September 9, 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,
will we return to a Li Ninia weather pattern? That's
where we start.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
As USDA burologist Brad Rippy notes.

Speaker 3 (00:15):
Back on August fourteenth, the National Weather Service issued a
Li Ninia watch for the possibility, and we're looking at
about a sixty percent likelihood of this happening of La
Ninia forming sometime later this autumn or into the winter month.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
A while the forecast is for a week add short
lived Ladidia if that comes the pass.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
If it does occur, it will be the fifth time
in the last six winters that we have seen either
La Ninia or Lininia like conditions across the central and
eastern Equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
So what are the potential impacts for our country if
Loninia becomes established later this fall or winter.

Speaker 3 (00:52):
One of the impacts is to see drought tending to spread,
particularly in the western and southern part of the United States.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
Not new most of the extremely dry western US wants
to hear Regarding a potential future weather forecast, You might
remember brad Rippy mentioning earlier about Ladidia established or Ladidia
like conditions. Five of the past six winters.

Speaker 3 (01:15):
Going back to the winter of twenty twenty twenty one
and extending through the winter of twenty twenty two to
twenty three, we saw what we call a very rare
triple dip Linina, where we had linina for three consecutive winters.
In records going back to the mid twentieth century, we
have only seen that two other times. Then we followed
that a single year with El Nino that lasted from

(01:37):
twenty twenty three into twenty twenty four, and then during
the winter of twenty twenty four to twenty five, we
saw conditions that got very close to the scientific threshold
for defining linina.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
That triple dip Ladidia period to begive the decade continues
to impact sub western states.

Speaker 3 (01:54):
We're still trying to claw our way out of that drought.
As we moved through twenty twenty five. During that triple
zip la Nina, we saw a two and a half
year period from late twenty twenty into early twenty twenty
three where we saw more than forty percent of the
contiguous United States experiencing drought. You get that cool water,
it tends to cut off some of the tropical atmospheric

(02:15):
moisture from reaching the United States, and that is one
of the big reasons we tend to see increases in
drought coverage in the western and Southern United States during
La Nina. Meanwhile, then as we move into the Southern
United States, concerns there as we move on to the
winter months would be impact on rangeland pastures, speed for cattle,
as well as the upcoming winter we crop. So certainly

(02:35):
Lininia does come with a set of risks for agriculture.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yet rip your reminds us it is only a La
Nina watch, not a fully developed Ladedia climate pattern.

Speaker 3 (02:45):
There is a likelihood of Lininia formation, but certainly we
are nowhere near that point yet. We're just starting to
see some signs of things happening in Equatorial Pacific, pointing
us in the direction of Li Ninia.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
Broad Bane reporting for the US Department of Agri Culture
in Washington, d C.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
Farm US Ahead, you're listening to Aglife. Bob Quinn back
with some farm news this morning. Friends. Economic sentiment among
producers continued, it's downward spiral in August with the Purdue
University CME Group agg Economy Barometer falling for the third
straight month. Doctor Jim Mintert from Purdue's Center for Commercial
Agriculture is the author of that report.

Speaker 4 (03:24):
The index did fall ten points this month to reading
of one twenty five, so that's down from one thirty five,
and as you mentioned, it's a third straight month for
a decline in the barometer. Index of future expectations was
the driver of the decline this month. It was down
sixteen points. That puts it at a reading of one
twenty three. Current Condition index really didn't change. I think
it was up two points from July to or reading

(03:44):
of one twenty nine. So the significant change was people
becoming less optimistic about the future and that pulling the
barometer back overall.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
Mentor says, it's not surprising that livestock producers were the
most optimistic segment in the industry.

Speaker 4 (03:57):
We always take a look at crop producers versus livestock producers,
and you know, if you really drill down on that,
it's clear that the optimism in the barometer is really
coming primarily from the livestock sector, especially beef cattle producers.
A record high profitability for calcafe operations, very strong profitability
for cattle feeders as well, and the negativity is really

(04:18):
coming from the crop side.

Speaker 1 (04:19):
Mentor it says farmers. Number one concern continues to be
production cost, with particularly high input costs. Well friends, livestock
producers are being urged to exercise caution and vigilance as
the New World screw worm continues it's march through Mexico
toward the US border. Doctor Rosslyn Biggs, Oklahoma State University
beef cattle specialist, says that north of the border, so far,

(04:41):
so good.

