TODAY ON AGDAY
MAY 17, 2017
HEADLINES
I’M MICHELLE ROOK. WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW U.S. SECRETARY OF AG? I’LL HAVE THE STORY HERE FROM THE NATION’S CAPITOL. PLUS, WRAPPING UP THE I-80 PLANTING TOUR...A STATE BY STATE RECAP. IN AGRIBUSINESS...WHEAT MARKET MOVEMENT. AND IT’S HUNTING SEASON IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES--- THE STATE IS PAYING FOR PYTHON. AGDAY-BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEPENDABLE, LONG LASTING CHEVY SILVERADO. GOOD MORNING I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS.
PERDUE’S VISION
LATER THIS MORNING, THE NEW SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE WILL BE HEADED FOR THE LONGWORTH OFFICE BUILDING TO SPEAKING WITH THE FULL HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE. PERDUE WILL BE ADDRESSING THE STATUS OF THE FARM ECONOMY...NOW IN THE MIDST OF A FOUR YEAR- 50 PERCENT DECLINE. PART OF THAT DISCUSSION WILL INCLUDE HIS VISION FOR USDA AND ITS ROLE IN FEEDING PEOPLE. IT’S JUST THE LATEST EVENT IN WHAT’S BEEN A PACKED SCHEDULE SINCE HIS CONFIRMATION. MICHELLE ROOK WAS RECENTLY IN WASHINGTON D-C AS PERDUE BEGAN LAYING OUT HIS VISION FOR HIS TENURE AT USDA. AS HE STARTS IN HIS NEW POSITION AS U.S. AG SECRETARY SONNY PERDUE SAYS HIS PRIORITIES FOR AGRICULTURE INCLUDE TRADE, LABOR AND REGULATORY REFORM. ON TRADE, PERDUE WASTED NO TIME, CREATING A NEW POSITION AS PART OF USDA REORGANIZATION AND AS DIRECTED IN THE 2014 FARM BILL. U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE SONNY PERDUE, “I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND OUR PLANS ARE TO HAVE A DEPUTY OR AN UNDERSECRETARY FOR TRADE FOR USDA.” HE SAYS THIS POSITION WILL BE ABLE TO FOCUS SOLELY ON OPENING EXPORT MARKETS FOR U.S. PRODUCTS. PERDUE, “THE FOREIGN AG SERVICE OUGHT TO GET UP EVERY DAY, HOW CAN I SELL MORE? WHERE CAN I SELL MORE? WHERE CAN I GO TO TRADE THESE PRODUCTS.” AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ALSO CHARGES PERDUE TO CHAIR AN INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL PROSPERITY. IT FOCUSES ON REGULATORY REFORM, WITH A REPORT DUE IN 180 DAYS. “WE THINK ALL OF THESE AGENCIES ARE LITERALLY GOING TO DO A TOP TO BOTTOM REVIEW OF ALL THE REGULATIONS.” PERDUE SAYS THIS WILL BUILD ON THE REGULATORY ROLLBACK ALREADY STARTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND EPA. PERDUE, “HE’S ALREADY DEMONSTRATED A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE BARRIERS THAT WE PUT OUT IN OUR FARMS AND FIELDS ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND WE’RE COMMITTED TO DO EVEN MORE.” THIS IS A CHANGE IN APPROACH TO REGULATIONS THAT FARM GROUPS ARE APPLAUDING. “WE’RE GONNA BE BASED ON SCIENCE, BASED