USFR Weekly Recap - October 24-25, 2009
10/26/2009
THIS WEEK ON U.S. FARM REPORT
Episode #1889
October 24-25, 2009
John’s Hello: I SUPPOSE FARMERS SHOULD BE FLATTERED BY MARKETS ROUTINELY SHRUGGING OFF PRODUCTION PROBLEMS AS MINOR ISSUES THAT WE CAN OVERCOME EASILY. WELL, THEY AREN'T SHRUGGING MUCH RIGHT NOW, AS WEATHER ISSUES HAVE THROTTLED HARVEST PROGRESS TO A CRAWL, AND THE LACK OF HEAT THIS SEASON LEAVES CROPS FAR FROM OPTIMAL CONDITION. PARTLY THIS IS OUR FAULT, AS WE LOVE TO BRAG ABOUT THE SPEED AND SIZE OF OUR HARVESTING CAPABILITY. BUT EVEN HUGE MACHINES DON'T WORK WELL IN THE RAIN OR SNOW, AND OUR ENTIRE GRAIN SYSTEM ISN'T DESIGNED FOR GRAIN FLOW IN MASSIVE SPURTS INSTEAD OF A STEADY STREAM. CONSEQUENTLY, GRAIN BUYERS ARE DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS OF BARELY CONTROLLED PANIC. MAYBE FARMERS AREN'T JUST WHINING THIS TIME.
Harvest Update: MORE RAIN LATE THIS WEEK IN THE HEART OF THE CORN BELT WILL FURTHER DELAY A HARVEST ALREADY WELL BEHIND SCHEDULE ON MANY FARMS. AS OF LAST WEEKEND THE AG DEPARTMENT REPORTED ONLY 17-PERCENT OF THE NATION'S CORN CROP HAD BEEN HARVESTED...CLOSE TO 30-POINTS BEHIND THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE. FOR SOYBEANS, HARVEST HAD REACHED 30-PERCENT COMPLETE... DOWN MORE THAN 40-POINTS FROM NORMAL. THINGS AREN'T MUCH BETTER IN THE COTTON BELT WITH 15-PERCENT OF THE CROP HARVESTED NATIONALLY. STATES SHOWING THE SLOWEST PROGRESS INCLUDE MISSISSIPPI, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA AND TENNESSEE.
ACRE signup: THE U-S-D-A RELEASED A PRELIMINARY REPORT TUESDAY SHOWING HOW MANY FARMS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED FOR TRADITIONAL FARM PROGRAMS AND THE NEW AVERAGE REVENUE CROP ELECTION PROGRAM -- OR ACRE. IT SHOWS A TOTAL ONE-POINT SEVEN MILLION FARMS ARE SIGNED-UP FOR EITHER DIRECT AND COUNTER-CYCLICAL PROGRAM OR THE OPTIONAL ACRE PROGRAM. BUT WHAT YOU DON'T SEE MAYBE EVEN MORE TELLING. THE DATA REVEALS LESS THAN EIGHT PERCENT TOOK ACRE...THAT'S ABOUT 128-THOUSAND FARMS. FARMERS ARE LOCKED INTO THE ACRE THROUGH 2012, WHICH MAY BE ANOTHER REASON WHY REGISTRATION WAS SO LOW. OF THE 128-THOUSAND FARMS REGISTERED FOR ACRE, ILLINOIS HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER -- JUST UNDER 26-THOUSAND.
Dairy production: DESPITE A DECLINING HERD, MILK PRODUCTION IS HOLDING STRONG. ACCORDING TO OUR REPORTING PARTNERS AT DAIRY TODAY, PRODUCTION FELL LESS THAN ONE-PERCENT LAST MONTH...DESPITE THE FACT THERE WERE NEARLY 200-THOUSAND FEWER COWS COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO. THE REDUCED HERD IS PARTIALLY A RESULT OF TWO ROUNDS OF CULLING THIS YEAR BY "COOPERATIVES WORKING TOGETHER". OVERALL, WESTERN STATES HAVE SEEN THE BIGGEST DROP IN COW NUMBERS. IN CALIFORNIA ALONE, COW NUMBERS DIPPED BY 73-THOUSAND FROM AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER. THE STORY IS MUCH DIFFERENT IN WISCONSIN. THE DAIRY STATE REPORTS A PRODUCTION INCREASE OF MORE THAN FIVE-PERCENT WITH AN INCREASED HERD SIZE OF MORE THAN 5-THOUSAND.
