AgDay Daily Recap - April 6, 2018

TODAY ON AGDAY
APRIL 6, 2018

HEADLINES
IT'S MORE THAN JUST SOYBEANS THAT COULD BE AT STAKE WITH THE LATEST TIT FOR TAT TARIFF DISPUTE  BETWEEN THE U-S AND CHINA.  <"SORGHUM IS THE BIG ISSUE> AND THE ARGUMENT ALSO HAS U-S CHERRY GROWERS ONE EDGE.  IT'S A DILEMMA IN THE DIATRY INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW... < "I'M MICHELLE ROOK. WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT'S DRIVING THE  DISCUSSIONS AMONG DAIRY PRODUCERS HERE AT THE CENTRAL PLAINS DAIRY EXPO."> WE'LL GET YOU IN THE ZONE AS YOU PREPARE TO HEAD  TO THE FIELD TO PLANT.  PLUS, SOMEONE HASN'T GOTTEN THE MESSAGE THAT  IT'S SPRINGTIME! AGDAY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CHEVY SILVERADO, THE MOST DEPENDABLE, LONGEST-LASTING FULL SIZE PICKUPS ON THE ROAD. 

MORE THAN JUST SOYBEANS TARGETED
GOOD MORNING I'M TYNE MORGAN. CLINTON WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK. . IN THE TRADE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE U-S AND CHINA,  THE ASIAN NATION HAS TAKEN AN INITIAL STEP TO PUSH  BACK AGAINST ALLEGATIONS THAT IT'S STEALING  PROPERTY FROM THE U-S. . THOSE ACCUSATIONS LED TO THE U-S IMPOSING 50- BILLION DOLLARS IN TARIFFS AGAINST CHINESE  IMPORTS. AND CHINA RETALIATED WITH ITS OWN  PROPOSED LIST OF TARGETED ITEMS.  CHINA FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT THURSDAY WITH  THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. CHINA MADE A "REQUEST FOR CONSULTATIONS" AT THE  W-T-O. . CONSULTATIONS GIVE THE PARTIES AN OPPORTUNITY  TO DISCUSS THE MATTER AND TO FIND A  SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION WITHOUT PROCEEDING  FURTHER WITH LITIGATION.  . AFTER 60 DAYS, IF CONSULTATIONS HAVE FAILED TO  RESOLVE THE DISPUTE, THE COMPLAINANT - IN THIS  CASE CHINA - MAY REQUEST ADJUDICATION BY A PANEL. . O MUCH OF THE RETALIATORY TARIFF CONCERN IS  WITH U.S. SOYBEANS SINCE CHINA IS ITS TOP BUYER.  HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY OTHER CROPS ON THE  LIST OF 106 ITEMS WHICH COULD SEE A 25 PERCENT  TARIFF LIKE CORN, SORGHUM, COTTON AND SOME BEEF PRODUCTS.  BETSY JIBBEN HAS THE STORY.         CORN, SORGHUM AND COTTON COULD ALSO FACE A  POTENTIAL 25 PERCENT TARIFF FROM CHINA.  SORGHUM MAY HAVE MORE TO LOSE THAN OTHER  CROPS- THE U.S. IS THE LEADING PRODUCER OF  SORGHUM GLOBALLY AND IS THE LARGST SUPPLIER OF  SORGHUM TO CHINA.  <"SORGHUM IS THE BIG ISSUE. IF WE LOSE THAT MARKET FOR SORGHUM. THERE ISN'T AN IMMEDIATE, READILY AVAILABLE MARKET WE KNOW WE  CAN SELL TO WHEN IT COMES TO PICK UP THE SLACK,">      THE NATIONAL SORGHUM PRODUCRES RESPONDING TO  THE TARIFF THREAT  - SAYING "THIS IS NOT THE FIRST  TIME SORGHUM FARMERS HAVE FACED DEPRESSED  PRICES AND MARKET UNCERTANITY." THAT'S BECAUSE CHINA ANNOUNCED IT WAS  LAUNCHING AN ANTI-DUMPING INVESTIGATION INTO THE  U.S. SORGHUM INDUSTRY EARLIER IN THE YEAR. THE  COUNTRY CLAIMING THE U..S IS UNLOADING SORGHUM  AT UNFAIRLY LOW PRICES, SOMETHING NSP HAS  DENIED. TYNE AT COMMODITY ASKING TIM: "BUT I HAVE TO ASK  YOU. FIRST OFF, IS THE U.S. ILLEGALLY DUMPING SORGHUM INTO CHINA?  