November 10, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Valley. This is Aglife. My name is Bob Quinn,
with you for the next hour talking about agricultural production
here in the valley and all across the country. Well
friends from rural America to Pennsylvania Avenue. Farmers concerned about
the high cost of inputs and the impact of tariffs
on their livelihood took their message across the country, concluding

(00:21):
this past week in Washington, d C. Mike Davis has
our story.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Brian Keel, executive director of Farmers for Free Trade, said
their motorcade covered more than eight thousand miles and they
heard from farmers from across the spectrum.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
Three days ago, we were in Clerk's Summit Pennsylvania up
near Scranton and had an event with Congressman Bresnahan, and
we had the president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Grange,
Pennsylvania Potato co Op, Pennsylvania Milk, so whole range of
interests sitting together talking about how each of those sectors

(01:01):
is being impacted by high input costs, you know, price
of fertilizer, price of farm chemicals, price of steel.

Speaker 2 (01:08):
Keel says they took what they heard to Congress and
hope they take action.

Speaker 3 (01:13):
Number one, we'd like to see tariff exemptions on farm inputs.
Number two, we think we really need to over index
on expanding market opportunities for farmers. We need to grow
those overseas markets, especially as we've created turbulence that's that's
shutting down market. So you know, it's good that China's
coming back online, but we've had months where they haven't

(01:34):
bought soybeans and that's really hurt. And then number three,
and this is a big one. We need to just
stabilize the US Mexico Canada agreement, that trade relationship with
our neighbors to the north and south, biggest ag export
destinations for a lot of commodities.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
Keel says fft's work isn't done.

Speaker 3 (01:52):
Will continue to be active on the hill, talking with
members of Congress and talking with farmers all over the US.
I'd give a hat tip to all the organizations that
support farmers for free trade, whether you know whether that's
in corn or soy or dairy. We've got a lot
of folks rowing in the same direction. And that's because
trade is so important to the American farmer.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
I'm Mike Davis Well friends the Fertilizer Institute celebrated the
inclusion of phosphate and potash on the just released final
List of Critical Minerals. Originally compiled in twenty eighteen and
then revised every three years. The list is published by
the United States Geological Survey and includes mineral commodities critical
to the US economy and national security. Recognizing phosphate and

(02:35):
potash as critical minerals will support American farmers across the
country and help ensure high crop yields and stocked grocery
store shelves for consumers, said the President and CEO, Corey Rosenbusch.
Coming up, friends, a look at the Year of the
Woman Farmer. You're listening to Aglife. Bob Quinn here with
some farm news Today. Friends. The American Farm Bureau Women's

(02:57):
Leadership Committee will celebrate the Internet Year of the Woman Farmer.
Chad Smith has our story.

Speaker 4 (03:04):
The United Nations is recognizing twenty twenty six as the
International Year of the Woman Farmer, with hopes of spotlighting
the contributions of women in agriculture and agribusiness. Lisa Werri,
a Pennsylvania farmer and member of the American Farm Bureau
Women's Leadership Committee says this is an important time to

(03:25):
acknowledge the contributions of women in rural America.

Speaker 5 (03:29):
Some of the key goals and objectives are to recognize
and empower, to address barriers, to promote gender equality and
support economic growth, and to enhance access with our education,
markets and other resources for women in the sector.

Speaker 4 (03:44):
She said. The American Farm Bureau Women's Committee has a
full slate of programming for the year ahead, including the
upcoming ACE Summit.

Speaker 5 (03:52):
Which is Advocate, Cultivate, and Empower. We're going to do
that in DC in June, and that's going to roll
right into the Women in a Survey which will explore
women's leadership and involvement, access to the industry, and identify
barriers and opportunities to provide actionable insights to strength and
engagement and support systems. But the big thing is about
how women play a vital role in American agriculture.

Speaker 4 (04:15):
She says. The survey is open to all women, not
just those who directly make an income from production agriculture.

Speaker 5 (04:22):
The survey is open to individuals eighteen and older from
the United States to Puerto Rico who have an interest
or involvement in agriculture and also those that work in
production agriculture, agribusiness, education, aguacy, and related fills.

Speaker 4 (04:37):
Learn more and take the survey at women in agsurvey
dot com. Chad Smith, Washington, Well Friends.