Speaker 5 (04:42):
But I think it's important to recognize we've not had
any reports at all here in the United States, but
we are concerned with our neighbors to the south. They
have had a fairly recent detection. Although that premises has
been treated. It's only about three hundred and seventy miles.
It's located in Cruise, so three hundred and seventy miles
from from the Texas border.

Speaker 1 (05:03):
Biggs says, the New World strewworm poses a unique.

Speaker 5 (05:07):
Threat beilay eggs that turn intwo maggots that, unlike our
other usual flies that we have here in the US currently,
that eat dead tissue. These will eat live tissue, and
it is something that it can impact any any species,
really humans.

Speaker 1 (05:26):
Even the country's first human case of New World strewworm
was recently reported in Maryland. The patient had recently returned
from a trip to El Salvador. Well friends US Meat
Export Federation looking for new markets or increasing markets. As
we hear in this report.

Speaker 6 (05:41):
The US Meat Export Federation brought retailers, importers, and other
US red meat buyers to Colorado State University for a
Global Innovation Symposium supported by the National Corn Growers Association.
As USMEF Manager of Technical Programs Page Parker explains, the
event provided hands on work to develop new ways to
use US beef.

Speaker 7 (06:00):
The Global Innovation Symposium, Really, innovation is the key there.
So we want these individuals to be able to go
back to their markets and use innovative technologies such as
souv how to cook things differently, different grinding practices, all
of the above, and really go back to their market
and use it in an innovative way to use US
products in a different way, or maybe expand on what

(06:20):
they're already doing and increase their market share in different
products that they can potentially use in their own operations.

Speaker 6 (06:27):
Doctor David velasco director of Food Science Innovation at Colorado
Premium Foods, taught about new uses for souv'd.

Speaker 8 (06:33):
How it works is we put meat under vacuum with
more ingredients if you need, and then we put it in.

Speaker 9 (06:38):
A water bath.

Speaker 8 (06:39):
The water bath holds a specific temperature, so you can
leave it as long as you like for the exect
temperature that you need to achieve the quality aspects that
you the sire, and then that way you can ship
that product already cooked and sealed, so it's not compromised.
You can just ship it and the person that receives
it only has to heat it up to their standards

(06:59):
and serve it without doing the actual cooking themselves. So
we take care of one of the most critical aspects
of the cooking and then they can take advantage of
a safe product that has great quality aspects to it.

Speaker 6 (07:12):
Maria Mendez operates a family food processing business in Guatemala.

Speaker 10 (07:16):
I came here very very excited for us. Knowledge is
a huge opportunity in our countries. You cannot see many
organizations putting effort in educating customers, in educating basically the
small businesses that grow in every year and new businesses
that are opening every year in our country, and us

(07:37):
MET has been that for.

Speaker 6 (07:38):
US for the usbe and Export Federation.

Speaker 1 (07:40):
I'm John Harris farm US this morning. You're listening to
AAG Life.

Speaker 11 (07:44):
It's another AG news update. Farmers facing mixed conditions? What's
it mean?

Speaker 1 (07:51):
More?

Speaker 12 (07:52):
After this at the American Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention
in Denver, we caught up with Michael Gerghi from Loan Advisor.

Speaker 13 (08:01):
I think the biggest thing to remember when it comes
down to student loans and student loan forgiveness is that
you have to be very, very vigilant because it really
can be one of the biggest empowering choices of your
life to go out and get this degree inside of
the veterinary field, or it can be a tremendous roadblock
if it's not managed properly. So we really try and
encourage that as the overarching theme and the top line
piece of advice that we give the books.

Speaker 12 (08:20):
There's more valuable information on AVMA dot org.

Speaker 11 (08:23):
Farmers facing mixed conditions. According to the Federal Reserve's Beige Book,
road Croft producers battling low corn prices and high input costs,
while cattle prices remain strong, supporting ranch income. USDA says
dairy exports are surging, with chiese shipments up fifteen percent,

(08:44):
butter exports more than doubling that international demand is helping
offset flat milk cells here at home. Across the South,
another record grain harvest is raising storage concerns. Some states
may run out of space, forcing farmers to sell at
weak prices unless they have on farm bins or flexible contracts.