ON DATA AND WE’RE GOING TO BE TRANSPARENT. AND FRANKLY THAT’S SOMETHING VERY WELCOME NEWS TO OUR MEMBERS.” “WE ALREADY HAVE A LIST OF ABOUT 50 OR 60 REGS, HARDLY ANY OF THEM AT USDA, MOST OF THEM AT EPA AND PLACES LIKE THAT THAT WE REALLY WANT THEM TO LOOK AT. AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS. NOT NECESSARILY DESTROY MOST OF THE REGS, BUT YOU KNOW MAKE THEM A LITTLE MORE WORKABLE.” THE SECRETARY IS ALSO FOCUSED ON LABOR AND SAYS THE PRESIDENT WANTS IMMIGRATION REFORM THAT BENEFITS AGRICULTURE. PERDUE, “WHAT HE’S AFTER IS THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. HE UNDERSTANDS THERE ARE DEDICATED FARM WORKERS OUT HERE WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE SOMETIMES MILKING COWS 365 DAYS A YEAR, NOT JUST SEASONAL WORKERS.” AND THAT CAN’T COME SOON ENOUGH FOR SECTORS LIKE DAIRY. “LET’S FIX THIS LONGER TERM. LET’S CREATE A WORKABLE GUEST WORKER VISA TYPE PROGRAM. THAT WORKS SPECIFICALLY FOR DAIRY AND OTHER TYPES OF EMPLOYERS THAT DON’T JUST NEED SEASONAL HELP THEY NEED YEAR-ROUND HELP.” WHILE THESE PRIORITIES ARE COMMENDABLE, IT’S A TALL TASK CONSIDERING THE SECRETARY MUST ALSO BUILD HIS TEAM AT USDA. “I THINK HE’S USED HIS TIME WELL DURING THIS DELAY IN CONFIRMATION THOUGH TO BE READY TO ROLL THAT TEAM OUT IN FAIRLY SHORT ORDER.” AND I THINK YOU’RE GOING TO SEE HIM CATCH UP WITH THE DELAY FAIRLY QUICKLY.” IN WASHINGTON D.C. I’M MICHELLE ROOK REPORTING FOR AGDAY . > THANKS MICHELLE, PERDUE STILL WORKING TO FILL OUT HIS CABINET. OUR PARTNERS AT AGRITALK RADIO HEARING FROM WASHINGTON INSIDER, INFORMA ECONOMIC’S JIM WISMEYER THAT CAMPAIGN ADVISOR SAM CLOVIS-- MAY BE NOMINATED FOR UNDERSECRETARY OF RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND ECONOMICS. THE ROLE OVERSEES NASS AND THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE. CLOVIS HAS A BACKGROUND IN ECONOMICS--FORMERLY A PROFESSOR IN IOWA.
I-80 TOUR WRAP
THE I-80 PLANTING TOUR - SPONSORED BY THE ENLIST WEED CONTROL SYSTEM FROM DOW AGROSCIENCES - COMBINING THE PROVEN CONTROL OF A NEW 2-4-D AND GLYPHOSATE. TAKE CONTROL OF TOUGH WEEDS LIKE NEVER BEFORE. GIVE FARMERS A FEW DAYS OF NICE WEATHER AND THEY CAN QUICKLY GET THEIR FIELDS PLANTED. PROOF OF THAT COMES IN THIS WEEK’S CROP PROGRESS REPORT. USDA SAYS BOTH CORN AND SOYBEAN PLANTINGS ARE BACK ON PACE WITH THE 5 YEAR AVERAGE. NEARLY THREE QUARTERS OF THE NATION’S CORN IS NOW PLANTED. UP 24 POINTS IN ONE WEEK. AND A THIRD OF SOYBEANS ARE SEEDED - UP 18 POINTS. AS BETSY JIBBEN SHOWS US FARMERS OUT WEST ARE GAINING STEAM, BUT POCKETS OF THE EASTERN CORNBELT CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH WEATHER RELATED OBSTACLES. AFTER A SLOW MAY START, BURT COUNTY, NEBRASKA FARMER, MATT NELSON