September 25, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning. I'm Dwayne Murley and you're listening to AG Live.
The bio Innovation's Midwest Conference just concluded in Omaha, Nebraska,
where bio based products and new ideas took center stage. Now,
this was the perfect location for the National Corn Growers
Association to announce the winners of its fifth Considered Corn Challenge,

(00:22):
finding game changing new uses for field corn without attracting
from an existing corn market. Mike Davis has more.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Chad Eppler is a Kansas Corn Commission member and chair
of ncga's Research and New Uses Action Team. He says
the conference is a great place to incubate ideas.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
It really gives people a really neat, one on one
way of discussing things that are happening in the biospace.
And certainly those of us that have not been here,
those of us that are corn farmers, we see a
natural fit right here because of the role that corn
can play and is playing in the bio based industry

(01:05):
right now.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Eppler says, this year's Consider Corn Challenge winners.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Are air Terra, which is a company that is producing
air filters. So what they're doing is they're taking the
core chemical polyactic acid PLA, and they're using a biopolymer
from fuel corn. Another winner was Teragea. They enable cost
effective biological conversion of cellulostic biomass to fuels and products.

(01:33):
So potentially we're looking at a ten percent increase in
ethanol production, higher protein DGGs at more corn oil. The
third winner is Arizona State University, So what they're looking
at is developing a new corn derived corrosion inhibitor for
crude oil pipelines. The three winners consider Corn Challenge five.

(01:56):
We're talking about sixty six million bushels of possible corn grind. Okay,
so when you compare those things, that's a big difference. However,
when you take this sixty six million here, and then
you add fifty million over here, and then maybe bring
in another seventy here, you really start to add those
pieces together. So we got to find ways to utilize

(02:16):
corn in any capacity, and here at Bioinnovation's Midwest, all
these people are looking to do that very thing.

Speaker 2 (02:22):
I'm Mike Davis.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
It's important, regardless of commodity, growers focus on what they
can control. Trevor Sullins with a Wilbur Ellis say, specialty
crop growers can stay on track for the rest of
the season, enhancing their ROI, all while improving the bottom line.
Sullin says, knowing the story of your soil is the
best place to start and then scout early and often.

Speaker 4 (02:48):
Bile stimulant type products are very They're gaining popularity, they're
gaining feed in the marketplace. There's a lot of great
stuff around. Those products show a lot of really good results,
you know, helping plants mitigate those stresses and things like that.
But if you're going to use those products, you can't
always go out and reverse a stress or reverse you know,
the damage of a pathogen or we'll just say an

(03:10):
abiotic stress, something like that. You know, you need to
be ahead of it.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
Sullen says, it's important to have that proactive philosophy regardless
the size of your operation.

Speaker 4 (03:20):
We really try to help support our growers in crop
load management, making sure that there is a right amount
of crop or you know, not too much crop on
those trees, to help reduce the labor costs, to help
you know, increase fruit size, fruit quality, things like that.
You know, if you think about a grower, they've got
you know, a thousand things on the list to think
about every day, so we weirdly work to make efficient programs.

Speaker 1 (03:44):
He says it's also important for growers to take tissue
samples and not just guess, And perhaps most importantly, he
says it's important to turn off emotions when making difficult decisions.

Speaker 5 (03:56):
How is harvests cuping a log of this year's core crop,
USDA b urologist Brad Rippey says for the period ending
September twenty first, harvest.

Speaker 6 (04:05):
Progress eleven percent complete. That is exactly equal to the
five year average, but two points behind last year is
thirteen percent.

Speaker 5 (04:13):
As for cord crop condition, porn.

Speaker 6 (04:15):
Condition continues to slowly trail off week by week here
at the end of the season, reflective of that late
summer dryness across the southern and eastern corn belt.

Speaker 5 (04:24):
This week's numbers include sixty.