Speaker 1 (04:45):
Another big harvest coming in across America, and the record
crop is presenting some logistical and marketing challenges for farmers.
Tanner m Keep, the lead economists for grains and oil
seeds at Cobank, says farmers who usually sell their soybeans
directly off the combine now have to find storage either
on farm or at elevators charging higher fees.

Speaker 6 (05:08):
A dynamic here that's created some interesting situations where some
farmers who would typically haul their soybeans straight out of
the field to the grain elevator where they're delivered directly
to the export market, and then they store the corn
on farm, we have a reversal of this dynamic where
you're going to be shipping corn perhaps in storing the soybeans,

(05:28):
and so that creates a situation where farmers are going
to have to learn some different marketing skills, if you will.

Speaker 1 (05:35):
While soybeans don't have many places to go, corn and
wheat are still moving into the market.

Speaker 6 (05:40):
Absolutely over rail. We're seeing that in the data right now,
a lot of shipments via rail to Mexico and also
to the Pacific Northwest. A lot of corn and wheat
going to the Pacific corridors like Portland and what have you.
The issue here that we're experiencing on the Mississippi River
is a situation that's going to reduce some traffic there

(06:01):
because of low water levels resulting from the drying conditions
in the Midwest, and so lower water levels on the
Mississippi River mean less barge traffic. But remember this is
also coming at a time when we don't have as
much demand, specifically from China for soybeans, and so that
allows a little bit more of that space for barge
freight to be used for corn and wheat. So there's

(06:22):
some opportunities there.

Speaker 1 (06:23):
A storage hedge presents some opportunities with a lot of
soybeans in storage.

Speaker 6 (06:28):
On the hold here, this is an uncertain environment and
what that means in we're going to have bigger carries
in the futures market. So if you know how to
do a storage edge, there are some opportunities for farmers
to take advantage of those bigger carries in the futures market,
and at the same time, basis levels are very weak
across the Plains and Midwest for corn, soybeans, and wheat.

Speaker 1 (06:49):
There may be some opportunities closer to home.

Speaker 6 (06:51):
If you don't have, for instance, a local end user,
whether that is a soybean crush plant or methanol plant,
or an end user that that is feeding corn or
wheat or solabein meal, and you're going to be more
exposed to the export market, then you're going to have
a little bit more risk there. But if you have
local demand there, perhaps there might be an opportunity to
participate in a stronger basis and come up with some

(07:15):
contracts for delivery at a later date with local end users.
And so your basis is going to be a little
bit different there.

Speaker 1 (07:23):
Tanner m Key of Cobank with us this morning farm News.
You're listening to wag Life.

Speaker 7 (07:28):
It's another agnews update, Global soy flows to burger economics
and milk margins. All ahead after this.

Speaker 1 (07:40):
I'm Russkohler, a dairyman from Utah.

Speaker 8 (07:43):
Safety. Know your limits. Heat stroke is life threatening. Know
the symptoms confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, high body temperature,
hot dry skin and profuse sweating. Reduce your risk during
the heat of the day by working earlier or later,
allow time for water and rests by drinking two to
four cups of water each hour.

Speaker 9 (08:03):
This public service message is brought to you by Farm
Bureau and the US agg Centers.

Speaker 7 (08:09):
China's scale up farm model is straining low crop prices,
rising land rents, and negative oil seed crush margins, which
could readirect soybean demand and bases later this season. Even
as Brazil ready's another big harvest closer to home. Ground
beef's affordability still hinges on imported lean trim. Cutting those

(08:34):
in flows would spike retail prices, choking food service demand,
so cattle and cowflows remain tied to open trade, not isolation.
Dairy stayed expansionary this summer, with milk up three point
six percent and milk fat up five point three percent,

(08:55):
but softer class prices and slipping butter values are now
leaning on mailbox checks, is fluid cells lags, and keep
an eye on feed and coverage. Is ur end approaches
out West Arizona producers showing how to stretch scarce water,
precision irrigation, reuse, and conservation, tillage keeping forge and specialty

(09:20):
crops moving while trimming withdraws. I'm Tony Saint Shaan's it's
another agnews update.

Speaker 10 (09:28):
Meet Blue.

