October 21, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Valley, this is aglife. My name is Bob Quinn.
With you for the next hour. We're talking about agricultural
production here in the valley and all across the country.
Well friends, Most in the ag sector have a better
understanding of biologicals as a method to improve soil and
crop health. Rod Main starts us off.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
It's a word, a practice and approach, a product that
has become more node at agriculture over the past decade.
Biologicals biologicals the use of plant protection products and inputs
based on living organisms in soil health, plant nutrition, at
pest and disease threats. But what perhaps is not well
knowed how diverse biologicals are. Courtney Schreiver of Novo Nisis

(00:41):
explained several of the biological space are focused on creating
both products and approaches. For instance, in the soil itself.

Speaker 3 (00:49):
You have rhizobia naturally in the soil, and then an
inoculant is adding additional rhizoba into the soil which helps
at early season efficiencies, which improves yield and helps with
early seasons drew.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
Another approach, as presented by Corey Nickel of Indigo AG.

Speaker 4 (01:04):
We fit into a portion of that that would be
considered microbials or living organisms that are applied to the seed.
And so these are beneficials that through bioprocessing render them
dormant and put them into a flowable talt powder and
apply them to the seed at planting time.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
There are also post emergence biological products something for any
batter a grower needs to address.

Speaker 5 (01:26):
Insect control, disease control, yield, nitrogen use, those types of things.

Speaker 2 (01:31):
Then there is the study of specific biologicals and their contributions,
such as what do leave symbiotics Brett Smith describes without
say get ted times real fast pink pig betted faculative methrotropes.

Speaker 5 (01:45):
So that's why we call them ppfms.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Indeed, Smith says this is just one example of the years,
in some cases decades of research necessary to develop biologicals
for the marketplace.

Speaker 5 (01:56):
It took us eight years to figure the science out,
and part of the that is you have to figure
it out in a lab. Well before you even get
to a lab, you have to sequence. So we have
twelve thousand strains of this PPFM micro family in our library.
Sixty five hundred of those are sequence. We work with
about one hundred. Once you have those hundred, then you're
working in a lab, then you're working in a greenhouse,
and then you're working in the field getting.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Years of data.

Speaker 5 (02:18):
So we had eight years of data before we ever
sold our first acre.

Speaker 2 (02:23):
A'm broad Bain reporting for the US Department of Agriculture
in Washington, d C.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
Farm News Ahead. This is Aglife. Bob Quinn here with
some farm news this morning. Friends. Well Dairy is one
of several sectors of American agriculture feeling the effects of
our government shut down. Rri Boyer has details in this report.

Speaker 6 (02:42):
The government shutdown has created a domino effect of challenges
across the agriculture industry, and Darry is no exception. Chris Galen,
Senior vice president of Member Services and Strategic Initiatives with
the National Milk Producers Federation, explains how the lack of
federal dairy reports is impacting market transparency and overall economics.

Speaker 7 (03:01):
Prices have been really decent this year, but certain commodities
like butter have really dropped. Cheese has dropped to an extent,
not the same degree as butter, So we're looking at
some headwinds here and part of it is the teriff situation,
particularly when it comes to China and our exports there.
Part of it is just the economy, and a lot
of it is actually production. One of the reasons why
butter has dropped as much as it has is that

(03:23):
the amount of butterfat coming out of our cows has
just grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade.

Speaker 6 (03:29):
Galen says, dairy producers have boosted protein and milk fat output,
creating a surplus so cream and driving butter prices down.
But with a government shutdown halting key reports, he warns
a lack of data could lead to more market volatility.

Speaker 7 (03:41):
Where if this goes on for weeks and we don't
have USDA data to look at, and the marketplace is
going to be even more volatile because there won't be
any good information out there about supply and demand.

Speaker 6 (03:52):
Chris Galen with a National Milk Producers Federation.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
Meanwhile, Farmers for Free Trade held a listening session in
westba Wisconsin with Wisconsin farmers and called for an end
to the recent trade wars. Farmers for Free Trade Executive
director Brian Keel says ninety five percent of customers for
American agriculture products are located in international markets.

Speaker 8 (04:14):
Ultimately, again, ninety five percent of the world consuming to
move outside the United States. So you think about a
current situation, biggest ashboard destination for Asinol Canada, biggest nashboard
destination for Coin Mexico, biggest ashboard destination for Soratians China.
If we're not selling to those countries, it's a big.

