TODAY ON AGDAY
MARCH 16, 2017
HEADLINES
INTEREST RATES ARE GOING UP--WHAT DOES IT MEAN THE BOTTOM LINE. PLUS, AN UPDATE FROM THE FIRE RAVAGED FIELDS OF KANSAS. IN AGRIBUSINESS...THE ACREAGE REPORT PREVIEW. ON DROVERS TV, A STRONG RUN FOR FEEDERS AS TRADE HELPS STABILIZE MARKETS. AND A TRIPLE THREAT ON FARM AT A WISCONSIN DAIRY, AGDAY- BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEPENDABLE, LONG LASTING CHEVY SILVERADO.
FED RAISING INTEREST RATES
GOOD MORNING I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. THE FEDERAL RESERVE FULFILLING A WIDELY EXPECTED MOVE WEDNESDAY - TO RAISE ITS BENCHMARK INTEREST RATE. THIS IS THE SECOND HIKE IN THREE MONTHS. AND THE FED IS SIGNALLING THAT MORE HIKES COULD BE FORTHCOMING. THEY INCREASED THE SHORT-TERM RATE BY A QUARTER POINT. IT’S STILL IN THE THREE-QUARTERS TO ONE PERCENT RANGE. “THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO EXPAND AT A MODERATE PACE. SOLID INCOME GAINS IN RELATIVELY HIGH LEVELS OF CONSUMER SENTIMENT AND WEALTH HAVE SUPPORTED HOUSEHOLD SPENDING GROWTH. BUSINESS INVESTMENT, WHICH WAS SOFT FOR MUCH OF LAST YEAR, HAS FIRMED SOMEWHAT. AND BUSINESS SENTIMENT IS AT FAVORABLE LEVELS."RISING INTEREST RATES WILL CHANGE THE DYNAMIC OF THE FARM ECONOMY AS THE COST OF BORROWING MONEY STARTS TO GO UP. ECONOMIST, BANKERS AND ANALYSTS ALIKE SAY ITS TIME TO PAY ATTENTION. AS THE FEDERAL RESERVE MEETS AND SETS A NEW DIRECTION -- FARM COUNTRY IS WATCHING...BILL JOHNSON\ PRESIDENT CEO FARM CREDIT MID AMERICA “WE’RE SEEING MORE FARMERS COME IN FOR OPERATING LOANS WE’RE SEEING OPERATING LOANS A LITTLE BIT LARGER. AND MORE BORROWING MEANS MORE EXPOSURE TO INTEREST RATE EXPENSES.” MATTHEW MONTEIRO, VP FINANCE, FARM CREDIT MID-AMERICA “FARMERS ARE PARTICULARLY CONSERVATIVE, AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE FIXED RATES. SO A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING INTO THIS ENVIRONMENT VERY WELL PREPARED AND THEY’VE ALSO PAID DOWN SOME OF THEIR LOANS SO THEY’VE HAD SOME EXCESS CAPACITY RIGHT NOW"ALTHOUGH SOME PRODUCERS ARE MORE VULNERABLE THAN OTHERS. “THAT WOULD BE EXISTING FARMERS LOOKING TO EXPAND PERHAPS, OR ALSO YOUNG FARMERS JUST NOW GETTING IN."THOSE WITH FEWER ASSETS AND MORE DEBT ARE GETTING A CAREFUL EYE. CHARLIE MCCONNELL/SR VICE PRESIDENT, FARM CREDIT OF WESTERN ARKANSAS: “A PRODUCER THAT’S YOUNGER, IS NOT ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING HIGHER INTERST RATES. AND IT’S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING TO FEEL OUT WHAT THEIR CASH FLOWS, WHAT THEIR MARGINS THAT THEY’VE BUDGETED FOR CAN HANDLE IN TERMS OF INTERST RATES IF INTERST RATES GO UP A PERCENT, 2 PERCENT.” BANKERS SAY ROLLING TO FIXED RATES MIGHT BE AN OPTION. “THAT PROTECTS YOU AGAINST THAT ELEMENT OF RISK GOING FORWARD. AND THAT’S AN IMPORTANT PART ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE IS HIGHLY LEVERAGED. INTEREST EXPENSE IS A PRETTY BIG PIECE OF OVERALL OPERATING EXPENSES."BUT HOW MANY RATE HIKES AND HOW HIGH IS STILL UP FOR DEBATE. ANDY SHISSLER: “IT WON’T MOVE UP FAST ENOUGH OR HIGH ENOUGH TO HAVE AN IMPACT, BUT YOU CAN SEE WHY THERE’S THEY WOULD DO THAT, I MEAN THERE’S SO MUCH MONEY FLOWING TO THE U.S. IT’S RIDICULOUS, I