September 22, 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.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Well, we turn our.

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Attention this morning to the Atlantic hurricane season and meteorologist
Brad Rippey.

Speaker 3 (00:14):
September tenth signifying the midway point of the annual Atlantic
hurricane season.

Speaker 4 (00:20):
That's approximately the timeframe where historically half of the tropical
activity occurs before that date and roughly half occurs after that.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Date, so USDA b urologist Brad Rippy says, as of
that date, indeed, it.

Speaker 4 (00:33):
Has been relatively quiet to this point.

Speaker 3 (00:35):
With only six name storms and one hurricane erin which
avoided making landfall in the US and Caribbean.

Speaker 4 (00:43):
Six named storms that certainly below expectations that we saw
during the forecast initially back in May.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
During the update in August, in both instances, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called for an above normal Atlantic
hurricane season. Why I did the first half of the
twenty twenty five hurricane season feature fewer storms, Rippy explains climatically,
while an active track of systems have come from the
African coast.

Speaker 4 (01:11):
Like last year, some of those waves are emerging a
little further north than climatology would suggest. That gives those
waves a little bit less opportunity to develop. They start
with a farther north vantage point. In the Atlantic, the
water and the sheer conditions are not quite as conducive
to tropical storm formation, so we've seen some waves coming
off that have either not developed or they've recurved with
very little development.

Speaker 3 (01:31):
Meanwhile, a second weather factor has come into play in
reducing Atlantic hurricane activity.

Speaker 4 (01:37):
In recent weeks, we have had a very deep trough
or dip in the jet stream across the eastern part
of the United States extending into the western Atlantic, and
that creates some hostile wind conditions we call it wind shear,
and that tends to tear apart developing systems. So as
these waves move off the African coast, they move into
effectively an atmospheric buzzsaw. It's not conducive to the development

(01:58):
of strong systems.

Speaker 3 (02:00):
Rippy reminds us of a couple of considerations regarding this
year's Atlantic hurricane season.

Speaker 4 (02:05):
First, there is often a secondary peak that occurs during October.
That's the time when we start to shift away from
the long track hurricanes and tropical storms that emerged directly
from the West African coast and take the long path
all the way across the Atlantic Basin before they either
recurve into the open ocean or make contact with land,
whether it be Central America or North America, which of

(02:27):
course includes the entire United States, Gulf and Atlantic coastline.

Speaker 3 (02:31):
And even with only one hurricane of notes so far,
impacts from tropical storm activity have been noted on the
US mainland this year.

Speaker 4 (02:39):
Verry was a fairly weak tropical storm when it moved
in across the northeast Mexican coast along the Gulf, but
it was the remnant circulation that helped to fuel the
historic and deadly flash flooding in Texas Hill Country a
few days later in early July, and then just a
few days after, we saw again a fairly weak tropical
storm Chantal moving in in northeastern South Carolin and about

(03:00):
a day later that delivered some six to tenant rainfall
totals across north central North Carolina that created record flooding
in a relatively small geographic area.

Speaker 3 (03:09):
Rod Bain, reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington,
d C.

Speaker 1 (03:14):
Coming up, friends, what is a small farm? We'll find
out that's ahead on Aglife, Bob, when you were some
farm us this morning, friends, Small farms often at the
center of discussion around healthy food, but what does that
actually mean? Mike Davis has a story for US.

Speaker 5 (03:32):
Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation,
explains that the Department of Agriculture has a definition for
what can be considered a small farm.

Speaker 6 (03:42):
USDA defines small farms as farms with less than three
hundred and fifty thousand of gross cache farm income. That
being said, that's gross cash farm income, so that's income
before expenses expenses for farms that are small or around
over two hundred thousand dollars, so most of these farms
are only actually taking home around forty five thousand.

Speaker 5 (04:04):
Parham says that while some folks may use small farm
and family farm interchangeably, they do not have the same definition.

