September 2, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, valley, This is aglife. My name is Bob Quinn,
with you for the next hour talking about agricultural production
here in the valley and all across the country. Well, friends,
you don't have to go too far to find exotic
tropical fruits. That's where we start the day to day.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Several of us are not ready to see sumber go.
There are options to that, you know, chase the warmth
and fund to subtropical destination, enjoying a tropical fruit that
requires just a trip to the supermarket. That appears to
be what consumers are doing as Americans are enjoying an
increasing number of tropical fruits. USDA research economist Catherine Weber

(00:39):
starts with pied apples.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
The United States has been a top global importer of
fresh pineapples five volume each year since nineteen ninety seven.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
That might come as a surprise the sum especially if
your thoughts of pied apple growing locales are on the US.
Pied apple production as of twenty twenty two, twenty eighth
above global growing nations.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
Costa Rica is the leading supplier of fresh pineapples to
the United States, accounting for almost ninety percent of import volume.
Costa Rica is the third largest pineapple producer in the world,
behind Indonesia and the Philippines.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Perhaps pineapple is not your thing, Maybe you want a
more exotic tropical fruit, say mangoes. That too, has become
popular above US consumers. Just look at the mageo salsa, smoothie, juice, jam, skincare,
and everything else mango in the store isle.

Speaker 3 (01:29):
The United States has been a top global importer of
fresh mangoes, including guavas and mango steams by volume each
year since nineteen seventy five, and.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
Even with lower import volumes last year resulting in a
fresh mango per capita consumption decline of just over three
and a half mangoes per person per year.

Speaker 3 (01:48):
It's still forty five percent higher than a decade ago.

Speaker 2 (01:51):
Where do our mangoes come from?

Speaker 3 (01:53):
Mexico ships most of its mangoes to United States during
the summer months, with peaking volume in July and August
tend to be winter suppliers, and angos to the United.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
States now a tropical fruit. Perhaps we haven't tried yet papaya. However,
the United States.

Speaker 3 (02:09):
Has been the top global importer of fresh propayas by
volume each year since nineteen ninety five Now.

Speaker 2 (02:14):
Papaya imports were lower year over year in twenty twenty four,
still down.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
Two percent from the twenty twenty three record high of
five hundred and one million pounds.

Speaker 2 (02:23):
Mexico provides most papayas to our nation, but where they
are growed is.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
The top three papaya producing states in Mexico located in
tropical or subtropical regions within the southern half of the country.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Subtropical fruits to keep the feel of super warmth all
year round, and nothing like a tropical fruit beverage in
hands sitting out in the back deck of your favorite
lounge chair, wide shirt, khaki shorts, subartic weather road made
reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC.

Speaker 4 (02:53):
Urry up and light those.

Speaker 1 (02:54):
Tiaki lamps, farm ws ahead. This is agwife, Bob. When
here were some farm news this morning.

Speaker 5 (03:00):
Friends.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
Well, it's well known among the public that the FBI
investigates crimes of all types and sizes. What may not
be as well known is that the FBI plays a
role in securing US agriculture as well. Scott Malock, Weapons
of mass Destruction coordinator with the FBI's Milwaukee office, talks
about the threats to American agriculture.

Speaker 6 (03:21):
So within the modalities a WMDR, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear,
explosive hazards, I would say biological threats probably has the
most going on. Whether it's emerging technologies, agriculture, food defense,
there's a lot going on when it comes to biological threats.
You've got to keep in mind the FBI is not
a regulator, but it's important that I align myself with local,

(03:43):
state and federal regulatory agencies to understand what the vulnerabilities
are when it comes to agriculture and food defense. We
consider food and agriculture part of national security. If that's disrupted,
we're going to have some big issues.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
Malich says. The FBI takes part in many agriculture related
public events.

