TODAY ON U.S. FARM REPORT
JUNE 24-25, 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. DROUGHT TIGHTENS ITS GRIP ON THE NORTHERN PLAINS... ROBBING SPRING WHEAT FIELDS OF YIELD. WHEAT MAY BE LOSING ACRES, BUT COTTON IS GAINING, AND IT’S SPURRING GROWTH IN THIS TEXAS TOWN... <"WE CAN GIN ABOUT AH-THOUSAND BALES A DAY TO 11 HUNDRED BALES A DAY. WE WILL BE DOUBLING THAT,"> THAT’S OUR FARM JOURNAL REPORT. DOES YOUR RURAL INTERNET SEEM TO RUN AT A SNAIL’S PACE? THE PRESIDENT’S INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN COULD GIVE IT A BOOST. AND IN JOHN’S WORLD... < THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD. IS THAT A WIN, LOSE OR A DRAW >
DROUGHT IN HIGH PLAINS
NOW FOR THE MARKET RELATED NEWS, THE DIRE DROUGHT SITUATION IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS ONLY GETTING WORSE. .THE CORN BELT SEEING SOME IMPROVEMENT, BUT MANY AREAS OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS STILL SUFFERING FROM NOT ENOUGH RAIN. DROUGHT NEARLY WIPED OFF THE MAP IN ILLINOIS. 41 POINT IMPROVEMENT IN JUST A WEEK, WITH THE ABNORMALLY DRY EARLY NOW ONLY COVERING 13 PERCENT OF THE STATE. BUT THE HIGH PLAINS NOW SEEING EXTREME DROUGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.. POCKETS OF EXTREME CONDITIONS POPPING UP IN BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. BUT THE WHEAT CROP IN MONTANTA ISN’T TOO PROMISING, WITH 6 PERCENT OF THE STATE UNDER EXTREME DROUGHT. BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA’S GOVERNORS DECLARING EMERGENCY DROUGHT, OPENING THE DOOR FOR AID FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS.
CROP CONDITIONS
IT’S THAT DESPERATE NEED FOR RAIN ROBBING THE SPRING WHEAT CROP THIS YEAR. USDA SAYS SPRING WHEAT IS IN BAD SHAPE IN THE NORTHERN TIER OF STATES, WITH 64 PERCENT OF SOUTH DAKOTA’S CROP RATED POOR TO VERY POOR. 37 PERCENT OF MONTANA’S CROP CONSIDERED POOR TO VERY POOR. MINNESOTA IS THE EXCEPTION WITH 89-PERCENT GOOD TO EXCELLENT. BUT RAINS HELPING OTHER AREAS. STARTING WITH CORN 67-PERCENT IS CALLED GOOD TO EXCELLENT. THE COMBINED TOTAL IS UNCHANGED FROM LAST WEEK. BUT THERE WAS A TWO POINT SHIFT INTO THE EXCELLENT CATEGORY. .A ONE POINT IMPROVEMENT IN THE THREE ‘EYES’. AND MINNESOTA SAW A THREE POINT GAIN WITH 81- PERCENT NOW GOOD TO EXCELLENT. IN THE EAST, INDIANA CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH 45-PERCENT IN GOOD TO EXCELLENT SHAPE. TURNING TO SOYBEANS, 67-PERCENT IS GOOD TO EXCELLENT...A ONE POINT IMPROVEMENT FROM LAST WEEK. 89-PERCENT HAS EMERGED, FIVE POINTS AHEAD OF AVERAGE.
TROPICAL STORM CINDY
FARMERS IN THE SOUTHEAST BRACED THIS WEEK FOR A SLOW MOVING TROPICAL SYSTEM THAT BROUGHT HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN TO CROPS IN THE FIELD. SOME AREAS SAW MORE THAN A FOOT OF RAIN THIS WEEK ACROSS A WIDE AREA--STRETCHING FROM TEXAS TO THE PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA.
USDA HALTING BEEF IMPORTS FROM BRAZIL
USDA HALTING IMPORTS OF FRESH BEEF FROM BRAZIL THIS WEEK. THE AGENCY SAYS IT’S DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, AFTER A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THOSE SHIPMENTS FAILED TO PASS INSEPCTIONS. USDA UPPED ITS SAFETY CHECK IN MARCH AND SAYS THERE ARE RECURRING CONCERNS ABOUT BEEF INTENDED FOR THE U-S. SINCE THAT TIME, 11 PERCENT OF BRAZILIAN FRESH BEEF PRODUCTS WERE REJECTED. THAT COMPARES TO THE 1 PERCENT OF REJECTIONS TEH U-S ISSUED TO PRODUCT FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD.
RENEGOTIATING NAFTA
MEANWHILE, THERE’S NOT A HARD DEADLINE FOR RENEGOTIATING NAFTA. U-S TRADE REPRESENATIVE ROBERT LIGHTHIZER TELLING THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE THE ADMINSTRATIONP LANS TO START RENEGOTIATING NAFTA WITH CANADA AND MEXICO ON AUGUST 16TH, AND LEADERS WANT THOSE NEGOATIATIONS TO MAKE HEADWAY QUICKLY. LIGHTHIZER TELLING SENATORS THAT HE’S NOT IN A POSTION TO COMMITT TO THE STATUS QUO GOIGN ON FOREVER, BUT HE DOESN’T HAVE ARTIFICIAL DEADLINES. BUT HE SAYS HE’S PREPARED TO CONITNUE TO NEGOATIATE UNTIL THEY REACH A HIGH STANDARD AGREEMENT. PORK PRODUCTION HITTING A RECORD HIGH IN MAY. USDA SAYS WHILE AVERAGE LIVE WEIGHTS WERE LOWER, ITS INCREASES IN SLAUGHTER NUMBERS ADDING TO PRODUCTION. PORK TOTALLING 2 POINT 09 BILLION POUNDS LAST MONTH, UP 8 PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR. MILK PRODUCTION ALSO HITTING A NEW MILESTONE IN MAY. USDA SAYS MAY MILK PRODUCTION PER COW HIT A NEW RECORD HIGH FOR THE MONTH, UP 16 POUNDS FROM LAST YEAR. USDA SAYS MAY MILK PRODUCTION ROSE 1 POINT 8 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR, TO 17 POINT 8 BILLION POUNDS.
OIL PRICES
OIL PRICES FALLING TO A 10 MONTH LOW THIS WEEK, MARKING THE BIGGEST FIRST HALF DROP IN 20 YEARS. IT’S THE GLOBAL GUT CONTINUING TO WEIGH ON PRICES. U-S CRUDE FALLING TO 42 DOLLARS A BARREL BREIFLY ON WEDNESDAY. SOME ANALYSTS SAYING PRICES WERE PUSHED TOO LOW, AND NOW BUYERS WILL STEP IN TO DRIVE PRICES HIGHER.
