WINTER STORM:

GOOD MORNING I'M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. A REGION DESPERATE FOR MOISTURE IS GETTING IT IN THE FORM OF SNOW AND RAIN THIS WEEK.

CROP WATCH:

THE TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SAYS ITS STILL EXPECTING A BELOW NORMAL WHEAT CROP DESPITE RECENT RAINS. AGRONISTS THERE SAY FARMERS HAD TROUBLE WITH STAND ESTABLISHMENT IN THE FALL. THEY CALL STANDS SKIMPY AND WEAK. WHILE SOME AREAS LOOK PRETTY GOOD, THE EXTENSION AGRONOMIST IS WORRIED PARTS OF THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN PLAINS MIGHT NOT MAKE A CROP. AND FROM JOHN MORGAN IN MISSOURI--THAT'S TYNE MORGAN--OUR NATIONAL REPORTER'S FATHER,  HE SAYS HIS PART OF WESTERN MISSOURI GOT SIX INCHES OF SNOW FROM THIS STORM IN JUST A FEW HOURS. THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY BECAUSE FLAKES WERE COMING DOWN AT A RATE OF TWO INCHES AN HOUR.

NORTH DAKOTA HAY:

AS SNOW COVERS PASTURES, U.S. CATTLMEN WILL BE DIGGING INTO HAY SUPPLIES. NORTH DAKOTA, MOST RECENTLY KNOWN OIL, COAL AND WHEAT, IS NOW SHIPPING LITTERALLY TONS OF HAY OUT OF STATE. ALFALFA IS BEING TRUCKED SOUTH TO WYOMING, COLORADO, KANSAS, NEBRASKA AND EVEN TEXAS...HELPING HUNDREDS OF HERDS GET THROUGH THE WINTER. CLIFF NAYLOR FROM AGDAY AFFILIATE KFYR REPORTS.

BSE UPGRADE:

IT'S GOOD NEWS FOR NOT ONLY CATTLE FEED, BUT THE LEVEL OF RISK FOR BSE. THE WORLD ORINIZATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH IS RECOMMENDING THE U-S B-S-E- RISK STATUS BE UPGRADED. O-I-E SUGGESTS THE STATUS BE UPGRADED FROM CONTROLLED TO NEGLIGIBLE RISK.  AG SECRETARY TOM VILSACK SAYS THIS IMPROVEMENT SUPPORTS THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO INCREASE EXPORTS OF U-S BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS.

USDA OUTLOOK:

THE USDA HOSTED IT'S ANNAUL AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK FORUM THURSDAY. THE AGENCY'S LEAD ECONOMISTS SAYS HE EXPECTS PLANTED ACRES OF BOTH CORN AND SOYBEANS TO LOWER.

MILK PRODUCTION:

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