Speaker 6 (04:02):
Yeah, this is going to be our fourth or fifth
year at Worlddairy Expo, and then this is my first
year at Wisconsin Farm Technology Expo. For me, it's important
to get in front of those stakeholders. When we work
the World Dairy Expo, we have a lot of international visitors.
We have a larger corporations that attend an event like
this with the Wisconsin Farm Technology Expo, I think that's

(04:24):
really where our message comes across is the protection of
their property and their methods and their processes.

Speaker 1 (04:31):
It's important to include farms of all sizes when it
comes to maintaining agricultural security for the nation.

Speaker 6 (04:38):
You know, if you have a small family farm at
the dairy farm and maybe you're holding that milk for
a couple of days before it's picked up, how do
you safeguard that milk? And a lot of times I
think these discussions really hit home because when you're in
a small family farm, security is often an afterthought, if
the thought at all. So it's great to have these
one on one conversations and let them know and understand

(05:00):
what those vulnerabilities are, but most importantly that they have
an advocate for them in the field and that we're
there for them as a resource if they have any questions.

Speaker 1 (05:08):
You said, there are vulnerabilities up and down the agricultural
supply chain.

Speaker 6 (05:13):
You think about the farm to fork continuum and all
the processes within that continuum. So you have the cowdgraising
in the field to that showing up on your dinner plate.
So you think about the farm, you think about logistics,
you think about the auction house. Do you think about
the slaughter facility. You think about all the steps in
that process. Every step has a vulnerability that's attached to it.

(05:33):
I've been very fortunate that we have a great relationship
with USDA, and USDA has opened a lot of doors
for me to further understand the farm to fork continuum
and understand what those vulnerabilities look like. Again, keep in mind,
the FBI is not a regulator, but it's important that
I ligne myself with partners like USDA to understand what
the vulnerabilities are because if a situation comes up where

(05:54):
there is an incident, I want to go into that
incident with at least a baseline knowledge of what those
vulnerabilities look like.

Speaker 1 (06:00):
The increasing use of technology in US agriculture is another
area of concern.

Speaker 6 (06:04):
We have cyber concerns, we have intellectual property concerns, and
that's one thing I'm really learning, especially attending events like
the World Dairy x Folk is technology and processes and
methods we want to protect that. A lot of that
falls under intellectual property. We don't want that technology and
those methods going offshore, maybe being produced cheaper within the

(06:26):
dairy industry or farming. You look at DNA sequencing and
all the science that's behind that, and we really have
to make sure that we're protecting that science and we're
protecting that technology the best we can.

Speaker 1 (06:38):
Special Agent Scott Malick, FBI out of Milwaukee, talking Farm
Security with US Today, Well Friends. The Secretary of Agriculture
last week announced a new plan designed to boost veterinarian
numbers in rural America. Rod Bain with US.

Speaker 2 (06:54):
A challenge for years of rural America, A shortage of
veteranarians there is day abyssus Hippy. Agriculture Secretary Brook Rawlins
announced a new effort to address that.

Speaker 7 (07:04):
USDA is issuing the Rural Veterinary Shortage Action Plan.

Speaker 2 (07:08):
Speaking at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, the
Secretary explained components of the plan.

Speaker 7 (07:15):
First, we are enhancing in streamlining USDA's veterinary grant programs.
We are making an additional fifteen million dollars available for
the Veterinarian Medicine Loan Repayment Program, and streamlining the application
process to collect less information and allow submission via an
online portal.

Speaker 2 (07:32):
Additional PLAID aspects include economic research to analyze rural veterinarian
shortages strategies to create a direct public service pipeline for veteredarians.

Speaker 4 (07:41):
Add we will.

Speaker 7 (07:42):
Work with veterinarian schools across the country to increase recruitment
from rural America.

Speaker 2 (07:47):
I'm Broadbain, reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington.

Speaker 8 (07:51):
D C.

Speaker 1 (07:52):
Farm US. This morning, you're listening to Waglife.

Speaker 9 (07:55):
It's another agnews update, foreign owner ship of domestic farmland.
More after this.

Speaker 10 (08:05):
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 gymrait elevator right working with
farm animals or a hard day's work, Stay cool with
gold bond pott of spreads.

