AgDay Daily Recap - December 12, 2017

THE SENATOR ADMITS THE G-O-P HAS DONE A BAD JOB OF SELLING THE BILL, SAYING ONCE MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT’S IN IT, HE THINKS VIEWS WILL CHANGE. BUT WITH UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING HOW TAX REFORM WILL PLAY OUT, FARM CPA PAUL NEIFFER HAS TIPS FOR PLANNING TEH UPCOMING TAX SEASON. AS THE CALENDAR PUSHES TOWARD THE END OF 2017, FARMERS’ ARE ASSESSING YEAR-END. FARM CPA PAUL NEIFFER SAYS FOR FARMERS STARTING TO WORK ON THEIR TAXES, THERE ARE 5 THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND THIS TAX SEASON, ESPECIALLY FOR FAMRERS WHO SAW BETTER THAN EXPECTED YIELDS THIS YEAR. THEY REALLY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOME DEFERRED PAYMENT CONTRACTS WHERE THEY’RE ACTUALLY SELLING THE GRAIN NOW ,YOU KNOW BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE STORAGE OR SELLING THE GRAIN BUT ROLL THAT CASH DELIVERY OR THE CASH THAT THEY GET INTO 2018. THAT GIVES AN OPTION IF RATES GO DOWN WE’LL STILL TAX IT IN 18. IF IF RATES STAY THE SAME AND WE GOT SOME OFFSETTING DEDUCTIONS IN 17 WE’LL BRING IT BACK INTO 17. THAT’S ALWAYS A GOOD RECOMMENDATION. BUT WITH LOWER GRAIN PRICES, NOT EVERYONE IS IN THAT CAMP. LET’S SAY THAT YOU’RE A FARMER AND YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO INCREASE YOUR INCOME. THERE’S MULTIPLE WAYS WE CAN CAPITALIZE FERTILIZER WE CAN CAPITALIZE REPAIRS BECAUSE IN TODAY’S ENVIRONMENT SOMETIMES YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO PAY A LITTLE BIT OF TAX EVEN IF TIMES ARE BAD SO YOU WANT TO DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE IF YOU CAN NEIFFER SAYS BONUS DEPRECIATION COULD BE MODIFIED IF TAX REFORM SURVIVIES IN WASHINGTON. AND THAT COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BUY EQUIPMENT. IT POTENTIALLY IS BECAUSE ONE OF THE PROPOSALS IN THE HOUSE IS THE BONUS DEPRECIATION IS GOING TO RAMP UP TO 100 PERCENT FOR NEW AND USED EQUIPMENT. NOW A BONUS IS USUALLY ON NEW ONLY. BUT IF IT’S USED EQUIPMENT AND YOU CAN FIND GOOD EQUIPMENT AT A GOOD PRICE AND IT’S FOR ANYTHING PURCHASED AFTER SEPTEMBER 27TH OF THIS YEAR IF IT GOES THAT MEANS THEY’RE GETTING A HEALTHY DEDUCTION THIS YEAR AT HIGHER TAX RATES. NEIFFER SAYS FARMERS ARE OFTEN HESITANT ON WHAT ACCOUNTING METHOD TO USE. BUT HE SAYS WHEN LOOKING AT CASH VERSUS ACCRUAL, THE ACCURAL METHOD IS KING. I THINK THE OTHER THING IS SINCE I AM THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE FARM FINANCIAL STANDARDS BOARD I THINK IT’S VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR FARMERS NOT JUST STRICTLY FROM A TAX STANDPOINT BUT FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT THEY SHOULD KEEP VERY ACCURATE RECORDS ON THE ACCRUAL METHOD THE TAX LAWS ALLOW THEM TO BE ON THE CASH METHOD BUT FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT THE ACCRUAL METHOD IS GOING TO GIVE A MUCH STRONGER PICTURE OF WHETHER THEY’RE MAKING MONEY OR NOT AND THEY CAN STILL USE THE CASH METHOD FOR THEIR TAX RETURN. NEIFFER SAYS THAT’S ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR FARMERS WHO HAVE KICKED CROP SALES INTO THE FOLLOWING YEAR. ACCRUAL SIMPLY GIVES FARMERS A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE OF WHERE THEY STAND.

