September 10, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Valley. This is aglife. My name is Bob Quinn,
and I'm with you for the next hour talking about
agricultural production here in the valley and all across the country.
Well friends. A group of land grant, university researchers and
fresh blueberry industry members continue efforts to advance mechanical harvesters
for blueberries. Rod Bain starts us off.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Now underway blueberry harvest in several producing states. Mechanical harvesting
of this fruit and other types of specialty crops is
nothing new, As Oregon State University Extensions Way Young explains.

Speaker 3 (00:36):
They have been mechanically harvest in blueberries since the late
nineteen sixties seventies, really, but the most significant one came
about thirty five years ago in Michigan.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
A state with a history of high bush blueberry production.
That harvester focused on picking blueberries for processing.

Speaker 3 (00:56):
It has been that way for a long time because
the cost of labor going up with the ability of labor.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
Leading fresh blueberry producers to use a harvester designed only
for fruit going to the process market and finding harvest
not to their liking.

Speaker 3 (01:13):
Because there are lots of damages to the fruits.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
Due to internal bruising, creating a mushy fresh blueberry. So
Young and colleagues from several land grand universities in fresh
blueberry growing states and blueberry industry representation joined forces in
recent years conducting R and D on a mechanical harvester
for produce intended for the fresh market. Among research developments.

Speaker 3 (01:38):
Soft catch system were actually reduced bruising while we harvest
in the berries, so we can have better quality.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
And further study and to improve fresh blueberry mechanical harvesters
involves incorporation of artificial intelligence.

Speaker 3 (01:55):
You can make the machine smarter and also you can
have the machine making decisions for all to harvest the
particular fields, from predicting yield to predicting call the machines
is going to set up to what's in the necessary
steps to keep that machine, howards to the fruits fresh
along the coaching, you know, all those things I think

(02:16):
will have an important impact on the quality of fruits
going to retail in the future.

Speaker 2 (02:22):
Young AD's future AI incorporation into mechanical harvesters could create
one several pieces of autonomous equipment performing diverse functions such
as precision spring of nutrients and pesticides in addition to
harvest broad Bain reporting for the US Department of Agriculture
in Washington, d C.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
New leadership in the West Coast dairy industry will talk
about that and Congress hearing from constituents about agriculture. That's
ahead on ag life. Bob Quinn, here was some farm
news this morning. Friends. This summer, Dairy West announced it
had made a significant step when it comes to shaping
the future of dairy promotion and representation with the appointment

(03:06):
of Steve Seppi as the organization's new CEO. Glenn Vaughan
has our report this morning.

Speaker 4 (03:12):
Seppie says he brings decades of experience in check off work,
most recently as the executive director of the Dairy Farmers
of Washington. He noted he's passionate about the dairy industry.

Speaker 5 (03:22):
You know, I had good relationships with farmers across the
region from my time across there, and ultimately, you know,
there was an opportunity to kind of approach this this
new you know, regional growth and regional expansion, and so ultimately,
you know, I saw that as an opportunity and was
encouraged by you know, some of the farmers here in
Idaho and Utah, and you know, took the opportunity and

(03:46):
then ultimately I'm looking forward to the future as we
continue to expand and grow as a region.

Speaker 4 (03:51):
Sepi added, whether in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, or Utah, dairy
producers across the region have more in common than differences.

Speaker 5 (03:59):
The family businesses. They're working hard to feed the world.
They obviously want to have a sustainable business where they
can hand it down to the next generation. You know,
ultimately they have a lot of a lot of similar
things as far as the mission that they set out
to and that he really kind of helps with commonality
between those different groups.

Speaker 4 (04:19):
With that in mind, the boards of Derry West and
the Dairy Farmers of Washington also announced this summer a
decision to move forward in partnership. I'm Glenn Wagin reporting.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
Well, friends, there's been ups and downs over this summer
when it comes to getting things done in Washington, including
some struggles in agriculture. Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith represents the
third district in Nebraska, the largest congressional district that is
pretty much all agriculture, and it was no surprise that
during his August recess constituents were bending his ear.

Speaker 6 (04:49):
So we want to make sure we finish up the farm, belle, like,
we need to to tie up some of those loose ends.
We did get the big, big components done, but there's
still more to do there. I know that producers would appreciate,
so I hear that a bit. But you know, folks
economically concerned. You know, interest rates, access to credit certainly

(05:11):
for agriculture as a concern for folks. So we need
to pay close attention and really make sure that we
get our work done in DC.