Speaker 9 (08:22):
Stay with gold band huh. Arkansas Governors Sarah Huckabee Sanders
on prohibiting foreign ownership of farm land.

Speaker 11 (08:32):
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

(08:54):
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,

(09:17):
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 agriculture place. 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 now

(09:39):
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 9 (09:49):
It's another agnews update.

Speaker 5 (09:53):
I'm Russ Kohler, a dairyman from Utah. Safety. Know your limits.
Heat stroke is life threatening.

Speaker 12 (10:00):
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 8 (10:15):
This public service message is brought to you by Farm
Bureau and the US AGG Centers.

Speaker 9 (10:21):
American Cattle News reopening the southern border with Mexico for
live feeder cattle good or bad? More after this.

Speaker 5 (10:33):
I'm Russ Kohler, a dairyman from Utah. Safety. Know your limits.
Heat stroke is life threatening.

Speaker 12 (10:39):
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 8 (10:55):
This public service message is brought to you by Farm
Bureau and the US APP Centers.

Speaker 9 (11:01):
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 Douglass, Arizona, Robbie Kirkland is a
family feeder from Vega, Texas.

Speaker 13 (11:19):
Those cattle are used by you know, farmers, backgrounders, 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'm in the Texas

(11:41):
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 what'll be put on pasture,
could be gone wheat pasture, could be summer grass pasture,
and then like I said, would go on into the

(12:02):
to the to the feed lot sector. And and that's
kind of how they're used.

Speaker 9 (12:06):
And why is this important to continue.

Speaker 13 (12:09):
Take a million head roughly out of the supply for
you know, shutting off the ports in in between Mexico
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 a huge impact.

(12:33):
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 9 (12:44):
Mexico American cattle. Meuse this is dairy Radio now.

Speaker 14 (12:52):
Corey Geiger, lead dairy economists at cold Bank Corey, consumers
are still asking where's the beef? In spite of the
rising prices. Collbank released a study on this last week.
Tell us about it.

Speaker 15 (13:05):
My teammate Brian Ernest from the Knowledge Exchange Division really
looked into beef prices and demand is strong and we
have a low supply and the all fresh retail brief
prices have gone to a record eight ninety per pound,
and that's just amazing. And so the average American is
now consuming about sixty pounds year lead.

Speaker 14 (13:26):
And why do you think that the high prices hasn't
scared consumers away?

Speaker 15 (13:30):
There's probably a number of reasons for that. And I
think when you dig a little deeper into consumer demand consumers,
what high income consumers purchase versus people with moderate income varies,
but people still like their beef patties and ground Hamburger
is selling well as our high end stakes. So the

(13:51):
all fresh retail prices right now is up nine percent
year over year, and in fact, consumer beef demand is
outstripping supply. It's a remarkable story. Beef cattle inventories at
a seventy five year low.

Speaker 16 (14:05):
And when you go to on.

Speaker 17 (14:07):
The dairy farm level here for dairy farmers, Farm Credit
East data showed that five years ago cattle sales contributed
just five percent of the total income at a dollar
twelve per hundredweight, and fast forward to twenty twenty four
that value has skyrocket at one hundred and thirty percent
to two fifty seven per hundred weight.

Speaker 15 (14:25):
So when you see this coming year's data, it'll even
be higher.

Speaker 14 (14:28):
Amazing. I think the study also showed that the quest
for protein plays a big part of this as well.

Speaker 17 (14:34):
You got that right.

Speaker 15 (14:35):
The number of people on weight loss drugs, the GLP
ones is one contributing factor, and just the consumer moving
to high protein diets here is another big factor.

Speaker 17 (14:46):
And certainly beef delivers high quality protein.

Speaker 14 (14:49):
Well, it's all good news, and dairy is part of
the supply of that beef. We appreciated Corey Geiger, lead
dairy economists at Colebank, a member of the Farm Credits.

Speaker 18 (15:00):
Here's dairy farmer Hank Wagner and his daughter Laura with
another simple miracle moment.