Speaker 6 (04:26):
Six percent of the US corn rated good to excellent,
down a point from last week, ten percent very poor
to poor that is up one point from last week.

Speaker 5 (04:35):
Five states, most outside the cord belt, report very poor
to poor core crop conditions as of September twenty first, but.

Speaker 6 (04:42):
It also includes the major production states of Illinois seventeen
percent very poor to poor in Ohio at sixteen percent
ninety one percent of the US corn indented by September
twenty first. That is two points behind the five year average,
but equal to what we saw this time in twenty
twenty four. As we've been talking for several weeks, a
little bit lower progress in the western corn belt North Dakota,

(05:02):
for example, seventy three percent of the corn dented on
September twenty first, That is ten points behind the five
year average of eighty three percent. Meanwhile, the amount of
corn reaching full maturity passed the halfway mark during the
week and reached fifty six percent by September twenty first,
That is three points behind the five year average of
fifty nine percent, also three points behind last year at
this time, and we do see that western corn belt

(05:23):
delay that is showing up and holding back that national
number a little bit. We see progress for reaching full
maturity at least ten percentage points behind the respective five
year state averages in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Not surprisingly the slowest of those four states. In North
Dakota nineteen percent fully mature, five year average thirty five percent,
but even as far as south as Nebraska just forty

(05:44):
six percent mature five year average. There is sixty three.

Speaker 5 (05:47):
Percent our nation slidbeed crop this year Burea's Court regarding
overall crop maturity at harvest. One notable contrast would this
year's speed crop. According to USDA b urologist Brad Rippy, we.

Speaker 6 (05:58):
See that divide between the wore wrap progress in the
lower Midwest contrasting with the slower crop progress in the
Upper Midwest quite stark for.

Speaker 5 (06:05):
Soybeans, National harvest progress as of September twenty first is on.

Speaker 6 (06:09):
Schedule at this point nine percent harvested, equal to the
five year average, but three percentage points behind last year
is twelve percent.

Speaker 5 (06:15):
In addition, soybean crop condition is now trellly behind corn
crop conditioned.

Speaker 6 (06:19):
Soybean conditioned being hurt a little bit more than the
corn on these late summer declines. That's pretty typical with
the soybean crop developing and planted a little bit later
than corn.

Speaker 5 (06:29):
With sixty one percent of this year's being crop rated
good to excellent and twelve percent very poor to poor, that.

Speaker 6 (06:35):
Puts this year's soybean crop now rated lower than last
year at this time, when sixty four percent of the
crop was good to excellent and eleven percent very poor
to poor. We see five Southern states where harvest has
reached double digits. That list includes Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
and Tennessee. Led by Louisiana seventy four percent harvested sixty
percent is the five year average. The only other state

(06:57):
to pass the halfway mark on soybean harvest Mississippi at
fifty six percent. That is also well ahead of the
five year average of forty percent. Meanwhile, our first two
Midwestern states to reach double digits on soybean harvest. They
are the dryer lower Midwestern states of Indiana twelve percent
harvested five year average seven percent in Ohio at ten
percent harvested versus four percent on average.

Speaker 1 (07:21):
Mexico's National Health Service confirmed a new case of New
World screwworm less than seventy miles from the border between
Mexico and the United States. Now, the USDA says this
is the furthest north of screwworm has advanced in Mexico
during the current outbreak, and it's the most threatening to
the American livestock industry. The location of the outbreak is

(07:43):
on a major highway between Monterey, Mexico and Laredo, Texas.

Speaker 7 (07:49):
It's another at news update. EPA is floating a biofuel
fix railcaster sinking and produce prices are split more after this.

Speaker 8 (07:59):
When you look at me, you might see a person
with Parkinson's disease, But if you look closer, you'll see
a warrior mom, an endurance athlete.

Speaker 9 (08:09):
Someone with a lot of fights.

Speaker 8 (08:10):
Every nine minutes, someone is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Speaker 10 (08:14):
And every one of them can turn to the American
Parkinson Disease Association.

