TODAY ON AGDAY
JUNE 21, 2017
HEADLINES
DICAMBA TOLERANT CROPS ARE GAINING POPULARITY BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN. IN AGRIBUSINESS...A CONVERSATION ABOUT CONDITIONS. THE PACKER TV TALKS TABLE GRAPES AND IMPROVING PRODUCTION IN CALIFORNIA. AND A MICHIGAN FOOD COMPANY IS HELPING CONNECT THE BREAKFAST TABLE WITH THE FARM. AGDAY-BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEPENDABLE, LONG LASTING CHEVY SILVERADO.
ARKANSAS TAKING ACTION ON DICAMBA
GOOD MORNING I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. FOLLOWING NUMEROUS REPORTS OF CROP DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF DICAMBA HERBICIDE, THE STATE OF ARKANSAS IS ACTING-- OPTING TO TAKE MORE CONTROL OF ITS USE. A COMMITTEE OF THE ARKANSAS STATE PLANT BOARD WANTS TO INSTITUTE AN EMERGENCY BAN OF DICAMBA IN CROPS AS THE AGENCY INVESTIGATES MORE THAN 100 CASES OF ALLEGED MIS-USE. IF APPROVED, ARKANSAS WOULD BE THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO TAKE THIS KIND OF ACTION. IN MOST CASES IT’S ALLEGED TO BE DRIFTING FROM NEIGHBORING FARM FIELDS. A MAJORITY OF THE CASES ARE FROM COUNTIES THAT BORDER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WHERE MOST OF THE STATE’S SOYBEANS AND COTTON ARE GROWN. THE GOVERNOR WOULD STILL NEED TO APPROVE THE DICAMBA BAN WHICH WOULD BE IN AFFECT FOR 120 DAYS. RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS DIVISION OF AG SAY THE INCREASE IN DRIFT COMPLAINTS IS PARTLY BECAUSE MANY MORE FARMERS ARE USING DICAMBA RESISTANT SOYBEANS AND COTTON THIS YEAR TO COMBAT GLYPHOSATE-RESISTANT PIGWEED. FARMERS ARE TURNING TO THIS ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY THIS YEAR TO CONTROL WEEDS IN THEIR FIELDS. TODD GLEASON HAS MORE ON WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT FROM A NEW, OLD- PRODUCT. DICAMBA HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT HALF-A-CENTURY. IT IS A CORN HERBICIDE, BUT SOYBEANS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO TOLERATE IT. THIS WAS DONE BECAUSE SO MANY WEEDS HAVE MODIFIED THEMSELVES TO RESIST BEING KILLED BY GLYPHOSATE, COMMONLY KNOWN AS ROUND-UP. THE PRIMARY PROBLEM, SAYS UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION WEED SCIENTIST AARON HAGER, IS WATERHEMP. AARON HAGER/U OF I WEED SPECIALIST: “DICAMBA, IN THE 50 YEARS THAT WE’VE USED IT, HAS NEVER BEEN EXCELLENT ON ANY OF THE PIGWEED SPECIES. IT CAN BE GOOD. IT CAN BE VERY GOOD, BUT IT IS NOT EXCELLENT. IT IS NOT AS CONSISTENT. " THIS INCONSISTENCY MAKES THE TIMING OF DICAMBA APPLICATIONS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. WITHOUT A DOUBT, SAYS HAGER, MOST POST APPLIED HERBICIDES ARE GOING TO DO A BETTER JOB OF CONTROLLING A FULL SUITE OF WEEDS IN A FIELD WHEN THE WEEDS ARE LESS THAN THREE TO FOUR INCHES IN SIZE.” CERTAINLY, WITH SOMETHING LIKE DICAMBA AND WATERHEMP, OUR RECOMMENDATION TO FARMERS IS TO TREAT VERY, VERY SMALL WEEDS, BUT TO GO BACK IN ABOUT 10 TO 14 DAYS AND TO SCOUT THOSE TREATED FIELDS. LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE EFFICACY HAS BEEN. SOMETIMES WE CAN TWIST UP THESE PIGWEED PLANTS, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THEY WILL NECESSARILY BE COMPLETELY CONTROLLED.” IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE WEEDS TO RECOVER, FLOWER, AND PRODUCE SEED. AND THAT, SAYS AARON HAGER, IS SOMETHING TO AVOID.” FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION, THIS IS TODD GLEASON. U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT LIGHTHIZER GOES BEFORE THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY, HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS, THURSDAY TO TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENT’S TRADE AGENDA.