Speaker 19 (15:05):
Time is like a river in that it is always moving.
Life is like that, It is always moving, and some
moments are not able.

Speaker 20 (15:12):
To be repeated.

Speaker 21 (15:13):
It may just be our kids first missing tooth, or
first and last day of school every year. Wouldn't it
be nice to be able to freeze those special moments
to be able to relive them later.

Speaker 19 (15:21):
I love to take pictures. I have over thirty thousand
pictures on my hard drive and over fifteen thousand on
my phone. Those precious moments cannot be lived again, but
pictures can help you replay them over and over again.

Speaker 21 (15:33):
Pictures can bring back memories, but also rekindle emotions. Pictures
can bring joy and laughter, or help us heal after
losing a loved one. Miracles are attached to taking pictures.
If you carry a cell phone, you carry a camera,
take those pictures.

Speaker 18 (15:46):
That's Hank Wagner and Laura Rodd's, author of the book
Simple Miracles for More Go to Become Better Leaders dot com.

Speaker 22 (15:54):
This is the story of a very special woman. Just
a few knew about her superpowers. In a matter of seconds,
she turned herself into a great mathematician. She masqueraded as
a regular person at work, but as a superhero at home,
everyone knows her as Gabriella. I still call her mom.

Speaker 23 (16:11):
Your hero needs you now, and AARP is here to
help find the care guides you need to help. Complete
with tips and resources at AARP dot org slash Caregiving
Brought you by AARP and the AD console.

Speaker 1 (16:23):
This is Dairy Radio Now.

Speaker 18 (16:25):
Concerns about rural veterinarians and a shortage the Agriculture Secretary
announcing a new plan designed to boost vet numbers in
rural America.

Speaker 7 (16:33):
We've relied on our great team of veterinarians to carry
out this mission of protecting livestock and poultry from diseases
and pests like the bird flu and the New World screwworm.
Bovine veterinarians alone contribute almost a billion and a half
dollars in direct economic impact because of a significant increase
in education debt for our veterinarian students compared to their

(16:55):
potential earnings. A decline in student desire to practice in
rural areas is real and a rapidly growing companion animal sector,
the lack of rural food animal veterinarians is only expected
to worsen unless we step in at USDA's Animal Plant
Health Inspection Service or APHIS and our Food Safety Inspection
Service FSIS. We have faced our own challenges just at

(17:17):
USDA of competing with private companion animal clinics to hire
and retain qualified veterinarians. This inability to fill even our
own positions in both rural areas and in the federal
government is alarming and threatens our supply chain.

Speaker 18 (17:32):
That's Agriculture Secretary Brook Rawlins and I'm Bill Baker Dairy Radio.

Speaker 24 (17:36):
Now the walnut industry is getting walnuts in the produce
isle of many grocery stores and markets around the country.
I'm Patrick Cavanale with the California Tree Nut Report, part
of the vastag Information Network. Yes, getting those walnuts out
of the baking aisle into the produce eye.

Speaker 20 (17:57):
We've worked with national accounts as well as small regional counts.
You know, we're trying to put ourselves in as many
places where retailers are gathering information and learning about walnuts
and how they can be incorporated into their merchandising schemes.
And in October we have here in Anaheim, the International
Fresh Produce Association's Annual Global Show Expo, and we'll be

(18:17):
meeting with a lot of retailers there to talk about
some of the results that we've seen where we are
getting better sales and why those sales are higher and
what does that mean to their bottom line. So we're
using a category management approach to helping retailers achieve their
profit goals and objectives at the same time driving more
volume through the stores.

Speaker 24 (18:35):
And what I've said, they're working with handlers who can
really be creative with that packaging in the produce style.

Speaker 20 (18:41):
Yeah, certainly, And I think part of that is, you know,
we have to share with our handlers all these success
stories and the learnings from that and what the implications are.
And we've seen certainly more people with smaller packages flavored walnuts,
both here domestically and actually internationally, and so if that
helps spread the message out, it gets the product out

(19:02):
there in a way that is fresh and lively.

