TODAY ON AGDAY
MARCH 20, 2017
HEADLINES
LIVESTOCK GROWERS CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE VENTERINARIAN FEED DIRECTIVE BUT A NEW REPORT SAYS ITS NOT ENOUGH. HAY POURS INTO THE PLAINS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING FROM 11-HUNDRED MILES AWAY. IN AGRIBUSINESS...A CATTLE MARKET HEAT CHECK. MACHINERY PETE TALKS BRACKETOLOGY AND USED EQUIPMENT. AND THIS SPECIALIZED DOCTOR IS HELPING SOME AMPHIBIANS BUILD THEIR OFFSPRING. AGDAY-BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEPENDABLE, LONG LASTING CHEVY SILVERADO.
GAPS IN ANTIBIOTIC USE ON LIVESTOCK
GOOD MORNING I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. NEW RULES AROUND THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN LIVESTOCK BEGAN IN JANUARY OF 2017. NOW A FRESH GOVERNMENT REPORT SAYS USDA’S AND THE FDA’S OVERSITE ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH. THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT SAYS THERE ARE GAPS IN THE OVERSIGHT OF ANTIBIOTIC USE ON CATTLE, POULTRY AND HOGS. THE AUTHOR ADDING THAT MAKES IT HARD FOR THOSE AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THE DRUGS ARE BEING USED CORRECTLY AND THAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO REDUCE THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS ON LIVESTOCK. THE REPORT CITES THINGS LIKE INCOMPLETE LABELS AND FARM LEVEL DATA COLLECTION. IT SAYS SINCE THE GOAL OF MORE JUDICIOUS USE OF ANTIBIOTICS TO COMBAT RESISTANCE THERE SHOULD BE BETTER INFORMATION ON THE SIZE OF THE RESISTANCE PROBLEM. ON JANUARY FIRST OF THIS YEAR THE VETERINARIAN FEED DIRECTIVE TOOK EFFECT. AND MANY PRODUCERS ARE STILL GETTING USED TO THE NEW RULES. CHARLES DENNEY HAS MORE IN THIS REPORT FROM THE U-T INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE. CATTLE PRODUCERS WANT THE BEST NUTRITION FOR THEIR HERDS, AND TO MAKE SURE ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE NEEDS ARE MET. BUT IN 2017, THEY HAVE A NEW, STRICTER FEDERAL REGULATION TO FOLLOW. THE NEW GUIDELINE FROM THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION IS CALLED THE VETERINARY FEED DIRECTIVE, OR VFD FOR SHORT. IT SAYS IF A LIVESTOCK FARMER WANTS TO USE CERTAIN MEDICATIONS IN THEIR FEED THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR TREATING HUMAN DISEASE-CAUSING BACTERIA -- THE ANTIBIOTICS MUST BE APPROVED BY A VETERINARIAN. (DR. LEW STRICKLAND) “I HAVE AN ARTICLE THAT I’VE WRITTEN AND SENT TO EVERY EXTENSION AGENT IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.” DR. LEW STRICKLAND IS A VETERINARIAN WITH UT EXTENSION AND UT ANIMAL SCIENCE. HE’S BEEN TALKING TO FARMERS STATEWIDE ABOUT THE PARTICULARS OF THE VFD ISSUE. STRICKLAND SAYS PRODUCERS WILL HAVE ABOUT A YEAR FOR AN EDUCATIONAL PERIOD, BUT EVENTUALLY EVERYONE MUST ADJUST TO THE LAW. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS A SAFER FOOD PRODUCT FOR CONSUMERS. “THERE IS CONCERN THAT FEEDING OUR ANIMALS THOSE ANTIBIOTICS WILL EVENTUALLY CREATE RESISTANCE IN HUMAN MEDICATION. SO THAT IS THE WHOLE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF THE VETERINARY FEED DIRECTIVE.” (CHARLES DENNEY) “A VET MUST DO AN ON-SITE INSPECTION OF A LIVESTOCK HERD BEFORE A FARMER IS ALLOWED A VFD. LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS THEN MUST PRESENT THIS DOCUMENTATION TO THE SUPPLIER BEFORE THEY’RE ABLE TO PURCHASE ANTIBIOTIC INFUSED FEED.” (DR. DAVID WHITE) “SO THE PRODUCER HAS TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR VET BECAUSE THE VET NOW IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE APPROPRIATE USE OF ANTIMICROBIALS IN FEED AND WATER.” DR. DAVID WHITE WITH UT AGRESEARCH FORMERLY WORKED FOR THE FDA ON THIS ISSUE. HE’S NOW TEAMING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ALSO EDUCATE CATTLE PRODUCERS ABOUT THE PROPER USE OF ANTIBIOTICS, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VFDS. “SO USING ANTIBIOTICS TO TREAT ANIMALS IS APPROPRIATE. BUT GROWTH PROMOTION, FEED EFFICIENCY IN MANY PEOPLE’S DEFINITION IS AN IMPROPER USE OF THESE WONDER DRUGS. THEY SHOULD BE USED TO TREAT A DEFINED ILLNESS AND NOT FOR INCREASING HOW FAST AN ANIMAL CAN GROW.” THE VFDS ARE ALREADY BEING ASSIGNED AROUND TENNESSEE AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. IT’S A FINAL RULE THAT’S NOW ON THE BOOKS, AND WILL CHANGE HOW PRODUCERS AND VETERINARIANSRAISE LIVESTOCK. THIS IS CHARLES DENNEY REPORTING.
KANSAS WILDFIRE CATTLE UPDATE
MEANWHILE, VETERNARIANS AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS ARE ASSESSING MORE THAN ANTIBIOTIC USE IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS WHERE A BLAZE SWEPT THROUGH THE HIGH PLAINS. RANCHERS ARE STILL ASSESSING LOSSES, AND ROUNDING UP CATTLE. THOSE IN CLARK COUNTY, KANSAS SAY CATTLE ON WHEAT HAD A HIGHER SURVIVAL RATE. DR. RANDALL SPARE IN THE COUNTY TELLING AGDAY MANY CATTLE UP ON THE HILLS DIED. THE INJURIES AND INFECTION TO CATTLE DEPEND ON LOCATION. “THERE ARE THREE KIND SOF CATTLE. THEY ARE EITHER ALIVE AND HEALTHY, DEAD OR THOSE THAT EED TO BE PUT TO SLEEP,""THERE ARE CALVES BUCKIN AND BALLIN AND THEY LOOK GREAT. THE PROBLEMS ARE EITHER THEY’RE BLIND, COWS UTTERS HAVE BEEN BURNT AND THEY’RE ETENDER AND THEIR FEET HAVE SUCH SEVEREE INFLAMATION, THEIR HOOVES ARE FALLING OFF,"SPARE IS ESTIMATING THE 3 TO 6 THOUSAND CATTLE DIED IN HIS AREA- WHICH DOESN’T INCLUDE BABY CALVES. BUT THEY ARE STILL COUNTING LOSSES. A CONVOY OF DONATIONS FROM MICHIGAN FARMERS IS HEADED TO THE FIRE RAVAGED CENTRAL PLAINS. 