Speaker 1 (04:33):
Hole in our ballos Keel says. The US Mexico Canada
Trade Agreement has helped to stabilize the relationships with Canada
and Mexico, but the US needs to keep the markets
we have and find new markets.

Speaker 8 (04:46):
Thank goodness, we have the US Mexico Canada Agreement that
Prins Trump negotiated in twenty nineteen, twenty eighteen. That's really
stabilized those relationships, but it's really consuming when we hear
conversation about, well, maybe we should pull out of US
A CIA, or maybe we should share it up. No,
those are our two biggest agricultural export markets.

Speaker 9 (05:06):
Right now.

Speaker 8 (05:06):
We need the markets we have both the new markets.
That's how we get started in this trade war. We
need to bring into a wrap it in because right
now farmers again sweeze, we're hearing that all across the
United States.

Speaker 1 (05:19):
The listening session was part of the Farmers for Free
Trade motorcade for trade moving across fourteen states. The US
Grains and Bioproducts Council recently held a trade mission to Mexico,
the top market for US corn. Bradley Shad, CEO of
the Missouri Corn Growers was on the trip and talked

(05:39):
about the value of US corn and ethanol.

Speaker 10 (05:42):
Well, it was a great trade mission. We had the
opportunity to meet first off with industry stakeholders that buy
our corn. So everybody from the livestock industry to sugar
and ethanol producers, the rail industry just kind of get
laid the land from where they stand. And you know,
it was a long day. We had lots of meetings
scheduled and set up throughout the day and then are

(06:02):
the next day first thing in the morning with government
officials and talking to them about the importance that we
feel of corn. And we were welcome with open arms.
You know, they saw the benefit of trade just like
we do. Mexico is our number one trading partner and
just building those relationships so we can continue selling more
and more porn to them. They continue to increase their
purchases of corn, but we have some other opportunities through
ethanol and distillers grains as well that will benefit them.

Speaker 1 (06:25):
Members of the Trade Mission got some good news while
in Mexico.

Speaker 10 (06:28):
We want to do everything we can to increase that
trade and so building those relationships are important. And we
got to meet with the Secretary of Agriculture as well
as Deputy Secretary of Energy and so talking about the
opportunity to increase ethanol. And while we are down there,
President Shanebaum of Mexico said by the end of the
year that they're going to be looking to increase their

(06:49):
ethanol glend rape and a briefing that they had and
so we're looking forward to that strategy that they're going
to be working on and supposed to come out by
the end of the year. So exciting news. While we
were down there working on behalf of con.

Speaker 1 (07:01):
Farmers Radley Shad Missouri Court and Growers farm Us. This morning,
you're listening to ag Life.

Speaker 11 (07:08):
It's another RAG news update. Global food security is improving,
butterfat boom is squeezing cheesemakers and farm land values rising
more after.

Speaker 12 (07:17):
This, before I started working as a soil scientist. Before
I became assistance engineer, before.

Speaker 9 (07:23):
I got started in aerospace, I was a kid making discoveries.
I did my first live experiment. I found off Science
a school in four h in for h in foro h.

Speaker 12 (07:36):
One million new ideas. Learn more and see how you
can help at four dash h dot org.

Speaker 11 (07:47):
USDA economists say global food insecurity is easing, with six
hundred four million people affected this year. It's down sharply
from twenty twenty four, though Sub Saharan Africa remains most vulnerable.
Closer to home, cattle producers are on alert after a
new case of New World screwworm confirmed just seventy miles

(08:09):
south of the Texas border last week, prompting stepped up
eradication in biosecurity investments in dairy. Cobank reports butterfat levels
in US milk climbing twice as fast as protein, leaves
cheesemakers with costly imbalances and quality risk. USDA's Fruit and

(08:30):
Nut Outlook shows apples, pears, grapes, and walnuts on the rise,
but peaches, cranberries, and olives are lagging. It underscores a
mixed harvest season and farmland values continue to climb across
the Northeast and Lake States. It's led by record highs

(08:51):
in Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Strong gains also
in Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. I'm totally Saint James. It's
another AG news update.

Speaker 13 (09:03):
At the American Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention in Denver,
we caught up with Michael Gergie from Student Loan Advisor.

Speaker 14 (09:11):
I think the biggest thing to remember when it comes
down to student loans and student loan forgiveness is that
you have to be very, very vigilant because it really
can be one of the biggest empowering choices of your
life to go out and get this degree inside of
the veterinary field, where it can be a tremendous roadblock
if it's not managed properly. So we really try and
encourage that as the overarching theme and the top line
piece of advice that we give the books.