(09:09):
And USDA's latest trade outlook projecting a forty seven billion
dollar AG trade deficit for twenty twenty five. It's slightly
better than earlier forecast. Exports are higher in volume but
lower prices, keeping overall values down. And at the end

(09:29):
of the week, worldaggs supply demand estimates and crop production
report for the month of September from USDA, it's another
agnews update.

Speaker 14 (09:41):
Hey there the subrah Hello, Hello, huh hey, y'all, hey
la hi.

Speaker 12 (09:48):
It takes a lot of voices to create the sound
of us.

Speaker 9 (09:52):
The why welcomes all of them with open arms.

Speaker 6 (09:55):
From career readiness to save spaces. The why is there
no matter who we are, Now, more than ever they
need your support.

Speaker 9 (10:04):
Support your local Why Today the Why or Better Us.

Speaker 11 (10:09):
By members of the Why American Cattle News Today, we
look back at how the cattle market closed on Friday.

Speaker 12 (10:19):
More after this, at the American Veterinary Medical Association Annual
Convention in Denver, we caught up with Michael Gerghi from
Student Loan Advisor.

Speaker 13 (10:28):
I think the biggest thing to remember when it comes
down to student loans and student loan forgiveness is that
you have to be very, very vigilant because it really
can be one of the biggest empowering choices of your
life to go out and get this degree inside of
the veterinary field, or it can be a tremendous roadblock
if it's not managed properly. So we really try and
encourage that as the overarching team and the top line
piece of advice that we give the books.

Speaker 12 (10:47):
There's more valuable information on AVMA dot work.

Speaker 11 (10:50):
Ted Seifert is vice president of Zeyner agg Hedge, recapping
last week's cattle market.

Speaker 15 (10:57):
Live cattle closed moderately lower, However, they did close well
off their lows. In fact, they closed closer to unchanged
down one point thirty five than they did off the lows.
They were a dollar sixty off the low, so a
nice little bounce back there. However, when you look at
that live cattle chart, it does have a bit of
a rounded top at the moment, and a lot of
times technical analysts will say is this chart rolling over

(11:20):
or what they mean by that? Are we do for
a bit of a deeper correction. Live cattle market hasn't
seen any deep corrections really since the beginning of the
bull market, but that's also because the bull fundamentals have
been pretty constant throughout. So from a technical standpoint, we
are watching to potentially have a bit of a near
termat high end here unless we take out last week's

(11:42):
high within the next few trading sessions, these speculators might
look to take some profits up here, so do keep
an eye out for that. Cash cattle is expected to
trade lower this week as packers have become more current
with their needs, and so the idea is that and
maybe we could go through a few weeks of cash

(12:02):
cattle softening as we typically do in the month of September. However,
box beef prices have remained surprisingly high and one of
the reasons why we expect software cash market cash cattle
market during the month of September is because we also
expect box beef prices to come down. Once we get
past that Labor Day holiday weekend, we start to see
demand stores slow down a little bit, but so far

(12:23):
that hasn't happened. In fact, we are printing box beef
prices up near the highs of twenty twenty five and
the highest ever that we've seen in the month of September.
So lots of things going on here with the live cattle.

Speaker 11 (12:35):
Market, American Cattle News.

Speaker 1 (12:39):
This is Dairy Radio Now with Bill Baker.

Speaker 16 (12:45):
Farm transition planning is a big topic these days. Joining
us on our Producer Tuesday, brought to you by the
Professional Dairy Producers is Shane at Boracove, partner and attorney
and counselor at law at Bora Cove Osmon, LLC from
a recent PDPDA ry signal, who shares some insights when
it comes to transitioning out of the farm.

Speaker 17 (13:04):
You know, one, I think farmers have to realize that
you are a client. When you walk into someone's office,
you are the one that is, you know, paying for services,
and you are the boss, you know. I think that
makes it a little bit easier to walk in and
to know that when you're walking in you have all
the information that you need. You have a balance sheet.
That's important information to know, right, that's important information that

(13:27):
you have to share. And so it's the balance sheets,
it's the financial statements that you have that you're working
with your CPA with, right, And maybe you have a bookkeeper,
maybe you're you know, a member of your family is
organizing those things. So one balance statements. Yes, the tax
returns are often a good thing because it shows a
little bit more about your business structure, so you don't

(13:48):
have to be the one that's always answering questions. Questionnaire
I have found is I mean a essential tool that
we have that we expect our clients to complete because
if we're they don't. We miss these details end up
becoming important.