Speaker 6 (04:13):
Small farm refers to the size of the operation, so,
like we mentioned earlier, that's how much money they are
making a gross cash farm income, and eighty six percent
of all farms are considered small. Family farm refers to
the ownership structure so that's how they're legally set up.
Ninety seven percent of all farms are family owned, so

(04:33):
that can be owned through a partnership or individual families,
but they are owned in those family structures.

Speaker 5 (04:38):
She adds that small farms play a big role in
the overall farm economy.

Speaker 6 (04:43):
They sustain these communities in terms of revenue into the community,
but also jobs, workforce. They help keep schools and hospitals
and local businesses open. And so without these smaller farms,
rural communities would really struggle to maintain the services that
make them viable, you know, live and work and raise
your family.

Speaker 5 (05:02):
Learn more on the market Intel page at fb dot org.
I'm Mike Davis well Friends.

Speaker 1 (05:09):
For the fourth year in a row, Parallel forty four
Vineyard and Winery in Wisconsin was awarded Winery of the
Year at the twenty twenty five International Cold Climate Wine
Competition held in Minnesota. Steve Johnson, co owner of Parallel
forty four, says, it's a prestigious award.

Speaker 7 (05:28):
It is the premier competition for those who are growing
grapes and making wine for those grapes that are ideally
situated for our climate. So the participating winers are basically
the northern tier of the United States and into Canada,
and we were grateful for the fact that we got
this award for the fourth year in the row. I
guess what's gratifying is that we're on the right track

(05:49):
impressing these twenty one judges as to the quality of
wine that can be consistently produced here.

Speaker 1 (05:54):
Johnson says, you would like to see more wineries pop
up in that region.

Speaker 7 (05:58):
I think you have to work collaborate, especially in a
new region, to figure out what is the best way
to grow and make a product. And so I want
to actually see more vineyards and more wineries develop in
this area because now we have an official American but
cultural area which is nationally recognized as a distinctive wine
quality region. And so it's a lot of work to

(06:20):
establish a vineyard. It's about ten thousand dollars an acre
to establish, but the upside of it is that it
is a very profitable commodity for the next thirty years.

Speaker 1 (06:31):
He encourages those who want to get into small farming
to consider a vineyard and winery.

Speaker 7 (06:36):
It would be a great way to preserve the land
for farming at a scale that is actually doable for
a smaller family as opposed to a larger entity. So
the reality is is great growing and wine making as
much farming as raising dairy cattle, and it really requires
skill and perseverance, just like any other farming endeavor. So

(06:57):
if you're committed to that and are willing to wait
four years for that first harvest, you can do it.
It's just a matter of being open to learning new
things and actually working together I think would help elevate
this industry a little bit faster.

Speaker 1 (07:11):
Here Parallel forty four co owner Steve Johnson, a dairy
herd in Nebraska, latest to test positive for high path
avian influenza, or bird flu. Doctor Roger Dudley, state veterinarian
for Nebraska, says testing confirmed the virus came from a
dairy cow in California that moved into that state.

Speaker 8 (07:31):
We are able to tell that the strain did originate
in California. I think that's really important. And the other
thing that I think is really important is that the
melt from the affected cows that they're showing symptoms of
the avian influenza, that those the milk from those cows
don't go into the bulk tank to be for human consumption.

Speaker 1 (07:57):
Dudley says, the infected herd is under close. Super Ville
farm News. You're listening to wag Life.

Speaker 9 (08:03):
It's another agnews update foreign ownership of domestic farmland. More
after this.

Speaker 2 (08:13):
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 10 (08:23):
Elevator right golf working with farm animals.

Speaker 2 (08:27):
For a hard day's work. Stay cool with gold bond
powder spreads, Stay with gold mine huh.

Speaker 9 (08:34):
Arkansas Governors Sarah Huckabee Sanders on prohibiting foreign ownership of
farm land.

Speaker 11 (08:41):
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, something that states have
been leading the way on, but unfortunately our states can't

(09:05):
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

(09:26):
our country but around the world. You know, 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

(09:49):
is every component of that. And we 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 9 (10:02):
It's another agnews update.