TIM: NO WE ARE NOT,"> SLEIGHT SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE STAGES IN  THE INVESTIGATION. NOW, IT'S AT A POINT WHERE THE  CHINA COULD SCHEDULE A HEARING. WITH A TRADE ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW, WHO KNOWS IF THAT  WILL HAPPEN OR NOT. 28 THE MINESTRY OF COMMERCE COULD  ANNOUNCE A PRELIMIARY DUTY TOMORROW AND I WOULDN'T BE TERRIBLY SURPRISED.">  CHINA IS ALSO A BIG BUYER OF U.S. COTTON - THE NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL SAYING -  FOR THE CURRENT 2017 CROP YEAR, CHINA STANDS AS  THE SECOND LARGEST EXPORT MARKET.  COTTON IS THE ONE YOU WANT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. THEY  ARE 25 PERCENT OF OUR EXPORT MARKET FOR THIS MARKETING YEAR. THEY WERE ABOUT 17 PERCENT A YEAR AGO."> CORN IS ALSO FACING A POSSIBLE TARIFF - THE  NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION SAYING  "THERE ARE NO WINNERS IN A TRADE WAR, ONLY CASUALTIES."  SLEIGHT SAYS NOT A LOT OF PRODUCT IS SHIPPED TO  CHINA FROM THE U.S. AND IT DOESN'T LOOK AS IF THAT WILL CHANGE SOON.  THE LAST CORN SHIPMENT WAS PROBABLY A FEW WEEKS AGO {TO CHINA} UNLESS SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS, I'M NOT TOO OPTIMISTIC  RIGHT NOW. <"OUR MARKETS FOR DDGS AND CORN ARE SO MUCH MORE DIVERSIFIED  THAN CHINA THAT I DON'T THINK IT REALLY MAKES A DENT IN THE SHORTER   TERM."> A GAME OF WAIT AND SEE BETWEEN U.S. OFFICIALS AND  THEIR CHINESE COUNTERPARTS. REPORTING FOR AGDAY, I'M BETSY JIBBEN.  THANKS, BETSY.  

CHERRY INDUSTRY WORRIES
THE CHERRY INDUSTRY IN WASHINGTON STATE IS ALSO WORRIED ITS EXPORTS TO CHINA WILL BE HURT BY THE  GROWING TRADE DISPUTE. . CHINA IS IMPOSING A 15-PERCENT TARIFF ON AN ARRAY  OF FRUIT, NUTS, AND SPARKLING WINES IN RETALIATION TO THE STEEL AND ALUMINUM TARIFFS. . THIS IS THE SAME COUNTER MEASURE THAT BOOSTED  U-S PORK DUTIES BY 25-PERCENT. CHINA IS THE TOP EXPORT MARKET FOR WASHINGTON  CHERRIES, BUYING NEARLY THREE MILLION CASES  EACH YEAR. THAT'S A 127 MILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG. CHINA ALSO BUYS 50-MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF  WASHINGTON-GROWN APPLES, WHICH ARE ALL  INCLUDED IN THE TRADE DISPUTE KEITH HU IS THE DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS FOR NORTHWEST CHERRY GROWERS. THE COUNCIL HANDLES INTERNATIONAL TRADE ISSUES  FOR THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIES IN WASHINGTON, OREGON AND IDAHO. "BEFORE THE TARIFF WE'RE ALREADY FACING A 10 PERCENT IMPORT DUTY,  13 PERCENT VALUE ADDED TAX AND NOW WITH ADDITIONAL 15 PERCENT SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A MINIMUM 35 PERCENT TAX ON U.S. CHERRIES.  THAT IS DEFINITELY A CONCERN."> HU SAYS NORTHWEST CHERRY GROWERS PRODUCED 260-THOUSAND TONS OF CHERRIES LAST YEAR AND 33- THOUSAND TONS WENT TO CHINA. . DEPENDING ON THE SEASON, CHINESE CONSUMERS  PAY BETWEEN SEVEN-TO-TEN DOLLARS A POUND, BUT  THE TARIFFS COULD HIKE THOSE PRICES TO TWELVE  DOLLARS A POUND. HU SAYS WHEN PAYING THAT MUCH,  CHINESE CUSTOMERS MAY LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS.

