TODAY ON U.S. FARM REPORT
SEPTEMBER 16-17, 2017
WELCOME TO U.S. FARM REPORT. I’M TYNE MORGAN, AND HERE’S WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON FOR YOU FOR THE NEXT 60 MINUTES. THE WRATH OF HURRICANE IRMA SHOWING UP ON TEH FLOOR OF CITRUS GROVES. < WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON AND ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE; AGRICULTURE GETS LOST IN THE MIX."> WHY CITRUS GREENING IS MAGNIFYING THOSE LOSSES. ANOTHER SHOCK TO THE MARKET BY USDA.. < NOW WE’RE SITTING HERE WITH MORE SUPPLY AND EEALING WITH HOW WE ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT SUPPLY> WILL DEMAND KEEP UP MOVING FORWARD? JOE VACLAVIK AND JIM BOWER HAVE ANSWERS. CAN A FARM BILL GET WRITTEN IN 2017? THAT’S OUR FARM JOURNAL REPORT. AND IN JOHN’S WORLD
U.S. FARM REPORT - BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEPENDABLE, LONG LASTING, CHEVY SILVERADO.>
USDA REPORTS
NOW FOR THE NEWS THAT MOVED THE MARKETS THIS WEEK, USDA SHOCKING THE MARKET AGAIN, RAISING CORN, SOYBEAN AND COTTON PRODUCTION IN ITS SEPTEMBER REPORT. BUT THE NEWS DIDN’T KEEP PRICES DOWN LONG, WITH SOYBEANS AND CORN TRADING IN THE GREEN THE NEXT DAY. USDA PROJECTS THE NATIONAL CORN YIELD TO HIT 169.9 BUSHELS PER ACRE, THE THIRD LARGEST CORN YIELD ON RECORD. THAT’S 0.4 BUSHELS ABOVE THE AUGUST ESTIMATE, AND 1.7 BUSHELS PER ACRE ABOVE THE PRE-TRADE ESTIMATE. THE HIGHER YIELD FORECAST ALSO BOOSTING PRODUCTION, WITH USDA FORECASTING PRODUCTION TO REACH 14.2 BILLION BUSHELS. T T’S A SIMILAR STORY FOR SOYBEANS, WITH USDA BUMPING THE YIELD UP TO 49.9 BUSHELS PER ACRE, A 0.5 BUSHEL INCREASE FROM LAST MONTH, WITH RECORD SOYBEAN ACRES PLANTED THIS YEAR, USDA ESTIMATES TOTAL PRODUCTION TO HIT A RECORD 4.43 BILLION BUSHELS, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE AGENCY’S AUGUST ESTIMATE OF 4.38 BILLION BUSHELS. PROFARMER’S BRIAN GRETE CALLING IT A REPEAT OF THE AUGUST REPORT. < NOW WE’RE SITTING HERE WITH MORE SUPPLY AND EEALING WITH HOW WE ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT SUPPLY, OF YOU LOOK AT THE CARRYOVERS, NEW CROP CARRYOVER IT INCREAES THE PROJECTED SUPPLY FOR 17-18, THE END OF THAT MARKETING YEAR, BUT ON SOBEANS, WE HELD STUDY WITH WHAT CARRYOVERWAS LAST MONTH, SO DESPTEI TEH BIGGER CROP ESTIMTES, USDA OFFSET THAT WITH ENOUGH USE EQUIAL IT OUT, AND WE END WITH A STEADY CARRYOVER NUMBER THERE>
COTTON CROP
AND SOUTHERN FARMERS ALSO SEEING AN IMPRESSIVE COTTON CROP, WITH USDA FORECASTING COTTON PRODUCTION TO REACH 21.8 480-POUND BALES, WHICH IS 6 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE AUGUST FORECAST AND 27 PERCENT ABOVE LAST YEAR HOWEVER, USDA CAUTIONING THAT THE YIELD AND PRODUCTION IMPACT OF THE RECENT HURRICANES ARE STILL LARGELY UNKNOWN AND NOT REFLECTED IN THE RECENT REPORT. USDA ALSO NOTING THE AGENCY WILL NEED MORE TIME TO ASSESS HOW MANY ACRES WONT’ BE HARVESTED AFTER THE DAMAGE FROM HURRICAE HARVEY AND IRMA. SO NASS WILL RELEASE ADDITIONAL HARVESTED ACREAGE INFO IN THE OCTOBER REPORT.
