TODAY ON AGDAY
JUNE 29, 2017
HEADLINES
A MAJOR BEEF BETWEEN ABC NEWS AND A SOUTH DAKOTA PROCESSOR GETS SETTLED. IN AGRIBUSINESS...IS THE WEATHER MARKET OVER?\ DROVER’S TV LOOKS AT THE BULL MARKET IN 2017. AND COMBINING SERVICE WITH SAFETY THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND. AGDAY-BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEPENDABLE, LONG LASTING CHEVY SILVERADO.
PINK SLIME CASE SETTLED
GOOD MORNING I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. AFTER THREE WEEKS OF TESTIMONY N A DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST A-B-C NEWS FOR ITS USE OF THE PHRASE “PINK SLIME”, THERE’S AN ABRUPT END TO THE CASE IN SOUTH DAKOTA. BEEF PRODUCTS INCORPORATED HAS SETTLED WITH A-B-C FOR AN UN- DISCLOSED AMOUNT. B-P-I WAS SEEKING NEARLY TWO BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NETWORK’S REPORTS ON ITS LEAN, FINELY TEXTURED BEEF PRODUCT. TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT ARE CONFIDENTIAL. DAN WEBB/BPI ATTORNEY; “IT’S BEEN A LONG ROAD FOR BPI. BUT IT WAS A ROAD THAT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THIS LITIGATION TO HAVE THIS TRIAL IN ORDER TO RECTIFY THE HARM THAT WAS CAUSED BY WHAT WE BELIEVED TO BE BASELESS AND BIASED REPORTING THAT OCCURRED IN 2012. " GREG HENDERSON/DROVERS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR; “GIVEN THE HIGH LEGAL THRESHOLD BEEF PRODUCTS BEING FACED IN ORDER TO PREVAIL IN THEIR LAWSUIT AGAINST ABC NEWS THIS SETTLEMENT IS SURPRISING. HOWEVER I THINK IT CONFIRMS WHAT BPI ARGUED DURING THE 18 DAYS OF THE TRIAL THAT LEAN FINELY TEXTURED BEEF IS A SAFE AND WHOLESOME BEEF PRODUCT AND IT HELPS OUR INDUSTRY ELIMINATE FOOD WASTE. " ABC REPORTER JIM AVILA WAS AT THE CENTER OF THE CASE. HE TOLD KTIV-TV - QUOTING HERE - ""I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE NOT RETRACTING ANYTHING AND WE ARE NOT APOLOGIZING FOR ANYTHING. I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS A BUSINESS DECISION AND I DO SUPPORT MY COMPANY’S DECISION,”
SEC. PERDUE IN CHINA
MEANWHILE AG SECRETARY SONNY PERDUE IS IN CHINA AS THE NATION AGREES TO ACCEPT IMPORTS OF U-S BEEF. THE TWO NATION’S AGREED TO TERMS TWO WEEKS AGO. CHINA BANNED U-S BEEF FOLLWING THE BSE SCARE IN 2003. PERDUE’S VISIT COINCIDES WITH AMBASSADOR TERRY BRANSTAD’S FIRST FEW DAYS ON THE JOB IN CHINA. BRANSTAD IS THE FORMER SIX-TERM GOVERNOR OF IOWA. HE’S KNOWN CHINA PRESIDENT XI JINPING SINCE XI VISITED IOWA ON A 1985 TRADE TRIP. USDA WILL RELEASE ITS QUARTERLY HOGS AND PIGS REPORT THIS AFTERNOON. A POLL CONDUCTED BY REUTERS SHOWING ANALYSTS ON AVERAGE EXPECT A U.S. HOG INVENTORY AT ROUGHLY 71-POINT-5 MILLION HEAD, 3-POINT-3 PERCENT HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR. PURDUE AG. ECONOMIST CHRIS HURT SAYS THE INCREASED PACKING SPACE COMING ONLINE COULD CREATE STRONG BIDS AND PRICES FOR HOGS - A POTENTIAL CHANGE FROM DEPRESSED HOG PRICES LAST YEAR. “LAST YEAR WAS NOT A PROFITABLE YEAR, IN FACT, WE LOOK AT LOSSES IN 2016 AROUND 11 DOLLARS PER HEAD. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THERE HASN’T BEEN A STRONG FINANCIAL INSENTITIVE FOR PORK PRODUCERS TO HAVE THIS BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR EXPANSION. SO I THINK WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THE BREEDING HERD SOMETHING IN THE 1 TO 2 PERCENT HIGHER RANGE. THAT’S ABOUT WHAT WE’VE BEEN SEEING. 26 I DON’T THINK WE’LL SEE A STRONG RAMP UP IN EXPANSION BUT WE DON’T SEE A DECLINE.” HURT ANTICIPATES THE MARKET HERD TO BE 3 TO 3 AND A HALF PERCENT HIGHER, HE SAYS THAT’S LIKELY GOING TO GIVE THE U.S. 4 PERCENT MORE MARKET HOGS BY MID SUMMER. HE THINKS THAT PERCENTAGE WILL SHRINK BY DECEMBER 2017.
