November 14, 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.
After not getting a World agg Supply and Demand Estimate
report in October due to the government shutdown, the USDA
announced that there will be a WASDI report this month.
Fact it's due out today now. The report coming out

(00:22):
today has the commodity markets very excited. Allendale commodity broker
Greg McBride said there will be important updates to yield
and production numbers.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
We're going to get an update for yield and production,
will also get to ending stock updates, so you know,
the full balance sheets the thing that we're looking at
right now, and some of the private analysts that have
put out some of their estimates so far really don't
look like there are anything major on the yield side

(00:53):
of things for adjustments. So we're sitting at one eighty
six point something on on the September was the report.
We haven't seen anything since then, not really a big deal.
We don't see major changes in October anyways, so nothing
that we really missed out on there. But on the
on the ban side of things, We're somewhere around fifty

(01:15):
three bushels to the acres, so these are not major cuts.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
Since this year's yields have been mostly disappointing compared to
previous estimates, McBride said, there will be a lot of
conversation about where those numbers should be now.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
A lot of the conversation that's revolved around things in
the last you know, essentially two months at this point
since we had our last was the report was that
the the yields weren't necessarily as good as advertised back
you know, at the end of summer as we're getting
ready to harvest, and everybody kind of thought, well, we're
probably closer to maybe a one eighty one, eighty two

(01:50):
or one eighty three on corn, and we were probably
closer to maybe a fifty one or a fifty two
bushel crop on bean. So there's there's going to be
conversations about that.

Speaker 1 (01:59):
MCR said. The current export situation creates several problems for
the markets as well.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
The tough part on engaging the corn side of things
is just we know that the last information we got
was that September thirtieth, the quarterly Stocks report that showed
higher stocks than what we're expected, so you should be
talking about potentially a two point two point two anywhere

(02:26):
from a two point one to two point three billion
carryout for corn. And on the b side of things,
we were at around three hundred the last time. There's
nothing that really says we need to see a major change. Obviously,
the export situation has changed a little bit when it
comes to the conversation of revolving around China again.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
That was the report do out this morning. More farm
news coming up. You're listening to aag life Bob Quinn.
Here were some farm news this morning friends. Trey Meyers
of Oklahoma recently elected as the new president of the
National FFA. He says it hasn't truly sunk in yet,
but it's getting.

Speaker 3 (03:03):
There, starting to set in just a little bit, but
still doesn't exactly feel real, but excited for the year ahead.
So I'm from a little town called Perkins, Oklahoma, which
is right next to Stillwater. But fun fact about Perkins
is it's actually home of the original pistol Pete, which
is the mascot here at Oklahoma State. So I've practically
bled orange and been a cowboy since the time I
was born and was a little bitty. I grew up
loving sports, thought I wanted to play collegiate golf there
for a little bit and it got plugged into the FFA.

(03:25):
Went to something we call Lumni Leadership Camp here in Oklahoma,
and for the listeners out there that don't exactly know
what that is, Lumni Leadership Camp is our summer camp
for Oklahoma FFA, and I fell in love with the people.

Speaker 1 (03:34):
He was elected to a local FFA office as a
freshman in college. Myers talked about the decision to run
for national FFA president.

Speaker 3 (03:42):
Fun fact, I almost didn't run funny enough, So it's
a little bit of a funny story.

Speaker 4 (03:46):
Joe Sai Kurupshank. I don't know if you know that name.

Speaker 3 (03:48):
He was a past national officer a couple of years back,
but I bumped into him at our state convention here
in Oklahoma. I was saying I was considering it a
little bit, but at this point it was definitely not
dead set on running. And I also bumped into Jack
Lincolnfelter at our state came he was currently serving as
the Southern Region Vice president, and bumped into him.

Speaker 4 (04:04):
You can totally run, so I thought about it.

Speaker 3 (04:05):
I ended up just showing up for our Oklahoma's national
officer selection process and was selected. And then, like I said,
fast forward to where we are today. It's pretty crazy
look back on the last couple of months, but it's
been a crazy road.

Speaker 1 (04:16):
For those who've never run for national FFA office. He said,
it's a difficult hill to climb.

Speaker 4 (04:23):
Very much so.

