TODAY ON AGDAY
APRIL 20, 2017
HEADLINES
THE WHITE HOUSE TAKES NOTE OF DAIRY PROBLEMS WITH CANADA. “I’M TYNE MORGAN....COULD REWORKING NAFTA HELP THE GRASSLAND DAIRY FARMERS FIND A HOME FOR THEIR MILK? I’LL HAVE THE STORY COMING UP ON AGDAY.” IN THE PROFARMER PROFIT BRIEFING...."TOO MANY HOGS COMING TO THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.” “I’M BETSY JIBBEN . IT’S HARVEST TIME FOR MAPLE GROWERS IN NEW YORK STATE. SEE HOW THEY TURN SAP INTO SYRUP AHEAD ON AGDAY.” AGDAY-BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEPENDABLE, LONG LASTING CHEVY SILVERADO.
CANADA-U.S. DAIRY RELATIONS
GOOD MORNING I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. CANADA’S AMBASSADOR TO THE U-S STRIKES BACK AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO CALLS CANADA’S TRADE PRACTICES “VERY UNFAIR” TO U-S DAIRY. “WE’RE ALSO GOING TO STAND UP FOR OUR DAIRY FARMERS IN WISCONSIN... (APPLAUSE)."AS AGDAY HAS BEEN REPORTING, CANADA’S NATIONAL INGREDIENTS STRATEGY HAS - IN EFFECT - BLOCKED U-S EXPORTS OF ULTRA-FILTERED MILK. THAT CLASS OF MILK IS USED FOR CHEESE PRODUCTION IN CANADA. NUMEROUS DAIRY FARMERS IN WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA AND NEW YORK LOST THEIR CONTRACTS WITH DAIRY PROCESSORS WHICH SHIP MILK TO CANADA. INDUSTRY GROUPS ARE URGING THE WHITE HOUSE TO TAKE ACTION. WHILE TOURING A TOOL MANUFACTURER IN WISCONSIN, THE PRESIDENT TOOK- UP THE DAIRY CONCERNS. “WE’RE GOING TO GET TOGETHER AND WE’RE GOING TO CALL CANADA AND WE’RE GOING TO SAY WHAT HAPPENED. AND THEY MIGHT GIVE US AN ANSWER BUT WE’RE GOING TO GET A SOLUTION AND NOT JUST THE ANSWER OK, CUZ WE KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS, ALRIGHT?"ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, AMBASSADOR DAVID MCNAUGHTON SENT A LETTER TO WISCONSIN’S GOVERNOR SAYING - QUOTE - “CANADA DOES NOT ACCEPT THE CONTENTION THAT CANADA’S DAIRY POLICIES ARE THE CAUSE OF FINANCIAL LOSS FOR DAIRY FARMERS IN THE UNITED STATES.” MCNAUGHTON SAYS U-S DAIRY IS LOOKING FOR A SCAPEGOAT INSTEAD OF BLAMING ITSELF FOR OVER PRODUCTION. ONE PROCESSOR THAT WAS SHIPPING MILK TO CANADA IS GRASSLAND DAIRY OF GREENWOOD WISCONSIN. ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE THE COMPANY HAULED A MILLION POUNDS OF MILK DAILY ACROSS THE BORDER. BUT WITHOUT THAT MARKET FOR ULTRA-FINE MILK, GRASSLAND HAD TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS THAT IMPACTS FARMERS. TYNE MORGAN HAS THAT STORY, TYNE. 75 DAIRY FARMERS IN WISCONIN AND MINNESOTA HAVE BEEN RIDING A ROLLERCOASTER OF EMOTIONS SINCE EARLY APRIL. THAT’S WHEN GRASSLAND DAIRY TOLD THEM THEY HAD 30 DAYS TO FIND A NEW HOME FOR THEIR MILK. I VISITED THE GARTMAN FAMILY DAIRY IN SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN. AND WHILE THEY RECEIVED THE BEST NEWS THIS