June 11, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, valley, This is aglife. My name is Bob Quinn,
with you for the next hour talking about agriculture production
here in the valley and all across the country. Well, friends,
while we enjoy strawberries this summer, you may be surprised
to learn this fruit has several varieties. But why is
this not necessarily known? Well, Rod Bain starts us off.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
While yes, a year round treat anytime, there is still
association of strawberries ready for harvest in June in many
parts of the country. Some varieties that are day neutral
can bear fruit until October in Florida.

Speaker 3 (00:33):
Florida is especially interesting because they plant in the fall
and harvest in the winter.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
According to USDA Research, geneticis kim Leures, But for most
types of strawberries, the sixth month of the year is
the time for picking and eating.

Speaker 4 (00:49):
Did you hear me.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Mentioned varieties as related to strawberries and reply may have
been strawberries have different varieties. The short answer is yes.
Above those are cultivars and produced at the Agricultural Research
Station it Beltsville, Baryland.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
Blake Moore, Red Steel, Tribute, and Trystar.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Have varieties such as early glow, Jewel, sweet add and
Seascape developed elsewhere. Yet you say, I've never seen a
specific strawberry variety promoted in a supermarket or retail outlet.
Leewer says there is a reason for that.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
What the industry calls branding.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
Perhaps the most common example of branding when it comes
to fresh fruits are apples.

Speaker 3 (01:29):
So when you go to a store and you're looking
at apples, you can look for Fuji, or you can
look for Granny Smith or something like that.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yet for other types of fruits, such as strawberries, branding
is not common, or perhaps it's even a rare occurrence.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
Apples can be stored for about a year and strawberries
only maybe a week. We'd like it if you could
buy them in the store and then they last until
the next time you go to the store. That would
be ideal. I think that's why most fruits aren't branded,
so you don't know what variety you're getting when you
go to a store.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
Like any fruit or vegetable with cultivars, various traits are
considered in the breeding process and development of new strawberry varieties.
In the case of ars, Beltsville and Kim Lewer's work.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
One of our major goals has been natural disease resistance,
and the other one has been fruit quality, which includes flavor.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
With the genetic material for USDA Strawberry program available to
other breeding programs across the country.

Speaker 3 (02:27):
For example, Driscolls has used our material for improving flavor,
and the University of Florida has also used our material
for improving flavor. In the University of California and others,
several others have used our material for breeding for disease resistance.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
I'm Rodbane reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington,
d C.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
Coming up all look at what artificial intelligence might be
bringing to agriculture. You're listening to Aglife Bob. When there
was some farm news this morning, friends, Rural America is
seeing a huge growth in data centers. Jeff Johnston, lead
economist for infrastructure with Cobank, says it's a remarkable development,
especially as it pertains to AI.

Speaker 5 (03:10):
This is a fascinating time for our country, and I
think a pretty exciting time for rural America as well,
because I would say rural America from an AI infrastructure perspective,
rural America is taking center stage right now. When you
look at how these new AI data centers are built
and architected, and you look at the enormous amount of

(03:32):
energy requirements that they demand, you know, rural America is
very well positioned from a number of factors to be
able to support the growth and AI and support the
growth in this infrastructure.

Speaker 1 (03:44):
He said. The stakes are high as several major companies
are spending a lot of money setting up these centers.

Speaker 5 (03:48):
When we talk about AI, there is geopolitical implications to
us in China, there are economic implications as well in
terms of productivity and growth. So the stakes are enormously high.
On a money that's being spent by the major data
center companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Google is nothing
short of mind blowing. And again rural America is taking

(04:10):
center stage in this AI revolution.

Speaker 1 (04:13):
AI developments parallel the efforts to close the broadband gap
in rural America. If both efforts are going to succeed,
infrastructure has to play catch up.

Speaker 5 (04:21):
We have a challenge, we have an opportunity. However, you
want to look at it in front of us as
it relates to generating enough electrons to be able to
support the growth in AI and data centers. And to
maintain and hopefully increase our technology lead over China. So
power electrons as we go forward, that is the new currency.

(04:42):
That is absolutely the new currency. And if you look
at some of the studies that have been done and
the estimates around energy consumption, we are headed for a
supply demand imbalance in the energy complex because of AI
in the not too distant future.