AG EXPORTS
IMPRESSIVE AG EXPORTS IN 2017 IS HELPING THE INDUSTRY BREAK THE TREND OF TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF DECLINING EXPORT VALUES. USDA FORECASTING 139 POINT 8 BILLION IN EXPORTS FOR 2017, UP 10 POINT 2 BILLION FROM 2016. USDA CITING AN IMPROVED GLOBAL ECONOMY AND WEAKER U-S DOLLAR. BUT USDA’S INITIAL 2018 FORECAST POINTING TO EXPORTS FALLING HEADING INTO 2018, WITH A PROJECTED 700 MILLION DOLLAR DECLINE IN AG EXPORTS IN 2018.
ANSWERING THE CALL FOR CLEAN AIR, CHINA ANNOUNCING PLANS TO IMPLEMENT MORE ETHANOL INTO ITS GASOLINE SUPPLY, MOVING TO E10 BLENDS BY 2020. THE E10 MANDATE COULD CREATE A BOOM FOR U-S ETHANOL, CONSIDERING CHINA IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST CAR MARKET, AND CURRENTLY RANKS NUMBER THREE FOR FUEL ETHANOL CONSUMPTION. PETER MEYER OF S&P GLOBAL PLATTS SAYS THIS MAY BE ONE ANSWER TO MOVING CORN MARKETS HIGHER DOWN THE ROAD.
MEYER CAUTIONS THE BIGGEST UNKNOWN IS CHINA’S DOMESTIC ETHNAOL PRODUCTION CAPACITY. BUT HE THINKS IF CHINA LOOKS TO THE U-S TO HELP MEET DEMAND FOR THE ETHANOL MANDATE, HE THINKS IT INITIALLY WILL BE IN THE FORM OF ETHANOL, BUT SPILLING INTO CORN SHIPMENTS AFTER THAT.
HOG PRICES FALLING
HOG PRICES FALLING TO AN 11-MONTH LOW THIS WEEK. THE DROP LINKED TO SHARP DROP IN CASH MARKETS. IT’S NO SECRET THE PORK INDUSTRY IS DEALING WITH RECORD SUPPLIES. BUT EVEN WITH TWO NEW PORK PROCESSING PLANTS COMING ONLINE, THOSE PACKERS AREN’T COMPETING HEAVILY FOR PRICE.