Speaker 18 (14:02):
Right.

Speaker 17 (14:03):
So the lay of the land, the personal information hugely important,
takes just a few minutes complete. But once it's done,
you don't have to go back to it. What is
a good outline of my assets? You know, farm and
personal because when we talk about farm transition, you know,
so much gets emphasized with the farm, and it should
because that's what the conversations about but those other things

(14:25):
like bank accounts, you know, other financial information, other you know,
how you know spouses if the farmer is married, you
know what does a spouse have?

Speaker 5 (14:34):
Is there a.

Speaker 17 (14:34):
Retirement, you know benefits, do they have a day to
day job that they have a four oh one k
All that other personal information really goes into the analysis.
What is an appropriate transition that doesn't put anyone in
a bad situation.

Speaker 16 (14:48):
That's Attorney SHANEA. Borakove on a recent PDP Dairy signal
that you can hear in its entirety for free at
pdpw dot org her experiences and dealing with dairy farmers.
When it comes to farm transition planning, first.

Speaker 17 (15:02):
I want people to be very practical about things. If
I could ask my clients to do one more thing
is to actually write down what their goal is when
they think about farm transition, and then I want them
to truly evaluate whether that can happen. It's like I
want to get out of my farm in five years
and I want this person to take it over, and
then truly ask yourself is that possible? And have you

(15:23):
done enough to even make that happen? Because those can't
be forced and those can't be legally arranged, visualizing putting
the goal down and holding yourself accountable that and then
asking you yourself, is this a hope? Is this a desire?

Speaker 9 (15:37):
Or is this a real goal.

Speaker 17 (15:38):
That can be attained? And have I done enough to
make sure that this goal can be attained within the
timeframe that.

Speaker 12 (15:44):
I want it to be.

Speaker 17 (15:45):
So that's one too, is you know, I think a
big takeaway which I kind of underscored when I was
saying it, is there is sweat equity. That's not just
sweat equity, right, there is lost opportunity costs when we're
not doing transitions in our life life. And I would say,
before someone just says I can't or I won't, whatever

(16:06):
the reason, look at the actual tax ramifications of not
transitioning during life and if you're just trying to come
up with that solution in your mind, that's not where
it should be. It should actually be, you know, if
I it should be you know, I kind of really
want to do this, but I feel like I can't
do it because of taxes. Because your advisors can work.

(16:28):
We have so many tools there that it is sometimes
it's putting the number and saying you know this is
actually the difference of the rental income versus the capital gains.
You know, it's not that bad. It's like five thousand
dollars a year. It could Seriously, I mean some I
did that the other day and they're like, oh, I'm like, yeah,

(16:49):
it's not Why aren't you just selling it now? And
they're like, yeah, why aren't we just selling it now?
So uh, don't Yeah, don't have the tax tell wag
the dog, right, but don't use these excuses as something
that prohibits you from exploring the opportunities.

Speaker 4 (17:04):
Again.

Speaker 16 (17:04):
That's Shanea Bora Cove, who is a partner attorney and
counselor at law at Bora Cove Osman, LLC, who shared
on a recent PDP Dairy signal some insights into farm
transition planning. And you can hear that in its entirety
for free simply by going to PDP's website at pdpw
dot org. Our thanks to the Professional Dairy Producers for
today's sponsorship of Producer Tuesday.

Speaker 18 (17:32):
The California Armed Sustainability Program also known as CASS. I'm
Patrick Kavanaugh with the California Tree Nut Report, part of
the vastag Information Network it's very important gathering a lot
of data on almond farming. Clarice Turner as president and
CEO the Ahmed Born of California, It is just.

Speaker 19 (17:52):
A gift to this industry, Patrick, absolutely, because we've been
focusing on this gathering of data for many, many years
and here we are with just sitting you know, amid
and having done the math on what all this means.
And it's just huge boon for the industry.

Speaker 18 (18:08):
And she said, she's out talking to growers telling them
what it means.

