TODAY ON U.S. FARM REPORT
MAY 6-7, 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. A WEEK OF WICKED WEATHER... RAIN, FLOODING AND SNOW SOCK THE GREAT PLAINS. TOURING WHEAT COUNTRY, EVEN THROUGH THE SNOW... THIS YEAR IS VERY CHALLENGING SLIGHTLY BELOW THAT. A TALLY FROM KANSAS LEAVES ROOM FOR QUESTIONS. THE AMERICAN COUNTRYSIDE...STOPS IN ILLIONIS FOR A BATHROOM BREAK. IT’S THE CADILLAC OF OUTHOUSES AND IN JOHN’S WORLD...
WHEAT AFTER THE WEATHER
NOW FOR THE NEWS THAT MOVED THE MARKETS THIS WEEK... AND THAT NEWS WAS THE MULTI-FACETED FACE OF WEATHER. WHEAT FUTURES SPIKED EARLY IN THE WEEK, RESPONDING TO AN INTENSE SNOW STORM IN WESTERN KANSAS. AS MUCH AS 18 INCHES OF HEAVY, WET SNOW FELL ON THE CROP THAT NEARLY HALF WAS IN THE HEADING STAGE. THE STORM LEFT ITS MARK JUST AS FIELD SCOUTS WERE SET TO STEP-OFF ON THE ANNUAL WHEAT QUALITY COUNCIL TOUR. THE FARTHER WEST THEY GOT, THE TOUGHER THE CONDITIONS. .THERE’S STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE SIZE OF THE CROP. <"THIS YEAR IS VERY CHALLENGING YEAR... WE RESOLVED TO EIGHTY TO HEAR ANYTHING THAT ‘S A FAIR NUMBER FOR US TO BE AT RIGHT NOW BUT AGAIN DEPENDING ON ONE STREET GOING TO BE IN WESTERN KANSAS AFTER ALL THAT SNOW CAN BE THIRTY FIVE CAN BE READ AND WRITE A LITTLE BARE AS EVER WE ARE AT THREE HUNDRED THREE AND I THINK WE’RE SAFE ASSUMING THEY WERE SLIGHTLY BELOW .> AGAIN THE WHEAT QUALITY COUNCIL ESTIMATE PUTS THE KANSAS WHEAT TOTALS AT282 MILLION BUSHELS THIS YEAR...ALTHOUGH SOME AGRONOMISTS WARN THERE COULD BE A LOT OF VARIABILITY BETWEEN NOW AND HARVEST...DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF ABANDONMENT AND RAINFALL
CROP CONDITIONS
THIS DRONE FOOTAGE FROM EASTERN ILLINOIS REPRESENTS WHAT A LOT OF FARMERS IN THE MIDWEST ARE FACING. LAST WEEKEND’S STORM BROUGHT HEAVY RAIN. AND MORE FELL LATE THIS WEEK. WHILE THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL TABULATIONS, IT’S OBVIOUS MANY FARMERS WILL BE RE-PLANTING THEIR CORN IN ILLINOIS, ARKANSAS, AND MISSOURI. A TORRENT OF FLOODING IN MISSOURI FLOWED INTO NORTHERN ARKANSAS. THE UNIVERSITY ARKANSAS EXTENSION SAYS IT’S TOO EARLY FOR CROP LOSS ESTIMATES. HOWEVER ONE EXTENSION AGENT SAID THE STATE COULD LOSE MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND ACRES OF RICE - THAT’S ABOUT 10-PERCENT OF THE STATE’S CROP. TAKING A LOOK AT CORN PLANTING PROGRESS - AND THIS WAS PRIOR TO THE STORMS - ILLINOIS LEADS WITH 63-PERCENT PLANTED - UP 29-POINTS FROM THE WEEK PRIOR. . INDIANA FARMERS MADE BIG GAINS WITH 45-PERCENT IN THE GROUND UP 30 POINTS. IOWA REACHED 28-PERCENT. WHILE STILL BEHIND AVERAGE IT WAS A 20 POINT PUSH HIGHER. NEBRASKA DOUBLED ITS PLANTING WITH 34-PERCENT. OHIO MADE HUGE GAINS - A 33 POINT GAIN IN ONE WEEK’S TIME. MINNESOTA FARMERS ARE STRUGGLING. JUST 12- PERCENT IS PLANTED. THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE IS 36- PERCENT.
BILZZARD IMPACT ON CATTLE
THE SNOW STORM THAT DAMAGED THE WHEAT CROP ALSO TOOK A TOLL ON CATTLE. AT THIS FARM IN CIMARRON COUNTY, OKLAHOMA MORE THAN 150 HEAD DIED FROM EXPOSURE TO THE BLIZZARD AND MUDDY CONDITIONS. FARMER CLAY CRABTREE SAYS HE MISSING ABOUT ANOTHER 100 HEAD. CRABTREE’S HERD OF 360 HEAD WAS OUT GRAZING ON A WHEAT CIRCLE. SOME OF THE LIVESTOCK STRAYED FIVE-TO-EIGHT MILES AWAY IN THE BLINDING SNOW. CRABTREE SAYS THE LAND WAS ALREADY SATURATED EVEN BEFORE THE STORM... MAKING IT DIFFICULT - IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE - FOR THE STEERS TO SEEK SHELTER. U-S DROUGHT MONITOR RECORDS WERE BROKEN THIS WEEK. THE COLORED AREAS ON THE MAP REPRESENT JUST 14- POINT-THREE PERCENT OF THE CONTINENTAL U-S. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 21-POINT-THREE PERCENT SET IN JUNE OF 2010. IF YOU TAKE OUT THE ‘ABNORMALLY DRY” CATEGORY AND JUST FOCUS ON THE DROUGHT CATEGORIES - THEY COVER JUST UNDER FIVE PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY. THAT DROP BREAKS LAST WEEKS’ RECORD AND A LONG-STANDING RECORD DATING BACK TO 2010. ON INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES - D2 AND D3 INCHED UP THIS WEEK, MOSTLY DUE TO WORSENING DROUGHT ACROSS SOUTHERN GEORGIA AND FLORIDA’S PENINSULA.