Speaker 6 (04:57):
So and I know the administration is very well aware of.

Speaker 5 (05:00):
I'm working with the industry and the data center companies
on new technologies and breaking down some barriers and trying
to do everything they can just to generate enough electrons.
But this is a challenge, this is a problem, but
this is an opportunity, a very big opportunity as well.

Speaker 1 (05:14):
Jeff Johnston of Cobank. With US hurricane season now officially underway,
meeting farmers in these southeast and Eastern Seaboard states are
starting to pay even closer attention to activity in the Atlantic.
Mike Davis has a story.

Speaker 7 (05:27):
Corey Davis is the assistant state climatologist for North Carolina
and says more tropical storms than usual are predicted for
twenty twenty five, but forecasters are hedging their bets.

Speaker 8 (05:38):
Most forecasts are still leaning in that above average direction,
but nowhere near as confident as they were last year.
At the National Weather Service, for instance, they're giving us
sixty percent chance of above normal activity and a thirty
percent chance of near normal activity. And when you look
at their forecasts, they're calling for thirteen to nineteen named storms.
The recent average is fourteen storms, and it looks like

(06:00):
at least near normal maybe above normal this year, but
we can't say that with the same confidence that we
had last season.

Speaker 7 (06:06):
The first name on this year's list is Andrea, a
storm moniker familiar to many.

Speaker 8 (06:11):
Now that is a storm that we've seen in the past. Again,
we'll recycle these lists every six years. There have been
subtropical storm Andreas that have formed right off our coastline
in recent years, so that's the name that'll be familiar.
The same with the b name Barry and the sea
name Chantal. So again, those storms have never made it
quite to that strong and damaging potential to be retired.

(06:32):
That's why we see them over and over.

Speaker 9 (06:34):
Again, David says.

Speaker 7 (06:35):
Once we get into the heart of the hurricane season,
several more names of previous systems will be in the news.

Speaker 8 (06:42):
Hurricane Dorian that had a big impact in eastern North Carolina.
That name was retired and replaced with Dexter, the name
right after that. Erin is a storm that folks right
along the outer banks may remember. There have been some
errands that were close calls for those areas in the past.
And then once we get to kind of that meat
of the outpha bet we've got Fernand gabrielle Berto Emelda.

Speaker 1 (07:05):
I'm Mike Davis farm News this morning, you're listening to Waglife.

Speaker 10 (07:09):
It's another agnews update. Some areas dealing with corn in
standing water. What's its tolerance? More after this?

Speaker 11 (07:19):
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 mon Sando Fund,
a philanthropic arm of Bear. As a result, we expanded
a classroom where we teach families about nutrition and personal finance.

(07:39):
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 com.

Speaker 10 (07:48):
Tina Sullomon is a Kansas state agronomist on corn tolerance
and standing water, so for.

Speaker 12 (07:54):
Tolerance and young corn for that full submersion. So the
whole plan is under some kind of maybe it's a
low spot in your field, maybe it's next to we know,
a river bottom when it floods. Pretty traditionally they can
young plants can really only tolerate if few days of
full submersion. Symptoms and stamp problems are going to be
seen late in the season though, which is going to

(08:15):
trace back to that flooding period. So I was mentioning
that V five V five, V six for that growing point,
when it's at or below the soil surface, the plant
can really only handle two to four days of full
submerged water. We've had these kind of situations of where
it floods a bit, we'll have those low spots in
the field and it warms back up, it stops training,

(08:36):
maybe hopefully dries up, but then we're.

Speaker 13 (08:38):
Getting wet spots again.

Speaker 12 (08:40):
Does that mean we've kind of elongated our period of
time of how long those plants can handle it. It's
very dependent, right, how warm does it get after its submerged.

Speaker 4 (08:50):
It was submerged. What kind of soil type is it.

Speaker 12 (08:52):
There's a lot of factors going into this of could
we see limitations later on potentially? Can we really didn't
note that right now? Kind of just depends.

Speaker 10 (09:02):
It's another agews update.

Speaker 9 (09:05):
Here's farmer and businessman James Wood.