Speaker 3 (04:23):
In fact, the beginning of the semester and going into
the process preparing for it, someone told me that this
will be the hardest thing you ever do. The process
is comprised of seven different rounds. You've got your personal
round one, which is a six minute interview. Then you
have a standing deliver, which is where they give you
a topic. You have fifteen minutes to prepare a four
minute speech. The following day, on that Monday, you have
a one on one round, so you have a one

(04:43):
on one with each member of the dominating committee. And
then that night there's an advancement. After you make the advancement,
you go into media and stakeholder a rounds. So I
had two conversations with the stakeholder, I did a podcast
just like we're doing today, and then we had a
little fifteen minute portion of a facilitation, and then we
had another PR two, which is the firstonal round conclusion.

Speaker 4 (05:00):
Thursday at about nine thirty.

Speaker 3 (05:02):
All the way to Saturday at two, I was just
a nervous wreck waiting for the results. So it's a long,
strenuous process, emotional rollercoaster, but I guess it worked out.

Speaker 1 (05:09):
Myers is looking forward to a busy year as a
national officer.

Speaker 3 (05:14):
I've been telling a lot of people the last week
that I'm looking forward to bringing Small Group nineteen to
f FA, not only FFA members, but people all across
the country. What I mean by that is Small Group
nineteen is kind of the epicenter of where my FFA
journey started. I joined FFA in the eighth grade, but
it didn't really start for me until I went to
Alumni Leadership camp, and Small Group nineteen was the small
group that I was placed in for those three days.
And at the end of that session, and in the

(05:35):
end of those three days, these people that had no
idea who each other even where they were complete strangers
just ninety six hours ago left that campus lifelong friends.
And actually I saw someone in that small group here
on campus, a couple of weeks before conventions. So the
world we live in is the most connected yet disconnected
society ever in human history, and so my goal is
just to bring human connection all across the country and
do it in a way that small group nineteen did

(05:55):
it for me.

Speaker 1 (05:56):
Trey Meyers, they knew National FFA President friends. The cry
for the H two A reform can be heard all
around agriculture, and the recent adjustments to calculating the adverse
effect wage rate are a step in the right direction,
as we hear in this story. But Enrique Gastulum, CEO
of the Worker and Farmer Labor Association, says the AWR

(06:19):
is not the program's only problem that needs to be addressed.

Speaker 5 (06:23):
Second six we need to see is something's got to
break the farmery way related to the cost of housing.
This is one of the only foreign guest worker programs
where the employer is on the hook for paying one
hundred percent of the worker's living situation.

Speaker 1 (06:39):
Gasculum says, it adds up very quickly.

Speaker 5 (06:42):
Not only do you have to either build or rent
or identify safe and healthy licensed housing, which I have
no problem with that, but you've also got to bear
the brunner of the entire cost the facility, the utilities,
the maintenance, the upkeep. That could be upwards of five
or six dollars a production hour per persons.

Speaker 1 (06:59):
Gasuline says, in the H two B program, which is
seasonal labor no more than ten months but non agg related,
those workers actually pay all their housing cost.

Speaker 5 (07:09):
Yes, it is a different program, but I think conceptually
we have shown we can still have guest workers come
in and have them pay if not all, they can
pay some share of that housing.

Speaker 1 (07:18):
Gasulum says. This gives foreign guest workers a competitive advantage
with domestic workers farm us. This morning, you're listening to
WAG Life.

Speaker 6 (07:27):
It's another agnews up to a policy. Fuel, protein and
inputs all moving, but keep an eye on tariffs, plant grind,
hug supply and fertilizer.

Speaker 7 (07:37):
If this were just any door, and this were just
any ignition connected to just any transmission in just any vehicle,
then perhaps it would be okay to buy it from
just anyone. But this is not just any car. It's
a certified Prio and Mercedes Benz. Every detail has been
inspected and road tested by highly skilled Mercedes Benz technicians,

(07:58):
and it's all backed by an unlimit mileage.

Speaker 6 (08:00):
Warranty for up to five years, which makes.

Speaker 7 (08:02):
The decision avoid to buy one simple if you're authorizer
sains Bend's deal.