WEATHER
THOSE ARE THE HEADLINES...METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN JOINS US NOW...MIKE ALL OF THESE RECENT RAINS HAVE REALLY TAKEN A TOLL ON THE DROUGHT. THAT ‘S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I KNOW IT ‘S AMAZING. ALL THE EXTREME NORTHEASTERN GEORGIA SOUTHERN GEORGIA AND MUCH OF FLORIDA UNDER EXTREME TO SEVERE DROUGHT RIGHT NOW THE REST OF THE COUNTRY ‘S IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY LET ‘S GO BACK A. MONTH WE LOOK AT HOW MUCH MORE YELLOW AND ORANGE IS A RISE ON THIS MAP NOT ONLY INTO THE NORTHEAST BUT MOST OF THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY. WE’VE SEEN THAT JUST GRADUALLY GET EATEN AWAY OVER THE PAST FOUR WEEKS. IT ‘S AN AMAZING CHANGE. THE BAD NEWS IS OF COURSE IT ‘S BEEN BECAUSE OF HEAVY FLOODING RAINS AND NOW WHILE I DON’T SEE NEARLY AS MUCH RAIN THIS COMING WEEK. THERE ARE STILL SOME CHANCES. SO LET ‘S GO THROUGH IT DAY BY DAY IS MONDAY COLD FRONT COMING THROUGH THE NORTHERN PLAINS WAS SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS. THEIR STORM SYSTEM ACTUALLY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SO THE SOUTHWEST GETTING SOME ACTION AND THAT LINGERING SYSTEM THAT WENT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY LATE LAST WEEK WERE STILL SEEN SOME RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOWS OUT THERE OTHERWISE CAN A SCHOOL THROUGH THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY WEDNESDAY. THEN THAT SYSTEM MOVING AWAY NOW THIS LOOKS PRETTY BAD BUT I DON’T SEE ANY WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINS OUT OF THIS. I SEE AREAS OF SHOWERS WITH THE SYSTEM THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY AND OUT WEST WARM OUTLAST MILD IN THE MOUNTAIN AREAS BUT STILL CHILLY TO COOL IN THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY BY FRIDAY. THEN ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM HEADING UP THE NORTHEAST THAT WILL CREATE SOME SHOWERS OUT THAT WAY. COOL CONDITIONS CONTINUE INTO THE SOUTHEAST. SOME KIND OF A STATIONARY FRONT BACK THROUGH TEXAS AND OF THE FOUR CORNER REGION WAS SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS A LITTLE RAIN AND SNOW OUT IN THE NORTHWEST WOMAN BACK IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR. THE LONGER RANGE OUTLOOK THANKS MIKE.
TEASE
WEATHER--A MAJOR DRIVER OF MARKETS THIS WEEK. BUT WE ALSO SAW MAJOR MOVES IN CATTLE AND OIL. WE’LL TALK ABOUT ALL OF THAT WITH CRAIG VAN DYKE AND JOE VACLAVIK AFTER HTE BREAK. VISIT FARM JOURNAL PRO.COM. TRUSTED ANALYSIS, PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT. FARM JOURNAL PRO.COM.
ROUNDTABLE 1
WELCOME BACK TO U S FARM REPORT THIS WEEKEND WE HAVE JOE VACLAVIK IN CRAIG VAN DYKE WILL START OFF BY TALKING ABOUT THIS CATTLE MARKET. BE JUST SOME WILD SWINGS THIS WEEK. WE KNOW LAST WEEK IT WAS REALLY THAT THE CASH MARKET THAT WAS KIND OF LEADING THAT CHARGE OR WHAT IMPACT THE PRICES THIS WEEK??? WE GOT RECORDS BEING BROKEN ALL OVER THIS CATTLE MARKET. THIS WEEK WE’VE SEEN THREE DAYS OF RECORD VOLUME. WE GOT A RECORD OPEN INTEREST. RECORD COMMERCIAL SHORTS. RECORD SPEC LONGS. IF YOU DON’T EXPECT VOLATILITY IN THIS TYPE SITUATION WHEN YOU’RE SEEING THE CASH MARKET MOVE ALL OVER THE PLACE, I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE WATCHING. I MEAN YOU HAVE RECORDS ALL OVER THE PLACE HERE AND WITH CASH MOVING TEN BUCKS THIS WEEK, IN THE MARKET MOVING IN FROM LIMIT UP, WHAT FOUR OR FIVE SESSIONS HERE, LIMIT DOWN HEADING IN THE END OF THE WEEK, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE WE’RE SEEING A CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP AT THIS POINT AS WE START TO SEE THE FUND LENGTH MAYBE MOVE BACK MAYBE TO THE SHORT SIDE. BUT ARE THERE STILL SIGNS AND THERE ‘S STILL EXPECTATIONS THAT THIS CATTLE MARKET WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE HIGHER INTO JUNE? I THINK EVERYBODY’S JUST FLABBERGASTED BY THIS. I DON’T KNOW ANYBODY IN THE CATTLE BUSINESS WE THOUGHT THAT A RALLY OF THIS MAGNITUDE WAS EVENREMOTELY POSSIBLE. I MEAN IT WAS JUST WHAT TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO WE WERE TALKING WALL BEEF AND $80 LIVE CATTLE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND NOW YOU JUST TURNED THIS INTO A TOTALLY DIFFERENT STORY. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE BINS ARE UPSIDE DOWN A LITTLE BIT AFTER THIS MOVE. WHICH IS TO BE EXPECTED WHEN YOU GET A RALLY LIKE THIS THAT JUST NOBODY EXPECTED.SPEAKING OF UPSIDE DOWN AMID A HERD ‘S REPORTS WERE BANKERS NOW ARE ARE STEPPING IN YOU KNOW SO IS SO AS A CATTLE PRODUCER WHAT CAN THEY DO TO MANAGE THIS VOLATILITY???THIS IS NOT AN EASY MARKET TO MANAGE VOLATILITY. THE PROS WILL TELL YOU THAT. I MEAN WE’VE SEEN VOLATILITY BLOW UP MORE RECENTLY. WE HAD A FORTY TO FORTY CENT HUNDRED WEIGHT MOVE IN IN THE FEEDER MARKET IN TWO MONTHS. YOU’VE HAD A TWENTY DOLLARS MOVE IN THE FATS WITHIN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT TIMESO TO MANAGE THAT VOLATILY IS DIFFICULT TO FIT IN MY OPINION RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW IT ‘S PROBABLY NOT A PLACE TO BE BUYING VOLATILITY. I’D RATHER BE SELLING VOLATILITY BUT IT NEEDS THE ACTIVELY MANAGED ESPECIALLY AS SO AS THE MARKET ‘S GONNA CONTINUE TO BE VOLATILE AS WE MOVE OUT OF THESE LARGE POSITIONS AND SPREADS GET A LITTLE BIT MORE BACK TO NORMAL. LOOKING AT THE FUNDAMENTALS AND LOOKING AT EXPORTS OF JOE YOU KNOW WE SAW THE FIRST SHIPMENT OF U S BEEF GO TO BRAZIL THERE ‘S PHOTO PROOF OF IT YOU KNOW BRAZIL RECEIVED THIS FIRST SHIPMENT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS THAT SHIPMAN HAD HAD GONE TO CHINA YOU KNOW THEN WOULD BC ‘S A BIG FIREWORKS IN THE MARKET???WE’VE ALREADY HEARD SOME RUMORS OR SOME CHATTER TO THAT EFFECT THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE IN THE PIPELINE. MAY BE A PART OF THE REASON WHY WE’RE SEEING THIS RALLY. I STILL HAVE YET TO HEAR A REALLY GREAT EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THINGS CHANGED SO QUICKLY. SO MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING UNDER THE TABLE THAT