Speaker 12 (10:06):
I'm Russ Colar, a dairyman from Utah. Safety. Know your limits.
Heat stroke is life threatening.

Speaker 13 (10:13):
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 14 (10:29):
This public service message is brought to you by Farm
Bureau and the US AGG Centers.

Speaker 9 (10:35):
American Cattle news reopening the southern border with Mexico for
live feeder cattle good or bad.

Speaker 12 (10:44):
More after this, I'm Russ Colar, a dairyman from Utah. Safety.
Know your limits. Heat stroke is life threatening.

Speaker 13 (10:54):
Know the symptoms confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, high body temperature, hot,
dry skin, 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 14 (11:10):
This public service message is brought to you by Farm
Bureau and the US AGG Centers.

Speaker 9 (11:16):
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 15 (11:35):
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,

(11:55):
you know, particularly in our region. I'm in the Texas
cattle feeder region. Texas, glahomand 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
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,

(12:17):
and then like I said, would go on into the
to the to the feed lot sector. And and that's
kind of how they're used.

Speaker 9 (12:24):
And why is this important to continue.

Speaker 15 (12:28):
Take a million head roughly out of the supply for
you know, shutting off the ports in and 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.

(12:52):
And so in our region we would say that there
would be around fifteen percent of the cattle on feed
or and in our possession would be cattle historically from.

Speaker 9 (13:04):
Mexico American cattle Mews.

Speaker 5 (13:11):
This is Dairy Radio now, Melkie Monday, Karen.

Speaker 16 (13:16):
Murphy, market intelligence manager at high Ground Dairy in Chicago.
Kara the July US Dairy Supply and Utilization Forward had
some interesting takeaways last week. One of them was on cheese. Explain.

Speaker 17 (13:30):
Yeah, so our cheese utilization, even though exports have been
up this year quite a bit as the US price
disparity against the rest of the world has been really
advantageous for US, domestic utilization was down, and this is
really important given that domestic utilization accounts for over ninety
percent of our total cheese use. Retail data indicates that,

(13:50):
you know, cheese consumption there is doing pretty good, but
our food service sector isn't doing super great this year,
so that's probably one of the reasons why we think
those domestic use figures are down.

Speaker 16 (14:00):
What about butter? What the situation there?

Speaker 17 (14:02):
Butter was very interesting most of this year. We've seen
pretty healthy consumption on state side. Again, stateside use which
makes up over ninety percent of total use here, But
it's really the butter exports that have come into play.
Domestic use was flat in July, but those exports continue
to show super robust levels all time highs US butter
is incredibly cheap compared to other markets, especially with the

(14:25):
C andMe spot price being under two dollars so that's
one of the things that we're seeing is further export
growth in that market.

Speaker 16 (14:32):
But the powder markets continue to be the drag on
the markets, aren't they.

Speaker 17 (14:36):
Yes, they absolutely do. We've seen a little bit of
an increase in domestic use here, but we've lost export business,
particularly to Southeast Asia, which is a very key region
in the export market here slightly up to Mexico, which
is our main market, over fifty percent market share for
our powders, but we're not picking it up in other
parts of the world.

Speaker 16 (14:56):
Do you see that powder situation turning around anytime soon
or is the the tariff situation kind of held that
in flux.

Speaker 17 (15:02):
The tariff situation is definitely something we're paying attention to.
I think part of it is just the pricing we've
seen out of Oceania. The big thing on my mind
right now is we have a lot of milk coming
out of the US, a lot coming out of Europe,
South America and New Zealand. So when we think about
just the amount of milk coming out and the amount
of skim solids going to dryers, I think we're going

(15:24):
to have a lot more availability. Hopefully if that brings
the price down a little bit, we might be able
to pick up some additional exports real quickly.

Speaker 16 (15:31):
In closing how about.

Speaker 17 (15:32):
Way, Way was interesting, We've seen a pop in exports,
particularly as China after some of those trade issues have settled.
We've seen them step back into the market and pick up.
The big thing with Way is those high proteins, the
WPC eighty, the way protein isld. Those are what's holding
up the Way market right now. People just can't get
enough protein in their foods and it's definitely supporting Dryway,

(15:55):
even though Dryway itself is not in super high demand.

