TODAY ON U.S. FARM REPORT:
FEB. 20, 2016
OPENING HEADLINES:
FROM THE STUDIOS OF FARM JOURNAL BROADCAST, THIS IS U.S. FARM REPORT.> WELCOME TO U.S. FARM REPORT. I’M TYNE MORGAN, AND HERE’S WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON FOR YOU OVER THE NEXT HOUR. A REGULATED WAY OF LIFE... THIS RIVER MEANS AS MUCH TO ME AS ANY ENVIRONMENTALIST IN THIS COUNTRY. THAT’S FOR SURE,"> OUR FARM JOURNAL REPORT INTRODUCES US TO A CHESEPEAKE BAY FARMER HAVING TO BALANCE HIS PASSION FOR FARMING AND LOVE FOR WATER, WITH HEFTY REGULATIOSN. WE’RE ON THE ROAD WITH MACHINERY PETE FOR A LOOK AT EQUIPMENT TRENDS. . I THINK NOW’S THE TIME FOR POEPLE TO BE AGGRESSVIE AS A BUYER> WE’RE OFF TO TEXAS WHERE MACHINERY PETE TELLS US WHY NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY. AND IN JOHN’S WORLD...
NOAA ALSO THINKS WE COULD SEE ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE U-S. CHINA’S APPETITIE FOR U-S SOYBEANS CONTINUES TO FADE. OUR PARTNERS AT PRO FARMER REPORTING CHINA IMPORTED 5.66 MILLION METRIC TONS OF SOYBEANS IN JANUARY. THAT’S A 38 PERCENT DROP FROM DECEMBER AND 17 PERCENT LESS THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
PROMISE FOR POULTRY PRODUCERS IN 2016:
POULTRY PRODUCERS ARE LOOKING AT A MORE PROMISING 2016. RABOBANK SAYS AFTER A VERY CHALLENGING END TO 2015, MARGINS ARE IMPROVING. IN RABOBANK’S FIRST POULTRY QUARTERLY REPORT OF THE YEAR, ANALYSTS SAY BETTER DEMAND AND LOWER SUPPLY IN COUNTIRES LIKE U-S, CHINA, THAILAND AND EUROPE ARE HELPING REDUCE THE HEFTY SUPPLY ISSUE WE SAW LAST YEAR.
IN CHINA, NEW RESTRICTIOSN ON BREEDING STOCK WILL HELP KEEP TBIRD NUMBERS DOWN. BUT PRICES WILL STILL REMAIN VOLATILE DUE TO AVIAN INFLUENZA. G-M POTENTIAL IN CHINA:
THE CHEM CHINA AND SYNGENTA ACQUISITION COULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR G-M CROPS IN CHINA.. THAT’S ACCORDING TO SYNGENTA’S LEADERSHIP REUTERS REPORTING, THE 43 BILLION DOLLAR DEAL LIKELY TO GIVE SYNGENTA UNRIVALED ACCESS TO THE CHINESE MARKET--THE WORLD’S LARGEST GRAIN PRODUCER.
PLAN TO FREEZE OIL OUTPUT:
ALSO HEATING UP, DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OIL PRODUCTION AND THE IMPACT ON PRICES. FOUR MAJOR PRODUCERS, QATAR, RUSSIA, SAUDI ARABIA AND VENEZUELA ANNOUNCING A JOINT AGREEMENT TO FREEZE CURRENT OUTPUT LEVELS. THEY HOPE THE MOVE WILL HELP LIFT FALLING PRICES. THE LATEST PULSE OF THE RURAL ECONOMY IS IMPROVING, BUT IT’S THE FIRST TIME A LARGE PORTION OF BANKERS SAY THEIR LOCAL ECONOMIES ARE IN A RECESSION.