BAYER, MONSANTO MERGER
SPEAKING OF PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR, BAYER PLANS ON CLOSING ITS BUYOUT OF MONSANTO BY EARLY 2018, BUT THE MEGA MERGER ISN’T A DONE DEAL. THE FATE OF THE DEAL IS NOW MERKY, AND IT COULD BE THE EUROPEAN UNION STANDING IN THE WAY. BLOOMBERG REPORTING E-U REGULATORS ARE LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY AT COMPETITION CONCERNS IF THE TWO COMPANIES BECOME ONE. THE E-U ANITRUST REGULATOR IS SET TO RELEASE A STATEMENT TO BAYER AG, WITH POTENTIAL REASONS FOR THE E-U TO BLOCK THE MEGA MERGER. IT’S A 66 BILLION TAKEOVER BID THAT’S BEEN IN THE WORKS SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2016. THE REGULATORS ARE WORRIED ABOUT IMPLICATIONS THE MERGER WOULD HAVE ON SEED PRICES AND AVAILABILITY. THAT’S AFTER BAYER ANNOUNCED IT’S SELLING ITS U-S BUSINESS TO BASF, IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE PATH FOR THE MERGER TO GO THROUGH. MONSANTO SAYS IT CAN’T COMMENT AT THIS TIME, WHILE A BAYER SPOKESMAN TOLD AGDAY THAT BAYER CONTINUES TO WORKW ITH THE NECESSARY REGUALTOR PARTIES, IMNCLUDIG THE EU, TOWARD A SUCCESSFUL CLOSE OF THE ACQUISTION OF MONSANTO IN EARLY 2018.

CROP COMMENTS
A SNOWY WEEKEND IN PARTS OF THE U-S. MIKE HOFFMAN HAS DETAILS OF SOME SOUTHERN SNOW IN THIS MORNING’S CROP COMMENTS. GOOD MORNING, TYNE. AS AREAS BRACE FOR MORE SNOW, SOME OF OUR VIEWERS ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM AN UNEXPECTED SNOW. IN ALAMABA, THE SNOW CAUSED MAJOR ROADWAYS TO BE SHUT DOWN. MORE THAN 3 INCHES FELL IN BIRNMINGHAM, WHILE 10 INCHES WAS REPORTED IN ANNISTON, ALABAMA. THESE AREAS SEE SNOW FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT IT TYPICALLY DOESN’T FALL SO EARLY.
TEASE
THE AG DEPARTMENT IS SET TO RELEASE ITS MONTHLY SUPPLY-AND-DEMAND FIGURES FOR GRAINS. SHOULD YOU EXPECT FIREWORKS? THAT’S AGRIBUSINESS. . AND WILL THE FED HIKE INTEREST RATES THIS WEEK AS THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMY GAINS STRENGTH. AND MEET A NORTH DAKOTA FAMILY WHO PLAYS THE KIND OF MUSIC THAT WOULD MAKE LAWRENCE WELK PROUD. YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE FROM THIS MUSICAL GROUP ENJOY WHAT WAS ONCE KNOWN AS “CHAMPAGNE MUSIC. AGDAY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY CREDENZ SOYBEAN SEED FROM BAYER. DESIGNED USING SMART GENETICS WITH TAILORED VARIETIES TO FIT ANY FIELD CONDITION. )

NEXT FED MEETING
RECEIVE A FREE TRIAL OF THE DAILY GRAIN PLAN NEWS LETTER FROM ROACH AG MARKETING. TEXT ROACH TO 31313. START YOUR SUBSCRIPTION BY TEXTING ROACH TO 31313. ) IN AGRIBUSINESS, THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO KICK OFF ITS LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR TUESDAY. AND IT WILL LIKELY BE THE LAST TIME JANET YELLEN WILL OVERSEE THE MEETING AS CHAIRWOMAN. IT’S WIDELY EPXECTED THE FED WILL INCREASE ITS BENCMARK INTERST RATE FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR. THAT WOULD BUMP RATES TO 1 POINT 5 PERCENT FROM THE 1 POITN 25 PERCENT. THE MOVE WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY A STRONG ECONOMY. ON FRIDAY, A REPORT SHOWED THE ECONOMY ADDED 228 THOUSAND JOBS, WELL ABOVE EXPECTATIONS. ECONOMISTS SAY THE U-S ECONOMY HAS SEEN A