Speaker 16 (15:58):
Thank you, Kara Kara Murphy, market intelligence manager at high
Ground Dairy in Chicago.

Speaker 18 (16:05):
Here's dairy farmer Hank Wagner and his daughter Laura with
another simple miracle moment.

Speaker 19 (16:10):
I remember as a child racing down the stairs very
early on Christmas morning. I expected to see the cookies
and melk gone, and the tree to be surrounded with
some presents. No other day of the year started with
that adrenaline pact rush out of bed.

Speaker 20 (16:24):
One of the miracles of expectation is that it compels
us to do things that we would not normally do.
Expectation is what caused Christopher Columbus to sail across the
Atlantic into unknown territory.

Speaker 19 (16:36):
You probably don't realize it, but you already have expectations
about many things. The expectations that you set for your
life guide your actions and set some things into motion.

Speaker 20 (16:46):
Do you have the right expectations? Are they set high enough?
Do you believe that they can happen for you? What
negative expectations could be holding you back from success?

Speaker 18 (16:56):
That's Hank Wagner and Laura Rodd's, author of the book
Simple Mirrors for More Go to Becomebetter Leaders. Dot Com
mixed changes in USDA meat production forecast for this year
and next, but World Agricultural Outlook Board chair Mark Jacketowski
says the result is price forecast increases in September for

(17:18):
both beef and pork for both years at conversely lower
broiler prices for twenty twenty five.

Speaker 3 (17:24):
At twenty twenty six.

Speaker 21 (17:26):
Livestock prices remaining quite strong, especially for steers. Strong prices
for beef and cattle that is likely providing some support
to the hog sector as well. Hog prices we raised
fifty cents per hundred weight in both twenty twenty five
and twenty twenty six.

Speaker 3 (17:41):
The lower broiler price forecast for both years reflects increased production,
yet Jacketowski ads broiler prices remade strong.

Speaker 21 (17:49):
Turkey prices also seeing some recent strength.

Speaker 3 (17:51):
Particularly in twenty twenty five. US meat trade forecasts for
September were relatively light on changes, reflecting slee bodies reduction
in BFEX sports. I'm Road Bain reporting for the US
Department of Agriculture in Washington, d C.

Speaker 22 (18:12):
It's known as anaerobic soil disinfestation or ASD. It's for
fumigation of the ground on tree nuts than other crops,
but it's not easy to do. I'm Patrick Cavanaugh with
a California tree nut report part of the vastag Information Network.
Greg Brown is a research plant pathologist with USDA ARS

(18:33):
Space at UC Davis. He's working on this type of
soil fumigation, but it's not ready to be used widespread.

Speaker 23 (18:41):
The reason we don't do it wholesale right now is
because it's a little more expensive than with pre plant
soil fumigation, and it's also logistically more complicated than pre
plant soil fumigation. You have to manage your soil to
be just in the right state. You have to plan

(19:02):
to irrigate the soil properly during the anaerobic soil dis infestation.
If you do the full process of ASD, you need
a tarp. But what this project has been focusing on
is how we might simplify the ASD process to be
more price competitive. And I wouldn't say we're there yet,
but we do have some glimmers of hope that it

(19:26):
could be something that growers would use ultimately.

Speaker 22 (19:29):
And of course this research will help drive it to
practical use eventually. Did you know that there's one point
five million acres of almonds growing in California.

Speaker 24 (19:40):
Farm work is tough, and so is staying safe on
a 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 a sailor, especially on rural roads.

(20:02):
One moment a caution can save a light. Let's work
together to keep our roads and our farm safe. This
message was brought to you by the AG Information Network.