WE HAVEN’T HEARD JUST YET. I DON’T KNOW IF I’D BANK ON IT, BUT IT ‘S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE. IF WE START TO SEE SOME SHIPMENTS GO TO CHINA, WAS THAT DO TO MARKET???WELL LIKE JOE SAID I MEAN THERE ‘S BEEN TALK OF SOME OF THAT HAPPENING. WHAT I’M HEARING FROM FOR BUYERS IS THAT WE’RE SEEING A LARGE INCOME OF DEMAND ON THE BEEF END HERE BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND STARTING TO HEAR MORE FOREIGN DEMAND COMING IN. OBVIOUSLY THE J B S STORYMOVING BE BEEF DOWN TO BRAZIL. THIS FOREIGN DEMAND IF IT PICKS UP AND AS WE’VE SEEN SOME THAT YOU KNOW A FIFTY PERCENT TRIM MAKING HUGE GAINS WITHIN A SHORT AMOUNT TIME, WE’RE STARTING TO SEE THIS PEAK MARKET REALLY PICK UP. WHO WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THREE MONTHS AGO AND SHOW THAT THAT ‘S WHAT WOULD CAUSE PRICE HAVING TO SEE THIS J B S SCANDAL TAKE PLACE MAY REALLY CAUGHT US OFF GUARD. WHAT SPEAKING OF BIG SWINGS. OIL PRICES MY GOODNESS WE SAW HUGE SWINGS IN THE OIL MARKET THIS WEEK WHAT DROVE THAT???? WHERE WE HAD A BIG DOWNDRAFT IN AN OIL BUT IT WASN’T JUST A WHILE IT WAS REALLY KIND OF A BROAD BASED COMMODITY SELL OFF. AND I THINK THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PART OF THE REASON WHY WE SAW SOME WEAKNESS IN THE GRAIN MARKETS MID WEEKCOULD HAVE BLED INTO THE CATTLE MARKET IN THE FEEDER CATTLE MARKET AS. WELL I THINK THE C R B INDEX POSTED ITS LOWEST CLOSE SINCE APRIL OF LAST YEAR. JUST THIS WEEK AS A MATTER OF FACT SO THERE ‘S DEFINITELY SOME BROAD BASED COMMODITY SIDE WHICH IS KINDA INTERESTING WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE DOLLAR ‘S BEEN JUST A LITTLE BIT WEAKER. AND THERE ARE SOME MAYBE POSITIVE UNDERTONES, BUT COMMODITIES IN GENERAL UNDER SOME PRESSURE HERE FOR SURE YET ON THURSDAY THAT ‘S WHEN WE SAW THAT BIG DROP IN OIL MARKET COULD THAT LEAD OVER AND HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR CORN PRICES???? WELL I MEAN THURSDAY IT SEEMED TO BE A BASICALLY A BROAD BASED COMMODITY SELL OFF YOU KNOW THERE WAS TALKS OF CHINESE TIGHTENING CREDIT. AND WE SAW IN IRON ORE FUTURES WERE SAR COPPER WE SAW MEDALS, WE SAW COMMODITIES ACROSS THE BOARD GETTING HIT. I THINK THAT BLED INTO SOME OF THE GRAIN TRAIN THERE ON ON THURSDAY NOTHING FRIDAY IS IS SHOWING THAT YOU KNOW WITH WITH SOME OF THE STRENGTH WERE SEEING INTO THE WEEKEND THAT MAYBE THAT WAS JUST A ONE DAY OF AND RIGHT NOW. SO VOLATILITY. ULTIMATELY IT IS STILL VERY LOW IN THE GRAY MARKET AT A TIME FRAME. WHEN WE’RE SEEING VOLATILITY IN OUTSIDE MARKETS ARE IN AND OUT OF ALL. IT ‘S ALL HERE AS WE MOVE IN THE TWO GROWING SEASON. IN MY OPINION YOU KNOW COULD EVENTUALLY START TO PICK UP PACE ALL RIGHT WELL WAY MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT INCLUDING WE SAW WE TOO ARE IN KANSAS THIS WEEK GOT THOSE RESULTS ARE GENERALLY HELPFUL. WHEAT PRICES AT THE END OF THE WEEK WE’LL GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT WHEN WE COME BACK ON U S FARM REPORT
ROUNDTABLE 2
ALL WELCOME BACK WELL JUST SOME WILD WEATHER THIS WEEK WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT THE TORRENTIAL RAINS THAT WE SAW A LOT OF REPLANTING IT ‘S GOING TO TAKE PLACE PLANTING PROGRESS IS REALLY GOING TO BE STALLED DOES THIS IMPACT ON CROP PRICES???? AND NO IT HASN’T NOT YET. PERHAPS IT COULD IF WE RUN INTO A SITUATION WHERE DELAYS BECOME EXTENDED OR THE MARKET BELIEVES THAT THE CROP IS IN JEOPARDY. CLEARLY THERE IS A MASSIVE FUND SHORT IN THIS CORN MARKET AND THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE CROP IS IN JEOPARDY JUST YET. THEY’RE STICKING THEIR GUNS WITH THE SHORT POSITION AND MAYBE THAT CHANGES SOMETIMES STAND FOR THE MOMENT CORN MARKET ‘S BEEN STUCK IN A TWENTY CENT RANGE FOR THE LAST SIX WEEKS JUST NOT THE NEW FARMERS ARE FRUSTRATED CRAIG BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT TAKES THE MARKET SO LONG TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THESE THESE WEATHER EVENTS AND THESE FARMERS ARE UNDER WATER SAYING HEY CORN PRICES SHOULD BE GOING UP BUT THEY’RE NOT A LIE WHY I THINK I HAD YOU KNOW IT IT COMES TO THAT WE LOOK AT CORN IS ONE ONE MARK IN CORN AT THE OTHER DAY I THINK IT ‘S A BATTLE BETWEEN TO MARKET OLD CROP AND NEW CROWN WE’VE GOT A HEAVY OLD CROP SUPPLY AND I THINK THAT ACTION THIS WEEK HAS ACTUALLY TOLD THE BIGGER STORY THAN WHAT I THINK I’VE I’VE HEARD IN ALL ACROSS THE MARKET CHATTER IS THAT NOW THE MARKET WAITED WE KNEW THE WEATHER WAS COMING AND MARKET WAIT UNTIL MONDAY FOR A REACTION WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF THE CORN SPREADS THE WEIGHT SPREAD ‘S GONNA BE HARD TO SHAKE THOSE SHORTS OUT THERE WE SOME VOLATILITY WE SAW THE SPREAD OF A LITTLE BIT EARLY IN THE WEEK AT THE END OF THE DAY AND IT ‘S TWO DIFFERENT STORYLINES RIGHT HERE NOTHING WHERE WE HAVE A LITTLE TROUBLE DIFFERENTIATING YOU KNOW MOVING FROM THE OLD INTO THE NEW SO IT ‘S TWO DIFFERENT CROP IN MY OPINION WELL. THE STORYLINE IN WEEK THIS WEEK ALL THAT ALL OF THAT SNOWMAN DEFINITELY HURT THE WHEAT CROP WE HAD THIS KID THIS WEEK TO WORK OUT. YOU KNOW I DIDN’T SEE AS MUCH DAMAGE. I GUESS IS IS. IS THIS SOME ANALYSTS THOUGHT AND WE SAW A MAJOR DROP IN WHEAT PRICES ON THURSDAY. DO YOU THINK THAT WE TOO ARE GIVING US AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF WHAT ‘S REALLY OUT THERE I CALLED INCONCLUSIVE BY THE REAL NUMBER THAT THEY PUT OUT FOLLOWING A WEEK TO HER WAS BETTER THAN MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE WAS ACTUALLY I THINK FOR FIVE BUSHELS ABOVE THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE FOR THE FOR THE TOUR BY WHICH I REALIZE THAT A GREAT DEAL OF WESTERN KANSAS THE BIG PROBLEM AREAS ARE NOT SAMPLE THAT THEY HAD IMPASSABLE ROUTES THEY HAD A FIELD THAT THEY CAN GET INTO SO I I CALLED INCONCLUSIVE I THINK IT ‘S STILL GONNA BE SOME TIME TILL WE REALISE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE AND I THINK FOR THE MOMENT THE MARKET IS JUST SETTING BACK SIMPLY AFTER WHAT HAD BEEN VERY VERY SHARP RALLY SO YOU KNOW THAT YOUR THAT YOUR WHEAT CROP IS AND I MAKE IT GO AHEAD. JUST PLOWED UNDER AND PLANT SOMETHING