Speaker 14 (09:07):
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 it resulted on
a strike on a natural gas pipeline. Fortunately no one
was hurt, but it could have been much worse.

Speaker 9 (09:23):
Never assumed the location or depth of underground lines. Always
call eight one one or visit clickbefore youdg dot com
before you start work. A message from the pipeline operators
for ag Safety.

Speaker 10 (09:32):
Campaign American Cattle News. Today we look at steps to
addressing succession and transition plans. More after this.

Speaker 11 (09:44):
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 Growth Communities sponsored by the mon Santo Fund,
a philanthropic arm of Bear. As a result, we expanded
a classroom where we teach families about nutrition and personal finance.

(10:04):
I encourage all farmers general for a chance to direct
the twenty five hundred dollars donation to a local nonprofit.
Visit Growthcommunities dot com.

Speaker 10 (10:13):
University of Nebraska at Lincoln Extension educator Jessica gross Cup.

Speaker 15 (10:18):
The first one is thinking outside of the box, thinking
about creative ways that we can approach succession planning without
a family member to pass it on to. So again,
looking at what's around you, what you would be most
comfortable with, and also what is that ultimate legacy. Number
two is talking to your family. I think sometimes it's

(10:38):
difficult to have those open, honest discussions regarding not only
your emotions, but what you ultimately plan to do with
your business. I enjoy putting together a really strong advisory team.
So step number three is seeking those outside perspectives. Maybe
they have some ideas of organizations or people within your
community that you can work with. The other piece is

(11:01):
listening with respect to family members. Your family members are
also going to have a lot of emotions around a
non traditional transition. Plan, and then as we look at it,
every once in a while we need to take a
break and walk away. So that's another recommendation, whether that's
taking a weekend or taking a season where we can
have that emotional reset, especially if we're in a really

(11:23):
emotional time trying to make these choices. Number six is
knowing that things are going to change and things might
not look the same if you go down this non
traditional path and finally really being open and honest about
how you feel, and that might require some outside help
and another team member to your advisory team, you know,
if you need a counselor or a trusted friend or

(11:45):
a clergy member to open up to. We find that
to be really important so that we don't get stuck
in kind of that emotional blockage that we see with
ambiguous loss.

Speaker 10 (11:54):
American Cattle News.

Speaker 1 (11:58):
This is Dari Raid.

Speaker 16 (12:00):
Now. I'm John Clark, traveling on the countryside for feedwickt USA,
and today I am very fortunate to have with us
Professor Chris Wolfe of Cornell College of Agriculture Life Sciences.

Speaker 17 (12:14):
He is the E. V.

Speaker 6 (12:15):
Baker Professor of Agricultural Economics and just a great resource
for milk marketing welcome, Professor Wolf.

Speaker 18 (12:22):
Thanks for having me John.

Speaker 6 (12:23):
I think you'd have to agree that right now is
one of the most dynamic times in milk marketing. It's
a fluid, fluid situation, right.

Speaker 18 (12:30):
No pun intended.

Speaker 6 (12:31):
Huh.

Speaker 19 (12:32):
Yeah.

Speaker 18 (12:32):
The first reform of the Federal Milk Marketing Orders that
we've had that was national in scope since two thousand
and eight, and by far the biggest amount of adjustments
that have been made to the Federal Milk Marketing Orders
are going into infact it this year, since two since
the year two thousands, so an entire generation.

Speaker 6 (12:49):
It's the first one since we've had some new tools
to implement, right.

Speaker 18 (12:53):
Yeah, that's true really if you think about it, in
the last twenty five years, we've seen a whole lot
of changes in the industry, but two of the big
ones ones that came into account in this set of
hearings was one twenty five years ago, we had futures
and options for dairy products, but they weren't widely used,
and we didn't have the Dairy Revenue Protection Program, we
didn't have past range land forage, we didn't have the

(13:16):
LGM Dairy Program, and we you know, things of that nature.
So that risk management is much more common now, and
that matters when we're making changes to the underlying price instruments.
The other thing that's changed is we were not net
exporters twenty five years ago and now we are. And
now you know, roughly one day of milk a week
equivalent gets exported and we're in the international markets, and

(13:38):
that also matters for when we make these changes.

