TODAY ON AGDAY
MAY 31, 2017
HEADLINES
PLANTING CONTINUES EVEN AS THE MONTH OF JUNE LOOMS LARGE. THE LATEST IN CROP CONDITIONS FROM USDA. IN AGRIBUSINESS...WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN TO MARKETS. PLUS A NEW INVENTION GETS WATER WITH HELP FROM THE SUN. AND IS THIS A NEW BUSINESS MODEL FOR GRAPE GROWERS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AGDAY-BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEPENDABLE, LONG LASTING CHEVY SILVERADO.
CROP PROGRESS
GOOD MORNING I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. FOLLOWING MEMORIAL DAY, THE AG INDUSTRY SITS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE LATEST CROP PROGRESS REPORT FROM USDA. INCLUDING...THE FIRST NATIONAL CONDITION REPORT. USDA SAYS 65-PERCENT OF THE NATION’S CORN CROP IS RATED GOOD TO EXCELLENT. 28-PERCENT IS FAIR. THAT FOLLOWS WEEKS OF DRENCHING RAINS AND THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF REPLANT IN THE HEART OF THE CORN BELT. CURRENTLY 91-PERCENT OF THE CROP HAS BEEN PLANTED-- TWO BEHIND THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE. 73 HAS EMERGED. ON SOYBEANS - 67 PERCENT OF THE CROP IS NOW PLANTED AND 37 HAS EMERGED. BOTH ARE BEHIND THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE, ABOUT HALF OF THE WINTER WHEAT CROP IS RATED GOOD-TO EXCELLENT. A DECLINE OF TWO POINTS FROM A WEEK AGO. 80-PERCENT OF THE WINTER WHEAT CROP IS HEADING. IT’S 100-PERCENT IN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA WHERE HARVEST HAS STARTED. MEANWHILE WHEAT HARVEST IS MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS INCLUDING -- SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA. CODY GOODKNIGHT OF CHATTANOOGA HAS BEEN HARVESTING SINCE LAST WEDNESDAY. HE BROUGHT THE FIRST TWO LOADS TO HIS LOCAL ELEVATOR. HE SAYS A HAIL STORM A WEEK AGO, LEFT AN INCH OF HAIL IN HIS BACKYARD. “THE WHEAT CROP WASN’T EXCELLENT BY ANY MEANS, IT WAS JUST BARELY AVERAGE. BUT THE HAIL MONDAY NIGHT SURE HURT IT PRETTY GOOD.""I DONT KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE COMBINE BUT THE TIRES ARE COVERED IN MUD, THE GROUND IS STILL REALLY WET. THE WHEAT IS RIPE BUT THE GROUND IS WET. IT’S A SLOW GOING AT THE MOMENT,"THERE IS MORE RAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR THE AREA THIS WEEK. MEANWHILE, WHILE HARVEST PROGRESSES IN TEXAS, SOIL MOISTURE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE. THE LATEST REPORT SHOWS, 22 PERCENT OF THE LONE STAR STATE IS CONSIDERED ABNORMALLY DRY. THAT NUMBER WAS AT 34 PERCENT THE WEEK PRIOR. ONE PANHANDLE PRODUCER SAYS RAINS ARE HELPING THE SOIL PROFILE. “ACTUALLY, EVERYTHING IS REALLY GOOD. WE NEED A LITTLE MORE HEAT BUT THAT’S ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A GOOD PROFILE AND A LOT OF DRYLAND AND IRRIGATED STUFF IS ALL UP. WE’RE DOING PRETTY GOOD. ME: WHAT ABOUT WHEAT, IS THAT DOING OK? HIM: WHEAT IS DOING ALRIGHT. SOME GOT HAILED ON. BUT YOU KNOW, IT’S STILL DOING OK. IN THE LONG RUN, IT WILL BE FINE."THIS AREA WAS HIT WITH EXTREME WEATHER THE LAST 60 DAYS FROM WILDFIRE, TO RAIN AND EVEN SNOW.