ELSE. COULD THAT IMPACT SILVER OTHER COMMODITIES AND IN OKLAHOMA WERE HEARING THAT THOSE FARMERS LOST EARLIER IN A PLOW THAT PROVENDER IN THE PLANT MORE COTTON EVEN MORE COTTON THEN THAN THEY ORIGINALLY WERE ABSOLUTELY I MEAN AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOU KNOW WHAT THE MARKET IS IS GIVING YOU RIGHT NOW THE COTTON MARKET IS GOOD FOR GROWERS HERE I THINK HE WILL SEE SOME THAT ABANDONMENT IN THOSE AREAS MAY BE SOME MOVEMENT INTO SOME SOY BEANS YOU KNOW THAT THE WII PICTURES REALLY YOU KNOW IT ‘S WE’RE NOT GONNA KNOW THE FULL STORY UNTIL WE REALLY GET MOVING ALONG IN ON ANOTHER COUPLE WEEKS MONTHS OR SO SO I THINK HE WILL SEE SOME ACRES INTO THE COTTON SOME IN SOYBEANS YOU WILL SEE THE ABANDONMENT WE ARE GONNA SEE A REDUCTION IN THE OVERALL PRODUCTION IN KANSAS ON WHETHER OR NOT IT ‘S IN AWE THAT IT ‘S ENOUGH TO MOVE THE OLD CROP AND PROBABLY A PROPER NEED A LOT MORE DAMAGE ACROSS THE WORLD NOR TO GET RID OF THE STOCKS THERE ‘S ATON OF UNCERTAINTY AND MY OPINION WHEN IT COMES TO A SACRED RIGHT NOW JUST ACROSS THE BOARD SO WE HAVE THIS MARCH ARE PLANTING INTENTIONS NUMBER AND THE THIRTY FIRST THE ROW CROP PRICES SOYBEAN ESPECIALLY HAVE FALLEN DRASTICALLY SINCE THE SURVEYS WERE TAKEN SO THAT MIGHT LEAD SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT WELL MAYBE LESS SO I MEAN WE NOW KNOW WHAT SPRING SO MAYBE DOES THAT MEAN WE KEEP A CAP ON CORN ACREAGE IN AND THE BEAN ACRES NUMBER STAYS HIGH NOW YOU GOT THE SITUATIONS WE THERE ‘S ALL A LOT OF SHUFFLING THAT COULD STILL TAKE PLACE ALL THESE ACRES NUMBERS COULD LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT COUPLE MONTHS FROM NOW SO WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO MOVE THE SOYBEAN PRICES HIGHER WHAT DO WE NEED WE’RE AT RIGHT NOW I THINK WE’RE ACTUALLY FINDING SOME DECENT SUPPORT I MEAN WERE COMPETITIVE IN ALL JULY BEANS ARE COMPETITIVE WITH SOUTH AMERICAN SOYBEAN TRAIT AND SELL SOYBEANS RIGHT NOW WE’RE STILL SEEING PHENOMENAL EXPORTS AND THE MARKET SO THE MARKET HASN’T MOVED A WHOLE LOT SINCE THE BREAK WE HAD EARLIER THIS YEAR TO MEET THE SPREADS ARE STARTING SHOW SIGNS OF LIFE AND YOU KNOW I LEAN A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THE FRIENDLY SIDE FOR THE TIME BEING BUT LIKE JOE SAID. I MEAN THE ACREAGE DEBATE IS FAR FROM OVER IN THE NEXT THREE FOUR WEEKS. IS SKIN REALLY START TO DETERMINE JUST EXACTLY WHAT WILL BE PUT IN AND THIS YEAR ARE WELL WHEN YOU TAKE A SHORT BREAK. BUT WHEN YOU GET THE CLOSING THOUGHTS WILL DO THAT WHEN WE COME BACK ON U S FARM REPORT
MARKETS NOW
WELCOME BACK TIME NOW FOR CLOSING THOUGHTS CRAIG VAN DYKE WILL START WITH YOU. VOLATILITY THAT NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT WE HAVE HAD VERY LOW VOLATILITY ENVIRONMENT THE PAST EIGHT TO TEN MONTHS IN BOTH CORN SOYBEANS AND WHEAT. AT THE END OF DAY AS THE PRODUCER DON’T TRY TO PLAY THE VOLATILITY GAME IN TRYING TO SELL VOLUME, LEAVE YOURSELF OPEN FOR OPPORTUNITIES. HISTORICALLY, IT DOES NOT STAY THIS LOW FOR THIS LONG, I’M NOT TRYING TO PROTECT THE A BLOWUP IN VOLUME, BUT WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT, EXPECT IT. SO VOLATILITY RIGHT NOW IN MY OPINION SOMETHING WE WATCH AS WE MOVE INTO THE GROWING SEASON. ALRIGHT, JOE . IN THE GRAIN MARKETS I SEE ESSENTIALLY NO MARKETING OPPORTUNITY FROM A FLAT PRICE STANDPOINT. I THINK CORN AND SOYBEANS ARE CHEAP, I THINK THEY’RE BELOW THE COST OF PRODUCTION . I THINK THAT THERE ‘S STILL A LOT OF TIME TO DO YOUR NEW CROP MARKETING THERE ARE HOWEVER SOME OPPORTUNITIES IN BASIS WHICH IS KIND OF A SEASONAL DEAL DURING PLANTING. I THINK THAT WE’VE SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT IN SOME AREAS OF THE COUNTRY ALSO IN THE SPREADS, IF YOU NEED TO ROLL SPREADS CORN SPREADS ARE PROBABLY AS WIDE AS THEY’LL GET OR EVER DO GET, SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT ALRIGHT, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE THIS WEEK, WE APPRECIATE IT STAY WITH US JOHN PHIPPS JOINS US NEXT
JOHN’S WORLD
WELCOME BACK. I SPENT THE WEEK HOSTING THE ANIMAL AG ALLIANCE EVENT IN KANSAS CITY. AND MUCH OF THAT DISCUSSION CENTERED AROUND COMMUNICATING WITH CONSUMERS. JOHN PHIPPS JOINS TODAY WITH HIS THOUGHTS ON HOW THE AG INDUSTRY IS DOING ON ITS MISSION TO AG- VOCATE. FARMERS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS ON ISSUES FROM ANIMAL WELFARE TO SEED TECHNOLOGY. THE RESULTS OF THESE EFFORTS ARE UNCLEAR, SINCE THERE IS NO LONGITUDINAL EFFORT TO MEASURE CONSUMER BELIEFS OR TRENDS. LONGITUDINAL MEANS USING THE SAME POLLING METHODS REGULARLY OVER SEVERAL YEARS, SO THAT WE CAN COMPARE CURRENT RESULTS TO PREVIOUS ONES. THERE ARE MANY SURVEYS BEING DONE, BUT NO EFFORT IS MADE TO BE CONSISTENT. WE NEED REPEATED, IDENTICAL EFFORTS, LIKE THE PROFARMER CROP TOUR, WHICH TRIES TO DUPLICATE THE SAME ROUTE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUES EVERY TIME. THE RESULT WOULD BE INSTEAD OF A SNAPSHOT OF CONSUMER ATTITUDES, WE COULD BE DISCOVERING HOW THOSE ATTITUDES HAVE CHANGED. BUT CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE OUR ENTIRE FOCUS IF WE WANT TO AFFECT POPULAR TRENDS IN FOOD PRODUCTION. THE DECIDING VOTES ARE INCREASING BEING CAST BY ENORMOUS FOOD PROCESSING COMPANIES LIKE UNILEVER OR MCDONALDS, AND MORE RECENTLY THE MASSIVE INVESTMENT FIRMS LIKE PENSION FUNDS THAT INFLUENCE THE FOOD INDUSTRY. INVESTOR ACTIVISM AT PENSION AND HEDGE FUNDS IS HAVING A BIG IMPACT ON THE ANIMAL ANTIBIOTIC ISSUE, FOR EXAMPLE. PERSUADING BILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT FUND EXECUTIVES IS A MUCH MORE CHALLENGING PROJECT THAN SPEAKING TO SHOPPERS AT A GROCERY STORE OR MEETING. IT WILL REQUIRE A BIG STEP AWAY FROM OUR COMFORT ZONE, AS WELL AS AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT TOWARD THESE FINANCIAL BEHEMOTHS. WE WILL NEED NEW ROUTES TO CONTACT DECISION-MAKERS, MORE RIGOROUS ARGUMENTS, AND ABOVE ALL A BETTER APPRECIATION FOR THE BIG PICTURE OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY. AND THESE DAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT ABOUT THE PLAYERS IN OUR FOOD CHAIN IS JUST THAT: BIG.