Speaker 25 (20:11):
The best place to reach a farmer with a farming
solution message is when they're well farming. It's easy to
find them during the day as most farmers are behind
the wheel of the pickup truck or farm equipment with
the radio on listening to this station for the AG
Information Network of the West News. So reach real farmers
right here, right now as they listen to what's important

(20:32):
to their farm operation. Give us a call and we'll
connect you with our local farming community. They trust us,
so they'll trust you with the AG Information Network. I'm
Patrick Kavanaugh.

Speaker 3 (20:46):
And appropriate time annually for National Farm Safety and Health Week.

Speaker 26 (20:50):
We always have it.

Speaker 27 (20:51):
The third full week in September brings the top of
mind not only to the farmers, but also to the
motor and public, making people think about putting safety first
as we start to get into the fall harvest season.

Speaker 3 (21:02):
Dan Needed of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety
is among the many farm safety experts and advocates who
promote farm safety not just what is agriculture's busiest time
of year, but all year round. Whether the focus is
on equipment safety and awareness or rural mental health.

Speaker 28 (21:21):
Is there something about the social support, the family connectedness,
shared norms. Some of these things may be stronger in
farm families.

Speaker 29 (21:27):
We need to find that out.

Speaker 28 (21:28):
And if we can find that out, these elements and
this connectedness might be influencing things like less mood disorders,
less depression.

Speaker 1 (21:35):
I'm Rod Bay.

Speaker 3 (21:37):
Scott Heiberger of the National Farm Medicine Center joins us
as we take a look at farm safety from various
perspectives in this edition of Agriculture USA. Harvest Time is
about the period that National Farm Safety and Health Week
is held every year.

Speaker 27 (21:55):
FDR signed the first Proclamation for National Farm Safety and
Healthway way back in nineteen forty four.

Speaker 3 (22:01):
Making it the longest running education campaign via a US
presidential proclamation. According to Dad Eden of the National Education
Center for Agricultural Safety, this.

Speaker 27 (22:12):
Year's theme is safety First, Avoid the Worst.

Speaker 3 (22:15):
This year's campaign runs the week of September twenty first
through twenty seventh, right in the middle of harvest time.
With farm equipment at motorist more likely meet on rural roadways.

Speaker 27 (22:25):
Left turns on the farmsteads is something that we need
to talk about. I equipment will be making turns into farmsteads.
The motorn public. You have to obey the law, and
you can only pass farm equipment in passing zones. You
can't pass it in no passing zones. But we see
a lot of collisions that occur between the motoring public
and the farming community when the tractors and the combines
are turning left into farmsteads about the same time that

(22:47):
the motoring public is time to pass. So there needs
to be that awareness out there and to share.

Speaker 3 (22:51):
The road, and rural drivers, especially those operating farm machinery
on roadways, should keep in mind if their area includes
I had one one signs for emergency notification.

Speaker 27 (23:02):
Have a notebook in every vehicle that might go from
farmstead to farmstead because farmers are now renting more property
than ever before, that would have that nine one one sign.
So if you have an emergency that you can get
that nine one one sign and be able to give
them that nine 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 (23:25):
Yet, the National Farm Safety and Health Week CAB PAID
covers a diverse range of topics beyond roadway safety, as
available via webinars from the National Education Center for ag
Safety and the Agrasafe Network at this web address www
dot Eddeca, sag dot org.

Speaker 27 (23:44):
Monday it's equipment and Rural roadway Safety. There are two webinars.
Tuesday is health and Wellness, the mental and the emotional
side of things, taking a look at family health and wellness.
Wednesday deals with generations of farming, so dealing with the
young kids all the way up through dealing with grandma
and Grandpa who are still on the farm and still
want to help. Thursday is confined spaces in aggs or

(24:07):
grain bends and manure pits. And then Friday is UTVATV
greatest new tool to come out really since the skid
steer on the farms, but it has some safety hazards
to go along with it.

Speaker 3 (24:18):
Rural mental health remains a significant topic in the farm
safety realm, although as advocates for awareness, such as Terry
Moore of the American Fire Bureau Federation notes.

Speaker 30 (24:28):
There is a lot to be encouraged.