SPEAKING OF THE U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE-- PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST NOMINATING A FORMER SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE AIDE AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY ECONOMIST AS THE CHIEF AGRICULTURAL NEGOTIATOR FOR THE U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE’S OFFICE. THE WHITE HOUSE CONFIRMING GREGG DOUD
AS THE NOMINEE. DOUD IS CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMODITY MARKETS COUNCIL, A WASHINGTON, D.C.-BASED TRADE ASSOCIATION. AND THEY’LL HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM, U.S. AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS TO MEXICO HAVE DECLINED OVER THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF 2017. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTS THAT MEXICAN IMPORTS OF U.S. SOYBEAN MEAL DROPPED 15 PERCENT, THE FIRST DECLINE IN FOUR YEARS. CHICKEN EXPORTS TO MEXICO WHERE DOWN 11 PERCENT, THE BIGGEST DECLINE SINCE 2003. AND U.S. CORN EXPORTS TO MEXICO DROPPED SIX PERCENT. MEXICO IS THE LARGEST EXPORT MARKET FOR SOYBEAN MEAL, CHICKEN AND CORN FOR THE UNITED STATES.
PERDUE IN GEORGIA
AG EXPORTS A KEY FOCUS THIS WEEK AS THE AG LEADERS FOR THE U.S. MEXICO AND CANADA MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SAVANNAH GEORGIA. AG SECRETARY SONNY PERDUE AND HIS COUNTERPARTS SEEN HERE TOURING THE SHIP-TO-SHORE OPERATIONS AT THE PORT OF SAVANNAH. IN A STATEMENT SECRETARY PERDUE SAID QUOTE “WE SHARE A COMMITMENT TO KEEPING OUR MARKETS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT SO THAT TRADE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW. THAT MUTUAL COMMITMENT WAS REAFFIRMED IN OUR DISCUSSIONS THIS WEEK.”
CROP COMMENTS
THE REVIEWS OF PLANT 17 ARE MIXED AT THIS POINT. WE GET DETAILS FROM MIKE HOFFMAN AND TODAY’S CROP COMMENTS. MIKE. GOOD MORNING, CLINTON. WE’RE STARTING OFF IN BURT COUNTY, NEBRASKA. MATT NELSON SAYS CONDITIONS ARE VERY GOOD IN THE AREA. HIS AREA DIDN’T RECEIVE THE DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL TO THE WEST AND SOUTH OF HIM. USDA SAYS 78 PERCENT OF NEBRASKA’S CORN CROP AND 72 PERCENT OF THE SOYBEAN CROP IS RATED GOOD TO EXCELLENT. AND A VIEWER FROM DALLAS COUNTY, IOWA WRITING TO AGWEB.COM. THE FARMER SAYS THE AREA IS MUCH MORE SPOTTY THAN HE ANTICIPATED. THE LOCAL AGRONOMIST SAYS THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH ROOT STRUCTURE. THE FARMER IS BANKING ON A LESS THAN AVERAGE YIELD AT THIS POINT IN TIME. AND NOW HERE ARE SOME HOMETOWN TEMPS. VISIT FARM JOURNAL PRO.COM. TRUSTED ANALYSIS, PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT. FARM JOURNAL PRO.COM.
TEASE
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I WANT TO MAKE SURE SOME OF THE YOUNGER OPERATORS OUT THERE KNOW ABOUT THE UPCOMING TOMORROW’S TOP PRODUCER CONFERENCE THIS JULY IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE. ANY AND ALL YOUNG FARMERS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN OUR CORPORATE COUSINS FROM TOP PRODUCER MAGAZINE, IN NASHVILLE ON JULY 20-21. THIS YEAR THE FOCUS IS ON 5 PROFIT STRATEGIES FOR YOUNG PRODUCERS AND A LITANY OF OTHER INFORMATION FROM LEADING EXPERTS. EARLY REGISTRATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED... GO REGISTER AT TOMORROW’S TOP PRODUCER DOT COM. WHEN WE COME BACK WE’LL TALK ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE CORN CROP AND WHAT IT MEANS AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE GROWING SEASON. AND SEE HOW A CEREAL MAKER IS TRYING TO CONNECT CONSUMERS TO FARMERS WITH A CONVERSATION AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE. IN THE COUNTRY IS OFF TO MICHIGAN LATER ON AGDAY. GET THE ROOTS YOUR CROPS NEED, BY GETTING RADIATE FIRST. VISIT LOVELAND PRODUCTS.COM SLASH RADIATE. SEE YOUR CPS DEALER TODAY.