Speaker 25 (19:05):
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

(19:26):
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 featuring the AG Information Network News.

(19:47):
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 with the AG Information Network. I'm Patrick Kavanaugh.

Speaker 4 (20:06):
Industry experts and been waiting for US producers to begin
growing the beef herd currently sitting at the lowest numbers
in recent history. Bill Hoffman, an extension beef educator at
the University of Wisconsin, said expansion is not happening yet.

Speaker 26 (20:21):
No, you know, the prices are one thing. The other
thing going on. There's been some evidence the places are
to trying to get started, and then we'll get weather
problems in some part of the country where there's a
fair amount of Kyle caff and you know, so they
end up delaying her expansion. Again, it's been slow, and
even when we do start with any appreciable numbers, it's
still you know, she's not going to have her first

(20:42):
calf though she's two, and then that calf wouldn't be
going to the packing plant for another probably fifteen eighteen
months after it's born. So the cattle cycle is long.
To get going. They can they can slow down, allow
faster and get smaller low faster that they can rebound.

Speaker 4 (20:57):
Can beef dairy cross cattle fill some that gap.

Speaker 26 (21:01):
Some folks talk about the beef dairy crosses, and you know,
they're definitely a better carcass quality, better performance than straight
holl scene steers. But we only got so many dairy
cows in the country, and so you know they're not
gonna be something that's going to pick up a big
piece of this gap at all. That's a pretty static number.

Speaker 4 (21:17):
Producers thinking of crossing beef and dairy cattle need to
keep some things in mind. First.

Speaker 26 (21:23):
I know a lot of them are looking at only
breeding the top part of the herd as far as
milk production and genetic potential for their future replacements, and
some of them are hanging on the cow and extralactation
reading their ef. Fol for that calf certainly can work,
and you know they got to look at that. Then
the bigger question becomes, too we own these animals all
the way through and feed them out ourselves or sell

(21:43):
them as three four day old calves. For the prices
that them little calves are bringing, it's going to be
extremely difficult to sharpen a pencil sharp enough for most
folks to justify owning them longer than that.

Speaker 4 (21:54):
Again, that is Bill Haffman of the Wisconsin Extension Service.
Farmer sent might continues to weaken. Glenn Vaughan has more.

Speaker 27 (22:04):
The Purdue University CME Group AG Economy Barometer declined again
in July, falling to one hundred and thirty five and
an eleven point month over month dropped. The July Current
Conditions index dropped seventeen points to one twenty seven, while
the Future Expectations Index posted a smaller decline of seven
points to one thirty nine. Purdue University is James Minter

(22:24):
said when asked about their biggest concerns for their farming operations,
producers noted despite the weakness and crop prices. High input
costs remained the top concern among producers, chosen by thirty
nine percent of respondents in July survey. The second place
concern lower crop and livestock prices, that was selected by
twenty nine percent of respondents.

Speaker 28 (22:45):
When we asked a similar or related question, what's the
biggest challenge to the success of their operation is over
the next five to ten years, producers gave us a
different response. Thirty six percent shows crop or livestock prices
as the biggest challenge and only seventeen percent shows cost control. Additionally,
only nine percent shows financial considerations, suggesting that entering a

(23:08):
period of weak returns, especially in the crop sector, producers
are ending this with a relatively strong balance sheet for
the farm operation.

Speaker 27 (23:16):
Mintor pointed out that July survey was conducted just after
a passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, providing some
clarity with respect to farm bill support levels, especially the
PLC and ARC prices for crops.

Speaker 28 (23:29):
So we asked producers if they expect the farm safety
net provided by US farm programs in the twenty twenty
five farm bill will be stronger than weaker than are
about the same as the previous bill. The percentage expecting
stronger support than the previous farm bill was doubled. About
thirty one percent said stronger than, whereas fifteen percent said
weaker than.

Speaker 27 (23:47):
Mintor added producers were also asked about the general direction
of the US. Seventy four percent of respondents in last
month's surveys said the country is headed in the right direction,
compared to twenty six percent who said the US is
on the track. I'm Glen Bogin reporting.

