TODAY ON AGDAY
SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
HEADLINES
THE SENATE HEARING FROM NOMINEES FOR USDA. PLUS, SECOND GUESSING A NEW CHICKEN FACILITY IN KANSAS. IN AGRIBUSINESS... THE SEASONALITY OF MARKETS. IDAHO POTATOES SEE A MARKET LIMITS LIFTING IN JAPAN. AND FISH FARMERS FACING A YIELD ROBBING PEST-- AND ITS COSTING YOU AT THE GROCERY STORE. AGDAY - PRESENTED BY CHEVY SILVERADO. HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL FOR HIGH-STRENGTH DEPENDABILITY.
CENSKY, MCKINNEY IN WASHINGTON
GOOD MORNING I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. AFTER SEEING FIRST-HAND THE CROP DAMAGE CAUSED BY HURRICANE IRMA - AND WITH A PLANNED TRIP TO SEE FARM DAMAGE IN TEXAS CAUSED BY HARVEY - AG SECRETARY SONNY PERDUE SAYS THE PRESSURE IS ON THE U-S SENATE TO GET HIS DEPUTY SECRETARY CONFIRMED QUICKLY TO ADDRESS THE CATASTROPHIES. THE SENATE AG COMMITTEE LISTENED TO TESTIMONY TUESDAY FROM AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION C-E-O STEVE CENSKY WHO IS NOMINATED TO BE NUMBER TWO AT USDA. AS DEPUTY SECRETARY, CENSKY WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AT THE AG DEPARTMENT. AG SECRETARY PERDUE SAYING “WITH PRODUCERS IN MANY STATES JUST BEGINNING TO ASSESS THE DAMAGES AND LOSSES FROM BACK-TO-BACK HURRICANES...WE WILL NEED STEVE CENSKY’S COUNSEL TO HELP NAVIGATE THE LANDSCAPE.” PART OF THAT NAVIGATION INCLUDES THE PRESIDENT’S AGENDA ON REGULATORY REFORM. " I KNOW FROM THE OUTSIDE AND AS I’VE BEEN BRIEF THAT THERE REALLY ARE SOME SOME GOOD INITIATIVES TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR REGULATIONS AREN’T STANDING IN THE WAY OF FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND JOB CREATION BY BUSINESSES TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY. AND I THINK SOME OF THAT COORDINATION IS AS WELL HAPPENING BECAUSE IT IS AN ADMINISTRATION WIDE EFFORT. IT’S NOT JUST USDA THAT’S WORKING ALONE. USDA IS WORKING AS PART OF THE WHOLE ADMINISTRATION’S TEAM TO TAKE A LOOK ACROSS AGENCIES AND ACROSS DEPARTMENTS.” CENSKY WAS JOINED AT THE TABLE BY INDIANA AG SECRETARY TED MCKINNEY. IF CONFIRMED - MCKINNEY WOULD BE THE FIRST-EVER UNDERSECRETARY FOR TRADE AND FOREIGN AG AFFAIRS. THAT POSITION WAS CREATED WHEN SECRETARY PERDUE REORGANIZED HIS LEADERSHIP TEAM. MCKINNEY ADDRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT TRADING PARTNERS WHO INITIATE NON-SCIENTIFIC TRADE BARRIERS AGAINST U-S AG PRODUCTS. " TOO OFTEN WE PLAY BY THE RULES BUT MANY FOREIGN COUNTRIES DO NOT. SO HOWEVER WE MIGHT HAVE TACKLED THAT WITH ALL OUR FRIENDS IN THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT HAVE A STAKE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. I BELIEVE THIS IS ONE WE’VE GOT TO TAKE ON. THERE CANNOT BE A DOUBLE STANDARD.” A CONFIRMATION VOTE HAS NOT BEEN SET. BOTH NOMINEES ARE EXPECTED TO GET APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE.