TRADE WITH CHINA
ON TRADE, CHINA A MAJOR FOCUS FOR NEGOTIATORS IN WASHINGTON. CHINESE OFFICIALS MAKING A MAJOR MOVE IN THAT RELATIONSHIP-- ISSUING A LIST OF CONCESSIONS THAT IT SAYS CAN HELP DELIVER A “WIN-WIN” PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICA. THE LIST IS PART OF A 117-PAGE DOCUMENT RELEASED BY THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE. IT SAYS CHINA WANTS TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. WHILE TAKING MORE IMPORTS OF GOODS INCLUDING SOYBEANS AND OTHER AG PRODUCTS LIKE COTTON. A 100-DAY REVIEW OF THE BILATERAL TRADE RELATIONSHIP IS DUE TO FINISH UP IN JULY. A DEAL EARLIER THIS MONTH ALLOWS MORE U.S. ACCESS INTO THE CHINESE MARKET FOR BEEF, NATURAL GAS, AND FINANCIAL SERVICES. PART OF THAT MEANS SPEEDING UP NEGOTIATIONS ON TRACEABILITY, INSPECTION, AND QUARANTINE PROCEDURES FOR BEEF SOLD IN THE CHINESE MARKET.
TRADE WITH CUBA
MEANWHILE ANOTHER TRADING DESTINATION MAY END UP ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. ON OUR PARTNER RADIO PROGRAM AGRITALK LEADERS AT THE U.S. CUBA TRADE AND ECONOMIC COUNCIL TELLING MIKE ADAMS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PLANNING TO PARTIALLY ROLL BACK POLICIES SOFTENING RELATIONS WITH CUBA. THEY SAY THIS COULD HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD FINDING IT’S WAY TO COMMUNIST CUBA. UNFORTUNATELY THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT COULD HAVE DONE A LOT MORE IN THE 2015 AND 2016 PERIOD WITH THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO HELP U.S. COMPANIES SOLIDIFY A PRESENCE IN CUBA THAT WOULD HAVE MADE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO DO ANYTHING. AND SO NOW WE’RE IN A POSITION WHERE ALTHOUGH WE CONTINUE TO HAVE COMMODITY EXPORTS AND FOOD PRODUCT EXPORTS TO CUBA AND HEALTH CARE PRODUCT EXPORTS TO CUBA A LITTLE BIT OF COFFEE FROM CUBA A LITTLE BIT OF CHARCOAL FROM CUBA THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE. FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA SOFTENED REGULATIONS ON SOME TRADE, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL. HOWEVER THE 57 YEAR OLD EMBARGO REMAINS IN PLACE.
JBS SCANDAL CONTINUES
MEANWHILE IN BRAZIL, JBS, THE WORLD’S LARGEST MEATPACKER, ANNOUNCING THAT JOESLEY BATISTA IS RESIGNING AS CHAIRMAN AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD. COMPANY OWNERS AND BROTHERS JOESLEY AND WESLEY BATISTA--ARE CURRENTLY AT THE CENTER OF A POLITICAL CRISIS, ALLEGING THAT THEY BRIBED HUNDREDS OF POLITICIANS AND ACCUSED BRAZIL’S PRESIDENT MICHEL TEMER OF ENDORSING THE BRIBING OF A WITNESS IN THE COUNTRY’S LARGEST MEAT SCANDAL. . BOTH BROTHERS RESIGNED FROM THEIR SENIOR POSTS EFFECTIVELY IMMEDIATELY.
CROP COMMENTS
BACK IN THE STATE, MIKE HOFFMAN JOINS US THIS MORNING, WITH A LOOK AT TODAY’S CROP COMMENTS. MIKE. GOOD MORNING, CLINTON. LET’S START OUT IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. RON HAASE SENT US A PHOTO WHEN HE REPLANTED A FIELD. HERE’S ANOTHER PHOTO TAKEN AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER AFTER IT RAINED. HE’S CALLING THIS SEASON ‘REPLANT 2017.’ AND OVER IN WATERTOWN, SOUTH DAKOTA, ALEX HOLZWARTH IS CHOPPING ALFALFA. HE SAYS THERE IS ADEQUATE MOISTURE SOUTH OF HIS AREA HOWEVER, NORTH OF HIS IS PRETTY DRY AND COULD USE SOME RAIN! AND NOW HERE IS A LOOK AT SOME HOMETOWN TEMPS. VISIT FARM JOURNAL PRO.COM. TRUSTED ANALYSIS, PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT. FARM JOURNAL PRO.COM.