Speaker 29 (24:06):
This is the Agricultural Law and Tax Report brought to
you by Helena agg Managency's and Nutrition with Coronmetra. Visit
Helena Agra dot com for more information. I'm Roger Mcowen.
Increased levels of atmospheric CO two enhances plant growth in
controlled environments like greenhouses. Farmers often elevate CO two levels
to boost crop yields. Studies have shown that higher CO

(24:26):
two levels can lead to faster growth rates, largerly using
greater fruit and seed production in many crops, and elevated
CO two can improve water use efficiency in plants. CO
two is an irreplaceable component of plant biology and a
natural ally of agriculture. Understanding its role helps underscore the
complex relationship between farming and the atmosphere, where both benefits
and challenges exist. Unfortunately, much of the present regulation of

(24:50):
CO two fails to account for its benefits to agriculture.
This has been the Agricultural Law and Tax Report. I'm
Roger Mcowan.

Speaker 30 (25:00):
It's time for California AGG today on the AGG Information Network.

Speaker 3 (25:03):
I am Haley's ship.

Speaker 30 (25:05):
Happening in real time as we approach this holiday weekend,
US Senator Adam Schiff of California and Senator John Curtis
of Utah are pressing the US Department of Agriculture to
strengthen wildfire response capacity. According to a release from Senator
Shift's office, the senators just this week sent a letter
to USDA Secretary Brook Rowlands highlighting staffing shortages at the

(25:28):
US Forest Service and urging an increase in the issuance
of red cards. These are incident qualification cards that certify
wildland firefighters for interagency operations and are essential for deployment
during high fire activity. The senators are warning that persistence
backlogs in this red card processing are slowing down the

(25:51):
ability of federal, state and contract crews to mobilize quickly,
and that with extreme heat warnings in place, and hazardous
wildfire conditions all already emerging across the West. They're stressing
that timely certification is critical to ensuring resources are ready
when they're needed most They note that firefighters are facing
increasingly dangerous and complex conditions and that they deserve administrative

(26:14):
systems that keep pace with the urgency of their mission.

Speaker 31 (26:18):
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 you're slow moving vehicles, signs and lights are visible,
and everyone's sailor, especially on rule roads. One moment a

(26:40):
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 25 (26:48):
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 to specially crops
like apples, almonds, and cherries. We report on stories that

(27:09):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The egg Information Network trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 30 (27:17):
This is California AGG today on the ag Information Network.
I am Haley Ship. For more agnews, check us out
online at aginfo dot net.

Speaker 1 (27:27):
Bob Quhen, here are some farm news this morning friends.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackli and several other attorneys
general are pushing for the correct use of quote Product
of USA label for US beef. He says it's similar
to the country of origin labeling push from years past.

Speaker 32 (27:44):
It's the same concept. So what we've experienced across the
United States and here in South Dakota there's a mislabeling
of beef by certain manufacturers. What we have going is
be for coming in from Mexico and other places, and
they're putting Product of the USA labeling on it. So
a couple ranchers here in soft Code of filed lawsuit.
We filed a brief to assist. We initially won and

(28:05):
it was appealed by the manufacturers, and so I led
a group of about a dozen of US Attorney's general,
Republican and Democrat. They're standing up for ranchers and saying,
we have high quality beef in the United States, and
here in South Kota, we take pride in our herds.
We keep our herds safe and healthy, vaccinations and other
sometimes costly means to keep that herd healthy, and we
just feel it's a mislabeling and it's a falsehood to

(28:26):
call beef from another country product of the USA.

Speaker 1 (28:29):
There is a possibility that this case could advance as
far as the Supreme Court.

Speaker 32 (28:33):
It could the manufacturers did what's called an interim appeal
when they appealed it to the A Circuit Corp of Appeals.
It's when I felt I need help, and I reached
out to several Attorneys General and they've been gracious, they've
been helpful. They know how important this is to their
ranchers and really to the consumers. I mean, when a
consumer walks into the market and sees product of the USA,
they just expect it's from that healthy herd here in
the United States, and we need to make sure it is.