WEEK... THAT A NEW PROCESSOR IS AGREEING TO TAKE THEM ON AND BUY THEIR MILK, I TALKED TO THE FAMILY BEFORE THEY GOT THAT NEWS AND EMOTIONS WERE STILL RAW... THOSE SAME EMOTIONS ARE PLAYING OUT ON DAIRIES ACROSS THE STATE STILL IN DESPERATE SEARCH FOR A NEW HOME. COME ON GIRLS.FOR THE GARTMANS... MILKING THESE 100 HEAD OF COWS IS THEIR LIVLIHOOD... GOT IT? THERE YOU GO. AND IT’S ALWAYS A FAMILY AFFAIR... ME AND MY BROTHER ARE ACTUALLY 7TH GENERATION HERE, AND OUR KIDS OUR 8TH GENERATION.BUT THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL, THEY FACED ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST FEARS... THIS WAS HTE LETTER WE RECEIVED FROM GRASSLAND NOTIFYING US THAT WE HAD 30 DAYS TO FIND A NEW PROCESSOR FOR OUR MILK.THEIR FATE IN THE FORM OF A LETTER... NOT EVEN MARKED AS URGENT. IT SAYS RESPECTUFLLY GRASSLAND DAIRY PRODUCTS, WAS THERE A SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT, NO, IT’S JUST A GENERIC LETTER, YEAH> SO YOU DIDN’T GET A PHONE CALL? NO, IN FACT BEORE I READ THIS , I FOUND OUT ON FACEBOOK.THEY FACED A SIMILAR OBSTACLE TWO YEARS AGO, WITH A PROCESSOR IN SHEBOYGAN. AT THAT TIME EVEN, WE HAD MORE LEAD TIME. WE HAD ABOUT A 3 MONTH LEAD TIME NOTICE, AND EVEN AT THAT, THEY HELPLED US FIND A HOME. THAT HOME WAS GRASSLAND DAIRY, A PROCESSOR THEY HOPED TO HAVE FOR THE LONG-HAUL.VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR GRASSLAND DAIRY TOLD FARM JOURNAL’S MILK THAT GRASSLAND RECIEVED A TWO-DAY NOTICE THAT THEIR CANADIAN MARKET WAS GONE... A DESITAINATION WORTH A MILLION POUNDS OF MILK A DAY. THEY SAID, QUOTE, WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR PATRONS TO FIND A HOME FOR THEIR MILK, BUT WE UNDERSTAND IT’S A CHALLENGE IN THESE MARKETS., . GOING ON TO SAY , THE LAST THING WE AS A COMPANY WANT IS TO LET FARMERS GO., BUT 75 DAIRY FARMERS RECEIVED THE SAME LETTER. WHILE A HANDFUL ALREADY FOUND A HOME, THE MAJORITY ARE LEFT WITH NO ANSWERS AS TO WHERE THEIR MILK WILL GO. 75 FARMERS IN WISCONSIN, THERE’S 9200 DAIRY PRODUCERS, SO IT’S A SMALL PERCENTAGE. TEH BIG PART IS IT’S A BIG ANXIETY FOR ALL PRODUCERS.> MIKE NORTH WITH COMMODITY RISK MANAGEMENT GROUP CALLING THE SITUATION UNPRECEDENTED. THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION BECASUE IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH POLITICS AND LESS TO DO WITH MARKETS OR BAD FINANCIAL SITUATIONS THAT ARE BROADER THAN AGRICULTURE ITSELF. NORTH SAYS THIS DATES BACK TO GAT-- THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN SERVICES FROM THE 90S. THAT’S WHEN CANADA DECIDED TO TAKE A PROTECTIVE STANCE ON ITS DAIRY INDUSTRY, CREATING A QUOTA SYSTEM. BUT SAYS CANADA ISN’T NECESSARILY TO BLAME. SO THEY REALLY DIDN’T CVHANGE THEIR POSITION, THEY JUST CLEANED UP SOME OF THE LOOSE ENDS THAT EXISTED