TEASE
WHEN WE COME WE’LL LOOK AT SPRING PLANTING, REPLANTING AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR MARKETS. AND WINEMAKERS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST BRANCH-OUT THEIR BUSINESS INTO MARIJUANA. BUT THE GROWTH HAS COME WITH A FLOOD OF DISPUTES OVER WATER RIGHTS. DETAILS, LATER ON AGDAY. AGDAY IS POWERED BY RAM TRUCKS - AMERICA’S LONGEST LASTING PICKUPS.
RITCHIE BROTHERS-IRON PLANET
IN AGRIBUSINESS...EQUIPMENT AUCTION PROVIDER, RITCHIE BROTHERS JUST GETTING CLEARANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT’S ACQUISITION OF IRONPLANET. FIRST ANNOUNCED THE ACQUISITION LAST AUGUST, THE MOVE GETS RITCHIE BROTHERS A BETTER POSITION IN THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE. THE TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THE MARKETS SPENT MONDAY SPECULATING ABOUT THE LATEST CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITIONS REPORT.
FLOOR OF THE CME
LETS SEE HOW THINGS TRADED FROM THE FLOOR OF THE CME. SOYBEAN MARKET IS SHARLY LOWER ON TUESDAY FOLLOWING A LONG HOLIDAY WEEKEND, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, TRADED TO SOME FRESH 14 MONTH LOWS. TOOK OUT SOME KEY CHART SUPPORT LAST WEEK. JULY AND NOVEMBER FUTURES AT 9.40 WAS A BIG TIME SPOT. WE TRADED THROUGH IT AND SAW SELLING PRESSURE REALLY ACCELERATE HERE. FUNDS ARE ADDING TO AN INCREASING SHORT POSITION AND ARE GETTING HEAVILY SHORT HERE AHEAD OF THE US GROWING SEASON. WE’VE HAD SOME BEARISH MOVES IN THE SOYBEAN MARKETYOU KNOW, WE’VE HAD WEATHER THAT’S BEEN NEGATIVE. WE CERTAINLY HAVE A BEARISH SUPPLY AND DEMAND SCENARIO. WE’RE COMING OFF A RECORD SOUTH AMERICAN CROP, RECORD U.S. ACREAGE HERE EXPECTED. DESPITE ALL THAT BEARISH NEWS, THE SOYBEAN MARKET WAS UNABLE TO BREAK OUT FROM THE DOWNSIDE UNTIL JUST LAST WEEK SO I THINK THAT BRAZIL CURRENCY DEAL REALLY ADDED SOME PRESSURE AND GAVE THIS MARKET SOME NEW LOWS. I’M JOE VACLAVIK HERE AT THE CME GROUP IN CHICAGO.