TEASE
WELL, I’M THANKFUL I NEVER HAD HTE PRIVLEDGE OF EXPERIENCES AN OUTHOUSE, BUT ANDREW MCCREA TAKES US TO ILLINOIS, AND IT MAY TAKE YOU DOWN MEMORY LANE. A DOUBLE DECKER OUTHOUSE TAKES THE THROWN THIS WEEKEND ON U-S FARM REPORT.
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 THIS WEEKEND. DESPITE PRESSURED PRICES, FARMER SENTIMENTS ON THE AG ECONOMY TICKED HIGHER. PLANTING PROGRESS GETS STUCK IN THE MUD, WITH LITTLE HOPE OF GETTING IN THE FIELD ANYTIME SOON. ANDREW MCCREA SHOWS US THE CADILAC OF OUTHOUSES-- IT’S A DOUBLE DECKER IN ILLINOIS. AND JOHN PHIPPS HAS A TASTE, AND CURIOSITY ABOUT SWEET CORN
AG BAROMETER RESULTS
NOW FOR THE HEADLINES...FARMER SENTIMENT ABOUT THE ECONOMY TICKED HIGHER LAST MONTH. THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE MONTHLY PURDUE-CME GROUP AG BAROMETER. THE READING - BASED ON SURVEYS WITH 400 FARMERS - INCREASED TO 130. THAT’S SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN LAST MONTH, BUT STILL WELL BELOW THE PEAK WE SAW IN JANUARY. AND COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO, POSITIVE SENTIMENTS ARE UP 23-PERCENT. PURDUE’S JIM MINTERT. “WELL I THINK THE BIGGEST SURPRISE ON THIS MONTH’S REPORT IS REALLY THE FACT THAT WE’VE GOT THIS ON GOING INCREASE IN THE CURRENT CONDITIONS INDEX THAT’S REALLY SOME WHAT SURPRISING IN PART BECAUSE IT’S SUGGESTS THAT MANY PRODUCERS SEEM TO FEEL LIKE THE WORST OF THE AG DOWNTURN IS BEHIND THEM AND THAT’S TAKING PLACE DESPITE THE FACT THAT OTHER INDICATORS SUGGEST THAT WE’RE STILL ON A PRETTY DIFFICULT OPERATING ENVIRONMENT. “0 MIN-TERT SAYS THE SURVEY RESULTS CONTINUE TO SUGGEST THAT PRODUCER OPTIMISM IS ROOTED IN THE OVERALL ECONOMIC PICTURE-- MORE THAN EXPECTATIONS FOR BETTER GRAIN PRICES OR REVENUE.
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIAITON SURVEY
THE PICTURE FROM LENDERS--ISN’T QUITE AS OPTIMISTIC. A SURVEY BY THE AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION SHOWS NEARLY 90 PERCENT OF AGRICULTURAL LENDERS HAVE SEEN A DECLINE IN OVERALL FARM PROFITABILITY IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. GRAINS ARE THE BIGGEST CONCERN ACCORDING TO 80 PERCENT OF LENDERS . AG LENDERS IN THE SURVEY SAY THEY ONLY EXPECT ABOUT HALF OF THEIR CLIENTS TO BE PROFITABLE IN 2017. TWO THIRDS OF BANKERS SAY THEY EXPECT THE DEMAND FOR OPERATING LOANS TO KEEP GOING UP.
DEERE/PRECISION MERGER OFF
A MEGA MERGER BETWEEN PRECISION PLANTING AND JOHN DEERE IS OFF THE TABLE. MONSANTO’S CLIMATE CORPORATION OFFICIALLY TERMINATING THE AGREEMENT WITH DEERE MONDAY. FIRST ANNOUNCED IN NOVEMBER 2015, THE CLOSING OF THE ACQUISITION HAS BEEN DELAYED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE COMPANY SAYS IT STILL INTENDS TO SELL THE PRECISION PLANTING EQUIPMENT BUSINESS AND HAS SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL THIRD PARTIES THAT EXPRESSED INTEREST. DEERE SAYS THEY ARE DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS OUTCOME.
USDA AND SCHOOL LUNCH
WHAT DO THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT THAT LUNCH? “THEY SAY IT’S GOOD, BUT THEY’VE GOT SOME SUGGESTIONS WE WANT TO PASS ALONG. A THICKER CRUST ON OUR PIZZA AND MORE SAUCE, RIGHT?” THAT WAS NEWLY MINTED SECREATRY OF AGRICULTURE SONNY PERDUE AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LEESBURG VIRGINA. THE SECRETARY STOPPING BY AS HE ANNOUNCED CHANGES TO SCHOOL LUNCH REQUIREMENTS. THE NUTRITIONAL STANDARD ADJUSTMENT GIVES GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO SCHOOLS ON SODIUM, WHOLE GRAINS AND LOOSENS RULES ON MILK...BRINGING FLAVORED 1 PERCENT BACK TO THE LUNCHROOM. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL MEALS REMAINED INTACT. PERDUE SAYS THE IDEA IS TO GIVE SCHOOLS MORE FREEDOM AND TRUST THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
MEXICAN SUGAR IMPORTS
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SAYS IT INTENDS TO IMPOSE DUTIES ON MEXICAN SUGAR IMPORTS BEGINNING ON JUNE 5, UNLESS THE TWO COUNTRIES CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT OVER WHAT IT CALLS THAT COUNTRY’S UNFAIR TRADING PRACTICES. IT’S PROCESSED SUGAR COMING INTO THE U-S UNDER THE RADAR THAT U-S SUGAR BEET GROWERS SAY IS PARTIALLY PRESSURING PRICES.. MICHIGAN GROWERS TELLING ME PRICES HAVE FALLEN MORE THAN 50 PERCENT IN ONLY A FEW YEARS.