WEATHER
THOSE ARE THE HEADLINES...METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN JOINS US NOW WITH WEATHER... MIKE, SAW SOME MUCH NEEDED RAIN THIS PAST WEEK IN SOME AREAS, BUT TOO MUCH FOR OUR FRIENDS IN TEH SOUTHEAST. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT ESPECIALLY THOSE AREAS THAT HAPPENED TO BE IN THE PATH OF THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM CINDY LOTS OF RAIN THERE YOU CAN SEE THE DROUGHT MONITOR OVER ALL. IT DOES NOT LOOK BAD IN MOST OF THE AREA. OBVIOUSLY THE DAKOTAS EASTERN MONTANA ARE THE WORST AREAS. BUT LET’S GO BACK A MONTH. YOU CAN SEE THE WORST AREAS WERE IN THE SOUTHEAST AT THAT POINT IN FLORIDA ESPECIALLY CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF GEORGIA. OVER THE PAST FOUR WEEKS WE’VE SEEN THIS AREA BASICALLY GO AWAY IN THE SOUTHEAST IN THIS AREA EXPANDING OVER THE DAKOTAS AND EASTERN MONTANA WE’RE ALSO SLIGHTLY CONCERNED MAYBE PARTS OF THE PANHANDLE OF TEXAS INTO WESTERN PORTIONS OF TEXAS THERE AS WELL. SO LET’S LOOK AT THE MAPS THIS WEEK. WE HAVE SOME SYSTEMS MOVING THROUGH. NOTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT’S GOING TO BE WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINS BUT WE DO HAVE A SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THIS COLD FRONT. GREAT LAKES INTO THE NORTHEAST. THIS IS FAIRLY COOL AIR FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IN THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE COUNTRY. STATIONARY FRONT ACROSS FLORIDA BACK INTO TEXAS WITH SOME HIT AND MISS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON VARIETY IN THE SOUTHWEST AS WELL BY WEDNESDAY THEN A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM KIND OF MOVING OFF TO THE NORTHEAST WARM FRONT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS UP AND DOWN THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BACK INTO MONTANA JUST HIT AND MISS VARIETY ALONG THE GULF COAST AREA. NOW HEAT CONTINUES FOR MOST OF THE WEST AND THAT’S GOING TO CONTINUE ON INTO FRIDAY AS WELL FROM SOUTH TEXAS ALL THE WAY INTO THE SOUTHWEST NOT AS HOT AS IT HAS BEEN BUT NONETHELESS PRETTY HOT. HIT AND MISS THUNDERSTORMS SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY A COLD FRONT FOCUSING SOME OF THOSE CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INTO THE NORTHEAST AND ALSO A FEW UP ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER. WE’LL BE BACK IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR WITH A LONGER RANGE FORECAST.
TEASE
THANKS, MIKE. IT’S A BIG WEEK NEXT WEEK WITH USDA SET TO RELEASE ITS’ UPDATED ACREAGE NUMBERS. WE’LL GET ISNIGHT FROM MATT BENEETT AND ELAINE KUBB NEXT.
ROUNDTABLE 1
WELCOME BACK TO U.S. FARM REPORT THIS WEEKEND. TIME TO TALK MARKETS. MATT BENNETT AND ELAINE CUBB WITH ME THIS WEEK. WELL WE ACTUALLY ALL HAD A PRETTY LONG DRIVE THIS WEEK I WENT FROM MISSOURI ALL THE WAY UP ILLINOIS AND INDIANA. YOU CAME FROM SOUTH DAKOTA. YOU CAME FROM THE SOUTH CENTRAL PORTION OF ILLINOIS. SO LET’S GET A LITTLE BIT OF A TOUR. ELAINE I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE DRY UP THERE. HOW DO THE CROPS LOOK PRETTY GRIM. WELL IN CERTAIN POCKETS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA WHERE MORE OF THE CORN COUNTRY AND SOYBEAN HEAVY COUNTRY IT’S NOT AS BAD. BUT I WOULD SAY OVERALL MY PATH HERE WENT FROM VERY DRY VERY BROWN TO NICE AND GREEN. BUT NEVERTHELESS OVERALL I WOULD SAY THE CONDITION OF THE CROPS. YOU KNOW TO THE DEGREE THAT I SAW NATIONWIDE IS SHORT YOU KNOW IT’S IT DOES NOT HAVE THE GROWTH THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE BY THIS TIME OF YEAR. YEAH. ELAINE WHEN I WAS IN ILLINOIS I MEAN EVEN THE SOYBEANS WERE NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT STAND COUNTS WERE NOT GOOD EMERGENCE LOOKED VERY VARIABLE. I MEAN I WAS NOT OVERLY IMPRESSED WITH THAT SOYBEAN CROP THIS YEAR IN ILLINOIS WHERE THE ROUTE WAS ON FRIDAY YOU KNOW WHENEVER WE LOOK AT THE SOYBEAN CROP IT’S GOT A LITTLE BIT LIKE BOTTOM LINE AND THEN THE WEATHER DIDN’T NECESSARILY COOPERATE AND YOU KNOW THERE’S ACTUALLY BEANS AND DRIED DIRT UP TO THIS WEEK IN CERTAIN PARTS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. CORN CROP PRETTY VARIABLE. I THINK YOU KNOW WE’VE HAD A LOT OF REPLANT. THAT’S THAT’S NOTHING NEW. BUT ONE THING THAT I DEFINITELY WANT TO POINT OUT IS MAYBE HAVE STAND COUNTS AND UNIFORM STANDS I MEAN THAT DOESN’T GO AWAY. YES IT’S NICE TO SEE ON MY WAY UP HERE TODAY I SAW A FAIR AMOUNT OF WATER STAND IN THE FIELDS BUT THE FIELDS DIDN’T LOOK ALL THAT GOOD. WHENEVER YOU’RE ON THE INTERSTATE YOU’RE ABLE TO GO OVER AN OVERPASS AND YOU’RE ABLE SEE DOWN INTO THE FIELD. THERE’S A LOT HOLES OUT THERE AND THERE’S A LOT OF UNIFORM AND UNIFORM EMERGENCE. ELAINE THIS WEEK IN THE CONDITIONS REPORT WE SAW CORN CONDITIONS ACTUALLY TICK UP A COUPLE OF POINTS IN THE EXCELLENT CATEGORY AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT LOOK REALLY REALLY GOOD. HOWEVER THE VARIABLE VARIABILITY OUT THERE JUST SEEMS TOO EXTREME TO HAVE A REALLY REALLY GOOD CROP ON OUR HANDS. I MEAN WHAT IS WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS AT THIS POINT. YOU KNOW YOU CAN HAVE A FIELD THAT’S GREEN AND BE CONSIDERED EXCELLENT. SOMEBODY THAT’S COUNTING IT FOR THOSE NUMBERS. BUT TO MATT’S POINT ABOUT THE VARIABILITY OF IT THAT ADDS UNCERTAINTY INTO THE FUTURES TRADING. YOU KNOW IF THIS WAS A DEFINITE DROUGHT AT TASSLING WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SENSE OF HOW THAT AFFECTS YIELDS. BUT WET ROOTS REPLANTING THAT’S A LOT HARDER TO ACCOUNT FOR HOW THAT’S ULTIMATELY GOING TO AFFECT THE YIELD. YEAH AND YOU HAD TO REPLANT A COUPLE OF TIMES I THINK IN YOUR AREA RIGHT. YEAH ABSOLUTELY WE HAD TO REPLANT IN A COUPLE OF TIMES. ONE THING THAT I WOULD POINT OUT I’VE SAID ALL ALONG DUE TO HOW LATE THIS WAS YOU KNOW