Speaker 12 (09:29):
There's more valuable information on AVMA dot.

Speaker 11 (09:32):
Work, American Cattle News. How did markets clean up last week?
We'll find out after this.

Speaker 12 (09:42):
Before I started working as a soil scientist.

Speaker 6 (09:45):
Before I became assistance engineer.

Speaker 12 (09:47):
Before I got started in aerospace, how.

Speaker 9 (09:50):
Was a kid making discoveries? I did my first live experiment.
I've run up science School in four h in four
h in four.

Speaker 12 (09:59):
H one million new ideas. Learn more and see how
you can help at four dash h dot org.

Speaker 11 (10:12):
Looking back at how markets ended on Friday, Virginia McGaffey
mcgaffe commodities.

Speaker 9 (10:18):
Like cattle was mixed.

Speaker 15 (10:19):
It seems that high prices may have reached its limit
where consumers just aren't paying anymore. A box prices did
decline again, with Choice down five dollars and forty two
cents and Select down two dollars and ninety seven cents.
There's also weaker cash out there as well, but it
didn't really put too much pressure on the market, so
it was a mixed you know. The market state traded

(10:41):
a little below and above the opening range. December we
had a two dollars and thirteen cent range. We were
really right around that two thirty two mark. Even October
was down to two thirty twenty five, with February getting
down to two thirty four five before the markets kind
of bounced back and kind of rose back up just
a little bit. But still, even though it's sideways, it's

(11:02):
kind of looking a little bit weak. Seabell's at seventeen
point two percent for the live cattle feeders.

Speaker 12 (11:09):
Today we're a little bit firm.

Speaker 15 (11:10):
Surprisingly, traders are still trying to close that gap with
that September contract close, and it's clawing back much of
yesterday's losses. And with November. November was up two dollars
and seventy eight cents. We were up to three fifty five,
with October getting up to three fifty seven forty seven,
and the Seabell for the feeders is twenty point two percent,

(11:32):
so it's still pretty strong. So it's just showing that
there's a lot of activity in that market.

Speaker 12 (11:37):
Lean Hoggs, though, is the one to write home about.

Speaker 15 (11:40):
We made a new high quarterly numbers were below the
estimates and offered some strong market support here when demand
is staying strong as packers have been buying aggressively really
all week and so pushing all the markets to you know,
making new highs this week.

Speaker 11 (11:56):
American Cattle News, This is Dariy Rady with Bill Baker.

Speaker 16 (12:04):
Feeling better without feeling overwhelmed. Our focus today with Morgan
ekevt Joner and head trainer of Get Fit with Me LLC.
From a recent PDP dairy signal, Morgan shares five things
to focus on in our daily lives.

Speaker 17 (12:18):
We work in fitness, mindset, nutrition, and the overall accountability
of all of it. So I work with a bunch
of different people. Ninety percent of them are busy in
some sort of way. So I hope people take those
big goals, break them up into smaller things that are attainable,
and make small changes that don't feel overwhelming and make
us feel more busy than what we actually already are.

(12:39):
Your sleep, your stress, your hydration, your nutrition, and intentional movement.
Instead of focusing on all five of those areas each morning,
decide what your intention is going to be and what
that focus is. So maybe you wake up and you're like,
I am really feeling tight in stick. Your intention today
should be to take time little minute or two breaks
throughout your day to stretch to make sure that you're

(13:01):
keeping your body loose, because although you're moving and you're
staying loose in limber. That way, taking a minute to
stretch your low back, taking a minute to stretch your
upper back, taking a minute to stretch your neck throughout
the day and little bursts is a way to feel
better but also not make it feel overwhelming because it's
just one thing you're focusing on. So when it does
get bugier, it's okay to pull back and not feel

(13:21):
like you're doing great in all of those areas. You
can pick just one area of focus each day. So
the two that you should focus on are your stress
and your sleep. But those are ones where it takes
a lot more mental capacity to be able to do that.
So a lot of times we say, nope, I'm not
going to do that. I work with a lot of
clients and they don't want to work on nutrition right
away because nobody wants to be told how to eat.

