TODAY ON U.S. FARM REPORT
FEBRUARY 18-19, 2017
HEADLINES
WELCOME TO U.S. FARM REPORT. I’M TYNE MORGAN, AND HERE’S WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON FOR YOU OVER THE NEXT 60 MINUTES. COTTON ACREAGE COULD SEE A BOOST THIS YEAR. WE’LL TELL YOU HOW MUCH. TRRDE TALKS TURN INTO A POSSIBLE TRADE WAR, COMING AT THE COST OF CORN. NOW THE MEAT INDUSTRY IS ON EDGE, BUT COULD BILATERAL AGREEMENTS SAVE THE DAY? <"IF IT’S A BI-LATERAL AGREEMENT, WE CAN SUPPORT THAT> AND IN JOHN’S WORLD...
COTTON INCREASE
NOW FOR THE NEWS THAT MOVED THE MARKETS THIS WEEK, BETTER PRICES AND MOISTURE HELPING ENTICE FARMERS TO PLANT MORE COTTON ACRES THIS YEAR, WITH EARLY ESTIMATES POINTING TO A NEARLY 10 PERCENT JUMP OVER LAST YEAR. U-S COTTON FARMERS COULD PLANT 11 MILLION ACRES OF COTTON THIS YEAR.. A 9 POINT 4 PERCENT HIKE FROM LAST YEAR. THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL’S ANNUAL PLANTING INTENTIONS SURVEY, GROWERS IN THE SOUTHWEST INTEND TO PLANT NEARLY 11-PERCENT MORE COTTON ACRES, TEXAS IS INCREASING ITS COTTON PLANTINGS BY NINE-AND A HALF PERCENT, OR ABOUT A HALF MILLION ACRES. AND IN THE MID-SOUTH - COTTON COULD SEE A NEARLY 13-PERCENT INCREASE OVERALL. MISSISSIPPI LEADS THAT REGION WITH A BOOST OF 27-PERCENT.
RENEGOTIATING NAFTA
REGNOTIATING NAFTA IS STARTING TALKS OF A TRADE WAR AND IT COULD COME AT THE COST OF CORN. A MEXICAN SENATOR SAYS HE’S INTRODUCING A BILL FOR MEXICO TO BUY CORN FROM BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA, INSTEAD OF HTE U-S. THE LAWMAKER MADE THE STATEMENT AT AN ANTI TRUMP PROTEST IN MEXICO CITY LAST WEEKEND. AND MEXICO’S AG MINISTER SAID HE’LL LEAD A TRIP TO ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL TO LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL THERE. THE U-S HAS SEEN A BOOST IN DEMAND SINCE NAFTA WAS IMPLEMENTED. IN 2015, 2 POINT 4 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF CORN SHIPPED TO MEXICO. IN 1995, CORN EXPORTS TOTALED 391 MILLION DOLLARS. AS PRESIDENT TRUMP MET WITH HIS CANADIAN COUNTERPART PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU THIS WEEK, SAYING HIS PRIMARY CONCERN WITH THE THREE- WAY TRADE DEAL CALLED “NAFTA” IS WITH MEXICO AND NOT CANADA.
DOW HITS ALL TIME HIGH
THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL HITTING A NEW ALLTIME HIGH THIS WEEK AFTER FEDERAL CHAIR JANET YELLEN TESTIFIED IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK. IN HER REMARKS, YELLEN SAID THAT WAITING TOO LONG TO RAISE INTEREST RATES WOULD BE UNWISE, CONSIDERING THE RISE IN INFLATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
WEATHER
THOSE ARE THE HEADLINES...WELL, MANY VIEWERS SEEING ANOTHER BIG WARM UP THIS WEEK/ BUT CAN IT CONTINUE? HERE’S METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMANWITH A LOOK AT WEATHER. THANKS TYNE. WE DEFINITELY ARE GOING TO GET SOME MOISTURE ACROSS MUCH OF THE LOWER FORTY EIGHT TO HELP OUT WITH SOME OF THESE DROUGHT AREAS IN A BEEN SHRINKING ALL ALONG YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE STILL POCKETS OF SOUTHEAST SOUTHERN PLAINS. AND A COUPLE OF SPOTS LEFT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH EXTREME DROUGHT. BUT THE CHANGE OVER THE PAST MONTH HAS BEEN PRETTY DRAMATIC. YOU CAN SEE THERE IS EXTREME TO EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT OVER A GOOD CHUNK OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA A MONTH AGO THAT HAS BEEN SLOWLY SHRINKING AS WE’VE MOVED THROUGH THE LAST FOUR WEEKS. SO IT ‘S BEEN PRETTY DRAMATIC AND IT LOOKS LIKE MORE MOISTURE IS COMING. IN FACT AS WE START THE WEEK ON MONDAY WERE LOOKING AT A PRETTY WET SYSTEM THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS. THAT SHOULD HELP THOSE DROUGHT AREAS. SCATTERED SHOWERS FARTHER NORTH IT’S GOIGN TO BE COLD IN THE NORTHEAST BUT PRETTY MILD FOR MOST OF THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY EVEN WARM FOR THE SOUTHEAST AS HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATES ON MONDAY. NEXT STORM SYSTEM COMING IN WITH RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOWS OUT WEST AS WE HAVE THROUGH WEDNESDAY THEN THAT SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS A VERY SLOW MOVER SO WE’RE STILL LOOKING AT SOME RAIN ALONG THE GULF COAST A WEAK FRONT MAY CAUSE A FEW SPRINKLES IN THE NORTHERN LIKE SAYING YOU CAN SEE A COUPLE OF SYSTEMS AIR OUT WEST NORTHERN PLAINS BUT THAT ONE COMING IN IN THE FAR WEST IS GOING TO BE A BIG ONE ONCE AGAIN AS WE HEAD TOWARD FRIDAY THAT ‘S GOING TO BE A LARGE STORM SYSTEM. THE WAY I LOOKED RIGHT NOW WITHOUT A LOT OF RAIN WITH THIS SYSTEM SNOW ON THE NORTHERN FRENCH AND IN SNOW BACK ACROSS THE ROCKIES. BUT THE WARMTH WILL BE REPLACED BY CHILLIER AIR COMING WITH THAT SYSTEM WE’LL BE BACK IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR. THE LONGER RANGE FORECAST
TEASE
WHEN WE COME BACK, THE SURGE IN SOYBEAN PRICES SPARKIGN OPTIMISM FROM TEH NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY SHOW. WE’RE ON THE ROAD FROM LOUISVILLE WITH BILL BIEDERMANN, JAROD CREED AND CHIP NELLINGER NEXT.