AGRIBUSINESS
WITH JUNE JUST A DAY AWAY, ALL EYES ARE ON FIELD WORK AS THE NATION’S FARMERS RACE TO GET SPRING CROPS IN THE GROUND. TYNE MORGAN JOINS US WITH MORE. “HERE NOW WITH MIKE NORTH COMMODITY RISK MANAGEMENT GROUP MIGHT JUST FRUSTRATING SPRING THIS YEAR A SLOW START PLANTING. SOME FARMERS HAVING TO REPLANT A SECOND TIME. BUT WE JUST HAVE NOT SEEN ITS CORN MARKET REALLY RESPOND LIKE SOME OF THESE PRODUCERS HAD HOPED. DO YOU THINK IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WE COULD POSSIBLY SEE THE MARKET REACT IT ‘S REAL POSSIBLE. BUT AS WE LOOK AT THE THE PACE OF PLANTING WHILE WE’VE HAD TO GO BACK AND DO SOME REPLANT THE REALITY IS IS WE’RE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH WHAT ‘S NORMAL NOT JUST THEM BUT ALSO WHAT ‘S RELATIVE TO THE LAST YEAR BUT THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND SO NOBODY GOT EXCITED ABOUT ANY SLOW PACE. BUT THEY ARE STARTING NOW. THE QUESTION WHAT THE QUALITY OF THE CROP MIGHT BE. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO THAT SEEDLING. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE OF THE FLOODED AREAS. ARE WE GONNA LOSE SOME ACRES ARE WE TAKING THE TOP OFF THE YIELD ALL THESE QUESTIONS EXIST. BUT NOBODY HAS A HARD AND FAST ANSWER. AND THE OLD ADAGE OF RAIN MAKES GRAIN STILL HAUNTS MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE TRIED TO CHASE THE SPRING RALLIES SO IT ‘S GONNA BE SLOW TO TAKE PLACE IF IT DOES IN FACT COME AROUND. BUT THE REALITY IS I BELIEVE IF WE CAN BREAK THROUGH SOME CHART RESISTANCE WE CAN MOTIVATE SOME FUNDS AND MOVE SOME MONEY IN THIS MARKET. A TWENTY TO THIRTY CENT RALLY IS VERY MUCH WITHIN REACH BUT HOW HARD WILL IT BE TO MOVE THE FUND ‘S POSITION AT THIS POINT IT WILL BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE REAL BUYERS OF CORN ARE NOT MOTIVATED TO CHASING. AND THAT ‘S REALLY THE ONE TWO PUNCH THAT THE MARKET NEEDS. IF YOU HAVE MONEY THAT ‘S WILLING TO COME INTO A MARKET IN A REAL BUYER OF CORN THAT ‘S WILLING TO PUSH AND BRING THE CASH MARKET WITH IT. THAT ‘S WHAT THE THE RECIPE FOR A NICE RALLY. WE DON’T REALLY HAVE THAT THERE’S TOO MUCH SUPPLY IN THE WORLD FOR THE BUYER TO GET EXCITED ABOUT CHASING THE PRICE IS NORTH OF FOUR BUCKS BY THE WAY WERE HERE THE INDY FIVE HUNDRED SPEEDWAY ‘S A LITTLE AMBIENT NOISE IN THE BACKGROUND SO WITH THE POSSIBILITY THE POSSIBILITY OF A LITTLE RALLY AND IN IN CORN. WHAT THE PRODUCER STRATEGY BE AT THIS POINT I’D BE LOOKING TO GET SOME TARGETS IN PLACE. A LOT OF PEOPLE BEEN GUNNING FOR THIS FOUR DOLLAR THRESHOLD SET SOME TARGETS OUT THERE AT OR ABOVE FOUR DOLLARS TO CAPTURE FUTURES PRICES BASIS LIKELY WON’T GO ALONG FOR THE RIDE JUST YET. SO SET YOUR FUTURES LEVELS GET SOME SALES MADE AT THESE THAT THESE TERRITORIES BUT ALSO DEFEND YOURSELF AND THERE’S SOME GREAT VALUES IN THE PUT SIDE OF OF THE OF THE MARKET. TO DEFEND YOURSELF AGAINST LOWER PRICES SHOULD THEY COME AND THIS CROP REALIZE A BETTER YIELD AS WE WORK THROUGH. SOME HAVE A GAME PLAN AND BE PREPARED ALL THE TIME ALL THE TIME AND ITS SOUND ADVICE IS REALLY NO WAY THAT THE DRESS THAT UP. BUT THAT ‘S JUST GOOD SOLID. ADVICE ALRIGHT THANKS MIK NORTH STAY WITH US WE’LL BE BACK WITH MORE AGDAY IN JUST A MOMENT . CUT THROUGH THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE MARKETS. GIVE MIKE A CALL AT 608-964-0012. FAST PACE WITH DESIGN-MATCHED TRANSMISSIONS FOR INTUITIVE STEERING...PERFECT CUT FOR A CARPET-LIKE FINISH...AND SWEET RIDE WITH A COMFORT-FOCUSED SEAT. GRASSHOPPER MOWERS ARE COMMITTED TO THE CUT.