(13:42):
Not going to tell you how to eat, but that's
a sticking point for people. So if you were looking
at something and you're like, sleep is something I want
to get better at sleep, but I just don't have
extra time to go to better earlier, Like I'm really rigid,
I recommend water because water is something that doesn't take
any extra time out of your day, and making sure
that you are staying hydrated is super important. And then

(14:05):
the next two are kind of tied. If you are
somebody who is generally active, like like I said, you
were getting those twenty five thousand stuffs. By like noon,
you are actively moving, but you sense that your muscles
are tight and you're achy. You need to stretch. So water,
hydration and stretching, and those two should be your two
main focuses. If you're like, my body actually feels pretty good.

(14:25):
I'm not achy. I don't have those joint pains any
of that. Then hydration and looking at your nutrition because
your energy levels you probably notice like a two pm
crash or maybe a mid morning crash, So looking at
your nutrition and making sure you're getting balanced meals throughout
the day to keep those energy levels up. So it
kind of depends on where do you feel your bodies act,
and nothing's cookie cutter. We all have different things that

(14:48):
our bodies feel. So water across the board, though, and
then from there, listen to your body. Pick whatever that
next one is that doesn't take any more time out
of your day, because you don't have any.

Speaker 9 (14:57):
More time right now.

Speaker 17 (14:58):
That's part of the reason we're talking about this first thing.
Remember you're not alone. The second thing is take a
few minutes and kind of tune into your body, try
to figure out what doesn't feel right. Does something not
feel right because, for instance, that achiness that would then
lead you more towards stretching. If you notice that brain fog,

(15:18):
that would then lead you more towards nutrition and sleep.
So check in with yourself. And then number three was
each time when you check in with yourself. And this
may just be a good morning routine thing you do.
You wake up, check in with yourself. How are you
feeling today? Physically, mentally, emotionally, what is happening? Okay, physically
I'm not feeling great. Okay, today my intention is stretching.

(15:39):
Tomorrow you wake up and you may say, I'm feeling
pretty good.

Speaker 3 (15:43):
Okay.

Speaker 17 (15:43):
Maybe we just focus on water because it's something that
we know is going to benefit us, but overall we
feel good. So thinking through checking yourself getting an idea water,
it's going to be one of the easiest things you
can do because it doesn't require any extra time. After
that for all of you, whether you have more of
a stationary job, sedentary job, or you're somebody who's moving

(16:04):
a ton, I would then move towards that intentional movement
or that stretching portion. You'll end up sleeping better, your
stress will be lower, and it naturally tends to fall
into our nutrition. When we start to treat our body
a little bit better in those two ways, we tend
to eat a little bit better just because there's a
trickle down effect.

Speaker 16 (16:22):
And those are comments from Morgan Ekeovich, owner and head
trainer of Get Fit with Me LLC from a recent
PDP Dairy Signal from the Professional Dairy Producers that you
can hear in its entirety for free simply by going
to pdpw dot org. Our thanks to the Professional Dairy
Producers for today's sponsorship of Producer Tuesday.

Speaker 1 (16:42):
I'm Bill Baker Dairy Radio.

Speaker 16 (16:44):
Now, when people buy walnuts, it also adds other items
to that basket.

Speaker 18 (16:51):
I'm Patrick Cavanaugh with the Califolia Tree Nut Report, part
of the vastag Information Network, and Robert vloop Is Executive
director and CEO of the califl on your Walnut Boarding Commission.

Speaker 19 (17:01):
When walnuts are in the basket, there's also a preponinence
of fresh produce in there. Walnuts are naturally match up
with things like salads, fresh dates, bananas. Because banana nut
bread you also find, you know, high margin items like
yogurt and oatmeals for breakfast that have a combination both
of you know, nuts as well as berries.

Speaker 18 (17:20):
Bloop said, When you're looking at these buying patterns.

Speaker 19 (17:23):
That then helps us to think about how do we promote,
whether that's online.

Speaker 18 (17:27):
Whether that's social media or digital.

Speaker 19 (17:30):
Or directly with the retailer. And then look at package sizes,
you know, and should it be flavors, should it not
be flavored walnuts? Are there other forms of the walnut
that are acceptable? So is it a walnut hummus or
is it a walnut butter? Is it raw walnuts?

Speaker 10 (17:45):
What have you?

Speaker 19 (17:46):
And so this is what I talk when those are
examples of when you start to think about the walnut
in the terms of a much broader view than just
a fresh one, you know, eating walnut. It's ocsion based
and a changed which by time of the year, changes
by who the buyers are. And it all comes back
to this category management approach.