Speaker 11 (08:19):
Look closer, My spirit is astakable.

Speaker 10 (08:22):
Visit APDA Parkinson dot org to learn more and show
your support.

Speaker 7 (08:28):
Today, EPA proposing to add back renewable fuel gallons waved
under small refinery exemptions over the past two years, either
fully or by half into next year's RFS. Bio Fuel
Group's favor full reallocation to protect ethanol and biodiesel demand
and keep rin market steady, grain transport getting cheaper. October,

(08:51):
secondary rail values for shuttles hit six year lows on
soft soybean export demand and better railroad service, while Mississip
barge moves eased and dieseled ticked up. Again, netty mixed
freight signals as harvest nears on policy, The Make America
Healthy Again movement continues to influence food rules and buying habits,

(09:13):
more interest in food as medicine, cleaner label ingredients, and
streamlined organic pathways. And it presents opportunities for specialty crops
and dairies, but potential headwinds for inputs and high corn
syrup demand that could pressure corn prices. Produce markets, mix
prices lower on leaf and iceberg gladys, strawberries, limes, pineapples,

(09:38):
avocados and honeydews, firmer on celery, cauliflower, broccoli, green onions,
and green beans. It's another agnews update.

Speaker 12 (09:47):
As farmers and ranchers, stewardship of the land comes naturally.
Your work keeps our water clean and improves the soil
and enhances wildlife habitat. It also provides countless benefits, not
just for you and your family, but for millions of
Americans who depend on this region every day without even
realizing it. Thank you for being stewards of America's prairie

(10:09):
for all of us. Take a moment to find out
how conservation pays. Visit conservation pays dot org.

Speaker 7 (10:17):
American Cattle News. Demand for beef in the US outpaces
our supply. We have to import beef more after this.

Speaker 8 (10:27):
When you look at me, you might see a person
with Parkinson's disease. But if you look closer, you'll see
a warrior mom, an endurance athlete.

Speaker 9 (10:36):
Someone with a lot of fights.

Speaker 8 (10:38):
Every nine minutes, someone is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Speaker 10 (10:42):
And every one of them can turn to the American
Parkinson Disease Association.

Speaker 11 (10:46):
Look closer, My spirit is actable.

Speaker 10 (10:50):
Visit APDA Parkinson dot org to learn more and show
your support today.

Speaker 7 (10:56):
What does Costa Rica, Paraguay, Argentina, Caagua, Uruguay, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Canada,
and Australia have in common? Well. Doctor Daryl Peel, Oklahoma
State livestock marketing economist, says, we have.

Speaker 13 (11:13):
A very integrated relationship with Canada as far as cattle
and beef both Canada. We do a lot of bilateral
trade of beef with Canada, so we both import. Canada
is the number three source of beef imports into the US.
So far this year those imports are down about three
point five percent. Our imports from most countries are up,

(11:36):
and you know, our total imports through July were up
about thirty percent on a year over year basis, but
with Canada they were down slightly three point five percent
lower on a year over year basis. As far as exports,
our exports to Canada are down twelve point seven percent
so far this year. Canada is the number five export
market for the US and people might ask, you know,

(11:57):
why do we both import and export from Canada, because
in fact, the quality of the products in general are
pretty similar, and a lot of it just has to
do with the fact that, you know, the US and
Canada share a very wide east west border, and so
when you look at where cattle production and beef production
happens in Canada, it's closer to the western part of
the US. If you look at where most of the

(12:18):
people in Canada are, they're close to the eastern you know,
the corn Belt and so on in the US. So
a lot of products flow north and south. It's much
more transportation efficient than shipping them east and west in
both countries, and so it's really transportational logistics that drive
a lot of the trade between the US and Canada.
As far as beef, so we do have that live

(12:40):
cattle trade relationship.

Speaker 7 (12:41):
As well American Cattle News. This is Dairy Radio.