RMI SLIGHT RISE:
ERNIE GOSS WITH CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY PUTS OUT A MONTHLY RURAL MAINSTREET INDEX, SHOWING THE RMI RISING TO 37 FROM 35 LAST MONTH. BUT THAT’S STILL BELOW THE SCORE OF 50 WHICH REPRESENTS GROWTH NEUTRAL. BUT OF THE 200 BANKERS SURVEYED THROUGH-OUT THE MIDWEST AND PLAINS STATES, LESS THAN NINE PERCENT SEE IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR LOCAL ECONOMIES. BUT NEARLY 37-PERCENT SAY THEIR LOCAL ECONOMIES ARE IN A RECESSION. THE ASSOCIATION OF EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURES JANUARY FLASH REPORT SHOWING TRACTOR SALES FALLING 6 PERCENT YEAR OVER YEAR. 4-WHEEL DRIVE SALES DROP:
BIG TWO WHEEL DRIVE MACHINES TAKING THE HARDEST HIT--OFF NEARLY 40 PERCENT. 4-WHEEL DRIVE UNITS ALSO FALLING--DOWN 9 PERCENT. WHILE SMALLER TWO WHEEL DRIVE MACHINES GETTING A LITTLE BUMP--- UP 13 PERCENT OVER LAST JANUARY. COMBINE SALES ALSO SEEING POSITIVE SALES--UP 21 PERCENT.. HOW CLIMATE CHANGE WILL AFFECT THE AG LANDSCAPE:
USDA THINKS A SHIFT IN THE CLIMATE COULD CHANGE WHAT U-S FARMERS GROW. THE ECONOMIC RESERACH DIVISION OF USDA DID AN ANALYSIS OF HOW THE AG LANDCAPE WILL CHANGE FROM THE YEAR 20-20 TO 20-80. RESEARCEHRS SAY CLIMATE CHANGE WILL FORCE THE OVERALL NATIONAL FIELDCROP ACREAAGE TO DROP. INSTEAD, THEY THINK RICE, HAY AND COTTON ACRES WILL GROW, AND THE AMOUTN OF CORN, SOYBEANS, SORGHUM, WHEAT AND SILAGE FARMERS PLANT WILL DROP.
ANTIQUITIES ACT UPDATE:
THE NATIONAL CATTLEMEN’S BEEF ASSOCIATION SAYS THE PRESIDENT IS LEVERAGING THE ANTIQUITIES ACT ONCE AGAIN TO LOCK UP MILLIONS OF ACRES OUT WEST. IN A PRESS RELEASE, NCBA SAYS A TOTAL OF ONE POINT 8 MILLION ACRES IS BEING DESIGNATED--PUSHING THE TOTAL LAND SET ASIDE OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS TO 265 MILLION ACRES.
NCBA SAYS THEY EXPECT THE PRESIDENT TO CONTINUE THE DESIGNATIONS THROUGH THIS YEAR ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 10 MILLION ACRES IN ALL.
NATIONAL WEATHER:
THOSE ARE THE HEADLINES...METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN JOINS US NOW WITH WEATHER. MIKE, A MASSIVE WARMUP LAST WEEK. IS IT HERE TO STAY FOR A WHILE? THANKS, TYNE. NO IT IS NOT. HOWEVER, I DO NOT SEE ANY BIG BLASTS OF ARTIC AIR FOR MOST OF THIS WEEK EITHER MAYBE BY THE WEEKEND, BUT WE WILL DEAL WITH THAT LATER.
DROUGHT MONITOR:
HERE’S THE DROUGHT MONITOR: YOU CAN SEE JUST POCKETS OF SLIGHT DRYNESS IN THE NORTHEAST A LITTLE BIT OF EXPANDING DRY AIR IN TEXAS, NORTH DAKOTA AS WELL, BUT THE WORST AREA CONTINUES TO BE MUCH OF CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA THAT AREA HAS KIND OF STAYED STABLE OVER THE LAST WEEK AFTER SHRINKING FOR MOST OF THE WINTER SO FAR. LET’S GO DAY BY DAY THIS WEEK: ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY THERE IS ONE POTENTIAL BIG STORM WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK BUT THEN EVERYTHING GETS KIND OF WEAK HERE.
THANKS, MIKE. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS ON THE ROAD,WE’RE BACK IN THE STUDIO FOR THIS WEEK’S MARKETING DISCUSSION. I’LL HOST DUSTIN JOHNSON AND BRIAN SPLITT NEXT. ROUNDTABLE 1:
WELCOME BACK. AS I PROMISED WE’RE HERE IN THE STUDIO FOR THE MARKETING DISCUSSION THIS WEEK. WE HAVE BRIAN SPLITT OF ALLENDALE AND DUSTIN JOHNSON OF AG-YIELD. ALL RIGHT, WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ACREAGE, SO LET’S JUST GO AHEAD AND START OFF WITH THAT. I WANT TO GET BOTH OF YOUR INPUTS ON HOW YOU THINK THIS ACREAGE MIX WILL SHAKE OUT THIS YEAR. DUSTIN?