Speaker 18 (18:06):
That's Robert Verloup, executive director and CEO of the California
Walnut Board and Commission.

Speaker 20 (18:11):
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

(18:32):
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. For over forty years, the AG
Information Network has been providing news and information for the
most important industry in the world, agriculture. The AG Information
Network gives you worldwide updates from local producers to regional organizations,

(18:53):
from major crops like wheat and corn, to animal agriculture
to specially crops like apples, almonds, and cherriest on stories
that mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The AGG Information Network trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 18 (19:09):
With the AG Information Network, I'm Patrick Kavanaugh.

Speaker 21 (19:12):
Record high cattle prices offering a significant financial opportunity for
those producers who leverage smart marketing and risk management strategies.
That's according to doctor James Mitch, a livestock economist at
the University of Arkansas.

Speaker 22 (19:26):
Prices are really high.

Speaker 23 (19:28):
We looked at kind of volatility in the market and
how there are still some pretty big swings in the
market neither direction blessed fifteen dollars a hundredweight and minus
fifteen dollars a hundredweight, depending on the week and the
location you're talking about, And so maybe taking some of
that risk off the table is still an important consideration.
Lots of ways to do that, Like you mentioned livestock
risk protection, there's teachers' markets, options, forward contracting, or are

(19:48):
all available.

Speaker 21 (19:49):
He talks about the Livestock Risk Protection Program with LRP.

Speaker 23 (19:53):
In the past couple of years they've increased the subsidies
on it to make the primes a little bit more
affordable for producers, which is good, but again, cattle prices
are really really high, and so the premiums on doing
some of these risk management is going to be more expensive.
And I think that's an important consideration as well, with
where the cattle market currently is, the futures market's pricing
in seasonality, and so being aware that if you're going

(20:14):
to markets and cattle in the spring and looking at
what LARP is currently offering, it might not match up
exactly just because of how strong of a CAF market
that we're currently in.

Speaker 21 (20:22):
It's a great kind to be cattle producers with the
high prices. But Mitchell says there are important things to remember.

Speaker 23 (20:29):
With risk management. If that's something that you're considering doing
for the first time, my advice is always just to
take it's low and make sure that you're aware of
how the product works and set reasonable expectations for what
that product can do to your bottom line. Again, I
like to compare risk management products to buying insurance on
your house. Right, you don't jump up and down excited
when your house burns down and you get a payment

(20:50):
from your insurance, right, it's there to protect you in
case something like that does happen. Same thing with risk management.
The best scenario is still for the market to improve,
but you have that product in place in case something
add does happen. So I think that's kind of the
advice I tell people.

Speaker 21 (21:03):
It's also important to think about the long term with.

Speaker 23 (21:06):
Kyler prices really really high light now, what are some
ways that you can invest that money back into your
operation to kind of set yourself up for success in
the future. What type of improvements can you make in
terms of productivity and efficiency and kind of setting yourself
up for success in the next couple of years, I
think is another thing to be thinking about right now
as well.

Speaker 21 (21:23):
Again, that's doctor James Mitchell with the University of Arkansas.
Minnesota pork producer Laurie Stevermer, the former president of the
National Pork Producers Council, saw firsthand how challenging things are
in US agriculture in the pork industry. She said, there
is no doubt that things are rough in the US
farm economy.

Speaker 12 (21:43):
I would say these.

Speaker 24 (21:44):
Are some interesting and challenging times for our farm economy.
If you look at the grain sector, obviously they've got
high input cost, low market prices, so they are feeling
some losses and not profitability. It's the ops that I
should say for the pork industry are it's our low
Our market prices are good and so we are seeing
some profitability. But you have to recall that back in

(22:06):
twenty three and twenty four we went through some pretty
severe losses too, So I think that makes it overall
a challenge for agriculture.

Speaker 21 (22:13):
Lower exports are never good for US agriculture.

Speaker 24 (22:17):
I would say all industries, whether you're crops or pork,
exports are important part of what we do, and so
having exports be down slightly this year or certainly in
the cases, so it means or they're down significantly puts
pressure on our economy. So as we know, our farms
are the fabric of the rural communities, and so when
our farms and our agriculture are having challenging times, that's

(22:37):
felt throughout the rest of the rural economy.

Speaker 21 (22:40):
It's never been more important for farms to be efficient
and take advantage of resources that are there to help.