THOSE ARE THE HEADLINES...METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN JOINS US NOW WITH WEATHER... MIKE, REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IRMA FINALLY MOVING OUT. ANY OTHER HURRICANES OR TROPICAL STORMS ON YOUR RADAR? THANKS TYNE WELL WE’RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH JOSE IT’S BEEN KIND OF MEANDERING IN THE ATLANTIC OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. EAST COAST HAS TO AT LEAST PAY ATTENTION TO IT. HERE’S THE WAY THE DROUGHT MONITOR IS SHOWING UP WE’RE SEEING DRIER CONDITIONS ACROSS MOST OF THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. AND SEE THAT FROM WESTERN INDIANA WEST WE’RE GOING BACK FOUR WEEKS WASN’T NEARLY AS MUCH IN THIS AREA. THERE WERE SPOTTY AREAS IN IOWA AND NORTHERN MISSOURI AND IT WAS WORSE IN EASTERN MONTANA WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA BUT THAT HAS ACTUALLY GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND WE’VE SEEN SOME RAIN JUST IN THE PAST FEW DAYS WHICH WILL TAKE SOME MORE OF THIS AWAY NEXT WEEK ONCE WE SHOW THE DROUGHT MONITOR ONCE AGAIN. SO THAT COULD BE SOME GOOD NEWS. LET’S GO DAY BY DAY THIS WEEK. WE DO HAVE A COOL FRONT COMING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY OHIO VALLEY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. NOW THIS IS STILL MILD AIR BEHIND IT NOT NEARLY AS CHILLY AIR AS WE’VE SEEN RECENTLY HOT IN THE SOUTHEAST WARM BUT NOT AS HOT AS YOU’VE SEEN IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. NOW GOING TOWARD WEDNESDAY THE FIRST SYSTEM IS MOVING OFFSHORE AGAIN. WE’RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH EXACTLY WHERE JOSE IS. BUT HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATING MOST OF THE GREAT LAKES INTO THE MID-ATLANTIC. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS UP AND DOWN THE CENTRAL PLAINS STATES WITH THIS NEXT SYSTEM THAT’S GOING TO BE PRETTY SLOW TO MOVE EAST. SEE IT JUST MOVES A LITTLE BIT BY FRIDAY INTO THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES WITH SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. OTHERWISE SOME STATIONARY FRONTS KIND OF SETTLING UP THERE. THE HEAT CONTINUES IN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND IT’S STILL PRETTY WARM IN THE EAST AS WELL. WE’LL CHECK YOUR LONGER RANGE FORECAST COMING UP IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR. THANKS, MIKE. WE SHOWED YOU THE NUMBERS, BUT WHAT COULD THE LATEST USDA REPORT MEAN FOR PRICES? JIM BOWER AND JOE VACLAVIK JOIN ME NEXT.
ROUNDTABLE 1
ROUNDTABLE 2
ABACK TO US FARM REPORT. WELL BIG NEWS OUT OF CHINA THIS WEEK IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD SEE AN ETHANOL MANDATE WITH CHINA MOVING TO E10 BLENDS AND THERE ETHANOL. NOW IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THAT’S THE GOAL KIND OF IS 2020. SO IN YOUR MIND JIM HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS IT TO THE MARKETS TODAY.