ACRES:
SURE, WELL WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WHEAT ACRES ARE DOWN 3 MILLION, WINTER WHEAT ACRES AND OUR THOUGHT IS THAT SPRING WHEAT WILL BE DOWN ABOUT ANOTHER MILLION. THE ACRES THAT ARE LOST AREN’T GREAT CORN AND BEAN GROWING GROUND SO YOU KNOW, WE COULD SEE SOME OF IT GO TO CORN AND BEANS BUT I THINK A LOT OF IT WILL GO TO SORGHUM AS WELL. SO GENERALLY THERE’S STILL A LOT OF ACRES THAT CAN COME OUT OF PREVENT PLANT FOR NEXT YEAR THOUGH, SO WE DO -- WE ARE PART OF THE GROUP THAT THINKS THAT CORN AND BEAN ACRES WILL BE GOING UP NEXT YEAR AND SINCE IT IS A COST-CUTTING YEAR IT SHOULD BE GOING TO BEANS.
AND I’VE HEARD A LOT OF THAT THIS YEAR. SO ARE YOU IN THE SAME CAMP? IS ALLENDALE IN THE SAME CAMP?
ALLENDALE HAS RIGHT NOW WE’RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 1.2 MILLION ACRES ABOVE AND BEYOND LAST YEAR FOR CORN AND 800,000 ACRES FOR SOYBEANS ABOVE AND BEYOND LAST YEAR. WE’LL GET A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN IDEA. WE’RE GOING TO START OUR ANNUAL PLANTING INTENTION SURVEY NEXT WEEK SO THAT WILL RUN FOR TWO WEEKS AND THAT WILL GIVE US A MUCH BETTER IDEA OF WHAT OUR CLIENTS AT LEAST ARE THINKING FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
COULD EL NINO BECOME LA NINA?:
WELL, ANOTHER HOT TOPIC THAT WE’VE HAD IS JUST WEATHER, WITH SOME SAYING THAT WE’RE GOING TO MOVE FROM AN EL NINO TO A LA NINA, NOAA EVEN COMING OUT AND MENTIONING LA NINA. SO IF THIS IS THE CASE, WHAT DOES OUR MARKETING PLAN NEED TO BE THIS YEAR, DUSTIN?
ARGENTINA:
WELL, SPEAKING OF WEATHER, DUSTIN, WE’RE HEARING OF FLOODING DOWN IN ARGENTINA. IS THAT PRICED INTO THE MARKET? COULD THAT GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF BUMP HERE SHORT TERM?
ACTUALLY I THINK THAT SHOULD BE PRICED INTO THE MARKET. THAT’S REALLY NOT IN OUR RADAR AS A MAJOR MARKET MOVER. IF ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, A FEW WEEKS AGO THEY WERE SHAVING SOME OF THE YIELD ESTIMATES PRODUCTION ESTIMATES FOR BOTH BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA. WEATHER HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD THOUGH. SO ASIDE FROM THE FLOODING AND WE’RE ACTUALLY SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE STARTING TO BUMP UP TOTAL PRODUCTION COMING OUT OF SOUTH AMERICA, SO IF ANYTHING I THINK IT WOULD BE A BEAR FOR THE MARKET.
BRAZIL:
AND BRAZIL, YOU HAD MENTIONED, BRIAN, THAT WE’RE STARTING TO SEE SOME TAXES IN BRAZIL, SO WHAT IS THE PICTURE DOWN IN SOUTH AMERICA RIGHT NOW?