FLOOR OF THE CME
IN AGRIBUSINESS OIL PRICES AND OTHER MAJOR COMMODITIES FEELING THE PRESSURE ON TUESDAY. LETS GET AN UPDATE FROM THE FLOOR OF THE CME IN CHICAGO. WEATHER PATTERNS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. CORN BELT HAVE TURNED FAVORABLE FOR THE MOST PART AND HAVE BEEN MOSTLY NON THREATENING. WE’RE LOOKING AT SOME PRETTY WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AND SOME COOLER TEMPERATURES DURING THE NEXT 10 DAYS. SO NO MAJOR WEATHER THREAT HERE AND WHEN THAT’S THE CASE IN LATE JUNE YOU’RE GOING TO SEE SOME PRESSURE IN THE MARKET. THE NEXT THING ASIDE FROM WEATHER IS A BIG USDA REPORT WE’VE GOT NEXT FRIDAY THE 30TH. THIS IS THE QUARTERLY STOCKS AND THE PLANTED ACREAGES REPORT. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY PIVOTAL REPORT BECAUSE I THINK THE ACREAGE NUMBERS ARE A BIG POINT OF CONTENTION THIS YEAR. SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE GRAIN STOCKS NUMBER COULD BE A LITTLE BIT NEGATIVE. WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A BIG CROP LAST YEAR A RECORD CROP HERE IN THE U.S. LAST YEAR. A LOT OF WHICH IS STILL BEING HELD BY FARMERS AND IN THE HANDS OF COMMERCIALS. LIVE CATTLE MARKET WAS MOSTLY LOWER HERE ON TUESDAY. WE’VE SEEN THE FUTURES MARKET UNDER SOME PRESSURE HERE AMID EXPECTATIONS FOR A LOWER CASH TRADE. NOW WE DID HAVE A CASH TRADE LOWER LAST WEEK WE WERE IN THE UPPER 20S TO TAKE A HIGH OF ABOUT 130. TRADE, I BELIEVE, IT’S EXPECTING A TRADE AT THE CASH MARKET TO COME DOWN EVEN FURTHER THIS WEEK MAYBE IN THE MID TO LOW 20S. SO THAT’S GOING TO BE KIND OF THE BIG UNKNOWN HERE. JUST FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. AGAIN JOE VACLAVIK STANDARD GRAIN AT THE CME GROUP HERE IN CHICAGO.
AGRIBUSINESS
BRAD MATTHEWS ROACH AG MARKETING OUR GUEST HERE AT THE AGRIBUSINESS DESK TODAY. BRAD LET’S TALK ABOUT THE CONDITION RATING OF THIS CROP YOU KNOW. AND IF WE LOOK AT CORN. SIXTY SEVEN PERCENT GOOD EXCELLENT. A WEEK AGO AND THEN BEING 66 PERCENT GOOD EXCELLENT. A WEEK AGO. WE KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THERE’S BEEN SOME HIT OR MISS RAINS. WHAT KIND OF STOCK DO WE PUT IN THESE CONDITION NUMBERS. WELL I THINK IT MATTERS. I KNOW IT’S EARLY BUT TO ME THE REASON THAT THE RATINGS ARE DOWN. YOU GOTTA LOOK AT THE STATES THEY’RE DOWN TO. YOU KNOW ILLINOIS 17 PERCENT BELOW LAST YEAR INDIANA 29 PERCENT BELOW LAST YEAR. OHIO 15 PERCENT BELOW LAST YEAR. IT’S IN THE EAST AND IT’S BECAUSE NOT ONLY HOW FAR BEHIND IT IS BUT THERE’S A LOT OF UNEVENESS IN THE STANDS TRUE. AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE STAND. THERE’S ALSO THE STAND COUNT ISSUE POPULATION I HAVE GUYS TELL ME THAT THEY PLAN AT 36000 POPULATION IS COMING UP AT 26, 27, 28. WE DON’T HAVE THE PLANTS OUT IN THE FIELD TO ACHIEVE THE YIELDS THAT WE SAW THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. OK. SO IF WE START TO PULL SOME OF THAT YIELD DOWN HOW DOES THAT PLAY OUT AS WE KIND OF WORK THROUGH THE REST OF THIS YEAR. I MEAN THE U.S.D.A HAS STILL GOT TO SET WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY 171 ON CORN FOR A NATIONAL AVERAGE YIELD. ABSOLUTELY AND IT MIGHT TAKE TILL THE HARVEST BEFORE THEY BUY INTO IT. BUT IN 2015 IT