Speaker 1 (05:19):
Another area of concern was getting E fifteen available in
all fifty states. Smith says that is a priority of his.

Speaker 6 (05:27):
That predictability, that reliability for policy. That it shouldn't be
as hard to come by as it seems to be.
But I'm glad we did get you know, the big
items done in the bill earlier this summer. So we'll
keep moving forward and pushing as hard.

Speaker 1 (05:44):
As we Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith this morning, Well friends,
US produced bison is gaining market access in worldwide markets.
As we hear in this report.

Speaker 7 (05:56):
The recent trade deal with the European Union eliminates a
twenty percent tier off at ports of US bison. National
Bison Association executive director Jim Matheson says it's access that
his organization has long fought for.

Speaker 8 (06:08):
EU has been a big goal of ours for a
number of years. I would say we've been lobbying for
twelve to fifteen years to lower the tariffs and the
duties on our products going over there, and sure enough,
last week we got word that they are finally going
to go ahead and eliminate those tariffs on bison, and
that's what should happen. You know, we pose no competition
to European farmers and ranchers. As mentioned, we only produce

(06:31):
these animals in the US and Canada. Further, the Canadian
government has had a trade agreement with Europe for a
number of years that allows them to import bison at
zero percent, which obviously leaves US at a competitive disadvantage
here in the States.

Speaker 7 (06:48):
Matheson said the industry would like to see similar tariff
really for exports to the United Kingdom. American bison also
recently gained access to Australia as that country agreed to
lift its ban on US beef and bison. Matheson is
hopeful that Asia will be the next area for market access.

Speaker 8 (07:04):
I sure hope that we get access to Japan. We've
been lobbying again for access there. We've had inspectors come
over to the States from Japan and do audits at
some of our bison processing facilities. Everything is going on schedule,
and I hope well twofold one with the Australia and
the EU news that'll set precedent for US to gain
access to Japan. And not only Japan, we're also pushing

(07:25):
for access to Korea and Taiwan as well.

Speaker 7 (07:27):
The access has come through closed coordination with the US
Trade Representative and USDA.

Speaker 8 (07:32):
The National Base and Association wants to thank the hardworking
folks at the US Trade Representative Office in Washington, d C.
Along with our colleagues and allies at the USDA Foreign
Egg Service for helping us get this trade deal through.
Appreciate them keeping us in mind we're a relatively small
sector and of American agriculture. However, we get outsized attention

(07:52):
at DC because this is our national mammal the United States,
the American bison, and we really appreciate their work.

Speaker 7 (07:58):
For the US ME and Export Federation. I'm John Harrah.

Speaker 1 (08:00):
Farm news This morning, you're listening to WAG Life.

Speaker 9 (08:03):
It's another agnews update from Washington to Asia. Farmers face
new policy, finance and trade developments.

Speaker 10 (08:11):
More after this.

Speaker 11 (08:14):
Hi. I'm Debbie Childress, director of the Grayson County Alliance,
a food pantry in rural Kentucky. Thanks to a local farmer,
we recently received a twenty five hundred dollars donation from
America's Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsando Fund, a
philanthropic arm of Bear. As a result, we expanded a
classroom where we teach families about nutrition and personal finance.

(08:35):
I encourage all farmers to enroll for a chance to
direct a twenty five hundred dollars donation to a local nonprofit.
Visit Growcommunities dot com.

Speaker 9 (08:44):
The US House reauthorizing the Grain Standards Act through twenty
thirty and cheering USDA's Inspection Service can continue enforcing crop
grating standards. Farm groups say the law of vital for
market truck dust and export reliability. In the meanwhile, farm

(09:04):
stress climbing again in the South. University of Arkansas economists
report one hundred and one Chapter twelve bankruptcies this past year,
nearly double the twenty twenty three, levels Arkansas Islands jumped sharply,
highlighting how rising input costs and tight margins squeeze smaller

(09:26):
farms on the input side. Global fertilizer markets reacting to
India's surprise your reattender record five point six million tons offered,
pushing prices lower worldwide, but in North America, nitrogen supplies
remain tight, with uan especially at risk from plant maintenance

(09:47):
and potential tariffs. Ammonia looks scept for a strong fall
application season. Weather holds internationally, China preparing to finalize an
upgraded trade deal with Southeast Asia known as KAFTA three
point zero. It's another agnews update.