WOTUS ISN’T DEAD YET
IT ISN’T DEAD YET...THAT’S THE CAUTION FROM AG GROUPS AS THEY REACT TO THE LATEST MOVE BY EPA TO REPEAL IT’S WATERS OF THE U.S. RULE. EPA ADMINISTRATOR SCOTT PRUITT TELLING LAWMAKERS TUESDAY THAT THE EPA HAS SENT ITS REPEAL OF THE WATERS OF THE U.S. RULE TO THE FEDERAL REGISTER. THAT BEGINS THE PROCESS OF ENDING THE REGULATION. THE FORMAL WITHDRAW OF THE OBAMA-ERA RULE FOLLOWS THROUGH ON A CAMPAIGN PROMISE BY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, WHO SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRING AN EPA REVIEW OF THE RULE. WHILE THE REGULATION WENT INTO EFFECT IN AUGUST OF 2015, A FEDERAL COURT PUT THE RULE ON HOLD. EPA INTENDS TO FOLLOW THE FEDERAL RULEMAKING PROCESS IN REPEALING THE RULE.
166 BU/ACRE CORN?
AS MARKETS GEAR UP FOR THE LATEST ACREAGE REPORT DUE OUT FROM USDA FRIDAY-- YIELD EXPECTATIONS ARE RAMPING UP. A COMPANY CALLED TELLUS-LABS IS USING SATELLITE IMAGERY TO CALCULATE YIELDS. AREAS IN GREEN ARE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR, RED IS WORSE. AS OF THIS WEEK, IT’S MODELS PREDICT AN END OF YEAR YIELD OF 166- BUSHEL TO THE ACRE FOR CORN AND 49 AND A HALF FOR SOYBEANS. WHILE IT ADMITS IT’S EARLY IN THE SEASON-- OUR PARTNERS OVER AT FARM JOURNAL PRO SAY THAT COULD DROP CORN CARRYOUT BELOW THE 2 BILLION BUSHEL MARK.
CROP COMMENTS
THE NORTHERN PLAINS HAD QUITE THE STORM EARLIER THIS WEEK. MIKE HOFFMAN JOINS US NOW WITH AN UPDATE. MIKE. THANKS CLINTON. DARREN FISCHER IN JACKSON COUNTY, MINNESOTA GOT CAUGHT IN THAT STORM EARLIER IN THE WEEK. HE HAD 3.9" HIS RAIN GAUGE AS OF WEDNESDAY MORNING. USDA SAYS 76 PERCENT OF MINNESOTA’S SOYBEAN CROP IS RATED GOOD TO EXCELLENT. THOSE NUMBERS WERE TALLIED BEFORE THE RAIN HIT. SOUTH OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA LUCKILY MISSED SOME OF THE ACTION. THIS FARMER RECEIVED JUST UNDER 2 INCHES OF RAIN. AREAS AROUND HIM RECEIVED MUCH MORE. HE WELCOMES THE PRECEIPTATION FOR PASTURES AND ALFALAFA BUT NOT SO MUCH FOR HIS ROW CROPS. NOW SWITCHING GEARS WITH A SORGHUM UPDATE... CODY GOODKNIGHT IN CHATTANOOGA, OKLAHOMA SAYS THE SORGHUM IS A LITTLE OVER HALF HEADED OUT AND MOST OF THE CROP IS IN GOOD CONDITION IN HIS AREA. A NICE SHOWER OVER THE WEEKEND HELPED. USDA SAYS 73 PERCENT OF OKLAHOMA’S SOYBEAN CROP IS RATED GOOD TO AND NOW HERE ARE SOME HOMETOWN TEMPS. VISIT FARM JOURNAL PRO.COM. TRUSTED ANALYSIS, PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT. FARM JOURNAL PRO.COM.