Speaker 11 (09:29):
Blue's not feeling well the prescription generic medication? Blue wonders,
do they really work as well as name brands? Yes,
generics and name brand medications do work the same, even
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they're as safe and effective as name brands, and Blue

(09:50):
even save some green, making him a little less well.

Speaker 7 (09:53):
Blue.

Speaker 11 (09:54):
Talk to your doctor about generics and visit FDA dot
VP slash Generic Drugs.

Speaker 7 (10:00):
American Cattle News. What's the value of hay more? After this?

Speaker 8 (10:10):
I'm Russ Kohler, a dairyman from Utah. Safety. Know your limits.
Heatstroke is life threatening. Know the symptoms confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures,
high body temperature, hot dry skin, and profuse sweating. Reduce
your risk during the heat of the day by working
earlier or later, allow time for water and rest breaks
by drinking two to four cups of water each hour.

Speaker 9 (10:33):
This public service message is brought to you by Farm
Bureau and the US agg Centers.

Speaker 7 (10:39):
Doctor Mark Johnson is an Oklahoma state beef breeding specialist
on the value of hay.

Speaker 12 (10:46):
What is the value of hay right now in Oklahoma?
And so we walk back through a little bit of history.
But it's interesting how we got here addressing this question
of what is hay worth in August to twenty twenty five.
If we look back over the last three years, it's
been kind of a bumpy road. That big drought in
twenty twenty two didn't leave us with a lot of

(11:06):
hay inventory. As we go back and forth from there,
and just taking a look at what has happened in
twenty twenty five, hay was actually at relative to the
ten year average price on a national basis across all
types of hay, Hay was more expensive than normal. In January,
we actually saw that seasonal increase up until May go

(11:28):
up by twenty some dollars a ton. Since that time,
there's been ample moisture. Mother Nature's cooperated with us, probably
seeing a few more acres that became hay meadows this year.
And as a result here in Oklahoma, when we finally
got into hayfields in the past month, the reports of
yields have been good, and we're all asking that question

(11:51):
from both sides of this equation, whether we have hay
to sell or we need to procure it and buy it.
The way it looks right now, some of those early
forecasts for hey being more expensive this year probably overestimated.
It looks like average hay price for the year is
going to be down. That is the report for most
all around the country. Now as we look out west

(12:12):
where they're still in a drought, but the only higher
prices hey we see in the past couple months are
coming from some of the Western states. So bottom line,
what can we expect? It looks like a good year
for end users.

Speaker 7 (12:26):
American Cattle News.

Speaker 1 (12:32):
This is Dairy Radio Now Milki Monday.

Speaker 13 (12:35):
Lucas Pees, senior dairy analysts with Ramble Bank in Chicago.
Lucas Ramble Bank's latest dairy report examined consumer trends, animal protein,
and dairy production.

Speaker 14 (12:47):
Give us some of the main points.

Speaker 15 (12:49):
Certainly, no shortage of things going on in the market
lead even regardless of this government shutdown that has prevented
some access to dairy data that we're usually seeing over
the past few weeks, I think looking at the consumer,
though there certainly continue to be signs of stress in

(13:09):
consumer purchasing and spending habits, a variety of fast food
fast casual chains reporting struggling same store sales. That's not
to say that that there aren't chains that are winning,
places like Chili's, for example, seeing very strong year over
year sales growth, but broadly speaking, there still is a

(13:29):
sense of unease in the consumer. I think that's not
to say that the outlook is negative for dairy demand.
Grocery store sales and in certain key dairy products still
trending higher, dairy being an affordable form of animal protein
for consumers, especially when we look into some of the
other protein sources, things like beef at multi year highs

(13:53):
here as that herd size continues to recover, the beef
herd at the lowest level in decades due to higher
feed costs over the past few years, and drought, meaning
that deef prices for consumers are sharply higher. I think,
looking ahead, all eyes are optimistic that we'll be able

(14:14):
to continue to push through and maybe see some economic
growth or more intense economic growth into twenty twenty six.
For now, though, I think the key story in dairy
is Even though I think demand signals are mixed, we
are still dealing with a little bit of an oversupply
situation due to the strong milk production growth both here

(14:35):
in the US and globally.