WE HEARD THIS WEEK THAT THE WEATHER WAS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR JULY 4TH. WELL HOW MUCH CORN WE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE POLLINATE ON JULY 4TH THIS YEAR. VERY LITTLE. I MEAN THIS CROP IS A LITTLE BIT LATER WHICH ALSO LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IF WE DO HIT SOME SORT OF A HOT AND DRY SPELL WE COULD BE IN FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A MAJOR ISSUE. SO I GUESS I’M KIND OF A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED WITH THE MOVE THIS WEEK AND I THINK I WANT TO SEE WHAT THE WEATHER LOOKS LIKE ON THE TWO WEEK FORECAST COMING UP THIS NEXT WEEK. YEAH. SO THE WEATHER. I MEAN WE SAW A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO REALLY DRIVE THE MARKET THAT DRY WEATHER AND CROPS TAKE A TOLL. BUT THEN WE SAW SOME SOME RAIN GO BACK IN THE FORECAST. SO LOOKING ON WEATHER YOU KNOW FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES THAT MAYBE SHORT TERM WE COULD SEE SOME SOME TYPE OF RALLY IN EITHER CORN OR SOYBEANS. THAT WAS ONE HUGE DAY OF SHORT COVERING BY THE SPECULATORS. THEY GOT RID OF YOU KNOW A HUNDRED THOUSAND POSITIONS BUT THEY ARE STILL NET SHORT IN CORN AND SOYBEANS. SO IF WE SAW A WEATHER SCARE COME AGAIN AND AND I WOULD THINK TWO WEEKS FROM NOW OR THREE WEEKS FROM NOW PROBABLY NOT THIS NEXT WEEK BECAUSE EVERYBODY’S GOING TO BE BEARISH GOING INTO THIS ACREAGE REPORT. BUT I THINK THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT YEAH IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WEATHER COULD STILL BE A DRIVER AND IT COULD BE EXPLOSIVE WITH THAT SHORT COVERING EXPLOSIVE POSSIBLY. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS. WELL I FEEL THE SAME WAY I THINK THAT YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GET THE ACREAGE OF THE RIG WHICH COMES IN A LITTLE BIT LESS ESPECIALLY ON CORN IF WE WOULD COME IN IN THE 80 90 89 1/2 RANGE AND THEN YOU WOULD END UP THE FOLLOWING WEEK AS ELAINE IS SAYING YOUR TWO WEEK FORECAST IS HOT AND DRY. I THINK THAT YOU’RE LOOKING AT A PRETTY SERIOUS CHANCE FOR THIS MARKET NOT ONLY TO RECUPERATE WHAT WE’VE LOST BUT TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THAT IS ON CORN. NOW IT DOESN’T CONCERN ME JUST A LITTLE BIT WITH SOYBEAN ACREAGE IF IT GETS OVER 90. COULD THE SOYBEANS BE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANCHOR AS WE’VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE AND PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT. YEAH ABSOLUTELY. BUT BOTTOM LINE IS YOU TAKE ACREAGE AND 89 ON CORN WITH A HOT DRY FORECAST YOU’RE GOING TO GET AN UPWARD MOVE. BUT AFTER THIS WEEK I KNOW WE HAVE VIEWERS OUT THERE FRUSTRATED WITH THE MARKET ACTION FRUSTRATED THAT WE DID NOT SEE MORE LIFE. YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE TO THOSE PRODUCERS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE REALLY DOWN AFTER WATCHING THE MARKET ACTION THIS WEEK. WELL I DON’T KNOW. I MEAN WE DO EXPECT TO SEE AT LEAST ONE GOOD SUMMER RALLY. AND THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT IT’S ALREADY BEHIND US. BUT IF WE’VE ALREADY SEEN IT STATISTICALLY WE HAVE THE EXPECTATION FOR THAT ONE SUMMER RALLY. BUT I STILL THINK IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHETHER I MEAN YOU REALLY GOT TO BE WATCHING YOUR FORECAST TO HAVE YOUR OPINION BE CHANGING DAY BY DAY AS THAT FORECAST CHANGES. ALL RIGHT WELL ACREAGES REPORT WE MENTIONED IT’S COMING UP NEXT WEEK. IT COULD BE A BIG MARKET MOVER. SO HOW SHOULD YOU PREPARE WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT WE’LL ASK MATT BENNETT AND ELA ELAINE COBB WHEN WE COME BACK ON US FARM REPORTS DON’T GO ANYWHERE.
ROUNDTABLE 2
WELCOME BACK TO U.S. FARM REPORT. WELL THIS REPORT COMES OUT ON FRIDAY FROM USDA. I MEAN IT’S LARGELY EXPECTED YOU KNOW THAT WE COULD SEE MAYBE AN INCREASE IN SOYBEAN ACRES. DO YOU THINK WE SEE A BIG JUMP IN THAT ACREAGE NUMBER FROM WHAT WE SAW IN MARCH FROM USDA. I’M STILL AROUND 180 TOTAL BETWEEN CORN AND SOYBEANS. I THINK IN MY OPINION YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE MORE BEAN ACRES AND MUCH MORE CORN ACRES BUT I’M NOT SEEING A GIGANTIC SWITCH BY ANY MEANS. I COULD SEE MAYBE 90 A QUARTER TO 90 AND A HALF ON SOYBEANS. WHEREAS CORN I THINK WILL COME IN BELOW WHERE INTENTIONS WERE BUT NOT SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW LIKE SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED. IF THE SOYBEANS DO GO OVER 90 MILLION ACRES. WHAT TYPE OF MARKET REACTION COULD WE HAVE FROM THAT ELAINE? WE’RE VERY CLOSE TO $9 ON THAT NOVEMBER CONTRACT ALREADY SO IT’S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE WE COULD DIP BELOW $9 WHICH IS AN UNPLEASANT PROSPECT. BUT I THINK MATT’S RIGHT IF WE DON’T SEE MORE SOYBEAN ACRES THAN CORN THIS YEAR WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO SEE IT SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. SO HOW DO YOU PREPARE THEN KNOWING THAT THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD SEE SOME BIG MARKET MOVES FRIDAY WHEN THAT REPORT COMES OUT. WHAT DO YOU DO. WELL ONE THING THAT I WOULD CAUTION PEOPLE TO DO YOU KNOW AHEAD OF HARVEST TIME I NEVER LIKE TO GET OVERLY AGGRESSIVE IF I KNOW THAT I’M NOT MAKING MONEY. SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO BE WORKING ON BREAK EVENS. I TALK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME. BUT YOU KNOW IF I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT I CAN MAKE MONEY AND GO AHEAD AND HEDGE A LITTLE BIT OF MY RISK WHICH A LOT OF PRODUCERS CAN IF THEY OWN ALL OF THEIR FARM GROUND OR IF THEY’RE A LOW DEBT PERSON, ABSOLUTELY I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PUTTING SOME RISK MANAGEMENT IN PLACE. BUT DON’T FEEL LIKE YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING JUST