TEASE
WHEN WE COME BACK WE’LL TALK ABOUT THE RECENT BUMP IN GRAINS PRICES AND WHETHER THE WEATHER MARKET RALLY IS OVER FOR THIS SUMMER? AND LATER THIS MISSOURI MAN SERVED HIS COUNTRY..NOW AHEAD OF JULY 4TH HE’S TAKING TIME TO REMIND AMERICA ABOUT BEING SAFE THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND. 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 PLENTY OF GREEN ON THE BOARD IN CHICAGO INCLUDING ANOTHER BIG DAY FOR SPRING WHEAT. LETS GET DETAILS FROM THE FLOOR OF THE CME IN CHICAGO. HI GRAIN MARKETS BASICALLY NOT DOING A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT HERE TODAY. THE TWO MARKETS THAT ARE ARE ARE DOING SOMETHING ARE THE WHEAT AND THE RICE MARKETS RICE. BREAKING OUT FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BIT OF OLD FLAG. IF SO IT SHOULD HOLD THE CURRENT PRICES UP ABOUT 15 CENTS OR SO AND CONTINUE TO MARCH HIGHER AS WE GO THROUGH THE REPORTS AT THE END OF THE WEEK LOOKING AT THE WEEK. REALLY IT’S BEEN MINNEAPOLIS THAT’S BEEN THE LEADER AND CONTINUES TO JUST CHUGGING ALONG NOW ABOVE $7 AND APPROACHING SOME LONGER TERM TECHNICAL TARGETS UP AROUND 725 TO 750. THAT’S HELPED THE CHICAGO HARD RED AND SOFT RED WINTER MARKETS PULLED SOME FIRMNESS TOGETHER BOTH THOSE MARKETS ARE HOLDING TOGETHER IN A SENSE BUT REALLY RELYING ON MINNEAPOLIS FOR STRENGTH. IT’S BEEN A FIRE DAY IN BOTH THE COW AND HOG MARKETS CATTLE MARKETS SHOWING SOME SLIGHT SIGNS OF RECOVERY DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE BEEF MARKET IS UNDER SOME PRESSURE HERE TODAY AND THE ELECTRONIC AUCTION FOR A LIVE CATTLE TRADED SOMEWHAT LOWER TODAY ACTUALLY 119 120 WHERE THE PRICE IS BEING PAID. THAT’S WEAKER THAN LAST WEEK AND IT’S THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW THAT WE’VE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER PRICES. SO IT APPEARS THAT THE LIVE CATTLE MARKET REALLY KIND OF LIVING ON BORROWED TIME RIGHT NOW. THANKS VERY MUCH. THIS IS JACK’S SCOVILLE VICE PRESIDENT OF PRICE FUTURES GROUP HERE ON THE CME GROUP FLOOR WITH SOME COMMENTS FOR THE MARKETS TODAY.