300 BALES OF HAY ON SIX SEMI-TRAILERS ARE MAKING THE 11-HUNDRED MILE JOURNEY TO ASHLAND, KANSAS...AND THEN ANOTHER 200 MILES SOUTH TO THE TEXAS PANHANDLE. MATT SCHALLER IS A TRUCK DRIVER FOR BELL FARMS IN DURAND, MICHIGAN, HE COORDINATED THE HAY DRIVE AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE YOUNG TEXAS COUPLE WHO DIED WHILE TRYING TO SAVE LIVESTOCK. “I READ THIS STORY OF A YOUNG COUPLE THAT PASSED AWAY DOWN IN TEXAS TRYING TO SAVE CATTLE AND HORSES FROM THE FIRES AND I’D SEEN A FRIEND OF MINE OFFER HIS TRUCK UP TO HAUL HAY DOWN THERE HE DIDN’T HAVE ANY HAY CONNECTIONS SO I MADE SOME CALLS TO SOME OF MY FRIENDS HERE AND WE WERE ABLE TO ROUND UP A BUNCH OF HAY TO HAUL DOWN TO TEXAS WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH ALMOST 300 ROUND BALES TO HAUL DOWN WE’VE GOT MULTIPLE PALATES OF MILK REPLACER FOR CALVES WE’VE GOT FENCE T POST BARBED WIRE FEED AND A BUNCH OF CARE PACKAGE TO FOR THE PEOPLE DOWN THERE.” WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US THIS THURSDAY AS WE PRESENT A SPECIAL EDITION OF AGDAY. NATIONAL REPORTER BETSY JIBBEN JUST RETURNED FROM SOUTHWEST KANSAS WHERE SHE MET RANCHERS WHO LOST THEIR HERDS. WE’LL ALSO HEAR FROM A VETERINARIAN WHO FACED THE HEAVY TASK OF EUTHANIZING INJURED CATTLE. PLUS, WE’LL MEET A GROUP OF 4-HER’S WHO ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP ORPHANED CALVES GET THE NUTRITION THEY NEED. AGDAY REPORTS ‘AFTER THE FIRE’ - HERE ON THURSDAY.
PERDUE CONFIRMATION
THIS THURSDAY THE SENATE AG COMMITTEE IS SET TO HOLD IT’S CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR AG SECRETARY NOMINEE AND FORMER GEORGIA GOVERNOR SONNY PERDUE. THE COMMITTEE FINALLY GETTING PERDUE’S PAPERWORK LAST WEEK...ALLOWING THE COMMITTEE TO SCHEDULE THE HEARING.
CROP COMMENTS
SOME AREAS ARE HIT HARD WITH A FREEZE. MIKE HOFFMAN HAS AN UPDATE IN THIS MORNING’S CROP COMMENTS. MIKE GOOD MORNING, CLINTON. THIS IS WHAT THE BLUEBERRY CROP LOOKS LIKE IN WARE COUNTY, GEORGIA AFTER A HARD FREEZE. THIS GROWER SAYS OUT OF HIS 1700 ACRES OF BLUEBERRIES, HE THINKS MAJORITY ARE KILLED DUE TO THE COLD CONDITIONS. HE BURNED HAY BALES IN THE FIELDS TRYING TO REDUCE THE FROST IMPACT. WIND AND HEAVY SNOW BURIED NEW YORK LAST WEEK. WITH MANY SEEING VIEWS LIKE THIS ONE. THESE CALVES ARE SAFE. HOWEVER, WE DID RECEIVE REPORTS OF SOME DAIRY BARNS COLLAPSING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THREE FEET OF SNOW. IT CAN ALSO BE A CHALLENGE TO GET MILK TRUCKS TO THE FARM AND NOW HERE ARE SOME HOMETOWN TEMPS. AGDAY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY RESICORE HERBICIDE FOR CORN. WITH A UNIQUELY POWERFUL FORMULATION OF PROVEN INGREDIENTS, RESICORE GIVES YOU EXTRAORDINARY POWER OVER WEEDS. LEARN MORE AT POWEROVERWEEDS.COM.