TRADE ISSUES WITH CANADA
ALSO ON TRADE, IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK, AG SECRETARY SONNY PERDUE MET WEDNESDAY WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. HE SAYS THEY’RE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO TRADE ISSUES WITH CANADA. PERDUE CALLING CANADA “OUR LONG TIME FRIENDS” AS HE SEARCHERS FOR ANSWERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. MEANWHILE THOSE FRIENDS TO THE NORTH ARE HOSTING AN “EXPLORATORY” ROUND OF TALKS REGARDING THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP. BLOOMBERG REPORTING CANADA HOSTED SENIOR TRADE OFFICIALS FROM THE REMAINING COUNTRIES IN THE PACT THIS LAST WEEK IN TORONTO. THE ARTICLE SAYS THE TALKS ARE A SIGN THAT CANADA MAY BE LOOKING FOR BUSINESS AWAY FROM IT’S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER AMID DISPUTES OVER LUMBER AND DAIRY.
CALIFORNIA SNOW PACK
THE FINAL SNOW PACK SURVEY IN CALIFORNIA SHOWS IT’S NEARLY DOUBLE ITS NORMAL LEVELS AFTER FIVE YEARS OF HISTORIC DROUGHT. THE WATER EQUIVALENT OF THAT SNOW IS ROUGHLY 42 AND A HALF INCHES ON AVERAGE...ALMOST 200 PERCENT THE TYPICAL MAY FIRST MEASUREMENT. AS TEMPERATURES WARM ALL OF THAT SNOW IS BEGINNING TO MELT. WATER MANAGERS SAY THEY EXPECT PLENTIFUL SUPPLIES...WITH FARMERS GETTING 100 PERCENT OF THEIR ALLOCATIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2006.
WEATHER
THAT’S IT FOR NEWS...METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN JOINS US NOW WITH THE NATIONAL FORECAST...MIKE DO YOU SEE ANY CHANGES COMING TO THE RECENT WEATHER PATTERN WE’VE BEEN IN? UNFORTUNATELY TIME NOT IMMEDIATELY. I MEAN LOOK AT THIS JET STREAM. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. IT ALL FOR THE MONTH OF MAY. BUT THIS IS WHAT WE’RE STARTING OFF WITH THAT SLOW MOVING OR WHAT SYSTEM WE CAME OUT OF THE MISSOURI VALLEY NOW MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHEAST VERY CHILLY WEATHER BACK BEHIND THAT NICE AND WARM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY ‘S CHILLY OUT WEST. SO LET ‘S GO ON THROUGH THE JET STREAM. YOU’LL NOTICE A CHANGE IS LOW BUT THAT RIDGE ‘S JUST CAN I GET CUT DOWN THE HALL AFTER WEDNESDAY THE NEXT CUT OFF HIS BOWLING BALLS INTO THE THE EASTERN ONE AND WE HAVE ANOTHER CUT OFF ALL OVER THE GREAT LIKES BY LATE THIS WEEK AND THAT CHINA SITS THERE WAS SOME CHILLY WET WEATHER ESPECIALLY EAST OF IT AND THEY ARE BIG STORM COMING IN OUT WEST AGAIN SO I DON’T SEE IT AN END TO THIS PATTERN QUITE YET BUT AS WE GO THROUGH MAY AND HAS THAT AND THAT ‘S JUST NOT NORMAL BELOW NORMAL FOR THE NEXT THIRTY DAYS NORTHEAST MUCH OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY OHIO VALLEY TENNESSEE VALLEY FLOOR ABOVE AND THE MIDDLE OF THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE NORMAL AS FAR AS PRECIPITATION ABOVE NORMAL IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ALSO ABOVE NORMAL LOUISIANA TO THE NORTHEAST BELOW NORMAL ONLY IN SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS TYNE THANKS, MIKE.
FARM JOURNAL REPORT
BEFORE UNTIL THE LAST WEEK OR SO, PLANTING WAS ROLLING RIGHT ALONG AND EMERGENCE WAS ON ITS WAY. IN FACT THE LATEST CROP PROGRESS REPORT SAID WE WERE RIGHT ON PACE WITH THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE. BUT IT’S BEEN A LESS THAN IDEAL PLANTING SEASON FOR MANY POCKETS OF THE MIDWEST. NATIONAL REPORTER BETSY JIBBEN TAKES A LOOK IN TODAY’S FARM JOURNAL REPORT. MUCH OF FARM COUNTRY FELT A MASSIVE STORM LAST WEEKEND WHICH SWEPT FROM THE WHEAT TO THE CORN BELT. YET BEFORE THE ODD SPRING WEATHER, USDA SAID CORN PLANTING WAS RIGHT ON SCHEDULE AND SOYBEAN PLANTING WAS AHEAD OF NORMAL FOR THE TOP 18 PRODUCING STATES. IN THIS FARM JOURNAL REPORT, BETSY JIBBEN GETS A PLANTING UPDATE FROM FARMERS ON A STOP AND GO SEASON.. IT’S THE FIRST BREAKDOWN OF THE SEASON ON THE BARICKMAN’S OPERATION. <"A HOSE BUSTED INSIDE THE FRAME OF THE PLANTER,"> YET IT HAPPENED AT A GOOD TIME.. DAYS BEFORE RAIN DROWNED FIELDS IN ILLINOIS. <"WE GOT HEAVY RAINS COMING AND I WANTED TO GET MY PRE EMERGENT DOWN OVER TOP OF THE CORN BEFORE THESE RAINS COME IN,"> MOTHER NATURE DELIEVERED THOSE RAINS- UP TO 6 INCHES IN BARICKMAN’S LOCATION. WHILE THEY ARE OUT OF COMMISSION FOR NOW, THE FATHER-SON PAIR HAD A GOOD START TO THE YEAR. <"MOST PEOPLE ARE 60 TO 70 PERCENT DONE AROUND HERE. SOME PEOPLE ARE COMPLETELY DONE. OTHERS WITH MEDIUM SOILS HAVE BARELY GOTTEN STARTED,"> NORTHEAST NEBRAKA FARMER MATT NELSON IS ONE WHO HASN’T MOVED THE PLANTER AT ALL. <"I HAVE COWS OUT IN PART OF MY FIELD. SO I HAVE PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO BEFORE I GET IN THE FIELD."> HE WAS READY TO PLANT THE END OF APRIL BUT HELD OFF BEFORE 2 INCHES OF RAIN MOVED INTO HIS AREA LAST WEEKEND. HE SAYS FARMERS WHO DID PLANT ARE WORRIED ABOUT EMERGENCE, STANDS AND MAY FACE A REPLANT. <"WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU DON’T HAVE A CHOICE. YOU ROLL WITH IT."> NORTHEAST INDIANA FARMER JIM SMITH HAS YET TO PUT A SEED IN THE GROUND. HE WAS READY THE DAY BEFORE THE RAIN TURNED ON BUT DECIDED TO WAIT. <"THE BIGGEST DEAL IS WE’VE HAD RAIN EVENT THEN ANOTHER RAIN EVENT THAT’S KEPT US OUT OF THE FIELD LONG ENOUGH TO NOT GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED,"> FARMERS WHO HUG THE OHIO BORDER LIKE SMITH NEED A GOOD YEAR. WEATHER HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT IDEAL THE LAST COUPLE OF GROWING SEASONS. AND AS OF TUESDAY, HE RECEIVED ALMOST 4 INCHES OF RAIN IN ELEVEN DAYS. <"WE GOT 2015 WHERE WE ONLY PLANTED 40 PERCENT OF OUR CROP. AND AS WE WERE TALKING, THIS FIELD DIDN’T GET PLANTED. LAST YEAR WE WERE IN THAT MICRO-DROUGHT SO WE DIDN’T HAVE APH YIELDS ON CORN SO WE’RE ANXIOUS FOR A GOOD GROWING SEASON FOR 2017,"> E MAY BE BEHIND BUT NASS SAYS INDIANA IS 45 PERCENT PLANTED WELL AHEAD OF AVERAGE. BUT THERE’S ALSO A CROP IN THE GROUND IN WESTERN IOWA. CRAIG DOUGLA HAS 40 PERCENT OF HIS CORN AND 60 PERCENT OF HIS BEANS PLANTED. HE RECEIVED OVER 2 AND A HALF INCHES OF RAIN LAST WEEKEND - EVEN THOUGH THE SOIL PRFOILE IS FULL, HE HOPES TO GET BACK IN THE FIELD SOON. <"NOW WE JUST NEED IT TO QUIT RAINIGN AND HAVE THE SUN COME OUT AND WARM UP TO 80 DEGREES AND WE’RE READY TO ROLL,"> WHEN WE FIRST CAUGHT UP WITH JOSH SCHUMACHER HE WAS TESTING HIS PLANTER.