Speaker 19 (18:11):
Do you realize that we are sequestering thirty million metric
tons of carbon out of the atmosphere in the state
of California every year and that's the equivalent of twenty
four point five million cars off the road that were sequestering,
which is I mean, that's a lot of carbon. And
we continued to gather facts in data and do the
math on the existing information that we have, and you know,

(18:34):
making sure that everything is kicked and tied from a
fat based perspective. The other pieces that you know, ninety
percent of our farms out there are family owned and
they're under one hundred acres about seventy percent of them.

Speaker 18 (18:45):
Just imagine all those smaller farms.

Speaker 19 (18:47):
This whole notion of big egg, it's like, well, actually,
when you look at the facts, not big egg. It's
a lot of families, is what it is.

Speaker 18 (18:53):
So that's Clarice Turner, President and CEO the Army Board
of California.

Speaker 9 (18:58):
Farm Work is tough, and so is staying safe on road.

Speaker 14 (19:01):
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

(19:22):
to keep our roads and are firm safe. This message
was brought to you by the agg Information Network.

Speaker 20 (19:28):
For over forty years, the ag 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

(19:49):
mean the most to you online at aginfo dot net.
The agg Information Network. Trusted and transparent journalism lasting for
the next generation.

Speaker 18 (19:57):
With the ag Information Network, I'm Patrick.

Speaker 21 (20:01):
The twenty twenty two Census of Agriculture Topology report shows
that family farms make up ninety five percent of all
US farms now. The report, which was released by the
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, focuses on the family farm,
which is defined as any farm where the majority of
the business is owned by the producer and individuals related

(20:23):
to the producer. According to NASA Administrator Joseph Parson, classifying
America's at one point nine million farms to better reflect
their variety as critical to evaluating and reporting on US
agriculture topology allows the NASA office to explore the demographics
of who is farming and ranching today, as well as

(20:44):
their impact on the economy and communities across the country. Now.
The data showed that small family farms with income under
three hundred and fifty thousand dollars per year make up
eighty five percent of all US farms. They also have
thirty nine percent of the total land in farms and
fourteen percent of the value of all agricultural products sold.

(21:06):
Pork is often called a friend to all foods thanks
to its versatility and being a carrier food. As one
of the most widely consumed proteins globally, it's a natural
fit for various meals. Emily Kraus, director of Nutrition, Health
and Wellness Initiatives at the National Pork Board, says pork
is well received within the industry's health and wellness community

(21:29):
called pork and Partners.

Speaker 22 (21:31):
Dietitians, other healthcare professionals are really gravitating towards that because
oftentimes when people think of healthcare professionals, they think we're
demonizing certain foods, and often that's not the case. We
want people to consume all types of foods, but make
choices that they are supporting the foods that make them
feel good, and so we want to see all foods
fit on the plate.

Speaker 21 (21:52):
Younger consumers have a different approach to food than previous generations.
Rather than seeing pork as the main dish, they view
it as an ingredient.

Speaker 22 (22:01):
Put it into a mixed dish. Then you can have
all these different flavors and food groups really come together,
and you're often having more fruits, vegetables, and grains which
provide more nutrients. So we say it's a carrier food.
It's a carrier not only for nutrition but also flavor.

Speaker 21 (22:18):
As a registered dietitian, Krous emphasizes the importance of eating
more fruits and vegetables and says incorporating pork as an
ingredient is a delicious, practical way to help achieve that goal.

Speaker 22 (22:30):
As a dietitian working for the National Pork Board, when
I can say there's research to show that when pork
is on the plate, people consume more fruits and vegetables.
That is a huge win for people that are focusing
on nutrition. And we also have research that shows the
one hundred and eleven flavor nuances of pork.

Speaker 21 (22:47):
Through the Pork and Partners, community health and wellness professionals
can access research, educational materials, and continuing education resources. Meanwhile,
consumers can explore pork dot org for various recipes that
highlight pork is a tasty, convenient, and balance protein. Washington

(23:07):
continues to produce more apples than any other state, with
this year's crop forecast to be at or near a
record As for the available apple varieties, John Devaney, president
of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, says the top
of the list has not changed well.

Speaker 23 (23:25):
Gala continues to be the number one variety, forecasting to
be about eighteen percent of our state's apple crop.

Speaker 21 (23:32):
Next the Vaney says that Granny Smith has been displaced
at number two.