Marketing Roundtable: Mike Hogan from Stewart-Peterson and Mike Florez of Florez Trading
John’s World: ALL OF US PONDER WHAT WE THINK ARE WORSE-CASE SCENARIOS FOR OUR BUSINESSES OR EVEN PERSONAL LIVES. YOU'D THINK THAT WOULD HELP US PREPARE FOR UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, WOULDN'T YOU? WELL, OF COURSE IT HELPS. BUT THE CHALLENGE WITH IMAGINING WHAT COULD GO WRONG IS TWOFOLD. FIRST, MANY CALAMITIES ARE SIMPLY UNIMAGINEABLE OR UNLIKE ANYTHING BEFORE. BUT MILLION TO ONE LONGSHOTS CAN HAPPEN. BUT EVEN WORSE IS THE DOUBLE FAULT - TWO CONNECTED RARE FAILURES. THE ODDS OF THOSE EVENTS MAKE PLANNING FOR THEM TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIT INTO ANY BUDGET. AS FARMERS PONDER OUR UNFOLDING HARVEST DEBACLE, MANY WILL LOOK BACK AND WONDER WHY WE DIDN'T MAKE ALTERNATIVE CHOICES TO LESSEN THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE. ODDLY, I WOULD SUGGEST SUCH NOW-OBVIOUS MEASURES, SUCH AS PLANTING ALL SHORT-SEASON CORN, OR INVESTING IN HUGE CROP DRYERS WERE NOT PRUDENT BUSINESS DECISIONS, AND STILL AREN'T. SOME PROBLEMS YOU SIMPLY OUTLIVE, AND HARVEST 2009 COULD BE ONE OF THEM. AS A GUY NAMED ISAIAH ONCE SAID, "SOMETIMES YOU SOAR OVER YOUR PROBLEMS LIKE AN EAGLE, SOMETIMES YOU RUN THROUGH THEM WITHOUT TIRING, AND SOMETIMES YOU JUST KEEP PUTTING ONE FOOT AHEAD OF THE OTHER. PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGES LIKE HARVEST 2009 WILL TEST MANY OF US TO OUR LIMITS. BUT IF WE KEEP WALKING, WE'LL GET THERE.
USFR-2nd half
John’s hello: I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE MASS MEDIA TO SEE HOW THE ADOPTION OF THE TERM H1N1 VIRUS VERSUS SWINE FLU IS PROCEEDING. THE RESULTS ARE VARIABLE. ODDLY THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL USES THE TERM SWINE FLU OFTEN, ALTHOUGH NOW IT IS USUALLY IN PARENTHESIS AFTER H1N1. THE CAMPAIGN IS HAVING EFFECT AND MORE CITIZENS THAN EVER REALIZE THERE IS NO LINK BETWEEN EATING PORK AND H1N1. HOWEVER,THIS IS PRETTY MUCH WHERE THE GOOD NEWS STOPS. MOST ALARMING, THE PRIMARY DEMOGRAPHIC AT RISK IS YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 25, AND CHILDREN ESPECIALLY. THIS CHALLENGES OUR STANDARD FLU PREVENTION TACTICS. BUT MORE TROUBLING FOR PORK PRODUCERS IS THE RETURN OF HIGHER FEED PRICES, AND NO P-R CAMPAIGN CAN DRY OUT SOGGY FIELDS.
H1N1: THE USDA HAS CONFIRMED H1N1 FLU IN AT LEAST ONE PIG FROM MINNESOTA - THE FIRST SUCH CONFIRMATION IN THE UNITED STATES. THE ORIGINAL TEST SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR BETWEEN AUGUST 26 AND SEPTEMBER FIRST. SO FAR NO EXPORT CUSTOMERS HAVE RE-IMPOSED THEIR EXPORT BANS. HOWEVER, USDA OFFICIALS HAVE REACHED OUT TO TRADE PARTNERS TO EMPHASIZE H1N1 CANNOT BE CONTRACTED BY EATING PORK OR PORK PRODUCTS. THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS POSSIBILITY FOR MONTHS... ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN PORK PRODUCTION ARE BEING ADVISED TO GET VACCINATIONS FOR BOTH THE NORMAL INFLUENZA AND THE H1N1 STRAIN.