SINCE THAT POSITION WAS FIRST TAKEN. AND SO ULTIMATLEY I WOULDN’T BLAME THEM SO TO SPEAK, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEIR ACTION IS WHAT QUICKLY CAUSED THIS SCENARIO. WHILE SOME DAIRY GROUPS HOPE RENEGOTIATING NAFTA WILL HELP THE BLEEDING, THAT DOESN’T SOLVE THE ISSUE TODAY. NORTH SAYS THIS COULDN’T COME AT WORSE TIME, AS THE INDUSTRY FACES OVER SUPPLY WHILE FIGHTING THROUGH SPRING FLUSH WHERE THE COWS PRODUCE MORE. I BELIEVE THAT IF THIS WHOLE AFFAIR WOULDN’T HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN APRIL BUT RATHER IN JULY, NONE OF THIS CONVERSATIONW OULD HAVE BEEN HAD. DAIRY FARMERS ARE SEEING PRICE PRESSURE ACROSS THE BOARD, AS THE LAST MONTH AND HALF, PRICES CONTINUED TO ERODE. WE’VE GOT BETTER DAYS AHEAD, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE’RE STUCK IN THIS DOWNTURN RIGHT NOW THAT HASN’T SHOWN A CLEAR SIGN THAT IT’S BOTTOMED.IF THE GARTMANS HADN’T FOUND A HOME FOR THEIR MILK, THEY WOULD BE FORCED TO SELL THEIR COWS, BUT BY SECURING A NEW BUYER,IT’S RENEWING HOPE FOR THE FUTURE... AND INSTEAD OF THESE SIGNS AND STALLS BECOMING REMINATNS OF THEIR PAST, IT WILL REMAIN A PROMINENT PART OF THEIR FUTURE... OPENING A NEW DOOR FOR THE EIGHTH GENERATION. CLINTON, SOME ARE BLAMING THIS SITUATION ON CONSOLIDATION, SAYING IT’S THE INDUSTRY TRYING TO WEED SMALLER PRODUCERS OUT. HOWEVER, THE SOURCES I SPOKE WITH SAY GRASSLAND CHOSE THE 75 FARMS BASED ON GEOGRAPHY, NOT SIZE.
CROP COMMENTS
CINDI CLAWSON FILLING IN FOR MIKE TODAY. SHE HAS AN UPDATE ON PLANTING IN THE TEXAS PANDHANDLE. CINDI. GOOD MORNING, CLINTON. PLANTING IS UNDERWAY IN DALHART, TEXAS. SCOTT SIMMONS SAYS HE IS 22 PERCENT DONE WITH PLANTING ON HIS OPERATION. WEATHER AND SOIL CONDITIONS ARE GREAT, MINUS THE TEXAS WIND! USDA SAYS 60 PERCENT OF CORN IS IN THE GROUND IN THE LONE STAR STATE. TERRY CHRISTENSEN FROM SOUTHCENTRAL NEBRASKA HAS BEEN IN THE FIELD SINCE MONDAY. TERRY SAYS THERE IS NO RAIN HERE, ALTHOUGH HE COULD REALLY USE SOME. USDA SAYS 3 PERCENT OF NEBRASKA CORN ACRES ARE PLANTED ENDING THE WEEK OF APRIL 16. AND NOW HERE ARE SOME HOMETOWN TEMPS. THIS IS MACHINERY PETE - INVITING YOU TO CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE - MACHINERYPETE.COM - OFFERING FARMERS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF USED EQUIPMENT LISTINGS TO SEARCH. LET MACHINERY PETE HELP YOU FIND AND VALUE YOUR NEXT PIECE OF USED EQUIPMENT.
TEASE
THE CREW AT PRO FARMER JOIN US NEXT FOR A LOOK AT THE EVER DYNAMIC LIVESTOCK MARKETS. AND, MEET THE ‘CANDY MAN’ WHO YOU ALSO MIGHT CALL ‘THE SUGAR MAN’ AND ‘THE WEATHER MAN’. HE’S A SYRUP PRODUCER IN NEW YORK WHO REFLECTS ON THIS YEARS TAPPING SEASON. GET THE ROOTS YOUR CROPS NEED, BY GETTING RADIATE FIRST. VISIT LOVELAND PRODUCTS.COM SLASH RADIATE. SEE YOUR CPS DEALER TODAY.