IS CATCHING UP IN THE FIELD. NEBRASKA PUSHED 30 POINTS HIGHER IN CORN PLANTING AND JUST 24 POINTS HIGHER IN BEAN PLANTING IN ONE WEEK. QUITE A DIFFERENCE FROM THE END OF APRIL AND BEGINNING OF MAY WHEN A COLD SNAP, RAIN AND EVEN SOME HAIL IN THE AREA SET FARMERS BACK. “WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU DON’T HAVE A CHOICE. YOU ROLL WITH IT."ADAIR, IOWA FARMER CRAIG DOUGLAS HAS HIS PLANTER PARKED BACK IN THE SHOP.HE’S DONE FOR THE SEASON. DOUGLAS SAYS HE DID NOT PLANT HIS LAST SEEDS IN THE BEST CONDITIONS IN SOPPING WET SOILS - BUT HE DOESN’T THINK THERE WILL BE REPLANT IN HIS AREA."A LOT OF TIMES WE’RE TOO WET OR TOO DRY. FARMERS ARE HARD TO PLEASE. BUT WE’RE IN GOOD SHAPE THIS YEAR,"STATEWIDE THERE WERE HUGE GAINS IN IOWA - LAST WEEK CORN PLANTING JUMPING 33 POINTS AND 31 POINTS IN SOYBEANS. AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED: THE STATE PLANTING OVER 4 MILLION ACRES SINCE LAST WEEK. AFTER A GOOD START TO THE YEAR.. USDA SAYS ILLINOIS FARMERS ARE BEHIND THE 5-YEAR AVERAGE DESPITE PLANTING GAINS OVER THE PAST WEEK. A LITTLE WET IN SOME SPOTS AND TOO WET."MANHATTAN, ILLINOIS FARMER, JOHN KEIFNER HAS 20 PERCENT OF CORN LEFT TO PLANT AND 20 PERCENT OF BEANS IN THE GROUND. HE SAYS THERE WILL BE REPLANTING THIS YEAR . THE FARMERS WHO DON’T WILL LIKELY HAVE UNEVEN EMERGENCE AND THIN SPOTS. “SOME WAS TOO EARWLY, SOME WAS TOO WET, BUT I WOULD RATHER TOO EARLY THAN A LOT DONE TOO LATE,"SEEING SLIGHT GAINS WITH CORN AND SOYBEAN PLANTING FOR INDIANA GRABILL FARMER, JIM SMITH IS PUTTING HIS FIRST SEEDS IN THE GROUND THIS WEEK. “THE BIGGEST DEAL IS WE’VE HAD RAIN EVENT THEN ANOTHER RAIN EVENT THAT’S KEPT US OUT OF THE FIELD LONG ENOUGH TO NOT GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED,"DESPITE SMALL WEEKLY GAINS, OHIO FARMERS REMAIN BEHIND THE 5 YEAR AVERAGE WITH PLANTING. PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO FARMER, JOE BARKER STARTED TO PLANT THE END OF APRIL - BUT BETWEEN 4 TO 6 INCHES OF RAIN, LOWS IN THE 30S AND COOL SOIL TEMPERATURES THERE ARE ISSUES. “OUR AREA WE’RE FLAT, HEAVY CLAY, TIMBER SOIL, WE DON’T DRY OUT IN A HURRY,"HE BELIEVES IT’S TOO EARLY TO KNOW IF HE HAS TO REPLANT BUT A SYNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ACRES IN HIS COUNTY MAY NEED TO BE REPLANTED. HE SAYS FARMERS HOPE THIS ISN’T A REPEAT OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. “IT’S IMPORTANT WITH A LOT OF THE FOLKS I WORK WITH THAT WE HAVE A GOOD 2017 SEASON,"BUT AS FARMERS TO THE WEST GAIN STEAM, PRODUCERS TO THE EAST HOPE TO DRY OUT. REPORTING FOR AGDAY, I’M BETSY JIBBEN. THANKS BETSY. MINNESOTA FARMERS CAPTURED A LOT OF GROUND. NEARLY 4 MILLION CORN ACRES WERE PLANTED IN THE STATE SINCE LAST WEEK.