Speaker 13 (14:37):
What does Rebel Banks view on the export potential in
twenty twenty six.

Speaker 15 (14:43):
Dairy exports have had an incredible year in twenty twenty five,
regardless of all of the trade and tariff discussions. I
am optimistic for solid exports into twenty six as well.
It will all come down to the competitiveness of US
dairy prey versus those in Europe.

Speaker 16 (15:01):
And New Zealand.

Speaker 13 (15:02):
Hey Man, look at Spiez senior dairy analysts with Rabble
Bank in Chicago.

Speaker 17 (15:08):
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Speaker 19 (15:38):
Here's dairy farmer Hank Wagner and his daughter Laura with
another simple miracle moment.

Speaker 20 (15:44):
I remember Birthday week as a kid. I would race
to the mailbox every day because of the possibility finding
a card for me in there. Sometimes there would be
a monetary gift inside, but the handwritten words were always
cherished and read multiple times.

Speaker 21 (15:57):
Letter writing takes time and for thought, which may help
explain why it doesn't happen very much anymore. Knowing that
a person took the time and energy to put their
thoughts on paper makes those cards, letters, and thank you
notes so meaningful.

Speaker 20 (16:12):
Our world today wants everything fast and easy, but there's
no reason we can't enjoy some of the miracles of
letter writing and card sending.

Speaker 21 (16:19):
Consider making a list of some people that you want
to appreciate at a higher level, consider setting a goal
to regularly send out a card, get a pen, some paper,
or a special card. Tune into your heart and plant
some miracles.

Speaker 22 (16:32):
That's Hank Wagner and Laura Rodd's, author of the book
Simple Miracles for More Go to Become Better Leaders dot com.

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Speaker 18 (17:09):
Console Snakes Zombie's public speaking. The list of fears is endless,
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Speaker 22 (17:26):
Mating disruption in the almond industry is a big deal
where they take a pheromone of the female and have
it dispersed around the orchard, confusing the males. They have
no idea where to go, so it disrupts mating. I'm
Patrick Kavanaugh with a California Trina Report, part of the
vastag Information Network. David Fippen is a partner with Trevail

(17:51):
and Fippen, a grower, packer, and shipper of almonds in
the Central Valley.

Speaker 16 (17:56):
Yeah, and the tricky part is, you know, the average
California almond grower is pretty small, So if you have
a forty acre block or smaller, mating disruption really isn't
going to help you unless you can get your neighbors
to also use the same tool. And I think there's
a little bit more of that going on, where a
neighbor talks to a neighbor and maybe, you know, collaboratively

(18:18):
they can take a region like I live in Ripping,
maybe the north side of Rippon or something.

Speaker 22 (18:24):
And it does require this regional approach, you know, to
keep that pheromone activated throughout an area.

Speaker 16 (18:31):
If you can get growers to do that. Now, if
you've got one grower in the middle of that group
and he just economically can't do it, well, then that's
a challenge.

Speaker 22 (18:39):
And it's a true challenge because it could alter the
success of the whole program for naval orange worm because
it's best if you have a buy in throughout a region.

Speaker 16 (18:48):
So mating disruption works quite a bit better on you know,
a hundred acre block or multi bigger than hundred acres.

Speaker 25 (18:56):
Today we're talking with aphids and white flies about sophena
insecticide from baslt.

Speaker 26 (19:01):
We just get nailed with it. So tell us, how
are you feeling really really weird and you still want
to devour this field?

Speaker 7 (19:09):
No way, way, bro.

Speaker 27 (19:11):
There you have it, folks.

Speaker 25 (19:12):
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 19 (19:20):
He'll protect your alfalfa from aphids with saphena insecticide. Always
read and follow label directions.

Speaker 14 (19:25):
The best place to reach a farmer with a farming
solution message is when they're well farming. It's easy to
find them during the day as most farmers are behind
the wheel of the pickup truck or farm equipment with
the radio on, listening to this station for the AG
Information Network of the West News. So reach real farmers
right here, right now as they listen to what's important

(19:47):
to their farm operation. Give us a call and we'll
connect you with our local farming community. They trust us,
so they'll trust you with the AG Information Network. I'm
Patrick Cavanaugh.