Speaker 12 (10:05):
Here's farmer and businessman James Wood.

Speaker 13 (10:08):
We farm about thirty five hundred acres. There's pipelines everywhere.
The contractor working on my property did not have the
lines located before he began work and it resulted on
a strike on a natural gas pipeline. Fortunately no one
was hurt, but it could have been much worse.

Speaker 12 (10:24):
Never assumed the location or depth of underground lines. Always
call eight one one or visit clickbefore you dig dot
com before you start work. A message from the pipeline
operators for agg Safety Campaign.

Speaker 9 (10:36):
American Cattle News. We start getting to these levels of prices,
the irrogants then more after this.

Speaker 11 (10:46):
Hi, I'm Debbie Childress, director of the Grayson County Alliance,
a food pantry in rural Kentucky. Thanks to a local farmer,
we recently received a twenty five hundred dollars donation from
America's Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monta so Fun,
a philanthropic arm of Bear. As a result, we expanded
a classroom where we teach families about nutrition and personal finance.

(11:08):
I encourage all farmers to general for a chance to
direct a twenty five hundred dollars donation to a local nonprofit.
Visit Growthcommunities dot com.

Speaker 9 (11:17):
Doctor daryl'peel is an Oklahoma state livestock marketing economists. As
when we start looking at where markets are right now,
and as the industry this is uncharted territory, we've.

Speaker 14 (11:31):
Never seen anything like any of what we're seeing now. Obviously,
price levels for cattle for beef across the board are
at levels that nobody really would have anticipated even just
a few months ago, probably let alone you know, historically
anything like this. So we've continued to move into completely
unprecedented territory with these markets probably one of the biggest

(11:54):
questions I've been getting for quite a few months, but
especially here lately. You know, producers understandable are concerned about
when does this market top out? What does the backside
of this thing look like? And that's natural, particularly when
you remember what happened in about ten years ago. The
last time we had record high prices, they lasted a
couple of years and then we went back down pretty sharply.

(12:17):
This time it looks different. You know, the conditions that
will put a top in this market really come after
we start saving hepper's and starting to rebuild the herd.

Speaker 10 (12:28):
Again.

Speaker 14 (12:29):
If you look at the last cattle cycle previous to
this one, it was about a year to a year
and a half after hepper retention started when we put
the high prices in. We don't have any evidence yet
really that we've even started heipper retention. So that tells
me that the high prices are not in twenty twenty five.

Speaker 12 (12:46):
They may not even.

Speaker 14 (12:47):
Be in twenty twenty six, and so we're still going
to grind higher.

Speaker 4 (12:51):
Probably we won't.

Speaker 14 (12:52):
Move as higher as fast as we have. We may
slow down that pace of increase, But I think we're
going to grind higher here, you know, certainly through twenty.

Speaker 9 (13:02):
Twenty six, Doctor darryl'peel American Cattle News.

Speaker 1 (13:08):
This is Dairy Radio Now.

Speaker 10 (13:11):
I'm John Clark, traveling to the countryside for feedback to USA. Today.
We have a very special guest, Amy Brittner, tell us
a little bit about your dairy destiny.

Speaker 15 (13:19):
Dairy bar is an on farm location where people can
get up close and personally connected with the cows that
make their milk.

Speaker 16 (13:27):
I am blessed to have a great.

Speaker 15 (13:29):
Location to be able to bring people directly to the source.

Speaker 10 (13:33):
You started out dairy farming.

Speaker 15 (13:34):
The transition was incredibly difficult right when I was building
my store, making the recipes for the milk, and really
getting a business plan together for starting the on farm store.

Speaker 16 (13:48):
So it had been.

Speaker 15 (13:49):
A family dairy, three generations working together, and at the
time the rest of the family really wanted to transition.

Speaker 16 (13:57):
Out of dairying and do so.

Speaker 15 (14:00):
I was left with a herd finding my own feed
as well as starting the business that I really wanted
to get going.

Speaker 10 (14:07):
Sounds like one of those curse and a blessing situations.

Speaker 15 (14:11):
Yes, and I wonder if I wouldn't have already started building,
if I would have gone ahead and done it knowing
what work I had to do. I'm very glad that
I did, because really the biggest hurdle was opening the store,
and it's my biggest accomplishment.

Speaker 10 (14:27):
What do you know now that you wish you'd knew
before then?

Speaker 15 (14:31):
I wish I would have asked more questions, specifically of
independent contractors in the area I worked on, assuming that
the people I were was hiring knew what they were
doing and knew what my expectations were, and it really
slowed down the whole process, as I would put in

(14:54):
deposits or you know, buy initial equipment and then wait
for months and months to get all of the jobs done.

Speaker 10 (15:03):
Traditionally, when people process their milk, the product mix is
kind of interested them. It's unique to them.

Speaker 15 (15:09):
I started with wanting to make a wide variety of
milk flavors, and I did it for two reasons. First
of all, the logical reason that I didn't have a
lot of room, I didn't have a lot of equipment.
I wanted to do the very easiest thing, and of
course you're always told the money comes when you're processing

(15:30):
the fat side of it, so the cheese, the ice cream,
the butter, that's where the money is. So I knew
that my margins were going to be tight, but I
also wanted to play on the fact that milk is
the full nutritious product, and we make such a wide
variety of flavors of ice cream and yogurt that we

(15:51):
should be able to do it with milk as well.

Speaker 16 (15:54):
I started one day.

Speaker 15 (15:55):
My first recipe was raspberry milk, and it teasted just
like I was drinking a milkshake.

Speaker 10 (16:02):
Do you use all whole milk or do you even
standardize your milk before you do it?

Speaker 15 (16:05):
It's all creamlined, so it's not standardized that pasteurized don't homogenize,
so that creaminess does give it the extra something that
people want. But at the same time, my fruit flavors,
like the raspberry and the peach, they're not heavy.

Speaker 16 (16:21):
They don't weigh you down.

Speaker 15 (16:22):
I tell people before they try it that I can
even chug a pint on a hot day and it doesn't.

Speaker 16 (16:28):
Make me feel heavy or queasy in any way. It
really is refreshing.

Speaker 10 (16:32):
What's next for you? Because I think you're a woman
who's always looking for the next deal.

Speaker 15 (16:37):
We finally are getting our processing container unit up and running,
and I'll be starting cheese. I am partnering with a
good friend of mine who's been doing age cheeses for
a while, so I'll not only be making fresh cheese
myself on the farm, She'll be doing some age cheese.
And I have a lot of farms to table ideas

(16:59):
in my head that I'm working with with my fiance.

Speaker 10 (17:02):
Out of all the things that you're doing, what couple
of sentences do you say that really tell a story
of what you really love about what you're doing.

Speaker 15 (17:09):
It's the people that come to the farm. It's the
customers that come and repeat customers or first time customers.
When I'm having a really bad week, and in this
heat this year, there were some bad weeks, and when
I'm feeling exhausted, if I spend a couple hours in
the store talking with the customers and getting the excitement

(17:32):
again of them seeing the baby caves, of them licking
their hands, of walking up to one of our big
cows that's standing at the feedbunk eating and seeing that
you know, her twelve inch tongue comes out and tries
to wrap around them, and just getting that joy again.

Speaker 16 (17:49):
It reminds you as.

Speaker 15 (17:51):
A dairy farmer why you keep doing it, because sometimes
we forget after the three hundred and sixty five day
a year thing.

Speaker 10 (17:58):
So you can literally live your dream.

Speaker 16 (18:00):
Absolutely I've been destined to do it.

Speaker 10 (18:03):
Amy Brickner with Destiny Dairy Barr thanks for being with
us today.

Speaker 16 (18:06):
Thank you so much.

Speaker 10 (18:07):
I'm John Clark, traveling the countryside for Feedworks US NAT.

Speaker 17 (18:12):
Walnuts are still a month away from harvest, but it
has been a great year and a good crop should
be coming. I'm Patrick Cavanaugh with the California Tree Nut Report,
part of the vast Agg Information Network. Robert for Loop
is President and CEO of the California Walnut Board and Commission.

Speaker 18 (18:31):
It's a good point, Patrick, you know, you go back
to the wintertime and then the springtime. The temperatures were ideal,
not too cold, but certainly we didn't have any really
adverse weather all the way through bloom and pollination and bloom,
and then the summer has been one of the mildest summers,
and I think in twenty years it's been ideal growing condition.

(18:51):
And you know, the walnut is tolerant in the early
development stages really from let's say mid August through the
end of October, we want to be very mindful of
what's going on weatherwise, whether it's rain, whether it's heat.
And I think what we are seeing in our orchards
is very healthy trees, great leaf covers, so that when
we do have a hot few days, the tree is

(19:13):
able to sustain in sense, fight back against the heat,
support the nutload that's there, and it gives us a
real good chance of being able to deliver what looks
like is going to be an excellent, excellent quality not
this year.

Speaker 17 (19:27):
In more news, did you know that cover crops can
benefit on farm recharge even though it might be less
than the bare soil. The trade off for more soil
water storage get offset the difference.

Speaker 19 (19:41):
Farm work is tough, and so it's staying safe on
a road.

Speaker 16 (19:44):
Every year.

Speaker 19 (19:44):
Accidents happen when tractors and traffic share the same space,
whether you're behind the wheel of a tractor or a car.

Speaker 12 (19:50):
Here's what you need to remember.

Speaker 19 (19:52):
Tractors move slower, be patient, don't pass on hills or curves.
Farmers make sure you're slow moving vehicles, signs and lights
are visible. And everyone sailor especially on rule roads. One
moment of caution can save alife. Let's work together to
keep our roads and are firm safe. This message was
brought to you by the AG Information Network.

Speaker 20 (20:12):
For over forty years, the AG Information Network has been
providing news and information for the most important industry in
the world, agriculture. The AGG Information Network gives you worldwide
updates from local producers to regional organizations, from major crops
like wheat and corn, to animal agriculture to specially crops
like apples, almonds, and cherries. We report on stories that

(20:34):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The AGG Information Network trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 17 (20:42):
With the AG Information Network, uh Patrick Cavanaugh.

Speaker 2 (20:45):
Producers who suffered qualified natural disaster related crop losses in
twenty twenty three and twenty four could still apply for
assistance under USDA's Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.

Speaker 21 (20:58):
We have made this process as easy as possible and
streamlining the application. We nailed pre filled applications using data
already on file from the non insured Disaster Assistance Program
and from RMA, which has the Crop insurance data.

Speaker 2 (21:10):
Farm Production and Conservation Deputy Under Secretary Brook Appleton says
those who did not receive a pre filled application can't
go to their local Farm Service Agency office to request
this form. Stage one SdRP funding sign ups for indemnified
producers began at July, with Stage two sigeups for eligible,
shallow or uncovered losses to begin SubTime this fall. Additional

(21:30):
details about the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program are available at www.
Dot FSA, dot USDA dot gov, slash resources, slash Programs.

Speaker 21 (21:42):
We know farm operations across the United States were impacted
by devastating natural disasters in twenty twenty three and twenty
twenty four that caused immense revenue and production losses. Congress
provided disaster funds to the Department to ensure that farmers
were able to recover from these disasters. So part of
that disaster relief is the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, which

(22:06):
is to provide sixteen billion dollars in critical disaster rate
assistance to farmers who experienced crop losses due to natural
disasters in twenty twenty three and twenty twenty four. Sign
Ups for this program started on to light tenth for
the first stage of SdRP. This first stage of The
program is per producers with indemnified losses, and it leverages

(22:27):
existing RMA and FSA data as the basis for calculating
these payments. Eligible losses must be due to, and it's
quite a list, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, de ratios, excessive heat, tornadoes,
winter storms, freeze, smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying droughts, and
then all related conditions occurring in those two calendar years

(22:49):
of twenty twenty three and twenty twenty four. When I
say qualifying drought, drought losses must have occurred in a
county rated by the US Drought Monitor as having a
D two or a severe drought for eight consecutive weeks
or D three or greater intensity level during the applicable
calendar year. Producers must commit to maintain their crop insurance
or their non Insured Disaster Assistance Program coverage or NAP

(23:12):
coverage at sixty percent or greater for the next two
crop years in order to be eligible for this program.
Producers who fail to purchase crop insurance or MAPPED for
the next two available crop yers will be required to
refund the SdRP payment. So that is just to make
sure as we're moving forward, folks are purchasing the crop
insurance they need to also help in times of natural disaster.

Speaker 2 (23:32):
Regarding USDA's late US look at what agricultural producers receive
price wise for their commodities, this covering the month of July,
the same percentage one point four percent was a prevalent theme,
as in a one point four percent month over month
increase of what livestock producers receive price wise, as in
a one point four percent decrease in July in prices

(23:54):
received by growers for all ag commodities. The rise in
the livestock production index is fueled primarily by a one
point two percent increase in prices received by meat animal
producers from the previous month. However, the lower total lag
price in decks in July stems from a slight point
three percent decrease in the crop production price in decks.

(24:15):
Specialty crop prices received fruits, vegetables, melons, and tree nuts
were offset by declines and grains and oil seeds, including
an over nine percent decrease in prices received by wheat growers.
Corn crop progress nation wide reaches notable points of development
at the end of August. USDAB urologist Brad Rippee says,

(24:36):
for the crop progress report for the period ending August
thirty first.

Speaker 22 (24:40):
We passed the halfway mark on corn reaching the dented
stage during the week, and by August thirty first, that
number was all the way up to fifty eight percent. Now,
in terms of corn reaching full maturity by the end
of August, that number is fifteen percent nationally, one percentage
point ahead of the five year average, but three points
behind last year's eighteen percent.

Speaker 2 (25:00):
Dryer conditions nationwide are reflected in the latest corn crop
condition ratings.

Speaker 22 (25:04):
Our August thirty first number sixty nine percent of the
US corn good excellent, still not a bad number, but
down from last week seventy one percent, nine percent very
poor to poor. That is up a point from last week.
That still puts US better than last year at this time,
when the corn crop was rated sixty five percent good
to excellent and twelve percent very poor to poor. Looking

(25:24):
at the key production states, eighteen of them, only two
fall outside the range of plus or minus ten percentage
points from the average, and both of those are on
the quick side. Now, what we have seen in parts
of the mid South and lower Midwest in late August
is rapid developing drought.

Speaker 2 (25:44):
I'm Rod Bain, reporting for the US Department of Agriculture
in Washington, d C.

Speaker 23 (25:50):
We've heard this before. There is a shortage of large
animals veterinarians in rural America. But now another new plan
to fix it. It's time for California AAG today on
the AG Information Network.

Speaker 16 (26:03):
I in Haley's ship.

Speaker 23 (26:05):
A lot of effort and a lot of dollars have
gone into fixing it over the years, and now the
USDA is rolling out the latest plan to try and
make a difference. AG Secretary brook Rowlins just announced her
Rural Veterinary Action Plan. The goal is to get more
vets to rural America where they're most needed. And here's

(26:26):
how the USDA says they'll do it. One by enhancing
and streamlining the veterinary grant programs to analyze rural veterinary
shortages to better understand the need. Three recruit and retain
USDA veterinarians. Four catalog federal resources available to veterinarians for
starting a practice, and five work with and listen to stakeholders. Still,

(26:51):
the reality is that only a small percentage of veterinary
students come from rural areas and even fewer go into
large animal practice. That trend continues to feed the shortage.
Whether this new plan makes a lasting impact remains to
be seen, but it is another step in tackling a
problem that isn't going away anytime soon.

Speaker 20 (27:13):
You've probably been told that to reach a millennial farmer
you have to go digital hmm, Facebook, Vimeo, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest,
LinkedIn and online publication or maybe a podcast hmm, but
which one? Oh, and how receptive is this age group
to your sales pitch during non work social time. Maybe

(27:35):
the best place to reach a farmer with a farming
solution message is when they are well, quite frankly farming.
You know, it's easy for us to find them during
the day, as most farmers are behind the wheel of
a pickup truck or farm equipment with the radio on.
Listening to this station for the agg Information Network of

(27:55):
the West News. If you'd like to deliver information about
your terrific price service, give us a call and we'll
connect you directly with our community of loyal farmer listeners.
Reach real farmers right here, right now, as they listen
to what is important to their farm operation. They trust us,
They'll trust you.

Speaker 23 (28:15):
This is California AGG today on the ag Information Network.
Find more agricultural news at aginfo dot net.

Speaker 1 (28:22):
Bob Quinn, here were some farm news this morning friends.
This summer, Dairy West announced it had made a significant
step when it comes to shaping the future of dairy
promotion and representation, with the appointment of Steve Seppi as
the organization's new CEO. Glenn Waughan has our report this morning.

Speaker 4 (28:40):
Seppi says he brings decades of experience in check off work,
most recently as the executive director of the Dairy Farmers
of Washington. He noted he's passionate about the dairy industry.

Speaker 5 (28:50):
You know, I had good relationships with farmers across the
region from my time across there, and ultimately, you know,
there was an opportunity to kind of approach this this
new you know, regional growth and regional expansion, and so ultimately,
you know, I saw that as an opportunity and was
encouraged by you know, some of the farmers here in
Idaho and Utah, and you know, took the opportunity and

(29:13):
then ultimately I'm looking forward to the future as we
continue to expand and grow as a region.

Speaker 4 (29:19):
Sepi added, whether in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, or Utah, dairy
producers across the region have more in common than differences.

Speaker 5 (29:27):
They're family businesses, they're working hard to feed the world.
They obviously want to, you know, have a sustainable business
where they can hand it down to the next generation.
You know, Ultimately they have a lot of a lot
of similar things as far as the mission they set
out to, and that really kind of helps with commonality
between those different groups.

Speaker 4 (29:47):
With that in mind, the boards of Dairy West and
the Dairy Farmers of Washington also announced this summer a
decision to move forward in partnership. I'm Glenn Wagin reporting, well.

Speaker 1 (29:56):
Friends, there's been ups and downs over this summer when
it comes to getting things is done in Washington, including
some struggles in agriculture. Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith represents the
third district in Nebraska, the largest congressional district that is
pretty much all agriculture, and it was no surprise that
during his August recess, constituents were bending his ear.

Speaker 6 (30:17):
So we want to make sure we finish up the
farm bell like, we need to to tie up some
of those loose ends. We did get the big, big
components done, but there's still more to do there. I
know that producers would appreciate, so I hear.

Speaker 10 (30:30):
That a bit.

Speaker 6 (30:31):
But you know, folks economically concerned. You know, interest rates,
access to credit certainly for agriculture as a concern for folks.
So we need to pay close attention and really make
sure that we get our work TENANDC.

Speaker 1 (30:47):
Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith. This morning, many Midwest farmers discovering
tassel rap in their fields this season. Chad Smith has
a story.

Speaker 24 (30:57):
The condition occurs when corn tassels become tight wrapped within
the plant's upper leaves and interfere with pollination, leading to
potential yield loss. Jeff Cernet and agronomy solutions lead with
bare crop science, and an experienced corn breeder says preventing
the problem must begin in the corn breeding process.

Speaker 25 (31:17):
Many of the tassel rock problems this season were due
to genetics by environment interactions. This occurred in both good
and stressed environments. The tassels were tied up in the
upper leaves. Of those genetics, many of the tassels had
poor lateral branching. Silks continued to develop due to the
growing conditions and if pollen couldn't properly complete the fertilization process.
The problems this season were not an industry issue, but

(31:39):
more of a breeding selection issue within certain companies germplasm pool.
If attention is not paid as selecting away from poor
tassel characteristics, problems can show up in the resulting hybrids
that farmers plant. Environmental issues can make this more pronounced,
but identifying genetics that can stand up to a wide
variety of conditions is the place to start.

Speaker 24 (32:00):
Sirnett said tassel wrap was not a widespread issue in
bayers de calb corn products this season.

Speaker 25 (32:06):
We did not see tassel wrap in a vast majority
of our germ plasm. We have bread for tassels with
more branching, good tassel exertion, and most importantly soaking to
pollen shed that's in synchrony to one another. Thinkal products
are developed using a pool of germ plasm with genetics
from not only North America, but also from all over
the world. Our breeders focus on removing risks from key

(32:28):
times in the plant's life cycle, including pollination, which is
critical to determining yield. Corn breeders select for tassel quality
and soaking synchronization, and work to screen out germ plasm
that may be genetically predisposed to developing poor tassel characteristics.

Speaker 24 (32:45):
The issue can have significant impact on yield.

Speaker 25 (32:48):
Pollination is a critical time to realize the potential of
the growing corn crop. Synchrony between pollen shed and having
receptive corn silks on corn plants must occur regardless of
stress to realize is that full yield potential in corn.
If wrap tassels interfere with the pollination process, the yield
loss can be quite significant. If farmers observe problems this

(33:09):
season which appear to be related to certain corn products,
they really should consider choosing different products from a different
genetics supplier for the next season. Now corn hybrids, they
are able to cross pollinate if a different hybrid is
nearby or in strips in the same field. However, those
silks of one hybrid and the pollen shed of the
other they must be aligned in time to reduce some.

Speaker 10 (33:30):
Of this issue.

Speaker 25 (33:31):
Ultimately, seed selection will be an important management tool for
protecting against this tassel wrap condition next season.

Speaker 24 (33:37):
For additional information, farmers can contact their DECALB as grow
seed Dealer, or visit decalb dot com. Chad Smith reporting.

Speaker 1 (33:46):
Farm us This morning, you're listening to WAG Life.

Speaker 26 (33:51):
From the Egg Information Network.

Speaker 7 (33:52):
This is your agribusiness update.

Speaker 27 (33:54):
Well.

Speaker 26 (33:55):
Parmer sentiment dipped again in August, as the Purdue University
CME Group agg Economy Brahma index felt ten points to
one twenty five. Producers were much less optimistic about the
future in August, as the index of future expectations dropped
sixteen points to one twenty three. Producer's perspective on current
conditions changed, with that index reading one twenty nine versus
one twenty seven in July. Responses from crop producers are

(34:18):
much less optimistic than those from livestock producers. In the
EPA's long standing Meat and Poultry Affluent Guidelines and Standards
will stand. Administrator Lee Zelden announced that proposed changes to
the regulations are unnecessary. The agency says existing federal wastewater
regulations under the Clean Water Act are effective and the
burdens that proposed changes would inflict on meat and poultry

(34:40):
producers or unwarranted. National Port Producer's Council President Dwayne Stateler
says We applaud the administration and Administrator Zelden for this
common sense approach. A federal court decision vacated a burdens
of an unfair disegregation labor rule, a part of the
twenty twenty three Adverse Effect Wage rate rule. American Farm
Bureau President Zippy de Ball says he please the Labor

(35:01):
Department and the federal judge recognized elements of the twenty
twenty three labor rule creed in an unfair wage structure,
forcing farmers to pay employees for jobs they don't usually perform.
Du Valla is encouraging continued to reform of a broken
each toye system.

Speaker 20 (35:15):
For the last forty years, the AGG 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,

(35:36):
reaching coast to coast, deep roots and farming. In decades
of reporting, the AGG Information Network trusted in transparent journalism
for generations, 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

(35:56):
equipment with the radio on listening to this station for
the U the AAG Information Network of the West News.
So reach real farmers right here, right now as they
listen to what's important 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 1 (36:15):
Bob Quinn back to wrap up AGLIE for today, friends.
While the Environmental Protection Agency recently closed one public comment
period associated with the proposed renew Fuel Standard for twenty
twenty six, Rod Bain has our story.

Speaker 2 (36:29):
Regarding renewable volume obligations recently set by the Environmental Protection
Agency for twenty twenty six at twenty twenty seven as
part of the renewable Fuel Standard. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Stephen
Vaden had this to say at the recent Farm Progress
show in Illinois.

Speaker 27 (36:47):
We at USDA are very supportive of the Environmental Protection
Agency and the proposed renewable volume obligations. We think those
numbers are wonderful and are where they need to be
and meet the current ability of America to produce biofuels.

Speaker 2 (37:01):
There is still some confusion though, among the public about
all those acronyms associated with our fs. Take our vos,
for example, the.

Speaker 27 (37:09):
Renewable volume obligation. That's the amount of biofuels we need
to produce at minimum and be blended into our fuels
in this country. Every year, EPA sets that on an annual.

Speaker 2 (37:19):
Bas EPA's public combat Period. I've proposed rvos recently closed. However,
a second public combat period is now underway regarding EPA's
proposed adjustment to the small Refinery exemptions sres within the
RFS focused on compliance credits known as renewable identification Numbers rids.

(37:41):
As Deputy Secretary Vita explained.

Speaker 27 (37:43):
There's a provision in the law which says for certain
small oil refineries they are entitled to receive a waiver
from having to participate in this program. They don't have
to blend biofuels into the petroleum that they refine. In
the past that has essentially been lost volume. If you
had a renewable fuels obligation of a billion gallons and

(38:04):
one hundred million of it were waived because of the
small refinery. In reality, you'd only be producing nine hundred
million gallon.

Speaker 2 (38:11):
However, with EPA's latest proposal.

Speaker 27 (38:14):
These small refineries they won't have to blend the one
hundred million in my example, but we're going to redistribute
the obligation to blend to larger refineries which do not
get away from instead of losing the one hundred million
gallon in sales for biofuels to go straight to corn
and soybean farmers.

Speaker 2 (38:34):
Providing additional revenue opportunities for both biofuel feedstock growers and
biofuel producers. COBED is accepted through October twenty seventh at
www dot Regulations dot gov. I'm Rodbaine, reporting for the
US Department of Agriculture in Washington, d C.

Speaker 1 (38:54):
With that, friends, a ount of time for today, Thanks
for joining us. Back tomorrow morning with another edition of
Aglife