AGRIBUSINESS
“HERE WITH ME AT THE AGRIBUSINESS DESK IS ELAINE KUB AUTHOR OF MASTERING THE GRAIN MARKET ELAINE LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS WEATHER MARKET WEATHER BUMP THIS SPEED BUMP AND POTHOLE MAYBE THAT WE HAD IN JUNE IS YOU KNOW A YEAR AGO WE HAD A BIG RUN THIS YEAR IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS JUST THIS BIG. YEAH. AND IT’S QUITE QUITE EXPECTED. THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN YOU GET LIKE ONE GOOD WEATHER RALLY ONE GOOD SUMMER RALLY AND IT’S TERRIFYING TO THINK THAT MAYBE THAT WAS IT THAT WE JUST SAW IT BUT THAT ONE DIDN’T EVEN PULL THE SPECULATORS OUT OF THEIR NET SHORT POSITION THEY WERE STILL BEARISH. THEY HAD ONE BIG DAY OF SHORT COVERING BUT THEN THAT WAS IT. THEN THEY JUST WENT BACK TO SELLING. SO I THINK THERE’S STILL POTENTIAL FOR THAT. AND I THINK GIVEN THE LATENESS OF THE CROP GIVEN THE WAY THAT THE ENTIRE AGRONOMIC POTENTIAL IS JUST GOING TO BE A FEW WEEKS LATER THIS YEAR THAN PREVIOUS YEARS MAYBE WE WILL BE LOOKING MORE INTO EARLY JULY THAN LATE JUNE FOR THAT ONE GOOD SUMMER RALLY. OK SO WE’RE NOT IT’S NOT TIME TO GIVE UP YET. BUT WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE CROP AS A WHOLE AROUND THERE’S A LOT OF LITTLE POCKETS OR MAYBE THEY’RE NOT LITTLE POCKETS BUT BIG POCKETS WHERE THERE WAS TROUBLE IN THE SPRING SEASON. YES SO THERE’S A PHENOMENON BACKYARD ITIS RIGHT. LOOK IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD YOU THINK THAT THE ENTIRE MARKET SHOULD BE REACTING TO THIS THING AND EVEN IN MY BACKYARD IT’S DROUGHT. AND IN A LOT OF BACKYARDS IN THE CORN BELT IT’S WET WEATHER WET ROOTS AND TROUBLES FROM THAT. SO THERE’S LOTS OF THESE THINGS WITH DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. THERE’S A FEW AREAS THAT ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE RECORD YIELDS FOR SURE. BUT THERE’S ENOUGH OF THESE LITTLE PROBLEMS SCATTERED AROUND THAT I THINK WE’VE DEFINITELY TAKEN THE RECORD BREAKING POTENTIAL OFF OF THE U.S. CROP IN 2017. OK SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IF WE IF WE’VE TAKEN THAT RECORD BREAKING POTENTIAL OFF AS WE GET TOWARDS HARVEST IS THAT WHEN WE START TO SEE MAYBE WE COULD SEE A LITTLE MORE MOMENTUM. YEAH I THINK SO. I MEAN WE NEED TO SEE OR THE SPECULATORS MIGHT WANT TO SEE USDA PROJECTIONS BRINGING THAT CORN YEILD DOWN IF USDA PROJECTS CORNEEL BELOW 170 I THINK THAT CONFIRMATION COULD START TO SPOOK THAT SPECULATIVE SIDE OF THE MARKET OR IT WILL BE SOMETHING WE WATCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE’LL BE BACK WITH MORE AGDAY IN JUST A MINUTE. " THE LOCAL WEATHER CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT NOT ONLY ON YOUR DAY, BUT ALSO ON YOUR CROPS. START YOUR DAY OFF RIGHT WITH YOUR LOCAL FORECAST DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR MOBILE PHONE, JUST TEXT WEATHER TO 31313 TO GET STARTED!