WAS KIND OF SIMILAR THE EAST HAD SOME PROBLEMS AND THE WEST HAD RECORD CROPS AND IT WAS A 168 AND THAT WAS WITH RECORD CROP. SO IF YOU SAY THAT THIS YEAR IS KIND OF SIMILAR TO THAT AND THE FACT THAT PRODUCTION WILL PROBABLY BE DOWN IN THE EAST VERSUS YOU KNOW LAST YEAR’S RECORDS. I THINK IT’S CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE THAT 171 YIELD. NOW YOU STILL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE’VE GOT TO DO FOR THE REST OF THE MENU THE GROWING HERE. THERE’S STILL SOME HOT DRY CONCERNS THAT COULD HAPPEN IN JULY. THAT’S THE OTHER PART ABOUT THE CROP AND THE CONDITION RATINGS IS IT’S BEHIND YOU KNOW IT’S TWO TO THREE WEEKS BEHIND. SO WHEN WE POLLINATE THERE’S REALLY A LOT OF STUFF IN THE SECOND THE THIRD WEEK OF JULY. IT DOESN’T MEAN IT HAS TO BE HOT BUT WE’RE TALKING TYPICALLY A HOTTER DRIER PERIOD OF TIME THAN WHAT WE’VE SEEN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN POLLINATION. RIGHT. AND POLLINATION THAT’S WHEN WE MAKE GRAIN. AND IF IT GETS HOT AND GETS SPOTTY POLLINATION DOES NOT LIKE THAT. SO THAT’S WE COULD EAT INTO THE OVERALL PICTURE EVEN MORE. VERY QUICKLY WE COULD VERY QUICKLY WE COULD. ALL RIGHT THANKS FOR THE PERSPECTIVE WE’LL BE BACK WITH MORE AGDAY IN JUST A MINUTE.
WEATHER
WELCOME BACK TO AGDAY. HERE WITH METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN, LOOKING AT THE ROOT ZONE MOISTURE MAP AND MIKE IF WE LOOK AT THE CENTRAL PLAINS HERE YOU CAN TELL WHERE WE DO NEED THE RAIN AND WHERE WE DON’T. YEAH THAT’S PROBABLY TRUE AND THOSE AREAS HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT WORSE. BUT THERE ARE OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE GOTTEN MOISTURE OVER THE LAST WEEK. KIND OF AMAZING. THERE ARE PLACES LIKE FLORIDA THAT IS NOW WET. IT HAD BEEN DRY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. WE SEE PLACES LIKE THE GREAT LAKES. NORTHERN INDIANA SEEING SOME WET AREAS AS WELL WHERE IT’S TOO MUCH RAIN. BUT WE HAVE HAD IMPROVEMENT IN THE CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI VALLEY WHERE IT WAS TURNING DRY AND NOW IT REALLY ISN’T. AND THE REALLY DRY AREAS HAVE IMPROVED IN MOST OF THE DAKOTAS NOT ALL SPOTS. BUT AGAIN THE CONCERN LIKE CLINTON POINTED OUT CENTRAL PLAINS DOWN INTO TEXAS THOSE AREAS HAVE GOTTEN DRY. TROPICAL STORM CINDY HAS FORMED LIKE WE SAID IT PROBABLY WOULD YESTERDAY AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE GULF. THAT IS GOING TO PUT DOWN HUGE AMOUNTS OF RAIN FROM THE CENTRAL GULF INTO THE TEXAS GULF COAST AREA. AND THAT DOES COME INLAND AFTER THAT. MORE THAN LIKELY IT GOES UP INTO THIS AREA AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE WEEKEND TO OKLAHOMA AND EASTERN TEXAS AND THEN MOVES NORTHEAST FROM THERE. MORE THAN LIKELY SOUTH OF THE GREAT LAKES WHERE IT’S ALREADY PRETTY WET. SO THERE’S THE MAP THIS MORNING MULTIPLE FRONTS ON HERE. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG SEVERAL OF THOSE FRONTS. AND YOU CAN SEE AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY I DON’T SEE ANY MAJOR AREAS OF RAIN EXCEPT WITH TROPICAL STORM CINDY BUT YOU CAN SEE JUST POCKETS OF SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HERE AND THERE. HEADING THROUGH TONIGHT THEN YOU CAN SEE AREAS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INCREASING IN THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES WITH THIS SECONDARY FRONT COMING IN. CINDY IS INLAND MORE THAN LIKELY IT’LL DIMINISH FROM A TROPICAL STORM POINT PRETTY QUICKLY ONCE IT COMES INLAND BUT IT PUTS DOWN A BUNCH OF RAIN AND THAT CONTINUES TO HEAD UP TOWARD THE DALLAS AREA AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY TOMORROW AND YOU CAN SEE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING ALONG THAT SECONDARY FRONT IN PARTS OF THE NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ESPECIALLY IOWA. THERE’S THE PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES PAST 24 HOURS ALREADY SHOWING SOME AREAS WITH A HALF FOOT TO A FOOT OF RAIN IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA AREA. AND YOU CAN SEE OUR COMPUTER MODEL IS SHOWING THREE TO SIX INCHES IN A WIDESPREAD AREA FROM SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI THROUGH SOUTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF TEXAS. HIGHS TODAY IN THE 90S THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS WAY INTO THE TRIPLE DIGITS AND MUCH OF THE SOUTHWEST A LITTLE BIT MORE PLEASANT AS YOU HEAD INTO THE GREAT LAKES AND THE NORTHEAST. NORTHWEST ALSO ON THE COOL SIDING SEE LOWS TONIGHT IN THE 50S BUT LOTS OF 70S FROM IOWA AND NEBRASKA SOUTHWARD FOR LOWS. HIGHS TOMORROW 80S AND 90S AGAIN FOR MOST AREAS SOUTH OF THE GREAT LAKES AND SOUTH OF THE FAR NORTHERN PLAINS. THERE’S THE TROUGH MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHEAST. ANOTHER ONE KIND OF DIVES IN FOR FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY INTO THE GREAT LAKES. I MEAN SEE THIS TROUGH IS PRETTY PERSISTENT AS WE HEAD INTO NEXT WEEK FOR THE NORTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. THAT’S A LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOW LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME LOCAL FORECASTS. WE HEAD TO LAKE VIEW OREGON. FIRST OF ALL LOTS OF SUNSHINE AND WARM HIGH OF 86 DEGREES. DECATUR ILLINOIS PARTLY SUNNY A SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM IS POSSIBLE HIGH OF 86 AND LAKE CITY FLORIDA. OCCASIONAL RAIN AND THE THUNDERSTORM LIKELY HIGH AROUND 84.
ALLIGATOR COWBOY
A 10-FOOT ALLIGATOR HAS A NEW HOME AFTER COMING TOO CLOSE TO SOME CALVES IN EAST TEXAS. IT ALL STARTED WHEN HAL CONOVER OF HAWKINS, TEXAS NOTICED THAT AN ALLIGATOR HAD BROKEN INTO A PEN WHERE HE WAS WEANING CALVES. AN ALLIGATOR HUNTER WAS CALLED IN TO CAPTURE THE CRITTER. THEY USED SOME GOOD OLE FASHIONED COWBOY SKILLS TO LASSO THE GATOR. AT ONE POINT, THE ALLIGATOR BIT ONE OF THE WRANGLER’S FINGERS BUT THERE WAS REPORTEDLY NO LASTING DAMAGE. EVENTUALLY, THE MEN GOT THE ANIMAL INTO THE BACK OF A LIVESTOCK TRAILER. HE WAS TRANSPORTED AND RELOCATED TO A GATOR FARM.
TEASE
NEXT IN PACKER T-V....THE RISING VALUE OF AVOCADOES MAKE THEM A TASTY TARGET FOR THIEVES, AND SOME SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE ABOUT FOOD AND FARMERS. FIND OUT WHAT ROLE KELLOGGS PLAYS IN THAT DISCUSSION. AGDAY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY TOP THIRD AG MARKETING. FARMER-FIRST, WITH A PLAN FOR EVERY MARKET.