WELL I WAS IN JACKSON HOLE WYOMING HERE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS AGO AND I NOTICED THE LARGE NUMBER OF TOURISTS THERE AND THE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE FROM CHINA. AND OF COURSE THAT’S A PRISTINE LOCATION IN AMERICA. AND THEY SEE HOW CLEAN THINGS ARE AND HOW PRISTINE THINGS CAN BE IF YOU MANAGE IT CORRECTLY. THOSE PEOPLE ALL GO BACK TO CHINA WITH THEIR FAMILIES. THEY THINK BACK HOW NICE IT WAS HERE AND THEY LOOK AT THE SMOG THE POLLUTION THE CARBON EMISSIONS THE DIRTINESS OF AIR POLLUTION. AND SO THERE’S A MAJOR MOVE ON NOW INSIDE CHINA TO GO MORE TOWARDS ELECTRIC CARS AND MORE TOWARDS ETHANOL PRODUCTION AND USAGE RIGHT NOW THEY’VE GOT ABOUT 10 PLANTS BEING UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT. THEY’LL BE ON LINE HERE OF VISIT AND THERE’S TALK THEY MAY GO AS HIGH AS ANOTHER 35. PLANTS OR MORE BY THE YEAR 2020 WHICH THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LONG WAYS AWAY. BUT WITH THAT KIND OF PRODUCTION IT TELLS ME THAT THEY VALUE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE USE OF CORN SURPLUSES AND TRY TO BASICALLY FORMULATE IT TO SOMETHING THAT HELPS THE COUNTRY. RIGHT. BUT DO YOU THINK THEY’RE GOING TO COME TO THE U.S. TO MEET SOME OF THOSE NEEDS. I MEAN WHETHER IT BE ACTUAL CORN SHIPMENTS OR ETHANOL SHIPMENTS JOE HOW DO YOU THINK THIS IMPACTS US. LONG TERM IT’S VERY GOOD IT’S VERY POSITIVE IT’S VERY CONSTRUCTIVE CONSTRUCTIVE FOR CORN DEMAND. WHAT ARE THE BALANCE SHEETS WORLDWIDE GOING TO LOOK LIKE THREE OR FOUR YEARS FROM NOW. I’M NOT SURE. SO I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE U.S. BUT ON A GLOBAL BASIS JUST FOR CORN DEMAND IN GENERAL I MEAN IT’S AN OBVIOUS POSITIVE SHORT TERM IT’S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO DO A WHOLE LOT TO HELP US BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE JIM WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND WE WE’VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO MOVE CORN PRICES HIGHER. WELL IT’S GOING TO INCREASE DEMAND AS WE CONTINUE TO PROVE THAT WE CAN PRODUCE SOME IMPRESSIVE YIELDS HERE IN THE U.S.. SO IS IT SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT LONG TERM THEN IS REALLY GOING TO BE THE ANSWER TO OUR OVERSUPPLY HERE IN THE U.S.. WELL AGAIN I GUESS IT’S YOUR DEFINITION OF WHAT’S LONG TERM THAT’S KIND OF A HARD THING TO ANALYZE AS FAR AS A TRADER BECAUSE THINGS MOVE SO FAST IN OUR WORLD. BUT AGAIN I THINK IT’S A POSITIVE THING. IT CAN HELP. WE COULD USE ANOTHER GLOBAL SURPLUS AND THAT’S THE AMERICAN FARMERS AND FARMERS WORLDWIDE HAVE BECOME VERY EFFICIENT. YOU KNOW WE HEAR ABOUT TRADING. WE HAVE VERY FEW CLIENTS ANYMORE WHO AREN’T WHO AREN’T THAT WAY NOW 15 20 YEARS AGO. SOME OF THEM WEREN’T THAT GOOD OF MARKETERS. BUT WE REALLY DON’T HAVE ANY BAD MARKETERS NOW IN OUR PORTFOLIOS BECAUSE THEY BECOME SO EFFICIENT SO IT’S JUST ANOTHER FORM OF EFFICIENCY. BUT IT’S GOING TO ANOTHER PART OF THE WORLD AND IT’S GOING TO BE I THINK IT’S GOT TO BE GOOD LONG TERM FOR US. OK. LONG TERM BUT SHORT TERM WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CURRENT SUPPLY SITUATION WE LOOK AT THE CURRENT CARRY OVER. I MEAN WE’VE GOT A LOT OF STOCKS OUT THERE. SO WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO MOVE PRICES HIGHER. MORE SHORT TERM LET’S SAY KIND OF PAST HARVEST VERY SHORT TERM YOUR BEST BET IS THAT THE YIELDS ARE LIGHT AND THAT USDA IS WRONG ON THE NUMBERS AND I’M NOT SAYING THAT THAT’S THE CASE. I’M