TO BE DOING IT ESPECIALLY IF YOU CAN’T CALCULATE A PROFIT AT THESE PRICE LEVELS. WHAT IF YOU’RE STILL SITTING ON OLD CROP THOUGH AS WELL. AGAIN THAT’S ANOTHER THING THAT WE EXPECT TO SEE IN THE SUMMER IS YOUR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THAT. WATCH YOUR BASIS BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR LOCAL MERCHANDISERS SO THAT YOU KNOW WHEN THEY NEED THAT GRAIN. LET’S TALK ABOUT THESE WHEAT PRICES. WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN SOUTH DAKOTA NORTH DAKOTA MONTANA I MEAN WE’RE HAVING THESE DRY CONDITIONS AND IT’S TAKEN ITS TOLL ON THE WHEAT I MEAN HOW BAD IS IT. IT’S REALLY BAD. IT IS LEGITIMATELY BAD. SO YOU GO OUT IN THE SPRING WHEAT FIELDS RIGHT NOW AND THEY’RE VERY VERY SHORT. THEY’RE AN HARVESTABLE IN MANY CASES. SO THE CROP INSURANCE ADJUSTERS ARE ZEROING OUT FIELDS WHICH MEANS THERE’S ACREAGE LOST AND IT’S NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE. MAYBE SUNFLOWERS BUT AT THIS POINT IT’S REALLY TOO LATE. SO THAT’S WHEAT THAT’S GONE. AND I THINK IT WILL CARRY OVER EVEN INTO THE KANSAS CITY WHEAT MARKET WHERE THEY ARE SEEING PRETTY GOOD YIELDS IN THEIR HARVEST OR VARIABLE YIELDS CERTAINLY BUT PROTEIN WISE YOU KNOW IF WE LOSE THAT HARD RED SPRING HIGH PROTEIN CROP FROM THIS COUNTRY OR LOTS OF IT IT’S GOING TO DRASTICALLY CHANGE THE CASH WHEAT MARKETS. YEAH. AND YOU KNOW WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE THESE PROBLEM POCKETS I MEAN THERE’S A LOT OF THOSE PROBLEM AREAS BUT MATT YOU SAY WHERE YOU ARE IN ILLINOIS I MEAN I KNOW THERE’S PROBABLY NOT A LOT OF WINTER WHEAT ACRES DOWN THERE AT THIS POINT BUT WHAT’S THERE YOU SAY IS PRETTY GOOD. YEAH ACTUALLY IT IS PRETTY GOOD. I MEAN YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT A HUNDRED BUSHEL WHEAT. QUITE A BIT OF THAT YOU KNOW AND IT’S FAIRLY EARLY AND SO IT’S KIND OF NICE FOR SOME OF THESE GUYS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DOUBLE CROP. MOISTURE IS NOT A CONCERN FOR MOST PEOPLE NOW YOU GET NORTH OF ME THERE’S AREAS THAT IS QUITE DRY. BUT FROM WHERE I’M AT. ALL THE WAY THE TIP OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS THERE’S A FAIR AMOUNT OF MOISTURE WHERE I THINK THEY’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET DOUBLE CROP BEANS UP. WELL THERE ARE SOME GOOD STORIES OUT THERE BUT FOR THE BAD STORIES AND ALL THOSE PROBLEM AREAS AND THIS WEEK CROP WHEN YOU THINK IT HITS THE MARKET AND HOW YOU THINK WE COULD SEE THIS MARKET GO? IT’S ABSOLUTELY HITTING THE MARKET. NOW WE’RE SEEING THAT DOUBLE DIGITS YOU KNOW DAILY MOVES IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION THAT’S THERE. BUT IT COULD CONTINUE. SO IN 2008 SPRING WE WENT TO $24 AND I DON’T NECESSARILY THINK THAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND THAT WAS DEFINITELY A BUBBLE RIGHT. BUT EVEN AT THESE PRICES THE 650 LEVEL THAT’S NOT REALLY PROFITABLE IF YOU’RE IF YOU DON’T HAVE VERY MANY OR VERY MANY BUSHELS OFF OF THE FIELD. SO IT’S I THINK IT’S GOT TO KEEP GOING UP. BUT DO YOU THINK THAT IF THE WHEAT DOES CONTINUE TO GO UP THAT IT COULD CARRY CORN WITH IT. OR NO NOT RELATED AT THIS POINT. NOT NECESSARILY I DON’T THINK IT NECESSARILY EVEN CARRIES OVER INTO THE CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET. I MEAN THAT FEED WHEAT MARKET IS JUST NOT SUBSTITUTABLE FOR THAT HIGH PROTEIN STUFF THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE SHORT ON. MATT REAL QUICK. THESE CATTLE PRODUCERS HAVE BEEN ENJOYING A RIDE UP IN CATTLE PRICES BUT WE’VE SEEN SOME FRUSTRATING COUPLE OF WEEKS IN THIS CATTLE TRADE AT THE SAME TIME CHINA PASSED YOU KNOW ACCEPTING GOING TO START ACCEPTING U.S. BEEF BRAZIL BEEF IN THE U.S. I MEAN WE’VE HALTED THAT. DO YOU THINK THAT THESE FUNDAMENTAL REASONS WOULD BE ENOUGH TO CARRY CATTLE PRICES HIGHER. AT SOME POINT. GOING INTO THE CLOSE THURSDAY YOU’RE LOOKING AT 11 OUT OF 13 DAYS LOWER THAN THE LIVE CATTLE MARKET YOU KNOW CAN THESE THINGS TURN THE MARKET AROUND. I THINK THOSE ARE LONGER TERM THINGS THAT COULD TURN THE MARKET AROUND. AS FAR SOME OF YOUR SHORT TERM FUNDAMENTALS IS PRETTY TOUGH TO GET SUPER BULLISH AS FAR AS THE CATTLE MARKETS ARE CONCERNED FOR ME. BUT I THINK LONG TERM THIS CHINESE SITUATION IS FANTASTIC FOR US. I REALLY LIKE HEARING THAT NEWS AND I THINK THAT IT COULD BE VERY GOOD FOR US MOVING FORWARD FOR CATTLE PRICES. CULLING COWS UP AND UP AND IN THE DAKOTA AREA KIND OF WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON CATTLE PRICES. REAL QUICK. YEAH THAT’S LOCALIZED IN THE CASH MARKET I DO HOPE THAT IT DOES STABILIZE BECAUSE I MEAN THE PACKERS HAVE BEEN PAYING BACK WHAT’S HAPPENED TO THEM THROUGH MAY. BUT THE BEEF PRICES HAVEN’T REALLY FALLEN APART SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT STABILIZE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU BOTH. WE’LL GET THEIR CLOSING THOUGHTS. DON’T GO ANYWHERE
MARKETS NOW
WELCOME BACK TO US REPORT THIS WEEKEND. CLOSING THOUGHTS ELAINE? I MAY NOT EXPECT TO SEE A LOT THIS WEEK. WE’VE GOT THAT ACREAGE REPORT COMING UP THE GRAIN STOCKS REPORT ALSO COULD BE BEARISH. SO I THINK YOUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE GOING TO COME LATER. JUST BE PATIENT KEEP WATCHING THE WEATHER. ALL RIGHT MATT. ABSOLUTELY I WANT TO BE PATIENT. YOU KNOW THIS IS A LONG MARKET. WE’VE GOT A LONG MARKETING WINDOW. YOU KNOW A LOT OF GUYS MARKET OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD SO I DON’T WANT TO LET ONE WEEK RUIN MY WHOLE SUMMER. I THINK THAT LONG ON DOWN THE ROAD WE’RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT THESE CROPS ARE MADE OF AND IF WE DON’T HAVE IDEAL WEATHER WE’RE NOT GOING TO HIT TREND LINE YIELDING CORN THIS YEAR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU BOTH FOR MAKING THE LONG HAUL HERE WE APPRECIATE IT. STAY WITH US. JOHN PHIPPS JOINS US NEXT.