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON TAX REFORM
ALSO IN THE SENATE, THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HOLDING A HEARING ON TAX REFORM--AND SPECIFICALLY BUSINESS TAX CODE. FARMERS AND AGRIBUSINESSES ARE WATCHING THE TAX DEBATE CLOSELY. THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU IS CALLING ON CONGRESS TO FOCUS ON TAXES INCLUDING MAKING SOME PROVISIONS NOW TEMPORARY--PERMANENT.THEY ALSO SAY TAX TOOLS LIKE CASH ACCOUNTING, AND INTEREST DEDUCTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE VITIAL TO LONG TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING. BECAUSE FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE PRICE TAKERS WE NEED THE ABILITY TO HOLD OUR COMMODITIES OVER FROM YEAR TO YEAR SO WE NEED THE ABILITY TO STORE OUR CORN IN THE BINS OR HOLD OUR CALVES OVER UNTIL WE CAN ENSURE A GOOD PRICE IN THE MARKET FOR THOSE. AND BY USING CASH ACCOUNTING WE CAN DO THIS AND NOT HAVE TO PAY TAX ON THOSE ITEMS UNTIL WE RECEIVE THE MONEY FOR THEM. CASH ACCOUNTING WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION AT THE SENATE HEARING TUESDAY. HOWEVER WASHINGTON WATCHERS SAY, ITS LIKELY THE SENATE WILL NEED TO PASS A BUDGET RESOLUTION FIRST. THAT ALLOWS THE “RECONCILIATION” PROCESS TO EASE PASSAGE IN THE SENATE. THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO PUSH THE ISSUE INCLUDING HOLDING MEETINGS WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP.
ALSO IN WASHINGTON, A MEMO FROM INTERIOR SECRETARY RYAN ZINK APPEARS TO BE CALLING FOR MONUMENTS TO HAVE A SMALLER FOOTPRINT IN AT LEAST FOUR CASES. THE APPARENTLY LEAKED MEMO TO THE WHITE HOUSE WOULD SCALE BACK TWO MONUMENTS IN UTAH -- BEARS EARS AND GRAND STAIRCASE ESCALANTE. ALONG WITH NEVADA’S GOLD BUTTE AND OREGON’S CASCADE-
SISKIYOU. CURRENTLY THOSE MONUMENT ENCOMPASS MORE THAN 3 AND HALF MILLION ACRES...AN AREA LARGER THAN CONNECTICUT. PRESIDENT TRUMP ORDERED A REVIEW OF 27 SITES EARLIER THIS YEAR.
TYSON RETHINKING KANSAS PLANT
TYSON FOODS IS REPORTEDLY RE-THINKING ITS PLAN TO BUILD A LARGE CHICKEN PROCESSING PLANT IN NORTHEAST KANSAS. THIS MOVE FOLLOWS A DECISION BY COUNTY EXECUTIVES TO RE-SCIND A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT. THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED JUST TWO WEEKS AGO ITS PLAN TO BUILD A PROCESSING PLANT, HATCHERY AND FEED MILL IN LEAVENWORTH COUNTY, KANSAS. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SAID IT WOULD SUPPORT ISSUING 500-MILLION DOLLARS IN BONDS TO HELP FINANCE THE PROJECT. BUT PUBLIC OUTCRY OVER THE ALLEGED “LACK OF TRANSPARENCY’ OF THE DEAL FORCED COMMISIONERS TO RE-THINK THE PLAN. A SPOKESMAN FOR TYSON SAYS THE COMPANY IS NOW EVALUATING ITS OPTIONS AFTER THE COUNTY TOOK-AWAY THE KEY INCENTIVE TO BUILD THERE. TYSON FOODS SAYS THE COMPLEX WOULD HIRE 16-HUNDRED PEOPLE AND CONTRACT WITH KANSAS FARMERS TO RAISE CHICKENS. TURMOIL CONTINUES AT THE WORLD’S LARGEST MEAT PACKER.