Speaker 24 (22:46):
You know, I think we all look to the future
and wonder how that's going to impact us in agriculture.
It seems like every generation or maybe every other generation
goes through its challenges. I mean, we had the eighties
farm crisis. We had really high interest rates there. So
some of if our younger farmers are experiencing these challenges,
maybe for the first time, which doesn't make it any
less important, but relying on good business practices and risk

(23:11):
management and resources around us is really key.

Speaker 21 (23:14):
It's also important that every segment of agriculture advocates for itself,
including pork.

Speaker 12 (23:21):
We were in Washington, D C.

Speaker 24 (23:22):
In September and we had our legislative fly and I
give credit to our producers for showing up and visiting
with their members of Congress and talk about what.

Speaker 12 (23:30):
They do, because that's key.

Speaker 24 (23:32):
And you know, once again, as we look at this
farm economy and the challenges not just with prices, but
as you alluded to, with labor, which is a concern
of ours from number of years. I mean, we need
people to work on our farms. We need people to
work in our packing plants. There's just not enough labor
bodies in the rural area. And so talking about some
type of visa reform H two A visas which are

(23:53):
only seasonal, how can they be year round so we
can get them working.

Speaker 21 (23:57):
Gam Madam's former National Pork Producer Council President Laurie Stee
of AMUR, It's.

Speaker 25 (24:03):
Time for California agg today on the AGGI Information Network,
I am Hayley's ship. A portion of Los Angeles County
has now been placed under quarantine following the detection of
two Caribbean fruit flies in and around the city of Montebello.
The seventy five square mile quarantine area extends from Alhambra

(24:24):
on the north to Downey on the south, Huntington Park
on the west, and south Almonte on the east. The
Caribbean fruit fly poses a serious threat to California agriculture,
damaging crops such as avocados, citrus, figs, peaches, pears, and tomatoes.
According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, officials

(24:46):
are focusing integrated pest management efforts within the area of infestation,
removing host fruit, inspecting for larvae, and applying spinasit, a
naturally derived, organic approved treatment to control adults flies. These
invasive species most often enter California by hitchhiking in fruits
and vegetables carried by travelers or those that are shipped

(25:09):
from infested regions. Residents in the quarantine zone are urged
not to move produce off their property. For maps and
more information from the Department of Food and Agriculture, you
can head on over to our website aginfo dot net.

Speaker 20 (25:25):
For the last forty years, the Egg Information Network has
been the source of news for farmers and ranchers. Yet
we have never seen such an assault on farming and
our food supply as we do today. From fuel to fertilizer.
Farmers are facing unprecedented economic challenges. This is why agriculture
news that farmers receive comes from the AGG Information Network,
reaching coast to coast, deep roots and farming, and decades

(25:48):
of reporting. The AGG Information Network trusted and transparent journalism
for generations. For over forty years, the AG Information Network
has been providing news and information for the most important
industry 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

(26:11):
crops like apples, almonds, and cherries. We report on stories
that mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The AGG Information Network trusted and transparent journalism, lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 25 (26:23):
With California AGG Today on the AG Information Network, I
am Hailey's ship.

Speaker 1 (26:27):
Bob Quinn. Here are some farm news this morning, friends.
Well Dairy is one of several sectors of American agriculture
feeling the effects of our government shut down. Rory Boyer
has details in this report.

Speaker 6 (26:39):
The government shutdown has created a domino effect of challenges
across the agriculture industry, and dairy is no exception. Chris Galen,
Senior Vice president of Member Services and Strategic Initiatives with
the National Milk Producers Federation explains how the lack of
federal dairy reports is impacting market transparency and overall dairy economics.

Speaker 7 (26:58):
Prices have been really decent this year, but certain commodities
like butter have really dropped. Cheese has dropped to an extent,
not the same degree as butter, So we're looking at
some headwinds here, and part of it is the terriff situation,
particularly when it comes to China and our exports there.
Part of it is just the economy, and a lot
of it is actually production. One of the reasons why
butter has dropped as much as it has is that

(27:20):
the amount of butterfat coming out of our cows has
just grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade.

Speaker 6 (27:26):
Galen says dairy producers have boosted protein and milk fat output,
creating a surplus so cream and driving butter prices down.
About what the government shutdown halting key reports. He warns
a lack of data could lead to more market volatility.

Speaker 7 (27:38):
Where if this goes on for weeks and we don't
have USDA data to look at, and the marketplace is
going to be even more volatile because there won't be
any good information out there about supply and demand.