SAYING THAT’S HER BEST BET FOR A MUCH DIFFERENT HIGHER MARKET. I MEAN I THINK YOU CAN EXPECT SOME SORT OF POST-HARVEST EVENT. THAT’S USUALLY THE CASE. YOU KNOW ONCE WE FLUSH OUT SOME SOME CASH GREEN INTO THE SYSTEM AT LOW PRICES THAT’S WHEN YOU GET YOUR CHANCE TO RALLY YOU KNOW AFTER OCTOBER 1ST SO I THINK THERE’S THERE’S LIMITED UPSIDE POTENTIAL FOR THAT SORT OF EVENT. AND IF THE YIELDS ARE RIGHT THEN IT COULD BE A GAME CHANGER BUT I’M NOT READY TO SAY THAT. I DO. I’M WATCHING WE YOU KNOW WE’VE KIND OF FORGOT MARKET IN A CERTAIN SENSE BUT YOU KNOW WE’D THERE’S SOME THINGS HAPPENING IN THE MARKET ACCEPTED THAT GUY I WOULD CALL IT A NEGATIVE REPORT. IT ACCEPTED THAT STARTED TO PERFORM BETTER. BUT WE’VE GOT MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH DROUGHT AND HEAT IN AUSTRALIA. MAJOR PROBLEM. WE’VE GOT MAJOR PROBLEMS IN ARGENTINA WITH TOO MUCH WATER AND NOW BRAZIL’S TOO DRY. SO I THINK I THINK DOWN THE ROAD WE MIGHT BE THE SLEEPER IN THE WHOLE MARKETPLACE. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT WHEAT WOULD CHANGE THE TUNE AND TALK ABOUT WHEAT BEING A SLEEPER OF THE MARKET BUT LEAN HOG CONTRACT SWITCHING GEARS SAW WHEN CONTRACTS HIT IT HIT AN 11 MONTH LOW WE KNOW WE ARE FACING THIS OVERSUPPLY SITUATION. DO YOU SEE THAT CHANGING ANYTIME SOON. NO IT DOESN’T LOOK THAT WAY. IT LOOKS PRETTY BAD. WE HAD KIND OF A REVERSAL AT THE END OF AUGUST AND A LOT OF TIME SEASONALLY YOU’LL SEE A RALLY AFTER THAT LATE AUGUST TIMEFRAME. AND IT LOOKED LIKE THAT WAS THE CASE NOW GIVEN BACK THAT RALLY VERY QUICKLY. SO IT’S WE’RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET. WE NEED TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK BUT WE’RE GOING TO GET THEIR CLOSING THOUGHTS. WE’LL DO THAT WHEN WE COME BACK. U.S. CARMEN.
MARKETS NOW
COME OUT TO GET THE CLOSING THOUGHT JIM, WE’LL START WITH YOU. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY UNUSUAL YEAR. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU CAN BE RIGHT ONE MINUTE WRONG. DEAD WRONG THE NEXT MINUTE, IT’S BEEN THAT KIND OF THAT KIND OF MARKET. A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH USDA REPORTS YOU KNOW BEING SO MUCH HIGHER WITH YIELD THAN WHAT THE TRADE EXPECTED. SO AS WE SAID EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM THE MARKETS GOING TO FIGURE OUT REAL QUICK HERE NOW AND THE NEXT TWO TO THREE WEEKS WHETHER THAT YIELD IS THERE OR NOT. SO MY FEELING IS PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THAT AND MAKE YOUR MARKETING DECISION BASED UPON THAT. OK JOE I WILL RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE, AND I’LL SAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN VERY NORMAL IN THAT WE PUT IN A SUMMER HIGH, WE FIGURED OUT THAT THE CROPS ARE BIGGER THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT. WE’VE SEEN THIS STORY MANY MANY TIMES BEFORE. BIG CROPS GET BIGGER. THAT’S WHAT WE SAW FROM USDA IN SEPTEMBER. SO JUST REMEMBER THAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A BAD TIME OF YEAR IN REGARD TO PRICE HISTORICALLY. HOPEFULLY LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL WITH SOME KIND OF POSTL SERVICE. WE APPRECIATE IT. LET’S TAKE A BREAK AND JOHN PHIPPS JOINS US NEXT.