JOHN’S WORLD
WELCOME BACK. JOHN THINKS THE PRESIDENT’'S PROMISE TO ALWAYS PUT AMERICA FIRST COULD MAKE WAVES IN THE FUTURE. HE JOINS US FROM THE FARM WITH MORE. .MANY OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS EXAMPLE. YOUR CHURCH NEEDS A NEW ROOF. THE TRUSTEES GET BIDS FROM CONTRACTORS AND WHEN THEY SEE THEM THINK THEY HAVE MISPLACED THE DECIMAL POINT. SO TO RAISE THE NEEDED MONEY, A FUNDRAISING DRIVE BEGINS SOLICITING PLEDGES FROM MEMBERS. THIS TIME-HONORED PROCESS USES PEER PRESSURE TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. THIS FAMILIAR EFFORT IS REASONABLY CLOSE TO HOW THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD WORKS, BUT NOT WIDELY KNOWN, SO WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP BEGAN THE PROCESS OF WITHDRAWING THE UNITED STATES FROM THE PARIS ACCORD, THE CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANT WAS WIDESPREAD. THE AGREEMENT WAS NATIONS VOLUNTARILY DECIDE HOW MUCH THEY WILL CUT THEIR CARBON EMISSIONS AND HOW FAST. WHETHER THE AGREEMENT IS A GOOD IDEA OR NOT, IT HELPS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NOW. JUST LIKE THAT PLEDGE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ROOF, THERE IS NOTHING FOR THE US TO RENEGOTIATE WITH ANYBODY. WE JUST DON’T JOIN IN. THE PACT IS LARGELY SYMBOLIC, BUT SUCH SYMBOLIC AGREEMENTS PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK TO DEVELOP FURTHER COOPERATION BETWEEN NATIONS ON RELATED ISSUES. WITHDRAWAL WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY CHANGE ANY EMISSION REGULATIONS HERE IN THE US OR ABROAD. WHAT IT DOES DO IS PLACE THE US, SYRIA, AND NICARAGUA APART FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD AS WE DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE. IN FACT, IT IS THIS SYMBOLIC DEFENSE OF OUR SOVEREIGNTY THAT MANY FEEL IS IMPORTANT. ALREADY WE ARE SEEING SIGNS OF CLIMATE LEADERSHIP FROM EUROPE AND ASIA IN RESPONSE, AND JUST LIKE THE BIG CONTRIBUTORS TO THE NEW ROOF, THEY WILL GAIN SOME STATUS WHILE THE US WILL BE VIEWED AS LESS THAN A TEAM PLAYER. HOWEVER, FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS HAVE BEGUN TO CONSIDER IF A CLIMATE AGREEMENT WITHOUT THE US MIGHT BE BETTER THAN A CLIMATE AGREEMENT THAT INCLUDES AN UNCOOPERATIVE US. TAKING BACK OUR PLEDGE IS UNWISE IN MY OPINION, BUT IT MAY NOT BE AS CRIPPLING TO THE PARIS ACCORD AS FIRST THOUGHT. THE REST OF THE WORLD COULD MOVE ON WITHOUT US. WHAT I’M WATCHING, HOWEVER, IS IF OUR POLICY OF AMERICA FIRST ENDS UP MEANING AMERICA ALONE. THANKS, JOHN. AND IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS, SEND JOHN A NOTE AT MAILBAG AT U-S FARM REPORT DOT COM.
TEASE
STILL TO COME, MUCH NEEDED MOISTURE THIS SPRING IS HELPING TEXAS FARMERS THIS YEAR, BUT IT’S A BOOST IN COTTON ACRES REALLY DRIVING GROWTH. BETSY JIBBEN TAKES US TO A TEXAS GIN CASHING IN ON THE COTTON CLIMB, NEXT ON U-S FARM REPORT.
HEADLINES
WELCOME BACK TO U-S FARM REPORT THIS WEEKEND. WE HAVE MUCH MORE AHEAD. WITH CLIMBING COTTON ACRES, ONE TEXAS GIN IS GROWING IN A BIG WAY. DICAMBA DRIFT HAS ONE STATE LOOKING AT AN EMERGENCY BAN. IT’S ALSO DRUMMING UP MORE ATTENTION FROM VIEWERS AND JOHN PHIPPS. AND, THIS COWBOY MAY BE USED TO WRANGLING ANIMALS... BUT NOW, HE CAN ADD ALLIGATOR WRANGLER TO THE LIST.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IN IOWA
NOW FOR THE HEADLINES, AS RURAL AMERICA PLEADS FOR BETTER ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND RURAL HIGHSPEED INTERNET, THE PRESIDENT MAKING BIG PROMISES IN IOWA. THE PRESIDENT’S TRIP TO EASTERN IOWA WAS HIS FIRST VISIT SINCE BEING SWORN IN. HE FOCUSED ON INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE AS A WAY TO JUMP-START THE ECONOMY IN RURAL AMERICA. THE PRESIDENT PRAISED IOWA AGRICULTURE AND THREW HIS SUPPORT BEING RURAL HIGH SPEED INTERNET, SAYING IT WILL BE PART OF HIS 1 TRILLION DOLLAR INFRATRUCTURE PACKAGE. THE PRESIDENT ALSO COMMITTING TO INCREASING AG EXPORTS AND LOOSENING FEDERAL REGULATIONS. BUT THE CAMPAIGN-STYLE EVENT ALSO SERVING AS A SEND-OFF TO FORMER IOWA GOVERNOR TERRY BRANSTAD AS HE PREPARES TO REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES AS AMBASSADOR TO CHINA. EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH FOR BRANSTAD TO USE HIS BACKGROUND FROM AN AGRICULTURAL STATE O FURTHER IMPROVE U-S AG EXPORTS TO CHINA.
CHINA ALLOWING U.S. BEEF
THIS MOVE COMES JUST AS CHINA AGREED TO START ACCEPTING U-S BEEF. CHINA STOPPED IMPORTING U-S BEEF FOLLOWING THE B-S-E SCARE OF 2003. THE AGREEMENT CALLS FOR THE ABILITY TO TRACE-BACK THE ORIGIN AND SLAUGHTER OF LIVESTOCK. “GENERALLY SPEAKING WHEN WE LOOK AT TRACEABILITY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MISSING OUT BY NOT HAVING A TRACE BACK SYSTEM ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THINGS RIGHT AND SO PROTECTING AND BEING ABLE TO PROPAGATE AND AND RECOGNIZE PEOPLE WHO ARE MANAGING CORRECTLY ON THE RANCH OF ORIGIN PEOPLE WHO ARE MANAGING CATTLE CORRECTLY IN FEED YARDS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT MARKETING TOOL FOR ABILITY TO PASS INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS”
U.S.-UK TRADE
ALSO ON TRADE, THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE SET TO EXPLORE A POTENTIAL TRADE DEAL FOLLOWING A MEETING OF TRADE OFFICIALS. U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT LIGHTHIZER MET WITH HIS BRITISH COUNTERPART THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS THE GROUNDWORK FOR A POTENTIAL BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S. AND THE U.K., HOWEVER, ANY DEAL WITH THE U.K. CANNOT BE NEGOTIATED UNTIL BRITAIN COMPLETES ITS EXIT FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION IN EARLY TO MID-2019. JUST FOUR PERCENT OF FOOD ITEMS IN THE U.K. ORIGINATED FROM NORTH AMERICA.
SYNGENTA LOSES
SYNGENTA LOSING IN THE FIRST CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER ITS AGRISURE VIPTERA CORN TRAIT.ON FRIDAY, A JURY IN KANSAS CITY SIDING WITH MORE 217 MILLION DOLLARS TO MORE THAN 7 THOUSAND KANSAS FARMERS, REQURIING SYNGENTA TO PAY 217 MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGES. THE FARMERS CLAIMED THEY LOST MONEY DUE TO CHINA REJECTING CORN CONTAINING TEH VIPTERA TRAIT IN 2003.THAT TRAIT WAS NOT YET APPROVED IN CHINA. THIS IS THE FIRST OF EIGHT CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. SYNGENTA SAYS THEY WILL APPEAL THE VERDICT. THE ARKANSAS STATE PLANT BOARD VOTING THIS WEEK TO PUT AN EMERGENCY BAN ON DICAMBA. THIS IS AFTER STATE OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING MORE THAN 200 DICAMBA DRIFT COMPLAINTS, .IN MOST CASES IT’S ALLEGED TO BE DRIFTING FROM NEIGHBORING FARM FIELDS..A MAJORITY OF THE CASES ARE FROM COUNTIES THAT BORDER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WHERE MOST OF THE STATE’S SOYBEANS AND COTTON ARE GROWN.