WEATHER
WELCOME BACK TO AGDAY WITH MIKE HOFFMAN. MIKE, LOOKING AT THIS MAP. THERE ARE SOME PLACES THAT HAVE SOME REAL WORK TO GET DONE WHERE IT’S JUST STILL TOO WET. YES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DARK BLUE AREAS WHERE WE’VE POINTED OUT BEFORE IN CENTRAL INDIANA, NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS AND IOWA AND WESTERN PLAINS, THOSE ARE SOME TOUGH SITUATIONS. LOTS OF FOLKS ARE HAVING TO REPLANT OR JUST GETTING DROWNED OUT CROPS. THE DRY AREAS, AT LEAST IF YOU GET SOME MOISTURE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS SHOULD BE OK, BUT IT HASN’T CAUSED ANY MAJOR ISSUES QUITE YET. WE’LL BE WATCHING THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. LOOKING AT THE MAP TODAY, DOUBLE-BARRELL COLD FRONT COMING SOUTHEASTWARD, IT GETS COOLER AND COOLER IN THE NORTHWEST AND DRIER AS WELL. NOW, THERE IS SOME INSTABILITY MOISTURE WITH MAINLY AFTERNOON SHOWERS DEVELOPING TO THE SOUTH OF THAT AREA WITH LOW PRESSURE AND IN THE NORTHERN GREAT LAKES TODAY BUT YOU CAN SEE IT’S MORE OF A HIT AND MISS SITUAITON WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. I THINK THERE WILL BE MORE ALONG THIS FRONT ON THE GULF COAST ALSO IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY WITH THAT AREA OF LOW PRESUSURE SLOWLY COMING NORTHEASTWARD. ANOTHER SYSTEM COMING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ISN’T POWERFUL BUT IT WILL CAUSE SOME AREAS OF RAIN SHOWERS AS IT COMES INLAND ACROSS WASHINGTON, OREGON AND THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE ROCKIES. BY TOMORROW MORNING, YOU CAN SEE THIS AREA OF LOW PRESSURE UP NEAR DALLAS AND HIGH PRESSURE SETTLING INTO NORTHERN ILLINOIS TRYING TO DRY THINGS UP IN THOSE WET AREAS THERE FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS THERE AS THAT DROPS. YOU CAN SEE LATER IN THE DAY TOMORROW, THAT AREA OF LOW PRESSURE GOING UP AND SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE SOUTH OF IT BUT THIS IS PRETTY DRY, COOL AIR TO THE NORTH OF IT FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. PRECEIPATION ESTIMATES OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS, YOU CAN SEE HEAVIER AMOUNTS IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, PARTS OF THE GULF COAST REGION, PARTS IN LOUSIANA, ADDING IN THE NEXT 36 HOURS, THAT’S WHERE A LOT OF MOISTURE IS GOING TO BE IN THE FAR SOUTH. SOME OF THAT AREA COULD USE IT. THAT’S NOT SUCH BAD OF NEWS AS POCKETS CROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND A FEW POCKETS IN THE NORTHEAST AS WELL. I ACTUALLY MEANT TO TAKE THIS MAP OUT AND WE CAN TAKE IT OUT TOMORROW. SNOWFALL ESTIMATES, NOTHING OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS. THERE WAS ONE POCKET THERE IN THE NORTHERN ELEVATION OF SOUTHCENTRAL COLORADO SHOWING UP IN OUR COMPUTER MODEL AND IT GAVE US A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW. THIS AFTERNOON, HIGH TEMPERATURES MAINLY IN THE 80S IN THE SOUTHEAST AND PLAINS BUT SOME 60S AND 70S UP IN THE GREAT LAKES AND NORTHEAST. LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT GOING TO DROP IN THE 40S AND 50S BUT STILL 60S IN NORTHERN DIXIE AND 70S BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THE GULF COAST AND MORE THE SAME TOMORROW AS IT COULD SHOW UP IN THE HIGH PLAINS OF THE NORTHWESTERN PLAINS. LOOK AT THE JET STREAM, YOU CAN SEE THIS CUT OFF JUST NORTH OF THE GREAT LAKES SITS THERE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK THEN IT MOVES EASTWARD, WE STILL HAVE SOME WEAKNESS IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE. WE TRY TO KEEP IT COOL ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS WELL BUT THAT LOOKS A LITTLE WARMER TO ME THAN YESTERDAY FOR THE PLAINS STATES. THAT’S A LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOW LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME LOCAL FORECASTS. FIRST OF ALL, ALAMOGORDO, NM IS PARTLY SUNNY WITH A SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM IN SOME AREAS, A HIGH OF 79 DEGREES. DES MOINES, IOWA HAS LOTS OF SUNSHINE AND IT’S COMFORTABLE TODAY WITH A HIGH OF 78 AND DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, IS WARM AND HUMID WITH AN AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM IN SPOTS. THE HIGH IS 85.