Speaker 6 (13:41):
That's that's great information to have. So dairy processor capacity
is something very exciting, particularly in New York State. Why
do you think dairy processors are so bullish on New
York as as evidence by the incredible increase in capacity.

Speaker 18 (13:55):
You know, that's a really good question. You know, one
thing about the dairy industry is that it's really good
for the economy in the area that it's located. Right
Dairy farmers buy a lot of inputs. They spend a
lot of money on feed, machinery, equipment, fertilizer, seed. They
hire people locally because it's you know, there's some things
that you've got to have labor for if you're gonna

(14:15):
milk cows and produce the crops and stuff that's required
to feed them. And so they tend to be drivers
of local economies. And for that reason, you know, a
lot of places want to see the dairy industry and
that's New York's no kind of no exception to that.
And as you mentioned, New York has had several expansions

(14:35):
that are either recently completed or are currently underway cheese
fluid and other expansions in New York. And so you know,
kind of why has that happen here? I think there's
several reasons. A couple of them are natural advantages that
New York has, which is to say, New York State
is located within you know, a fairly easy day's drive
of most of the population on the eastern seaboard, is

(14:58):
you know, particularly the big metro pulton areas in the
northeast right, So there's a lot of consumers there and
that's a good thing.

Speaker 6 (15:04):
Second is we have water.

Speaker 18 (15:07):
You got to have forages to feed cows. You got
to have at least some for just this is a
place where thankfully located, where we're near a lot of
fresh water, where we get a lot of rainfall. And
you know, turns out cows don't mind this climate. In fact,
high producing gairy cows tend to like the climate that
we have in this part of the world, so I
think it's a good place to milk cows. The other
thing I would say is that New York State made

(15:29):
some efforts to attract some of this and encouraged it,
which was, you know, a good thing, although other places
have tried that too, But I think mostly it's actually
a testament to the fact that these companies have confidence
in the New York dairy farmer managers to supply the
milk that they need. Right because the first thing you
got to have if you're going to build a new

(15:50):
processing plan is you got to run it. All That
stainless steel does nothing for you if you don't put
milk through it. And I think that New York has progressive,
high quality dairy farm managers, and I think this is
a real testament to the fact that these companies believe
that they can get the supply that they need from
the New York dairy farmers.

Speaker 6 (16:08):
Chris wolf the EV Baker, Professor of Agricultural Economics at
Cornell University.

Speaker 20 (16:13):
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(16:33):
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Speaker 21 (16:45):
Researching rootstocks and the scion that produces the nuts is
very important throughout California. I'm Patrick Kavanaugh with the California
Tree Nut Report, part of the vast agg Information Network.
New varieties come up all of time, same thing with rootstocks,
and they got to test it throughout California, up and
down the state in different soil types. Luke miller On

(17:08):
as a uc A and R Orchard Crops farm advisor
for Butte, Tahima and Glenn Counties, and he's involved with
some of these plantings to determine if they're worthy of advancing,
particularly these self fruitful varieties like Shasta and Independence.

Speaker 17 (17:23):
I planted it on Viking.

Speaker 21 (17:24):
That's a particular rootstock.

Speaker 17 (17:25):
And then, as I said, I additionally have a whole
rootstock trial where it's on five replicated rootstocks as well
as well as some peekaboo kind of seen in just
a set of trees, a few trees each of the
early Bird, which is another self hurtle variety that came
out of Sierra Gold recently that they're really excited about.

Speaker 6 (17:46):
As well.

Speaker 21 (17:46):
A wide array of trucks, trailers in heavy equipment will
be open for public bidding at the Ritchie Brothers Los
Angeles area sale event June twenty sixth and twenty seventh.
Register for free for this absolute unreserved auction at rbauction
dot com. Again, that's rbauctioned dot com.

Speaker 19 (18:08):
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

(18:29):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The Egg Information Network trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 9 (18:38):
It's been popping up in orchards and vineyards all over
any origin theories.