JBS APPOINTS NEW CEO
THE JBS BOARD VOTING NAME FOUNDER JOSE BATISTA SOBRINHO THE NEW CEO. THE COMPANY IS NAMED FOR THE 84 YEAR OLD BRAZILIAN. THE FORMER EXECUTIVES--HIS TWO SONS WERE ARRESTED LAST WEEK AND REMAIN IN POLICE CUSTODY. WESLEY BATISTA’S SON--25 YEAR OLD WESLEY JUNIOR-- IS NOW HEAD OF JBS USA’S BEEF DIVISION. ON THE MEAT FRONT, CONSUMER PRICES ARE DOWN ABOUT A HALF PERCENT IN AUGUST. THOSE NUMBERS JUST OUT FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. IT SHOWS LAST MONTH, U.S. MEAT FELL ON SOFTER PRICES FOR BEEF ROASTS, STEAKS AND HAMS. BACON, HOWEVER, GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN-- RISING NEARLY 4 PERCENT FROM JULY TO AUGUST. RECORD-HIGH PRICES ON BACON REFLECT HIGHER WHOLESALE VALUES PRESENT IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN EARLIER THIS SUMMER. THOSE PRICES HAVE SINCE FALLEN.
CROP COMMENTS
VOLUNTEERS ARE STEPPING-UP TO HELP FARMERS HURT BY HURRICANE IRMA. PLUS CROP DAMAGE IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AFTER A SMALL BUT POWERFUL STORM BLEW THROUGH. MIKE HOFFMAN HAS DETAILS IN CROP COMMENTS. MIKE. GOOD MORNING CLINTON. THERE WAS SOME CROP DAMAGE AND IRRIGATION PIVOTS DESTROYED BY A POWERFUL LITTLE STORM IN THE SMALL VILLAGE OF CONE, TEXAS. METEOROLOGISTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LUBBOCK SURVEYED THE DAMAGE AND SAY IT WAS A MACROBURST. THEY ESTIMATE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS HIT 100 MILES AN HOUR. THE PATH OF THE THUNDERSTORM WAS ABOUT TWO MILES WIDE. SOME FARM EQUIPMENT WAS TOPPLED AND A BARN ROOF WAS BLOWN-OFF. ACTS OF GENEROSITY ARE SHOWING-UP THROUGH-OUT FLORIDA HELPING PEOPLE RECOVER FROM IRMA. FOR INSTANCE STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA’S INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AG SCIENCES HELPED A BLUEBERRY GROWER IN PASCO COUNTY WHOSE FIELDS WERE HIT BY THE STORM. 200 VOLUNTEERS HELPED RE-STAKE 100-THOUSAND BLUEBERRY BUSHES SPREAD OVER 25 ACRES AT THE FROGMORE FRESH FARMS. IF THE PLANTS WERE LEFT ON THE GROUND, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER WOULD HAVE DIED.AND NOW HERE ARE SOME HOMETOWN TEMPS. THIS IS MACHINERY PETE - INVITING YOU TO CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE - MACHINERYPETE.COM - OFFERING FARMERS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF USED EQUIPMENT LISTINGS TO SEARCH. LET MACHINERY PETE HELP YOU FIND AND VALUE YOUR NEXT PIECE OF USED EQUIPMENT.
TEASE
CAN LOWER GRAIN PRICES BE EXPECTED THIS TIME OF YEAR? UP NEXT JOE VACLAVIK WILL DISCUSS THE SEASONAL TENDENCIES OF MARKETS. AND THESE FARMERS ARE FIGHTING AN INVASIVE PEST....UNDER WATER. THAT STORY TODAY ON IN THE COUNTRY.