TEASE
AHEAD WE’RE LOOKING AT LIVESTOCK MARKETS.......PLUS MACHINERY PETE IS HERE.STAY TUNED FOLKS COMING UP I’LL TELL YOU ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRACTORS I’VE EVER SEEN SOLD AT AUCTION. > AND....WE VISIT A MICHIGAN ZOO WHERE LOVE IS “IN THE AIR”....FOR SALAMANDERS. 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
FRIDAY WAS A MIXED DAY IN COMMODITIES. LET’S CHECK ON THE WEEKS’ CLOSE AT THE CME. ALL THE GRAINS ACROSS THE BOARD ARE ON THEIR LOWS. WE’RE EXPECTING A POSSIBLE BREAKOUT FROM THERE. ALL EYES ARE LOOKING AT PLANTING INTENTIONS AT THE END OF THE MONTH.IT JUST HASN’T COME HERE YET. DIFFICULT TO SAY, LOW VOLUME DAYS LEND THEMSELVES TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THE OTHER MARKET WE’RE GOING TO WATCH CLOSELY IS THE WHEAT MARKET. IT WAS STEADY TODAY. KINDA UNDERPINNED BY THE WORRIES THE WEATHER - THE FREEZING TEMPS - COULD HAVE SOME POSSIBLE CROP DAMAGE. THAT’S HOLDING THE MARKET IN CHECK. IN KANSAS CITY WHEAT WAS UP THREE CENTS, SO IT HAD A BIT OF A BOOST, SO WE’RE WATCHING THAT CLOSELY. SO THE MARKETS HAVEN’T REALLY FALLEN OFF...AND MOVED A BIT SIDEWAYS. WE’RE EXPECTING A LITTLE MORE ACTION NEXT WEEK. HOGS ON THE OTHER HAND, REALLY SLIPPING THE JUNE CONTRACTS DOWN. WELL OVER A DOLLAR RIGHT NOW. IT CERTAINLY YOU CAN SEE THE EXPORTS ARE DOWN ALMOST 30% FROM LAST WEEK. PORK PRICES ARE ON THE DECLINE RIGHT NOW SO THAT’S PUSHING THE MARKET LOWER. THAT’S ALL FROM THE FLOOR OF THE CME GROUP I’M VIRGINIA MCGATHEY.
AGRIBUSINESS
JOINING US HERE THE AGRIBUSINESS DESK WE HAVE ELAINE KUB WHO’S THE AUTHOR OF MASTERING THE GRAIN MARKETS ELAINE LET ‘S TALK ABOUT CATTLE A DAY OF THE CATTLE MARKET HAS BEEN PRETTY INTERESTING AS OF LATE AT THEM AND YOU THINK MAYBE IT COULD GET MORE INTERESTING YEAH I THINK THE INTERESTING PART TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT SO UM THE LIVE CATTLE THE NEARBY CONTRACT HAS REALLY BUMPED UP AGAINST THAT ONE TWENTY A LEVEL WHERE IT TOPPED OUT A FEW MONTHS AGO I THINK IF IT BREAKS THROUGH THERE THEN THINGS COULD GET EXCITING TO GET SOME FIREWORKS BUT I YOU KNOW I THAT WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT HOW FEEDER CATTLE HAVE BEHAVED IN THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS THEY’VE REALLY BEEN ON A STREAK SO IF THEY CAN GET THAT SAME AMOUNT OF ATTENTION OR THAT SAME MOMENTUM THINGS CAN HAPPEN WHAT THE FUNDAMENTALS BEHIND THE THIS RECENT STRENGTHENING THAT WE’VE SEEN IN CATTLE MARKETS A LITTLE BIT UNEXPECTED REALLY YEAH I’VE BEEN WAITING AND WAITING AND WAITING FOR THE BEEF MARKET SPECIFICALLY THE RETAIL BEEF MARKET THAT CHOICE CUTOUT TO REFLECTS THE OPTIMISM THE ECONOMIC OPTIMISM THAT ALL OF THE OTHER COMMODITY MARKETS HAVE REFLECTED YOU KNOW WE WE’VE SEEN YOU KNOW POSITIVE GLOBAL DEMAND FOR A LOT OF COMMODITIES AND WHY I HADN’T SEEN IT FINALLY WE DID THIS WE GET SOME OF HIS IN THAT CHOICE CUTOUT AND I THINK THAT ‘S HELPING ABSOLUTELY THE LIVE CATTLE FUTURES YES SO AS YOU LOOK DOWN THE ROAD A COUPLE OF MONTHS HERE WHERE SHOULD OUR PRODUCERS OR VIEWERS BE POSITIONING THEMSELVES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS MARKET WELL I THINK FEEDERS CATTLE FEEDERS IN PARTICULAR SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THAT SKY ROCKETING FEEDER CATTLE MARKET SO CORN IS PROBABLY STABLE THEIR INPUT COSTS THERE ARE STABLE BUT I THINK THEY SHOULD BE PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM HIGHER FEEDER CATTLE PRICES AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN ‘S OK AND THEY’RE ON THE LIVE SIDE OR FOR THE COW CALF WHAT DO YOU THINK I THINK THE LET HER RIDE YOU KNOW THAT THEY AND THAT THE FUNDAMENTALLY THE SEGMENT OF THE MARKET THAT ‘S CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY SITUATION THE REMAINING BULLISHNESS THAT WE HAVE OR THE GOOD PRICES THAT WE HAVE IN THE BEEF INDUSTRY I THINK COME FROM THE FACT THAT THAT THE COW CALF OPERATORS CAN’T REALLY EXPAND AS MUCH AS GLOBAL DEMAND WANTS OR NEEDS THEM TO EXPAND IN THIS COUNTRY SO THEY CONTROL THEIR HOLDINGS IN THE YOU KNOW THE GOLDEN TICKET HERE ‘S TO KEEP TO KEEP THOSE PRICES HIGH WELL THEY LIKE THAT I THINK THE LIES THAT THEY ARE INCREASING THE LENGTH AND FORM A NEW WARNING THAT MORE AGDAY IN JUST A MINUTE. AGDAY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY TOP THIRD AG MARKETING. FARMER-FIRST, WITH A PLAN FOR EVERY MARKET.
WEATHER
WELCOME BACK TO AGDAY HERE WITH METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN LOOKING AT RAINFALL OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO MIKE YOU CAN SEE SOME SPOTTY SHOWERS THERE THROUGH THE SOUTH EAST EVEN UP IN A NEW ENGLAND WHEN THEY GOT A BIG SNOW AND NOTHING WIDESPREAD IN A LOT OF THAT SNOW MELTE DOWN TO LOVE WITH HER HALF INCH TO MENTION THE MANY PARTS OF NEW ENGLAND A FEW SPOTS ENDED UP WITH A COUPLE INCHES AS YOU CAN SEE AND YOU’LL ALSO NOTICE IN PARTS OF THE SOUTHEAST WE’VE HAD SOME POCKETS GET ONE OR TWO INCHES OF MOISTURE A LOT LESS ACTUALLY IS OFF SHORE’S AS YOU’LL NOTICE IN THE NORTHWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO JUST A FEW SPOTS IN FLORIDAAND THAT UP A LITTLE MOISTURE AS WELL SO NOTHING WIDESPREAD NOTHING REAL HEAVY IN MOST AREAS HERE ‘S THE WAY THINGS SHAPE UP THIS WEEK WE CONTINUE TO HAVE STORM SYSTEMS MOVING FROM WEST TO EAST COMING IN AND OF THE WEST COAST WE ALSO HAVE A CONTINUATION OF AT LEAST SOME SHOTS OCCASIONAL SHOT OF COLDER AIR COMING INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS BUT ESPECIALLY THE GREAT LAKES IN THE NORTHEAST ING SEE THAT BY WEDNESDAY KIND OF A SHOT OF COLD AIR THROUGH THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY BUT A RIDGE ‘S KEEP IN IT THAN A MILD THROUGH THE MID SECTIONS IS GONNA BE A DECENT STORM A LIVE THING COME IN AND OUT WEST AND THAT WILL MAKE IT A EASTWARD BY LATE IN THE WEEK THIS WILL BE VERY WET RIGHT THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY INTO THE GREAT LAKES THE WAY IT LOOKS WITH THE A JET STREAM RIGHT THERE WE HEAD THROUGH THE NEXT WEEKEND AND THEN YOU’LL NOTICE THAT CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTHEAST WITH THAT ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM COMING IN OUT WEST SO I THINK IS GONNA BE WIDESPREAD AREAS THAT GET LOT OF MOISTURE OVER THE NEXT WEEK TO TEN DAYS SO LET CHECK THINGS OUT TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK THEN GOING ABOVE NORMAL FROM NORTHERN FLORIDA THROUGH MOST OF THE SOUTHEAST MOST OF THE SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS INTO THE NORTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF THE ROCKIES BELOW NORMAL FOR MANY PARTS OF CALIFORNIA ‘S A COUPLE OF SYSTEMS COME IN WITH SOME RAIN AND BELOW NORMAL FOR THE GREAT LAKES IN THE NORTHEAST IS A COUPLE OF COLD SHOTS CONTINUE TO COME IN HERE IS THAT MOISTURE