ROUNDTABLE 1
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I THINK THE EXPECTED RALLIES SINCE THANKSGIVING HAS REALLY BOOSTED A LOT OF ALTITUDE OUT THERE. I SAW AT LEAST 10 GUYS OUT THERE BIDDING ON THE SAME TRACTOR. I THINK THAT’S REALLY HELPED A LOT. THE QUESTION IS IF IT WILL STAY HERE. GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SELL. THE QUESTION IS NOT ONLY WILL IT STAY BUT HAVE WE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THESE PRICES. SO JAROD IN YOUR MIND, WHEN WE HAVE SOME OF THESE PRICES AT PROFITABLE LEVELS, DO YOU THINK ENOUGH PRODUCERS HAVE FOR CONTRACTING AT THOSE PRICES. JIM AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT THAT THIS YEAR’S MARKETING OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE IN THE NEXT IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS MOVING FORWARD. IT’S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORY THAN IT WASAT THIS TIME LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR IT SEEMED LIKE WE WERE TRYING TO CREATE A MARKETING PLAN TO BREAKEVEN ON CORN AND ULTIMATELY DEFEND SOME LOSSES ON SOYBEANS. FAST FORWARD TO THIS YEAR, IT’S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SITUATION WE’VE HAD FOR MULTI-YEARS. COSTS ARE DOWN ON CORN, MAYBE NOT ON SOYBEANS, BUT PRICES IN RELATIONSHIP TO ALL OF THIS IS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DECISION TO DECIDE HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE WANT TO MAKE RATHER THAN HOW MUCH MONEY AM I GOING TO POTENTIALLY LOSE. WHAT’S DRIVING THIS RIGHT NOW? WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOYBEAN PRICES, THEY ARE PRETTY FRIENDLY COMPARED TO WHAT WE THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. SO WHAT’S DRIVING THAT MOMENTUM? I THINK IT’S TWO SEPERATE THINGS IN THE CORN AND WHEAT MARKET. BEANS TREMEMDOUS DEMAND. WE’VE KNOWN THAT. RECORD LARGE DEMAND. CHINA TAKES BASICALLY HALF OF THE WORLD CROP BETWEEN US AND THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. THAT’S WHATS DRIVING THAT. THE FUNDS LOVE THE BEAN MARKET SO THEY’VE BEEN BUYING BEANS. THEY HAVE A NEARLY RECORD LONG POSITION WHEN YOU LOOK AT CORN, BEANS, WHEAT COMBINED. CORN, MEAL AND OIL COMBINED. CORN AND WHEAT ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK THAT’S MORE OF A VALUE THING. THERE’S A LOT OF MONEY OUT THERE. THERE’S A DIVERSIFICATION COMING. MAYBE OUT OF THE STOCK MARKET AND OTHER INVESTMENTS JUST BUYING SOMETHING THAT’S CHEAP. CORN, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, IS STILL DOWN NEAR A 5-YEAR LOW. WHEAT IS COMING OFF OF A 10 YEAR LOW. I THINK SOME OF THIS DOESN’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND, IT’S JUST MONEY TRYING TO BUY SOMETHING THAT;S CHEAP RIGHT NOW. WITH THIS REASONING, WITH THIS PRICE ACTION WHERE WE ARE TODAY, IS THERE AN ERA THAT YOU COMPARE THIS TO? IS THERE A SIMILARITY TO ANY HISTORY THAT YOU CAN GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT WE’RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW? IT’S REALLY INTERESTING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK THE STOCKS TO USE RATIOS ON CORN AT ABOUT 16 PERCENT AND WHERE THE DOLLAR IS, THE STOCKS AND THE DOLLAR MATCH UP OF 1997 TO THE YEAR 2000. ALSO, THE SOYBEAN THE STOCKS MATCH UP REAL WELL. BACK INTO 1984 THROUGH 87. IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE TWO YEARS, THE PICTURE DOESN’T LOOK GOOD. ONCE WE DO PUT IN OUR SEASONAL TOP, FOR INSTANCE IN BOTH OF THOSE ERAS, WITH THE DOLLAR WHERE IT’S AT, SOYBEANS WERE AT 5 BUCKS MINUS. DO YOU THINK WE’RE PUTING THE SEASONAL TOP IN BEFORE PLANTING HITS? LIKE CHIP JUST MENTIONED, WE’RE NOT DOING ANYTHING FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT NOW. DO WE NEED 93, 94 MILLION ACRES OF CORN NEXT YEAR? WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE SHOW A MONTH AGO IN A JOKINGLY FASHION IF THE MARKET WOULD FIND A WAY TO RALLY ANOTHER 15 20 CENTS, WHOS TO SAY WE DON’T PLANT A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF CORN ACRES AS WE DID LAST YEAR. HERE WE ARE MAKING THESE UNSEASONAL MOVES OR COUNTERSEASONAL MOVES THAT ULTIMATELY PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY. I DON’T WANT TO SAY WE’RE NECESSARILY PUTTING IN A TOP, BUT IT’S DEFINATELY AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO BE ACTING ON. IT JUST DOESN’T COME AROUND LIKE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. AT THE SAME TIME JAROD MENTIONED ACREGE. WE HAVE ACREAGE ESTIMATES THAT WE’RE EXPECTING OUT OF USDA NEXT MONTH. DO YOU THINK IT’S POSSIBLE WE GET CLOSE TO 90 MILLION ACRES IN SOYBEANS? AND IF WE DO WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE MARKET. I THINK LIKE JAROD SAID. I THINK THAT THE ACREAGE THING IS A LITTLE MORE IN FLUX RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE RALLY WE JUST HAD. YOU’RE BACK ABOVE 4 DOLLAR DEC CORN FUTURES. I THINK THAT HAS PRODUCERS HOW TO THINKING MAYBE I WAS GOING TO SWITCH A FEW ACRES, BUT WE HAVE A 4 IN FRONT OF IT. I LIKE TO PLANT CORN SO LETS KEEP PLANTING CORN. I THINK IT’S UP IN THE AIR A LITTLE BIT. I THINK THE PRODUCERS WE WORK WITH IN THE SOUTH THERE’'S A RUSH OUT OF CORN TO MORE BEANS AND MORE COTTON. A LOT MORE COTTON IN THE SOUTH. I THINK WE’RE GOING TO DEBATE THIS ACREAGE THING PROBABLY AFTER THE MARCH 31 ACREAGE REPORT. WHEN THAT DOES COME OUT, WHAT IS THE BULLISH FACTOR THAT COULD MOVE PRICES HIGHER? IS IT ONLY WEATHER AT THIS POINT? I BELIEVE WE DO. IN CORN, I THINK THAT WE’RE GOING TO REDUCE ACRES ENOUGH TO WHERE IF WE HAVE ANY ADVERSE WEATHER, QUANTITY COULD POP PRETTY GOOD. SOYBEANS ON THE OTHER HAND IF WE EVEN HAVE A 47 BUSHEL TRENDLINE YIELD, WHICH IS A STANDARD TRENDLINE, THAT’S WAY BELOW LAST YEAR, WE WOULD STILL PRODUCE ENOUGH BUSHELS TO MEET DEMAND. IT’S ALMOST IDENTICAL PRODUCTION. IT’S GOING TO TAKE A BIG WEATHER SCARE. SPEAKING OF DEMAND, TALKING OF TRADE, A LOT OF NEWS ON THE TRADE FRONT. WE’LL GET INTO WHAT TRUMP MEANS ON TRADE AND PRICES. WE’LL DO THAT WHEN WE COME BACK ON US FARM REPORT.
ROUNDTABLE 2
WELCOME BACK AS I MENTIONED SO MUCH NEWS ON THE TRADE FRONT THIS WEEK AND JARED WHEN WE WILL GET A HAND MEXICO WE HAD A MEXICAN LEGISLATOR THAT THREATENS TO STOP BUYING CORN FROM THE U S AND GO TO ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL DOES THAT SCARE YOU I MEAN HOW COULD THAT IMPACT PRICES A FOUR TO LOSE THAT MARKET?? NO PUN INTENDED BUT THE PLAYING A LITTLE BIT A MEXICAN STANDOFF. WERE DECIDING WHO WANTS TO DO WHAT. IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THIRTY THOUSAND FOOT VIEW AND IF MEXICO SHUTS IMPORTS OFF FROM THE U S THEY’RE GONNA GET IT FROM SOUTH AMERICA WHICH ALL THE LEADERS OPENS A DOOR FOR THE UNITED STATES TO EXPORT OUR GRAIN TO THE PLACES WERE REPLACING. T INSTEAD OF SOUTH AMERICA EXPORTING TO THOSE COUNTRIES U S WILL DO IT. IT JUST CHANGES THE WORLD TRADE GRID. PEOPLE STILL GOTTA EAT. THE DEMAND FOR CORN IS HIGH. IT ‘S TOUGH TO SIT HERE AND SAY WHAT IS PRESIDENT TRUMP’S POLICIES GOING TO BE IN LET ALONE IN AN HOUR, LET ALONE IN A MONTH. THAT HAS TO BE MONITORED. THAT’S ABOUT ALL I CAN PUT ON IT TODAY. YOU CAN’T DENY THE FACT THAT MEXICO IS A BIG BUYER OF PORK AND IN SOME OF THE MEATS. AND SO THE MEAT INDUSTRY ON EDGE BECAUSE THEY’RE IN A FEAR AND WE RENEGOTIATE NAFTA WOULD LOSE SOME OF THAT MARKET FOR A PROTEIN ‘S ALSO SO IS THAT I APPLY SOME PRESSURE ONTO THE ONTO THE MEAT MARKET WILL ENSUE IN A TWENTY SEVENTEEN?? IT COULD. BUT AT LEAST THAT FIRST INITIAL IN A BARRAGE OF BACK AND FORTH A COUPLE WEEKS AGO HAD THE HOG MARKETS SCARED FOR A DAY. THEY THAT WERE RECOVERED IT’S A GLOBAL MARKET IT ‘S A WORLD MARKET. THE REALITY IS, COMMODITIES IN FOOD ITEMS ARE GOING TO BE THE LAST THING AT THE TABLE. THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THE MARKET WON’T GET SCARED FOR A LITTLE BIT. MEXICO IS SUCH A HUGE BUYER THEY’RE EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO . CHINA ‘S SUCH A HUGE BUYER OF BEANS. WE REALLY HAVEN’T EVEN GOTTEN IN THE CHINA TRADE ISSUES YET. THEY CANT GET THE BEANS ANYWHERE ELSE . SO THEY CAN RETALIATE, THEY CAN TALK THE MARKET LOWER BUT IN THE END RESULT THE DEMANDS REALLY STRONG. THERE ‘S A LOT OF ANIMALS LIVESTOCK AND HUMANS TO FEED THE WORLD. AND AND THAT ‘S A GOOD THING ABOUT THE SILVER LINE OF ALL THESE MARKETS. CORN AND BEANS ESPECIALLY. THERE’S GREAT RECORD DEMAND RIGHT NOW. CHIP MENTIONED CHINA. AND WE LOOK AT CHINA AND THE POLICIES THAT THEY PUT ON DDGS ARE WE SEEING THAT IMPACT THIRTY DJ MARKET I MEAN I’M HEARING OF SOME SAND PILES OF SOME OF THE DJ ‘S JUST PILE CONTINUING THE PILOT SO WITH THAT BECAUSE CHINA AND SOME OF THESE ASIAN MARKETS ARE BUYING A WELL