TEASE
ALRIGHT WHEN WE COME BACK...JOHN PHIPPS AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT. “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO YELLOW SWEET CORN?”
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
WELCOME BACK. OUR OWN JOHN PHIPPS CONTINUES HIS FOOD INFORMATION MISSION WITH A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER ABOUT SWEET CORN. JOHN. I’VE GOT A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS WEEK’S QUERY - LIKE THE CLEMENTINE DEBACLE: “THIS AFTERNOON WE HAD A BBQ WITH FRIENDS AND OF COURSE HAD CORN ON THE COB. THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN US EVOLVED TO SWEET CORN AND HOW THERE IS ONLY THE “SUPER SWEET” BI-COLOR CORN AVAILABLE. THE LARGE KERNEL YELLOW CORN IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE IN OUR AREA, WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN. DO YOU KNOW THE REASON FOR THIS CHANGE FROM YELLOW TO THE BI-COLOR? COST, STARCH CONTENT, ETHANOL? PERSONALLY ALL OF US LIKE THE LARGE KERNEL YELLOW CORN.” THAT’S FROM BOB & JUDY MIJOLEVIC, TOMAHAWK, WI. AS YOU MIGHT SUSPECT I DON’T DO MUCH REGULAR GROCERY SHOPPING AND THEN ONLY IN ROBOT MODE WITH MY PHONE IN HAND FOLLOWING JAN’S PRECISE INSTRUCTIONS. SO IN ANSWERING THIS QUESTION, I LEARNED A BUNCH ABOUT CURRENT SWEET CORN PRODUCTION. SUPERSWEET VARIETIES DOMINATE MODERN SWEET CORN PRODUCTION DUE TO CONSUMER PREFERENCE AND THE FACT THAT HIGHER SUGAR CONTENT ALLOWS A LONGER SHELF LIFE FOR FRESH PICKED CORN. AS FOR THE BI-COLOR ISSUE, JAN’S ESTIMATE IS 90 PERCENT OF THE SWEET CORN IN OUR KROGER WAS BI-COLOR LAST YEAR. SO IT’S NOT JUST A WISCONSIN THING. I COULD NOT FIND ANY SIGNIFICANT NUTRITIONAL DIFFERENCES. I CAN ONLY GUESS, BUT IF I WERE A GROCERY RETAILER DECIDING HOW MUCH WHITE AND YELLOW SWEETCORN TO BUY, JUST LOADING UP ON BI-COLOR WOULD SEEM A PRETTY EFFECTIVE HEDGE AGAINST CONSUMER WHIMS. ALSO I CAN’T REALLY TASTE MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THREE TYPES. BUT, IN THE PROCESS OF RESEARCHING SWEET CORN PRODUCTION, I FOUND THIS SURPRISING - TO ME ANYWAY - GRAPH. MINNESOTA IS THE #1 SWEET CORN PRODUCING STATE, FOLLOWED BY WASHINGTON AND WISCONSIN. MY SURPRISE IS BECAUSE ALL MY LIFE NEARBY HOOPESTON, ILLINOIS WAS FAMED AS THE HOME OF THE NATIONAL SWEET CORN FESTIVAL. BUT THE CANNING PLANT THERE CLOSED IN 1993, AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PRIMARY DETERMINANT OF WHERE SWEET CORN PRODUCTION IS LOCATED. ) AND NOW I’M HUNGRY. THANKS JOHN--REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT FOR MR. PHIPPS SEND IT OVER TO THE FARM REPORT MAILBAG--AT MAILBAG AT USFR DOT COM.
TEASE
UP NEXT, A HISTORIC LANDMARK FOR (SKID-MARKS.) THIS CENTRAL ILLINOIS TOWN CAUGHT THE EYE--AND THE NOSE OF ANDREW MCRAE. AMERICAN COUNTRYSIDE IS NEXT.