Speaker 28 (19:58):
HAG the Secretary. Brook Rollins was one of the speakers
of this year's ninety eighth Annual National FFA Convention. During
her appearance at the convention, Secretary Rollins got an unexpected surprise.

Speaker 29 (20:11):
As a kid from a small town that grew up
with a single mom and didn't really know what my
path was going to be to come through the FFA program,
my AG teachers here. I didn't even know he was
going to be here. So I'm a little weepy right now.
But Garry Rosenbusch, my AG teacher, is over leaning against
the wall. Oh my goodness, forgive me to the press

(20:36):
for being a little less business like than I probably
should be.

Speaker 28 (20:39):
That was her first appearance at the National FFA Convention
since Rollins was a student.

Speaker 10 (20:44):
Member thirty five years later.

Speaker 29 (20:47):
To be here with those tens of thousands of future
farmers and future leaders that were there, with all the
amazing AG teachers, the life changing work that those AG
teachers do, to stand on the stage as a thirty
Secretary of Agriculture something that was never part of my plan.
I couldn't be more grateful for this opportunity.

Speaker 28 (21:06):
Rollins address the New World screwworm and ongoing talks with Mexico.

Speaker 29 (21:12):
So I think it's no surprise to everyone in the
audience that we are facing a potential crisis with our
animal livestock industry with a screwworm. But the screw worm,
after devastating the American livestock industry in the nineteen fifties
and nineteen sixties, took more than.

Speaker 10 (21:27):
A decade to get back out in front of it.

Speaker 29 (21:29):
We thought it had been eradicated, had moved all the
way back down into South America, and has slowly been
creeping up.

Speaker 28 (21:37):
The parasite is still getting closer to the Texas border,
which will stay closed Mexican cattle imports.

Speaker 29 (21:44):
Just a few weeks ago we had one that was
identified seventy miles from the Texas border. So we obviously
take this incredibly seriously.

Speaker 10 (21:54):
We released a five point plan.

Speaker 29 (21:55):
I've been down to the border now announcing a new
sterile fly facility, so we will continue the conversations. We
are not there yet, obviously, Mexico. There's about two hundred
fifty thousand head of cattle waiting to move over.

Speaker 10 (22:09):
But I am not convinced you that we have this
under control.

Speaker 28 (22:14):
A national coalition of US farmers has launched an advocacy
campaign to highlight the country's growing agricultural labor shortages. USDA
data shows that nearly seventy percent of crop workers from
twenty twenty to twenty twenty two were forum born, and
the number of seasonal H two A visa workers has

(22:34):
increased more than sevenfold since two thousand and five. Christy Boswell,
advisor to the Grow Adhered campaign and a former USDA official,
says a strong, stable workforce is essential to keep farms
in business and food affordable.

Speaker 30 (22:53):
Many have turned to the H TWA Agricultural Visa program,
which provides farm employers with temporary and seasonal access to
foreign labor. The program has grown exponentially out of sheer necessity,
but the program is incredibly bureaucratic and expensive. As is
often said, you shouldn't have to hire a lawyer to
hire a farm worker. Also, as a seasonal program, the

(23:15):
H three program is not available to fill year round needs.

Speaker 28 (23:19):
Brandon Batton, with Triple B Farms in North Carolina, says
the biggest threat to his operation is not weather or markets,
but a lack of workers.

Speaker 3 (23:29):
Labor is my biggest challenge.

Speaker 31 (23:32):
Every year. It seems to become more and more of
a headache. About a decade ago, out of necessity. We
did transition to the H two A program because the
local workforce was not available, was not reliable, and quite frankly,
couldn't get the job done. And as expensive and onerous
as the program is, it's more expensive to plant a
crop and not be able to get at harvest. In

(23:53):
light of these labor challenges, we have mechanized our operation
as much as we can to reduce.

Speaker 3 (23:59):
Reliance on labor.

Speaker 31 (24:00):
But with the high value crops and the crops we
grow here in North Carolina, we have to have a
certain amount to get those to the shields.

Speaker 28 (24:07):
He says. It's a lot on the shoulders to find help.

Speaker 31 (24:10):
As a family farm. You know, I am the HR department,
I am the legal department, I am the accounting department,
and I rely on some of these people to help
me get these workers here.