OF?? CHINA RAISE THEIR IMPORT TARIFFS AGAINST US AND SO DID ANOTHER COUNTRY BUT THERE ‘S BEEN FIVE ASIAN COUNTRIES SINCE WE DITCHED THE TPP PROGRAM THAT HAVE REALLY PUT THE KIBOSH IN ALL OF OUR DDGS. AND SO THOSE ARE BACKING UP. IN THE MEAL IS JUST PILING UP. COURSE ANYBODY FROM THE OHMAHA AREA WOULD KNOW THAT. AS THE CRUNCHERS HAVE SHOT BACK A LITTLE BIT. BUT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW TRUMP IS AN EXTREMIST C HE SAYS MAN WE’RE GONNA WE’RE GONNA DO THIS AND THEN HE ‘S HOPING TO GET OVER HERE WHEN THEY COME TOGETHER. BUT THIS IS WHAT ‘SSCARY. IT’S GONNA IMPACT YOUR INDUSTRY PROBABLY THE WORST. SPEAKING OF POLICIES YOU WILL WITH THE STOCK MARKET AND THE DOW HAD ANNA FRESHEN ALARMING HIGH. WE’VE SEEN THE HIGHS. IT IS WEEKS AWAY SO HIS POLICIES ARE POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE STOCK MARKET DOES THAT LEAD OVER TO US?? BILL WAS MENTIONED THAT EARLIER THAT WE HAVE PRICED IN AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PREMIUM IN ALMOST ANY FINANCIAL MARKETS IN UNITED STATES. AND TRUSTTHAT TRUMP ‘S POLICIES WILL WIN OUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. SHOULD YOU GET A LITTLE FEAR THAT IT ‘S NOT GONNA HAPPEN. YOU MIGHT SEE SOME REACTIONS LIKE WE HAD ON ELECTION NIGHT. WHEN YOU HAVE THE S AND P TRADING MASSIVE SWINGS THAT THAT THAT FEAR COMES A LONG LINE AND OLD BOY SPILLS OR IN OTHER COMMODITIES IT ‘S RICH RISK OFF AT A CERTAIN POINT. ONCE THE UNCERTAINTY COMES IN PLAY. THAT WE ARE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE STRUCTURE OUR GOVERNMENT POLICIES DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?? YEAH I MEAN HE ‘S HAD A TWO PHASE POLICY AND WERE IN PHASE ONE RIGHT NOW IS TRYING TO GET THE BALL ROLL. AND IF THE BALL START GOING DOWN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL WERE IN TROUBLE. PHASE TWO ‘S GONNA BE A PIECE CAKE THAT ‘S WHEN HE LOWERS EVERYBODY ‘S TAXES. THAT EVERYBODY ‘S HAPPY. BUT THIS PHASE ONE IS TOUGH TO GET. IN THE MEANTIME YOU KNOW WE GOTTA KEEP THAT DOLLAR STRONG TO GET THESE CORPORATIONS TO MOVE BACK TO THE UNITED STATES. THAT ‘S HEART HISTORY. SO THERE ‘S THERE’S SOME GRAVEL ROAD. SWITCHING GEARSLETS LOOK AT CATTLE PRICES. WHEN YOU LOOK THE PRICE ACTION THAT WE’VE SEEN SO FAR DO YOU THINK POSSIBLY THAT WE COULD HIGH MAYBE MAYBE THIS SPRING IN THAT TIMEFRAME?? SEASONALLY WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE SPRING HIGHS HAVE YET TO COME. YOU KNOW THE CASH MARKET HAS BROKE A LITTLE BIT. I GUESS WE’RE LOOKING FOR MAYBE A LITTLE MORE DOWNSIDE IN THAT IN THE SHORT RUN HERE BUT YOU KNOW THE NUMBERS ARE KIND OF TIGHTENING UP HERE.AND WE SHOULD HAVE ONE MORE PUSH HIGHER AS A SPRING HIGH TO THE TROUBLE COMES IN THE MARKET SO DISCOUNTED IN THE DEFERRED SO THEY KNOW THAT THERE ‘S BIGGER PLACEMENTS OUT THERE THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS AND THERE ‘S A BIGGER WALL COMIN A WAY OUT FRONT OF US. SO THAT ‘S ALREADY SOMEWHAT CHRIST AND TO THOSE DEFERRED CONTRACTS REAL QUICK. WE’VE SEEN HIM SINCE GOOD MOMENTUM IN THIS WHOLE MARKET THAT CAN THAT CONTINUE WELL THE HALLMARK THAT MAYBE WILL GET A LITTLE BIT TOPPY BUT SO FAR THE THE UP TREND IS INTACT AND UNTIL WE START TAKING OUT. SOME PREVIOUS WEEKLY LOWS YOU HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE DESIRE FOR SCENES. AN EXPANSION TAKE PLACE IN OHIO MICHIGAN AND INDIANA. WITH THAT PORK PROCESSING PLANT COME ON COME ON ON BOARD AS WELL BE THAT WAY AND THAT ‘S A GREAT THING. THE DEMANDS THERE TOO BECAUSE THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WE REALLY INCREASED PORK PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES.ALL RIGHT WELL THAT WOULD QUICKLY IS ALREADY TIME TO GET CLOSE AND THAT ‘S A LET ‘S TAKE A BREAK AND WE’LL BE BACK IN JUST A MOMENT. ON U S FARM REPORT
MARKETS NOW