Speaker 3 (24:30):
About, especially when it comes to reducing stigmas that may
prevent a producer or rural resident from seeking help. Add
several collaborators in the farm and rural space joining forces
to offer resources to address mental health concerns.

Speaker 30 (24:45):
Our overarching goal is to break the stigma that has
long existed around mental wellness. Voted a lot of time
and energy and resources to building up a program to
ensure that every single farmer and rancher out there knows
that there's help available to them.

Speaker 3 (25:00):
Yet, with rural suicide rates higher than in urban areas,
efforts continue to provide education, outreach, and support across the
farm industry and rural locales. This is especially the case
in September National Suicide Prevention BUFTH. Melissa Plockman of the
National Farm Medicine Center provides one resource available for producers

(25:21):
and rural residents in the Suicide Prevention REALM Call.

Speaker 6 (25:24):
Nine eight eight.

Speaker 31 (25:25):
That's a hotline that will talk you through what's going
on right now. They can help prevent a suicide in
the moment, and then they can follow up by getting
you some resources that are in your area in your state.

Speaker 3 (25:38):
This has been Agriculture USA. I'm broad Bane, reporting for
the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, d C.

Speaker 10 (25:48):
It's time for California AGG today on the AG Information
Network I in Haley's ship. According to an AG alert
from the California Farm Bureau. California tomato growers are looking
at a bumper this year, maybe even more than canneries
can handle. Thanks to plenty of water and cooler summer weather,
yields are hitting record highs, averaging about fifty five tons

(26:10):
per acre. That beats the previous record of fifty two
point one tons per acre set back in twenty eighteen,
and some growers are already reporting yields as high as
seventy five to eighty tons per acre. The challenge processors
are only committed to taking what's been contracted. Canaries did
cut contracted acres by ten percent this season, but the

(26:31):
USDA is still projecting total production around eleven million tons,
just shy of last year's output. What's going to happen
to the excess fruits, Well, it's likely to get disked
under for now. Growers say it's a good problem to have,
though how it shakes out does depend on the weather
and what canaries are willing to take. On the pricing side,
growers are seeing a small dip from last year, and

(26:54):
the heavy crop is slowing down harvest schedules. Exports have
held fairly steady, but demand here at home just isn't
what it was during the pandemic. Search Still, folks in
the industry say it's part of adjusting to new eating habits,
and for now they're just taking it one field at
a time.

Speaker 24 (27:10):
Farm work is tough, and so is staying safe on
the 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 rural roads, one moment of

(27:33):
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 (27:41):
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

(28:03):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The Egg Information Network Trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 10 (28:11):
This is California AGG today on the ag Information Network.
I am Hailey Ship. For more AG news, check us
out online at aginfo dot net.

Speaker 1 (28:21):
Bob, when you were some farmer us this morning. Friends.
Small farms often at the center of discussion around healthy food,
but what does that actually mean? Mike Davis has a
story for US.

Speaker 5 (28:32):
Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation,
explains that the Department of Agriculture has a definition for
what can be considered a small farm.

Speaker 6 (28:42):
USDA defines small farms as farms with less than three
hundred and fifty thousand of gross cash farm income. That
being said, that's gross cash farm income, so that's income
before expenses expenses for farms that are small or around
over two hundred thousand, so most of these farms are
only actually taking home around forty five thousand.

Speaker 5 (29:04):
Parham says that while some folks may use small farm
and family farm interchangeably, they do not have the same definition.

Speaker 6 (29:13):
Small farm refers to the size of the operation. So,
like we mentioned earlier, that's how much money they are
making a gross cash farm income, and eighty six percent
of all farms are considered small. Family farm refers to
the ownership structure, so that's how they're legally set up.
Ninety seven percent of all farms are family owned, so

(29:33):
that can be owned through a partnership or individual families,
but they are owned in those family structures.

Speaker 5 (29:38):
She adds that small farms play a big role in
the overall farm economy.