CROP COMMENTS
MIKE HOFFMAN CONTINUES OUR LOOK AT FARM COUNTRY--HE HAS TODAY’S CROP COMMENTS. MIKE. GOOD MORNING, CLINTON. JAYSON WILLIMACK OF OXFORD JUNCTION, IOWA SENDING US A PICTURE OF LATE-NIGHT PLANTING. USDA SAYS IOWA HAS GAINED A LOT OF GROUND. 10 POINTS AHEAD OF HTE 5- YEAR AVERAGE WITH CORN PLANTING AND 8 POINTS AHEAD OF THE AVERAGE WITH SOYBEANS TOO. AND ALEX HOLZWARTH IN HAZEL, SOUTH DAKOTA IS HALFWAY DONE WITH CORN AND SOYBEAN PLANTING. USDA SAYS SOUTH DAKOTA CORN PLANTING IS 11 POINTS AHEAD THE 5-YEAR AVERAGE AND 3 POINTS ABOVE THE 5 YEAR AVERAGE WITH SOYBEAN PLANTING. AND LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT 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 WE COME BACK, WE’LL LOOK AT THE CURRENT SUPPLY AND DEMAND PICTURE AND DISCUSS WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR PRICES IN THE NEAR TERM. AND LATER, HIT THE TRAIL IN SEARCH OF A GIANT SNAKE. THIS ISN’T A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE, ITS REAL LIFE IN FLORIDA. THAT STORY 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 IT WAS A TOUGH START TO THE WEEK FOR MAJOR COMMODITIES. LETS SEE HOW MARKETS FAIRED TUESDAY FROM THE FLOOR OF THE CME IN CHICAGO. CORN MARKET WAS MOSTLY LOWER DURING A QUIET SESSION HERE ON TUESDAY. THE TRADE INITIALLYL REACTING TO A PLANTING PROGRESS REPORT FROM USDA WHICH TOLD US PLANTING PROGRESS IN THIS COUNTRY IS ACTUALLY AHEAD OF THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE. FARMERS ARE STILL SITTING ON A LOT OF LAST YEAR’S CORN. AND I THINK THERE’S A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW CROP CORN THAT’S NOT BEEN PRICED. I WOULD SAY 5 TO 10 PERCENT AT MOST OF THE U.S. HAS BEEN PRICED FOR THIS COMING GROWING SEASON. SO, THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPLY BASE FOR THE MARKET TO CHEW THROUGH. MOVING FORWARD HERE, THE MARKET COULD GO ANYWHERE. THIS IS ALL ABOUT WEASTHER FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS DURING THE GROWING SEASON. THE LEAN HOG MARKET WAS HIGHER HERE ON TUESDAY. IN FACT, OUR SPOT MONTH JUNE CONTRACT POSTED ITS HIGHEST TRADE SINCE EARLY MARCH AND WE ALSO HAD OUR EARLIEST TRADE IN THE DEFERRED MONTH CONTRACTS. A NICE RALLLY IN THE FUTURES MARKET HERE. AGAIN, JOE VACLAVIK WITH CME GROUP HERE IN CHICAGO.
AGRIBUSINESS
ANGIE SETZER CITIZENS GRAIN OUR GUEST HERE THE AGRIBUSINESS DESK. LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS WHEAT MARKET AFTER THE RECENT USDA REPORTS KIND OF GIVING US SOME INDICATIONS ABOUT PRODUCTION. ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE PRODUCTION NUMBERS THAT THEY PUT OUT. ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH PRICE PROJECTIONS. WHAT DO YOU THINK. TO ME ON THE PRODUCTION SIDE I THINK THEY’RE PROBABLY A LITTLE GENEROUS JUST YET YIELD WISE IS IN LINE WITH TREND BUT I THINK THIS YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO WHEAT PRODUCTION HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT NORMAL. RIGHT. THE SOUTHERN PLAINS CROP STARTED OUT EXTREMELY DRY HAD ISSUES LIKE GERMINATION OFF THE START THE SOFT RED WHEAT CROP IN THE EASTERN CORN BELT HAS HAD ISSUES WITH DISEASE TOO MUCH MOISTURE AND BOTH CROPS OF COURSE HAVE DEALT WITH THEIR SHARE OF COLD WEATHER. SO I REALLY AM INTERESTED TO SEE I KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS IN MICHIGAN IN PARTICULAR AND WE REALLY HAVEN’T HAD THAT VOLATILE OF A PRODUCTION YEAR FROM A WHEAT STANDPOINT. A LITTLE BIT OF A POOR FALL WINTER WASN’T TOO BAD BUT WE’RE