LONG, STABLE GROWTH. WHY I THINK WE JUST GOT THROUGH OUR WHAT IS OUR 100TH 100 FIRST MONTH OF CONSECUTIVE GROWTH. SO THIS IS A LONG RECOVERY THAT CERTAINLY HASN’T BEEN ROBUST BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS, BUT IT’S BEEN LONG, IT’S BEEN CONTINUOUS. WE’RE STARTING TO SEE THAT GROWTH SPREAD TO MANY SECTORS. AND IN FACT BENEFITS WAGES. WAGE GROWTH FOR MANY DIFFERENT SKILLED WORKERS AND SO WHAT IT LACKS IN VIGOR IT CERTAINLY MAKES UP FOR IN ITS IN ITS BREADTH AND INSPIRATION.> THE FED WILL ANNOUNCE THEIR DECISION AT THE END OF THE TWO-DAY MEETING.

AGRIBUSINESS
THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS SET TO RELEASE IT’S LATEST CRPO PRODUCTION REPORT TUESDAY. BUT IT’S A REPORT THAT DOESN’T TEND TO GENERATE A TON OF MARKET REACTION. CLINTON GRIFFITHS JOINS US FROM THE AGRIBUSINESS DESK TO FIND OUT WHY. ]I HAVE DUANE BUSSIE BOLT MARKETING TALKING ABOUT THE REPORT THAT WE EXPECT TO COME OUT LATER TODAY DECEMBER REPORTS USUALLY NOT A LOT OF FIREWORKS RIGHT. NO THERE USUALLY ISN’T. THEY WON’T MAKE ANY CHANGES TO PRODUCTION THERE. LEAVE THAT TILL JANUARY WHEN IT’S THE FINAL PRODUCTION REPORT. SO THIS WILL BE JUST AN ADJUSTMENT IN DEMAND DOMESTICALLY ANYWAY AND RIGHT NOW THE TRADE IS WORRIED THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A DECREASE BE NEXT. WE’RE PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME THAT’S HAPPENED IN A LONG TIME. BUT GUESS WHAT I DON’T EVEN THINK IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME. WE ARE BEHIND PACE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE’RE LIKE 59 PERCENT OF US DAY’S EXPORT PACE VERSUS A NORMAL AVERAGE OF 73. BUT I DON’T THINK YOU AS THEY WANT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES AND THEN COME BACK NEXT MONTH AND ADJUST IT BACK UP. SO LOOK FOR ACTUALLY THE REPORT TO BE A COMPLETE PUNT. I DON’T THINK THEY REALLY MAKE ANY CHANGES WHICH WILL BE BULLISH COMPARED TO EXPECTATIONS. OK. AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER FACTORS. ANYTHING ON THE WORLD STAGE FROM A SUPPLY DEMAND STANDPOINT THAT YOU SEE OUT THERE MAY BE INFLUENCING THESE MARKETS. WELL WHAT WE’LL WATCH ON TUESDAY TO SEE IS IF USD CHANGES SOUTH AMERICA SOYBEAN PRODUCTION WILL INCREASE BRAZIL’S SLIGHTLY BECAUSE OF THEIR HEAVY RAINS WILL DECREASE ARGENTINA BECAUSE THEY’VE BEEN DRY. THAT’S THE TALK BEFORE THE REPORT. I DON’T THINK THEY’RE GOING TO CHANGE EITHER ONE OF THEM AGAIN BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE IT’S REALLY EARLY IN THE GROWING SEASON TO CHANGE THOSE. ONE THING I KEEP LOOKING AT THE WORLD STOCKS AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS CORN IS DOWN ABOUT 20 MILLION METRIC TON FROM LAST YEAR. IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE IT HERE IN THE MIDWEST OR ON MY FARM THERE’S CORN EVERYWHERE BUT YOU KNOW WORLDWIDE CORN IS DOWN SUPPLY WISE SO THAT LEADS ME TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE FRIENDLY IN THE FUTURE. ALL RIGHT WE’LL TAKE FROM THEM THE FUTURE. ALL RIGHT WE’LL BE BACK WITH AGDAY IN JUST A MOMENT. AGDAY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE ENLIST WEED CONTROL SYSTEM. MORE WEED CONTROL. LESS DRIFT AND VOLATILITY. MAXIMUM YIELD POTENTIAL.