Speaker 28 (24:20):
He says. He speaks for a lot of farmers and
ranchers dealing with the uncertainty.

Speaker 31 (24:25):
What keeps me awake at night is am I going
to be the generation that ends it?

Speaker 3 (24:29):
Does this all end with me?

Speaker 31 (24:31):
And you know my children are old enough now to
take an interest in the farm, So I wrestle with him.
I doing them, you know, a favor or doing them
a disservice by planning the seed and love for agriculture
that they may never get.

Speaker 28 (24:44):
The harvest grow It here represents a variety of commodities
from livestock and dairy to fruits and vegetables. It's planning
listening sessions across the country to push for a more
reliable workforce.

Speaker 32 (24:58):
It's time for California at Today on the ag Information Network,
I am Haley's Ship. While a new nationwide women in
Agriculture study has just launched, calling on voices from across
the country, including right here in California, to share their
stories and experiences. The survey is open through March thirty first,
and it invites input from women in production agriculture as

(25:21):
well as agribusiness, education and advocacy, along with men who
can offer their perspectives on women's roles in agriculture. The
goal is to better understand the experiences, the leadership paths,
and the future needs of women in egg Researchers want
to learn what is working, where the gaps are, and
how to strengthen the support systems that help women succeed.

(25:43):
Some participants may also be invited to take part in
follow up interviews and focus groups for a deeper look
at mentorship, barriers and opportunities. American Farm Bureau Federation President
Zippy Duval said more than a million women play vital
roles in US agriculture, accounting for thirty six percent of
our country's farmers. We want to make sure we're clearing

(26:04):
barriers and providing opportunities for them. Now, if you are
connected to agriculture, they invite you to take a few
minutes to add your voice. You can find a link
to that survey by visiting us online at aginfo dot net.

Speaker 27 (26:18):
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 aside a Bloom for added resiliency
against frost, long lasting, broad spectrum disease control, and proven
yield results. See that wouldn't tough at all. Maravon funge
aside number one at Bloom for all the right reasons.

(26:39):
Always read and follow label directions.

Speaker 25 (26:41):
Today we're talking with aphids and white flies about sofena
insecticide from basf.

Speaker 26 (26:46):
We just get nailed with it. So tell us how
you feeling, really, really weird.

Speaker 25 (26:52):
And you still wanted to vour this few No way, bro.

Speaker 10 (26:56):
There you have it, folks.

Speaker 25 (26:58):
Safena insecticide is specifically engineer to dissorient aphis and wielies
so they can't eat, and when they can't eat, they
can't destroy.

Speaker 19 (27:05):
He'll protect your alfalfa from aphids with sophena insecticide. Always
read and follow label directions.

Speaker 32 (27:11):
This is California AGG today on the AG Information Network
I am Haley's ship. For more agnews, check us out
online at aginfo dot net.

Speaker 1 (27:20):
Bob Quinn here with a special report on AG life
this morning. While from the pastures of Wapaca County, Wisconsin,
to leadership tables all across that state. Rachel Borissa wears
many hats. She's a beef farmer, an AG advocate, and
a conservation coach. On her family's farm, she practices rotational
grazing and works to help other farmers overcome the challenges

(27:43):
of starting their own conservation journey. Today, she shares what
it takes to make conservation work on your farm. Stephanie
Hoff is our reporter today.

Speaker 33 (27:53):
She tells us what it takes to make conservation work
for your farm.

Speaker 34 (27:57):
I think a lot of it's connecting with the recon sources,
knowing what organizations can offer funding as well as a
lot of the technical assistance as well as kind of
finding people that share your why and the reasons that
we care for about conservation and conservation and agriculture. I

(28:18):
think a lot of the barrier is more of a
perception of risk and then not knowing what there is
available to support you.

Speaker 33 (28:27):
Let's talk with that first point you made almost sound
like finding a community right people that you can rely
on to swap ideas, network plan What are some of
those key resources or organizations that you would recommend.