Newspapers- flu name: IN A RELATED STORY, THE PORK INDUSTRY IS GETTING HELP IN THEIR EFFORTS TO CONVINCE NON-AG MEDIA TO USE THE PHRASE H-ONE-N-ONE WHEN REPORTING ON THIS FLU PANDEMIC. THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION - WHICH REPRESENTS 24-HUNDRED NEWSPAPERS - SAYS IT'S NOW URGING ITS MEMBERSHIP TO USE "H-ONE-N-ONE" INSTEAD OF SWINE FLU.
Food Labels: IN OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK, GOVERNMENT HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE TAKING A NEW LOOK AT FOOD LABELS. SOMETIME NEXT YEAR THE F-D-A IS EXPECTED TO RELEASE UPDATED RULES... FOCUSING NOT ONLY ON WHAT IS INCLUDED ON THE FRONT OF PACKAGES, BUT WHAT IS NOT. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO ADDRESS A RISE IN NUTRITION CLAIMS BEING MADE ON A GROWING NUMBER OF POPULAR ITEMS.
School Lunches: IN WASHINGTON, THE AG DEPARTMENT TEAMS UP WITH MEDICAL EXPERTS IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE FOOD CHOICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE ISSUED A REPORT THIS WEEK WHICH INCLUDES EIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALIGNING SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS WITH THE LATEST DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR ALL AMERICANS. IN GENERAL, THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES, WHOLE GRAINS AND REDUCED-FAT ITEMS IN BOTH LUNCH AND BREAKFAST MENUS.
Climate Change: THE SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE WILL TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION THIS COMING WEEK. COMMITTEE CHAIR BARBARA BOXER SCHEDULED A THREE DAY HEARING, STARTING TUESDAY. IN PAST REMARKS, BOXER SAID SHE'D LIKE TO HAVE HER COMMITTEE BEGIN MARK-UP OF THE BILL EARLY NEXT MONTH. OTHER SENATE COMMITTEES, INCLUDING FINANCE AND AGRICULTURE, ARE ALSO WORKING ON PARTS OF THE LEGISLATION. NEWLY NAMED SENATE AG COMMITTEE CHAIR, BLANCHE LINCOLN OF ARKANSAS, HAS NOT SET ANY HEARING DATES YET. SHE'S BEEN CRITICAL OF THE HOUSE VERSION THAT LAWMAKERS NARROWLY APPROVED IN JUNE. LINCOLN SAYS THE HOUSE VERSION CHOSE CLEAR WINNERS AND LOSERS...AND SHE SAYS LEGISLATION SHOULD NOT DO THAT. SHE ALSO TOLD ROGER THAT SHE'S NOT SURE THE CAP AND TRADE MECHANISM WILL WORK.
FFA convention: BLUE COATS DOMINATED THE LANDSCAPE THIS WEEK IN DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS. MORE THAN 55-THOUSAND MEMBERS CAME TO TOWN FOR THE 82ND NATIONAL F-F-A CONVENTION. THE FOUR-DAY EVENT WRAPS UP THIS SATURDAY. FOUNDED IN 1928, F-F-A INCLUDES NEARLY 75-HUNDRED CHAPTERS IN ALL FIFTY STATES PLUS PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. IN ALL, MEMBERSHIP TOTALS MORE THAN HALF-A-MILLION YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.
Kentucky Denim: WE HEAD TO KENTUCKY NOW FOR ANOTHER STORY FOCUSING ON KIDS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. ORGANIZED BY COTTON INCORPORATED, A NATIONAL EFFORT IS UNDERWAY TO RECYCLE OLD JEANS AND TURN THEM INTO INSULATION FOR HOMES. IN THIS REPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, JEFF FRANKLIN SHOWS US HOW A HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE IS A BIG PART OF A CROSS-CAMPUS CAMPAIGN. IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS UNIQUE CAMPAIGN, HEAD ONLINE TO "COTTON FROM BLUE TO GREEN-DOT-ORG"...WE'LL POST A LINK ON OUR HOME PAGE FOR EASY ACCESS.
Southeast Farmer of the Year: THE 2009 SUNBELT AG EXPO WAS HELD THIS WEEK IN MOULTRIE, GEORGIA...AN EVENT THAT INCLUDES CROWNING OF THE "SOUTHEASTERN FARMER OF THE YEAR". THIS YEAR'S WINNER IS CARY LIGHTSEY...A SIXTH GENERATION FLORIDA RANCHER WHOSE MASSIVE OPERATION CAN BE FOUND JUST SOUTH OF DISNEY WORLD. ALONG WITH RAISING NEARLY SEVEN-THOUSAND HEAD OF COMMERCIAL CATTLE, LIGHTSEY GROWS A VARIETY OF CROPS - INCLUDING CITRUS, BAHIA-GRASS SOD AND FORAGE. HE IS ALSO HIGHELY REGARDED FOR HIS ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP - BEING THE FIRST FLORIDA RANCHER TO USE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. HIS WIFE MARCIA AND THEIR THREE GROWN CHILDREN ARE ALL ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION. OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE LIGHTSEY FAMILY.