ALL RIGHT TIME NOW TO GET A CLOSING THOUGHTS BILL BIEDERMANN LET ‘S START WITH YOU. A TREND LINE YIELD WE’RE SAYIN TEN SEVENTY FIVE TO EIGHT SEVENTY FIVE IN BEANS. CORN FOUR TWENTY MAY BE DOWN TO THREE TWENTY. THAT ‘S GOING BE PUSHING HARD. BOTTOM LINE IS HEY IF YOU THINK MEANS TO GO TO THIRTEEN DOLLARS TWELVE DOLLARS AND YOU’RE FINE PROBABLY BEING ABOUT WHERE YOU’RE AT. BUT IF YOU THINK ELEVEN OR MAYBE TWELVE IS GOING TO BE A STRETCH, YOU BETTER BE SELLING BECAUSE IT ‘S SOMETHING BELOW NINE IS PROBABLY IN THE FUTURE. JAROD. I’M NOT ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AND BILL ‘S OPINION. THEY’RE THE ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THAT WE STILL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE CONTINUED SOYBEAN DEMAND FROM CHINA. CAUGHT PLENTY OF US OFF GUARD LAST YEAR. HERE RECENTLY, WE’RE STARTING TO MAKE ADDITIONAL SALES FOR SUMMERTIME SHIPMENT TO CHINA JUST BECAUSE OF VALUES BEING EQUAL. SOUTH AMERICA TO THE U S. AND ULTIMATELY THAT MEANS THAT IF WE DON’T PLANT MORE THAN EIGHTY SIX EIGHTY SEVEN MILLION ACRES OF SOYBEANS WERE IN HAVE AN INTERESTING SITUATION MOVING FORWARD. MOVING FORWARD. WELL I AGREE IS WHAT THE BOTH THESE GUYS SAID. THERE ‘S GONNA BE BIG FLUCTUATIONS. WE KNOW THE VOLITILITY’S GONNA BE THERE. WHAT DO YOU GUYS HAVE TO DO IS GET A PLAN. KNOW WHAT YOUR COST PRODUCTION IS. HAVE A PLAN AND USE THAT VOLATILITY TO YOUR ADVANTAGE TO POSITION CASH SALES ON RALLIES MAY BE CALLS ON BREAKS. USE THE TOOLS AVAILABLE AND EXECUTE A WELL THOUGHT OUT MARKETING. PLANS ARE I THINK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THE NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY SHOW SAY WITH US JOHN PHIPPS JOINS US NEXT
JOHN’S WORLD
IT’S TIME NOW FOR THIS WEEK’S JOHN’S WORLD.F OR THAT, WE HEAD TO THE FARM. JOHN. ‘VE BEEN GOING TO MEETINGS THIS WINTER, AND ALMOST INEVITABLY I RUN INTO PEOPLE I FIRST MET DECADES AGO WHEN I WAS ACTIVE IN FARM BUREAU OR CORN GROWERS OR OTHER AG ORGANIZATIONS. NOT ONLY ARE THESE ENCOUNTERS A CHANCE TO REMINISCE AND CATCH UP ON WHAT’S HAPPENING, THEY ARE RECHARGING EVENTS FOR MY SPIRITS. AS SOMEONE WISELY SAID, “YOU CAN’T MAKE OLD FRIENDS”. THESE HAPPY EXPERIENCES ALSO UNDERLINE AN ASPECT OF MEMBERSHIP THAT DOES NOT GET ENOUGH ATTENTION. BELONGING AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN FARM ORGANIZATIONS IS WORTHWHILE TO HELP OUR INDUSTRY, BUT THE GREATEST VALUE MAY BE THE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS YOU CAN MAKE. READING BACK ON MY WRITINGS FROM THE 80’S IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE I HAD WAS THE INFORMAL PEER GROUP THAT AROSE BY SIMPLY SHOWING UP AT MEETINGS AND OCCASIONALLY ARGUING ABOUT POLICY OR AND THE FUTURE OF OUR PROFESSION. OK, MAYBE MORE THAN OCCASIONALLY. IT IS A BIG MISTAKE, IN MY OPINION, TO THINK SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE FACEBOOK CAN REPLICATE THIS WAY OF BUILDING LIFE-ENHANCING TIES TO FELLOW FARMERS. SCIENCE AND COMMON SENSE BOTH SAY OTHERWISE. BEGRUDGING A FEW DOLLARS IN MEMBERSHIP FEES SUGGESTS YOU ARE MISSING THE TRUE VALUE OF BELONGING. GOING TO MEETINGS, SITTING THROUGH TEDIOUS REPORTS, AND STRUGGLING TO FIND CONSENSUS AREN’T THE PENALTIES BUT THE PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP. AND ALL THE TIME YOU ARE GETTING THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION DONE, YOU ARE WEAVING YOUR OWN SAFETY NET. JOIN. SHOW UP. PARTICIPATE. YOU BUILD YOUR OWN FUTURE BEST WHEN YOU BUILD FOR ALL OF US. GOOD ADVICE, THANKS JOHN. LAND VALUES CONTINUE TO FALL, BUT ARE STARTING TO FIND A BOTTOM IN THIS LAND MARKET? WE’LL HAVE THE ANSWER NEXT ON U-S FARM REPORT.
TEASE
WELCOME BACK TO U-S FARM REPORT. WE HAVE MUCH MORE AHEAD. FROM CAPITOL HILL TO MAIN STREET - IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ECONOMY. THE AG LOBBY HAS A ‘BEEF’ OVER A SEARING TRADE SPAT... MACHINERY PETE IS WATCHING SURPRISING MOMENTUM IN SPARYERS. AND JOHN PHIPPS LOOKS AT TEH NEW PERENNIAL CROP.
RURAL MAINSTREET INDEX
NOW FOR THE HEADLINES...A NEW SURVEY OF RURAL BANKERS IS SHOWING THERE’S SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN THE ECONOMY. BUT THAT’S ABOUT THE ONLY SILVER LINING IN THE DARK CLOUDS OVER FARM COUNTRY. THE RURAL MAINSTREET INDEX - A MONTHLY GAUGE OF FARM COUNTRY - ROSE TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN 18 MONTHS. BUT IT’S STILL BELOW GROWTH NEUTRAL.. THE RMI IS BASED ON SURVEYS WITH BANKERS IN TEN STATES IN THE MIDWEST AND GREAT PLAINS. ABOUT 15-PERCENT REPORTED IMPROVEMENT. BUT MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE BANKERS REPORTED THEIR LOCAL ECONOMY REMAINS IN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. AND HALF DESCRIBED THEIR ECONOMIES AS STAGNANT. THE RMI FOUND FARMLAND PRICES FELL 5 PERCENT OVER THE PAST YEAR, A TREND ONE AG BANKER THANKS COULD CONTINUE.