EVEN IN 0 OUTFIELDS AND THEY’RE HAVING TO MAKE OTHER DECISIONS BASED ON THAT. SO IN THURSDAY’S LAST WEEK’S REPORT FROM THE USDA ON WEDNESDAY EXCUSE ME THEY INDICATED THAT WE’D HARVEST ABOUT 83 JUST UNDER 84 PERCENT OF THE CROP FROM AN ABANDONMENT STANDPOINT THAT’S KIND OF IN LINE. I WOULD NOT BE THE LEAST BIT SURPRISED TO SEE THAT KIND OF GO UP A LITTLE BIT. ABANDONMENTS SURE. THE HARVEST ACREAGE MAYBE DROP CLOSER TO 80 PERCENT OF WHAT WAS PLANTED WHICH WOULD BE THE LOWEST HARVEST NUMBER ON RECORD. IT ALREADY IS THE PROJECTION IS. BUT IF WE WERE TO SEE FURTHER ABANDONMENT OF COURSE BE THE LOWEST AND I WOULDN’T BE THE LEAST BIT SURPRISED WITH SOME OF THE STRIP RUST AND OTHER DISEASE ISSUES THAT WE’RE HEARING ABOUT. AND OF COURSE THE COLD TEMPERATURES THAT WE’VE DEALT WITH THAT CAN TAKE THE TOP AND OFF IF WE WOULDN’T SEAL BACK OFF JUST A TOUCH AND I’M WATCHING THE GLOBAL WHEAT CROP TOO. SO TO ME I THINK WE JUST KIND OF POISED FOR A SURPRISING POP TO THE UPSIDE. OK. OF COURSE I THINK IT WOULD BE WELCOME BACK FOLKS IF WE CAN GET IT DONE. FULL DISCLOSURE I’VE BEEN EXPECTING ONE FOR A WHILE NOW BUT THE OUTSIDE ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE MARKETS IN GENERAL AND WHEAT I MEAN WHEATS BEEN THE MARKETS WHIPPING BOY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND I THINK THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO PROVE ONCE THE COLUMBINES GET RUNNING THAT WE’RE NOT FILLING UP THE SPACE THAT WE WOULD TRADITIONALLY FILL UP. AND WE HAVE TO CHEW THROUGH SOME OF THESE EXTRA STOCKS THAT WE HAVE OF COURSE. BUT I THINK ONCE WE GET INTO HARVEST WE’RE GOING TO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES I KNOW IN PARTS OF TEXAS WHERE THEY’RE HARVESTING COMBINING WHEAT RIGHT NOW. THEY’RE SAYING THAT THE YIELDS ARE REMARKABLY LOW. OK. WELL WE’LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT. GOOD EXPLANATION. APPRECIATE IT. WE’LL BE BACK. WE’RE BACK WITH MORE AGDAY IN JUST A MINUTE. FOR HELP SOLVING YOUR CASH GRAIN PROBLEMS, CALL ANGIE SETZER WITH CITIZENS LLC AT 800-858-3738.VISIT FARM JOURNAL PRO.COM. TRUSTED ANALYSIS, PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT. FARM JOURNAL PRO.COM.
WEATHER
WELCOME BACK TO AGDAY HERE WITH METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN LOOKING AT THE ROOT ZONE MOISTURE MAP. MIKE IF WE LOOK AT THIS. BOY IT’S CHANGING QUICKLY AND ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS. YEAH THAT PLACE IS STARTING TO BE A CONCERN OBVIOUSLY WITH THE DRYNESS IN TEXAS STARTING TO GET DRY AND IT REMAINS DRY IN MANY PARTS OF THE SOUTHEAST. AND IF YOU REMEMBER BACK TWO OR THREE WEEKS WE HAD THIS HUGE AREA OF BLUE OR VERY WET CONDITIONS FROM THE GREAT LAKES ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS BUT THAT IS GOING AWAY SLOWLY AS WE’RE SEEING MORE SCATTERED RAINFALL RATHER THAN A WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL THAT WE’VE SEEN. ALSO THERE’S MORE OR AT LEAST LESS BLUE OUT WEST. IT’S GETTING A LITTLE DRIER IN SOME AREAS. TAKING A LOOK AT THE WEATHER MAP STILL A COUPLE OF SYSTEMS THERE. CENTRAL WEST CENTRAL PLAINS INTO THE NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY MOST OF THE EAST. WARM AND DRY AND THAT’S GOING TO CONTINUE FOR AT LEAST TWO OR THREE MORE DAYS MAYBE EVEN LONGER ALONG THE EAST COAST BUT YOU CAN SEE BY LATER IN THE DAY TODAY THE FIRST SYSTEM STARTS TO COME EASTWARD. SO WE’RE LOOKING AT SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. A NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY MORE WIDESPREAD RAIN TO THE NORTH OF THIS SYSTEM WHICH IS GOOD NEWS FOR SOUTH DAKOTA THERE YOU COULD GET SOME DECENT RAINS IN PLACES. ALSO RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW OUT WEST THIS COULD PUT DOWN A DECENT AMOUNT OF SNOW EXCUSE ME OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS ACROSS THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE ROCKIES. BY TOMORROW MORNING YOU CAN SEE SOME WEAKENING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS INTO THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY OUT AHEAD OF THAT FIRST COLD FRONT. YOU WILL NOTICE AS WE HEAD INTO THE DAY TOMORROW THOUGH THAT FIRST FRONT KIND OF FALLS APART SECOND FRONT FORMS BEHIND IT. SO IT’S STILL VERY WARM FROM THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN GREAT LAKES ALL THE WAY BACK INTO TEXAS AND THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST. THESE ARE MAINLY JUST HIT AND MISS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THIS HAS SOME DECENT MOISTURE WITH THIS STORM SYSTEM COMING INTO THE TEXAS PANHANDLE MAINLY TO THE WEST OF IT THOUGH WITH RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOWS ACROSS COLORADO. TAKE A LOOK AT PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES PAST 24 HOURS. A LOT OF IT FROM NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS INTO MINNESOTA. ADDING IN THE NEXT 36 HOURS YOU CAN SEE THOSE POCKETS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT MOVE IS GENERALLY THE NORTHWESTERN GREAT LAKES BACK INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS WHERE THE BEST CHANCE FOR A COUPLE THREE INCHES OF RAIN STARTED TO SAY SNOW THERE COMES DOWN. SPEAKING OF SNOW WE’RE GOING TO GET SOME DECENT AMOUNTS ALREADY SEEING THAT OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS. WE’RE GOING TO SPREAD IT INTO THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE ROCKIES WITH SUMMER AREAS GETTING A HALF FOOT OR MORE OF THE WHITE STUFF. BUT MOST OF THE COUNTRY IS ON THE WARM SIDE. YOU CAN SEE FROM THE GREAT LAKES TO TEXAS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST ONLY HIGHS IN THE 50S THOUGH IN THE DAKOTAS. LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT GOING TO DROP INTO THE 30S AND 40S. MUCH OF THE WEST INTO THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE PLAINS BUT STILL 60S AND 70S TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THAT FRONT AND THAT REMAINS TO BE PRETTY MUCH THE CASE DURING THE DAY TOMORROW IN THE AFTERNOON AS WELL. HERE’S THE JET STREAM BIG RIDGE IN THE EAST GETS CUT DOWN A LITTLE BIT BY THIS FIRST TROUGH BUT THEN IT BUILDS RIGHT BACK UP AS WE HEAD INTO THE FIRST PART OF THE WEEKEND. NEXT TROUGH THOUGH DOES FINALLY KIND OF SHIFT THINGS INTO THE EAST AGAIN WITH THE RIDGE OUT WEST AS WE HEAD INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THAT’S A LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOW LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME LOCAL FORECASTS HEADING TO EL PASO TEXAS. FIRST OF ALL BREEZY WITH LOTS OF SUNSHINE. HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 85 DEGREES. LACROSSE WISCONSIN CLOUDY THUNDERSTORM OR TWO. LIKELY HIGH OF 75. AND ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA A GOOD DEAL OF SUNSHINE AND BREEZY. HIGH TEMPERATURE.
TEASE
DO AMERICAN’S CONSUMER MORE AVOCADOS ON CINCO DE MAYO OR MEMORIAL DAY? WE’LL HAVE THE ANSWER NEXT ON THE PACKER TV. AND LATER, THE HUNT IS ON FOR THESE MASSIVE SNAKES IN FLORIDA.