Baxter Black: WE CROSS THE COUNTRY NOW FOR OUR WEEKLY VISIT FROM BAXTER BLACK. AT HOME ON HIS ARIZONA RANCH, BAXTER IS A GREAT STORY-TELLER...AND HERE'S ONE OF HIS FAVORITES.
Tractor Tales: THIS WEEK ON TRACTOR TALES WE SHOWCASE A COLLECTOR FROM INDIANA WHO HAULED HIS INTERNATION 3-30 ACROSS COUNTRY TO CANTON, TEXAS. HE AND HIS BROTHER MEET UP THERE EVERY YEAR TO SHOW OFF THEIR COLLECTION.
Church Salute: WE HONOR THE VICTOTIA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN VICTORIA, ILLIONOIS THIS MORNING ON OUR COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE. THEY CLELBRATED THEIR CENTENNIAL LAS MONTH. THE CHURCH ACTUALLY BEGAN IN 1846 AS THE FIRST SWEDISH METHODIST CHURCH IN THE WORLD, AND STILL FEATURES THE ORIGINAL HAND-CARVED PULPIT AND A BELL BROUGHT FROM SWEDEN. THE GROWING CHURCH IS LED BY PASTOR SARAH WANCK. ROY CARLSON SENT US THE INFORMATION. OUR SECOND CHURCH IS THE CONRAD CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH IN CONRAD, MONTANA. BEGUN THE SAME YEAR AS THE TOWN ITSELF, THEY WILL MARK THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY NEXT WEEKEND. AFTER YEARS OF MINISTRY BY TRAVELING PASTORS WHO ALSO COVERED PARTS OF IDAHO AND ALBERTA, THE CURRENT CHURCH AND PARSONAGE WERE COMPLETED IN THE 1950'S. THEIR DUTCH HERITAGE IS STILL EVIDENT: THEIR PASTOR IS REESE VANDER VEEN AND OUR CORRESPONDENT WAS CATHY VANDENACRE.
USFR MAILBAG: TIME NOW FOR OUR WEEKLY LOOK INSIDE THE FARM REPORT MAIL BAG... I LOVE IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. FIRST A CRITICISM FROM GINNY PASHKE ABOUT WATER IN BEEF. "MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU DO MORE RESEARCH...I HAVE COOKED BEEF PURCHASED FROM GROCERY STORES, AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I HAD MY OWN BEEF PROCESSED THAT I APPRECIATED THE GLORIOUS DIFFERENCE. THEY MUST DO SOMETHING TO THE BEEF YOU BUY, REGARDLESS OF THE BREED, GRADE, OR FAT CONTENT. WHEN I COOK MY OWN...BEEF, (GRANTED, IT IS VERY LEAN - THE WAY I WANT IT) IT SMELLS AND TASTES COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THAT IN THE MARKET." THE SAME DAY WE RECEIVED THIS E-MAIL AS WELL FROM LYNN KNIPE: "I AM THE PROCESSED MEATS EXTENSION SPECIALIST AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AND HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING MISINFORMATION IN THE MEDIA RELATED TO MEAT PRODUCTS AND FOOD SAFETY. HOWEVER, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED THIS MORNING." I REITERATE MY STATEMENT: IT IS ILLEGAL TO ADD ANYTHING BUT SEASONING TO GROUND BEEF OR HAMBURGER. AND THE USDA MONITORS THIS VERY CLOSELY. HOWEVER, GINNY ALSO ILLUSTRATES A VERY GOOD POINT. BEEF - MORE SO THAN PORK OR CHICKEN - HAS AN ENORMOUS RANGE OF FLAVOR, TEXTURE AND COOKING CHARACTERISTICS. IT'S WHY WE ASK "HOW'S YOUR STEAK?" WHEN EATING DINNER. EACH OF US CAN CHOOSE WHAT EXPERIENCE WE WANT BY THE WAY THE BEEF WAS PRODUCED, BUT EVEN LARGE DIFFERENCES IN COOKING AND TASTE OUTCOMES DO NOT INDICATE ALDULTERATION.
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