Speaker 14 (12:50):
Now make every drop count driving results for dairy. That's
the theme at this year's joint annual meeting at the
National Milk Producers Federational Dairy Promotion and Research Board and
United Dairy Industry Association. It's coming up November tenth through
the twelfth in Arlington, Texas. And here with the preview
is National Melx Chris Galen, Chris, Yes.

Speaker 15 (13:11):
So this will be the twenty eighth time that the
National Milk Producers Federation and Dairy Management in the National
Checkoff Group have collaborated to put on a meeting for
our leaders and others in the industry who have leadership positions,
be that in state or national Checkoff groups or else
in dairy cooperatives. And so this year, Bill, we're going
to be meeting outside of Dallas in Arlington, Texas, right

(13:34):
across from the Rangers Baseball Stadium, to talk about some
of the balls that we've been handling, so to speak,
for Jerry in the past year. A big one is
going to be what's happening with nutrition policy. Obviously, there's
been a lot of news this year through the Trump
administration on making America healthy again, the recent report that
was released, and that affects us potentially in positive ways

(13:57):
as well as potentially negative ones. The big things we've
seen is that the recent MAJA report called for more
support and more distribution of whole milk, and that's a
battle we've been fighting, you know, for decades really, and
whole milk sales are rebounding, and now we have the
endorsement essentially of this MAHA Commission report. So we're going
to be hearing about that from some of our staff

(14:19):
talking about the issue of how we advanced the dairy
voice and health policy. And then we're also going to
have an outside speaker, Nina Taischolz, who is a science
journalist and she's developed quite a voice in quite a
following among people who really are questioning a lot of
the conventional wisdom about food as it relates to heart
health and cardiovascular disease. So she's quite prominent on this

(14:42):
and we'll look forward to hearing what she has to
say on the topic of full fat dairy products.

Speaker 14 (14:47):
Well, Chris, it's not a presidential year like some year,
as you hold the annual meeting, but a lot of
new surrounding politics and the Trump administration. Will there be
anything around immigration policy and farm workers.

Speaker 15 (14:58):
Yes, we will also have a main s stage discussion
focused on immigration policy and farm labor and what we
need to do as the dairy community to work together
and work with others in agriculture and others other advocates
for immigration to address an issue that's become even more
acute this year, which is figuring out how we can

(15:20):
have a reliable and legal access to farm workers, because
that's become a real issue of concern for many years Bill,
but it's become much more acute this year because of
the concerns about the immigration policy of the Trump administration.
And then we're also going to have a discussion about
what the economic outlook is for the dairy economy next year.

(15:41):
This has been a pretty good year, although if you
look at commodity prices here in September, we've seen a
sharp downturn in the wholesale prices for cheese and butter,
and so obviously that's going to cause people to be
concerned about what that means for milk prices and margins. Ultimately,
as we wind up this year and head into next year,
so that'll be a focus for us. And then one

(16:02):
of the other breakout sessions we have, we'll be discussing
dairy in the artificial intelligence age and really how the
public understands the benefits of consuming dairy products. When they're
going to things like chat, GPT or Microsoft Copilot, they
get answers about is dairy good for me? Is dairy

(16:23):
good for the planet. And so we're going to have
a discussion here about when we when increasingly numbers increasing
numbers of people use AI software to do these sorts
of web searches, what are they finding right now and
what would we like them to find that's a positive
story for dairy in the future.

Speaker 14 (16:42):
Thanks for the update, Chris. Chris Galen, Senior VP of
Members Services and Governance with the National Milk Producers Federation.
And again the joint annual meeting coming up November tenth
through the twelfth in Arlington, Texas.

Speaker 5 (16:53):
This is Dairy Radio Now.

Speaker 14 (16:55):
This is National Farm Safety and Health Week. Dan Neanan
of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.

Speaker 16 (17:01):
This year's theme is safety First, Avoid the Worst.