NFMS MOODS, AG ECONOMY
WITH STILL-LOW COMMODITY PRICES AND CREDIT CHALLENGES, MANY FARMERS SEEM HESITANT TO BUY EQUIPMENT. BUT OVERALL, THE MODD AT NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY SHOW WAS UPBEAT THIS WEEK IN LOUISVILLE. THE ASSOCIATION OF EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS SAYS INVENTORY ON DEALERS LOTS HAS IMPROVED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS. <" I THINK LOOKING AT INVENTORIES IN GENERAL IT ‘S IN BETTER SHAPE IS WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE YET IT MIGHT NOT BE QUITE WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE BUT IT’S CERTAINLY BETTER SHAPE THAN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS"- >MOST EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS TOLD ME THEY ANTICIPATE SALES TO BE FLAT FROM 2016. THE SLUGGISH FARM SECTOR IS GETTING THE ATTENTION OF LAWMAKERS AS THEY START GATHERING DATA IN ADVANCE OF WRITING THE NEXT FARM BILL. THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE HEARD FROM FIVE KEY AG ECONOMISTS. COMMITTEE CHAIR MIKE CONAWAY SAYS AS THE FARM BILL PROCESS GETS UNDERWAY, THE LEAN ECONOMIC REALITIES MUST BE FRONT AND CENTER. RANKING HOUSE MEMBER COLLIN PETERSON OF MINNESOTA SAYS THE SAFETY NET OF THE FARM BILL IS IMPORTANT WHEN TIMES ARE BAD....LIKE NOW. <"IN MY PART OF THE WORLD, WE HAD SUCH TREMENDOUS YIELDS, AND CROPS AND HARVEST CONDITIONS, THAT IT OFFSET THE LOW PRICES. SO WE’RE NOT SEEING THE KIND OF PRESSURE I EXPECTED WE WOULD SEE AT THIS POINT. BUT IF THESE CROP PRICES STAY WHERE THEY’RE AT AND WE GET AN AVERAGE CROP OR BELOW AVERAGE CROP, WE GOT BIG PROBLEMS."> GROUPS LIKE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU SAY THE LOWER COMMODITY PRICES PUTS MORE PRESSURE ON LAWMAKERS TO GET A FARM BILL WRITTEN AND PASSED.
GROWING DEMAND FOR ORGANIC, NON GMO
CONSUMER DEMAND FOR ORGANIC AND NON-GMO FOODS IS OUTPACING PRODUCTION IN THE U-S. THAT LED TO A SHARP RISE IN ORGANIC GRAIN IMPORTS IN 2016. AND NOW COBANK SAYS FOOD MANUFACTUERS ARE EXPLORING NEW INCENTIVIES TO HELP U-S GROWERS TO TRANSITION TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION. THE REPORT SAYS IN ORDER FOR U-S FARMERS TO SATISFY THE GROWING APPETITE, BETWEEN ONE AND FIVE MILLION U-S ACRES WILL NEED TO BE TRANSITIONED INTO ORGANIC PRODUCTION. A VEGETBALE SHORTAGE IN TEH UNITED KINGDOM IS SPURRING A GROWING HUNGER FOR U-S IMPORTS.
UK VEGETABLE SHORTAGE
ACCORDING TO OUR PARTNERS AT TEH PACKER, A WEATHER-INDUCED VEGETABLE SHORTAGE IN THE U-K IS SPURRING DEMAND FROM U-S SUPPLIERS. THE PRODUCE IN HIGH DEMAND INCLUDES ICEBERG LETTUCE, BROCCOLI, ZUCHINI AND EGGPLANT. THE U-K IS ALSO SEEING A SHORTAGE OF BABY LEAF SALADS, CELERY AND CUCUMBERS. FLOODING IN SPAIN AND SNOW AND COL ACROSS SOUTHERN EUROPE IS REALLY EATING INTO SUPPLY. OFFICIALS SAY THE HARDEST HIT CROPS ARE SEEING 25 TO 50 PERCENT DAMAGE.