PACKER TV
CALIFORNIA’S TABLE GRAPE SEASON IS UNDERWAY IN THE STATE. GROWERS ARE EXPERIENCING A MUCH DIFFERENT GROWING SEASON THIS YEAR- THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR SAYS ROUGHLY 23 PERCENT OF THE STATE IS ABNORMALLY DRY, 8 PERCENT IN A SEVERE DROUGHT - IT’S A STARK DIFFERENCE FROM A YEAR AGO WHEN THE WHOLE STATE WAS ABNORMALLY DRY AND OVER 83 PERCENT IN A SEVERE DROUGHT. THE CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPE COMMISSION SAYS THE STATE’S PRODUCTION IS EXPECTED TO IMPROVE AS WELL. (EXCEPT DIDN’T SAY ON CAMERA IT’S DUE TO WEATHER.<"FIRST FORECAST FOR CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPE CROP THROUGH IN APRIL. THAT FORECAST WAS JUST OVER 112 MILLION 19 POUND BOXES OF GRAPES, THAT CROP IS EXPECTED TO BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR’S CROP OF 2016, WHICH CAME IN AT 108.9 MILLION BOXES OF 19 POUND GRAPES. “THE COMMISSION SAYS THERE ARE OVER 85 VARIETIES OF TALBE GRAPES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA. THE SEASON TYPICALLY LASTS MAY THROUGH JANAUARY. THE RISE OF AVOCADO PRICES IS MAKING THEM A TARGET FOR THEFT. THREE WORKERS IN OXNARD CALIFORNIA WERE JUST ARRESTED AND CHARGED FOR STEALING UP TO 300-THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF AVOCADOS. ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY SHERIFF, THE MEN WERE SELLING THE FRUIT OUT OF A RIPENING FACILITY...FOR ABOUT HALF PRICE. THE MEN WERE CAUGHT ON VIDEO SURVEILLANCE MAKING SALES AND POCKETING THE CASH. A BOX OF AVOCADOS CURRENTLY GOES FOR ABOUT 50 DOLLARS.
TEASE
WHEN WE COME BACK, FROM SEED TO CEREAL...ONE COMPANY’S PURSUIT OF PERFECTION AND THE FARMERS WORKING WITH THEM ALONG THE WAY.
IN THE COUNTRY
IN THE COUNTRY - SPONSORED BY KUBOTA’S BV4580 ROUND BALER. LEARN MORE AT KUBOTA.COM OR VISIT YOUR LOCAL KUBOTA DEALER TODAY. A MICHIGAN COMPANY KNOWN FOR ITS BREAKFAST CEREALS IS HELPING TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN CONSUMERS AND THE AMERICAN FARMER. KELLOGG COMPANY IS HELPING FARMERS IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY ON FARMS ACROSS THE U-S...AND THEY WANT SHOPPERS TO KNOW IT....AND THE FARMERS WHO ARE DOING IT. TYNE MORGAN TELLS US ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN WADING THROUGH WHEAT JUSTIN KRICK IS LOOKING AT ONE OF THE BEST CROPS YET. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE NICER FIELDS WE’VE EVER HAD. BUT IT’S WHAT’S GOING ON BELOW THE GROUND THAT’S SO UNIQUE. SEE THAT HOW FAR. DOWN THESE ROOTS ARE GOING. SOIL CONSERVATION IS NOTHING NEW IN THIS MICHIGAN WHEAT FIELD. SO IT’S REALLY NICE SOIL STRUCTURE BUT WHAT APPLICATIONS ARE APPLIED AND WHEN HAS CHANGED. OUR INPUTS ARE MORE OR MORE SCIENTIFICALLY RESEARCHED NOW. ABOUT 70 MILES NORTHEAST RITA HERFORD IS DOING THE SAME. SO EVERY EVERY DOT HERE IS WHERE THEY TOOK A SOIL SAMPLE. THIS IS HER FIRST SIXTH SEASON BACK ON THE FAMILY FARM HELPING RAISE THE BAR ON CONSERVATION BOTH HERFORD AND CRICH ARE DOING ALL OF THIS WITH THE HELP OF KELLOGG COMPANY. WE’RE IN THEIR GREAT LAKES ORIGIN PROGRAM. AND SO BASICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE’RE GIVING THEM ALL OF OUR INFORMATION OUR CRAP RECORDS SO THEY CAN TURN AROUND AND