Speaker 1 (28:54):
It's hard to understand how important the issue is. If
you don't live in a beef producing state.

Speaker 32 (29:00):
Challenges that they don't always seem to understand it. I'm
fortunate I have a ranch and a farm, and so
I'm able to have conversations with them. What that means.
I've actually had twenty eight attorney generals come hunting on
my ranch, and so I had an opportunity to introduce
them to some of what the experiences we have in
South Dakota. They're always good conversations. But when you look
at the eleven attorney generals that joined this, it's really
from the Egg States. It's from South Dakota, Wyoming, you

(29:22):
have North Dakota, you have New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma.
It's those attorney generals that live in beef country and
know how important this really is.

Speaker 1 (29:30):
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jacklee with US Well friends.
Congress will be wrapping up the August recess. South Dakota
Congressman Dusty Johnson said the term recess may not be accurate,
as the work doesn't stop even in August. While at
Dakota Fest in Mitchell's South Dakota, he said August is
always a busy time.

Speaker 33 (29:49):
Well, I do love August. Of course, we're remote work
and we're talking to our colleagues all the time. We're
working on legislation all the time. But at least we
get to do it. When I'm in South Dakota. We're
talking to the bosses every single day. So I love it, Colody.
People have some concerned about tariffs. They understand the President's
big picture strategy. They want to make sure that we
execute it.

Speaker 25 (30:07):
Well.

Speaker 27 (30:07):
We know that trade wars.

Speaker 33 (30:08):
Other countries have a tendency to target American and egg products.
So what we want to do is back to President's
play to get more and better trade deals. So we
can take that five million dollars in agricultural products are
state sales overseas and push.

Speaker 5 (30:21):
That number up.

Speaker 33 (30:22):
Bring more money into South Kota, make it south coast.

Speaker 1 (30:24):
It's even more prosperous South Dakota. Congressman Dusty Johnson. This morning,
the American Soybean Association has asked the White House to
remove Chinese tariffs on US soybeans and commitments for future purchases,
warning that retaliatory tariffs are shutting American farmers out of
their largest export market. Going into the twenty twenty five

(30:45):
soybean harvest. Mike Davis has our story.

Speaker 16 (30:49):
Mike stein Hook, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition,
says China really is the ideal customer for US soybeans.

Speaker 34 (30:58):
One of the bullet points you would write would be
large population. Another bullet point would be increasing per capita income.
A third bullet point would be insatiable demand for pork
for human consumption. You would have another bullet point that
would say insatiable demand for poultry for human consumption. And
then the final one would be cooking methodology utilizes a

(31:19):
lot of oil for frying, and that, in a nutshell,
is the Chinese market.

Speaker 16 (31:24):
Stein Hook is quick to concede there are areas of
concern with Chinese trade.

Speaker 34 (31:29):
There are areas of behavior that China has get engaged
in for a number of years that you are rightfully
so are have elicited concern from the United States, and
those issues and those areas of dispute need to be prosecuted,
they need to be negotiated, and we need to come

(31:49):
to a resolution for it.

Speaker 16 (31:51):
However, he says, the US would do well to take
inventory of the things that are going well in its
relationship with China, and one.

Speaker 34 (31:58):
Of the things that's going well and has gone well
within the United States the relationship between the United States
and China is they have a group of individuals called
farmers that are growing food not only for our domestic needs,
but also in part to help supply for the protein
and nutritional needs of China and a number of other countries.
That's something that's going well, and so we think that's

(32:19):
something that should be preserved and protected.

Speaker 9 (32:21):
I'm Mike Davis farm US.

Speaker 1 (32:23):
This morning. You are listening to Aglife.