WEATHER
WELCOME BACK. TIME NOW TO CHECK WEATHER WITH METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN. MIKE YOU KNOW I HAVE A THREE AND A 2 YEAR OLD AT HOME AND THE 3 YEAR OLD IS CONVINCED ELSA HAS COME THAT SHE IS HERE TO STAY WITH ALL THIS. WILL IT STICK AROUND FOR CHRISTMAS. THAT’S THE BIG QUESTION IN A LOT OF THESE AREAS DOWN SOUTH THE ANSWER IS NO. BUT FARTHER NORTH YOU DO HAVE A CHANCE. THERE IS THE MAP THIS MORNING AND OBVIOUSLY THE BIG FEATURE ON THE MAP THIS MORNING IS THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES LOTS OF SNOW WITH THIS BUT ALSO A WHOLE BUNCH OF LAKE EFFECT BEHIND IT EAST OF LAKE MICHIGAN DOWN WIND FROM LAKE SUPERIOR AND OF COURSE THAT WILL CONTINUE FARTHER EAST INTO THE GREAT LAKES. AND ONCE AGAIN SNOW DOWN INTO PARTS OF THE SOUTH ANYWAY EASTERN TENNESSEE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF THE WHITE STUFF THE DRY CONDITIONS GO BACK TO THE WEST. HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE WEST IS HOLDING ITS GROUND KEEPING EVERYTHING PRETTY MUCH OFFSHORE YOU MIGHT SEE A FEW CLOUDS AND MAYBE A SHOWER TO COMING IN TO THE FAR PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH A WEAK LITTLE SYSTEM THAT I DIDN’T EVEN SHOW ON THE MAP THERE BECAUSE IT’S REALLY NOT GOING TO AMOUNT TO TOO MUCH BY LATER TODAY. SEE THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE NORTHERN NEW YORK STATE LAKE EFFECT SNOW BEHIND IT SOME SNOW OUT AHEAD OF IT. MOST OF THE RAIN HAS GONE COLD FRONT INTO SOUTH CENTRAL FLORIDA AND THEN AS WE HEAD THROUGH TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW MORNING. ANOTHER QUICK LITTLE MOVING SYSTEM MOVING INTO THE UPPER MIDWEST WITH SOME SNOW AND A MIXED BAG OF PRECIPITATION JUST BEHIND IT IN PARTS OF MINNESOTA. SO ONCE AGAIN WE JUST CONTINUE TO SEE THESE SYSTEMS DIVING SOUTHWARD AND THEN MOVING EAST AND SPREADS MORE SNOW BY LATER IN THE DAY TOMORROW ALL THE WAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE GREAT LAKES AND SOME LAKE EFFECT SNOW DEVELOPING BEHIND IT KIND OF THE SAME. SAME IDEA ONE AFTER THE OTHER HERE PRECIPITATION ESTIMATE OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS YOU CAN SEE MOST OF IT HAS BEEN AROUND THE GREAT LAKES AND MOST OF IT OVER THE NEXT 36 WILL BE IN THE GREAT LAKES AND ALSO INTO THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY WITH THAT WEAK SYSTEM DIVING INTO THE FAR NORTH EASTERN PLAINS. SNOWFALL ESTIMATES PRETTY MUCH ALL AROUND THE GREAT LAKES AS WELL PAST 24 HOURS ADDING IN THE NEXT 36 BESIDES THE LAKE EFFECT WE’RE GOING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT. DOWN INTO WEST VIRGINIA AND FAR SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE APPALACHIANS BUT MOST OF THE HEAVY STUFF BESIDES SOME SPOTS