SHOW THE CONSUMERS THE SUSTAINABILITY SIDE OF THEIR FARMERS. THESE FARMERS AND KELLOGG COMPANY MAY HAVE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS BUT THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME GOAL IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH. THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO US BECAUSE THE SOIL IS WHERE EVERYTHING HAPPENS. IF OUR SOIL IS NOT HEALTHY IT’S NOT ACTIVE IT DOESN’T HAVE PLANT NUTRIENTS. THIS WHEAT FIELD WOULD NOT BE LOOKING AS NICE AS IT IS. SO WE SEEK TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY WHAT ARE THE NEEDS. AND THEY VARY. RIGHT. WHAT WORKS ON ONE ACRE DOESN’T WORK ON ANOTHER ACRE MUCH LESS STATE TO STATE CROP TO CROP. DIANE HOLDORF IS THE CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER FOR KELLOGG COMPANY. SHE SAYS FROM FARMERS TO CONSUMERS TO EVEN THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES THE COMPANY CARES HOW THEIR KEY INGREDIENTS ARE GROWN. WITHOUT ROBUST FOOD SYSTEMS AND STRONG HEALTHY FARMS AND FARMERS WHO CAN MAKE A GOOD LIVELIHOOD THE KELLOGG COMPANY CAN’T EXIST. THE ICONIC KELLOGG BRAND HAS BEEN PARKED ON GROCERY STORE SHELVES SINCE 1906. THIS HAS BEEN A REAL LEARNING JOURNEY FOR US BECAUSE THE KELLOGG COMPANY DOESN’T OWN OUR FARMS. WE DON’T HAVE FARMERS IN OUR BUSINESS. WE WORK WITH SUPPLIERS WHO ARE OFTEN ONE SOMETIMES TWO TO THREE STEPS REMOVED FROM THE FARM. HOLDORF SAYS AS A COMPANY KELLOGG HAS A CLEAR PURPOSE OR PURPOSE DRIVEN AND OUR PURPOSE IS TO NOURISH FAMILIES SO THAT THEY CAN FLOURISH AND THRIVE. AND WE TAKE THAT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT ACROSS OUR VALUE CHAIN. BUT HOLDORF SAYS MANY FARMS HAVE SIMILAR CONSERVATION GOALS. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME KEY THINGS WHERE THERE’S OPPORTUNITIES. SOIL HEALTH, WATER QUALITY, YIELD POTENTIAL, APPROPRIATE INPUTS TO MANAGE COSTS. IT’S THOSE OPPORTUNITIES HELPING CREATE LOFTY GOALS FOR THE KELLOGG BRAND WITH A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLY SOURCE 10 OF THEIR INGREDIENTS BY THE YEAR 2020. WE’VE QUANTIFIED THAT TO MEAN THAT WE WANT TO HAVE HELPED IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOODS OF OVER HALF A MILLION FARMERS. KELLOGG’S ALSO PARTNERING UP WITH THE SOIL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP TO HELP GROWERS DISCOVER WHICH CONSERVATION PRACTICES ARE MAKING TANGIBLE DIFFERENCES ON THE FARM. IT’S THE WORK ALREADY GOING ON MOVING THE NEEDLE TO EVEN MORE SUSTAINABLE AG. AND IT’S THE DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABLE THAT DIGS DEEP ON THESE FARMS. KELLOGG’S ALSO OWNS THE KASHI BRAND, AND SAYS THE DEMAND FOR ORGANIC INGREDIENTS IS OUTPACING SUPPLY. SO, THE COMPANY IS HELPING FARMERS WHO WANT TO TRANSITION MORE ACRES TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION, DO SO. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THOSE EFFORTS ON THE BACK OF THE KASHI CEREAL BOX.
CLOSE
THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS MORNING. WE’RE GLAD YOU TUNED IN. FOR MIKE HOFFMAN, AND ALL OF US AT AGDAY I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. HAVE A GREAT DAY. AGDAY IS POWERED BY RAM TRUCKS - AMERICA’S LONGEST LASTING PICKUPS.