MEAN WE’VE BLOWN EVERY HIGH OUT FOREVER, AND IT’S SO OVERHEATED, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A DISASTER WAITING OT HAPPEN TO ME."MIKE NORTH: “ANDY MAKES A GREAT COMPARISON TO THE 07 AND 08 MARKET. WE WERE HOT, HOT, HOT, AND WE BOILED RIGHT OVER, AND REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO GRAIN PRICES THAT YEAR, WE TOOK CORN FROM 8.00 TO SUB 3.00 IN A MATTER OF MONTHS. IT HAPPENS REALLY FAST, SO WHEN THE MONEY FLOW TURNS AGAINST YOU, IT’S LIKE TRYING TO STEP IN FRONT OF A BUS TRYING TO MAKE IT STOP. IT JUST DOESN’T HAPPEN."ALL UNKNOWNS AS RISING INTEREST RATES SEEM TO MORE CERTAIN THAN EVER. THERE WILL BE OPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN SURVIVE THROUGH THIS PERIOD TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE READY COMING OUT THE OTHER SIDE.
FUEL EFFICIENCY
THE WHITE HOUSE IS ORDERING A REVIEW OF FEDERAL RULES THAT WOULD FORCE AUTOMAKERS TO DOUBLE FUEL EFFICIENCY IN CARS AND SUV’S. PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED PLANS TO TOSS OUT THE NEWEST FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS THAT THE E-P-A UNVEILED, AND AUTOMAKERS AGREED TO, IN 2012. THOSE STANDARDS WOULD REQUIRE AUTOMAKERS TO NEARLY DOUBLE CURRENT STANDARDS. BY 2025 AUTOS ARE EXPECTED TO GET 54-AND-A-HALF MILES TO THE GALLON AS A NATIONAL AVERAGE,
PURDUE DIVESTING BUSINESS INTERESTS
IN WASHINGTON AS WE WAIT FOR CONFIRMATION ON SONNY PERDUE’S NOMINEE TO LEAD THE USDA. AS PART OF DEAL WITH THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS, PERDUE IS PLANNING TO DIVEST FROM HIS BUSINESS INTERESTS AND RESTRUCTURE FAMILY TRUSTS AS HE TAKES THE REINS. PERDUE WOULD ALSO LEAVE POSITIONS AT THE NATIONAL GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION, THE GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL AND THE BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER, WHILE ALSO PUTTING HIS ASSETS INTO A BLIND TRUST.
WILDFIRE DONATIONS
A HEAD OF USDA WOULD BE HANDY AS THE GOVERNORS FROM THE FOUR STATES IMPACTED BY RECENT WILD FIRES ARE PUSHING USDA TO HELP WITH EMERGENCY DISASTER ASSISTANCE. THE GOVERNORS OF OKLAHOMA, TEXAS, KANSAS AND NEW MEXICO SENDING A LETTER TO ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, MIKE YOUNG ASKING FOR RELIEF- THEY’D LIKE TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON CRP TO PROVIDE MORE LAND FOR GRAZING. THAT COULD ALLOW TO MOVE CATTLE TO GROUND WHICH DIDN’T GET BURNED BY THE BLAZE. “THE FIRST THING IS TO OPEN UP THE CRP GRAZING SO THE ANIMALS THAT SURVIVED AND ARE GOING TO BE OK THAT MADE IT THROUGH THE FIRE THEY’RE ON BLACK RIGHT NOW THEY DON’T HAVE ANYTHING VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL THE HAY THAT’S BEEN SHIPPED IN BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM OUT ON THAT DRY GRASS AND IF WE COULD OPEN THE CRP FOR MORE THAN JUST A SIX WEEK PERIOD THAT’S WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT NOW BUT WE NEED IT LONGER THAN THAT SO WE CAN ALLOW THIS GRASS TO RECOVER ENOUGH BEFORE WE PUT THEM BACK ON THE GREEN GRASS THAT WE KNOW IS COMING ONCE IT RAINS."BESIDES NEEDING CLARITY WITH FENCING PERIMETERS, RANCHERS SAY FENCING SUPPLIES AND ASSISTANCE ARE