THE GOVERNOR STILL NEEDS TO APPROVE THE DICAMBA BAN WHICH WOULD BE IN AFFECT FOR 120 DAYS.A PLANT DISEASE THAT’S DEVASTATING THE FLORIDA
CITRUS GREENING
CITRUS INDUSTRY HAS NOW APPEARED IN A NEIGHBORING STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS CONFIRMED CITRUS GREENING HAS BEEN FOUND ON A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ON DAUPHIN ISLAND, SOUTH OF MOBILE. .STATE AND FEDERAL AG DEPARTMENTS WILL NOW DETERMINE HOW WIDESPREAD IT MAY HAVE BECOME. IN FLORIDA CITRUS GREENING SPREAD QUICKLY - REDUCING ORANGE PRODUCTION BY 42-PERCENT SINCE 2005. .OTHER THAN TREE REMOVAL, THERE IS NO KNOWN CURE OR EFFECTIVE CONTROL FOR THE DISEASE ONCE A TREE IS INFECTED.
AVOCADO PRICES
THE RISE OF AVOCADO PRICES IS MAKING THEM A TARGET FOR THEFT. THREE WORKERS IN OXNARD CALIFORNIA WERE JUST ARRESTED AND CHARGED FOR STEALING UP TO 300- THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF AVOCADOS. ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY SHERIFF, THE MEN WERE SELLING THE FRUIT OUT OF A RIPENING FACILITY...FOR ABOUT HALF PRICE. THE MEN WERE CAUGHT ON VIDEO SURVEILLANCE MAKING SALES AND POCKETING THE CASH. A BOX OF AVOCADOS CURRENTLY GOES FOR ABOUT 50 DOLLARS.
STRAWBERRY HARVEST
ND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, A ROBOTICS COMPANY IS A STEP CLOSER TO REMOVING THE HUMAN FACTOR FROM STRAWBERRY HARVEST. HARVEST CROO ROBOTICS STARTED RUNNING FIELD TESTS THIS MONTH ON ITS AUTONOMOUS BERRY HARVESTER, ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY, THE VEHICLE USES 16 PICKING ROBOTS AND SPANS SIX PLANT BEDS, PICKING THE MIDDLE FOUR. A PROPRIETARY VISION SYSTEM SELECTS RIPE BERRIES. ROBOTIC ARMS PICK THE FRUIT AND PLACE IT ON CONVEYOR BELTS. THE BERRIES THEN UNDERGOES AUTOMATIC INSPECTION FOR GRADING.
BROWN COWS AND CHOCOLATE MILK
AN ALARMING NUMBER OF AMERICANS THINK CHOCOLATE MILK COMES FROM BROWN COWS. THAT’S ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY BY INNOVATION CENTER FOR U-S DAIRY. IT FOUND SEVEN PERCENT OF ALL AMERICAN ADULTS BELIEVE CHOCOLATE MILK IS PRODUCED BY BROWN COWS... BREAKING IT DOWN, THAT’S 16 POINT 4 MILLION AMERICANS... THAT’S MORE PEOPLE THAN LIVE IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. WOW. JUST WOW.
WEATHER
IT’S TIME NOW FOR A CHECK OF WEATHER. MIKE, I BET THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE THINK YOU CONTROL THE WEATHER. TYNE THEY PROBABLY DO BUT IF THEY’VE EVER BEEN ON A CAMPING TRIP THAT I’VE TAKEN WITH MY WIFE AND IT POURS ON AND SAY NO I HAVE NO CONTROL WHATSOEVER. HERE’S THE WAY THE JET STREAM LOOKS AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE WEEKEND BIG TROUGH OVER THE GREAT LAKES AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF CANADA. THAT’S GOING TO STAY THERE FOR A WHILE. STARTS TO LET UP OVER THE WESTERN PLAINS THOUGH BY WEDNESDAY AND A LITTLE TROUGH COMING INTO NORTHERN MONTANA AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE RIDGE TRIES TO BUILD IN THE NORTHEAST BUT WE STILL KEEP THIS TROUGH PENIS OVER THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY THE NORTHERN PLAINS ANYWAY AND THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF CANADA. SO THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SEND AT LEAST SOME SHOTS OF COOLER AIR INTO THE NORTHERN TIER OF STATES. HERE’S MY OUTLOOK FOR 30 DAY TEMPERATURES. AND I AM GOING BELOW NORMAL FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. MUCH OF THE GREAT LAKES NORTHERN PLAINS ABOVE NORMAL THE EAST COAST THE GULF COAST AND THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST. PRECIPITATION OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS ABOVE NORMAL FOR MUCH OF THE EAST. AS YOU CAN SEE THERE BELOW NORMAL UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE DROUGHT AREAS OF THE DAKOTAS AND ALSO WEST TEXAS WESTWARD TYNETHANKS, MIKE.