PACKER TV
ON THE PACKER TV, THE CALIFORNIA AVOCADO COMMISSION SAYS MEMORIAL DAY COULD TOP CINCO DE MAYO FOR CONSUMPTION. ITS ESTIMATING 123 MILLION POUNDS OF HASS AVOCADOS WILL BE CONSUMED THAT WEEKEND. NEARLY 4 MILLION MORE THAN THE MAY 5TH CELEBRATION. CURRENTLY AVOCADOS SUPPLIES ARE RUNNING SHORT, CAUSING PRICES TO NEARLY DOUBLE COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO. IN CALIFORNIA, THE COMMISSION EXPECTS 200 MILLION POUNDS TOTAL FOR THE YEAR. THE RECENT HEAVY RAINS IN THE MIDWEST CONTINUE TO LEAVE PONDING AND FLOODED FIELDS. PURDUE EXTENSION EDUCATOR SCOTT MONROE SAYS FARMERS NEED TO CONSIDER HOW MUCH WATER CAME IN CONTACT WITH EDIBLE PRODUCE LIKE TOMATOES. THERE COULD BE MORE RISK FOR CONTAMINATION BY CHEMICALS OR PATHOGENS. ADDING THAT THE AREAS SHOULD BE MARKED AND DOCUMENTED--REPLANTS AND NEW TILLAGE SHOULD ONLY BE DONE ONLY AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF SUNSHINE ON DRY SOILS. AND FROM TOO MUCH WATER TO TOO LITTLE-- DROUGHT AND DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUE IN GEORGIA AND FLORIDA. IN TIFT COUNTY GEORGIA LEWIS TAYLOR FARMS SAYS DROUGHT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AND GROWERS ARE RELYING ON IRRIGATION. BUT IT’S LED TO LESS PRODUCE FOR GROCERS ALTHOUGH PRICES ARE HIGHER. A FREEZE IN LATE MARCH ALSO CAUSED LOSSES EARLIER IN THE SEASON.
TEASE
HUNTERS ARE TRYING TO GET FLORIDA’S PYTHON POPULATION UNDER CONTROL. NEXT FIND OUT ABOUT THE LATEST ROUND-UP.
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. DO YOU GET CREEPED OUT BY SNAKES? THEN YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO WATCH THIS NEXT STORY. ONE OF THE PYTHON HUNTERS HIRED IN SOUTH FLORIDA TO CAPTURE INVASIVE BURMESE PYTHONS IN THE EVERGLADES, CAUGHT A WHOPPER. DUSTY “THE WILDMAN” CRUM JUST CAUGHT A NEARLY SEVENTEEN FOOT LONG PYTHON. CRUM IS ONE OF 25 HUNTERS SELECTED TO KILL BOA CONSTRICTORS THROUGH JUNE FIRST FOR THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. THAT AGENCY OVERSEES THE EVERGLADES RESTORATION, WHICH INCLUDES ERADICATING THE NON-NATIVE PYTHON POPULATION. SOME ESTIMATES PUT THE PYTON POPULATION AT MORE THAN 150-THOUSAND SNAKES. “WHOA...16-10...WHOA THAT’S A BIG ONE. BIGGEST SNAKE EVER CAUGHT IN MY LIFE RIGHT HERE."> “WE ARE MAKING THE DIFFERENCE BY TAKING THE EGGS OUT OF THE ECO SYSTEM."THE AGENCY WILL PAY HUNTERS EIGHT-DOLLARS-AND TEN CENTS AN HOUR TO HUNT INVASIVE PYTHONS IN THE EVERGLADES. THE DISTRICT ALSO PAYS 50 BUCKS PER SNAKE, PLUS 25-DOLLAR- A-FOOT BONUSES FOR SNAKES LONGER THAN 4 FEET. AND AN ADDITIONAL $100 FOR EACH ELIMINATED PYTHON FOUND GUARDING NESTS WITH EGGS.
CLOSE
THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS MORNING. WE’RE GLAD YOU TUNED IN. FOR MIKE HOFFMAN, AND BETSY JIBBEN, I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. HAVE A GREAT DAY. AGDAY IS POWERED BY RAM TRUCKS - AMERICA’S LONGEST LASTING PICKUPS.