CENTRAL PLAINS DAIRY EXPO
DAIRY PRODUCERS ARE FACING ANOTHER LOW-PRICE CYCLE IN THE MILK MARKET, BUT THAT'S ONLY PART OF  THE BATTLE THEY'RE FACING TO STAY IN BUSINESS.  MICHELLE ROOK TALKED TO DAIRY PRODUCERS AND  INDUSTRY OFFICIALSAT THE CENTRAL PLAINS DAIRY  EXPO IN SIOUX FALLS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY'RE  MANAGING IN 2018, IN THE MIDST OF A DAIRY DILEMMA. YOU WOULD EXPECT DAIRY PRODUCERS TO BE TALKING ABOUT LOW MILK PRICES HERE AT THE CENTRAL PLAINS DAIRY  EXPO, BUT INSTEAD THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON LABOR, DAIRY POLICY AS  WELL AS TRADE. THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA DAIRY PRODUCERS SAYS  WORKABLE IMMIGRATION POLICY IS CRITICAL AND THE INDUSTRY IS BACKING  THE AG ACT OR H-2C PROGRAM.  MARV POST, SOUTH DAKOTA DAIRY PRODUCERS PRESIDENT, "THE GOODLATTE BILL IS GOING TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT, ITS SOMETHING  WE'VE HADN'T HAD FOR MANY YEARS."  PASSAGE WILL BE TOUGH IN AN ELECTION YEAR AND IT DOESN'T HAVE A  SENATE COMPANION BILL, BUT IT MAY BE THE ONLY LEGISLATIVE OPTION. 4 SEC POST, "IT SEEMS TO BE GAINING SOME STRENGTH. I'M NOT GOING TO TELL  YOU THAT ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE TO GET THROUGH THIS CONGRESS, BUT I  THINK IT HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF ANYTHING." TO HELP WITH LOW PRICES, ECONOMIST MARIN BOVIC BELIEVES  IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MARGIN PROTECTION PROGRAM IN THE OMNIBUS  WILL MAKE IT EFFECTIVE.  MARIN BOVIC, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ECONOMIST, "WE REDUCED  THE PREMIUM SUBSTANTIALLY FOR THE FIRST FIVE MILLION POUNDS, WHICH  WILL HELP PRODUCERS TO ABOUT 24 MILLION POUNDS BECAUSE THEY  DON'T HAVE TO PROTECT EVERYTHING. THEY CAN PROTECT JUST A QUARTER  OF THEIR PRODUCTION."  PLUS, HE SAYS THE PAYMENTS WERE ALSO ACCELERATED.  BOVIC, "NOW EVERY MONTH THERE CAN BE A NEW CHECK COMING OUT  IF THE PRICES ARE LOW ENOUGH."  AND THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN MPP IN THE NEW FARM  BILL. DAIRY PRODUCERS AT THE SHOW WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT TRADE CONCERNS WITH CHINA AND QUESTIONS ABOUT PROGRESS WITH NAFTA  RE-NEGOTIATION.  ALLEN MERRILL, PARKER, SD DAIRY PRODUCER, "CHINA'S ALWAYS A  MOVING TARGET. THEY BUY IN SUCH LARGE VOLUMES AND WHEN THEY QUIT BUYING IT DRAMATICALLY EFFECTS OUR PRICE."  ROD JOHNSON, NEBRASKA DAIRY PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR, "WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES OVER THE YEARS WITH CANADA  AND THEIR CLASS 7 MILK PROGRAM UP THERE IS REALLY MAKING AN  IMPACT SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE PRESERVE WHAT WE HAVE AND MAKE SURE WE FIX SOME OF THE PROBLEMS."  FARMERS SAYS THE KEY IS TO AVERT A TRADE WAR OR DISRUPTIONS IN AN  ALREADY DEPRESSED DAIRY MARKET.  IN SIOUX FALLS I'M MICHELLE ROOK REPORTING FOR AGDAY. ) THANKS, MICHELLE.  SHE SAYS THE DAIRY INDUSTRY WAS ENCOURAGED BY  LANGUAGE IN THE RECENT OMNIBUS THAT WILL FORCE  FDA TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS SO IMITATION AND  PLANT-BASED BEVERAGES, LIKE ALMONDS AND  COCONUT, CANNOT USE MILK ON THEIR LABEL. 