Speaker 6 (08:07):
The Supreme Court sounded skeptical of using emergency powers for
broad tariffs that on Wednesday, it's a shift that could
change how the White House pressures trading partners like China,
Brazil and India and could ripple through equipment and input cost.
On the fuel side, plants pushed a new weekly record

(08:28):
at one point one two million barrels per day of ethanol.
It's boosting stocks even as exports soften and gasoline demand eases,
and it's signaling a well supplied market into winter. In proteins,
Ravobanks's producers cautious on expansion in twenty twenty six. China

(08:50):
is trimming their sound numbers, Brazil is gaining share, and
disease risks are keeping the outlook fragile even with firm
prices in Europe. In North America, inputs remain tense. India's
light your reattender. Europe steady buying and China's limited exports
are keeping nitrogen firm phosphate tight. After China's export approvals lapsed,

(09:15):
and for operations looking to add revenue without buying cattle,
contract grazing continues to pencil in. It's another Agnews update.

Speaker 8 (09:26):
You're going to need neat.

Speaker 9 (09:27):
You're going to need us, all of us.

Speaker 10 (09:30):
You're going to need our help with your water, your air,
your food.

Speaker 4 (09:35):
You're going to need our determination, our compassion.

Speaker 9 (09:39):
You're going to need the next generation of leaders to
face the challenges the future will bring.

Speaker 5 (09:43):
And we promise we'll be there when you need us.

Speaker 6 (09:47):
Today.

Speaker 11 (09:48):
Fourh is growing the next generation of leaders. Support us
at fourage dot org.

Speaker 6 (09:55):
American Cattle News. Is the price of beef too high?
Big question answers after this.

Speaker 7 (10:05):
If this were just any door, and this were just
any ignition connected to just any transmission and just any vehicle,
then perhaps it would be okay to buy it from
just anyone. But this is not just any car. It's
a certified prio in Mercedes Benz. Every detail has been
inspected and road tested by highly skilled Mercedes Benz technicians,

(10:26):
and it's all backed by an unlimited mileage warranty for
up to five years, which makes the decision of where
to buy one simple. If you authorized mer Sades Benz deal.

Speaker 6 (10:35):
Is the price of beef too high? Colin Woodhalls, CEO,
National Cattleman's Beef Association, explains.

Speaker 12 (10:43):
Yes, we are seeing a strong market for cattle and
it's one that has helped us heal up after many
challenging years, and it's also given us an opportunity to
remind the administration in Congress that we too are consumers
and the increase in the prices that we're paying for
inputs for our farms and ranches also is at play.

(11:07):
There have been a lot of discussions about supply and
demand and where we stand with beef. Because of the
ongoing drought, we have seen the lowest domestic cattle herd
that we've seen in about seventy years. But because of
all of our effort to make the most of our cattle,
we have not seen a shortage of beef and that

(11:30):
drives us to really the crux of this entire discussion,
and that is consumer demand. We are seeing demand for
our product at a level that we haven't seen in
almost forty years, and it's the quality of our product
that is driving the consumers demand for beef. When the

(11:51):
consumer goes to their grocery store, they have a lot
of meat proteins they can choose from they want beef.
They're choosing beef and the to pay the price because
of the eating experience that they're getting. So this has
given us a great opportunity to express this message to
the President to Congress to just let the markets work.

(12:14):
We do not need government intervention. Let the markets work.

Speaker 6 (12:20):
American Cattle News.

Speaker 1 (12:26):
This is Dairy Radio.

Speaker 13 (12:27):
Now it's time for our feed for on Friday with
doctor Mike Hutchins, Professor Emeritis from the University of Illinois.

Speaker 14 (12:34):
Hello Mike, we'll welcome to today's feed Forum and our topic
is going to look at the role o lake fatty
assets in dairy cow rations. This was presented in a
paper from Michigan State University from Adam Loock's lab with
a graduate student here, printed in September twenty twenty five
Journal of Dairy Science. We know transition colls have real
challenges because they can experience the negative energy balance and

(12:58):
that causes the cow to lose body weight at risk
of metabolic disorders, a decrease in dry matter intake, and
therefore a decrease in milk production and fertility in the future.
So what is olake fatty acids for our listeners. Olake
fatty acids is an eighteen carbon fatty acid with one
double bond, and so it's considered an unsaturated fatty acids,

(13:20):
but it's a very roumin friendly fatty acid compared to
some of the C eighteen two CT eighteen three fatty acids,
which can call poly unsaturated fatty acids and they can
cause negative effects in the dairy animal itself. The work
automatic can state with lake showed that a lake will
increase milk yield and energy correct and milk here in