TEASE
OREGON WINEMAKERS THINK THEIR SOIL IS JUST PERFECT FOR ANOTHER CROP - MARIJUANA. A BUSINESS MODEL FOR GRAPES AND GANJA - LATER ON AGDAY. AND NEXT - OUR PARTNERS AT THE PACKER JOIN US NEXT WITH A LOOK AT AVOCADO DEMAND, AND A HUGE JUMP IN PRICES.
PACKER TV
IN NEWS FROM OUR REPORTING PARTNERS AT THE PACKER, IT APPEARS AFTER TWO CHALLENGING YEARS, THE 2017 FLORIDA AVOCADO SEASON LOOKS PROMISING. THE STATE’S LARGEST GROWER - BROOKS TROPICALS - IS EXPECTING THE GREEN-SKINNED CROP WILL BE 20-PERCENT LARGER THAN LAST YEAR. CALIFORNIA PRODUCES ABOUT 90-PERCENT OF THE DOMESTIC AVOCADO CROP IN THIS COUNTRY. AND MOST OF THAT IS THE HASS VARIETY. BUT A WET WINTER AND SPRING DIDN’T HELP THE QUALITY. STILL, DEMAND IS GROWING FOR AVOCADOS. THE HASS AVOCADO BOARD SAYS SALES VOLUME IS UP ELEVEN PERCENT YEAR OVER YEAR. PRICES HAVE ALSO CLIMBED. IT WA99-CENTS PER AVOCADO IN FEBRUARY. A MONTH LATER THE HASS VARIETY WAS A DOLLAR-25 PER PIECE. IT APPEARS THE HEALTH BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE HIT TO YOUR DEBIT CARD. EVE LAHIJANI/REGISTERED DIETITIAN:"NOW WE’RE SEEING AVOCADOS ON EVERYTHING. THEY’RE ON PIZZAS WITH SOME ARUGULA ON TOP. WE FIND AVOCADOS IN SALADS. AVOCADOS ARE EVEN IN EGG ROLLS AND IN SMOOTHIES. AVOCADO HAS EVEN MADE ITS WAY INTO DESSERTS SO YOU’LL FIND AVOCADO ICE CREAM AND AVOCADO SORBET."WITH A SMALLER HASS-CROP COMING FROM CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA GROWERS EXPECT A BOOST IN DEMAND FOR THEIR VARIETIES. THE SUN CAN EVAPORATE MOISTURE. BUT IT CAN ALSO HELP CREATE IT. A DUTCH INVENTOR HOPES HIS PROTOTYPE DEVICES WILL PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FRESH WATER TO ARID PARTS OF THE WORLD. THE SYSTEMS ARE SIMPLE, RELYING ON SOLAR POWER TO COOL AIR WHICH THEN CONDENSES. THEY ARE STILL WORKING OUT KINKS IN THE SYSTEM. AND WATER PRODUCTION IS LIMITED TO ABOUT TWO GALLONS A DAY. BUT THEY SEE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE ENOUGH WATER FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. DR. PARTICK HUNTJENS/THE HAGUE INSTITUTE: “FOR DRIP IRRIGATION IN AGRICULTURAL AREAS, THIS SOLUTION MAY ALSO PROVIDE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION, BECAUSE IT BARELY TAKES ENERGY, BUT NEVERTHELESS, IT PROVIDES WATER TO PLANTS WHICH ARE ABLE TO SURVIVE IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES.THEY ARE FAR FROM PRODUCTION, BUT DUTCH SOLDIERS HAVE BEGUN TO TEST THEM OUT DURING PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS IN AFRICA.