CROP COMMENTS
A PARCHED WEST IS CREATING SOME UNWANTED CHAOS. MIKE HOFFMAN HAS DETAILS IN THIS MORNING'S CROP WATCH. MIKE. GOOD MORNING, TYNE. WELL, MORE BAD NEWS FOR  COTTON FARMERS IN OKLAHOMA WHO WERE ALREADY  STRUGGLING WITH HAVING ENOUGH  INFRASTRUCUTURE TO HANDLE THEIR GROWING CROP. THE COTTON GIN IN KIOWA COUNTY CAUGHT FIRE THIS  WEEK. THE GIN WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND EARLY  REPORTS SAY IT'S A COMPLETE LOSS, NOT ABLE TO  FINISH GINNING LAST YEAR'S HARVEST. IN FACT, AREA FARMERS SAY  THEY PLANNED TO RUN  AT LEAST THROUGH JUNE. THE LATEST USDA PLANTING INTENTIONS REPORT SHOWS A 16 PERCENT INCRASE IN COTTON ACRES THIS  YEAR.  AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE WIND SPEED FORECAST STARTED OFF  PRETTY WINDY IN THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS INTO THE GREAT  LAKES. YOU CAN SEE AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY THAT KIND OF SHIFTS TOWARD THE SOUTH A LITTLE BIT INTO THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLAINS  AND THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES AND THEN AS WE HEAD INTO THE DAY  TOMORROW THINGS GET A LITTLE CALMER AND MOST OF THE EAST ESPECIALLY LATER IN THE DAY BUT BOY IS IT TURNED WINDY IN MOST OF  THE MOUNTAIN STATES OUT WEST. WE'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST COMING  UP. BUT FIRST HERE ARE SOME HOMETOWN. TEMPS0 (   YOUR NEXT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS ON MACHINERY PETE DOT COM. SEARCH EQUIPMENT FROM DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO FIND  WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. ONLY ON MACHINERY PETE DOT COM.  ) WHEN AGDAY CONTINUES - COULD THERE BE A PROTEIN "OVERLOAD"?  AND WHAT'S IT DOING TO PRICES. PLUS WE GET INTO THE ZONE BEFORE PLANTING.AND ONE BEAR JUST DOESN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT'S ACTUALLY SSPRING. 