Speaker 34 (28:42):
That's one hundred percent be able to connect with people
that can not only give you advice but also kind
of present you with new new innovative ideas and kind
of challenge you as well as kind of being like
I said, almost said planning role, that really really supportive
role and RCS for me has been one hundred percent

(29:05):
the reason that my farmer has been successful through the
different cost sharing opportunities as well as that technical assistance
and that really collaborative relationship. For me, they've been, you know,
my source. But there's also County conservation staffing, there's farmer
led groups, you know, finding those peers there's someone you

(29:27):
can connect with. And then within each of those groups,
you know they've got resources for kind of, like I said,
kind of the financial planning, the cost sharing on it
to implement these practices.

Speaker 33 (29:38):
When the government shuts down, who do you rely on
when NRCS at this USDA's offices are closed. Is that
an issue for you?

Speaker 34 (29:48):
Oh, it's been a huge issue. I was out harvesting sorghum,
my second cutting of sorghum, which was a new practice
I just tried this year, which went awesome.

Speaker 13 (29:59):
I love it.

Speaker 34 (30:01):
But that was the day the government shut down. I'd
been working very closely with my NRCS staff taking some
of those forged quality measurements that yield data. So now
i'm kind of, you know, in what should be the
last two weeks should have been kind of the most
exciting days as someone that's worked with farmers through the
whole planning process, the seating process, what seating rate are

(30:24):
we going to do? Are we going to put fertilizer down?
Each of those management considerations. I worked with NRCS as
my team, so when they were gone, it was a
pretty I didn't shed a few tears in my tractor
missing them and that they weren't able.

Speaker 16 (30:40):
To be there for that.

Speaker 34 (30:41):
And I've talked to a few of them and they
say they just want to work. This is a pretty
critical time for planning ahead for next year as well,
and that work is still there. They're so passionate about
what they do. They learn from us as farmers. We
learned from them, so you know, without them, this is
also kind of csp There's a couple of programs that

(31:04):
payments should be going out that aren't right now, So
just like anything else and what we've experienced before, that
kind of puts everything on hold down the line as well.

Speaker 33 (31:15):
Adding some volatility to agriculture regardless of if you're in
conservation or not. Along with that, you mentioned another barrier
to getting involved in new conservation practices on the farm
is this perception of risk. Can we talk about the
style and error that conservation requires and the risks that
may come with it.

Speaker 34 (31:35):
Yes, absolutely, And that's kind of where I think that
we can really make farming interesting and fun. And I
guess maybe I should caveat the perception of risk. But
one thing that I've really done and kind of really
been encouraging people is to be innovative, make farming interesting.
It can all be corn and beans and concrete. I've

(31:56):
did a small planting of a really diverse kind of
cover crop mix that I put in to alleviate soil compaction.
It's now coming up sunflowers and turnips and millet, and
all my neighbors are loving it and realizing that there's
alternative markets to some of this. And so this is
that's just one instance on my farm. But you know,

(32:19):
when you diversify, you kind of add that resilience into
your operation.

Speaker 33 (32:23):
And collaboration is key to lasting change. Her advice start small,
stay flexible, and build that network as you work to
implement conservation practices on the farm. I'm Stephanie Hoff Farm News.

Speaker 1 (32:37):
You're listening to WAG Life.

Speaker 35 (32:41):
From the AAG Information Network. I'm Bob Larson, and this
is your agribusiness update. Well, the National Potato Council is
not pleased with the US Japan trade agreement reached last week.
The meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi did
not include any mention of US fresh potato access. NPC
CEO cam Corals says it's very disappointing that the US

(33:01):
was unable to use President Trump's tariff leverage to push
past Japan's protectionism and finally open this valuable market. Japan
has delayed this market access request for thirty years. The
Department of Labour's updated shutdown plan confirms the Office of
Foreign Labor Certification will resume processing h to A temporary
labor applications during the lapse and appropriations. The Western Growers

(33:23):
Association sent a letter to the White House asking the
dol to resume processing h to A petitions. During the
government shut down, the WGA met with administration officials to
outline chief concerns and highlight challenges this pause and h
to A processing is causing for producers. The USDA transferred
thirteen billion dollars from its Commodity Credit Corporation into a
new Farmer Support Program fund tied to Terra FILAF that's

(33:46):
drawn scrutiny because lawmakers were not informed. Because the funds
were shifted without notifications, some critical programs faced shortfalls. About
three billion dollars was later reclaimed by certain USDA services.
Senator Paddy Murray of Washington criticized them BOB as undermining
keyform programs and centralizing funds without oversight.