AGRIBUSINESS
JOE VACLAVIK STANDARD GRAIN OUR GUEST HERE AT AGRIBUSINESS TODAY. JOE AS WE LOOK AT THIS TIME OF YEAR EVEN THOUGH WE’RE HARVESTING THERE’S SOMETIMES JUST NOT A LOT OF GOOD NEWS IN THE MARKETS. AND YOU LIKE TO LOOK AT IT AS IT MAY BE A SEASONAL THING THAT WE CAN EXPERIENCE. WELL HISTORICALLY WHEN YOU’VE GOT CROPS THAT ARE NEAR TREND AND YOU’VE GOT ADEQUATE SUPPLIES YOU TEND TO FOLLOW A KIND OF SIMILAR PATTERNS. IT’S VERY NORMAL IN A YEAR LIKE LIKE THAT AND THIS YEAR I THINK THAT IT FITS THE BILL CERTAINLY IT’S NORMAL TO SEE WEAKNESS IN AUGUST IN SEPTEMBER AND REALLY INTO THE FIRST PART OF HARVEST AT LEAST YOU KNOW YOUR NORMAL SEASONAL LOW WHEN YOU SPREAD IT OUT OVER 15 OR 30 YEARS. SO AROUND OCTOBER 1ST AND IT’S VERY NORMAL FOR THESE MARKETS TO EVAPORATE INTO THAT. I THINK PEOPLE HAD HOPES THIS YEAR MAYBE NOT HOPES BUT THEY HAD SOME OPTIMISM IN REGARD TO THE MARKET BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT MAYBE THE YIELDS WERE GOING TO BE LIGHT AND THERE COULD STILL BE THE CASE BEFORE IT’S OVER. BUT SURE FOR THE MOMENT YOU’VE GOT TO GO WITH THE IDEA THAT WE’RE KIND OF FOLLOWING A NORMAL SEASONAL PATTERN HERE. YOU KNOW THIS IS JUST THIS IS A BAD TIME AND IT HAS BEEN BEFORE IN THE PAST AND IT WILL BE AGAIN SEPTEMBER WILL BE A BAD TIME AGAIN WHEN YOU HAVE A NORMAL CROP. SO I’M HOPING THAT WE’RE GETTING CLOSER TO SOME KIND OF SEASONAL BOTTOM HERE. SO AS WE START TO WRAP A PLAN AROUND THAT MENTALITY IS THIS BEING A SEASONAL BOTTOM WE KIND OF EXPECT THIS. HOW DO WE START PLANNING FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR AND 18. WELL IF YOU’RE A GRAIN MARKET OR A FARMER WHAT YOU’VE GOT TO THINK IS YOU KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD TIME TO BE MAKING FLAT PRICE SALES. IT HISTORICALLY ISN’T. THAT’S NOT TRYING TO PREDICT WHAT THE MARKET’S GOING TO DO JUST HISTORICALLY THIS IS NOT A GOOD TIME WHEN YOU SELL OFF INTO THIS TIME PERIOD. NOT A GOOD TIME TO MAKE A PRICE SALES. YOU’VE GOT TO BE PREPARED FOR SOME SORT OF POST-HARVEST EVENT. AND IF YOU GET INTO YOUR POST-HARVEST RALLY AND YOU CAN TACK 20 OR 30 CENTS ON THE CORN MARKET OR 50 ON THE BEAN MARKET THAT MIGHT BE THE TIME TO PLAY CATCH UP ON SOME SALES ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT WE HAD A BIG CROP AND WE’RE STILL GOING TO BE WELL-SUPPLIED. ALL RIGHT. SO SOME GOOD STRATEGIES THERE AND A GOOD WAY TO THINK ABOUT THIS MARKET AS WE GET INTO THE HOME I MIGHT APPRECIATE IT. THANKS. WE’LL BE BACK WITH MORE AGDAY IN JUST A MINUTE. AGDAY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY JOHN DEERE. WHERE CAN YOU FIND THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY OF JOHN DEERE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED TRACTORS, COMBINES AND SPRAYERS? MACHINEFINDER DOT COM. SOMETIMES THE BEST NEW ADDITION TO YOUR FLEET ISN’T NEW.”