WEATHER
WELCOME BACK TO AGDAY HERE WITH METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN MIKE AS WE LOOK AT THE WEATHER MAP TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF WHERE STORMS ARE GOING TO POP UP AND WHERE THEY AREN’T. WELL AND THAT’S THE HARD PART THIS TIME OF YEAR OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN GET SOME BIG COMPLEXES OF STORMS BUT TYPICALLY IT’S MORE HIT AND MISS. OF COURSE A TROPICAL LIKE SYSTEM IN THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY WILL PUT DOWN SOME PRETTY GOOD RAINS IN A LARGE AREA AS IT MOVES NORTHWARD THEN EASTWARD. BUT AS THESE TWO SYSTEMS HERE WESTERN GREAT LAKES BACK INTO BASICALLY KANSAS AND NEBRASKA WE’RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH FOR THE BIG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING AND OUR COMPUTER MODEL WILL SHOW SEVERAL POCKETS OF THEM DEVELOPING OVER THE NEXT 36 TO 48 HOURS. SOUTHERN SYSTEM MOVES INLAND IT’S NOT GOING TO BE A TROPICAL STORM OR ANYTHING BUT ANY TIME YOU GET TROPICAL MOISTURE INVOLVED IT CAN PUT DOWN SOME PRETTY HEAVY RAINS AND WE HAVE A LINGERING SYSTEM KIND OF DIVING INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS THAT WILL PRODUCE SOME SHOWERS AS WELL. NOW HEADING THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING FIRST SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH MAINE SECOND ONE TO THE NORTHWEST OF CHICAGO. THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE OFF TO THE NORTHEAST AS YOU CAN SEE AND JUST TO KIND OF AREAS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGHOUT THE I 80 CORRIDOR BASICALLY OVER THE NEXT 36 TO 48 HOURS ALONG WITH THAT SYSTEM DOWN SOUTH. SO THERE’S A PRECIPITATION ESTIMATE OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS. YOU CAN SEE ALREADY SOME HEAVIER AMOUNTS IN SOME OF THOSE BIG THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP ALSO SOME HEAVY AMOUNTS ALONG THE COAST OF LOUISIANA ADDING IN THE NEXT 36 HOURS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE SOME POCKETS OF PRETTY HEAVY PRECIPITATION ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND OF COURSE THE SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY WITH THAT TROPICAL LIKE SYSTEM DOWN THERE. SO THAT’S THAT’S A FAIR AMOUNT OF RAIN IN PLACES. BUT OF COURSE OTHER PLACES DON’T GET MUCH AT ALL AS YOU CAN SEE THERE. HIGH TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON 90S AND 100S FOR WESTERN TEXAS INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS BUT 60S AND 70S NORTHERN PLAINS NORTHERN GREAT LAKES AREA. SO THAT’S A LITTLE BIT ON THE COOL SIDE IT IS GOING TO WARM UP AND BECOME MORE HUMID THAN YOU’VE SEEN RECENTLY OVER THE CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. YOU CAN SEE LOWS TONIGHT ONLY IN THE LOW TO MID 70S IN THOSE AREAS. BUT STILL CHILLY ACROSS THE DAKOTAS. HIGH TEMPERATURES TOMORROW AFTERNOON COOLS DOWN A LITTLE BIT IN THE PANHANDLE OF TEXAS AND THAT HEAT STARTS TO MOVE A LITTLE BIT FARTHER TO THE SOUTH AND EAST. THERE IS A JET STREAM AS WE HEAD THROUGH TIME WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME SMALL LITTLE RIPPLES KEEPING THINGS ON THE COOLER SIDE ACROSS MANY PARTS OF THE NORTHERN STATES. BUT I DON’T SEE IT BEING AS COOL AS IT HAS BEEN RECENTLY AND MUCH OF THAT AREA AND YOU CAN SEE BY THE MIDDLE AND LATTER PARTS OF NEXT WEEK THE JETSTREAM IS PRETTY FAR NORTH. THAT COULD PUT SOME PRETTY GOOD HEAT FOR THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY WITH SOME UPS AND DOWNS. FARTHER NORTH THAT’S A LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY NOW. HERE ARE SOME LOCAL FORECASTS. FIRST OF ALL LA JUNTA COLORADO PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT MAYBE AN AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM HIGH OF 96. ROCKFORD ILLINOIS WARM AND MORE HUMID A THUNDERSTORM AROUND HIGH OF 84. AND FINALLY AIKEN SOUTH CAROLINA SPOTTY AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM HIGH OF 84.