Speaker 22 (18:42):
Colors, Oh hey yeah, it's Seva fungicide from BASF, a
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Speaker 10 (18:47):
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Speaker 22 (18:50):
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Speaker 9 (18:57):
So a fungicide that is out of this world, I
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Speaker 23 (19:06):
Pressure with the AG Information Network. I'm Patrick Cavanaugh and
as you know, over the last few years, we've been
hearing a lot about precision upgrades. Kyle Berry is manager
of Precision Upgrades Marketing for John Deere and talks about
precision upgrades and why it's time that farmers look into them.

Speaker 24 (19:24):
When we talk about precision upgrades, it's really about taking
customer's existing machines and upgrading them to the latest and
greatest technology offerings that Deer has put out in the marketplace.
So think about a planter, a spray, or a combine
that maybe is a few years old. Deer has come
out with new technology that's available from the factory on
new machines, but we're retrofitting that same technology onto existing machine.

Speaker 13 (19:44):
So it's giving.

Speaker 24 (19:45):
Customers the ability to move up what we call the
technology pyramid to adopt these technologies on their farm to
ultimately improve their profitability.

Speaker 23 (19:53):
At the end of the year, Barry says they have
a suite of available planter upgrades from John Deere, a
couple of.

Speaker 24 (19:59):
Them that were really excited about, especially going into our
new model. Y're here in June. Is the meter upgrade.
So traditionally John Deere has sold upgrades four planters in
the version of an entire row unit, so you would
take the old row units off your planner and put
an entire new ROW unit on, but new from out
of your twenty six we have the ability to replace
the existing meter in your planter with a new either

(20:20):
five E MAXIMERGE five E or exact Emerge meter. You
compare it with individual row hydraulic downforce if you want,
or active pneumatic. He really takes that basic planter and
moves it up the technology pyramid to electric drive, giving
you all the benefits of individual row shut off. If
you move up to exact emerge and you get the
ability to plant it up to ten miles an hour.

Speaker 23 (20:37):
He citing on an upgrade depends on what problem a
customer is trying to solve.

Speaker 13 (20:42):
You can really piece.

Speaker 24 (20:43):
An upgrade kit together for your planner to help solve
the problems that you have. And maybe that's pneumatic row cleaners,
maybe it's the meter upgrade that we just talked about.
Maybe your row units are war out and it makes
sense to replace the entire row unit in the form
of an ultimate planter upgrade. We also have frame weight
distribution available, so if you're worried about the penttro compaction
from the CCS tanks, we have an upgrade kit available

(21:05):
to help with that. So it really boils down to
what problems they are trying to solve and how the
technology that Deer offers can meet them where they are
and they can move up that technology pyramid I talked
about without buying a brand new planter. They can keep
the planter they have put some upgrades on it depending
on what they want, and be ready for the planting
season for twenty.

Speaker 23 (21:22):
Six Gear has resources available for farmers to start considering
a planter upgrade.

Speaker 25 (21:27):
Now.

Speaker 24 (21:28):
One great resources they're local John Deer dealer. They're a
wealth of information when it comes to all things John Deere,
but also Precision Upgrades. You could also visit us online
at Deer dot com slash upgrade. When you think specifically
for planters, we have a compatibility tool out there where
you can put this serial number of the planter that
you own and it'll tell you all of the upgrades
that are available for that specific model. So if you're

(21:50):
not sure what you can even upgrade your planter two,
that tool is a great resource, and so I would
encourage customers to go to either of those two places.

Speaker 13 (21:57):
Again.

Speaker 23 (21:57):
That is Kyle Berry, manager of Precision Upgrades Marketing for
John Deere.

Speaker 26 (22:07):
This is the Agricultural Law and Tax Report. I'm Roger McGowen.
If you have a farming corporation, providing meals and lodging
to employees can be a valuable perk and sometimes a
business necessity. I'll be back in a moment with the details.
Join me for two days of farm income, tax and
estate in Business Planning on June five and six in
Santa Fe, New Mexico, and August four and five in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

(22:29):
More information at Registration is available at Mcgowenaglowintax dot substack
dot com.