WEATHER
WELCOME BACK TO AGDAY HERE WITH METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN.MIKE IF WE LOOK AT THE ROOT ZONE MOISTURE MAP, BOY WE CAN SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENCES IN SOME REALLY SPECIFIC PLACES. I KNOW IT IS KIND OF AMAZING ALL THE MOISTURE THAT’S COME DOWN IN MONTANA IN THE WESTERN DAKOTAS. SO THAT WILL START TO EAT INTO THE REALLY SEVERE DROUGHT THAT’S BEEN GOING ON IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY. BOY IT’S GETTING DRIER AND DRIER IN IOWA WESTERN ILLINOIS NORTHERN MISSOURI. NOW ADMITTEDLY OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS SINCE THIS INFORMATION WAS TAKEN. IT IS GETTING A DECENT RAIN NOT HEAVY BUT DECENT RAIN IN THOSE AREAS SO THAT SHOULD HELP A LITTLE BIT. AND WE’VE BEEN DRYING OUT IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN TEXAS THE AREAS WHERE THE HURRICANES HAVE COME IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS LOUISIANA AND FLORIDA STILL SEE ON THE WET SIDE BUT NOT NEARLY AS BAD AS THEY HAVE BEEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. HERE’S THE WEATHER MAP THIS MORNING WHERE WE STILL HAVE JOSE SITTING OFFSHORE. BASICALLY IT’S GOING TO BE A TROPICAL STORM AND IT’S GOING TO BE MORE LIKE A STRONG NOR’EASTER HITTING PARTS OF SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND BECAUSE IT’S NOT COMING ASHORE THE WAY IT LOOKS ALTHOUGH IT’S GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOP. IT’S ALREADY DONE ONE LOOP OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC SO WE’LL HAVE TO WATCH IT JUST IN CASE. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND WITH THAT SYSTEM COMING THROUGH NORTHERN MINNESOTA INTO THE NORTHERN GREAT LAKES SHOULD BE SCATTERED FOR THE MOST PART JUST HIT AND MISS STUFF THOUGH AND THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY FROM TEXAS INTO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. NEXT STORM SYSTEM OUT WEST THAT’S ANOTHER PRETTY STRONG COLD FRONT WITH A STRONG TROUGH OUT THAT WAY BRINGING SOME MORE MOUNTAIN SNOWS AND VALLEY RAINS TO THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE ROCKIES EVEN SOME IN THE CENTRAL PORTIONS AS WELL HEADING THROUGH THE DAY TOMORROW. AND AGAIN THESE ARE JUST HIT AND MISS. AFTERNOON VARIETY THUNDERSTORMS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE WARM SECTOR OUT OF THIS SYSTEM NOT GOING TO GET ANY RAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS TOMORROW. PRECIPITATION ESTIMATE OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS SEEING SOME DECENT AMOUNTS. PARTS OF INDIANA AND OHIO ARE LIKE A HALF INCH TO AN INCH A FEW SPOTS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT. IN IN THE NEXT 36 HOURS YOU CAN SEE THE AREAS THAT GET THE MAJORITY WHERE MOST OF THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED IN THE EASTERN OHIO VALLEY. BUT YOU CAN SEE SOME AREAS ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND ALSO OUT WEST LIKE WE’VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT AS FAR AS SNOWFALL ESTIMATES ARE GOING TO BE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. AND WE’RE GOING TO SEE SOME DECENT AMOUNTS AGAIN WITH MAYBE YOU KNOW SIX 12 INCHES IN SOME AREAS OF THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE ROCKIES. HIGH TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON OBVIOUSLY IT’S COLD IN THE NORTHERN ROCKIES NORTHWEST BUT IT IS HOT FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INTO TEXAS EVEN A FEW TRIPLE DIGITS SHOWING UP IN TEXAS LOWS TONIGHT GOING TO STAY MUGGY FROM CHICAGO ALL THE WAY INTO TEXAS AND THE GULF COAST ON THE COOL SIDE FARTHER NORTH THAN THE HEAT JUST EXPANDS NORTHWARD AS WE HEAD THROUGH TOMORROW AFTERNOON. HERE’S THE JET STREAM REAL QUICK AND BASICALLY THE TROUGHS KEEP DIGGING INTO THE WEST. THE RIDGE HOLDS IN THE EAST RIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. AND THEN WE START TO SEE THE TROUGH MOVING EAST DURING THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THAT’S A LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOW LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME LOCAL FORECASTS. WE’LL HEAD TO BOULDER COLORADO FIRST OF ALL LOTS OF SUNSHINE AND COMFORTABLE HIGH AROUND 80 DEGREES JONESBORO ARKANSAS PARTLY SUNNY HOT AND HUMID HIGH OF 93 IN CAMBRIDGE OHIO SOME MORNING FOG POSSIBLE AND PARTLY SUNNY AND WARM WITH A HIGH OF 83.
TEASE
NEW MARKET ACCESS FOR CHIPPING POTATOES WE’LL HAVE DETAILS NEXT ON THE PACKER TV. AND LATER, SEA LICE ARE COSTING CONSUMERS MONEY AT THE GROCERY STORE. WE’LL TELL YOU HOW THESE SALMON FARMERS ARE FIGHTING BACK.