NEEDED. STRANGERS, FRIENDS AND THOSE IN THE AG. COMMUNITY ARE DOING THEIR PART, BRINGING IN SUPPLIES TO PRODUCERS IMPACTED BY THE KANSAS WILDFIRES. HAY IS ONE OF THE SUPPLIES RANCHERS NEED. HAULERS ARE TRAVELING NEAR AND FAR TO HELP OUT. “I HAVE SOME NEIGHBORS WITH ME THEY’VE KIND OF ANSWERED THE CALL AND WE ALL GOT TOGETHER AND PUT THIS THING TOGETHER AND WE LOADED UP LAST NIGHT WE LEFT AT FOUR THIRTY THIS MORNING AND WE GOT HERE ABOUT TWO O’CLOCK SO WE HAD A LITTLE TIRE TROUBLE BUT OTHER THAN THAT WE’RE OKAY.” “YOU JUST GOT TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED IT SO AND THIS WILL GO ON YOU KNOW THIS THEY’VE GOT THE INFLUX OF IT NOW BUT THEY’RE GOING TO NEED THIS HAY FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS UNTIL THEY GET DECENT ENOUGH GRASS TO GROW ANYTHING."ALBERS SAYS HAY ISN’T THE ONLY THING BEING DONATED. SOME ARE DONATING FUEL TO HIM ALONG HIS TRAVELS AS WELL. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN DROP-OFF SITES HAY WHERE HAY IS BEING HAULED FOR CLARK COUNTY, KANSAS. HAY HAS BEEN COMING INTO THE AREA MORNING THROUGH NIGHT FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PRODUCERS IN THE COMMUNITY SAY THE RESPONSE IS OVERWHELMING AND THE PHONE KEEPS RINGING. “AS YOU LOOK AROUND HERE WE’RE SEEING A LOT OF HELP BUT IT’S IT’S THROUGH THE GRACIOUSNESS OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED US AND THEIR OUT POURING OF LOVE AND HELP BUT IT’S OUR JOB TO CONTINUE FORWARD AND THE DECISIONS WE MAKE FORWARD NOW AS WE REBUILD THAT’S ON US TO HANDLE THAT AND MANAGE THAT PROPERLY.""BUT WE’RE LEARNING TO BE GRACIOUS RECEIVERS OF THAT HELP HAY IT’S COMING IN WE DON’T WANT TO TURN HAY DOWN BECAUSE EVEN IF WHEAT THIS GRASS GROWS IF WE GET RAIN NEXT WEEK WE DON’T HAVE THE DRY MATTER TONNAGE BECAUSE IT’S BEEN DESTROYED.SINCE THE AREA IS CONSIDERED CATTLE COUNTRY, PRODUCERS SAY THE HAY WON’T LAST VERY LONG. RANCHERS SAY BESIDES HAY, FENCING SUPPLIES ARE A NEED. GARDINER SAYS THERE ARE 625-THOUSAND ACRES IN CLARK COUNTY. 461- THOUSAND OF THOSE ACRES ARE IMPACTED. PRODUCERS TELLING AGDAY, THAT’S ROUGHLY 12-THOUSAND MILES OF FENCE.
CROP COMMENTS
MIKE HOFFMAN JOINS US WITH MORE FROM THE FIELD AND TODAY’S CROP COMMENTS. GOOD MORNING CLINTON. COLD TEMPERATURES ARE HITTING PARTS OF DIXIE THIS WEEK. THE ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION SAYS FARMERS WITH EARLY SEASON CROPS, LIKE STRAWBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES AND PEACHES ARE MOST SUSPCEPTIBLE. IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATES, TEMPS DIPPED INTO THE LOW 20’S AND WERE ONLY GOING TO GET INTO THE LOW 40’S ON WEDNESDAY. WE HAVEN’T RECEIVED ANY REPORTS OF CROP DAMAGE. MEANWHILE WHEAT GROWERS IN ARKANSAS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE FREEZING TEMPS AS WELL. TEMPS IN THE MID 20’S WERE HITTING THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE STATE. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS EXTENSION AGRONOMISTS SAY THE CROP HAS BEEN RUNNING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE...SO IT’S CRITICAL TEMPS DON’T STAY TOO COLD FOR TOO LONG. AND NOW HERE ARE SOME HOMETOWN TEMPS. 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!