Speaker 27 (22:36):
Improve your yields this year without changing a single step
at planning time with quick shot from Helena a full
nutrient package in one ultimate plinter box treatment. Visit helena
agra dot com to learn more. The value of meals
and lodging furnished on the business premises for the employer's
convenience and as a condition of employment, is not taxable

(22:56):
income to the employee as well as the employee spouse independence.
Employer can deduct the amounts if they're provided in kind
and they aren't wages for fiica and few to purposes.
This tax treatment is available only for employees. The strategy
won't work for your farm tenant. It also doesn't work
for a sole proprietorship or a partnership, and the technique
is very limited when it comes to s corporations. Meals

(23:16):
can't be provided as a means of compensation and you
won't get the tax benefits by providing a cash allowance.
The meals must be provided in kind. The RS doesn't
think that groceries meet the inkind test, but the courts
are split on this point. For the value of lodging
provided in kind to employees to be excludable from an
employee's income and deductible by the corporation. The same test
must be met. In addition, the employee must be required

(23:37):
to accept the lodging as a condition of employment. A
well drafted corporate resolution for meals and lodging is a
good idea structured properly, providing meals in lodging to corporate
employees can be a significant fringe benefit. This has been
the Agricultural Law and Tax Report.

Speaker 13 (23:52):
I'm Roger Mcowen.

Speaker 28 (23:59):
It's time for California AGG today on the ag Information Network.
I am Haley's ship industry estimates indicate the Sacramento Valley
we'll see approximately five hundred thousand acres of rice during
the twenty twenty five season, with the California Rice Commission
telling that the activities associated with the crop are expected

(24:19):
to contribute to one billion dollars in economic activity and
support over ten thousand jobs in the valley. So how
do we protect that crop and its potential? I spoke
last week to Dave Cheatham from Helena Agra Enterprises. He
said weed management is top of mind at this point
in the season, as well as making sure fertility isn't ignored.

Speaker 29 (24:41):
They can't forget about that mid to late season application
of fertility and making sure that their crops have all
of the groceries that they need within them or the
nutritional needs available to the crop so that they can
maximize yield potential. That's that's the big focus right now.

Speaker 28 (25:03):
Dave told me about technology Helena has developed in which
custom agronomy blends can be created and applied in one pass,
eliminating the need to go through a field multiple times.
For more information and to find a Helena rep near you,
head to Helena agrie dot com.

Speaker 30 (25:20):
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(25:42):
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(26:02):
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Speaker 28 (26:18):
With California agg Today on the AG Information Network, I
am Hailey's ship.

Speaker 1 (26:23):
Bob Quinn. Here are some farm Us Today friends. Whether
in a state capitol or in Washington, d C. Lawmakers
are often talking about issues that will directly or indirectly
impact the farming community, and with more and more people
disconnected from agriculture, it's becoming even more important for farmers
to speak up and tell their stories. At a recent
House Ag Committee hearing that featured farmers Washington States, Dan

(26:43):
Newhouse said the hearing captured the attention of representatives in
a way he could not no.

Speaker 3 (26:49):
I get it.

Speaker 6 (26:49):
It's farming for years. You're busy.

Speaker 31 (26:51):
You don't have time to be going to DC or
going to Olympia and making calls, write letters. It's tough
to do, but bless you if you take a few
minutes and get that kind of work done. It makes
such a difference for members of Congress to hear personally
from the people that will be directly impacted by the
legislation league passed new House.

Speaker 1 (27:12):
A farmer himself says, whether it's the farm built, immigration reform, taxes,
or AG labor, the farming community must do what it
can to make sure their voices are being heard well.

Speaker 13 (27:22):
Friends.

Speaker 1 (27:23):
Proposition twelve is not only causing challenges for the US
park industry, it's also driving the cost of meat higher
for California residents. Dwayne Stateler, president of the National Pork
Producers Council, says, California residents are literally crossing state lines
to buy pork for their families.

Speaker 32 (27:38):
Black market pork is very real out there because they've seen,
depending on what cuts, they've seen an average of twenty
to forty percent increase in their costs. And some people think, well,
why would it be that much different, Well, now you
have retailers across the United States that are getting product
from packers that are having to stop lines and bring
this in to run this so that you don't mix it,

(27:59):
and now you have regional warehouses that have twice as
many bases required. You have to have the pork chop
that is not Prop twelve, You have to have the
chop that's Prop twelve, and.

Speaker 13 (28:08):
Then you have to have the pork chop that's ready
for Q three.