PROFIT BRIEFING
TOO MANY HOGS TO MARKET IS PUSHING PRICES DOWN. BUT CATTLE PRICES ARE ENCOURAGING.CHIP FLORY AND BRIAN GRETE TAKE AN IN-DEPTH LOOK IN THE PROFIT BRIEFING. SO BRIAN YOU WANT TO TALK GOOD NEWS OR BAD NEWS FIRST LET’S START WITH THE BAD NEWS FIRST ALRIGHT LEAN HOG THE CASH LEAN HOG INDEX HAS BEEN LOWER EVERY DAY SINCE FEBRUARY TWENTY THIRD WHAT IS GOING ON NOT TO MANY SUPPLIES ACTUALLY YOU KNOW ARE SAYING SLAUGHTER RATES ABOVE OVER SIX PERCENT ABOVE YEAR AGO SO YOU KNOW THAT ‘S JUST TOO MANY HOGS COMING TO MARKET RIGHT NOW IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE CASH MARKET DESPITE PACKERS CUTTING IT WITH STRONG STRONG MARGINS RIGHT NOW SO UNUSUAL BUT WE SHOULD SEE THAT THE CASH MARKET BOTTOM HERE SOME TIME SOON WHAT ‘S THAT PORK PRODUCT MARKET DOING ARE WE SEEING ANY STRENGTH THERE TO INDICATE THAT WERE THAT WE GOT DECENT WHOLESALE DEMAND AT AND THAT ‘S WHAT WE NEEDED THAT WE NEED TO SEE SIGNS OF DEMAND WE’VE GOT GOOD EXPORTS YOU KNOW SIGNS THAT YOU KNOW WE’RE MOVING FORWARD AND DOMESTICALLY WITH DEMAND THERE BUT WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE SUPPLIES SO SEASONALLY AS THEY SLAUGHTER NUMBERS START TO DECLINE WHAT FROM WHAT THEY WERE THEY’RE STILL GOING TO REMAIN ABOVE YEAR AGO BUT FROM OR THEY WERE THEN WE SHOULD SEE THE CASH MARKET STRENGTHENED IN TYPICALLY GET ABOUT A FIFTEEN DOLLAR RALLY FROM RIGHT NOW UNTIL MID SUMMER TIME FOR O K SO WE’RE RIGHT INTO THAT TIME PERIOD WHERE SEASONALLY WE SHOULD START TO SEE LEFT IN THESE PRICES EXACTLY OK NOW LETS GO TO THE GOOD NEWS THIS CATTLE MARKET MY GOSH CONTRACT HIGHS IN THE FUTURES MARKET CASH MARKET IS SHOWING SOME WILLINGNESS TO TRADE IN THAT ONE THIRTY RANGE IN IN THE PLAINS EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW SEEMS TO BE LINING UP FOR THIS CATTLE MARKET AND ALMOST FEELS TOO GOOD WELL YOU KNOW WE GOT THE CHINESE NEWS THAT THEY’RE THEY’RE GOING TO OPEN UP MORE OF THEIR MARKET TO U S BEEF HOPEFULLY DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THAT ‘S GOING MAY THINK SHORT TERM BUT DOWN THE ROAD YOU KNOW THAT SOME POTENTIAL THERE ‘S SO THAT GAVE THE MARKET A LEFT WE SAW THE CASH MARKET STRENGTH AND WE SAW WHOLE SALE PRICES STRENGTH IN END OF LIFE AT BEGINNING OF THE GRILLING SEASON AND ALL KIND OF COMES TOGETHER AND YOU SEE THIS BIG UP MOVE IN THE FUTURES PROBABLY GETTING A LITTLE BIT CHOPPY IN HERE AND WE EXPECT A SHORT TERM PULL BACK SLAUGHTER NUMBERS ARE BIGGER THAN WHAT THEY WERE A YEAR AGO BUT OUR WEIGHTS ARE HOLDING BACK OR BEEF PRODUCTION YET IT ‘S REALLY HELPING IT AND DON’T LOSE TRACK OF THE THE FACT THAT RETAIL BEEF PRICES ARE DOWN AND RATHER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM WHERE THEY WERE LAST YEAR AT THIS POINT TIME AND SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPETE FROM A BEEF STANDPOINT A AS WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER DEMAND SEASON OKAY MOST IMPORTANTLY LOOKING AT THOSE PRICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER AND FALL AND EVEN IN THE WINTER LIVE CATTLE MARKETINGS WE CAN LOCK IN PROFIT THERES OTHERS AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR HEDGES IN AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS PRICE RALLY WILL SUBSIDE HERE AND THAT WILL SEE SOMEWHAT OF A PULLBACK SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOCK IN SOME PRICES GET THIS HOG MARKET IN OPPORTUNITY THE RALLY SEASONALLY AND LET ‘S GET ON THE BALL AND PROTECT SOME OF THE PROFITS THAT WE’VE GOTTEN THE CATTLE MARKET THAT IT ‘S A RIGHT ON THE HEAD RIGHT FOR BRIAN GRETE IN ALL THE EDITORS OF PRO FARMER IN CEDAR FALLS IOWA I’M CHIP FLORY
WEATHER