Speaker 6 (27:49):
Chris Galen with a National Milk Producers Federation.

Speaker 1 (27:52):
Laurie Boyer with that report for US this morning. Well friends,
when analyzing the economic forecast for pork producers, it's important
to start with the fundamentals. Lee Schultz, chief economist of
ever dot Ag, says publicly available USDA reports provide a
valuable update on market conditions. The latest Hog and Pig
report serves as a key example of how to gauge

(28:15):
herd size, production trends, and overall market direction.

Speaker 26 (28:19):
That gave us inventories as of September one, and then
helped us kind of project those numbers six months to
a year ahead as we kind of look at those
slaughter supplies and kind of anticipating what those numbers are.
And to summarize that report, you know, I would put
it in the category of a bit of a shocker because,
you know, not only did we see numbers below a
year ago, which was a little bit of a surprise,

(28:42):
but compared to pre report expectations, as there's about seven
analysts that were asked about, you know, what they expected
the numbers to be, USDA came in much lower than
those numbers.

Speaker 1 (28:53):
Schultz says, if the latest Hog and Pig report is
taken a face value, it suggests higher supplies than many
had an anticipated going into the release. Now that could
have implications for prices and market movement heading into the
end of the year as producers and analysts reassess supply
expectations and demand outlooks.

Speaker 26 (29:13):
What USDA toll is is actually till about mid November,
we could expect to see a few more supplies than
compared to last year. But then as we kind of
turn the corner into mid November kind of through February,
as they help us with those pipeline supplies, that's where
USD says we're going to get tighter supplies compared two
year ago.

Speaker 1 (29:33):
In twenty twenty five, park producers have seen a return
to profitability, averaging around twenty dollars per head, bringing margins
close to the levels last seen in twenty twenty one. However,
Schultz notes that despite the improved outlook, the industry hasn't
shown signs of expansion. Instead, producers appear to be tapping
the brakes, focusing on stability and careful management rather than

(29:55):
rapid growth.

Speaker 26 (29:56):
We're seeing high interest rates we're seeing high building cost.
We're also seeing uncertainty on the forefront as it relates
to trade and how that could impact our individual operations.
And so given all that, you know, we've not seen
the expansion maybe that we historically would have imperiods that
we've seen some of this product fitability. So then really

(30:16):
overall restraint from producers and that has certainly contributed here
to the stronger prices and profits. The fact that we
really haven't, you know, outpaced demand and seen an increase
in supplies.

Speaker 1 (30:28):
From a demand perspective. The pork industry continues to maintain
strong relationships with export partners. Schultz noted that domestically, meat
is having a moment, creating new opportunities for pork within
an evolving food landscape. Well friends, Farmers across the southeast
US could see some major changes to labor cost under
a new proposal from the Trump administration that aims to

(30:51):
revise the H two A VISA program for agricultural workers.
The proposed rule would update how workers are classified and
lower the Adverse effect wage rate or AWR, the minimum
hourly rate employers must pay H two A workers in
Georgia alone more than thirty seven thousand farm jobs are

(31:11):
filed through the H two A program each year, and
producers say labor expenses have climbed more than thirty percent
since twenty twenty two. Under the proposed changes, George's top
AWR would be capped at sixteen dollars and twenty two
cents an hour, with an adjustment that effectively lowers the
rate to about fourteen forty seven starting in twenty twenty six.

(31:33):
Farm News This morning, you're listening to ag Life.

Speaker 22 (31:38):
From the Egg Information Network. I'm Bob Larson, and this
is your agribusiness update. California almand growers were largely skeptical
in July when the USDA forecast at three billion pound
crop in its Objective Measurements Report. The high crop forecast
caused almond prices to drop nearly twenty percent overnight, erasing
roughly a billion dollars from the total crop value and

(31:59):
eliminating the profit margin for many farmers. Now well into harvest,
prices have recovered as growers and handlers report smaller crop yields.
As Congress works to end the government shut down, the
farmers are calling for that same sense of urgency and
fixing the broken system governing agg labor and wage rates.
The recent DL fixed to the adverse effect wage rate

(32:19):
marks the first meaningful step towards stabilizing labor costs. The
new rule replaces decades old calculations with state level Bureau
of Labor statistics and recognizes both skill levels and the
cost of employer provided housing and The US has had
a healthy agricultural trade surplus for years, but as global
dynamics change, usag imports now exceed exports. University of Illinois

(32:42):
and Texas Tech University researchers say from twenty seventeen to eighteen,
the dispute between the US and China resulted in export
values dropping seventy three percent for soybeans, six percent for wheat,
sixty one percent for corn, and thirty seven percent for sorghum.
The total value of lost egg exports was nearly fourteen
billion dollars.

Speaker 12 (33:01):
Farm work is tough, and so is staying safe on
a road.

Speaker 27 (33:04):
Every year, accidents happen when tractors and traffic share the
same space. Whether you're behind the wheel of a tractor
or a car, here's what you need to remember. Tractors
move slower, be patient, don't pass on hills or curves. Farmers,
make sure your slow moving vehicles, signs and lights are
visible and everyone's sailor. Especially on rule roads, one moment
of caution can save a light. Let's work together to

(33:26):
keep our roads and our farms safe. This message was
brought to you by the AG Information Network.

Speaker 20 (33:31):
For the last forty years, the EGG Information Network has
been the source of news for farmers and ranchers. Yet
we have never seen such an assault on farming and
our food supply as we do today, from fuel to fertilizer.
Farmers are facing unprecedented economic challenges. This is why agriculture
news that farmers receive comes from the AGG Information Network,

(33:52):
reaching coast to coast, deep roots and farming. In decades
of reporting, the AGG Information Network trusted and transparent journalism
for generations.

Speaker 1 (34:01):
Bob Quinn back to wrap up a baglie for today.
Friends on an offer to thaw the trade battle between
Canada and China is now on the table, Dennis Guy
wraps us up. Earlier this week, the Chinese ambassador told
a Canadian national television audience that his country is willing
to remove its tariffs on Canada's pork products. Seafood and

(34:23):
by far the largest of the categories canola, oil, seed
and meal, if Canada drops its one hundred percent tariff
on Chinese electric vehicles. The Chinese Ambassador to Canada, Wangde,
spoke through a translator to deliver Beijing's message.

Speaker 18 (34:40):
If the EV turiffs are removed, then China will also
remove the turfs on the relevant products off Canada.

Speaker 13 (34:48):
Canada placed a one hundred percent tariff on all evs
imported from China one year ago, immediately on the heels
of the United States imposition of the same tariff level.
That move was aimed at protecting the North American automotive
manufacturing sector and for concerns over Chinese technology threats. In retaliation,

(35:09):
China levied tariffs against Canadian agricultural sectors, and over the
past year, Saskatchewan, Canada's largest canola growing province, has seen
its export shrink by more than seventy five percent in
the wake of losing its single largest customer, China. Guie
Saint Jacques is the former Canadian ambassador to China. He

(35:30):
thinks this opening by the Chinese ambassador gives Ottawa a
reason to take another look at the Chinese terif file.
Saint Jacques says there has been no tangible benefit over
this issue from the Trump administration.

Speaker 3 (35:44):
Ottawa decided to put the status in place to be
in line with Washington, who didn't get any yawning points
for death.

Speaker 9 (35:50):
And I think it would be normal for Ottawa to revisit.

Speaker 13 (35:53):
And in fact, on Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said
that his office is taking a fresh look at the issue.

Speaker 11 (36:00):
Have begun more intense engagement with China with respect first
and foremost to canola and other agriculture products.

Speaker 9 (36:07):
It's too early to come to any conclusions on those.

Speaker 13 (36:10):
Canadian automotive sector wasted no time in telling the Prime
Minister's office that any move to cancel the existing tariffs
against Chinese electric vehicles would only put another nail in
the coffin of their industry currently under restraining American terrifaction.
The president and CEO of the Canadian Canola Growers Association

(36:31):
says he has no desire to get into a debate
with the automotive sector. Rick White believes that is a
job for the politicians. White says he just wants to
get the Chinese market reopened for his industry and for
Canada's canola growers.

Speaker 28 (36:47):
What's going to be on the table is up to
our elected officials. Since these tariffs have come on, no
canola has been going to China, whether it's seed, oil
or meal. We know this is a political problem. It's
going to take a political fix. Want to see results
and get back to free and open trade with China.

Speaker 13 (37:03):
Reporting from Canada, I'm Dennis Guy.

Speaker 10 (37:06):
With that.

Speaker 1 (37:06):
Friends, a out of time for today, thanks for joining us.
Back tomorrow morning with another edition of Bag Life.