(13:40):
the program. It also will increase fatty acid digestibility and
lots of big factor because monera rations became four to
five percent total fats and a lake improves the ability
to that fat to be absorbed and utilized and interesting
also saw an improvement in NDF digestibility, reflecting its friendliness
in the rumin microbes as well. It also decreases fat

(14:01):
and mobilization, which means cows should not lose as much
body condition score and has some insulin sensitivity improvement as well.
Google is very important in fresh cows. The paper itself
is quite basic. People who really want to understand fatty
acid metabolism. They looked at olake acid in several different areas.
Number one, we already mentioned enhance lipid storage in adipose

(14:22):
tissue and increase the number of lipid cells and size
of lipid cells itself. By the way, his research bill
was looked not only at derk cattle but also in human,
swine and mice research, so it is a very broad
paper as well. The second area was influenced signaling, meaning
that improvement google close metabolism via enzymes as well. A

(14:44):
third area in the paper is inflammation reduction and that
was within the immune cell itself and the macrofrage recruitment
there in animals fed ola fatty acid. The fourth area
in the paper was oxidative stress, looking at its as
an antioxidant enzymes there and up regulating of the mitochondrial

(15:05):
enzymes as well. In fact, that was the fifth part
of the paper, and that was the actual mitochondria, that's
the energy driver within the cell. And it looks like
lake acid had a protective function of the mitochondria and
prevented damage to that improved structure of mitochondrial as well. Overall,
built the lake acid can have metabolic flexibility and has

(15:27):
tissue responses and stabilized metabolism. Well, dairy farmers might say,
what does it mean to me? Well, first of all,
we see a blend of palm and lake acid improves
overall performance when done at Michigan State here in terms
of milk production, energy, corrected milk and butter, fat yields,
and body conditions score. It did increase NDF digestibility and

(15:48):
fat digestability in our dairy cattle. And of course, now
with the new higher lake soybeans on the marketplace, another
way to get a very economical source over lake fat
asid in the feeding program. Sort of take on my
this are that this is a very complex paper, Go
out and search you want to learn more about the
biochemistry biology of a lake acid. It had many unique

(16:08):
roles and more work needs to be done in some
of these very basic areas in dairy cap. Well, that
completes the program for today. Thanks, have a great day.

Speaker 13 (16:16):
Thanks Mike. That's doctor Mike Hutchins, Professor Emeritis from the
University of Illinois, featured every Friday here on our feed
for him Friday on Dairy Radio.

Speaker 15 (16:23):
Now wake up and text, text and eat, text and
meet up with a friend you haven't seen in forever. Hi, okay,
text and complain that they're on their phone the whole time.
Text and listen to them. Complain that you're on your
phone the whole time, text and whatever. But when you
get behind the wheel, give your phone to a passenger,

(16:44):
put it in the glove box. Just don't text and drive.
Visit stop texts, stop rex dot org a message from
NITSA and the ad Council.

Speaker 13 (16:53):
President Trump signed a bill Wednesday night too and the
government shut down. The bill includes a measure to reverse
layoffs the Trump administration imposed during the shutdown and provides
back pay for federal employees and also institutes protections against
further layoffs. And the government only funded for a few months,
Congress will still have to pass nine other appropriation bills
before the continuing resolution ends. I'm Bill Baker, Dairy Radio, NAPP.

Speaker 16 (17:19):
Best Control Advisors in California need to have their voices known.
I'm Patrick Cavanaugh with the California Trina Report, part of
the vast Tag Information Network. Anthony Lafous is an adjunc
instructor in the School of Communication at American University in Washington,
d C. And principal at the Clyde Group, which advises
major companies including agriculture and protecting brands and engaging stakeholders.

(17:44):
He says the PCA voice matters, and they need to
be producing content on the web so that consumers and
activists can get their point of view on pest control subjects.
People are searching the internet for negative reasons which do
not help PCAs said Lafows.

Speaker 17 (18:00):
Often are people searching for the concept are pesticide safe
versus the concept pesticide free. Again, this is for the
state of California. In the past twelve months. Compared to
the concept of pesticide free, zero people are searching for
the concept are pesticide safe. People are already starting to
make their decision when they get to the Internet, and

(18:21):
we have to figure out a way to get our
voices out there using tools to make sure that we
get heard in this space of pesticide free, our pesticide safe.
It's actually a very disturbing idea that few people actually
search for the concept of our pesticide safe. It's a
relative zero compared to the term pesticide free. And these
are people who are going to become voters. These are

(18:43):
people who are going to go to the polls.