JOHN’S WORLD
AS INFRASTRUCTURE CRUMBLES ACROSS THE COUNTRYSIDE, WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO FIX? HERE’S JOHN PHIPPS. LAST MONTH, THE MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION DENIED PERMISSION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MAJOR NEW POWER TRANSMISSION LINE ACROSS THE STATE. ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE COMMISSIONERS APPROVED OF THE PROJECT A RECENT COURT RULING DECLARED THE BUILDERS MUST GET PERMISSION COUNTY BY COUNTY AS WELL, WHICH IT DID NOT HAVE. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS UNCLEAR. POWER LINE FIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HYPER-LOCAL. MOST OF US DON’T CARE IF THERE IS ONE BUILT NEXT DOOR TO US AS LONG AS IT’S NOT IN OUR FIELD. GIVING FINAL SAY TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS USUALLY THE KISS OF DEATH TO SUCH PROJECTS. IN FACT, THE LONG DEBATED KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE IS HUNG UP WITH SIMILAR COURT CASES. THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT DELAY HAS BEEN HELPFUL, SINCE THE FRACKING BOOM HAS LARGELY ELIMINATED THE DEMAND FOR CANADIAN TAR SANDS OIL, GREATLY REDUCING THE NEED FOR THE PIPELINE. REGARDLESS OF YOUR POSITION ON SUCH PUBLIC PROJECTS AND HOW GOVERNMENT SHOULD REGULATE THEM, THESE LENGTHY DISPUTES SUGGEST ONE REASON WHY OUR MUCH-LAMENTED INFRASTRUCTURE IS SO SLOW AND EXPENSIVE TO IMPROVE. IT ALSO IS A WAKE-UP CALL TO THE IDEA THAT PLACES THAT HAVE A LOT OF WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY, BUT LITTLE DEMAND, LIKE KANSAS OR OKLAHOMA CAN REALIZE THE FULL PROFIT POTENTIAL OF WIND AND SOLAR FARMS. THE POWER IS NEEDED ON THE COASTS, NOT THE GREAT PLAINS. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF STUBBORN PEOPLE BETWEEN THOSE PLACES. THE SAME HASSLES PLAGUE ROADS AND AIRPORTS AND OTHER PROJECTS - CHANGES TO THE LANDSCAPE WILL IMPACT PEOPLE WHO WON’T LIKE IT. AND OUR LEGAL SYSTEM GIVES THEM CONSIDERABLE POWER TO RESIST. FOR OUR POWER GRID, THIS STUMBLING BLOCK TO PROGRESS MAKES ME LEAN TOWARD A MORE DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM. THIS MEANS SOLAR ROOFS AND BATTERIES IN THE GARAGE RATHER THAN ACRES OF SOLAR PANELS IN THE DESERT OR MORE WIND FARMS ON THE PLAINS. WHILE LESS EFFICIENT, SUCH SMALL STAND-ALONE INSTALLATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE MUCH COOPERATION. PLANNING OUR NATIONAL FUTURE THEN NEEDS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OUR INDIVIDUAL VISIONS OF THAT FUTURE ARE NOT WIDELY SHARED, AND NEEDED COOPERATION WILL BE SLOW IN ARRIVING. MORE AND MORE, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE ALL IN THIS ALONE.
TEASE
THANKS, JOHN. STILL TO COME, HURRICANES RIPPING AWAY HARVEST READY CROPS. SO, JUST HOW BAD IS THE DAMAGE IN TEH CITRUS BELT? WE HAVE THE NUMBERS AFTER THE BREAK.
HEADLINES
WELCOME BACK TO U-S FARM REPORT. WE HAVE MUCH MROE AHEAD. IT’S A CITRUS CATASROPHE AS FLORIDA GROWERS FEEL THE WRATH OF HURRICANE IRMA. FINESSING A FARM BILL IS A MAJOR TASK FOR LEGISLATORS. BUT CAN IT GET FINISHED IN 2017. WE’RE ON TEH ROAD TALKING TILLAGE TRENDS IN MINNESOTA. AND IN CUSTOMER SUPPORT , JOHN HELPS US NAVIGATE NAFTA.