WELCOME BACK TO AGDAY WITH CINDI CLAWSON, CINDI LOOKING AT THE MAP HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE SOME SYSTEMS WORKING THEIR WAY WEST TO EAST. YES, IT’S BEEN AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN, ESPECIALLY FOR THE NATION’S MIDSECTION OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. IT’S ALL GOING TO PUSH MORE EASTWARD AS WE HEAD THROUGH TODAY. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MAP. EARLIER THIS WEEK WE’VE HAD THE WARM FRONT AND COLD FRONT MOVE THROUGH PARTS OF THE UPPER MIDWEST AND NOW WE HAVE A SECONDARY COLD FRONT MOVE THROUGH. WE’RE GOING TO SEE MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN MUCH OF THE GREAT LAKES AREA BUT AS THIS FRONT PUSHES TO THE EAST WE’RE GOING TO PICK UP MORE GULF MOISTURE. WE’RE GOING TO POTENTIALLY SEE SOME STORMY CONDITIONS FOR PARTS OF THE EASTERN CORN BELT AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY TODAY. OUT WEST WE’LL HAVE FAIRLY DRY CONDITIONS IN MUCH OF THE PLAINS STATES AND MORE UNSETTLED WEATHER IN THE WEST. WATCH WHAT HAPPENS HERE. WE HAVE ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DOWN TOWARDS THE FOUR CORNERS REGION AND AS WE PUT THIS INTO MOTION EVEN FURTHER, THAT’ S GOING TO PICK UP MORE MOISTURE AS WE START TO HEAD THROUGH THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS AND WE’LL SEE SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AS WE START YOUR FRIDAY IN PARTS OF OKLAHOMA AND INTO ARKANSAS AND INTO MISSOURI WHILE THE INITIAL LOW IS NOW PUSHING UP TO THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. THEN AS WE GET THROUGH THE DAY ON FRIDAY, EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO PUSH EASTWARD. WATCH AS MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP NOW HEADING INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. NOW AS FAR AS THE PAST 24 HOURS, IT REALLY PICKS UP WHERE THOSE LOW PRESSURES HAVE BEEN, MOSTLY IN THE SECTIONS IN THE NORTHSIDE OF THE COUNTRY AS WE GET INTO THE NORTHEAST. NOW THERE’S THE SECONDARY LOW WHICH WILL DUMP SOME HEAVY RAIN IN PARTS OF OKLAHOMA, NORTHERN ARKANSAS AND PARTS OF MISSOURI. ALRIGHT, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE SNOWFALL. REALLY HASN’T AMOUNTED TO A WHOLE LOT. MOST OF IT HAS BEEN IN THE UPPER ELEVATIONS AND THAT’S WHAT WE’RE EXPECTING AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY TODAY. BUT THE FAR NORTHERN UP OF MICHIGAN MAY SEE SOME SNOW THERE AS WELL. HERE’S A LOOK AT TEMPERATURES. WE’RE WARM IN THE SOUTHEAST WHERE MOST OF US ARE SEEING 80S AND WE’RE SEEING SLIGHTLY COOL TEMPERATURES WHERE WE SEE A WAVERING FRONT THERE. WE SEE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 65 IN CHICAGO AND 41 AS YOU GET UP INTO SIOUX SAINT MARIE. AND THEN THAT FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH. YOU WILL SEE THAT COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE EAST OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE 40S ACROSS MUCH OF THE NORTHERN STATES. WARMER IN THE SOUTHEAST AND HIGHS ARE A LOT COOLER AS A LOT OF IT CONTINUES TO PUSH OFF TO THE EAST. MORE 50S IN CHICAGOLAND AREA OVER IN TOO MUCH OF THE CORN BELT WHERE THE 80S SINK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TOO IN THE SOUTH. THAT’S A LOOK AT YOUR NATIONAL FORECAST. NOW LET’S CHECK ON THE WEATHER WHERE YOU LIVE. BACON, IDAHO, COOLER WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY, WITH A HIGH OF 60 DEGREES. PANCAKE, TEXAS, PARTLY CLOUDY AND WARM WITH A HIGH OF 82 AND TOAST, NORTH CAROLINA, WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND A HIGH OF 80. BREAKFAST ANYONE?
TEASE
AN UPDATE TO THE BRAZIL MEAT SCANDAL IS NEXT ON DROVERS TV. STRANGE WINTER WEATHER STARTED AN EARLY FLOW OF SAP IN THESE NEW YORK TREES. WE TALK TO ONE PRODUCER WHO’S GLAD SPRING IS HERE.
DROVERS TV
ON DROVER’S TV, 63 PEOPLE IN BRAZIL NOW INDICTED FOR THEIR ROLE IN A CORRUPTION SCHEME WITHIN THE NATION’S MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE. THE CHARGES ALLEGE FEDERAL AUDITORS AT MEAT PROCESSING FACILITIES TOOK BRIBES FOR YEARS IN EXCHANGE FOR FRAUDULENT SANITARY PERMITS. ALLEGATIONS ALSO INCLUDE SELLING SPOILED MEAT AND INJECTING WATER TO SELL POULTRY AT HIGHER PRICES. POLICE REPORTING SOME PRODUCERS USED CHEMICAL INGREDIENTS TO “DISGUISE THE PHYSICAL ASPECT OR SMELL OF ROTTEN MEAT.” IMMEDIATELY BRAZIL’S MEAT EXPORTS TO DROPPED TO NEAR ZERO. AS DETAILS EMERGED MEAT EXPORTS FROM BRAZIL’S LARGER PACKING COMPANIES RESUMED. IN AUGUST OF 2016, THE USDA ANNOUNCED IT WOULD BEGIN ACCEPTING IMPORTS OF BRAZILIAN FRESH BEEF, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF PRODUCT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED SINCE THEN. NOW, FOLLOWING THE RECENT CORRUPTION SCANDAL, R-CALF USA IS CALLING ON THE UNITED STATES TO BAN BRAZILIAN BEEF AND IS SEEKING 100,000 SIGNATURES TO A PETITION ON THE WHITE HOUSE’S WE THE PEOPLE WEB SITE. R-CALF SAYS THE PETITION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AMERICAN PRODUCED BEEF IS NOT DIFFERENTIATED FROM BRAZILIAN BEEF.USDA SAYS NO MEAT FROM THE PLANTS TARGETED IN BRAZIL’S INVESTIGATION WAS SHIPPED TO THE U.S. BUT ANY FUTURE SHIPMENTS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO INSPECTION UNTIL THE SCANDAL IS RESOLVED. EVERYONE’S FINANCIAL SITUATION IS DIFFERENT WHETHER THEY GOT INSURANCE TO COVER THIS, I REALLY COULDN’T SAY. I KNOW IT’S A FINANCIAL STRESS ON A NUMBER OF THEM. 21 SOME DON’T, I TALKED TO ONE WHO SAID, ‘THIS COULD PUT ME UNDER.’ 4:14:29>
TEASE
FAMILIES CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE RAVAGES OF WILDFIRE IN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. AN OUTBREAK IN EARLY MARCH BURNED MORE THAN A MILLION AND A HALF ACRES IN COLORADO, KANSAS, OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS. THIS FRIDAY MORNING, WE’RE PLANNING TO RUN AN ENCORE PRESENTATION OF ‘FROM THE ASHES’...A LOOK AT THE HARDSHIPS AND THE HELP FOLKS ARE SEEING WITH AFTER THE BLAZE. AND WE’LL MAKE A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT INCLUDING INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN HELP SOME OF THE FAMILIES STILL TRYING TO RECOVER. FROM THE ASHES’ - JOIN US FRIDAY, HERE ON AGDAY. SEASON IS FINALLY COMING TO A CLOSE. IN THE COUNTRY IS NEXT.