Speaker 14 (17:05):
This year's campaign runs this week right during harvest time,
when there's a lot of extra activity on the roads.

Speaker 16 (17:11):
Big equipment will be making turns into farmsteads. A motoring 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 the motoring public
is trying to pass. So there needs to be that

(17:32):
awareness out there and to share the road.

Speaker 14 (17:34):
Be safe out there. I'm Bill Baker Darry Radio.

Speaker 17 (17:37):
Now that one zero point six billion pound pistachio crop
coming in when they harvest this year already started not
to worry. There's plenty of demand out there for these
wonderful pistachios, particularly after they're all roasted and salted beautifully.
I'm Patrick Cavanaugh with the Cattilfornia Trenah Report, part of

(18:00):
the vastag Information Network. Zachary Fraser is the President and
CEO of American Pistachio Growers.

Speaker 18 (18:08):
I would suggest humbly that yes it is, and looking
at the performance of crops in the past couple of years.
The significant increase in popularity over the last eighteen to
twenty four.

Speaker 17 (18:18):
Months, and there's a very low manageable carryover from the
last crop years.

Speaker 18 (18:23):
The low carryover from the past crop year. I think
that we're going to be looking good. That's really a
good example of how our organization works well with both
the growers and the processors that they sell their product to.
Demand is very high around the world, and that's an
outcome of the work that's been done over the last
eighteen to twenty four months.

Speaker 17 (18:41):
That's Zachary Fraser with the American Pistachio Growers in more News.
It's important to look at the whole picture when considering
all the options and different steps available in a replant situation.
In almonds, each site is unique with its own set
of challenges and considerations necessary to grow an amends and
orchard in a sustainable manner that maximizes its yield and

(19:04):
growth potential from the different resources available.

Speaker 19 (19:07):
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 AGG Information Network,

(19:27):
reaching coast to coast, deep roots and farming. In decades
of reporting, the AG Information Network trusted in transparent journalism
for generations. The best place to reach a farmer with
a farming solution message is when they're well farming. It's
easy to find them during the day as most farmers
are behind the wheel of their pickup truck or farm
equipment with the radio on, listening to this station for

(19:50):
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 with the AG Information Network.
I'm Patrick Kavanaugh.

Speaker 5 (20:10):
And appropriate time annually for National Farm Safety and Health Week.

Speaker 16 (20:15):
We always have it the third full week in September
bring 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 5 (20:26):
Dad 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 20 (20:45):
Is there something about the social support, the family connectedness,
shared norms. Some of these things may be stronger in
farm families. We need to find that out. And if
we can find that out, these elements in this connectedness
might be influencing things like less mood disorders, less depression.

Speaker 5 (20:59):
I'm road Bay. Scott Heiberger of the National far Medicine
Center joins us as we take a look at farb
safety from various perspectives in this edition of Agriculture USA.
Harvest Time is about the period that National Farms Safety
and Health Week is held every year.

Speaker 16 (21:18):
FDR signed the first proclamation for National Farm Safety and
Health Week way back in nineteen forty four.

Speaker 5 (21:24):
Making it the longest running education campaign by a US
presidential proclamation. According to Dad Eden of the National Education
Center for Agricultural Safety.

Speaker 16 (21:34):
This year's theme is safety First, Avoid the Worst.

Speaker 5 (21:37):
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 rural roadways.

Speaker 16 (21:47):
Left turns on farmsteads is something that we need to
talk about. Equipment will be making turns into farmsteads. The
modern 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 the

(22:08):
motoring public is time to pass. So there needs to
be that awareness out there and to share the road.

Speaker 5 (22:13):
At Rural drivers, especially those operating farm machinery on roadways,
should keep in mind if their area includes nine one
one signs for emergency notification.

Speaker 16 (22:23):
Have a notebook in every vehicle that might go from
farmstead to farmstead, because farmers are now linting 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 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 5 (22:45):
Yet, the National Farm Safety and Health Weak CAB PAID
covers a diverse range of topics BEY odd roadway safety
as available via webinars from the National Education Center for
ag Safety and the Agrasafe Network at this web address
w uww dot EDECA, sag dot org.

Speaker 16 (23:04):
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 hags of grain,

(23:27):
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 5 (23:37):
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 11 (23:47):
There is a lot to be encouraged.

Speaker 5 (23:48):
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 21 (24:03):
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 5 (24:17):
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 buff Melissa Plockman of the
National Farm Medicine Center provides one resource available for producers

(24:38):
and rural residents in the Suicide Prevention Realm Call nine
eight eight.

Speaker 22 (24:42):
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 5 (24:55):
This has been Agriculture USA. I'm Broadbane reporting for the
US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC.

Speaker 23 (25:05):
It's time for California AG Today on the AG Information Network,
I am Hayley's ship. The National Cotton Council or NCC,
is stepping forward with a bold new effort to tackle
microplastic pollution, one that shines a spotlight on cotton as
part of the solution. According to NCC's twenty twenty five

(25:26):
consumer survey, awareness of the issue is still surprisingly low.
Only one third of respondents said that they were very
aware of microplastic pollution, and just forty two percent of
those linked the problem to clothing. Many still believe bottles
and packaging are the main culprits, even though synthetic fibers
like polyester are the bigger source. To close that gap,

(25:49):
NCC has launched the Plant Not Plastic campaign. Its message
is simple, consumers can make a difference by choosing natural fibers.
From Marjorie Walker, NCC Vice President of Council Operations, she
says that choosing clothing made from natural fibers like cotton
is an easy, effective way to reduce your personal contribution.

(26:10):
With sixty three percent of consumers already recognizing cotton as
a fiber that doesn't shed microplastics, the campaign builds on
cotton's natural advantages benefits that reach from the field to
the marketplace.

Speaker 11 (26:24):
Farm work is tough, and so is staying safe on
a road.

Speaker 24 (26:27):
Every year, accidents happen when tractors and traffic share the
same space, whether you're behind the wheel of a tractor
or a car.

Speaker 11 (26:34):
Here's what you need to remember.

Speaker 24 (26:35):
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 say alert, especially on rule roads. One 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 19 (26:54):
The best place to reach a farmer with a farming
solution message is when they're well. 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 to their

(27:16):
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 23 (27:24):
This is California AGG today on the AG Information Network.
I am Hailey's ship. For more AGG news, check us
out online at aginfo dot net.

Speaker 1 (27:33):
The US Grain Standards Act is the cornerstone of the
grain industry in grading and marketing, but without congressional renewal,
the law will expire at the end of this month.
The US House just pass the Renewal and Improvement of
the more than one hundred year old AT Grain Standards Act,
which is key for marketing. Next sports, I have a Senator,
Charles Grassley says that now awaits send it action.

Speaker 25 (27:55):
I was expected with go to our floor and be
enacted without going to the Egg Committee. I think is
relatively non controversial. It's something that can't lapse, and I
think it's important that we get it done as a
separate bail because I'm hearing that the only way we're
going to get a continuing resolution and not shut down
government is that it'll be a clean resolution.

Speaker 1 (28:18):
Grassley says, what's considered a very non controversial maybe it
could be added to a mostly clean continuing resolution to
keep the government funded after September thirtieth, which is the
end of the fiscal year. Now, the House pass the
Grain Standards Act by a voice vote. House AGG Committee
Chair Gt. Thompson warned against letting the Act expire.

Speaker 9 (28:40):
Lapse and authorization would disrupt the current grain inspection and
weighing process, cost the pharm economy more than seventy million
dollars a day, and create serious consequences for American family farms,
our supply chain, and our international trading partners. These disruptions
are entirely avoidable.

Speaker 1 (29:00):
Rain Standard ZACH renewal seeks to improve a modernized grading
technology and efficiency. It calls for consistent grading and quality standards,
allows grading at export ports, and investment of user fees
and interest trust funds. Applications are now open for the
Emergency Livestock Relief Program for Flood Wildfire. Mike Davis has more.

Speaker 2 (29:24):
Applications are now open for the Emergency Livestock Relief Program
for Flood and Wildfire, which is meant to help farmers
and ranchers cover part of extra feed costs associated with
these types of natural disasters. American farm Bureau economist Danny
Munch says the application for this relief differs from a
previous USDA program.

Speaker 26 (29:44):
Unlike the drought version that was announced earlier this year
and paid automatically off of Livestock Forage Program payments, this
one requires a direct application from farmers to FSA. Payments
are going to be based off of USDA's standard monthly
feed costs, and that'll be six two percent of three
months of feed for flooding or sixty percent of one
month of feed for wildfires.

Speaker 2 (30:05):
Monch says about nine hundred and forty million dollars is
available for the program.

Speaker 26 (30:09):
This is the remaining balance back from Congress's two billion
livestock directive from the American Relief Act of twenty twenty five.
If estimated demands that USDA receives exceeds available funds, USDA
is going to apply a national payment factor at the
end of the calculations, so those final payments might be
lower than the base calculation. There are payment limits of

(30:31):
one hundred and twenty five thousand per program year, or
two hundred and fifty thousand if more than seventy five
percent of your adjusted gross income is from farming.

Speaker 2 (30:39):
If farmers or ranchers think they're eligible, Monch says they
should reach out to their local FSA office to learn
more by October thirty first of this year.

Speaker 26 (30:48):
This is a little different than a lot of the
previous programs that have automatically sent applications. You have to
file this one. Two FSA applicants must provide livestock inventory
as of the disaster date, and if your county is
not a pre approved list, photos insurance or local declarations
that prove you face that disaster. There's also more information
from your local FSAY office or Farmers dot gov to

(31:11):
provide a little bit more information. Payments are expected to
go out sometime in early twenty twenty six once USDA
can estimate demand and pick a final peroration amount for
those calculations.

Speaker 2 (31:21):
For more information, stay tuned to the Market Intel page
on fb dot org. Mike Davis Washington.

Speaker 27 (31:30):
From the Aged Information Network. This is your agribusiness update
as California walnut harvest begins. Market conditions remained strong following
improvement last year after several years of low crop prices,
with inventory from last year's crop nearly sold out. Robert Verloup,
Executive director of the California Walnut Board end Commission says
the industry is well positioned to start chipping new harvest

(31:52):
California walnuts immediately. For Loop says favorable weather help produce
a large crop of exceptional quality that international mark markets
should appreciate. Farm bankruptcies as of July have exceeded those
for all of twenty twenty four. US News and World
reports as low commodity prices now come with higher costs
for inputs like fertilizer and equipment. Climate change has led

(32:14):
to deeper, longer droughts and more flooding, and trade wars
aren't helping, with tariffs on other countries exports to the
US making those products more expensive, and retaliation from some
countries like China hitting farmers directly. In a press release,
the National Association of Farmer Elected Committees reports that FSA
offices are critically understaffed, yet USDA officials have publicly denied

(32:36):
those concerns. NEFEC president Jim Zumberink says, the word we
are constantly hearing is that our county offices are critically understaffed.
FSA leaders have indicated staffing levels of county office employees
are now under six thousand compared to several thousand more
just a few years ago.

Speaker 11 (32:52):
Farm work is tough, and so is staying safe on
the road.

Speaker 24 (32:55):
Every year, accidents happen when tractors and traffic share the
same space, whether you're behind the wheel of a tractor
or a car, here's what you need to remember. Tractors
move slower, be patient, don't pass on hills or curves. Farmers,
make sure your slow moving vehicles, signs and lights are
visible and everyone's sailor, especially on rule roads. One moment
of caution can save a light. Let's work together to

(33:17):
keep our roads and are firm safe. This message was
brought to you by the ag Information Network.