TEASE
WHEN WE COME BACK A CHECK ON CATTLE MARKETS AND RECENT TRENDS FOR BULL BUYERS. AND LATER, STAYING SAFE THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY. A REMINDER ABOUT FIREWORK SAFETY FROM A SOLDIER IN MISSOURI.
DROVERS TV
ON DROVER’S TV, THE LATEST STERLING PROFIT TRACKER SHOWING A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN PROFITS FROM FEEDERS TO PACKERS. FALLING CASH PRICES ARE BIG PART OF THE REASON. FEEDYARD MARGINS DROPPING TO 285 DOLLARS PER HEAD--THAT’S DOWN MORE THAN 150 DOLLARS IN THE LAST WEEK ALONE. CATTLE PRICES ARE OFF 15 BUCKS IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. CURRENTLY CASH PROFIT MARGINS FOR COW-CALF PRODUCERS THIS YEAR IS SET TO AVERAGE $111 PER COW. THOSE TIGHTER MARGINS AT THE RANCH ARE BLEEDING OVER INTO THE BULL MARKET..OVER THE PAST YEAR. SELLERS SAY WHILE BULL MARKETS WERE HOT IN 14 AND 15 DURING THE PEAK OF CATTLE PRICES, BY FALL OF LAST YEAR--CUSTOMERS BEGAN PULLING BACK. BUT A BETTER THAN EXPECTED PRICE RALLY THIS SPRING HAS ENTICED BUYERS BACK INTO THE BULL MARKET...HOWEVER SHOPPERS ARE MORE SELECTIVE. MARK GARDINER/GARDINER ANGUS RANCH: “AND AS WE LOOK AT THE BULLISHNESS OF THE BEEF BUSINESS AND WE LOOK AT BETTER PRICES THAT WE’VE ALL ENJOYED THAN WHAT WAS EXPECTED. WE’VE SEEN PEOPLE REINVESTING AND WE’VE SEEN INCREASED DEMAND AND WE’VE ALWAYS FELT THIS WAY IN OUR FAMILY THAT PEOPLE WILL INVEST IN GENETICS THAT WILL MAKE THEM MONEY. IF THOSE TODAY ARE AVAILABLE AND IF THEY’RE THEY’RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH THEY’RE NOT GOING TO BID AT ANY PRICE.” THE GARDINERS FACED THEIR OWN CHALLENGES THIS SPRING--A MASSIVE WILDFIRE BURNED STRAIGHT ACROSS THEIR PROPERTY. MARK’S HOUSE WAS DESTROYED ALONG WITH NEARLY 250 MILES OF FENCING. A MAN WHO GREW-UP IMPOVERISHED IN HIS HOME COUNTRY OF NIGERIA - RISING TO LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THAT SAME COUNTRY - IS THIS YEAR’S LAUREATE OF THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE. AKINWUMI ADESINA RECEIVED THE HONOR FOR HIS WORK AS A REFORMER AND LEADER OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN AFRICA. HE IS CURRENTLY PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP. THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. IT IS THE HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL HONOR RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE ADVANCED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT BY IMPROVING THE QUALITY, QUANTITY AND AVAILABILITY OF FOOD IN THE WORLD. THE PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT MONDAY DURING A CEREMONY AT USDA HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON. AMB. KENNETH QUINN: “OUR LAUREATE HAVEN’T GROWN UP IN POVERTY HIMSELF LEARN THE CRITICAL VALUE OF EDUCATION AND HAVING ATTAINED A COLLEGE DEGREE IN HIS HOME COUNTRY. HE THEN OBTAINED GRADUATE DEGREE FROM PURDUE UNIVERSITY AND THEN EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY TO USE HIS ACADEMIC TRAINING TO AS HE SAID LIFT UP MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY ESPECIALLY FARMERS IN RURAL AFRICA.” USDA SEC. SONNY PERDUE; “I WANT TO JUST TELL YOU THAT WHAT HE DID AND WHAT HE HAS DONE I THINK FITS RIGHT IN WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO EVERY USDA BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A CHALLENGE TO NOT GO AT A SCENE AND KNOWS THAT OUR WORK IS NOT DONE. THE CHALLENGE OF FEEDING 9 BILLION PEOPLE IN JUST A VERY SHORT TIME WILL CONTINUE AS WE ADDRESS THE HUNGER ISSUE. WE’VE ADOPTED A NEW MOTTO FOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND I THINK IT FITS A VERY NOBLE AND VERY APPROPRIATELY WITH THAT AT THE SCENE HIS WORK AND THAT IS DO RIGHT AND FEED EVERYONE.” AD-UH-SEEN-UH WAS APPOINTED AS MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE FOR NIGERIA IN 2011 AND SPOKE OF NIGERA’S NEED TO UNLOCK ITS AGRICULTURAL POTENTION. AD-UH-SEEN-UH JOINS TWO OTHER FACULTY MEMBERS FROM PURDUE UNIVERSITY WHO RECEIVED THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE. GEBISA EJETA RECEIVED HIS IN 2009. PHILIP NELSON WAS NAMED LAUREATE IN 2007. AS THE FOURTH OF JULY APPROACHES, FIREWORKS ARE ALREADY POPPING AROUND THE COUNTRY. NEXT MEET A MISSOURI MAN WHO’S FAMILIAR WITH LARGE EXPLOSIONS...BUT HE TOO IS A VICTIM OF FIREWORKS.
IN THE COUNTRY
IN THE COUNTRY - SPONSORED BY KUBOTA’S FULL LINE OF FIELD-PROVEN HAY TOOLS. EXPLORE THE FULL LINE UP AT KUBOTA.COM. OR VISIT YOUR LOCAL KUBOTA DEALER TODAY. FIREWORKS CAN BE FUN AND PATRIOTIC AROUND INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVITIES. BUT IT’S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO BE CAREFUL. KENT FADDIS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI HAS THE STORY OF A MARINE WHO LEARNED A DIFFICULT LESSON ON THE 4TH AND IS CHANGING THE WAY HE CELEBRATES. PATRICK FLEENOR HAS A LOVE OF TARGET PRACTICE. THE FORMER MARINE IS NO STRANGER TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS….SHOOTING GUNS AND BEING AROUND EXPLOSIVES. AFTER HIS TOUR OF DUTY WAS OVER, FLEENOR WANTED TO MAKE SOME NOISE…ON THE 4TH OF JULY."I HADN’T LITE FIREWORKS IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS, I WAS ACTUALLY REALLY REALLY EXCITED, BARBEQUE, BLOW STUFF UP AND CELEBRATE AMERICA.” BUT THE CELEBRATION TURNED TRAGIC. “NEXT THING I KNOW I AM COVERING MY EYE IN A LOT OF PAIN.” ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION, IN 2015 11 PEOPLE DIED FROM USING FIREWORKS, WHILE MORE THAN 11,000 PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. A UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI HEATH CARE BURN SURGEON SEES ABOUT A DOZEN PATIENTS INJURED BY FIREWORKS AROUND THE 4TH OF JULY."THEY ARE IN FACT EXPLOSIVES AND CAN RANGE FROM SEVERAL HUNDRED AGREES TO 1000 OR MORE DEGREES IN THE TEMPERATURES THAT THEY GET.” INJURIES CAN HAPPEN IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. “THE FIREWORK BLEW UP SOON AS I LIT IT AND I DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO TURN AROUND AND RUN AWAY OR ANYTHING.” A FAULTY FUSE CAUSED THE FIREWORK TO EXPLODE DIRECTLY INTO FLEENOR’S EYE. “I DID FOUR YEARS OF YOU KNOW SHOOTING MACHINE GUNS AND BEING IN HARM’S WAY, YOU CAN SAY AND NEVER EVEN CAME CLOSE TO AN INJURY LIKE THAT.” ALMOST A YEAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT, FLEENOR CAN BARELY SEE ANYTHING OUT OF HIS LEFT EYE. BUT THE FORMER MARINE REMAINS THANKFUL. “IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE.” FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, KENT FADDIS REPORTING.
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.