Speaker 32 (28:10):
Every little disruption just raise the cost, and it's just
going to raise the cost of consumer.

Speaker 1 (28:15):
There's no question it will take a legislative fix to
solve the Prop Wellve challenges.

Speaker 13 (28:19):
It's not raising my cost to produce it.

Speaker 3 (28:21):
Well.

Speaker 32 (28:21):
It is if I went to a Prop twelve, but
I was expecting to get paid more for that. And
that's everybody's right. If a state wants to have this requirement,
let the market determine that to get in it, but
don't force that requirement on a farmer that he has
to raise that in order to be able to sell
his product. I think the Supreme Court was probably right.
I think this needs to be legislative fixed. That's why

(28:41):
we look for the legislative fix in the Farm Bill.
A fix for this isn't going to cost the government
or taxpayers a dime. It's the legislative part that we've
got to get done because, yes, other parts of industrial
worried this could come after GMO, this could come after anything.

Speaker 13 (28:56):
It's a concern for us going forward.

Speaker 1 (28:58):
Pork Council President Dwayne State with us well. Friends, It's
time to make your voices heard. Regarding rural health care,
Chad Smith as our.

Speaker 4 (29:05):
Story, Congress is considering significant cuts to funding for the
Medicaid program, as well as cuts to benefits in the
Affordable Care Act that could impact many rural Americans. Don Hanniford,
vice president for public Policy at Rural Minds, a nonprofit
with the vision of a rural America with no more silence, suffering,

(29:25):
or stigma surrounding mental illness, says rural Americans may have
reason to be concerned about the potential cuts and health
care services that could be on the horizon.

Speaker 33 (29:35):
There's a mental health emergency in rural America today, and
Medicaid is the backbone of mental health and addiction care
in the US, and many rural Americans rely on both
Medicaid and the Affordable Care marketplace tax benefits for their
healthcare and it cuts that are being talked about in
Congress are a significant challenge at healthcare for some people
who are you hold the responsibility of feeding our country

(29:57):
in the world.

Speaker 4 (29:57):
Hannaford understands that these potentials cuts may only add stress
to the inherent challenges of living and working in rural America.

Speaker 33 (30:06):
Rural America already has limited health resources, Getting or keeping
their coverage can be a keute. Additional mental health spressor
and Medicaid benefits are essential for many people in rural America,
and for those who can enter an ACA marketplace. The
tax benefits that could expire at the end of this
year are crucial for being able to maintain or even
get their mental health coverage.

Speaker 4 (30:27):
He says, rural residents already get the short end of
the healthcare stick, with fewer doctors and fewer yet with
mental health experience, as well as geographical distance from healthcare
sites and spotty or nonexistent telehealth capabilities.

Speaker 33 (30:42):
Yes encourages everybody in rural America to make your voices heard.
You can contact your senators and congressmen encourage both the
administration and all of Congress to consider the needs of
all Americans when addressing funding for Medicaid and they ACA
marketplace tax benefit. You want more information. You can go
to ruralminds dot org.

Speaker 4 (31:03):
Once again, make your voices heard at ruralminds dot org.
Chad Smith reporting farm US.

Speaker 1 (31:09):
This morning, you're listening to ag Life.

Speaker 34 (31:12):
From the Egg Information Network. This is your agribusiness update.
Thousands of FFA members from across the US or in Washington,
d C. For the Washington Leadership Conference. The premier leadership
experience for more than sixteen hundred high school students exposes
them to a rich history of the nation's capital. A
key aspect of the conference is for these students to
learn how to advocate for agriculture and ag education through

(31:34):
congressional visits and meeting in person with their state representatives
and senators. Two people from China are charged with conspiracy,
smuggling goods into the US, making false statements, and visa fraud.
The FBI arrested them for smuggling a fungus into the US.
It's classified as a potential agro terrorism weapon. This noxious
fungus causes head blight, a disease of grains. It's responsible

(31:57):
for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide every year.
The fungus can cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects
in humans and livestock. New research from the USDA's Agricultural
Research Service sheds light on the cause behind this year's
catastrophic honeybee colony losses reported by commercial beekeepers. The finding's
point to an alarmingly high level of viral infections caused

(32:19):
by viroamites that have resistant genes to a common treatment.
The study analyzed samples from six major commercial beekeeping operations
and provided the most detailed evidence of the biological factors
behind the widespread die offs.