AMERICAN COUNTRYSIDE
LET ME JUST SAY...THANK GOODNESS FOR INDOOR PLUMBING! THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT PROBABLY SHOULD BE LEFT IN YESTERYEAR--INCLUDING THE OUTHOUSE. BUT THESE THRONES OF THE PAST WEREN’T ALL FLUSHED INTO THE SANDS OF TIME. ANDREW MACRAE FOUND ONE SPECTACULAR SEAT STILL STANDING IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS AS HE TRAVELS THE AMERICAN COUNTRYSIDE. GAYS IS A TOWN OF UNDER 300 PEOPLE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THERE ONCE WAS A RAIL LINE HERE AND ONE OF THE BUSINESSES NEXT TO THE TRACKS WAS QUITE IMPORTANT, BOTH THEN AND NOW. (IT WAS A GENERAL STORE WHERE THEY SOLD EVERYTHING BACK IN THOSE DAYS YOU KNOW KIND OF LIKE A SMALL WALMART AND ABOVE THAT GENERAL STORE WERE APARTMENTS AND A CONVENIENCE FOR PATRONS ON BOTH LEVELS.(BACK IN THE 1800S THEY HAD TWO STORY OUTHOUSES TO ACCOMMODATE THE APARTMENTS UPSTAIRS YES, THIS WAS AN UPSCALE PROPERTY WITH AN OUTHOUSE ON BOTH LEVELS. OUTHOUSE KEEPER NANCY GOODWIN SAYS TODAY YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE THE BUILDING THAT ONCE WAS ATTACHED TO THE DOUBLE DECKER PRIVY THAT REMAINS. (THIS IS ON THE ORIGINAL SPOT. THE BUILDING WAS CONNECTED. THIS WHOLE SQUARE WAS A GENERAL STORE. THE GENERAL STORE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, BUT WHEN IT DID, RESIDENTS OF GAYS FOUND THAT THE ATTACHED OUTHOUSE HAD BECOME A REAL RARITY IN THE NATION. SO YOU MAY BE THINKING A TWO-STORY OUTHOUSE SOUNDS GREAT BUT THERE COULD BE A BIG PROBLEM. WHAT IF YOU’RE USING THE BOTTOM STORY AND SOMEONE GOES IN THE TOP STORY? THAT’S A TRAGEDY. FOTUNATELY THEY HAD THOUGHT OF THAT :10) 48:34-48:44 FILE 5684 (WE ALWAYS SAY THAT’S THE SECRET OF THE TOWN IN GAYS WE DON’T WANT TO TELL THE SECRET. BUT THERE IS AN OFFSET WALL SO YOU ARE O.K. ON THE BOTTOM IT’S ALL ORIGINAL ALTHOUGH THE SECOND STORY STAIRS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND THE PIT FILLED FOR SAFETY AND SERENITY. WE GOT A SPECIAL LOOK INSIDE THE HISTORIC OUTHOUSE. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OLD. OH AND ANOTHER THING. THERE’S A MEN’S AND A WOMEN’S. YOU CAN TAKE A PICTURE AND TELL WHICH ONE BUT WHAT MAKES THIS SITE SO UNIQUE IS NANCY HERSELF. SHE LOOKS AFTER THE OUTHOUSE AND EVEN HAS A SMALL BOX WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEAVE THEIR INFORMATION IF THEY COME AND VISIT. (THERE’S CARDS IN HERE AND YOU FILL THIS OUT AND I’LL SEND THEM A POSTCARD. THEY HAVE TO GIVE ME A FULL ADDRESS THOUGH THERE’S NO CHARGE…SHE JUST DOES IT BECAUSE SHE ENJOYS SEEING PEOPLE COME HERE TO GLIMPSE WHAT IS TODAY A UNIQUE PIECE OF HISTORY. AND IN HER HOME, A TREASURE TROVE OF MEMORABILIA SURROUNDING AN OUTHOUSE THAT HAS LITERALLY DRAWN PEOPLE AND MAIL FROM ACROSS THE NATION AND WORLD. (AND THEY’LL SEND ME LETTERS, YOU KNOW, NICE TO KEEP IT, NICE TO KEEP THE HISTORY GOING. JUST LOTS IT IS A UNIQUE STRUCTURE WITH A DEDICATED CARETAKER. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A SPECIAL OUTHOUSE WHEN IT HAS ITS OWN ADDRESS. AND IF YOU THINK A DETOUR TO SEE AN OUTHOUSE IS A LITTLE BIZARRE, JUST JOIN THE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO STOP BY, WRITE NANCY A NOTE AND SNAP A PHOTO. (IT’S JUST A FUN THING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, THEY COME, THEY LAUGH THEY HAVE THEIR PICTURE TAKEN IN IT. WE PUT THE SIGNS OUT. IT’S ON THE INTERNET. THEY SAY HEY LET’S GO LOOK AT IT SO IT MAY SEEM QUIRKY BUT IT IS TRULY A UNIQUE PIECE OF HISTORY. THE DOUBLE DECKER OUTHOUSE. MAN’S GIFT TO TOILET TECHNOLOGY. TRAVELING THE COUNTRYSIDE…IN GAYS, IL…I’M AM.
TEASE
THANKS ANDREW! WHEN WE COME BACK, TRACTOR TALES AND OUR COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE...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. WE HAD SO MANY PICTURES SUBMITTED TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE DECIDED TO SHARE A FEW MORE WITH YOU THIS WEEK. STARTING OFF FROM MOUNT WASHINGTON KENTUCKY, WE HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL 656 TO SHOW YOU. NORM CROWE RESTORED THIS TRACTOR THAT HIS WIFE’S DAD OWNED. NORM’S WIFE IS PROUDLY SITTING ON THIS FAMILY OWNED INTERNATIONAL! GREAT PICTURE NORM! NEXT WE WANT TO SHARE THIS 1944 FARMALL FROM RANDY WILKENING. RANDY SAYS THEY CALL THIS CLASSIC RED M, PINKY 4.0 IN SUPPORT OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS. YOU CAN CHECK THEM OUT ON FACEBOOK, JUST SEARCH FOR “PULLING FOR THE CURE.” FINALLY WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED FARMALL SUPER A FROM PINE PRAIRIE, LOUISIANA. DENNIS BROWN BOUGHT THIS TRACTOR LAST YEAR AND GOT TO WORK ON RESTORING IT. HE LIKED THIS 1953 SUPER A BECAUSE HE AND THE TRACTOR ARE THE SAME AGE! HE TELLS US HE USES IT ALMOST DAILY IN THE GARDEN. THANKS FOR SHARING DENNIS! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHARED A PICTURE ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. WE’LL TRY TO GET TO MORE OF THEM IN THE COMING WEEKS.
COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE
THIS WEEK’S COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE GOES TO THE FLINTVILLE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE SMALL TOWN OF FLINTVILLE, TENNESSEE. IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1867, WHERE THE FIRST SERVICES WERE HELD IN A WOODSHED. THE CHUCH PLANS TO OFFICIALLY CELEBRATE ITS 150TH BIRTHDAY LATER THIS MONTH. OUR THANKS TO DOT HUDSON FOR SHARING THEIR STORY. IF YOU HAVE A HOME CHURCH YOU WOULD LIEK TO SUBMIT, YOU CAN DO SO TO THE ADRESSON THE SCREEN. STAY WITH US, FROM THE FARM PHOTOS ARE NEXT!
FROM THE FARM
WHAT’S CUTER THAN A COUPLE KIDS IN THE FIELD WAITING FOR A RIDE IN THE TRACTOR? WELL, TWO TWIN BOYS, OF COURSE! THIS IS JASON AND LOGAN... THEIR MOM NICHOLE TELLS US THE BOYS ARE 3 AND ONE OF HTEIR FAVORITE PAST TIMES? RIDING IN THE TRACTOR WITH THEIR DAD BEFORE BED. AND SHE SAID THEY JUST LOVE FARMING. HOW CUTE! AND KAYLA LICHTE OF FARM JOURNAL IN IOWA TOOK HER LITTLE DAUGHTER HARPER FOR A TRACTOR RIDE. ALSO, WE WANT TO REMIND YOU ABOUT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP FARMERS AND RANCHERS IMPACTED BY WILDFIRES IN EARLY MARCH. THE MILLION DOLLAR WILDFIRE RELIEF FUND IS BEING BACKED BY THE HOWARD G BUFFETT FOUNDATION AND WILL GO HELP REBUILD MORE THAN 18-THOUSAND MILES OF FENCING DESTROYED THIS SPRING. LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP AT WILDFIRE RELIEF FUND DOT ORG 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.
