundred and thirty
nine million pounds this year. That's more than a third glow.
Last season's crop will be the smallest crop since twenty
twenty and the second smallest crop. It's that disastrous year
of twenty twelve when Michigan lost almost all their cherries.

Speaker 2 (29:55):
Broad Bain reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in
Washington to.

Speaker 1 (30:00):
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Speaker 20 (30:32):
For the last forty years, the AG Information Network has
been the source of news for farmers and ranchers. Yet
we have never seen such an assault on farming and
our food supply as we do today, from fuel to fertilizer.
Farmers are facing unprecedented economic challenges. This is why agriculture
news that farmers receive comes from the AG Information Network,
reaching coast to coast, deep roots and farming. In decades

(30:56):
of reporting, the AGG Information Network trusted and transparent journy
for generations.

Speaker 24 (31:01):
With California AGG today on the AG Information Network. I
am Hailey ship, but.

Speaker 27 (31:09):
Man Bag Information Network. This is your agribusiness update. When
a wildfire is racing towards you, a warning sent to
your phone could save your life. But what if environmental
laws delayed repair, replacement, or improvement of the infrastructure needed
to send that warning. That's why US Representative Cliff Bands
of Oregon says he sponsored HR sixteen fifty five, the

(31:29):
Wildlife Communication Resilience Act. If enacted, this bill would provide
an exemption for bureaucratic red tape that could delay repair
or replacement of life saving communications. US ranchers are moving
to expand their herds from a seven decade low, paving
the way for a long awaited recovery and beef supplies.
That's according to top producers JBS, where officials say economic

(31:52):
incentives are there and the weather is helping. That's much
needed news for both meat packers and consumers. Still, cattle
supplies won't recover overnight, with no meaningful increase expected before
twenty twenty seven. Germany has almost eighty four million of
the world's wealthiest consumers and is by far the biggest
market in the European Union. The German market offers opportunities

(32:12):
for US exporters of consumer oriented agricultural products. In twenty
twenty four, total US exports of egg and related products
to Germany reached almost two point seven billion dollars. Apart
from soybeans, the largest segments were tree nuts, distilled spirits, seafood,
food preparations, and wine.

Speaker 20 (32:29):
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 27 (32:43):
Oh?

Speaker 20 (32:43):
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

(33:06):
station for the agg 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.

Speaker 13 (33:28):
From the Egg Information Network. I'm Bob Larson with today's
agribusiness update. Bob quin back to wrap up AGLIE for
today friends. Calf prices at historic highs. No better time
to implement practices to maximize your revenue, Caad Smith.

Speaker 1 (33:40):
As our final report.

Speaker 5 (33:41):
New data reveals that focusing on the health and development
of weaned calves through strategic management and preconditioning programs can
boost sale prices. Doctor John Hutchison is Director of Cattle
Technical Services for MERK Animal Health Superior Livestock Auction Kansas
State University. The m MERT combined to study auction data

(34:02):
analysis that shows which management programs and health protocols can
help maximize the value of your cattle.

Speaker 4 (34:09):
On impact of preconditioning. It's a big deal.

Speaker 28 (34:12):
So remember the data that we've collected here are buyers
buying calves that have these indicators of what they've done
to it from a management standpoint. So that's number one
is when these preconditioning caves, you have to go to
a sale if you've preconditioned them go to a sale
that recognizes the work.

Speaker 4 (34:28):
You put into it so that you can then get
the value because these buyers are willing to pay.

Speaker 28 (34:32):
These calves are healthier, they've been vaccinated with two rounds
of Claustridio with modified live virals.

Speaker 4 (34:38):
They've got some pastor Ella vaccines.

Speaker 28 (34:40):
They've likely been dewormed, they may have been implanted, they've
been fed out of a bug. They've got a water trough,
and so they're ready for the next transition. And that
value was eight dollars and fifty cents one hundred, which
led to about forty eight bucks ahead and extra value
just for the fact they're in that program.

Speaker 5 (34:55):
He talks about other important items they discovered from the data.

Speaker 28 (34:59):
They're putting out their checkbook on these kind of things
that we see. And so they like cattle with no horns,
so polled or dehorned, so no horns is important for them.
Having a medium to large frame animals, so you know,
these big weights in these feet yards. They want those
cattle that have the structural soundness to be able to
get to those big weights lest they don't want them
over conditioned. So they don't want them fat. You know,
they want them a little leaner and a little greener,

(35:20):
so to speak, and so they like a little less flesh.
Then one of the big impacts was they want to
see uniform lots, So they want to see those calf crops.
Weight range is pretty tight in that they were all
born similarly and close together. And so those are some
of the things along with non genetics you could identify
non genetics.

Speaker 4 (35:37):
They like that genetic improvement.

Speaker 5 (35:39):
Hutchison talks about what the auction data showed about implants.

Speaker 28 (35:43):
So it's pretty interesting in this database we have the
things that impact price.

Speaker 4 (35:47):
In a positive way.

Speaker 28 (35:48):
Then we have some things that don't impact price, but
yet have a huge opportunity and a huge value to
gain by the producer, and that's implants. And so those
cattle that are implanted, we do not see a difference
in the price paid for them in these buyers and
these sail barns. And so what we find is it
makes sense. I just mentioned some factors about cattle that
they like to see. They like to see flesh, they

(36:10):
like to see frame, they like to see good genetics,
which is muscularity.

Speaker 4 (36:14):
And so you look at what an implant does. It
gives them more muscle.

Speaker 28 (36:16):
It gives them a little more frame and they're a
little leaner, and so all those attributes are positive, and
so no change in price and you get twenty three
pounds of added weight gain.

Speaker 4 (36:27):
You can do the math on price of calves. Today.

Speaker 5 (36:29):
He talks about where to go for more information on
preconditioning your calves.

Speaker 28 (36:34):
They can go to primepac dot com and that's our
preconditioning site they can go to, and then I'll just
leave them with this in terms of economic impact, if
you pre condition those calves and got forty eight more dollars,
and you implant your caves and get twenty three more
pounds at three dollars a pound, that's sixty five more dollars.

Speaker 4 (36:52):
You're looking over one hundred dollars bill on two things
that you can do.

Speaker 28 (36:56):
And I'm not saying preconditioning is easy, but there's money
to be gained a lot with the weight gain from
an implant. There's a lot of dollars still there for
producers to go after if they're not Now.

Speaker 5 (37:05):
To find out more details from the Superior Livestock Auction dataset,
visit primevac dot com. Chad Smith reporting.

Speaker 1 (37:14):
With that friends out of time for today, thanks for
joining us. Back tomorrow morning with another edition of Bag
Life