FLOOR OF THE CME
IN AGRIBUSINESS, GRAINS RECOVERING A LITTLE AFTER  WEDNESDAY'S SHARP LOSSES. LIVESTOCK ALSO  POSTING IN TEH GREEN.  LET'S HEAD NOW TO THE  FLOOR OF HTE CMEO.  WE HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN THE MUCH NEEDED RELIEF RALLY OVER THE PAST  TWO SESSIONS AND THIS IS VERY ENCOURAGING TO SEE WE SAW THE HEADLINES REALLY BREAK THE MARKET AND CAUSED THAT BIG PANIC ON  YESTERDAY'S OPEN AND THAT PANIC WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BUY  BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT CHINA IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT PLAYER IN U.S. BEEF. WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT PANIC AND CAPITULATION AND THE  MARKET FINALLY GOT THAT. NOW STARTING TO SEE SHORT COVERING  ENCOURAGE HIGHER PRICES. NOW AS FAR AS THE SOYBEANS ARE  CONCERNED WE'VE BEEN BEARISH SOYBEANS FOR A WHILE FOR OTHER  REASONS OUTSIDE OF CHINA BUT CHINA HAS A GIFT FOR US WE TOOK  ADVANTAGE OF THAT DIP LOWER AND REDUCED AND KIND OF SITTING ON OUR HANDS RIGHT NOW THE MARKET'S CREEPING HIGHER.  IT'S BEEN ALL OVLIVER SLOUPE WITH BLUE LINE FUTURES FROM THE FLOOR OF THE CME IT'S PROTEIN OVERLOAD THAT'S BEEN WEIGHING LIVESTOCK PRICES DOWN THIS YEAR. CLINTON JOINS  US WITH MORE FROM THE AGRIBUSINESS  DESK.CLINTON. 

AGRIBUSINESS
<HERE AT THE AGRIBUSINESS DESK TODAY WE HAVE JIM MCCORMICK  ALLENDALE INC. JIM AS WE LOOK AT THE PROTEINS SECTOR WE KNOW  WE'VE GOT MORE HOGS AND WE'VE GOT MORE CATTLE OUT ON FEED AND BACK THE CATTLE NUMBERS JUST BEEN PRETTY STAGGERING. YEAH I  MEAN WE GOT A MILLION MORE AHEAD ON FEED THAN WE HAD A YEAR  AGO THAT WAS DUE TO THE DROUGHT. AND I PUT THEM IN THERE BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE'VE GOT A RECORD SUPPLY OF PROTEIN COMING  AT US SO THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING THE PRICES DOWN. IF YOU'RE A  PRODUCER OF LIVESTOCK YOU KNOW IT'S A STORY YOU ALREADY KNOW PRICES ARE REALLY CHEAP RIGHT NOW. WHAT WE NEED TO SEE RIGHT  NOW IS AND DEMAND KICK IN. I THINK PART OF THE WEAKNESS HAS  BEEN THE FEAR OF THE TRADE WARS. YOU KNOW ARE SOME OF OUR BEST BUYERS ARE CANADA AND MEXICO ON THE MAP DECIDE CHINA. YOU  KNOW THEY SLEPT A TARIFF OR THREATEN TO SLAP A TARIFF ON THE PORK  AND THAT'S KIND OF SPOKE THE MARKET A LITTLE BIT BUT IF WE CAN GET SOME DEMAND OPTIMISM COMING IN THERE. THE ONE THING THE  MARKET HAS ALWAYS HAD A HARD TIME GUESSING IS CONSUMER  DEMAND. AND ONE THING WE ARE SEEING IS THAT CONSUMERS ARE  VERY OPTIMISTIC RIGHT NOW SO HOPEFULLY THE MARKET IS DIGESTED.  REMEMBER THE MARKETS JAW JOB IS TO TRY TO PROJECT WHAT'S GOING  ON NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY THE PRICES ARE CHEAP RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE PRICING IN THIS RECORD SUPPLY OF CATTLE COMING AT  US RIGHT NOW. SO HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW AS THE PLACEMENTS START TO  DROP WHICH WE ANTICIPATE EVEN THOUGH THE SUPPLY MAY BE BUILDING ON THE ACTUAL SUPPLY THE MARKET MIGHT SAY WE'VE  ALREADY PRICED IT IN. AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT STORY WHICH  HOPEFULLY WILL BE STRONG DEMAND. YEAH. AS WE LOOK AT THE START OF GRILLING SEASON WE'RE HOPING THAT ESCOFFIER SOME TIME SOON  SOMETIMES IF THE WEATHER WARMS UP HERE IN CHICAGO WE'RE NOT  OFF TO THE BEST START. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU KNOW EASTER WEEKEND IS GOING TO BE ONE NO GRILLING OUTSIDE CLEARLY. BUT AS WE WATCH THAT  AND EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN. DO WE KNOW WHAT U.S. DEMAND  LOOKS LIKE. WE EXPECT IT TO CONTINUE TO REMAIN PRETTY GOOD ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE JOB MARKET RIGHT NOW. I WOULD ASSUME IT IS  GOING TO BE PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW I THINK THE U.S. CONSUMERS  VERY CONFIDENT RIGHT NOW THE HIGHEST CONSUMER CAFA RATINGS WE HAVE. STOCK MARKETS CORRECT. BUT OVERALL PEOPLE FEEL VERY GOOD  ABOUT IT. THE WILDCARD IS GOING TO BE THE EXPORT DEMAND THAT WE  NEED TO KEEP SHIPPING GRAIN OUTSIDE WE NEED TO KEEP SHIP IN HOG HOGS AND BEEF OUTSIDE. IF WE WERE GETTING A TRADE WAR THAT'S  PROBABLY THE BIGGEST FEAR FACTOR I HAVE FOR OUR PRODUCERS RIGHT  NOW IS IF WE WOULD GET INTO A TRADE WAR BECAUSE THAT'S IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED THE LAST 30 YEARS THE TRADE DEALS WE'VE DONE  HAVE DEFINITELY HURT SOME SECTORS. BUT THE ONE SECTOR YOU CANNOT  DENY THAT HELPED IOWA'S AGRICULTURE WE SHIP A LOT OF OUR EXCESS SUPPLY OVER THE WAR AROUND THE WORLD. WE FEED THE NATIONS OF  THE WORLD. THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS HAVE THEM USE THAT AS  A RETALIATORY TOUR AGAINST OUR TARIFFS SO THAT'S SOMETHING I NEED BE CAREFUL. ALL RIGHT WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT AND APPRECIATE IT  THANK YOU JIM WE'LL BE BACK MORE AGDAY HERE IN JUST A MINUTE0> 

WEATHER
<WELCOME BACK TO AGDAY. TIME NOW TO CHECK WEATHER MIKE I  KNOW YOU HAVE THAT DROUGHT MONITOR. I KNOW THE RED IS  SCREAMING AT US. BUT WHAT I'M AMAZED ABOUT IS HOW MOTHER  NATURE TURNED ON THE MOISTURE IN MARCH 4TH THE WAY FOR THE WEST  BECAUSE WHEN THE LA NIÑA BEGAN TO WEAKEN AND I THINK THAT  WAS ENOUGH TO BRING IN SOME STORMS UNFORTUNATELY THAT DIDN'T TRANSLATE FARTHER EAST INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION OR THE FAR SOUTH  WESTERN PLAINS. AND THE WORST AREAS AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THAT EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT THE TOP LEVEL EXTREME SOUTHWEST KANSAS  WESTERN OKLAHOMA MOST OF THE PANHANDLE AND THE NORTHERN  PANHANDLE OF TEXAS SO THOSE ARE AS DESPERATELY NEED SOME  MOISTURE. WE'RE ALSO STARTING TO SEE DRIER AND DRIER CONDITIONS  SOUTHEASTERN GEORGIA SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND  I'M GOING BACK FOR A WEEK YOU CAN SEE HOW WE WERE ALREADY VERY DRY IN THOSE AREAS. IT WAS DRIER OUT WEST BUT IT WAS ALREADY  IMPROVING AND OVER THE PAST FOUR WEEKS WE'VE SEEN THAT IMPROVE  IN THE FAR WEST. IT'S GOTTEN WORSE IN THE FAR SOUTHEAST AND WORSE THERE IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PLAINS STATES NOW TAKING A LOOK AT  THINGS AS WE'VE SEEN. TODAY WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SYSTEMS