Speaker 23 (23:37):
What's interesting is that honey crisp continues to grow in
volume and it's quite popular, as a lot of folks know,
and it would be in the number two position this year,
forecast to be around fifteen percent of the crop.

Speaker 21 (23:50):
And for the first time, the Vane says, Cosmic Crisp
makes the top five.

Speaker 23 (23:55):
It sure has. In fact, this year it's about forecasts
about nine point six percent, are just short of ten
percent of the crop and breaks into the top five
and variety's forecast for the first time.

Speaker 21 (24:05):
It's also expected to continue growing.

Speaker 23 (24:08):
That variety is continuing to take off towards the stars,
as its name would suggest, and it reflects a lot
of the investment our growers have continued to make over
many years in developing new varieties and looking for novelties
and new taste experiences for consumers within the apple category
to make sure that we can meet the needs of

(24:29):
diverse customers.

Speaker 21 (24:30):
Gala is number one at eighteen percent of production, followed
by Honey Chris but fifteen percent, moving ahead of both
at Red Delicious and Granny's Smith, which Red Delicious is
a fourteen point seven percent and Granny's Smith at twelve percent.
Cosmic Cris makes its first appearance of the top five
at nine point six percent, up from just one percent

(24:52):
in twenty twenty and six percent in twenty twenty three.

Speaker 24 (24:57):
An agricultural acquisition in the Gold State. It's time for
California AG today on the AG Information Network I in
Haley's ship. John Deere has acquired Gus Automation, a Kingsburg
based company making autonomous sprayers for orchards and vineyards. The
deal builds on a twenty twenty two joint venture and

(25:19):
targets growers pain points, labor, input costs, and crop protection.

Speaker 3 (25:25):
Fully.

Speaker 24 (25:26):
Integrating Gus into the Jahn Deere portfolio is a continuation
of our dedication to serving high value crop customers with advanced,
scalable technologies to help them do more with less, said
Julian Lavelli. According to a release from the company, GUS
sprayers use gpslidar and proprietary software, so one operator can

(25:48):
supervise up to eight machines, reducing errors, labor costs, and waste.
To date, more than two hundred and fifty machines have
sprayed two point six million acres over five hundred thousand
autonomous hours.

Speaker 9 (26:02):
GUS we'll keep its.

Speaker 24 (26:03):
Name, brand and manufacturing facility in Sprears, will continue to
be sold and serviced exclusively through John Deere Dealers. John
Deere says it will expand Gus's reach and integrate tools
like smart Apply, enabling targeted spring with the opportunity for
up to fifty percent savings on chemicals and water.

Speaker 9 (26:22):
Farm work is tough, and so is staying safe on
a road.

Speaker 14 (26:25):
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 9 (26:31):
Here's what you need to remember.

Speaker 14 (26:33):
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 st alert, especially on rule roads.

Speaker 9 (26:44):
One moment a.

Speaker 14 (26:44):
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 20 (26:52):
For the last forty years, the EGG Information Network has
been the source of news for farmers and ranchers. Yet
we have never seen such an assault on farming and
our food supply as we do today, from fuel to fertilizer.
Farmers are facing unprecedented economic challenges. This is why agriculture
news that farmers receive comes from the AG Information Network,

(27:12):
reaching coast to coast, deep roots and farming. In decades
of reporting, the AGG Information Network trusted and transparent journalism
for generations.

Speaker 24 (27:21):
On the AG Information Network. I am Hateley's ship.

Speaker 1 (27:24):
Bob Quinn. Here are some farm us this morning. Friends
were looking for new uses for a very big crop.
Rod Bain takes a look at using a mountain of corn.

Speaker 2 (27:33):
To say there will be plenty of feed cord harvested
this year might be a significant understatement.

Speaker 25 (27:40):
It represents a record high for the US.

Speaker 2 (27:43):
With ETHNTE prelibent of the National Agricultural Statistic Service adding
this year's harvest will be far and away a record
cord crop at bat There are various reasons why this
is the case, but now comes the bigger question what
to do with all that cord so that could find
its way to consumers in the form of ethanol use

(28:04):
praise about one hundred million bushels this month, while more
as forecast to be sold in the export market. There
were indeed indications through the suburb that this year's US
Cord crop could be a bupper one due to favorable
weather conditions at much of the Cord belt through the
growing season. As USDA be urologist Brad Rippy noted in

(28:26):
the August tenth Crop Progress Report for Cord.