Speaker 35 (32:27):
From the THEAGG Information Network. This is your agribusiness update.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture is accepting proposals for
the Specialty Crop Block Grant Programs twenty twenty six funding year.
Grant awards will arrange from twenty five to two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars per project. Nonprofit and for profit organizations, local, state, federal,
and tribal government entities, and public and private colleges and

(32:49):
universities may apply. Concept proposals must be submitted electronically by
new October fifteenth. Visit wsda's Specialty Crop Block Grant webs
page for more information cattle and cabs on feed for
the US slaughter market in feed lots with one thousand
head or more total to ten point nine million head
on August first. That's two percent below a year earlier

(33:10):
and in line with pre report trade estimates of ninety
eight point one percent. Drover says the August one level
is an eight year low. The state by state breakdown
showed a steady increase across most states, but southern feedlots
were well below twenty twenty four due to border closures.
Six people in northeast Colorado died last week after what's
being described as a dairy accident at Prospect Valley Dairy.

(33:32):
Three other people were taken to a local hospital and released.
Officials say the deaths were due to hydrogen sulfide exposure
due to a pipe leak. The Occupational Health and Safety
Administration says hydrogen sulfide occurs naturally in crude petroleum and
natural gas, but is also produced by decomposing manure.

Speaker 25 (33:48):
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 fertilized.
Farmers are facing unprecedented economic challenges. This is why agriculture
news that farmers receive comes from the AG Information Network,
reaching coast to coast, deep roots and farming. In decades

(34:11):
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
the AG Information Network of the West News. So reach

(34:34):
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 35 (34:46):
From the EGG Information Network, I'm Bob Larson with today's
agribusiness update.

Speaker 1 (34:51):
Bob Quinn back to wrap up Aglife for today. Friends
Well now available to crop insurance policyholders various enhancements and
premium supports connected to some of their coverages. Rod Main
wraps us up.

Speaker 2 (35:02):
Expanded coverage options and had support for beginning farmers and
ranchers increased premium supports part of announced USDA improvements in
the federal crop insurance system.

Speaker 36 (35:14):
Not only that we are actually making these changes effective
on July first of twenty twenty five, because when the
crop insurance world, that is our fiscal year, that's our
reinsurance year, and it was important for US as we
were implementing this to make sure that we did not
cross over two different crop years.

Speaker 2 (35:31):
Risk Management Agency Administrator Pats Wantson also notes for the
typing of an acting the enhancements and improvements for both
producers and crop insurance agents.

Speaker 36 (35:40):
When they're looking at their fall policies for maybe wheat
or some of the margin coverage option some of those products,
that we are able to get these changes announced so
that the companies can make those changes in their system
so that they can get the accurate quotes they need
to make good informed decisions on what they are looking
at for the fall.

Speaker 2 (35:59):
Breaking down down the announced enhancements for beginning farmers and ranchers.

Speaker 36 (36:04):
In the past, for beginning farmers and ranchers with crop insurance,
they would be defined as the first five years of
being a farmer. We would provide them ten percent premium
support for the first five years. We are now able
to extend those benefits for ten years instead of five,
and the first four years we're going to give them

(36:24):
even a higher premium support.

Speaker 2 (36:26):
Improvements are also noted for crop insurance coverages.

Speaker 36 (36:30):
Every policies with the underlying revenue protection policy, they will
get an additional three to five percent of premium support.
And then we are also expanding the whole farm coverage
from eighty five percent to ninety percent now of coverage,
and then on one of our area plans called supplemental
coverage option, that also has been increased for eighty six

(36:51):
percent coverage now up to a ninety percent coverage. The
area plans will also have an additional fifteen percent of
premium support on the premium it's.

Speaker 2 (36:59):
Side, as well as adjustments to enterprise ad whole unit coverage.

Speaker 36 (37:04):
We have additional premium support on optional units and basic units,
which is when you keep each field separate when it
comes time to calculate the claims, and enterprise units as
well will also get an additional premium support.

Speaker 2 (37:18):
I'm broad Baine, reporting for the US Department of Agriculture
in Washington, d C.

Speaker 1 (37:24):
With that friends, out of time for today, Thanks for
joining us back tomorrow morning with another edition of Baglife