Speaker 6 (29:43):
They sustain these communities in terms of revenue into the community,
but also jobs, workforce. They help keep schools and hospitals
and local businesses open, and so without these smaller farms,
rural communities would really struggle to maintain the services that
make them viable, you know, live and work and raise
your family.

Speaker 5 (30:02):
Learn more on the market Intel page at fb dot org.
I'm Mike Davis well Friends.

Speaker 1 (30:07):
For the fourth year in a row, Parallel forty four
Vineyard and Winery in Wisconsin was awarded Winery of the
Year at the twenty twenty five International Cold Climate Wine
Competition held in Minnesota. Steve Johnson, co owner of Parallel
forty four, says it's a prestigious award.

Speaker 7 (30:25):
It is the premier competition for those who are growing
grapes and making wine for those grapes that are deally
situated for our climate. So the participating wineries are basically
the northern tier of the United States and in Canada,
and we were grateful for the fact that we got
this award for the fourth year in the row. I
guess what's gratifying is that we're on the right track
crossing these twenty one judges as quality of wine that

(30:46):
can be assistently produced.

Speaker 1 (30:47):
Johnson says, you would like to see more wineries pop
up in that region.

Speaker 7 (30:51):
I think you have to work collaboratively, especially in a
new region, to figure out what is the best way
to throw and make product. And so I want to
actually see more vineyards and more wineries spelp in this
area because now we have an official American Butic cultural
area which is nationally recognized as a extinctive wine quality region.
And so it's a lot of work to establish a vineyard.
It's about ten thousand dollars on the established but thep

(31:12):
side of it is that it is a very profitable
modity for the next thirty years.

Speaker 1 (31:17):
He encourages those who want to get into small farming
to consider a vineyard and winery.

Speaker 7 (31:21):
It would be a great way to preserve the land
for farming at a scale that is actually doable for
a smaller family as opposed to a larger entity. So
the reality is is great growing and wine making as
much farming as raising dairy cattle, and it really requires
skill and perseverance, just like any other farming endeavor. So
if you're committed to that and are willing to wait
four years for that first harvest, you can do it.

(31:43):
It's just a matter of being open to learning new
things and actually working together. I think would help elevate
this industry a little bit faster.

Speaker 1 (31:49):
Parallel forty four po owner Steve Johnson well friends Kendall
and Greg Peterson of Peterson farm Rose rose to fame
in twenty two well with their viral parody I'm Farming
and I Grow It, a twist on a hit song.
Since then, they've continued using social media to bridge the
gap between farmers and consumers through music videos and educational content.

Speaker 32 (32:14):
Yeah, we try to showcase what everyday life is like
on the farm, and our videos definitely have a theme
to them. The music videos more show, you know, the
fun parts of farming and being an agriculture But we
have a lot of day in the live videos that
showcase more of the highs and the lows and the
challenges with lower crop prices or animal health or something
like that. So we do try to show every bit

(32:34):
of agriculture that we can on our farm.

Speaker 1 (32:36):
Greg Peterson says, they live what they sing.

Speaker 33 (32:39):
When we got started in twenty twelve, we were farming
about one thousand acres, but we're up to about three
thousand now and then we custom farm another thousand on
top of that or custom harvest, custom plant harvest. But yeah,
our cattle side of the operation has stayed relatively the same.
We background about a thousand head of feeder cattle, but
Kendall's expanded the calcaff heard quite a bit. Kendall's more

(33:02):
in charge of the livestock side of things, Nathan's more
in charge of the cropping agronomy side, and then I
kind of head up all of our social media stuff,
and then Dad is Dad's the overseer of the farm.

Speaker 1 (33:14):
Still, Kendall ads that their agg vocates sharing the story
of agriculture through music.

Speaker 32 (33:20):
Getting to travel around to farm shows, fava events, farm
Bureau events, so many different events. There's a real audience
for people who are curious what is going on on
the farm, and kind of one of the jobs we
do is encouraging other people to tell their story of
their farm to reach those people in their local communities.

Speaker 1 (33:39):
Kendall and Greg Peterson. Peterson farms with us this morning,
farm us. You're listening to ag.