Speaker 3 (28:29):
Crop conditions holding up pretty nicely. We saw a very
small week over week net declining condition, losing a point
in the good to excellent ratings now seventy two percent,
but we could go that with seventy three percent. But
perhaps more importantly, we're not adding any very poor to
poor numbers. Steady this week at seven percent. This year's
crop still coming in quite a bit better than last

(28:50):
year this time, when the corner was rated sixty seven
percent good to excellent and ten percent very poor to poor.

Speaker 2 (28:56):
So with the Agriculture Department later in the week released
their addus IS Crop Production Report for Cord, the first
of the year based on farmers surveys. While not surprising
that forecast a production at yield was record setting looking.

Speaker 26 (29:10):
At a production number of over sixteen point seven billion
bushels a yield of one hundred and eighty eight point
eight bushels an acre.

Speaker 2 (29:18):
To USDA Chief economist Seth Meyer and others, what perhaps
was of shock was just how much cord have been
planted this year. This is Athony Prilaman of the National
Agricultural Statistic Service.

Speaker 25 (29:31):
Planet acreage at ninety seven point three million acres was
raised two point two percent from what was estimated in.

Speaker 23 (29:37):
The June acreage report.

Speaker 25 (29:38):
Harvested area that is also up two point two percent
from the previous forecast.

Speaker 2 (29:42):
So why did USDA's August report reflect such a significant
increase on cord acres planted? Prilament says this is good
part to efforts to improve statistical accuracy.

Speaker 25 (29:54):
Starting last year, NAS began reviewing planted and harvested acreage
in August to determine if updates need to be made
to the previous published estimates, instead of waiting until later
in the season as we had historically done. To ensure
that the published acreage estimates are as accurate as possible
as early as possible to help forecast final production.

Speaker 2 (30:14):
To do that, Certified Farm Service Agency PLANTIC crop acreage
data is incorporated along with farmer surveys add satellite information
in the August forecast. That revised acreage outlook, added to
favorable growing conditions and record yield means not just a
high mark for feed corn production. Forecast and cord production

(30:35):
this year is over one point four billion, with a
bee bushels more than the record set in twenty twenty three,
while the twenty twenty five projected cord yield record would
be over nine bushels an acre, more than twenty twenty
four's record total. So how does USDA project the added
supply of corn to be used in its domestic ballot sheets.

(30:57):
World Agricultural Outlook Board chair markjet Kadowski says, there will
be plenty of feed cord available for livestock. We raised
feed and residual by two hundred and fifty million bushels.
More feed stock via cord will be available for ethanol
production that could find its way to fuel pumps, with
USDA forecasting a one hundred million bushel increase.

Speaker 25 (31:20):
Also our export forecasts, we raised by two hundred million bushels.

Speaker 2 (31:25):
With Jack Kadowski noting strong US cord export demand based
on a slow marketing start by global competitor Brazil and
competitive prices. As chief economist Seth Meyer observes.

Speaker 26 (31:38):
A lot of extra corn, putting some downward pressure on
prices and making a downward adjustment of thirty cents to
three dollars and ninety cents for the twenty five to
twenty six marketing year price.

Speaker 2 (31:48):
As even with use of cord allocated, there is still
plenty more in supply in the form of balance sheet
ending stocks. This has been Agriculture US say. I'm Rod Bain,
reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, d C.

Speaker 1 (32:07):
Farm US. You're listening to ag Life.

Speaker 27 (32:11):
From the Egg Information Network. This is your agribusiness update.
Increased strawberry demand in the fall and winter has driven
summer plantings, which have reached a record high of eleven
five hundred and three acres this year, up one point
three percent from last year. According to the California Strawberry Commission,
the summer's acreage represents about a quarter of the state's
total strawberry acreage. Second year acres. Plants kept alive for

(32:34):
more than one growing season have increased nearly every year
since twenty twenty one due to the rising cost of
new plantings. Mexico has recorded five thoy eighty six cases
of flesh eating screwworm in animals as of August seventeenth,
a fifty three percent jump from the cases reported in July.
According to Reuters, the Mexican government's updated numbers show six
hundred and forty nine active cases. Screwworms are parasites that

(32:57):
eat warm blooded animals alive and can devastate cattle herds
in local wildlife. Since the outbreak in twenty twenty three,
screwworms have advanced northward from Central America, inching closer to
the US. The US dairy industry is facing a possible
shortage of its most important resource, milk cows. The number
of replacement heifers available as milk producing cows has already

(33:18):
fallen to a twenty year low based on new cobank research,
or replacements could fall even further over the next two
years before recovery begins in twenty twenty seven. These declining
heifer inventories could limit growth in the milk supply a
big concern for dairy processors.