Speaker 35 (32:32):
Farmwork 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.

Speaker 4 (32:41):
Here's what you need to remember.

Speaker 35 (32:43):
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
moment a caution can save alife. Let's work together to
keep our roads and are farm safe. This message was
brought to you the ag Information Network.

Speaker 36 (33:02):
Today we're talking with aphids and wife flies about sephena
insecticide from basf We just get nailed with it.

Speaker 13 (33:08):
So tell us how you.

Speaker 36 (33:09):
Feeling really really weird and you still want to devour
this field?

Speaker 10 (33:15):
No way, bro.

Speaker 13 (33:17):
There you have it, folks.

Speaker 36 (33:18):
Safena insecticide is specifically engineered to disorient aphis and wifelies
so they can't eat, and when they can't eat, they
can't destroy.

Speaker 30 (33:25):
He'll protect your alfalfa from aphids with sefena insecticide. Always
read and follow label directions from the Ag Information Network.
I'm Bob Larson with today's agribusiness Update.

Speaker 1 (33:35):
Bob went back to wrap up baglie for today friends. Well,
it's an important time for the future of US ag policy,
Chad Smith. As our final report.

Speaker 4 (33:43):
Joel Maxwell, chief strategy officer and co founder of Farm Action,
said they put together policy statements because it's a historic
time for US agriculture.

Speaker 25 (33:53):
While members of the House and Senate of both parties
have offered solutions to address issues highlighted the MAHA Commission report,
there's not been a time for this type of national
platform from the White House, from HHS, and from USDA
has been presented to the people in this country. This
is the moment for all of us who care about

(34:16):
taking on corporate power, corporations that are dictating our markets,
our price They're telling us who gets to farm and
what we farm, and even who gets to eat healthy food.
We saw this as that historic moment. This is the
time to go forward and to push the policies that
will make America healthy again.

Speaker 4 (34:35):
He talks about the solutions Farm Action is proposing in
their recommendations.

Speaker 25 (34:40):
We believe you have to address farm subsidy programs if
we're going to promote a healthy food system. Our government,
for far too long, through the Farm Bill, has prioritized
farm programs that have focused on field crops more so
than it has on the production of healthy food crops
like fruits and vegetables. We call those special crops. The

(35:00):
kurt system puts way too high of a priority on
raising the lower value field crops that big agg and
big food then turns into livestock feed and ultra processed foods.
And we also have to begin to think about farmers,
as the Commission report indicates, as being center in health.
Before I think we as farmers, no one's thought about
us as being a big part of the health of America.

(35:23):
It's also a mindset change we got to take on
the consolidation of food system.

Speaker 4 (35:27):
Farm Action would also like to see changes in pesticide
and herbicide use by farmers.

Speaker 25 (35:33):
We've got to incentivize farmers to move towards conservation type
programs that reduces our need on the chemicals that we're using,
the pesticides and herbicides. Finally, I think we're not going
to get there unless we confront the corporate capture revolving
door issue that the report talks about. Individuals go to
work for an industry. The next thing you know, they're

(35:54):
back into one of the agencies overseeing the very people
they just work for.

Speaker 13 (35:58):
You said.

Speaker 4 (35:59):
There's one big, big hurdle America faces in developing a
healthy food system, as was called for in the recent
MAHA Commission report.

Speaker 25 (36:07):
To achieve the goals outlined in the Commission's report, it
will require both parties, not one party or the other
will deliver a healthier agriculture food system. President Trump has
to recognize his actions are necessary if we're to achieve this.
He's got to push USDA, HHS and the other agencies
to push back against the corporate capture within their own agencies.

(36:29):
Our recommendations include both Republican and Democrat legislative packages from
past Congresses. If the Republicans and the Democrats can come together,
we can realize a healthier, safer food system for America
that centers farmers and gives us the tools we need
to feed our neighbors.

Speaker 4 (36:49):
Again, that's Joe Maxwell of Farm Action. Chad Smith reporting

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