IN THE COUNTRY
IN THE COUNTRY - SPONSORED BY KUBOTA. TRACTORS, HAY TOOLS, UTILILTY VEHICLES, MOWERS AND MORE. VISIT KUBOTA.COM TODAY.MAPLE PRODUCERS ARE WRAPPING UP ANOTHER HARVEST, COLLECTING SAP FROM TREES AND TURNING IT INTO PRODUCTS LIKE SYRUP AND CANDY. BETSY JIBBEN VISITED A FARMER IN EAST NEW YORK STATE WHERE HE’S WRAPPING UP WHAT’S BEEN A LONG SEASON. YOU COULD CALL DAVID CAMPBELL ‘THE CANDY MAN’ AS HE’S THE FACE (AS HE CREATES?) BEHIND MANY SUGAR - AND SYRUP DELIGHTS. “ALL YEAR WE MAKE CANDY. EVERY WEEK” AFTER WE MAKE THE CANDY SHAPES, WHY THEN WE SOAK THEM IN A THICKENED SYRUP.” BUT CAMPBELL KNOWS MORE THAN THE RECEIPE... HE TAPS TREES WHICH PRODUCE - SAP- THE KEY INGREDIENT -FROM HIS FAMILY’S MAPLE OPERATION, MAPLELAND FARMS IN SALEM, NEW YORK - LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE VERMONT LINE. “THERE’S A LITTLE BIT OF SAP FLOWING DOWN THE PIPE, SAP AND AIR BUBBLES,"CAMPBELL SAYS THIS SEASON IS THE LONGEST IN HIS CAREER... AND IT’S ALL DUE TO WEATHER.... “THIS YEAR WE MADE SYRUP JANUARY 23 WHICH IS HTE EARLIEST WE’VE EVER MADE SYRUP,"THAT’S BECAUSE THE WEATHER WAS MILD ENOUGH, EARLY ENOUGH, TO MAKE THE SAP FLOW.YET HE SAYS MOTHER NATURE DID NOT OVER PRODUCE.. ONLY TAPPING THREE- QUARTERS OF A NORMAL CROP.. “MORE OF A CHALLENGE, DEFINATELY. IT’S EITHER BEEN TOO WARM OR TOO COLD."> “THE WEATHER SWINGS ARE GOOD FOR PRODUCTION, BUT THIS YEAR THE WEATHER SWINGS HAVE BEEN MORE EXTREME. SO WE’VE HAD SOME 70 DEGREE DAYS WHICH WILL LIMIT YOUR PRODUCTION AND THEN WE’VE HAD SOME ZERO DEGREE NIGHTS WHERE EVERYTHING FREEZES UP,"NOT THE FIRST YEAR THIS HAS HAPPENED... SOME PRODUCERS GET HELP FROM NEW VACCUM TECHNOLOGY WHICH PULL STHE SAP FROM THE TREE. “YOU COULD USE A VACCUM. WHAT’S ANOTHER METHOD YOU COULD DO?” HIM: “JUST RELYING ON MOTHER NATURE FREEZING AND THAWING TO PUSH IT OUT,"THE SAP FILLS A CHAMBER INSIDE THE TANK... “WE HAVE STORAGE OF THREE THOUSAND GALLONS RIGHT HERE AT THIS LOCATION,"WHERE IT’S PUMPED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE SUGAR HOUSE A REVERSE OSMOSIS MACHINE SEPARATES THE WATER AND THE SAP IS BOILED. THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING SYRUP “AND IT JUST FLOWS THROUGH ALL OF THESE CHANNELS GETTING CONCENTRATED AND THICKER UNTIL IT GETS TO THE FINISHED SYRUP STAGE WHICH IS 67 PERCENT SUGAR. RIGHT NOW IT’S COMING OUT OF THE TREE AT 2 PERCENT SUGAR,"YOU CAN FIND CAMPBELL IN HERE FROM 2 TO 4 HOURS DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT DRAWN... WHICH EVENTUALLY ALL ENDS UP IN ANYTHING FROM A MAPLE BOURBON TO GOOD OL MAPLE SYRUP.... “WE AVERAGE MAKING 80 GALLONS OF SYRUP AN HOUR,"AS ANOTHER SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE... CAMPBELL WILL SOON SHUT THE DOORS AT THE SUGAR HOUSE "...PECANS, WALNUTS, CASHEWS ALL JUST COATED WITH MAPLE SUGAR."MOVING TO CREATING SYRUPY BLISS FOR ALL TO EAT. REPORTING IN SALEM, NEW YORK, I’M BETSY JIBBEN. THANKS BETSY. THE BUSINESS SELLS GOODS ONLINE, TO RESTAURANTS AND EVEN HOME FOOD DELIVERIES IN NEW YORK CITY. CAMPBELL HAS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MILES OF PIPE IN HIS WOODS FOR 17-THOUSAND TAPS.
CLOSE
THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS MORNING. WE’RE GLAD YOU TUNED IN. AND DON’T FORGET TO JOIN US TOMORROW FOR SOME EXCITING NEWS ABOUT HELP FOR RANCHERS WHO WERE AFFECTED BY THE WILDFIRES. THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS PART OF OUR ENCORE PRESENTATION OF “FROM THE ASHES.” FOR ALL OF US AT AGDAY. I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