Speaker 18 (18:45):
For over forty years, the Egg 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 eating corn, to animal agriculture, especially crops like apples, almonds,
and cherries. We report on stories that mean the most

(19:07):
to you online at aginfo dot net. The ag Information
Network trusted and transparent journalism lasting for the next generation.

Speaker 19 (19:15):
Today we're talking with aphids and white flies about sephena
insecticide from basf We.

Speaker 6 (19:20):
Just get nailed with it.

Speaker 11 (19:21):
So tell us how you feeling.

Speaker 6 (19:23):
Really really weird.

Speaker 11 (19:25):
And you still want to devour this few? No way, bro.
There you have it, folks.

Speaker 19 (19:31):
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 20 (19:38):
He'll protect your alfalfa from aphids with sefena insecticide. Always
read and follow label directions.

Speaker 16 (19:44):
With the ag Information Network. I'm Patrick Kavanaugh.

Speaker 1 (19:47):
Consumer Demand for cottage Cheesus Growing stappany Hoff has more
from Wisconsin America's dairy Land.

Speaker 21 (19:55):
Wisconsin's only cottage cheese producer, Westby Cooperative Creamery, is undergoing
a just over fourteen million dollar modernization plan. This is
after consumer demand has superseded the amount of cottage cheese
they're producing. Emily Bielkowski joins us. She's the sales manager
with Westby Cooperative Creamery, and she tells us why the

(20:16):
cottage cheese market is skyrocketing.

Speaker 22 (20:19):
Sure, well, the surgeon demand for cottage cheese is attributed
to some of the viral TikTok recipes and just increase
consumer interest in high protein, healthy diets. These interests have
led to shortages for producers who are struggling to keep up.

Speaker 4 (20:37):
Just like us.

Speaker 22 (20:38):
The market is projected to keep growing and we're responding
to that with a modernization project that will update our
cottage cheese making facility in general, and we're looking forward
to meeting consumer demand. Right now, our orders are fifteen

(21:00):
to twenty percent more than we can produce. We are
over sold at this time, so with this project, we'll
be able to meet that demand.

Speaker 21 (21:10):
And I want to talk more about why the consumer
is attracted to catta is cheese.

Speaker 9 (21:14):
From what I've seen. You mentioned those TikTok videos.

Speaker 21 (21:16):
Emily, it's the protein and it's the clean label. I mean,
people are looking for a shorter ingredientless and cattage cheese
does the job absolutely.

Speaker 22 (21:26):
It is nutrient dense, lower calorie, and it's an affordable
protein source as well. We know, you know, the cost
of groceries in general is going up everywhere, so this
is a nice option for people who are looking to
have that higher protein diet. Another factor is we know

(21:46):
that GLP one pharmaceuticals protein intake is really important for
people who are on those pharmaceuticals, and so again this
is a great source of protein for people.

Speaker 9 (21:58):
Emily.

Speaker 21 (21:59):
Let's talk more now about this expansion because, as you said,
you've got to meet more demand, but it's also about
modernizing the plant as well. Does the project will allow
you to bring in more milk to the facility or
welcome new members to the cooperative.

Speaker 22 (22:14):
We currently have enough farms and milk supply, so not
necessarily the two aren't correlated. There are times that we
are selling a portion of our fluid milk if we
have extra, so as we expand, we will stop selling
fluid milk.

Speaker 21 (22:34):
So it's more about efficiency and greater yield.

Speaker 9 (22:38):
It sounds like out of the plant we're.

Speaker 22 (22:40):
Going to see ten to fifteen percent more cottage cheese
from the same amount of milk with this modern equipment.
And to talk a little bit about cottage cheese production,
so currently we have what are called open stainless steel
that's where the cottage cheese is literally made in. Well,
think of it as a giant stainless steel tub, if

(23:00):
you will. The cottage cheese is made in this giant
vessel that is open on top. Our new equipment will
be fully enclosed. And if you think about when you
boil water on the stove, if you put a lid
on top of that water, it's gonna boil faster. It's
the same concept with the cottage cheese.

Speaker 9 (23:21):
Bats Well, hit Midwest Farm Report up.

Speaker 21 (23:24):
If you guys need to official taste testers for.

Speaker 9 (23:27):
The cottage shoes. I don't know how skilled our palettes are,
but we sure do.