Speaker 20 (33:33):
For the last forty years, the Egg 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,

(33:53):
reaching coast to coast, deep roots and farming. In decades
of reporting, the AGG Information Network trusted and transparent journalism
for generations. The best place to reach a farmer with
a farming solution message is when they're well farming. It's
easy to find them during the day, as most farmers
are behind the wheel of the pickup truck or farm
equipment with the radio on listening to this station for

(34:16):
the ag Information Network of the West News. So reach
real farmers right here, right now as they listen to
what's important to their farm operation. Give us a call
and we'll connect you with our local farming community. They
trust us, so they'll trust you.

Speaker 27 (34:31):
Get the equipment you need. At Richie Brothers next to
Larry Auction On September eleventh bid on close to two
thousand items, including a wide selection of farming equipment. This
absolute unreserved auction is open to the public and free
to register. For more details, visit orbauction dot com.

Speaker 1 (34:46):
Bob went back to wrap up AGLI for to they
friends while after winning his new Alberta writing by election
last month. Canadian Conservative Party leader Pierre Poliev will now
return to the floor of Parliament in mid September and
as head of the official opposition party. Polyev has a
list of grievances for the ruling Carney Liberals. Dennis Guy

(35:10):
has a report out of Canada for us to wrap
up today's edition of Aaglife.

Speaker 28 (35:14):
Near the top of the current list is Canada's temporary
foreign workers program. On Wednesday, Polyev announced that his goal
is to permanently end that.

Speaker 29 (35:24):
Program, stop issuing visas for any new temporary foreign workers.
Nearly seventy five percent of temporary foreign workers that come
into the country are for low wage positions, which means
they compete with working class and young people that ultimately
drive down wages.

Speaker 28 (35:40):
The former Liberal government under Justin Trudeau is on the
record as stating the program needs a formal review and
Mark Carney says the program is on the cabinet's discussion agenda,
but Carney also says there is no plan to do
away with it, as it fills a workforce need.

Speaker 4 (35:58):
That program has a role. When I talked to businesses
around the country, their number one issue is tariff's and
their number two issue is access to temporary foreign workers.

Speaker 28 (36:07):
A similar but different program, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program,
also allows primary agriculture employers to bring in seasonal workers
from Mexico and Caribbean countries, but farmers and agrifood producers
can also choose to hire workers through the Temporary Foreign
workers program, and that program, the one that Polyev once ended,

(36:30):
accounted for more than seventy eight thousand employees across the
agricultural sector last year. Polyiev's conservatives have said they would
establish a separate and stand alone program for agricultural labor.
But Keith Curry, who farms near Georgian Bay in central
Ontario and is president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture,

(36:51):
believes the Seasonal Agricultural Worker program could be put in
danger if changes to the Temporary Foreign worker program go
too far.

Speaker 25 (37:00):
I'm how you doe with a temporary foreign worker program
and totality without arming the agriculture streams.

Speaker 28 (37:05):
Concerns of losing the Temporary Foreign workers program are being
heard well beyond the agricultural sector. Dan Kelly with the
Canadian Federation of Small and Medium Business says that the
program is a valuable resource for many small and rural
communities with a limited labor pool to draw on.

Speaker 30 (37:25):
There are thousands of communities where there just are no
entry level people. If you're trying to hire in rural
Saskatchewan to work in your quick service restaurant, it's unlikely
that the unemployed kid from Toronto is going to take
the job washing dishes.

Speaker 28 (37:39):
Finestavat Pierre Polyev says he plans to put the Temporary
Foreign Workers Program on the agenda for debate when Parliament
goes back into session in Ottawa on September fifteenth. Reporting
from Canada, I'm Dennis Guy and with that, friends, about
of time for today. Thanks for joining us back tomorrow
morning with another edition of Bag Life.