TEASE
STILL TO COME - VINTNERS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST EXPAND THEIR BUSINESS BEYOND WINE. NOW THEY FOCUS ON WEED. IN THE COUNTRY IS NEXT.
IN THE COUNTRY
IN THE COUNTRY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY KUBOTA’S M5 SERIES - BRINGING NEW LEVELS OF COMFORT TO HARD WORK. LEARN MORE AT KUBOTA.COM, OR VISIT YOUR LOCAL KUBOTA DEALER TODAY. RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA HAS BEEN LEGAL IN OREGON FOR TWO YEARS NOW. SOME WINEMAKERS IN ONE OF THE MOST FERTILE GROWING REGIONS ARE BRANCHING OUT INTO MARIJUANA AS A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE. GILLIAN FLACCUS REPORTS ON THIS BUSINESS MODEL OF WINE-AND- WEED....AND THE WATER WOES IT MAY CREATE. THE STEELES MOVED TO THIS SLEEPY CORNER OF OREGON TO PRODUCE PREMIUM, ECO-FRIENDLY WINES. “YOU CAN SEE THE BUDS ARE STARTING TO SWELL.” BUT NOW, A DECADE LATER, THE OWNERS OF COWHORN VINYARD ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT KIND OF BUD...… FROM A CANNABIS PLANT. “WELL, WE HAVE SLO FO, OBAMA, OX GDP.” “LAST YEAR, WE HAD 30 PLANTS AND FIVE DIFFERENT VARIETALS, OR CLONES. THIS YEAR, WE’RE GOING TO GO CLOSER TO 60 PLANTS.” WHILE THE STEELES ARE ONLY BRANCHING OUT INTO MEDICAL MARIJUANA....… THE STATE’S RECENT LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL POT HAS SPARKED INTEREST FROM MORE THAN A FEW WINEMAKERS. “WE GOTTA KEEP THE GATE CLOSED ‘CAUSE, UM, OF THE DOGGIES.” KATHERINE BRYAN RUNS DEER CREEK VINEYARDS WITH HER HUSBAND. SHE SAYS THIS CORNER OF OREGON IN PARTICULAR IS PERFECT FOR GROWING THE TWO CROPS. “I THINK THAT THE REASON THAT WE CAN DO REALLY WELL IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY IS BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCE WE’VE HAD GROWING GRAPES AND BEING IN THE WINE BUSINESS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE’S A LOT OF PARALLELS."BUT POT FARMS AND WINERIES DON’T ALWAYS PAIR WELL. THE EXPLOSION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA HERE HAS COME WITH A FLOOD OF DISPUTES …WITH SOME VINEYARDS AND OTHER FARMERS ACCUSING POT GROWERS OF STEALING PRECIOUS WATER RIGHTS …AND SOME WINERIES ARE WORRIED THAT THE SMELL FROM OUTDOOR POT GROWS THAT COULD TAINT GRAPES. MARIJUANA IS STILL ILLEGAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL … …. AND WINEMAKERS MUST BE CAREFUL TO KEEP THE BUSINESSES SEPARATE OR RISK LOSING THE FEDERAL PERMIT THEY NEED TO BOTTLE AND SELL THEIR WINE. “THIS PICTURE IS ACTUALLY BETTER.” KATHARINE BRYAN’S POT WILL GROW ON LAND NEXT TO HER WINERY, BE LABELED WITH A DIFFERENT NAME AND FINANCED AS A SEPARATE COMPANY. “WE’RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE AND BE A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY."LIKE BRYAN, THE STEELES SEE TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL AS MILLENNIALS DRINK MORE WINE …… BUT WANT THEIR WEED, TOO. “THEY’RE LOOKING FOR AN EXPERIENCE OF ‘WINE AND WEED.’ THAT’S WHAT IT’S CALLED – ‘WINE AND WEED’ PARTIES."AN ENTREPRENEURIAL CROSS-POLLINATION …THAT COULD GENERATE QUITE A BUZZ. GILLIAN FLACCUS, ASSOCIATED PRESS, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON.
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.