Speaker 21 (23:31):
You love cottage cheese, So thank you so much, Emily Bilkowski.
Along with us with Westby Cooperative Creamery, the fourteen million
dollar modernization plan is set to be complete in the
fall of twenty twenty six.

Speaker 23 (23:44):
I'm Stephanie Hoff it's time for California Egg Today on
the AGG Information Network, I am Haley's Ship. California is
sowing the seeds of innovation with a new statewide partnership
called the California Agateech Alliance. It's a fifteen million dollar
initiative designed to fast track agricultural technology from lab to field.

(24:07):
The alliance brings together the University of California Agriculture and
Natural Resources, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and
the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. According to
a release from the University of California Department of Agriculture
and Natural Resources, the Alliance will unite nine regional innovation

(24:27):
hubs to deploy new technology, train a future ready workforce,
and attract millions in private investment. Leaders say the goal
is simple, connect research, industry and farming to make California
agriculture more resilient. From robotics and field demonstrations to high

(24:48):
tech job training, this collaboration is helping farmers of all
sizes state productive and sustainable technology isn't the bottleneck, adoption is,
said Walt Duflock, Senior vice president of Innovation at Western Growers,
adding that growers need proof these tools work, training to
use them, and confidence they'll deliver. ROI.

Speaker 11 (25:09):
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to crack, but it doesn't have to be. Protect your
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(25:30):
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Speaker 19 (25:38):
Today, we're talking with aphis and white flies about sophena
insecticide from basf.

Speaker 11 (25:43):
We just get nailed with it.

Speaker 19 (25:45):
So tell us, how are you feeling really really weird
and you still wanted to devour this few? No way, bro,
There you have it, folks. Sofena insecticide is specifically engineered
to disorient aphis and wife flies so they can't eat,
and they can't eat, they can't destroy.

Speaker 20 (26:02):
He'll protect you or alfalfa from aphids with sophena insecticide.
Always read and follow label directions.

Speaker 23 (26:07):
With California AG Today on the AG Information Network, I
am Hailey's ship Bob Quinn.

Speaker 1 (26:13):
Here were some far News this morning, friends. Trey Myers
of Oklahoma recently elected as the new president of the
National FFA. He says it hasn't truly sunk in yet,
but it's getting.

Speaker 3 (26:24):
There, starting to set in this a little bit, but
still doesn't exactly feel real, but excited for the year ahead.
So I'm from a little town called Perkins, Oklahoma, which
is right next to Stillwater. But fun fact about Perkins
is it's actually home with the original pistol Pete, which
is the mascot here at Oklahoma State. So I've practically
bled orange and ben a cowboy since the time I
was born and was a little bitty. I grew up loving sports,
thought I want to play collegiate golf theraf a little

(26:45):
bit and it got plugged into the FFA. Went to
something we call Lumni Leadership Camp here in Oklahoma, and
for the listeners out there that don't exactly know what
that is, Lumni Leadership Camp is our summer camp for
Oklahoma FFA, and I fell in love with the people.

Speaker 1 (26:56):
He was elected to a local FFA office as a
freshman in college. Myers talked about the decision to run
for national FFA president.

Speaker 3 (27:04):
Fun fact I almost didn't run funny enough, So it's
a little bit of a funny story.

Speaker 4 (27:08):
Joe Saia Krupshank. I don't know if you know that name.

Speaker 3 (27:10):
He was a past national officer a couple of years back,
but I bumped into him at our state convention here
in Oklahoma. I was saying, I was considering it a
little bit, but at this point it was definitely not
dead set on running. And I also bumped into Jack
Lingenfelter at our state convention. He was currently serving as
the Southern Region Vice president, and bumped into him. You
can totally run, so.

Speaker 4 (27:26):
I thought about it.

Speaker 3 (27:27):
It ended up just showing up for our Oklahoma's National
officer selection process and was selected, and then, like I said,
fast forward to where we are today. It's pretty crazy
look back on the last couple of months, but it's
been a crazy road.

Speaker 1 (27:38):
For those who've never run for national FFA office. He said,
it's a difficult hill.

Speaker 4 (27:44):
To climb, very much so.

Speaker 3 (27:45):
In fact, the beginning of the semester and going into
the process preparing for it, someone told me that this
will be the hardest thing you ever do. The process
is comprised of seven different rounds. You've got your Personal
Round one, which is a six minute interview. Then you
have a standing deliver, which is where they give you
a topic fifteen minutes to prepare a four minute speech.

Speaker 4 (28:02):
The following day, on Monday, you.

Speaker 3 (28:03):
Have a one on one round, so you have a
one on one with each member of the dominating Committee,
and then that night there's an advancement. After you make
the advancement, you go into media and stakeholder around. So
I had two conversations with the stakeholder, I did a
podcast just like we're doing today, and then we had
a little fifteen minute portion of a facilitation, and then
we had another PR two, which is a personal round
conclusion Thursday at about nine thirty. All the way to

(28:24):
Saturday at two, I was just in nervous wreck waiting
for the results. So it's a long, strenuous process, emotional rollercoaster,
but I guess it worked out.

Speaker 1 (28:31):
Myers is looking forward to a busy year as a
national officer.

Speaker 3 (28:36):
I've been telling a lot of people the last week
that I'm looking forward to bringing Small Group nineteen to FFA,
not only FFA members, but people all across the country.
What I mean by that is Small Group nineteen is
kind of the epicenter of where my FFA journey started.
I joined FFA in the eighth grade, but it didn't
really start for me until I went to a lumni
leadership camp and Small Group nineteen was the small group
that I was placed in for those three days. And
at the end of that session, and in the end

(28:57):
of those three days, these people that had no idea
who each other even more they were complete strangers just
ninety six hours ago left that campus lifelong friends. And
actually I saw someone in that small group here on
campus a couple of weeks before conventions. So the world
we live in is the most connected yet disconnected society
ever in human history. And so my goal is just
to bring human connection all across the country and do
it in a way that smallgrot nineteen did it for me.

Speaker 1 (29:18):
Trey Meyers. They knew National FFA President.

Speaker 24 (29:21):
Well.

Speaker 1 (29:21):
Friends, You may be surprised how much food insecurity there
is in the US, even in rural America. Feeding America
was serving millions of food insecure people prior to the
government shutdown.

Speaker 25 (29:32):
We believe over fifty million people were accessing the charitable
feeding system and food banks were doing all they can,
but the demand has continued to increase. Just learned that
at the end of October, so a year ago, food
banks are purchasing more than three hundred and twenty five
percent more food through a purchase program that we have

(29:54):
through Feeding America than they did.

Speaker 4 (29:56):
A year earlier.

Speaker 25 (29:58):
So that should give you some sense of of what
the demand has been and what it continues to be.

Speaker 1 (30:04):
High inflation is still impacting the food insecurity and Feeding America.

Speaker 25 (30:09):
We know that many of the families who are coming
to the Charitable Feeding System or our SNAP recipients are
often making impossible choices already between food and housing or
food and healthcare, and so being able to make those
choices to turn to the charitable feeding system to turn

(30:31):
to food banks has been a critical lifeline for family.

Speaker 1 (30:34):
SNAP participants are adding an incredible burden to an already
overloaded system.

Speaker 25 (30:39):
So for every meal that the Feeding America network provides,
SNAPS provides nine, So that gives you a sense of
the gap that already exists. Food banks and their community
partners are doing all they can, but demand has served
to be on capacity. Some food banks are facing the
heartbreaking reality of having to turn people away.

Speaker 1 (31:01):
Food insecure individuals encouraged to visit Feeding America dot com
farm News. You're listening to ag life.

Speaker 24 (31:11):
From the Egg Information Network. I'm Bob Larson and this
is your agribusiness update.

Speaker 1 (31:15):
Well.

Speaker 24 (31:15):
EG Secretary Brook Rawlin says the US is not ready
to open its border once again to cattle imports for
Mexico after largely shutting down livestock imports in May. Despite that,
Rawlins says Mexico's efforts to contain the flesh eating New
World screwworm are progressing well. Rawlins recently traveled to Mexico
City to meet with officials, including President Claudia Scheinbaum, to
tell them the White House is focused on reopening the border.

(31:38):
The National Corgroers Association urged the White House to support
a full sixteen year renewal of the US Mexico Canada Agreement.
NCGA President Jed Bauer made the request to the US
Trade Representative, pointing to the usmca's role in facilitating and
strengthening corn exports to Mexico and Canada. All three countries
must consider whether to extend the USMCA and are required

(31:59):
to begin by July of twenty six If not, it
automatically expires. In twenty thirty six, at the COP thirty
Climate Summit in Brazil, world leaders sharply criticized President Trump's
climate change stance, warning his absence undermines global cooperation. The
summit includes a bold plan to mobilize one point three
trillion dollars annually for climate finance and private sector participation

(32:21):
towards low carbon development. Brazilian organizers say the gathering in
the Amazon Forest underscores the urgency of preserving landscapes vital
to regulating global temperatures. Representatives from India, Russia, and China
were also absent.