ONE  MOVING THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES ONE DIVING ACROSS THE WESTERN PLAINS THIS IS GOING FARTHER SOUTH THAN ORIGINALLY PROJECTED. SO A  LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE RAIN IN THE TENNESSEE VALLEY NOT AS  MUCH SNOW IN THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY AS THOUGHT EARLIER. SOME SNOW LATER IN THE DAY IN THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES. STATIONARY  FRONT CAUSING A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW THERE IN THE  EASTERN ROCKIES. BUT BOY YOU CAN SEE THIS NEXT SYSTEM COMING  IN. THIS GOING TO BE A HUGE STORM SYSTEM LOTS OF MOISTURE WITH IT  RAIN AND SNOW. YOU CAN SEE TOMORROW THEN ALSO IN THE MORNING FROM THE GULF COAST ALL THE WAY TO THE MID-ATLANTIC SOME RAIN  WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW ON THE NORTHERN FRINGES OF THAT AND HIGH  PRESSURE THAT BUILDS IN KEEPING IT COLDER THAN NORMAL FOR MOST OF  THE EASTERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND  PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES PAST 24 HOUR SOME LIGHT AMOUNTS HERE  AND THERE BUT ADDING IN THE NEXT 36 ARE MODELS SHOWING SOME  HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS. PARTS OF ARKANSAS SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI  VALLEY ALSO MANNIS CENTRAL NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ESPECIALLY THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS JUST GETTING A WHOLE BUNCH OF MOISTURE NOW.  OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE FORM OF SNOW. WE'VE  ALREADY SEEN SOME IN THE PLAINS AND THE GREAT LAKES BUT THE NEXT 36 HOURS SHOWS A WHOLE BUNCH. I THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE IN  THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS OUT WEST BUT BOY THAT MIGHT BE RAIN PRETTY  HIGH UP IN THE ELEVATIONS THERE. HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY ONLY TEENS ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER. 80S IN TEXAS. AND AS YOU CAN  SEE THAT COLD AIR STARTS TO COME SOUTH SINGLE DIGIT LOWS TOMORROW  MORNING IN THE FAR NORTHERN PLAINS STILL CHILLY ACROSS THE ENTIRE CORN BELT THROUGH THE DAY TOMORROW AND INTO THE WEEKEND ALL  BECAUSE OF THIS BIG ROTATING AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE JET  STREAM IN EASTERN CANADA BRINGING THESE SHOTS OF COLD AIR NORTHERN PLAINS GREAT LAKES AND THE NORTHEAST AND THAT'S GOING  TO CONTINUE. BUT THERE ARE SIGNS THAT WE TRY TO WARM THINGS UP AT  LEAST TEMPORARILY HERE AND THERE. THAT'S A LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME LOCAL FORECASTS HEADING TO  IDAHO FALLS IDAHO FIRST OF ALL CLOUDY JUST A BIT OF RAIN AROUND. HIGH  TEMPERATURE OF 56. AUSTIN TEXAS MOSTLY CLOUDY WARM AND HUMID HIGH OF 87 IN LANSING MICHIGAN WINDY AND CHILLY. COULD BE  A SNOW SHOWER TO HIDE AROUND 370> 

TEASE
WE GET INTO THE ZONE FOR PLATNING IN FARM JOURNAL COLLEGE. AND WHILE OLD MAN WINTER IS GIVING MIXED SIGNS THAT WINTER IS ACTUALLY OVER, ONE BEAR MAY BE  USING IT AS AN EXCUSE TO PROLONG HIS HIBERNATION.  