PACKER TV
IN NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE PACKER - SECRETARY PERDUE ANNOUNCING JAPAN IS EXPANDING IT’S MARKET TO U.S. CHIPPING POTATOES AND RESUMING IMPORTS FROM IDAHO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 11 YEARS. THE DEAL STARTS IN 2018... JAPAN STOPPED TAKING POTATOES FROM IDAHO IN 2006 FOLLOWING THE DETECTION OF PALE CYST NEMATODE. SALES OF CHIPPING POTATOES TO JAPAN WERE NEARLY 20 MILLION DOLLARS IN 2016. MEANWHILE, LEADERS FROM JAPAN TELLING A NEBRASKA TRADE DELEGATION LAST WEEK THAT JAPAN IS NOT INTERESTED IN A BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES. INSTEAD, JAPAN IT TOLD NEBRASKA GOVERNOR PETE RICKETTS THAT THE NATION IS HOLDING OUT FOR THE U.S. TO REJOIN THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP. THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD. RICKETTS SAYS HE IS PRESSING U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT LIGHTHIZER TO NEGOTIATE NEW AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND JAPAN, AND ENCOURAGED JAPAN TO ENGAGE WITH THE U.S. IN THOSE TALKS. IT LOOKS TO BE A GOOD HARVEST FOR CRANBERRY GROWERS ALTHOUGH SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN A YEAR AGO. THE LATEST FORECAST CALLS FOR 9 POINT 1 MILLION BARRELS. THAT’S DOWN A BIT FROM A YEAR AGO. WISCONSIN’S 21 THOUSAND ACRES COMING IN WITH NEARLY 6 MILLION BARRELS AND 2 MILLION BARRELS FROM MASSACHUSETTS.AMERICAN CRAFT BEER MAKERS HAVE INSPIRED A NEW GENERATION OF BRITISH BREWERS TO RECLAIM THEIR BEERS IN A NEW HOPS REVOLUTION. SALES FOR CRAFT BEERS ARE BOOMING IN THE U-S AND BRITISH BREWERIES ARE LOOKING FOR A SLICE OF THE PIE, USING THE AROMATIC AND BITTER AMERICAN HOP STYLES. HOPS ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS OF ANY BEER. UNTIL RECENTLY THOUGH, HOPS IN THE U-K HAD BEEN SLIGHTLY OVERLOOKED. IT TOOK THE AMERICAN CRAFT BREWING REVOLUTION TO REAWAKEN THE INTEREST IN BRITISH DRINKERS. RUPERT THOMPSON, OWNER, HOGS BACK BREWERY: “ACTUALLY THE AMERICAN CRAFT BEER REVOLUTION ESSENTIALLY WAS INFLUENCED BY SMALL CRAFT BREWERS IN THE UK AND REGIONAL BREWERS LIKE OURSELVES. BUT ACTUALLY THEY THEN TOOK IT A STAGE FURTHER AND THEY DEVELOPED SOME REALLY INTERESTING BEERS,"GERMANY AND THE U-S ARE THE WORLD’S LARGEST PRODUCERS OF HOPS, BUT INDEPENDENT U-K BREWERS ARE STARTING TO RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD QUALITY LOCALLY GROWN HOPS. THERE WERE OVER 5,000 CRAFT BREWERIES HERE IN THE U-S, UP FROM JUST UNDER 2,000 FIVE YEARS EARLIER. U-K BREWERS HOPE TO RE-CREATE THAT GROWTH IN THEIR COUNTRY.
TEASE
UP NEXT, THESE SALMON FARMERS ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP SEA LICE OFF THEIR FISH. FINDING SUCCESS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE. DETAILS AFTER THE BREAK.