DOWNWIND FROM THE LAKES IS GOING TO BE INTO THE FAR NORTHEAST AND EASTERN CANADA. TEMPERATURES THIS MORNING OR THIS AFTERNOON I SHOULD SAY A VERY COLD LOOK AT THE SINGLE DIGIT HIGHS IN SIOUX ST. MARIE. THEY’RE LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT. WE’RE TALKING BELOW ZERO IN THAT AREA. TEENS ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY AND BY THE AFTERNOON TOMORROW YOU CAN SEE THE WARMTH TRIES TO COME BACK INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. NOW HERE’S THE JET STREAM WE KEEP THE TROUGH IN THE EAST. BUT AS WE HEAD INTO NEXT WEEK WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT WEAKEN A LITTLE BIT. IT’S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A TROUGH A LITTLE BIT LESS OF A RIDGE OUT WEST. WE’LL SEE HOW THIS EVOLVES AFTER THAT. THAT’S A LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOW LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME LOCAL FORECASTS. FIRST OF ALL SPOKANE WASHINGTON TODAY MOSTLY CLOUDY FREEZING FOG POSSIBLE THIS MORNING HIGH OF 32 ABILENE TEXAS. LOTS OF SUNSHINE AND COOLER HIGH OF JUST 58 IN SOUTH BEND INDIANA. WINDY AND COLD WITH TIMES OF HEAVY SNOW HIGHER AROUND 25. 0

TEASE
NEXT THE FARM JOURNAL MILK TEAM JOINS US WITH AN IMPORTANT DEADLINE FOR MILK PRODUCERS. AND ‘STRIKE-UP THE BAND’ WITH EVERYBODY’S FAVORITE MUSIC - THE ACCORDIAN! MEET THREE GENERATIONS OF MUSICIANS SQUEEZING- OUT A LOT OF RHYTHM AND JOY. AGDAY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY LIBERTY HERBICIDE, THE SIMPLY BETTER SOLUTION FOR SUPERIOR WEED CONTROL AND A STRONGER YIELD.

DAIRY REPORT
THE DAIRY REPORT ON AGDAY IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY QLF. FOR 40 YEARS, QLF HAS BEEN PROUD TO SUPPORT AMERICAN FARMERS THAT FEED THE WORLD. IN NEWS FROM THE FARM JOURNAL MILK TEAM - FOR THOSE DAIRY FARMERS WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2018 DAIRY MARGIN PROTECTION PROGRAM, DEADLINE FOR ENROLLMENT IS THIS FRIDAY. . THIS YEAR, DAIRY FARMERS HAVE THE OPTION OF OPTING OUT OF THE M-P-P AND SIGNING UP FOR LIVESTOCK GROSS MARGIN-DAIRY INSURANCE. OR YOU DON’T HAVE TO SIGN-UP FOR EITHER. . UNLIKE PRIOR YEARS, ENROLLMENT IN MPP IS NOT AUTOMATIC EVEN IF FARMERS HAD PREVIOUSLY PARTICIPATED. . USDA ALSO RELEASED ITS OCTOBER MPP MILK-FEED CALCULATION. IT’'S TEN DOLLARS PER HUNDREDWEIGHT. . THE OCTOBER ALL-MILK PRICE CAME IN AT $17.90. NEW ZEALEND COULD SEE A TEMPERED MILK SUPPLY. THAT’S AS DRY WEATHER IS SLOWING GRASS GROWTH FOR THE WORLD’S LARGEST DAIRY EXPORTER, A KEY COMPONENT IN FEEDING THE NATION’S MILK SUPPLY. WHILE IT’S UKNOWN THE EXTENT OF POSSIBLE DAMAGE, ECONOMISTS SAY IT COULD CREATE A TIGHETER-THAN EXPECTED MILK SUPPLY, WHILE CREATING MORE DEMAND FOR U-S DAIRY EXPORTS.

TEASE
UP NEXT - MEET A FAMILY THAT’S KEEPING GERMAN FOLK MUSIC ALIVE AND WELL FOR THREE GENERATIONS! IN THE COUNTRY IS NEXT.

IN THE COUNTRY
IN THE COUNTRY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY KUBOTA. LEARN MORE ABOUT KUBOTA SSV SERIES SKID STEERS AT KUBOTA.COM. OR DEMO ONE AT YOUR LOCAL KUBOTA DEALER TODAY. PERHAPS YOU JUST WATCHED THE CHRISTMAS MOVIE “HOME ALONE”. I JUST LOVE THAT SCENE WHERE JOHN CANDY INTRODUCES HIMSELF AS THE “POLKA KING OF THE MIDWEST”. . WHILE HE MAYBE THE MAKE-BELIEVE KING OF POLKA, WE FOUND A FAMILY IN NORTH DAKOTA THAT YOU COULD ARGUE IS THE KING, QUEEN, PRINCE AND PRINCESSES OF POLKA. . CLIFF NAYLOR HAS MORE ON THE GERMAN FOLK MUSIC AND THE THREE GENERATIONS OF THE EMTER FAMILY - WHO LOVE IT SO. ( THE EMTER FAMILY PROVIDES A 21-ACCORDION SALUTE TO THE POLKA. ROGER EMTER, EMTER BAND: “THE OLD-TIME MUSIC, THE POLKA IS VERY JOLLY MUSIC, IT’S JOYOUS MUSIC.” ROGER EMTER IS THE MAESTRO OF NORTH DAKOTA’S LARGEST FAMILY BAND. HE AND HIS WIFE, FOUR CHILDREN, THEIR SPOUSES, AND FOURTEEN GRANDCHILDREN PLAY FIFTEEN DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS, FILLING ANY STAGE WITH HARMONY. RENAE EMTER: “THE YOUNGER GENERATION, THEY LOVE TO PERFORM JUST AS MUCH AS THE OLDER ONES DO. THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SHARE YOUR TALENT WITH SOMEONE ELSE THAT’S PRETTY WONDERFUL.” THE ORIGINAL EMTER BAND BEGAN MAKING MUSIC IN 1990. ROGER EMTER: “WE PLAYED AT A RESTAURANT AND THEY GAVE US A FREE DINNER AND I SAID, “WOW, WE CAN DO THIS EVERYDAY.” THE FAMILY TOOK THEIR FOLK MUSIC SHOW ON THE ROAD IN 1996. ALIDA WIEST: “IT ALLOWED US OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD OTHERWISE.” ALIDA WIEST AND HER SIBLINGS PLAYED IN 25 STATES. WHEN THE KIDS WEREN’T ON STAGE, THEY WERE BEING HOMESCHOOLED. THEN MARRIAGES, CAREERS, AND GRANDKIDS BROKE UP THE BAND. ALIDA WIEST, EMTER BAND: ONE, TWO THREE...POLKA MUSIC.... NOW A NEW GENERATION OF MUSICIANS ARE TAKING THEIR PLACE ON STAGE, AND THE EMTER FAMILY BAND IS BACK TOGETHER, BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER. KATIE EMTER, EMTER BAND: “WITH MORE PEOPLE, IT’S EASIER TO BLEND IN YOUR MISTAKES.” KATIE EMTER IS TWELVE. SHE PLAYS THE ACCORDION, CLARINET, DRUMS, PIANO AND TRUMPET AND FINDS TIME TO PRACTICE EVERY DAY WITH HER AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS AND GRANDPARENTS. ALIDA WIEST: “IT’S WONDERFUL TO BE PLAYING MUSIC TOGETHER AGAIN, THE GREATEST JOY COMES IN SHARING IT.” POLKA LOVERS ARE CHIMING WITH APPROVAL AND APPRECIATION BECAUSE THE EMTERS ARE PROVIDING AN ENCORE FOR THE TUNES THEY LOVE TO TAP THEIR TOES TO. I’M CLIFF NAYLOR REPORTING FOR AGDAY. ) HOW FUN IS THAT!