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(34:24):
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Speaker 14 (34:26):
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(34:48):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
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Speaker 35 (34:56):
A variety of trucks, trailers and more will be up
for auction November thirteenth, and a fully unreserved auction with
Richie Brothers that is open to the public visit urbauction
dot com to sign up.

Speaker 1 (35:09):
Bob Quin here to wrap up ag Live Friends. Fall
is a good time to think about carbon credits. Chad
Smith wraps us up.

Speaker 4 (35:15):
Clay Creighton, an agronomist for a Gorol Carbon Alliance, talked
about what the opportunities are looking like right.

Speaker 36 (35:22):
Now, especially this time of year. It's great for farmers
and ranchers to really be looking into carbon programs like ours,
especially with a Goirl Carbon. We do offer items for
ro crop producers and arranging and pastor producers, So if
you're looking at reducing tillage or have thought about cover crops,
for example, it's a great time to look into a
carbon credit program to plan for twenty twenty six, or
if you've done some in twenty twenty five. With a
Girl Carbon we don't receive any federal funding, so we

(35:45):
are able to typically stack with those programs and then
being involved in a program like ours, it keeps them
from let's say the frozen funding of such things like
that too, so a program like ours can be a
bit safer to work with and we look forward to
speaking with folks.

Speaker 4 (35:58):
He talked about which farms and ranches qualify for a
carbon contract.

Speaker 36 (36:02):
We do need four hundred acres to qualify. Now that
doesn't have to be all contiguous, all one field. May
you be a collection of feels that collect up to
that much or a combination of Hey, I have three
hundred acres of ro crop and one hundred acres of
rain sland, but primarily four hundred acres that have been
in croper livestock production for three years or more. Additionally,
we do look for what's called additionality. So you can't
have been doing no till for thirty plus years and

(36:23):
try and qualify for no till for example. But there
are different ways where we can look at getting different
options in there. Subsequently, our cover crop program, if you've
been doing cover crops for a long time with serial ryan,
then one to include a legumin species like red clover
for example, that could could you involved. So I urge
folks to have those conversations with folks like me.

Speaker 4 (36:41):
Growers will see multiple benefits from a carbon program. With
a GORO carbon we have.

Speaker 36 (36:46):
Two different payment options, so we can really kind of
tailor it to what's going on in your operation and
what do you think could work better? Option and Option
B one has some pre payments upfront and some other
one has a bit more flexibility. So I like to
look around, Okay, what's your least first own and where
can we really kind of hone in our program to
be more suitable to what's going on in your operation.
Another thing, we have a growth Success team, which is

(37:07):
a fancy term for agronomis to sign to your account.
Throughout the duration of the program, you will have help
so you know, just have a customer service hotline. If
you have a question, you can call one of the
three members assigned to your team, whether it's your account
manager like me, or your onboarding specialist that helps collect
field boundaries and schedule sol sampling, or your support specialist
that does yearly visits with you, helps collect the data
necessary to prove the practices we're done and also helps

(37:30):
give frankly agnawic advice. We take care of the sole sampling,
We take care of the verifying and the selling of
the credit too, so none of that is of cost
to the producer.

Speaker 16 (37:38):
He said.

Speaker 4 (37:38):
Fall is a great time to get started and reach
out to connect with a goro carbon.

Speaker 36 (37:44):
Folks are really looking at Okay, what's next for twenty
twenty six, or Hey, I'm working on my paperwork for
twenty five things of that nature. How can I improve
my potential profitability and add a new revenue stream. So
it's a great time to basically look back on what
you've been doing and look forward for what you think
you might want to do and might want to try
to get involved with a program like ours Gorocarbon Alliance
dot com. We have a great contact form, we have

(38:05):
a carbon calculator, we have an ag carbon knowledge of
There's all sorts of ways to start researching yourself before
even clicking on the button that says hey talk to
a representative like me.

Speaker 4 (38:14):
Producers can learn more about a goro carbon Alliance and
get connected with an agronomous today at a gorocarbon Alliance
dot com. Chad Smith reporting.

Speaker 1 (38:24):
With that friends amount of time for today, thanks for
joining us. Back tomorrow morning with another edition of Baglife