THE PRECIPITATION FOR THIS WEEK ABOVE NORMAL FOR MUCH OF THE WEST THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND IN MUCH OF THE PLAIN STATES AND OF THE GREAT LAKES OHIO VALLEY WESTERN TENNESSEE VALLEY AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WILL ARE PROBABLY PUSH EASTWARD NEXT WEEKEND BUT THIS IS JUST FOR THIS COMING WEEK AND YOU CAN SEE BELOW NORMAL FOR A NEW ENGLAND IN THE FAR NORTHERN PLAINS ALSO SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS AND CENTRAL FLORIDA HERE’S THE THIRTY DAY OUTLOOK FOR TIME PRESENT FROM KANSAS MISSOURI SOUTHWARD AND GOING ABOUT NORMAL BELOW NORMAL FOR THE NORTHEAST NORTHERN GREAT LAKES INTO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES AND TAKING A LOOK AT THE THIRTY DAY OUTLOOK FOR PRECIPITATION IN MUCH OF THE EAST YOU CAN SEE THE TENNESSEE OHIO VALLEY GREAT LAKES NORTHEASTERN PLAINS AND THE NORTHWEST EXPECTED TO BE ABOVE NORMAL BELOW NORMAL IN THE FOUR CORNER REGION STRETCHING INTO THE SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE PLAINS THAT ‘S A LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY NOW LET ‘S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME LOCAL FORECASTS WE HAD THE GLENDIVE MONTANA FIRST OF ALL PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY AND CHILLY HIGH OF FORTY SIX DEGREES EL DORADO ARKANSAS GOOD DEAL OF SUNSHINE AND WARM WITH A HIGH OF EIGHTY ONE AND TRENTON NEW JERSEY PARTLY SUNNY AND RATHER MILD HIGH AROUND FIFTY DEGREES.
TEASE
DID YOU SPEND THE WEEKEND WATCHING THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT? MACHINERY PETE WATCHED SOME HOOPS...AND HE’S BLENDING THAT IN WITH TODAY’S FEATURED EQUIPMENT DEALS. AND WE’LL SEE WHO’S HELPING THE LOVE-LORN.
MACHINERY PETE
OUR VERY OWN GREG PETERSON JOINS US WITH SOME INTERESTING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRACTOR AUCTIONS... AND HIS PICK TO WIN THE NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. GREG. MARCH MADNESS NOW OF COURSE TO MOST FOLKS THAT MEANS FILLING OUT YOUR BRACKET AND PICKING A WINNING TEAM NOW FOR ME THE PAST TWENTY SEVEN YEARS MARCH MADNESS HAS HAD A DUAL MEANING HIS COURSE MARCH IS THE BUSIEST MONTH ON THE CALENDAR IN TERMS OF MACHINERY AUCTIONS SO WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE HERE SO FAR MARCH OF TWENTY SEVENTEEN WELL A COUPLE TRACTORS HERE ‘S A PICTURE OF A NINETEEN EIGHTY EIGHT JOHN EIGHTY EIGHT FIFTY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND HAD ZERO HOURS ON A KINZE REPOWER NOW THIS SOLD ON A MARCH EIGHTH AUCTION IN WILLIAMSBURG IOWA COMING INTO THE SALE THE HIGHEST AUCTION PRICE I’VE EVER SEEN ON A EIGHTY EIGHT FIFTY WAS FIFTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT HAPPENED TWICE YEARS AGO ONCE ON AN AUCTION IN ALABAMA ANOTHER TIME IN MONTANA SO HOW HIGH DID ARE IOWA EIGHTY EIGHT FIFTY GO SEVENTY ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS NEW RECORD PRICE BY NINETEEN THOUSAND BUCKS NOW I HAVE BEEN SEEN AGAIN IN GOOD CONDITION USED TRACTORS HOLDING THEIR VALUE WELL ACROSS THE COUNTRY HERE ‘S ANOTHER EXAMPLE MARCH TENTH INCENTRAL NEW JERSEY THIS INTERNATIONAL FIFTEEN EIGHTY SIX SOLD ON A CONSIGNMENT AUCTION FOR FOURTEEN THOUSAND BLOCKS IN A YEAR AGO THE SAME TRACTOR ONE FOR THIRTEEN THOUSAND NOW BACK TO BASKETBALL MY PICK BUT WHEN THE TURN WITH THIS YEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI ‘S GO BEARCATS.