RIGHT, SO THERE’S A POSSIBILITY THAT WE MIGHT SEE SOME STATE TAXES IMPLEMENTED. IT’S THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATIONS SO THERE’S NOTHING CONCRETE. BUT THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT CHANGE A LITTLE BIT DOWN THE ROAD. IF WE DO SEE SOME TAXES LEVIED THEN THAT MAY MAKE US A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPETITIVE, BUT AS FAR AS WEATHER RIGHT NOW IN SOUTH AMERICA, WHETHER IT’S ARGENTINA OR TOO MUCH RAIN IN SOUTH AMERICA IN GENERAL, ANY OF THESE LOGISTICAL ISSUES ARE SHORT TERM OPPORTUNITIES SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT. WE SAW IT LAST YEAR. WE HAD TRUCK STRIKES LAST YEAR. IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEN IT WAS GONE, SO YOU HAD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT WHILE IT’S THERE.
DROUGHT IN INDIA?:
WELL, MOVING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY, DROUGHT IN INDIA, WHAT TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY COULD THAT PROVIDE FOR SOME OF OUR CROPS?
ROUNDTABLE 2:
WELCOME BACK. ALL RIGHT, DUSTIN, WE’RE HEARING OF SOME POSSIBLE POLICY CHANGES IN CHINA FOR THEIR CORN CROP AND SOME OF THOSE RESERVES THAT WE SEE THERE. SO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHAT IMPACT THAT COULD HAVE.
SURE. CHINA’S HOLDING A MASSIVE PROPORTION OF THE WORLD’S CORN CARRYOUT AND THEY’RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING RID OF IT. SO THERE’S ONE OF TWO THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN, OR TWO OF TWO THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN. ONE, THEY COULD LOWER THEIR SUPPORT PRICE FOR CORN TO TRY TO PREVENT SOME OF THIS ARBITRAGE WHERE FEED GRAIN PRODUCTS COME FROM THE U.S. INTO THE COUNTRY, OR TWO, THEY COULD BE LOWERING THEIR OFFERING PRICE FOR THEIR OPTION. SO IF THEY DO BOTH THAT COULD REALLY SEND THE MESSAGE TO THE WORLD THAT THERE’S PLENTY OF GRAIN AROUND AND THEY’RE NOT GOING TO BE BRINGING ANY MORE IN, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CATALYSTS THAT COULD DRIVE OUR PRICES LOWER.
INTEREST RATES:
WELL, HERE AT HOME, WE HEARD THAT THE FED WAS GOING TO INCREASE INTEREST RATES, RIGHT? EVERYONE WAS KIND OF IN THAT CAMP AT THE END OF THE YEAR. NOW, KIND OF THAT TONE HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT. WHY IS THAT, BRIAN? DO YOU THINK WE WILL SEE THE FED INCREASE RATES THIS YEAR?
TEASE:
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.
MARKETS NOW:
ALL RIGHT. TIME NOW FOR OUR CLOSING THOUGHTS. DUSTIN?
I THINK THE BIGGEST THING I DRIVE HOME IS THAT CROP INSURANCE IS STILL THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU CAN BUY THIS YEAR, AND I’VE HEARD A LOT OF PRODUCERS THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT LOWERING OR EVEN ELIMINATING CROP INSURANCE BECAUSE THE PRICES ARE DOWN THIS YEAR. AND I THINK THAT’S A MISTAKE BECAUSE THAT’S OUR BACKBONE TO PREVENT FINANCIAL CATASTROPHE AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ABLE TO SELL INTO THROUGH THE YEAR.
TEASE:
ALL RIGHT. JOHN PHIPPS IS WITH US WHEN WE COME BACK.
RECEIVE A FREE TRIAL OF THE DAILY MARKET LETTER AND GAIN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS AT BOWER TRADING. VIEW THE MARKETS LIKE NEVER BEFORE. GO TO BOWERTRADING.COM.