Speaker 19 (33:22):
For over forty years, the agg 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

(33:44):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The Egg Information Network trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 27 (33:52):
From the Egg Information Network.

Speaker 5 (33:54):
I'm Bob Larson with today's agribusiness update.

Speaker 1 (33:56):
Oil prices are holding fairly steady thanks to a consumer
balancing act. Patrick Deehon with gasboddy dot com says OPEC
met recently and announced plans to increase oil production in
October by roughly one hundred and eighty thousand barrels per day,
and he pointed out the global economy is doing a
good job of absorbing the extra oil.

Speaker 28 (34:18):
OECD countries who report oil inventory data have only seen
modest increases in overall oil supplies, so it does look
like that as oil. As OPEK has increased oil production,
the market through increased consumption, has been absorbing a lot
of it. But for now, I think the additional increase
from OPEC will likely keep oil prices in that low

(34:41):
sixty dollars barrel range.

Speaker 1 (34:43):
De Hon says he expects gasoline prices to drop in
the coming weeks, not only because of the increased amount
of oil, but the transition in the US to cheaper
winter blends of fuel. Now when it comes to diesel prices,
he expects the opposite to occur.

Speaker 28 (35:00):
As we see farmers now starting to harvest their crops,
we could see diesel demand go up and that could
contribute to higher diesel prices in the weeks ahead, and
as well as getting closer to winter weather will likely
increase heating oil consumption. Heating oil and diesel essentially the
same product, so that's something that will likely put upward
pressure on diesel prices in the week's ahead.

Speaker 1 (35:19):
Again, that is Patrick Dehon with gasbuddy dot com. The
Illinois Farm Bureau is hopeful that President Donald Trump can
come through with trade agreements that include targeted export volumes.
Now the term volumes is questioned for its potential short
term gain versus long term stability for agriculture, and the

(35:39):
association's president, Brian Duncan says it makes the forecast for
trade cloudy.

Speaker 29 (35:46):
Multilateral agreements that are long term agreements that have provisions
in them to correct any let's say, questionable practices rules
based trade, so that has been what we've supported. Now
is that the future of trade right now it seems uncertain.

Speaker 1 (36:07):
Duncan says, any deal that moves the trade needle would
be welcome.

Speaker 29 (36:13):
Right now, we are looking for any wins that we
can get, and certainly a long term, stable win would
be better than one announcement of a flash sale, but
anything that could help move the psychology of the market
I think would be beneficial.

Speaker 1 (36:30):
Brian Duncan as a president of the Illinois Farm Bureau.
He made his comments during the Decatur, Illinois Farm Progress
Show at the end of August. A proposal by the
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture would increase registration and inspection fees
for animal markets, dealers and truckers. Jason Munnieni, executive director

(36:50):
for government Relations with Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, says the
price hikes are enormous.

Speaker 30 (36:57):
This proposal is to massively in increased fees for the
programs and registration fees and inspection fees for animal markets,
dealers and truckers, and some of these fees are increasing
seventeen hundred percent.

Speaker 1 (37:12):
For example, a Class A animal market fee would jump
from four hundred and twenty dollars to seven thy four
hundred and thirty dollars annually. And he says the increased
costs would add undue stress to the entire supply chain.

Speaker 30 (37:26):
Putting this on the backs of the entire industry and
funding the entire program with just industry fees, not only
puts a financial burden on the markets dealers and truckers
that are bringing animals to market, but also puts us
wildly outside of the fees that are charged by our
neighboring states. We anticipate that those fees will unavoidably be

(37:47):
passed on to farmers. I don't see any way that
they wouldn't.

Speaker 1 (37:50):
Be, Monieni says. The public comment period is open till
October fifteenth. You've been listening to ag Life. I'm Dwayne Merley.