WEATHER
FARM JOURNAL REPORT
AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE SHOW, SOME AG GROUPS ARE WORRIED THE TRADE TALKS COULD TURN INTO A TRADE WAR. AND CONSIDERING NAFTA IS SUCH A BIG BOOST TO COMMODITIES LIKE PORK AND BEEF, GROUPS FEAR THAT MOMENTUM COULD WANE. IN THIS FARM JOURNAL REPORT, BETSY JIBBEN LOOKS AT THE BEEF MARKET AND WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS AIMING FOR WITH TRADE RELATIONS. THE U.S. BEEF HERD IS EXPANDING AND THE INDUSTRY IS WANTING EXPORT MARKET ACCESS TO GROW TOO. <"WE HAVE A HUGE VALUE IN OUR EXPORTS. AS MUCH AS 300 DOLLARS A HEAD,"> SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFFICE, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WITHDREW THE U.S. FROM THE TRANS-PACIFIC- PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN 12 PACIFIC RIM COUNTRIES - A BIG BLOW TO THE U.S. BEEF INDUSTRY. <"WAS THE TPP DECISION A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR ANIMAL AGRICULTURE? UNQUESTIONABLY IT WAS,"> <"YOU KNOW I VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP BUT HE WIPED THAT OUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF US,"> JAPAN WAS INCLUDED IN THE DEAL - AND IS ONE OF THE U.S. BEEF INDUSTRY’S BIGGEST BUYERS. NOW INDUSTRY LEADERS ARE ASKING FOR SOME FORM OF TRADE DEAL WITH THE COUNTRY - BECAUSE HIGH TARIFFS ARE A PROBLEM. NCBA SAYS JAPAN’S 38-POINT-5 PERCENT TARIFF ON FRESH AND FROZEN BEEF WOULD HAVE BEEN CUT TO 9 PERCENT WITH THE TPP. <"IF IT’S A BI-LATERAL AGREEMENT, WE CAN SUPPORT THAT, WE JUST NEED IT TO START SOONER THAN LATER BECAUSE EVERYDAY WE DON’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BRING DOWN THAT TARIFF AND TO COMPETE WITH THE AUSTRALIANS, WE ARE LOSING 400-THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY IN OUR ACCESS TO THE JAPANESE MARKET. THOSE ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE LOSSES,"> AUSTRALIA - ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPETITORS WITH U.S. BEEF- SIGNED A BI-LATERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE JAPAN AND PAY A MUCH LOWER TARIFF RATE - GIVING U.S. PRODUCERS A DISADVANTAGE. <"THE CONVERSATIONS WE’RE GOING TO HAVE WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS NOT NECESSARILY CONVINCING THEM THAT TRADE IS GOOD, BUT CONVIVNCING THEM THEY NEED TO WORK AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO GIVE US THE ACCESS WE NEED."> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ALSO VOCAL ABOUT RE- NEGOTATING NAFTA - A TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN - MEXICO CANADA AND THE U.S. . <"ANYTHING THAT GOES AND TWEAKS NAFTA, WE HOPE WE WON’T HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LIVESTOCK ADN BEEF TRADE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE THINK THAT’S GOING EXTREMELY WELL,"> <"FIRST OF ALL, I HOPE WE DON’T TEAR APART NAFTA,"> <"IF YOU LOOK AT THE BEEF AND PORK COMPLEX, THAT CONSITUTES ABOUT 40 PERCNT OF OUR TOTAL EXPORTS FROM THE U.S.,"> SENG SAYS THE U.S. HAS TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GIVE UP A TRADE AGREEMENT WITHOUT SOMETHING TO FILL THE VOID. <"MY FATHER ONCE SAID YOU SHOULDN’T QUIT A JOB UNTIL YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE. I WOULD SAY WE SHOULDN’T QUITE A TRADE AGREEMENT UNTIL WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE IN PLACE. A LOT OF WHAT’S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED HAS BEEN PRODUCTIVE FOR U.S. AG AND WE CAN’T THROW THAT OUT,"> BUT SOME ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RE-OPENING NAFTA SINCE THE PRESIDENT IS ENGAGING IN TRADE TALKS. <"HE HAS STARTED ON EVERY OPPORTUNITY HE’S NOT ANTI-TRADE, HE WAS ANTI-THOSE AGREEMENTS AND PRO-TRADE. LET’S GIVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT,"> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ALSO OUTSPOKEN ABOUT ADDING MORE BI-LATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS. THE U.S. HAS THOSE AGREEMENTS TO SOME COUNTRIES ALREADY IN PLACE. <"IF IT TAKES A BI-LATERAL AGREEMENT, WELL, THAT WOULD BE FINE, IF THAT’S AN EXPANDED MULTI-LATERAL AGREEMENT- WELL, WE’LL BE ENGAGED IN THAT AS WELL,"> REPORTING FOR U.S. FARM REPORT, I’M BETSY JIBBEN. THANKS BETSY. ONE OF THOSE POTENTIAL BI-LATERAL DEALS MAY BE WITH THE U-K. PRESIDENT TRUMP MET WITH PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY IN JANUARY. NCBA SAYS EVEN THOUGH THE UK IS A SMALLER MARKET VOLUME WISE, THEY’RE OPEN TO THE OPPORTUNITY.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
WELCOME BACK. WELL, CRP SEEMS TO BE A MORE ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR SOME PRODUCERS AND LAND OWNERS THIS YEAR. AND THAT’S THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK’S CUSTOMER SUPPORT. NELLIE NEAL HAS A DECISION TO MAKE: “I AM A FARM “OWNER”. I AM CURRENTLY CASH RENTING MY LAND. I CAN PUT THE ACREAGES IN CRP FOR 100 DOLLARS AN ACRE MORE THAN I GET ON CASH RENT. MY CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR 10 YEARS. A LOT OF THINGS CAN CHANGE IN 10 YEARS. DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS I SHOULD CONSIDER?” NELLIE, THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION, AND I URGE YOU TO CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL FARM SERVICE AGENCY TO MAKE SURE ABOUT IMPORTANT DETAILS. THIS IS NOT AN EASY DECISION FOR LANDOWNERS AND FARMERS ALIKE. FARMERS LINE UP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM, WITH SOME WANTING MORE ACRES ENROLLED TO LOWER CROP SURPLUSES AND SOME ARGUING IT LIMITS OPPORTUNITY FOR FARMERS OR PRESENTS UNFAIR COMPETITION. THAT SAID, A MARKET DIFFERENCE OF $100 DOLLARS IS A BIG DEAL. WHILE IT IS POSSIBLE RENTS COULD RECOVER TO MATCH OR EXCEED THE CRP BID, IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO OFFSET THAT LARGE OF A DIFFERENCE, SO THE ECONOMICS CERTAINLY SUGGEST ENROLLING. THE GREATER QUESTION, IN MY OPINION, IS WHAT IS BEST FOR THE LAND. I AM GUESSING THAT THIS LARGE DIFFERENTIAL IMPLIES YOUR LAND IS MARGINALLY SUITABLE FOR CROP PRODUCTION AND THE CONSERVATION BENEFITS ARE CONSIDERABLE, SO GOOD STEWARDSHIP LEANS TOWARD ENROLLING. THE TEN-YEAR DURATION CAN BE SEEN AS CONFINING, BUT IT ALSO LOCKS IN A KNOWN RETURN. IF THAT RENTAL RATE MEETS YOUR FINANCIAL NEEDS, KEEP IN MIND THERE AREN’T MANY SURE THINGS LIKE THAT IN AG THESE DAYS. SOME OWNERS WORRY ABOUT PROBLEMS IF THEY SHOULD SELL OR EVEN DIE DURING THE CONTRACT, BUT IT IS ESSENTIALLY A CASH RENT CONTRACT THAT WOULD STAY WITH THE ACRES SHOULD OWNERSHIP CHANGE. THERE ARE ALSO RULES THAT ALLOW TRANSITIONING CRP ACRES TO BEGINNING FARMERS. THINK OF THE LAND AND THINK OF YOUR WORRY LOAD, AND MAKE THE BEST DECISION YOU CAN. IF YOU DO THAT, I THINK YOU’LL BE SATISFIED WITH THE RESULT.