FARM JOURNAL COLLEGE TV
IN THIS WEEKS EDITION OF FARM JOURNAL COLLEGE. GETTING INTO THE ZONE. ZONE MANAGEMENT IS  SOMETHING THAT'S GROWING IN IMPORTANCE  ACCORDING TO FARM JOURNAL AGRONOMIST MISSY  BAUER. HERE'S CLINTON GRIFFITHS. <. AND WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE THESE ZONES ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE  LOOKING AT IS MANAGING OBVIOUSLY SOIL FERTILITY. OK. SO ARE THERE ISSUES IN THE FIELD IN DIFFERENT SPOTS THAT MAYBE HAVE A POTENTIAL  FERTILITY PROBLEM THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO ZONE OUT SEPARATELY SO WE  CAN PULL SOIL TESTS HERE TO SEE ACTUALLY WHAT IT NEEDS. YOU CAN  SEE THIS AREA WE'RE IN RIGHT HERE THE CORN IS PRETTY STUNTED. THE SOIL HERE IS ACTUALLY A VERY VERY SANDY ALMOST SUGARY SANDY SOIL.  MY GUEST SAYS MAYBE THERE'S A FERTILITY PROBLEM HERE MAYBE IT'S  PH RELATED. WE'VE PROBABLY GOT SOME MICRONUTRIENT UPTAKE ISSUES HERE AS WELL MAYBE ROSOL FOR ZINC BUT WE WANT TO  BASICALLY CAPTURE THIS AREA POOL SOIL TEST SEE WHAT THEY COME  BACK FROM THE LAB AND SEE IF THIS AREA'S DIFFERENT SAY THAN IT IS MAYBE UP ON THE HILL WHERE THE CORN ACTUALLY LOOKS A LOT BETTER.  BUT COMING OUT TO THE FIELD SPENDING SOME TIME TO TRY TO CAPTURE  WHERE THESE AREAS WHERE DO WE DRAW BASICALLY OUR LINES AROUND THIS MANAGEMENT ZONE AND NOT JUST RELYING ON THAT DATA THAT'S  BEEN COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS BUT USING THIS ON TOP OF SOME OF  THOSE OTHER THINGS TO SAY OKAY WE START LAYERING ALL THIS TOGETHER THEN WE CAN REALLY TIE THIS IN. YEAH BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE MAYBE  A YIELD MAP FROM LAST YEAR THE PREVIOUS YEAR WAS SHOWED THIS  AREA BEING WHERE THE CORN DIDN'T YIELD AS WELL OR THE BEANS OR WHATEVER CROP WAS HERE BEFORE IT YIELD AS WELL EITHER. SO WE CAN  START TO USE THAT AS THIS ISN'T JUST A ONE YEAR ISSUE.> THANKS, CLINTON AND MISSY. 

TEASE
STILL TO COME, IF YOU'RE USING THIS WINTER-LIKE WEATHER AS AN EXCUSE TO STAY IN BED A LITTLE  LONGER, YOU'RE NOT ALONE.  

IN THE COUNTRY
IN THE COUNTRY - SPONSORED BY KUBOTA. TRACTORS, HAY TOOLS,  UTILILTY VEHICLES, MOWERS AND MORE.  VISIT KUBOTA.COM TODAY. ) WHILE SOME OF US ARE STILL GETTING SNOW, SPRING  HAS ACTUALLY SPRUNG.  GRASS AND ANNUAL FLOWERS  ARE STARTING TO EMERGE FROM THEIR LONG WINTER  SLMBER. . THAT'S THE CASE FOR WILDLIFE TOO. BUT THERE'S A  BEAR IN MONTANA WHO WOULD RATHER JUST ROLL- OVER AND GET A LITTLE MORE SHUT-EYE. THE BEAR IS HIBERNATING IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK.  THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE TRACKING THE  MOVEMENTS OF THE SLEEPY BLACK BEAR WHO SEEMS  RELUCTANT TO LEAVE THE TREE HOLLOW IT USED AS A  DEN THIS WINTER. .NATIONAL PARK OFFICIALS HAVE TRAINED A WEBCAM  ON THE COTTONWOOD TREE THE BEAR WAS FIRST  SPOTTED POKING ITS HEAD OUT OF ON MARCH 23. . SINCE THEN, THE CAMERA HAS CAPTURED THE BEAR  YAWNING, LOLLING ABOUT AND TAKING BRIEF FORAYS  ONTO THE BRANCHES BEFORE RETURNING TO THE  COMFORT OF ITS DEN. YOU CAN FIND THE WEBCAM BY GOING TO N-P-S-DOT- GOV AND SEARCH FOR GLACIER NATIONAL PARK. 

CLOSE
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS MORNING. WE'RE GLAD YOU TUNED IN.  FOR ALL OF US AT AGDAY I'M TYNE MORGAN, HAVE A  GREAT DAY.