TEASE
WHEN AGDAY CONTINUES WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE UPCOMING ACREAGE REPORT FROM USDA. WILL THEY HAVE ANY SURPRISES THAT ANALYSTS HAVEN’T ALREADY SEEN? FROM DROVERS - WE LOOK AT BEEF EXPORTS AND HOW THEY FAVOR MARKETS. AND THIS DAIRY PRODUCER MIGHT WANT TO BUY A LOTTERY TICKET. WE’LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE ODDS HE JUST BUSTED. LATER ON AGDAY. GET THE ROOTS YOUR CROPS NEED, BY GETTING RADIATE FIRST. VISIT LOVELAND PRODUCTS.COM SLASH RADIATE. SEE YOUR CPS DEALER TODAY.
AGRIBUSINESS
WINTER WHEAT CONDITION IN KANSAS IS MOSTLY FAIR TO GOOD. TWO PERCENT IS EXCELLENT. FIVE PERCENT HAS REACHED THE JOINTED STAGE, IN OKLAHOMA - MOST OF THE CROP IS FAIR TO GOOD AS WELL. 82-PERCENT IN THAT COMBINED CATEGORY. 22% OF THE CROP IS AT JOINTING STAGE. THAT’S THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS AHEAD OF AVERAGE. IN TEXAS WINTER WHEAT CONDITION WAS RATED 75 PERCENT FAIR TO GOOD. FIVE PERCENT IS EXCELLENT. THAT SAME REPORT SHOWS 80-PERCENT OF THE KANSAS TOPSOIL AND SUBSOIL IS SHORT TO VERY SHORT IN MOISTURE. SPRING WEATHER WILL DEFINITELY PLAY A ROLL IN PLANTING. TYNE MORGAN GETS AN ACREAGE PREVIEW IN THIS MORNING’S ANALYSIS. HERE NOW WITH ANDY SHISSLER OF S AND W TRADING ANDY WHEN WE GO INTO THIS MARCH ACREAGE REPORT AND WERE EXPECTING FROM USDA AT THE END OF THE MONTH A LOT OF UNKNOWNS A LOT OF DEBATE GOING ON RIGHT NOW BUT WHAT DO THINK ACREAGE IS GOING TO BE WELL WERE SUPPOSED TO LOSE A BUNCH OF CORN ACRES THIS YEAR. I THINK ROTATIONAL IT WOULD MAKE SENSE. LAST YEAR WERE HAVING BEAN ‘S A LOT OF FARMERS JUST FROM FINANCING HAVE MOVE MORE TOWARDS LIKE A FIFTY FIFTY ROTATION IN AND SO TO EDGE DOWN TOWARDS NINETY MILLION OR LESS IS IT ‘S A PRETTY STRONG POSSIBILITY AND IF THAT ‘S A CASE YOU FIGURE WE’RE GONNA TAKE SIX SEVEN HUNDRED MILLION BUSHELS OUT OF THE CORN CARRY OUT. I THINK IT PUTS US IN A PRETTY DYNAMIC PLACE GOING INTO THE SUMMER SO THEN IT COMES IN TO THE WEATHER AND WE HAD A PRETTY WARM WINTER AS WELL AS A PRETTY DRY PROFILE OUT WEST AND SO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU SEE RIDGES COME EARLY IN THE PARTY SCENE FROM RIDGES TO SHOW UP IN THE U S I THINK WE’LL SEE A LOT MORE HEAT THIS YEAR. SO I THINK WE’RE IN THIS WE’RE IN THIS TRANSITION PERIOD. THE EVEN EL NINO AND MOVING INTO LA NINA WEATHER WERE IN A STRONG LA NINA YET I’M NOT SURE BUT A LOT OF THE CHARACTERISTICS LOOK LIKE MEANER OUR WEATHER AND THE SUMMER SO I I THINK IF WE NARROW IN ON EIGHTY EIGHT TO NINETY MILLION ACRES I THINK WE’RE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO TRADE FOUR FIFTY ON CORN IF NOT A LITTLE BIT HIGHER IF THE WEATHERS EXTREME. YEAH I THINK THE MARKETS REALLY BEARISH ON THE CORN SIDE A AND I DON’T THINK IT SHOULD BE THAT BEARISH BUT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SO MILD THAT WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING TO BE A WORK IN REALLY