TEASE
THANKS, JOHN. WHEN WE COME BACK, WE’RE ON THE ROAD WITH MACHINERY PETE WHERE SPRAYERS ARE CATCHING HIS EYE. SO, DON’T GO ANWYHERE.
ON THE ROAD WITH MACHINERY PETE
TEASE
WHEN WE COME BACK, MACHINERY PETE REJOINS US FOR TRACTOR TALES WITH A CLASSIC 42 H FROM THE LONE STAR STATE.
TRACTOR TALES
TRACTOR TALES BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN FARM EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY PETE!. WELCOME BACK TO TRACTOR TALES FOLKS! WE HAVE A CLASSIC 42 H FROM TEXAS TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. THIS JOHN DEERE H HAS MANY YEARS OF COTTON WORK ON ITS RESUME AND IT’S BEEN A FAMILY TRACTOR SINCE THE BEGINNING. TODAY IT MAY BE RETIRED, BUT AT SPEEDS OF JUST UNDER 8 MILES AN HOUR, IT STILL GETS AROUND PRETTY GOOD. WELL IT WAS MY DAD’S. AND I THOUGHT I’D FIX IT UP. IT WAS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE WHEN I GOT IT. BUT IT COME OUT PRETTY NICE. I WANTED IT BECAUSE IT WAS HIS. AND I JUST WANT TO KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY. THAT’S THE REASON I RESTORED IT. HOOD WAS DENTED UP ALL THE WAY DOWN. AND MATHEW KNOCKED ALL THE DENTS OUT OF IT. AND EVERYTHING AND PAINTED IT. AND I DID THE TRACTOR AND OVERHAULED MOTOR IT WAS STUCK, A LOT OF WORK IN IT. WE FARMED ABOUT 150 ACRES OF COTTON AND THAT’S WHAT HE PLOWED THE COTTON WITH WAS THIS RIGHT HERE. BED IT AND ALL. I PLANTED. DID YOU HELP HIM WITH THAT? YEAH I DID WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN HIGH SCHOOL. I THOUGHT IT WAS WORK THEN, BUT NOW IT’S ALL PLEASURE. JUST SHOW IT AND SHOWS. WHAT WE DO WHEN WE FIND THE SHOWS. LOT OF CHRISTMAS PARADES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. COME OUT PRETTY GOOD. AND BEING IN THE FAMILY THAT LONG AND THAT MADE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE.
COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE
TODAY’S COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE GOES TO THE TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH IN PAOLA, KANSAS. FOUNDED IN 1868, IT’S ONE OF THE OLDEST LUTHERN CONGREGATIONS IN THE STATE OF KANSAS. OUR THANKS TO BARRET YOUNG FOR SHARING THEIR STORY. AS ALWAYS WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR HOME CHURCH AS WELL... SALUTES CAN BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS ON THE SCREEN. STAY WITH US - FROM THE FARM PHOTOS ARE NEXT.
FROM THE FARM
MIKE BERDO RECEIVED A SPECIAL VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT THIS WEEK... A NEW CALF! HE SAYS IT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF CALVING SEASON AND THE WEATHER WAS GREAT... WHICH MEANT FOR THE PERFECT DAY. ALLEN STARTED PLANTING IN TEXAS ON FEBRUARY 9. HE SAYS THAT’S THE EARLIEST HE’S EVER PLANTED. RAIN WAS ON THE WAY, SO HE DIDN’T PLANT A LOT OF ACRES YET. BUT IT’S HARD TO BELEIVE THAT THIS YEAR’S PLANTING IS ALREADY UNDERWAY. IT ‘S HARD TO BELIEVE BUT WE’VE HAD SUCH MILD TEMPERATURES MIGHT MEAN IT ‘S ALMOST SCARY HOW WARM IT ‘S BEEN IN SOME PLACE IT’S ALL THE SAME THING, THE BIG STREAM OF MAJOR STORMS COMING INTO THE WEST COAST IS KEEP FLOODING THE WHOLE COUNTRY WITH PACIFIC AIR. SO EVERYTIME THE COLD AIR COMES OUT OF THE ARCTIC YOU GET SWEPT AWAY NOW BUT THERE WEREN’T A LOT OF FORECASTS THAT POINTED TO A MILD WINTER ‘S A WISE AND THROWING EVERYONE OFF. THERE WERE SOME THAT POINTED TOWARD A MILD WINTER BUT THEY DIDN’T POINT TOWARD A WET WEST HIT THE HOSPITAL THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO IS WHAT ‘S I THINK AMAZED EVERYBODY IS IS HOW THAT PATTERN HAS PERSISTED. REALLY MOST OF THE WINTER AND HAS FOR FARMERS WORRIEDAT THIS IN AND I WOULD BE WORRIED JUST BECAUSE OF THAT . IF YOU GET ONE SHOT OF THE REAL COLD AIR AFTER THINGS HAVE ALREADY BUDDED OUT. THAT COULD BE BAD. ALL RIGHT. WELL YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES OR VIDEOS YOU WANNA SEND YOU TO DO THAT TO THE ADDRESS ON THE SCREEN
CLOSE
FOR ALL OF US THAT U S FARM REPORT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN RIGHT HERE NEXT WEEK AS WE WORK TO BUILD ON OUR TRADITION HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE
