September 15, 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. Friends.
Judging fruit and vegetable health benefits by color, well, that's
where we start today.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Colorful foods are very attractive to us and they tend
to make us want to eat that particular food.

Speaker 3 (00:20):
And in the case of produce North Dakota State University
e Statues, Julie Garden Robinson says, there are plenty of
examples to choose from. Yet to ever wonder where fruits
and vegetables get their robust colors nutrients.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
In fact, as researchers have looked at the role of
colorful fruits and vegetables, they've found that in some cases
they may lower our risk of chronic diseases.

Speaker 3 (00:45):
So, for instance, perhaps you have heard of lykopede.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
The orange red pigment in tomatoes is linked with reducing
our risk for various types of cancer. Strawberries and raspberries
get their color from anthocyanin pigments red pigments, but the
anthocyanins in another form can give the blue color to blueberries.
And what we know about anthocyanin pigments is that they

(01:09):
may confer heart health benefits and also reduce cancer risk.

Speaker 3 (01:14):
Like red beets, those don't contain amphocyatin or lycopede for
that matter.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
They get their color from beaten in and that also
has health benefits.

Speaker 3 (01:23):
Now you may be aware of beta carotid as a
nutrient with egg carrots.

Speaker 2 (01:27):
Beta carotene is found in orange, gold, and even some
green fruits and vegetables.

Speaker 3 (01:32):
And in terms of nutrients associated with beta carotid.

Speaker 2 (01:36):
Keeps our skin, our bones, are vision, and our immune
system healthy.

Speaker 3 (01:41):
Current nutrita guidelines recommend consuming four to five cups of
fruit and vegetables daily.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
It's really a good idea to eat a variety of
colorful foods. There's not one magic food.

Speaker 3 (01:54):
Broad Baan reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington,
d C.

Speaker 1 (01:59):
Farm USA. Ahead, you're listening to wag Life, Bob Quinn.
Here were some farm news this morning. Friends. Fertilizer prices
appear to be on the rise again. Mike Davis has
our story.

Speaker 4 (02:10):
While they haven't hit the record, they reached in twenty
twenty two. Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm
Bureau Federation says, some products like phosphates are climbing higher.

Speaker 5 (02:21):
Really, what we're seen in this market though, is volatility,
and we think that will continue to persist as natural
gas prices and shifting trade policies in other countries. Really,
they are disrupting the markets and creating a lot of uncertainties.

Speaker 4 (02:34):
Parum says there are two main factors driving up the
cost of fertilizer for farmers and ranchers.

Speaker 5 (02:40):
The big drivers are energy costs, mainly because nitrogen fertilizers
rely on natural gas and so other countries have had
decreased production due to conflict as well as geopolitical disputes. Overall,
there will just akain be that uncertainty as you know
the world and continues to move around through these geo
political disruption.

Speaker 4 (03:01):
She says the best way to prepare for increased input
costs is to keep an eye on the market and
be ready to pivot with changing conditions.

Speaker 5 (03:09):
Farmers really just need to be aware and monitoring the
market ahead of the next year, and so staying flexible
and planning for this volatility will help you know, manage
higher input cost as well as just being aware of
higher input cost across the board.

Speaker 4 (03:23):
For more information, visit FB dot org. Mike Davis, Washington.

Speaker 1 (03:28):
Well Friends. Food insecurity knows no boundaries, but a disproportionately
impacts rural areas of the country. That's why the National
Association of Farm Broadcasting and its member stations are teaming
up with Feeding America to ensure everyone has access to
healthy meals. Linda Nujat, President and CEO of Feeding America, says,

(03:49):
a surprisingly large number of children are threatened by hunger
every day.

Speaker 6 (03:54):
During the whole month of September. Feeding America and our
national network of two hundred plus food banks over sixty
thousand faith based and community based organizations that all work
together to ensure that people facing hunger have access to
the nutritious food that they need all across the country.

(04:14):
We're working to come together with our partners to elevate
the voices of people who are facing hunger and inspire
our nation to take action.

Speaker 1 (04:23):
New John says hunger hits rural areas even more than
urban centers.

Speaker 6 (04:28):
There are over forty seven million people in America who
are experiencing food and security, including thirteen million children. That's
one in five kids. And what we know about rural
hunger is that the rates of food and security and
rural communities can be much much higher than in other areas.

(04:48):
We know that in many rural communities, child food and
security rates can be as high as nearly fifty percent.

Speaker 1 (04:54):
Drew Mantri, vice President of agri Food Engagement and Feeding America, says,
the work with farmers across the country are making a difference.

Speaker 7 (05:02):
Our network works with farmers in the community every day,
across commodities and across skills. So for some farmers that
means they connect regularly with local agency in their community
or their local food bank, and we're encouraging you to
reach out to your local food things to see how
you can get involved.

Speaker 1 (05:20):
Keep listening to the station to find out how you
can help, or visit NAFB hunger dot com well Friends.
For the first time in nearly a decade, University of
Idaho's College of Agriculture Life Sciences has a new dean,
Glenn Waughan has our report.

Speaker 8 (05:35):
Doctor Leslie Edgar moved to Moscow this summer from neighboring
Washington State University, where she served as the Associate dean
of Research. Edgar and Idaho native says her time in
the Evergreen State gave her great insights to take on
the UVI role.

Speaker 9 (05:49):
Working in Washington prepared me to think differently about the
Pacific Northwest and how do we partner amongst Idaho, Washington,
and Oregon, not just on important co commodities that we
share across the Pacific Northwest, and how do we serve
as land grant universities our agricultural stakeholders in meaningful.

Speaker 8 (06:09):
Ways When it comes to that regional outlook on agriculture
and the needed research. Edgar says she's looking forward to
collaborating with her peers at Oregon State University as well
as WSU. She had it's important the three colleges work
together on research that will have the deepest impact on
the region's farming community. Part of the.

Speaker 9 (06:29):
Original land grant mission was that institutions of higher education
at land grants should be the ones failing first on
the science right. We should be the ones who are
trying out new innovations, new technologies, and if they're not working,
that we find that first before providing that directly to producers.

Speaker 8 (06:48):
She noted that research we'll focus on all commodities across
state lines, such as potatoes, grains, dairy as well as
ag technology and a lot more. I'm Glenn bog And reporting.

Speaker 10 (06:58):
Farm US this morning listening to AAG life American Cattle
news reopening the southern border with Mexico for live feeder
cattle good or bad?

Speaker 11 (07:10):
More after this, I'm Russ Kohler, a dairyman from Utah. Safety.
Know your limits. Heatstroke is life threatening.

Speaker 12 (07:19):
Know the symptoms confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, high body temperature,
hot dry skin, and perfuse sweating. Reduce your risk during
the heat of the day by working earlier or later,
allow time for water and rest breaks by drinking two
to four cups of water each hour.

Speaker 13 (07:35):
This public service message is brought to you by Farm
Bureau and the US AGG Centers.

Speaker 4 (07:41):
The threat of New World screw worm has caused the
US to close the border with Mexico for feeder cattle.
That's recently reopened. Justin Douglas's Arizona. Robbie Kirkland is a
family feeder from Vega, Texas.

Speaker 14 (07:59):
Those cattle are used by you know farmers, backgrounders, uh
and then feed lots, so all different sectors of the
of the you know of the market of the of
the beach chain. So this cattle will come across and
then like I said, a lot of them will be
fed you know, particularly in our region, I mean the

(08:21):
Texas Cattle Feeder region Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, and
then probably some up into maybe southern part of Kansas.
But uh, you know, the majority of them would be
fed in in our region. And so those cattle would
come in, a lot of them will get We'll be
put on pasture, could be gone wheat pasture, could be
summer grass pasture, and then like I said, would go

(08:42):
on into the to the to the feed lots sector.
And and that's kind of how they're used.

Speaker 4 (08:47):
And why is this important to.

Speaker 14 (08:49):
Continue take a million head roughly out of the supply
for you know, shutting off the ports in and between
Mexico and and the US. So that's put a really
strain on the numbers in the you know, in the
feed lots, on our grass, on our wheat pasture because
of just you know, just sheer numbers. So that's made

(09:13):
a huge impact. And so in our region we would
say that there would be around fifteen percent of the
cattle on feed or in our possession would be cattle
historically from.

Speaker 4 (09:25):
Mexico American Cattle News. It's another at News update foreign
ownership of domestic farmland. More after this.

Speaker 8 (09:38):
This is Shaquille O'Neill reminding you that anytime is a
good time for the cooling drying freshmen of gold bond
powder spread, like after the gym.

Speaker 15 (09:47):
Elevator bite for golf.

Speaker 11 (09:49):
Working with fine animals, or hard day's work.

Speaker 16 (09:53):
Stay cool with gold bond pott of spreads.

Speaker 17 (09:55):
Stay with.

Speaker 4 (09:58):
Arkansas Governors, Sarah. I could be Sanders on prohibiting foreign
ownership of farm land.

Speaker 18 (10:05):
The last couple of months. We've passed new legislation just
this year allowing us to prohibit them from now not
only owning farmland in our state, but from building or
buying land around our military bases and critical infrastructure. It
is something that has to happen and something that states
have been leading the way on, but unfortunately our states

(10:28):
can't do it alone. That's why events like today matter
so much. That's why leadership from people like Secretary Rollins
matter so much. The fact that we now have a
president who understands who our real enemies are and is
willing to take them on is making a huge difference
not just in our country but around the world. You know,

(10:51):
we've talked a lot about today a country's ability to
feed itself, but that's not the only place, and that's
not the only role adject agriculture plays. A country has
to be able to feed itself, fuel itself, and fight
for itself to truly be free. And that's why what
this group represents is every component of that. And we

(11:13):
now have a president who understands it and is willing
to do everything within his power to make sure the
United States continues to be the greatest country on the
face of the planet.

Speaker 4 (11:23):
It's another agnews update.

Speaker 11 (11:27):
I'm Russ Kohler, a dairyman from Utah.

Speaker 12 (11:30):
Safety. Know your limits. Heat stroke is life threatening. Know
the symptoms confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, high body temperature,
hot dry skin, and profuse sweating. Reduce your risk during
the heat of the day by working earlier or later,
allow time for water and rest breaks by drinking two
to four cups of water each hour.

Speaker 13 (11:50):
This public service message is brought to you by Farm
Bureau and the US AGG Centers.

Speaker 4 (11:59):
This is dear Radio now Melki Monday.

Speaker 19 (12:03):
Dave Krazowski, Stone Necks Dairy Group broker in Chicago, Dave
the cash dairy markets were looking pretty sad last week,
with butter falling below two dollars per pound for the
first time since December second, twenty twenty one, almost four
years ago. In fact, a year ago, it was trading
at three thirteen per pound. Cheese has also seen some weakness.

(12:26):
I have to wonder where these prices would be if
we didn't have the exports we've been seeing.

Speaker 20 (12:31):
Yeah, great question, good exports. Back in July we exported
which is over eighteen million pounds of butter, which is
pretty good for butter historically speaking. Look at like cheese,
we export something like one hundred and fifteen hundred and
ten million pounds this summer. A million pounds of cheese
this summer. So we don't export nearly as much butter
as we do cheese, but really strong numbers nonetheless for butter.

(12:53):
Here's the thing, Lee, I think the market is on
the other side of what was going on this summer,
which was a really strong demand for derivative contracts, futures contracts,
future options on futures contracts, you know OTC swaps. There's
a lot of Hey, I got to get some hedges
on for the second half of the year. That drove
the futures market up, and I think it also kind

(13:14):
of helped underpin the spot price. But the thing you
and the listeners should know is that you don't have
a real tight market unless the physical product is tight.
And so we had futures at two seventy two eighty
this summer, and spot never made it over two sixty
for very long. So that tells me that there's plenty
of supply of great douaa salted butter, and now we're

(13:36):
on the other side of that. So I do think
we're probably almost done with this selloff. I think we've
gone farther than we probably should have, and I think
somewhere between two dollars and two twenty the market ought
to kind of find some stability. Two dollars still good number,
but yeah, we're dipping down here, big number, This two
dollars level. I think it'll hold as we go through

(13:56):
the balance of September and into October.

Speaker 19 (13:59):
Well real quickly closing. We have the holidays coming upon us,
so that should spur things upward.

Speaker 20 (14:05):
Elsehold, well, it certainly could. I mean, I think a
lot of buyers that need to have butter put away
for the holidays. I think they've done that. I think
they can do that. There's always the margins, right, so
the additional loads here or there, and I think we'll
have a decent holiday season. So to your point, I
think that will provide some support in the short term.
You know'll call it the next thirty to forty five days.

Speaker 19 (14:26):
Thank you, Dave. Dave Kurzowski Stone next dairy group broker
in Chicago.

Speaker 15 (14:31):
Here's dairy farmer Hank Wagner and his daughter Laura with
another simple miracle moment.

Speaker 21 (14:37):
You are one of a kind, special, unique. You are
different than other people, and it is your difference that
creates your value. Someone else is depending on you to
grow your talents, gifts, and strengths and to share those
with them.

Speaker 22 (14:50):
Another part of what makes you different in one of
a kind is your specific weaknesses. Nobody is perfect. We
all have weaknesses and it is valuable to know what
they are and to come to grips with them.

Speaker 21 (15:01):
So what do we do with our weaknesses? Some people, businesses,
or organizations will focus all their efforts on improving their weaknesses.
Sometimes there's tremendous value in identifying a weakness and strategically
taking steps to improve it.

Speaker 22 (15:16):
It can also be wise to realize that a particular
weakness you possess is not something you choose to improve.
You may then choose to delegate or fill that weakness
with another person who is already strong in that area.

Speaker 15 (15:27):
That's Hank Wagner and Laura Rods, author of the book
Simple Miracles for More Go to Become Better Leaders dot com.

Speaker 11 (15:34):
Text and whatever.

Speaker 8 (15:36):
Just don't text and drive?

Speaker 2 (15:38):
Is it?

Speaker 11 (15:38):
Stop texts? Stop rex dot org.

Speaker 23 (15:40):
A message from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and
the ad Council.

Speaker 24 (15:44):
This is dairy Radio.

Speaker 3 (15:46):
Now Farmers, whether in the middle of harvest or just beginning.
Dad Needed of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety says,
make safety checks a machinery at have personal protection at
safety equipment available to the start of harvest. For each season,
for each day, we.

Speaker 25 (16:03):
Always want to take a look at the fire extinguishers
that are in the shed and then the combine. Are they charged?

Speaker 24 (16:08):
Are they ready to go?

Speaker 25 (16:09):
The first aid kits? Do you have a farm first
aid kit that stocked and.

Speaker 2 (16:13):
Ready to go?

Speaker 3 (16:14):
Needed adds If a grower's area uses died what one
sides for emergency notification.

Speaker 25 (16:20):
Have a notebook in every vehicle that might go from
farmstead to farmstead because farmers are now renting more property
than ever before. So if you have an emergency that
you can get that nine to one one sign and
be able to give them that nine to one one
number right away, which is going to tell the dispatcher
what fire department, what ambulance, what law enforcement agency to
be able to respond.

Speaker 3 (16:41):
Brod Bain reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington,
d C.

Speaker 26 (16:50):
As ALM A harvest continues for the twenty twenty five season.
It's really important to be thinking about sanitation. This winner
to create a app and that naval orange worm life cycle.
I'm Patrick Cavanaugh with a California tree Nut Report, part
of the vast agg Information Network. Jamie Ott is a
UC Cooperative Extension Orchard System Advisor for Taheima, Shasta, Glenn,

(17:15):
and Butke Counties, and she knows the importance of sanitation.

Speaker 17 (17:19):
I think these last two years it has been really
challenging to get out in orchards in the winter to
shake and mow mummies. And I know that last year
was a record setting year for naval orange worm damage
and this year isn't that bad, but is still one
of the worst years on record to my understanding. So

(17:39):
I really think it's important that people think about getting
out getting those mummies down, maybe before for the winter
rains come, because that's that's been kind of our achilles
heel these last two years. As the orchards have gotten
so wet, people haven't been able to get out and
do that sanitation. So really, if you have the time
and the manpower and the machines, really consider getting that done.

Speaker 26 (18:00):
And it's important to get those nuts out of the
trees that did not shake out to the ground and
destroy that larvae that's in that nut.

Speaker 17 (18:07):
Yeah. Absolutely, you want the mummies shredded on the ground again.

Speaker 26 (18:11):
That's Jamie Ott, a UC farm advisor in northern California.

Speaker 27 (18:15):
Farm work is tough, and so is staying safe on road.
Every year, accidents happen when tractors and traffic share the
same space, whether you're behind the wheel of a tractor
or a car. 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

(18:37):
moment a caution can save a life. Let's work together
to keep our roads and our farms safe. This message
was brought to you by the ag Information Network.

Speaker 28 (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 wheat and 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 26 (19:15):
For the AG Information Network, this is Patrick Kavanaugh with
the California tree Nut Report.

Speaker 24 (19:20):
Dennis Guy keeps us up to date than the political
world in Canada. Near the top of the current list
is Canada's temporary foreign workers program. On Wednesday, Polyev announced
that his goal is to permanently end that.

Speaker 29 (19:34):
Program, stop issuing visas for any new temporary foreign workers.
Nearly seventy five percent of temporary foreign workers that come
into the country are for low wage positions, which means
they compete with working class and young people that ultimately
drive down wages.

Speaker 24 (19:50):
The former Liberal government under Justin Trudeau is on the
record as stating the program needs a formal review, and
Mark Kearney says the program is on the cabinet's discussion agenda,
but Carney also says there is no plan to do
away with it as it fills a workforce need.

Speaker 30 (20:08):
That program has a role. When I talked to businesses
around the country, their number one issue is tariffs and
a number two issue is access to temporary foreign workers.

Speaker 24 (20:17):
A similar but different program, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program,
also allows primary agriculture employers to bring in seasonal workers
from Mexico and Caribbean countries, but farmers and agrifood producers
can also choose to hire workers through the Temporary Foreign
Workers program, and that program, the one that Polyev once ended,

(20:40):
accounted for more than seventy eight thousand employees across the
agricultural sector last year. Polyiev's conservatives have said they would
establish a separate and stand alone program for agricultural labor,
but Keith Curry, who farms near Georgian Bay in central Ontario,
and is president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, believes

(21:01):
the seasonal agricultural worker program could be put in danger
if changes to the temporary foreign worker program go too far.

Speaker 25 (21:09):
I don't know how you can do it with a
temporary foreign worker program in totality without arming the agriculture streams.

Speaker 24 (21:15):
Concerns of losing the Temporary Foreign workers program are being
heard well beyond the agricultural sector. Dan Kelly with the
Canadian Federation of Small and Medium Business says that the
program is a valuable resource for many small and rural
communities with a limited labor pool to draw on.

Speaker 23 (21:35):
There are thousands of communities where there just are no
entry level people. If you're trying to hire in rural
Saskatchewan to work in your quick service restaurant, it's unlikely
that the unemployed kid from Toronto is going to take
the job washing dishes.

Speaker 24 (21:49):
Finestavat Pierre Polyev says he plans to put the Temporary
Foreign workers program on the agenda for debate when Parliament
goes back into session in Ottawa on September fifth, fift
Reporting from Canada, I'm Dennis Guy. Economic sentiment among producers
continue to work its way lower in August, with the
Purdue University CMI Group ag Economy Barometer falling for the

(22:12):
third straight month. Doctor Jim Mentored from produced Center for
Commercial Agriculture is the author of the report.

Speaker 30 (22:20):
The index did fall ten points this month to reading
of one twenty five, so that's down from one thirty five,
and as you mentioned, it's a third straight month for
a decline. The barometer, an index of future expectations, was
the driver of the decline this month. It was down
sixteen points. That puts it at a reading of one
twenty three. Current condition index really didn't change. I think
it was up two points from July to or reading

(22:41):
of one twenty nine. So the significant change was people
becoming less optimistic about the future and that pulling the
barometer back overall.

Speaker 24 (22:48):
He says, it's not surprising the livestock producers or the
most optimistic segment of the industry.

Speaker 30 (22:55):
We always take a look at crop producers versus livestock producers,
and you know, if you really drill down on that,
it's clear that the optimism in the barometer is really
coming primarily from the livestock sector, especially beef cattle producers.
A record high profitability for cal cafe operations, very strong
profitability for cattle feeders as well, and the negativity is

(23:17):
really coming from the.

Speaker 24 (23:18):
Crop side mentor, says farmers. Number one concern continues to
be production costs, particularly high input costs.

Speaker 31 (23:26):
US hay production and drought twenty four percent on September second.
That is up a bit from seventeen percent back in
early August. That is largely due to the increase in
drought coverage across the mid South and lower Midwest, as
well as the Northeast to a lesser degree, cattle inventory
and drought is a lower number. Current number is eighteen
percent in drought. That is up slightly from thirteen percent

(23:48):
back in early August about four weeks ago. But it
is also worth noting that a lot of our key
cattle production areas and Great Plains are currently drought free.
So that's a big change from what we saw earlier
in the decade when drought was expansive across the plains
and points west. But we have seen the number inch
up five percentage points during the month of August, and
that is again largely due to drought increases across the

(24:10):
Mid South the Lower Midwest. On into the northeastern US.

Speaker 32 (24:14):
Every year, the US government spends millions of taxpayer dollars
on flowers and greenery for official events. Now, a group
of senators says it's time to make sure those stems
are grown here in the United States. It's time for
California agg Today on the AG Information Network, I am
Haley's ship. California Senator Adam Schiff has now joined with

(24:36):
Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski out of Alaska, along
with Senator Angus King of Maine, to introduce the American
Grown Act. This legislation would require the White House, the
State Department, and the Department of Defense to purchase only
cut flowers and greens produced in the United States. Representatives
Salute Carba Hall of California has also introduced the companion

(24:59):
bill in the House. The American flower industry and California
in particular, grows vibrant flowers and greenery, and it's important
that the hard work of our country's growers is supported,
said Senator Schiff, adding that our bipartisan bill ensures that
the federal government continues to boost this robust industry whilst
creating jobs and promoting American grown products. So what's happening now? While,

(25:21):
according to Senator King, under the current system, the vast
majority of flowers and cut greens purchased by the US
government are foreign grown, meaning the economic benefits are flowing
to foreign markets.

Speaker 28 (25:33):
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?

Speaker 8 (25:48):
Oh, and how.

Speaker 28 (25:49):
Receptive is this age group to your sales pitch during
non work social time. Maybe 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

(26:12):
the ag Information Network of the West News. If you'd
like to deliver information about your terrific product or 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 32 (26:33):
This is California AGG today on the AG Information Network,
I am Haley's ship. For more AG news, check us
out online at aginfo dot Net.

Speaker 1 (26:42):
Bob Quinn, here are some farm news this morning, friends.
Fertilizer prices appear to be on the rise again. Mike
Davis has our story.

Speaker 4 (26:51):
While they haven't hit the record they reached in twenty
twenty two. Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm
Bureau Federation, says, some products like foss spates are climbing higher.

Speaker 5 (27:01):
Really, what we're seen in this market, though, is volatility,
and we think that will continue to persist as natural
gas prices and shifting trade policies in other countries. Really,
we are disrupting the markets and creating a lot of uncertainties.

Speaker 4 (27:15):
Parham says there are two main factors driving up the
cost of fertilizer for farmers and ranchers.

Speaker 5 (27:20):
The big drivers are energy costs, mainly because nitrogen fertilizers
rely on natural gas, and so other countries have had
decreased production due to conflict as well as geopolitical disputes. Overall,
there will just again be that uncertainty as you know
the world and continues to move around through these geopolitical disruptions.

Speaker 4 (27:42):
She says the best way to prepare for increased input
costs is to keep an eye on the market and
be ready to pivot with changing conditions.

Speaker 5 (27:50):
Farmers really just need to be aware and monitoring the
market ahead of the next year, and so staying flexible
and planning for this volatility will help you manage higher
input cost as well as just being aware of higher
impact cost across the board.

Speaker 4 (28:03):
For more information, visit FB dot org. Mike Davis, Washington.

Speaker 1 (28:09):
Well Friends. Food insecurity knows no boundaries, but a disproportionately
impacts rural areas of the country. That's why the National
Association of Farm Broadcasting and its member stations are teaming
up with Feeding America to ensure everyone has access to
healthy meals. Linda Nujat, President and CEO of Feeding America, says,

(28:30):
a surprisingly large number of children are threatened by hunger
every day.