PREPPING SO THE END OF THE DAY DO YOU THINK MAYBE THAT COULD BRING A LITTLE BIT MORE CORN ACRES IN TO THE MIX IT SHOULD. WE USUALLY HAVE A HARD TIME LOSING OUR CORN ACRES. SO I THINK THE WEATHER SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH THAT WE KEEP A LOT OF IT BUT AGAIN ROTATIONALLY A LOOK AT THE SOUTH FEEL LIKE THE LAST MAYBE EVEN UP NORTH WILL BE HARD TO GET ALL THOSE ACRES NINETY FOUR MILLION JUST ON THAT AWFUL LOT THAT’S A LOT ON HAND AND FINANCING IS AN ISSUE THIS YEAR. AS WELL SO AND I I THINK IT ‘S NINETY NINETY ONE I THINK YOU SHOULD BE BULLISH CORN SO YOU DO THINK THERE COULD BE A BULLISH STORY IN CORN THIS YEAR I THINK THERE IS A MOST ARE ALREADY ON AND I THINK WE’RE GONNA HIT SOME PRICES ARE A LOT HIGHER THAN PEOPLE THINK ALL RIGHT ANDY SHISSLER STAY WITH US WE’LL HAVE MORE AG DAY WHEN WE COME BACK FOR ONE ON ONE MARKETING ADVICE CALL ANDY SHISSLER WITH S & W TRADING AT 312-506-3888.
WEATHER
WELCOME BACK TO AGDAY MIKE HOFFMAN JOINING US TODAY MIKE IF WE LOOK AT THE WEATHER PATTER N ARE WE SEEING ANYTHING DEVELOP THAT WE CAN CALL HEY THIS IS SPRING JUST AT TIMES THEY WERE IN A PATTERN NOW. ACROSS MOST OF THE GROWING AREAS IT ‘S COMING GO BACK AND FORTH FOR A WHILE. OK I KNOW YOUR GUESS IS IN COLD SPOT OF OLD TIMES BUT ALSO LITTLE WARM UP PRETTY QUICKLY. AND WERE SEEING THAT RIGHT NOW THESE TWO DOMES OF HIGH PRESSURE PRODUCING SOME CHILLIER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES FROM THE GREAT LAKES ALL THE WAY INTO THE SOUTHEAST IS WE START THE DAY TODAY BUT THE WARM FRONT ‘S GONNA BRING A BIG TIME WARM UP FOR A LEAST A COUPLE OF DAYS ACROSS THE WESTERN PLAINS STORM SYSTEM IN THE NORTHEAST FINALLY GET COMPLETELY OUT OF HERE ALTHOUGH THERE STILL SOME LINGERING LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS IN PARTS OF THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES AND NORTHEAST EACH CAN SEE IS WE PUT THE MAPS INTO MOTION HIGH PRESSURE MOVING THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY ‘S CONTINUING IN THE SOUTHEAST. SO YOU’RE SEEING A LOT OF SUNSHINE IN THESE PLACES SO AFTERNOONS WILL BE TOO BAD. IT IS NIGHT TIME LOWS THAT REALLY GET YOU THERE’S THE NEXT WARM FRONT MAINLY JUST CLOUDS AT LEAST TO START. IT WILL START TO MOISTEN UP A LITTLE BIT BUT YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THAT GULF MOISTURE STARTING TO COME NORTHWARD TOWARD THAT LOW AND NO OTHER HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. ALTHOUGH WE DO SEE ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM GOING TO BE APPROACHING AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND FOR THE NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY FOR TOMORROW. THOUGH ALL WILL SEE SOME SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS. DEVELOPING ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PLAINS STATES OUT AHEAD OF THE WARMFRONT PUTTING BE MIXING WITH SNOW OR SLEET IN SOME AREAS ESPECIALLY THIS MORNING. ANY CAN SEE AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE AFTERNOON OUR MODEL SHOWING SOME SNOW EVEN INTO THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA OUT AHEAD OF THAT WARM FRONT THAT WILL BE SOMETHING A WOODEN STICK AROUND LONG BECAUSE OF WARM AIR WILL MELT RIGHT BEHIND IT AND THERE ‘S THAT NEXT SYSTEM COMING INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST HIGH PRESSURE THOUGH COMES IN TO THE NORTHERN PLAINS. THIS IS NOT ART THAT CARELESS A PACIFIC AIR SO IT’S NOT AS COLD AS THIS LAST BATCH THERE ‘S A PRECIPITATION ESTIMATE OF THE PAST TWENTY FOUR HOURS STILL SOME AMOUNT SO SHOWING UP IN THE EASTERN LAKES IN THE NORTHEAST AS WELL IS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES PACIFIC NORTHWEST ADDING IN THE NEXT THIRTY SIX HOURS WERE MAINLY GOING AT IT THROUGH THE NORTHERN TIER OF STATES ARE GOING SEE A COUPLE OF SPOTS THERE THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND MOST OF WHAT WE’RE SEEING IS ON THE LIGHT SIDE AS YOU CAN SEE NOW CHECKING OUT SNOWFALL PAST TWENTY FOUR HOURS. IT ‘S MAINLY BEEN AGAIN THE EASTERN LAKES NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND THE REMNANTS OF THAT SNOW STORM A LITTLE BIT IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OUT WEST IN THAT SCAN OF THE TWO AREAS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE ALTHOUGH MICHIGAN WILL BEGIN THIS A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THAT WARM FRONT AND THAT WARM FRONT CAUSING SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES WESTERN PLAINS STILL CHILLY THOUGH FROM DIXIE ALL THE WAY INTO THE GREAT LAKES IN THE NORTHEAST THAT CONTINUES WITH THE HIGHS TODAY BUT HIS BACKING OF THE SIXTIES FOR MUCH OF TEXAS FOR THE LOWS AND THEN YOU CAN SEE HIGHS TOMORROW WE’RE LOOKING MID SEVENTIES FROM OKLAHOMA SOUTHWARD STILL CHILLY THROUGH THE NORTHERN TIER OF STATES. THERE’S THE JET STREAM HERE’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT BALL BACK AND FORTH. EACH ONE OF THESE LITTLE RIPPLES BRING A SHOT OF CHILLY AIR THAT IS REPLACED BY WARM AIR MORE CHILLY AIR. RIGHT BEHIND THAT THAT ‘S A LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY NOW LET ‘S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME LOCAL FORECASTS WHERE THE BEND OREGON FIRST OF ALL MIXTURE OF CLOUDS SUNSHINE HIGH OF FIFTY THREE DEGREES GREAT BEND KANSAS WARMER WITH TIMES OF SUNSHINE AND CLOUDS HIGH OF SEVENTY SEVEN AND SOUTH BEND INDIANA LOTS OF SUNSHINE BIT MILDER IN THE AFTERNOON HIGH OF THE THIRTY SEVEN
TEASE
NEXT FROM DROVERS - FEEDLOT OPERATORS CONTINUE TO ENJOY THEIR RIDE IN THE BLACK. PLUS - A DAIRY FARMER JUST BEAT THE ODDS THIS CALVING SEASON. WE’LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE ‘TRIPLE PLAY’ LATER ON AGDAY. AGDAY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY RESICORE HERBICIDE FOR CORN. A UNIQUELY POWERFUL FORMULATION. EXTRAORDINARY POWER OVER WEEDS.
DROVERS TV
OUR PARNTERS AT DROVERS T-V SAY THE STRONGER TREND IN THE FED CATTLE MARKET THIS YEAR CONTINUES TO REWARD CATTLE FEEDERS WITH EXCELLENT PROFITS. IT’S NOW THE 16TH CONSECUTIVE WEEK OF POSITIVE FEEDYARD MARGINS, AND THERE’S PLENTY OF FUNDAMENTAL FACTORS THAT DESERVE CREDIT. DROVER’S GREG HENDERSON SAYS SMALL MARKET-READY SUPPLIES OF FED CATTLE AND GOOD CONSUMER DEMAND HAVE PLAYED A ROLE, BUT BOTH U.S. BEEF EXPORTS AND IMPORTS HAVE WORKED IN THE MARKET’S FAVOR. " THE GENERAL RECENT TREND OF LARGER BEEF EXPORTS AND SMALLER BEEF IMPORTS CONTINUED IN JANUARY. BEEF EXPORT TONNAGE WAS UP 21% IN JANUARY COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO, MAKING IT THE LARGEST EXPORT MONTH SINCE 2001. BOTH JAPAN AND MEXICO RECORDED 41% INCREASES. EXPORTS ACCOUNTED FOR 12% OF TOTAL BEEF PRODUCTION IN JANUARY, AND EXPORT VALUE PER HEAD WAS $256, UP 7% FROM A YEAR AGO."HENDERSON SAYS BEEF IMPORTS ARE TRENDING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, DECLINING 25% IN JANUARY. AND HE ADDS, BOTH THE INCREASE IN EXPORTS AND THE DECLINE IN IMPORTS WILL HELP SOFTEN THE IMPACT OF THE EXPECTED FIVE PERCENT INCREASE IN U.S. BEEF PRODUCTION DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
TEASE
UP NEXT - FIND OUT HOW A WISCONSIN DAIRY FARMER HIT THE JACKPOT DURING CALVING SEASON. DETAILS AS WE HEAD IN THE COUNTRY.
IN THE COUNTRY
IN THE COUNTRY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY KUBOTA. SEE THE ALL-NEW KOMMANDER-PRO ZERO-TURN MOWER AT KUBOTA.COM.GIVING BIRTH TO TRIPLETS IS NOT AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE ON A DAIRY FARM. BUT ONE DAIRY FARMER IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN JUST HIT THE JACKPOT. FIND OUT HOW HE BEAT HTE ODDS IN THIS VIDEO PROVIDED BY THE WISCONSIN MILK MARKETING BOARD. DALE TORGERSON WORKS AROUND THE CLOCK TO PROVIDE FOR HIS DAIRY HERD, AND WHEN ONE OF HIS COWS STARTED GIVING BIRTH HE GAVE HER A LITTLE EXTRA ATTENTION! “I SEEN THE FIRST CALF, AND SHE PLOPPED IT RIGHT OUT, AND I KEPT DOING CHORES, AND I WALKED OVER AND ACTUALLY GOT AN EAR TAG FOR HER, AND I TURNED AROUND AND ANOTHER CALF IS COMING OUT.” THAT’S RIGHT, TWIN GIRLS! AND AS DALE SHARED THE NEWS WITH HIS WIFE VIA TEXT MESSAGE, HE WOULD SOON HAVE TO SEND ANOTHER TEXT. “I JUST COULDN’T BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS THREE OF THEM AND THEY WERE ALL ALIVE! AND THEN WHEN THEY WERE THREE GIRLS, THAT WAS KIND OF NEAT.” NEAT IS A BIT OF AN UNDERSTATEMENT… HEALTHY TRIPLET CALVES ARE PRETTY RARE; BUT, A TRIO OF HEALTHY HEIFER CALVES IS EVEN MORE RARE! “TWINS ARE ABOUT A …ONE TO ABOUT A ONE HUNDRED FIVE THOUSAND. SO IF YOU LOOK AT JUST TRIPLETS IN GENERAL, THEIR RARITY IS BETWEEN ONE IN 700, 000, AND ONE IN 800,000 WHEN YOU GO TO THE FEMALE VERSION ONLY. SO THREE FEMALES.” TRIPLET CALVES ARE RARE, AND TRIPLET HEIFER CALVES ARE RARER STILL! THREE FEMALES MEAN THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE REPRODUCTIVELY SOUND AND CAN PRODUCE MILK. IF THERE IS A MALE IN-UTERO, IT’S A DIFFERENT STORY. “THE MALE BLOOD STREAM IS FILLED WITH AN ANTIGEN CALLED HY OR FOR EASY TERMS, TESTOSTERONE. THE MALE FORM WILL THEN SEND THAT ANTIGEN OVER TO THE FEMALE AND SHE CAN NEVER HAVE ANY OFFSPRING."LUCKILY FOR THE TORGERSONS, THEY HAVE THREE VERY HEALTHY HEIFER CALVES TO ADD TO THEIR HERD!AND THAT’S WISCONSIN DAIRY NEWS.
CLOSE
THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS MORNING. WE’RE GLAD YOU TUNED IN. FOR ALL OF US AT AGDAY, I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