IN THE COUNTRY
IN THE COUNTRY - BROUGHT TO YOU BY KUBOTA’S M7 SERIES. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LARGEST TRACTOR IN KUBOTA HISTORY AT KUBOTA.COM. FARMING AND IT’S CHALLENGES COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. FOR SALMON FARMERS, A SURGE OF PARASITIC SEA LICE IS DISRUPTING SALMON SUPPLIERS AROUND THE WORLD. SCIENTISTS AND FISH FARMERS ARE WORKING ON NEW WAYS TO CONTROL THE LICE, ALTHOUGH SO FAR IT’S BEEN A STRUGGLE. LUKE SHERIDAN REPORTS. THE WORLDWIDE SALMON INDUSTRY IS TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION TO A BILLION DOLLAR PROBLEM, A SURGE OF SEA LICE. THE PARASITES ATTACH THEMSELVES AND FEED ON THE SALMON, KILLING THEM OR MAKING THEM UNSUITABLE FOR CONSUMPTION. ONCE CONTROLLED THROUGH PESTICIDES, SEA LICE HAVE NOW GROWN RESISTANT, AND NEW APPROACHES ARE NEEDED TO KEEP THEM IN CHECK. JOEL HALSE, COOKE AQUACULTURE ENGINEER : “WE’RE FARMERS, NOT FISHERMEN, FARMERS. AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A FARMING ISSUE AND WE’RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH IT THE SAME WAY ANY OTHER FARMER THAT GROWS OUR FOOD WOULD.” COOKE AQUACULTRE, A CANADIAN COMPANY OPERATING IN NEW BRUNSWICK IS TRYING SEVERAL METHODS TO KILL THE LICE, AND SAVE THE SALMON. ON BOARD THE COLBY PERCE, 10,000 FISH AT A TIME ARE PUMPED INTO INTO A SOLUTION OF PEROXIDE AND WATER. IT KILLS MOST OF THE LICE, ALTHOUGH IT ALSO CAN STRESS AND KILL SOME OF THE FISH. A GENTLER APPROACH IS THIS THERMAL REMOVAL BARGE - IT’S BETTER DESCRIBED AS A “WATERSLIDE PARK” FOR FISH. JOEL HALSE, COOKE AQUACULTURE ENGINEER : “WE PULL UP TO A CAGE WITH SALMON AND THOSE SALMON HAVE SOME SEA LICE AND WE USE OUR FISH PUMP TO MOVE THEM TO THE SLIDE AND THE FISH TRAVEL DOWN THE SLIDE AND WHILE THEY DO WHILE THEY DO THEY GET A WARM SHOWER. THAT KNOCKS THE LICE OFF, THE LICE IS RELEASED FROM THE FISH AND THEN WE PUT JUST THE SALMON BACK INTO A NEW PEN BECAUSE WE SEPARATE FROM THE WATER BECAUSE THE LICE THAT ARE NOW IN THE WATER ARE FILTERED OUT.” ANOTHER APPROACH USES “CLEANER FISH” TO COEXIST WITH THE SALMON AND EAT THE LICE. KENG PEE ANG, COOKE AQUACULTURE: “WE THINK THIS IS THE WAY TO GO BECAUSE IT IS NON-CHEMICAL BASE AND IT IS SUSTAINABLE WITH A LOCAL SPECIES WE CAN GET THEM FROM OUR WATERS AND IT IS THEIR NATURAL HABITAT AND IT IS QUITE EASY TO GROW THEM.” WHILE THESE METHODS MAY HELP DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, IT’S A GLOBAL RACE TO GET AHEAD OF IT. EXPERTS SAY DEFEATING THE LICE WILL REQUIRE NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES, INCLUDING THROUGH GENETICS. JAKE ELLIOTT, VP FRESHWATER OPERATIONS, COOKE AQUACULTURE: “WE HAVE DELIBERATELY INFECTED OUR FAMILIES WITH SEA LICE AND THEN SCORED THE NUMBER OF SEA LIFE THAT ATTACH THE DIFFERENT FAMILIES AND WE COME UP WITH TABLES THAT SHOW WHICH FAMILIES AND WHICH INDIVIDUALS ARE RESISTANT TO SETTLEMENT BY SEA LICE.” FARMERS ACROSS THE GLOBE CONSIDER SEA LICE THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THEIR INDUSTRY WITH WHOLESALE PRICES UP AS MUCH AS 50 PERCENT LAST YEAR. THAT MEANS CONSUMERS ARE PAYING MORE FOR EVERYTHING FROM SALMON FILLETS AND STEAKS TO MORE EXPENSIVE LOX ON BAGELS. LUKE SHERIDAN -- ASSOCIATED PRESS .
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.