FARM JOURNAL REPORT
USDA IS FORECASTING A BIG COTTON CROP IN THE U.S. WE’LL GET AN UPDATE NEXT WEEK, BUT THEIR MARCH FORECAST POINTED TO 12-POINT-2 MILLION ACRES OVERALL, 21 PERCENT ABOVE LAST YEAR. AND AS BETSY JIBBEN TELLS US, ONE TEXAS GIN IS PREPARING WITH A GOAL OF BECOMING THE LARGEST GIN IN THE UNITED STATES. HE ADOBE WALLS GIN IN SPEARMAN, TEXAS IS GROWING, ALONG WITH TEXAS COTTON ACRES. <"WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO EXPAND TO DO A BETTER JOB, MORE TIMELY OF A JOB OF GINNING THE PRODUCER’S COTTON 57 SO WE JUMPED IN AND BUILT ANOTHER GIN. SOMEONE WAS GOING TO. IT WAS IMMINENT,"> COTTON IS A FAIRLY NEW CROP IN THIS PART OF THE PANHANDLE. IRST BUILT IN 2006, THE GIN IS NOW ADDING ON A 14- POINT-5 MILLLION DOLLAR EXPANSION WITH FOUR NEW LINES AND A PRESS WHICH MAYJUST MAKE IT THE LARGEST IN THE U.S. <"WE CAN GIN ABOUT AH-THOUSAND BALES A DAY TO 11 HUNDRED BALES A DAY. WE WILL BE DOUBLING THAT,"> AND THERE’S POTENTIAL TO ADD ANOTHER PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION FOR EVEN MORE CAPACITY. <"KIND OF THE EXCITING THING ABOUT THAT THE COMBINATION OF THE THREE, IF WE EVER GO ALL THE WAY, WILL BE THE BIGGEST GIN IN THE WORLD,"> <"THE GIN IS EXPANDING FOR TWO REASONS, AN INCREASE IN COTTON YIELDS FROM LAST YEAR AND THE EXPECTATIONS FOR MORE COTTON THIS YEAR,"> KEY EXPECTS A 25 PERCENT INCREASE OF IRRIGATED COTTON AND POSSIBLY 3 TIMES MORE ACRES OF DRYLAND. <"I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY DRYLAND ACRES WE’LL HAVE BUT I GET CALLS EVERYDAY SAYING ‘HEY, I PLANTED 700 ACRES OF DRYLAND AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO COULDN’T EVEN SPELL COTTON LAST YEAR.,"> RYAN JOHNSON IS ONE PRODUCER IN THE PANHANDLE PLANTING MORE COTTON...<"I’LL BE INCREASING, I’D SAY 65 PERCENT,"> USDA’S PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS REPORT ESTIMATES TEXAS WILL SEE A 22 PERCENT INCREASE IN COTTON ACRES THIS YEAR. <"THE ONES SWITCHING LAST MINUTE ARE COTTON GUYS. THEY MAY SAY NOW THEY WANT TO SINCE WE HAVE MOISTURE, IT’S WORTH A TRY,"> <"I THINK WHAT WE’RE REALLY PICKING UP ARE WHEAT ACRES, IRRIGATED WHEAT ACRES. MORESO THAN IRRIGATED CORN ACRES,"> <"PRODUCERS I WORK WITH, ESPECIALLY IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE REGION, THEY DIDN’T PLANT WHEAT, I THINK A LOT OF THEM LOOKED AT CORN AND IT DIDN’T GO IN AS WELL AND THEY SAID HEY, WE’RE GOING TO KICK BACK WITH CORN ACRES. I LOOK AT IT TO BE CLOSER TO 12.5. IT’S A STRETCH BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR IT."> NOT EVERYONE IS SOLD JUST YET. <"AT THE SAME TIME, SOME OF THOSE PLACES THAT ARE PLANTING COTTON WHICH HAVE NOT BEFORE, WE DON’T KONW WHAT THOSE YIELDS ARE GOING TO BE SO THERE’S STILL SOME IFS IN THE MARKET IN TERMS OF IF IT WILL ACTUALLY BE A BUMPER CROP. I THINK IT’S WEIGHING ON THE MARKET A LITTLE NOW."> AS SEEDS GO IN, THERE’S EXPECTATIONS A NEW GIN WILL BUY ACRES FOR YEARS TO COME. <"OUR BIGGEST OBSTACLE IS GETTING NEW GROWERS IS GETTING PEOPLE COMFORTABLE WITH GROWING IT,"> AND THOSE GROWERS HOPE KING COTTON WILL STICK AROUND. <"AT THE END OF THE DAY, I’M GOTTA MAKE MONEY. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF IT’S COTTON, SUNFLOWERS, OR WHATEVER IT IS, I GOTTA MAKE MONEY,"> REPORTING IN SPEARMAN, TEXAS, I’M BETSY JIBBEN. THANKS BETSY. ACCORDING TO USDA’S LATEST CROP PROGRESS REPORT, 50 PERCENT OF THE TEXAS COTTON CROP IS RATED GOOD TO EXCELLENT. GROWERS IN THE PANHANDLE TELLING US FARM REPORT , THERE’S SOME MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE DRYLAND COTTON CROP DUE TO SEVERAL WINDY AND HOT DAYS OVER 100 DEGREES. HOWEVER, PRODUCERS IN WEST TEXAS TELLING US SOME PRODUCERS ARE FILING CLAIMS ON DRYLAND COTTON IN THE AREA BUT IRRIGATED COTTON LOOKS MUCH BETTER. UP NEXT, JOHN PHIPPS.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
EARLIER IN THE SHOW WE TOLD YOU ABOUT A POSSIBLE EMERGENCY BAN ON DICAMBA IN ARKANSAS. BUT THIS WEEK, JOHN FIELDS A QUESTON ABOUT THE RENEWED HERBCIDE FOR WEED CONTROL. TOM ATKINS FROM NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA HAS A COMMENT ABOUT DICAMBA AND 2,4D: “I AM 69 YEARS OLD; WE HAVE BEEN USING BOTH OF THESE PRODUCTS IN OUR FARMING OPS IN NE PA FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THEY BOTH ARE INVALUABLE TOOLS. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE MUST ALWAYS BE ON THE DEFENSIVE REGARDING OUR FARMING PRACTICE BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE “MAY” NOT BE CONSIDERATE OR RESPECTFUL OF OUR NEEDS WHEN THEY DECIDE TO PLANT A VINEYARD IN THE MIDDLE OF DAIRY COUNTRY!” TOM THANKS FOR WRITING. TWO POINTS IN RESPONSE. FIRST, OFF-TARGET HERBICIDES ARE A FORM OF TRESPASS, AND IN MY BOOK PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE TO BE RESPECTED SCRUPULOUSLY. SECOND, LIKE YOU I SPRAYED “BICEP AND BANVEL” AS MY STANDARD WEED CONTROL FOR YEARS, BUT I DID EXPERIENCE BOTH DRIFT AND VOLATILIZATION AND MADE SURE MY NEIGHBORS KNEW I WOULD MAKE THEM WHOLE FOR ANY DAMAGE FROM MY ACTIONS. USING DICAMBA TODAY IS NOT THE SAME THING. HERE IS THE REASON. THE IDEAL TIME TO SPRAY CORN WITH DICAMBA WAS AT 5" OR COKE-CAN-SIZE. SPRAYING BIGGER CORN RISKED DAMAGE TO THE CORN BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH REGULATOR MODE OF ACTION. I REMEMBER CORN TWISTED AND LAYING DOWN, FOR EXAMPLE. AT THAT POINT IN THE SEASON, THERE WERE VERY FEW BEANS OUT OF THE GROUND IN NEIGHBORING FIELDS, SO THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY WAS MINIMAL. THE PROBLEM TODAY IS WE’RE TALKING ABOUT FAR MORE ACRES BEING SPRAYED WITH FAR MORE DICAMBA WHEN BEANS ARE NOT IN THE EARLY VEGETATIVE PERIOD, BUT WELL INTO FLOWERING AND POD SET. AT THAT STAGE, SERIOUS YIELD HITS ARE POSSIBLE. MY GUESS IS THIS ISSUE WILL BE HEAVILY INFLUENCED, IF NOT DECIDED, BY LAWSUITS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. DICAMBA IS A POWERFUL TOOL BADLY NEEDED FOR RESISTANT WEEDS, BUT IF WE EXPECT OTHERS TO RESPECT OUR PROPERTY RIGHTS, WE MUST DO THE SAME. THANKS, JOHN. AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR JOHN, JUST SHOOT HIM AN EMAIL AT MAILBAG AT U-S FARM REPORT DOT COM.
TEASE
WHEN WE COME BACK, IT’S A LITTLE COWBOY HUMOR WITH BAXTER BLACK.