TEASE
STILL TO COME - “DOCTOR RUTH’ PUTS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE TEST AT A MICHIGAN ZOO. IN THE COUNTRY IS NEXT.
IN THE COUNTRY
IN THE COUNTRY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY KUBOTA. SEE THE ALL-NEW KOMMANDER-PRO ZERO-TURN MOWER AT KUBOTA.COM.WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT ENDANGERED SPECIES LIKE BALD EAGLES, WOLVES AND OTHERS. BUT THESE BIG PREDATORS AREN’T THE ONLY SPECIES AT RISK. A WOMAN NAMED DR. RUTH IS HELPING ENDANGERED AMPHIBIANS MAKE A BUILD THEIR FAMILY TREE. THE DETROIT ZOO WOULD LIKE TO SEE TOADS HANG AROUND AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. “IT IS VERY MUCH A CRISIS. IT’S ACTUALLY NICKNAMED ‘THE AMPHIBIAN EXTINCTION CRISIS.’” WHICH IS RUTH MARCEC HEADS UP THE ZOO’S NATIONAL AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION CENTER WHERE PART OF HER JOB IS TO HELP NEWTS, FROGS AND SALAMANDERS … MAKE A LOVE CONNECTION. “AMPHIBIANS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO BREED IN CAPTIVITY. YOU NEED TO GET THE MOOD JUST RIGHT. THEY NEED SOME MARVIN GAYE. NO. THEY NEED SPECIFIC BAROMETRIC PRESSURE. THEY NEED SPECIFIC RAINFALL. THINGS LIKE THAT.” MARCEC IS BOTH A VETERINARIAN … AND A REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGIST. MAKING HER UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO ADDRESS WHAT HAS BECOME A CRITICAL SITUATION. “IF YOU COMBINE ALL THE ENDANGERED MAMMALS AND BIRDS, THAT STILL DOESN’T ADD UP TO THE PERCENTAGE OF AMPHIBIANS THAT ARE THREATENED AND ENDANGERED.” MARCEC … WHO ASSISTS ZOOS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE U-S WITH THEIR AMPHIBIAN-BREEDING EFFORTS … DOES SO BECAUSE OF THE CRUCIAL ROLE THE LITTLE CRITTERS PLAY. “AMPHIBIAN LARVA _ THE TADPOLES AND THE BABY SALAMANDERS _ THEY KEEP WATER HEALTHY. … SALAMANDERS KEEP SOIL HEALTHY AND AERATED. … IF YOU REMOVED THE SALAMANDERS FROM THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS, THE FORESTS WOULD DIE.” PLUS … SHE’S SMITTEN. “A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T RECOGNIZE HOW ADORABLE THEY ARE.” SO WHETHER SHE’S INDUCING SALAMANDERS TO DO THEIR “SEXY DANCE” … OR PLAYING A TREE-FROG BREEDING CALL ON A TABLET COMPUTER … DR. RUTH IS BRINGING HER SEX-PERTISE TO THE AMPHIBIAN WORLD. MIKE HOUSEHOLDER, ASSOCIATED PRESS, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN.
CLOSE
THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS MORNING. WE’RE GLAD YOU TUNED IN. FOR MIKE HOFFMAN, AND ALL OF AT AGDAY. I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