YOU’RE WATCHING U.S. FARM REPORT WITH HOST TYNE MORGAN, COMMENTATOR JOHN PHIPPS, AGRIBUSINESS DIRECTOR AL PELL AND METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN. U.S. FARM REPORT. TRUSTED. TIMELY. TRADITION
JOHN’S WORLD:
NOW IT’S TIME TO CHECK IN WITH JOHN ON HIS FARM FOR JOHNS’ WORLD. SERIOUSLY. WHILE AGE DIFFERENCES PREVENTED A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY GRANDFATHERS, I DID GET TO WITNESS HOW MY FATHER BECAME AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY SON’S LIVES. GRANDCHILDREN AND GRANDPARENTS HAVE A POWERFUL BOND, AFTER ALL, AS THEY SHARE A COMMON ENEMY. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE JOB, IN MY OPINION, IS STORYTELLING. SMALL CHILDREN LOVE STORIES, AND THE VERY BEST ARE DONE VERBALLY WHILE THEY STARE STRAIGHT INTO YOUR EYES FROM YOUR LAP. IF YOU ARE PROSPECTIVE GRANDPARENTS LET ME OFFER SOME HINTS. THE BEST OF ALL ARE TALES YOU TOTALLY FABRICATE, BUT I REALIZE THIS IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY. I ACTUALLY RESEARCH STORIES ON THE INTERNET AND MAKE SHORT SUMMARIES OF KEY PLOT POINTS ON A SMARTPHONE APP SO THAT I CAN APPEAR TO HAVE AN ENDLESS STORE OF NARRATIVE WISDOM.
TEASE:
THANKS, JOHN. WHEN WE COME BACK, WE’RE OFF TO THE CHESEPEAKE BAY TO MEET A FARMER WHO SAYS REGULSATIONS HAVE BECOME A WAY OF LIFE.
SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW OPENING HEADLINES:
FROM THE STUDIOS OF FARM JOURNAL BROADCAST, THIS IS U.S. FARM REPORT. WELCOME BACK TO U-S FARM REPORT. WE HAVE MUCH MORE AHEAD OVER THE NEXT 30 MINUTES... REGULATIONS ARE NOW A WAY OF LIFE FOR SOME FARMERS OUT EAST. OUR FARM JOURNAL REPORT TAKES US TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. WE’RE ON THE ROAD WITH MACHINERY PETE WITH MOISTURE IN TEXAS MEANT A CHANGE IN MOOD AND BUYING. AND IN CUSTOMER SUPPORT, JOHN TACKELS A MISCONCEPTION OF ANTIOBIOTIC RESITANCE. DIESEL DROPS:
NOW FOR THE HEADLINES, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE FOR U-S DIESEL FELL BELOW 2 DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A DECADE. BUT SOME THINK WE STILL HAVEN’T FOUND THE FLOOR JUST YET. PROFARMER INPUTS MONITOR EDITOR DAVIS MICHAELSON SAYS SOFTNESS IN THE CRUDE OIL MARKET IS OVERFLOWIGN TO DIESEL, AS WELL. THAT’S PUSHING PRICES LOWER. HEATING OIL AND FARM DIESEL SPREAD GIVING LITTLE INDICATION PRICES WILL FIRM ANYTIME SOON.
ETHANOL CONFERENCE:
MOVIGN TO ETHANOL, IT WAS TOP OF MIND AT THE RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION’S 21ST ANNUAL NATIONAL ETHANOL CONFERENCE IN NEW ORLEANS THIS WEEK. AG SECRETARY TOM VILSACK ON AND WITH NEW RESEARCH. HE SAYS THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY TODAY IS MORE EFFICIENT THAN EVER...ADDING IT’S TIME TO THROW OUT THOSE ASSUMPTIONS FROM 15 YEARS AGO.
USDA SAYS SINCE 2009 THE INDUSTRY HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION.
OBAMA TO VISIT CUBA:
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYS HE PLANS TO MAKE A TRIP TO CUBA WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME A SITTING PRESIDENT VISITED THE COUNTRY SINCE CALVIN COOLIDGE IN 1928. JUST THIS WEEK THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED IT WILL ALLOW AS MANY AS 110 FLIGHTS A DAY TO CUBA. THE U-S AND CUBA RESTORED DIPLOMATIC TIES LAST JULY, AFTER THE U-S LIFTED A 54 YEAR FREEZE ON TRAVEL AND TRADE. TRACTOR FACTORY PLANNED TO BE BUILT IN CUBA:
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS, THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT ALLOWING AN AMERICAN COMPANY TO BUILD A FACTORY IN CUBA. THE WHITE HOUSE IS ALLOWING A SMALL U-S COMPANY TO BUILD A TEN MILLION DOLLAR PLANT IN THE COMMUNIST COUNTRY. IT’S CONSIDERED THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT U-S BUSINESS INVESTMENT SINCE FIDEL CASTRO SEIZED POWER IN 1959. .THE TRACTOR PLANT WILL ASSEMBLE SMALL TRACTORS FROM PARTS SHIPPED-OVER FROM THE U-S. NATIONAL WEATHER:
THAT’S IT FOR NEWS...METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN JOINS US NOW WITH THE LONGER RANGE FORECAST. MIKE, ARE WE SHIFTING AWAY THAT WET EL NINO PATTERN? WELL, TYNE AT TIMES WE ARE, BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING THIS RIDGE DEVELOPING IN THE WESTERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT BRINGS THE COLD AIR TO THE EAST AND YOU CAN SEE THAT PATTERN STARTING TO GO BACK, BUT WE ARE STILL IN ONE OF THOSE PATTERNS WHERE WE EXPECT STORMS TO OCCASIONALLY COME INTO THE WEST OFF THE PACIFIC, SO LET’S PUT THIS JETSTREAM MAP INTO MOTION.