BAXTER BLACK
IT’S TIME NOW TO HEAD OUT WEST TO VISIT BAXTER BLACK. THIS IS THE STORY OF A CURIOUS. WHO LIVED ON MR. MARVENS FARM IN THE KINGDOM OF KANSAS. HER NAME WAS YVONNE. FARMER MARV HAD A GREAT LARGE OLD FASHIONED BARN WITH A SECOND STORY HAY MOW A HIGH PITCHED ROOF AND A ROOSTER A WEATHER VANE ON THE TALLEST PEAK. YVONNE WAS PIDDLING AROUND IN THE BARNYARD. ONE FINE DAY DOING HER HOOVES AND TRYING TO FIND HER CUTICLES AND CURLING HER SWITCH. HOW DID THAT ROOSTER GET UP ON TOP OF A BARN. SHE WONDERED. WELL SAID PEGGY HER BEST HAND FRAN. I SUPPOSE HE WAS. HE COULDN’T FLY YOU KNOW BECAUSE THE POULTRY PROTECTION LEAGUE MADE IT ILLEGAL FOR US TO FLY HIGHER THAN A CHICKEN WIRE FENCE. SAID CURIOUS COW AS SHE WANDERED INTO THE BARN. LET’S SEE. SHE WALKED TO A STEEP SET OF WOODEN STAIRS. YOU CAN’T GO UP THERE SAID FRIEND HAN. BECAUSE COWS CAN’T. HOP. I WONDER MUSED GIOVANNI AND SHE CLATTERED UP THE STEPS LIKE A MOUNTAIN GOAT AND THEN WALKED TO AN OPEN DOOR. YVONNE HAD NEVER SEEN THE FARM FROM THIS HIGH. IT WAS THEN THAT FARMER MARV CAME OUT AND YVONNE’S SAW HIS MOUTH MAKING OHHHH. YVONNE AND PEGGY WATCHED AS THE MEN BUILT A LONG RAMP OUT OF PLYWOOD. WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT IS FOR WONDERED THE CURIOUS COW. MAYBE IT’S A SKI JUMP FOR THE KANSAS BARNYARD OLYMPICS SUGGESTED PEGGY. PEGGY WAS WRONG. IT TOOK TWO MEN TO PUSH AND SHOVE LIVAN TO THE DOOR OVER THE EDGE AND DOWN THE SLOPE AND WHEN THEY TOSSED FRIEND HIM OUT AFTER SHE WAS HEARD TO SAY I CAN FLY I CAN. AND THAT IS THE STORY OF THE CURIOUS COWL. WHICH UNLIKE OTHER FAIRY TALES IS TRUE BECAUSE I SAW THE VIDEO. THIS IS BACK. MR. MARV FROM OUT THERE. THANKS, BAXTER. AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE OF BAXTER’S HUMOR ONLINE, VISIT BAXTER BLACK DOT COM.
TEASE
WHEN WE COME BACK, MACHINERY PETE JOINS US TRACTOR TALES WITH A SPECIAL OLIVER COLLECTION. ...PLEASE STAY WITH US.
TRACTOR TALES
TRACTOR TALES BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN FARM EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY PETE!. WELCOME BACK TO TRACTOR TALES FOLKS! THIS WEEK WE’RE GOING GREEN WITH AN OLVER 770 FROM NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS. SOME TRACTORS HAVE SENTIMENTAL REASONS FOR COLLECTORS BECAUSE IT WAS OWNED BY THEIR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS. GAIL GOODELL HAS THIS OLIVER IN HIS COLLECTION FOR ANOTHER REASON, THAT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT. I LIKE IT AND I DON’T LIKE IT. I LIKE IT BECAUSE. IT’S A NICE TRACTOR. BUT I DON’T LIKE IT. BUT AGAIN THE TYPICAL OLIVER WHINE AND THE TRANSMITION IN GEARS. THIS WAS A NEIGHBOR’S TRACTOR. WHEN HE PASSED ON I BOUGHT IT FROM HIS ESTATE. HE BOUGHT IT NEW AND IT’S NOT A SPECIAL OLIVER BUT IT’S SPECIAL TO ME. BECAUSE IT WAS MY FRIENDS WHEN HE HAD IT. IT WAS A IT WAS THE MAIN TRACTOR. HE. TILLED THE GROUND HE PLANTED. HE PULLED THE CORN PICKER HAULED MANURE WITH IT. IT WAS BASICALLY HE HAD HIS BIG TRACTOR YOU KNOW. OH I PUTA CLUTCH IN IT A VALVE JOB. GOT IT READY TO PAINT. I’M NOT A PAINTER BUT I’VE GOT IT NEARLY READY TO PAY. AND JUST DO THE. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON WATER PUMPS THE WHEEL BEARINGS JUST THINGS TO KEEP IT RUN. I TAKE IT ON A TRACTOR DRIVES QUITE OFTEN. SO THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO STAY HERE HOPEFULLY. I HAVE A SON AND A DAUGHTER. I HOPE ONE OF THEM WILL GO. BUT BECAUSE. THIS THIS THAT I BOUGHT FROM VERY SPECIAL TO THOSE KIDS. WATCH THEM GROW UP SO I DON’T I CAN’T SAY WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO DO BUT I SUSPECT IT’S GOING TO STICK AROUND FOR A WHILE. I DON’T WANT IT SO GOOD THAT I CAN USE IT BUT I WANT IT GOOD ENOUGH TO LOOK AT AND IT’S NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT AND I DON’T INTEND TO HAVE IT PERFECT BECAUSE THEN I’D BE AFRAID TO USE IT.
COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE
TODAY’S COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE GOES TO... ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, LENA WISCONSIN. THEY JUST CELEBRATED 125 YEARS OF GROWING IN FAITH. SET IN THE MIDDLE OF A A FARMING COMMUNITY. IT’S KNOWN AS THE LITTLE WHITE CHURCH OUT IN THE FIELD. EVEN TODAY THERE’S NO INDOOR PLUMBING BUT PATRONS SAY IT DOES HAVE A WELL MAINTAINED OUTHOUSE! THANKS TO THE FOLKS OVER AT ST. MARKS FOR SHARING THIS HISTORIC MILESTONE WITH US. 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
WELCOME BACK. WELL, WHILE SOME OF OUR VIEWERS ARE STILL WAITING ON RAIN, OTHERS SEEING THEIR FAIR SHARE. JUDIE SAYS THEY HAD STRONG STOMRS IN CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN LAST WEEK... EVEN SEEING 6 TORNADOES. WITHIN TWO DAYS, THEY WERE HAMMERED WITH 2 AND A HALF INCHES OF RAIN. SHE SNAPPED THIS PICTURE JUST BEFORE THE STORMS HIT. SOME STRONG STORMS ALSO POPPING UP ACROSS SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN THIS WEEK. RYAN TOWNER CAUGHT THESE FIERCE CLOUDS ABOVE THE SOYBEAN FIELD NEXT TO HIS HOUSE. BUT AREA FARMERS DID GET SOME MUCH NEEDED RAIN... THE CROPS REALLY NEEDING A DRINK. A 10-FOOT ALLIGATOR HAS A NEW HOME AFTER COMING TOO CLOSE TO SOME CALVES IN EAST TEXAS. IT ALL STARTED WHEN HAL CONOVER OF HAWKINS, TEXAS NOTICED THAT AN ALLIGATOR HAD BROKEN INTO A PEN WHERE HE WAS WEANING CALVES. . AN ALLIGATOR HUNTER WAS CALLED IN TO CAPTURE THE CRITTER. THEY USED SOME GOOD OLE FASHIONED COWBOY SKILLS TO LASSO THE GATOR. AT ONE POINT, THE ALLIGATOR BIT ONE OF THE WRANGLER’S FINGERS BUT THERE WAS REPORTEDLY NO LASTING DAMAGE. . EVENTUALLY, THE MEN GOT THE ANIMAL INTO THE BACK OF A LIVESTOCK TRAILER. HE WAS TRANSPORTED AND RELOCATED TO A GATOR FARM. IF YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF VIDEO YOU’D LIKE TO SEND IN, SEND THOSE TO MAILBAG-AT-U-S-FARM-REPORT-DOT- COM OR CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
CLOSE
FROM ALL OF US AT U.S. FARM REPORT, 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.