Speaker 6 (28:35):
During the whole month of September. Feeding America and our
national network of two hundred plus food banks over sixty
thousand faith based and community based organizations that all work
together to ensure that people facing hunger have access to
the nutritious food that they need. All across the country.

(28:55):
We're working to come together with our partners to elevate
the voices people who are facing hunger and inspire our
nation to take action.

Speaker 1 (29:04):
New John says hunger hits rural areas even more than
urban centers.

Speaker 6 (29:08):
There are over forty seven million people in America who
are experiencing food and security, including thirteen million children. That's
one in five kids. And what we know about rural
hunger is that the rates of food and security and
rural communities can be much much higher than in other areas.

(29:29):
We know that in many rural communities, child food and
security rates can be as high as nearly fifty percent.

Speaker 1 (29:35):
Drew Mantri, vice President of Agri Food Engagement and Feeding America,
says the work with farmers across the country are making
a difference.

Speaker 7 (29:43):
Our network works with farmers in the community every day,
across commodities and across skills. So for some farmers that
means they connect regularly with local agency in their community
or their local food bank. And we're encouraging you to
reach out to your local food banks to see how
you can get involved.

Speaker 1 (30:01):
Keep listening to the station to find out how you
can help or visit NAFB hunger dot com. The USDA
has published the latest farm income outlook. Rod Bain has
our story.

Speaker 3 (30:12):
That far Big Cub is expected to be up from
USDA's February forecast. Research economist Kerry Lekowski says the latest
far Big Cub forecast, issued in September indicates.

Speaker 33 (30:24):
Farm income will increase in twenty twenty five relative to
twenty twenty four, and this follows declining farm income in
twenty twenty three. In twenty twenty.

Speaker 3 (30:34):
Four, by the numbers, that far Big Cub is forecasted
up fifty two billion with a B dollars year over year,
while that FARB cash incub is projected to increase over
forty billion for this year.

Speaker 33 (30:47):
Most of the expected increase in farm income is coming
from higher cash re feet from the sale of animal
and animal products, and also we expect higher payment from
government programs to far farmers in twenty twenty five.

Speaker 3 (31:01):
Explaining projected government payments to farmers this year, total.

Speaker 33 (31:05):
Direct government payments is forecast at about forty billion dollars.
That's an increase at about thirty billion dollars from twenty
twenty four levels, and largely this is reflecting increases or
expected increases in supplemental and ad hoc disaster.

Speaker 3 (31:21):
Assistance, which includes both disaster and assistance payments already made
in twenty twenty five and those still scheduled for later
this year. Also expected up total production expenses.

Speaker 33 (31:33):
We are expecting that production expenses will increase in twenty
twenty five about three percent when not adjusted for inflation,
or about zero point one percent when inflation adjusted. Behind
the total, we expect higher expenses in twenty twenty five
for labor, livestock, and pulsry purchases, interest expenses, property taxes,

(31:56):
and fees, as well as higher.

Speaker 3 (31:57):
Net rents down from the previous year cash receipts for
crop producers by almost five percent year over year. In
terms of the farm sector ballad sheet assets, equity, add debt.

Speaker 33 (32:09):
We are forecasting that equity, assets and debt will all
grow in twenty twenty five, each about five percent nominally,
meaning not being adjusted for inflation.

Speaker 3 (32:20):
I'm broad Baying reporting for the US Department of Agriculture
in Washington.

Speaker 17 (32:24):
D C.

Speaker 11 (32:25):
Farm US.

Speaker 24 (32:25):
This morning.

Speaker 1 (32:26):
You're listening to Aglife.

Speaker 16 (32:29):
From the Information Network. This is your agribusiness update. Well,
the Washington State Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals
for this Specialty Crop Block Grant programs twenty twenty six
funding year. WSDA will grant awards ranging from twenty five
to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars per project, and
project may last for up to three years. Concept proposals
must be submitted electronically by noon October fifteenth. Applicants should

(32:53):
visit wsda's Specialty Crop Block Grant web page for more information.
The USDA's Economic Research Service says net cash farm income,
defined as gross cash income minus cash expenses, is forecast
increase twenty five percent from twenty twenty four to one
hundred and eighty point seven billion dollars in twenty twenty five.
Inflation adjusted dollars, net farm income is forecast to increase

(33:14):
thirty seven percent to one hundred and seventy nine point
eight billion dollars. Most of the projected twenty twenty five
increase corresponds with higher direct government payments to farmers, projected
to increase from ten point four billion to forty point
five billion in twenty twenty five. Specially crop growers scored
a significant win last week when the USDA announced its
intention to discontinue the Farm Labor Survey. The fl has

(33:36):
helped the Department of Labor determine the a were the
minimum wage for each toay workers in every state. As
rates spiraled out of control in recent years, Michael Marsh,
President and CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers,
says it's unfortunately made US employers non competitive with their
foreign competition.

Speaker 28 (33:52):
For the last forty years, the AG 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 AG Information Network,

(34:12):
reaching coast to coast, deep roots and farming. In decades
of reporting, the AGG Information Network trusted and 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
equipment with the radio on listening to this station for

(34:35):
the ag 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 16 (34:50):
From the Egg Information Network on Bob Lurson with your
agribusiness update.

Speaker 1 (34:54):
Bob Quinn back to wrap up AG Live for today friends. Well,
the Canadian government has announced that it's investing three hundred
and seventy million dollars in a biofuels industry, in part
to help shore up Canada's struggling canola industry against Chinese tariffs.
Dennis Guy has our final report.

Speaker 24 (35:12):
The federal government has also announced that canola producers will
have their Advanced Payment Loan program expanded. Canola industry and
canola producers reactions where lukewarm. Most are saying they would
be far happier to see an end to the ongoing
tariff wars. Altogether, Canada is the world's largest exporter of canola,

(35:34):
and China is by far the largest Canadian canola market.
Last year, Canada shipped almost five billion dollars worth to China.
Last August, China imposed tariffs on Canadian canola seed, and
then in March, China followed up with tariffs on oil
and meal in retaliation against tariffs on Chinese steel into

(35:56):
aluminum and on Chinese electric vehicles. China is also investigating
allegations of product dumping by the Canadian industry. Rob Stone
farms in central Saskatchewan. He is pleased to see Ottawa
acknowledging the issues facing Canada's canola producers, but rob Stone
says Ottawa's announcements do nothing to replace the Chinese canola market.

Speaker 34 (36:20):
I think it's great to see a recognition that this
is an important issue with federal government. I think it's
probably the most elevated response that we've seen from him
As a farmer.

Speaker 11 (36:27):
I'm happy to see that.

Speaker 34 (36:28):
However, measures like an expansion to the Advanced Payments Program
is just more debt and the bile fuel. I think
it's great to see investment in Canada, it doesn't replace
the fact that China is our largest market for canola.

Speaker 11 (36:40):
That's the biggest market risk for US.

Speaker 24 (36:42):
Many within the canola industry think the quickest way to
resolve this issue is for Canada to remove its tariff
on Chinese electric vehicles and it seems that a majority
of Canadians want the same thing. According to a recent
Nanos Research survey, sixty two percent of respondents say they
support removing the one hundred percent tax on all Chinese

(37:06):
made electric vehicles, and on Tuesday, Canadian Agriculture Minister Heath
McDonald said decision to scrap or at least ease those
tariffs is under review. The Canadian Canola Council stated that
last week's announcements from Ottawa really do nothing. Chris Davison,
president and CEO of that organization, said that the best

(37:28):
thing Ottawa can do to help his industry is to
do whatever it needs to do to get the Chinese
market reopened, and.

Speaker 35 (37:35):
We have a market like China that's closed. Most of
what was announced misses the mark in terms of the
support that the canol industry needs right now. The longer
these tariffs remain in place, then obviously the cost to
address that increases significantly. These are political issues that need
political solutions.

Speaker 24 (37:51):
Reporting from Canada, I'm Dennis Guy.

Speaker 1 (37:54):
With that friends, out of time for today, thanks for
joining us. Back tomorrow morning with another edition of Bag
Life