Speaker 34 (33:45):
Life probably the Egg Information Network. This is your agribusiness update.
Well that Pabelly wine grape growers are no strangers to wildfires,
which have ruined crops in the region three times in
the past decade. The Pick Fire, which started August twenty
first in Calistoga and burned about sixty eight hundred acres,

(34:05):
caused an estimated sixty five million dollars in losses, including
damage to about three percent of Napa Valley's vineyard acreage.
For some growers, the losses were significant, but they said
the outcome could have been far worse. The Trump administration
is evaluating whether to grant aid to American farmers this fall.

(34:25):
EX Secretary Brook Rawlins says we're working with our colleagues
in Congress and closely monitoring markets daily to evaluate the
amount of additional assistance that might be needed this fall.
Rawlin's comments come as Chinese buyers have yet to purchase
soybeans from US farmers despite increased production yields relative to
last year. With no active cases of New World screw

(34:47):
worm reported in the US, the USDA is still working
to prevent it spread from Central America successful farming reports.
Ex Secretary Rawlins outlined the USDA's plan to prevent the
spread of screw worms in the US, including a partnership
with the government of Mexico. Screw Worms lay eggs in
the wounds of living animals and its larva burrow and

(35:09):
feed on healthy flesh, causing illness and death.

Speaker 25 (35:12):
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 the best place

(35:34):
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 the West News.

(35:55):
If you'd like to deliver information about your terrific product
or service, give us a call. 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 34 (36:13):
From the ag Information Network. I'm Bob Larson with today's
agribusiness update.

Speaker 1 (36:18):
Bob quin back to wrap up AGLI for today friends.
While the Canadian Drought Monitor shows parts of the Atlantic
region in extreme drought, including almost all of the entire
province of Prince Edward Island, Dennis Guy has our story.
The Atlantic region of New Brunswick, southwestern Nova Scotia and
Prince Edward Island all received less than a quarter of

(36:40):
normal precipitation in much of the growing season, escalating as
the summer progressed. The three month summer rainfall total at Charlottetown,
Pei's capital city was only about sixty percent of normal.
Prince Edward Island's signature crop is potatoes, and the twenty
twenty five. Harvest is under way now. Early harvested fields

(37:01):
are showing poor yields and small size. Owen McGregor is
a fourth generation potato farmer near Summerside.

Speaker 29 (37:09):
It's unbelievable dry. It's scary dry. It hurts to see this.
And the size of the botatoes it's pretty scary. There's
no size to them thatsoever this year, and it's worrying
for sure.

Speaker 35 (37:20):
And while later maturing varieties might still benefit if rains
arrive soon, the drought effects will be hardest on the
table varieties and on processing potatoes. Irrigation pivots have been
running non stop since early July in the fields that
have irrigation. Andrew Lawless has been growing potatoes for twenty

(37:41):
four years. He has pivots on about forty percent of
his acreage. Lawless expects to see only about half normal
yields on his unirrigated fields.

Speaker 26 (37:52):
I don't remember last time I saw an inch in
the rain gage. And there's no moisture there to help
them bulk, and the ground is just like sand. There's
no structure left to the soil or anything. It's very dry.
We haven't had a decent amount of rain since the
first of July. Definitely the worst here in my career
in summer, saying that it's been the worst year in
their lifetime.

Speaker 35 (38:11):
The Late Prince Edward Island soil is so dry that
it won't stick to the potatoes. This causes bruising and
damage to the potato skin when passing through the machine harvesters.
The heat has compounded the problem. Pei endured more than
seven days of temperatures over eighty five degrees between late
July and mid August, with one day setting a one

(38:34):
hundred three degree record at Fox Island, just off the
southern coast of Pei. Strong winds have further dehydrated soils.
Costs are high to grow a potato crop, with per
acre investment topping five thousand dollars per acre. Reporting from Canada,
I'm Dennis guy with that friends amount of time, Forday,

(38:55):
thanks for joining us back tomorrow morning with another edition
of Bag Life.