Speaker 11 (32:33):
Increasing your Almand yield can seem like a tough nut
to crack, but it doesn't have to be. Protect your
crop with Maravon Fung's side in Bloom for added resiliency
against frost, long lasting, broad spectrum disease control, and proven
yield results, see that wouldn't tough at all. Maravon Fungea's

(32:54):
side number one in Bloom for all the right reasons.
Always read and fallows.

Speaker 18 (33:01):
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

(33:23):
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.

Speaker 24 (33:31):
From the AG Information Network, I'm Bob Larson with today's
agribusiness Update.

Speaker 1 (33:35):
Bob went back to wrap up AGLI for to their friends.
Efficient irrigation solutions have a big impact on productivity and
profitability for growers, Chad Smith as our final report.

Speaker 8 (33:46):
Rhys Andrews, a product manager for Lindsay, said the time
commitment for crop producers is intensive. He talks about what
folks in the field need to help maximize their yields.

Speaker 10 (33:57):
I've done several clinics over my career and really number
one the biggest stated need is save my time, usually
followed closely by just make things easier, make life easier.
And to meet those needs, Lindsey began developing innovations around
what we call smart pivot solutions that deliver unique time
saving features and benefits. The new tower Watch innovation, which

(34:18):
is a smart pivot solutions feature, figures out which tower
is the problem, and this requires less skilled labor needed
to troubleshoot that situation. This then minimizes what we call
walking the pivot in challenging conditions such as mud, heat, humidity,
walking through a dense crop, and the strain actually of
crawling up each of those towers as you walk that pivot.

Speaker 1 (34:40):
He said.

Speaker 8 (34:41):
Tower Watch monitors each tower with a small sensor installed
in the tower box.

Speaker 10 (34:47):
This identifies the specific tower that caused the alignment fault
even before you reach the field, so this can save
a considerable amount of time. What happens is tower Watch
will report to field Net the tower number that faulted,
and field Net's premiere service then sends an alert in
forming the grower stating which tower needs attention. Many of
our growers operate a big mixture of center pivots from

(35:08):
different brands, models, ages, and tower Watch is designed as
a cost effective, high impactful solution that integrates seamlessly with
nearly any center pivot, regardless of US age or its manufacturer.

Speaker 8 (35:21):
Having tower Watch monitoring your pivots can reduce troubleshooting time
by up to seventy five percent.

Speaker 10 (35:27):
When you know exactly which tower caused the shutdown, you
can better plan your field trip. If I take an
eight tower pivot as an example in field that says
it's tower number seven, You're probably going to drive to
the edge of the field and walk in two hundred
feet versus going to the pivot point and walking potentially
like a quarter of a mile, inspecting every single tower
as you go until you get to that tower number seven.

(35:49):
It's like, ah, there it is. I had one of
our beta test growers this season comment that when he
got his first tower fault shutdown alert and told them
what tower it was, he said, He's saved between two
four hours easily just on that one occurrence, and he
only had to climb up one tower on his tent
tower system to correct the issue. It was a circuit
breaker that tripped on tower number eight.

Speaker 8 (36:09):
As growers finish harvesting, he offered some advice for those
preparing for twenty twenty six.

Speaker 10 (36:15):
I just want growers to know that Lindsay's Smartpivot solutions
optimize crop management. We focus on three things, monitoring, control,
and recommendations. So with field net Field net Advisors, you
can check your pivots across your whole farm, control those pivots,
monitor crop health, get real time environmental updates and irrigation recommendations.

(36:35):
And now with tower Watch, you can even save more
time and make life even easier and less strenuous dealing
with alignment faults for growers. To learn more about Lindsay's solutions,
talk to your local Lindsey Zomatic dealer and visit Lindsay
dot com again.

Speaker 8 (36:50):
That'srhyes Andrews of Lindsay Chad Smith reporting.

Speaker 1 (36:54):
With that friends about a time for today. Thanks for
joining us back Monday morning with another edition of Bag
Life