SUPREME COURT CANCELED PLANS TO HEAR AFB CHALLENGES TO CLEAN UP PLAN:
THE SUPREME COURT DIDN’T TALK ABOUT A PETITION FROM THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU CHALLENIGN EPA’S CHESEAPEAKE BAY CLEAN UP PLAN LAST WEEK. THE HIGHEST COURT ORGINIALLY SCHEDULED TO DISCUSS IT FRIDAY, BUT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO THE CEREMONY HONORING JUSTICE SCALIA, WHO PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY LAST WEEKEND. ACORRDING TO POLTICO, IT’S UNLIKELY THE SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR FARM BUREAU’S CHALLENGE. IF THAT HAPPENS, A PREVIOUS RULING UPHODLING EPA’S PLAN WILL REMAIN IN PLACE. LIFE FOR FARMERS WITH THE CLEAN UP ACT:
BUT FOR THOSE LIVIGN AND FARMING ALONG THE EAST COAST, REGULATIONS ARE NOW A WAY OF LIFE. NATIONAL REPORTER BETSY JIBBEN BREAKS DOWN THE BLUEPRINT. O NATIONAL CORN GROWER PRESIDENT, CHIP BOWLING, THE CHESAPEAKE ISN’T JUST A BAY BUT A BIG PART OF HIS LIFE.
REPORTING FOR U.S. FARM REPORT, I’M BETSY JIBBEN.
TEASE:
THANKS, BETSY. MCEOWEN SAYS THIS NEW COURT DECISION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BLEED INTO OTHER WATERSHEDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UP NEXT, JOHN PHIPPS. CUSTOMER SUPPORT:
JOHN JOINS US NOW TO DISCUSS ANTIOBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN CUSTOMER SUPPORT. JOHN. DALE AND BEVERLY NAUERTZ FROM RICHLAND CENTER, WISCONSIN WANTED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT AN ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND BIOTECH CORN RUMOR: “HE SAID WHEN BT CORN WAS ABOUT TO COME TO THE MARKET, HE WAS A [SEED CORN] DEALER…HE ASKED WHAT WERE THE SIDE EFFECTS WITH THE BT PRODUCTS AND THE INDUSTRY REP SAID “OH IT MAKES ANIMALS THAT EAT IT ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT”. THANKS, JOHN. AND DON’T FORGET YOU CAN SEND TEASE:
UP NEXT, DECENT RAINS MEANT A BETTER MOOD ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS FOR MANY FARMERS. WE’LL TELL YOU HOW THAT IMPACTED EQUIPMENT BUYING WHEN WE GO ON TEH ROAD WITH MACHINERY PETE.
ON THE ROAD WITH MACHINERY PETE:
WE STARTED A NEW SEGMENT HERE ON U-S FARM REPORT TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR. IT’S CALLED ON THE ROAD WITH MACHINERY PETE. LAST MONTH WE VISITED OHIO TO DISCUSS EQUIPMENT TRENDS. THIS MONTH, IT’S A TRIP TO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. CLINTON GRIFFITHS TAKES US TO AMARILLO TEXAS TO WESTERN EQUPMENT WHERE MOTHER NATURE HELPED ENTICE BUYING MOMENTUM IN 2015. WEATHER SHIFTS EQUIPMENT BUYING:
2015 BROUGHT A FRESH START FOR TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA RANCHERS. AFTER SURVIVING FOUR YEARS OF A RECORD-BREAKING DROUGHT, RESILLIANCE PREVAILED AND MOTHER NATURE FINALLY GAVE AREA FARMERS A BREAK. THAT SWITCH IN THE WEATHER IS HELPING TRIGGER A REGIONAL SHIFT IN EQUIPMENT BUYING. MACHINERY PETE SAYS THAT MEANS 2016 COULD BRING OPPORTUNITY.
NEW OR USED?:
FOR AREA FARMERS, AFTER THE LAST FEW YEARS, A DECISION IS DIFFICULT TO SOURT OUT. ONE FACTOR THAT COULD PLAY IN AGRICULTURE’S FAVOR IS HAVING PERMANENT TAX INCENTIVES IN PLACE, INCLUDING SECTION 179 AT THE 500 THOUSAND DOLLAR THRESHOLD.
EFFICIENT PRACTICES SAVE BUCKS:
THAT’S WHY WILLIAMS DECIDED TO PURCHASE A COTTON PICKER THAT ALSO BALES THE CROP. NEW TECHNOLOGY IS A GAME CHANGER FOR THIS SOUTHERN PLAINS FARMER.
2016 IS A YEAR TO BUY:
WHETHER IT’S UPGRAIDNG YOUR CURRENT EQUIPMENT, OR UPGRADING TECHNOLOGY AND DATA, MACHINERY PETE SAYS DON’T LET LOWER COMMODITY PRICES MAKE YOU BLIND TO AN OPPORTUNITIES TO BUY.
TEASE:
THANKS, CLINTON. NEXT MONTH, WE’LL TRAVEL WITH MACHINERY PETE TO CENTRAL ILLINOIS TO GET A REGIONAL LOOK AT BUYING MOMENTUM THERE. WHEN WE COME BACK, TRACTOR TALES AND OUR COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE...PLEASE STAY WITH US.
TRACTOR TALES:
WELCOME BACK. THIS WEEK WE SHOWCASE A UNIQUE MOLINE THAT WAS AUCTIONED OFF IN THE BADGER STATE.
THIS UNI-TRACTOR AND BALER COMBINATION WAS ONE-OF-A-KIND. THIS IS THE MINNEAPOLIS MOLINE, THE UNI SYSTEM THAT THEY DEVELOPED AND EVENTUALLY SOLD TO NEW IDEA. IT HAS A BALER UNIT ON IT RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU CAN PUT A COMBINE UNIT ON IT OR A CHOPPER UNIT ON IT, BUT THIS ONE HAS THE BALER UNIT WHICH IS KIND OF ON THE RARE SIDE. WE HAD A JUNKER THAT HAD DIED AND THIS PARTICULAR UNIT WAS ON HIS SALE AND I TRIED TO BUY IT THEN.
CHURCH SALUTE:
TODAY’S COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE GOES TO THE ARGYLE BIBLE CHURCH. IT’S LOCATED OUTSIDE THE SMALL COMMUNITY OF COLCHESTER, ILLINOIS. MISSY PHILLIPS TOOK THIS PICTURE OF THE SANCTUARY BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS! THANK YOU, MISSY, FOR SENDING THAT IN.
TEASE:
TYNE IS BACK WITH CROPWATCH NEXT.
CROP WATCH:
WELCOME BACK WES MILLS OF OUR STAFF WAS IN ST.JOSEPH MICHIGAN. THAT’S RIGHT ON LAKE MICHIGAN. AND IT WAS COLD, BUT THE LAKE IS DEFINITLEY NOT AS FROZEN AS IT HAS BEEN THE PAST TWO YEARS. HE TOLD ME LAKE MICHIGAN HAS HALF THE ICE COVER IT DID A YEAR AGO.
LOOKING AT ALL FIVE GREAT LAKES, ICE COVER IS AROUND 20 PERCENT. THAT COMPARED TO 82 PERCENT THIS TIME LAST YEAR. SO A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE.
CLOSING:
FOR JOHN, AL AND MIKE, I’M TYNE MORGAN. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING U-S FARM REPORT. BE SURE TO JOIN US RIGHT HERE AGAIN NEXT WEEK, AS WE WORK TO BUILD ON OUR TRADITION. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, EVERYONE.