NOW FOR THE HEADLINES, THE CITRUS BELT IN FLORIDA FEELING THE PUNHCES FROM HURRICANE IRMA, WITH FARM FAMILIES NOW FACING WEEKS OF REBUILDING, REPAIRING AND REPLANTING. INFORMAL ESTIMATES PUT TOTAL AG LOSSES IN THE BILLIONS FLORIDA SENATORS BILL NELSON AND MARCO RUBIO ASSESSING THE DAMAGE IN THE CITRUS BELT, WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN DEVESTATED ORANGE GROVES THIS WEEK LOOK AT THE PICTURES OF THE DEVESTATION IN GROVES, WITH NEAR HARVEST READY FRUIT RIPPED FROM TREES. EARLY ESTIMATES POINT TO 60 PERCENT OF GREEN FRUIT WAS KNOCKED OFF CITRUS TREES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. LOSSES MAGNIFIED INT EH STATE BY ALREADY DRASTIC PRODUCTION REDUCTIONS FROM CITRUS GREENING. “DEVASTATING HURRICANE AND WE LOST THE MAJORITY OF THIS YEAR’S CROP BUT COMPARED TO 10 YEARS OF HLB (CITRUS DISEASE) THAT REALLY HAS TAKEN YOUR PRODUCTION, YOUR CROPS...” “WE’VE BEEN CUT IN HALF ON A PRODUCTION LEVEL BECAUSE OF DISEASE; THIS CUTS THAT HALF IN HALF.” FLROIDA’S FARMERS ADN RANCHERS WORKING TO RESTORE PRODUCTION, WITHOUT POWER AND ROADS UNAVIGATBLE. ANOTHER ISSUE IS STANDING WATER, NOT ONLY IN GROVES BUT CATTLE RANHCES.
FLORIDA RANKS SECOND IN THE U.S. FOR VALUE OF VEGETABLE PRODUCTION. FARM BUREAU SAYS FARMERS WHO ALREADY PLANTED FALL VEGETABLES, INCLUDING TOMATOES, ARE FACING A NEAR TOTAL LOSS. USDA ANNOUNING SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR FARMERS ADN RANCHERS IN BOTH HURRICANE IRMA AND HARVEY’S PATH EXTRA TIME TO REPORT DAMAGE.
MILK PROCESSORS TO KEEP UP WITH SUPPLY TRENDS
U-S MILK PROCESSORS WILL NEED AN ADDITONAL 27 BILLON POUNDS OF CAPACITY OVER THE NEXT DECADE TO KEEP UP WITH CURRENT SUPPLY TRENDS. COBANK SAYS PROCESSORS SIMPLY DON’T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO KEEP UP WITH PROUDCTION GAINS. EACH YEAR, U-S DAIRY FARMERS PRODUCE3 BILLION MORE POUNDS OF MILK THATN THE YEAR BEFORE... AND PRODUCTION GROWTHIS OUTPACING PROCESING CAPACITY.
WEATHER
THAT’S IT FOR NEWS...METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN HAS A LONGER-RANGE LOOK AT WEATHER. MIKE, TALKS OF LA NINA ENTERING THE WEATHER CONVERSATION. WITH A 55 TO 60 PERCENT CHANCE, WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? TYNE, IT BASICALLY MEANS MOST COMPUTER MODELS ARE SHOWING A LAN NINA COMING ON AND OTHERS NOT QUITE SO MUCH. NOW IF THAT DOES HAPPEN WE’RE KIND OF THINKING COOLER IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND WARMER IN THE SOUTHEAST. BUT AGAIN THAT’S A LONG WAY OFF. BEFORE WE START LOOKING AT WINTER LOOK AT THE JET STREAM RIGHT NOW. AND TOTAL FLIP FLOP FROM WHAT WE’VE SEEN FOR MOST OF AUGUST AND EARLY SEPTEMBER. INSTEAD OF THE RIDGE OUT WEST AND THE TROUGH AND EAST WERE GOING BACKWARDS WHICH MEANS THE HEAT IN THE EAST AND THE COOLER WEATHER OUT IN THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY AND THAT CONTINUES RIGHT THROUGH THIS WEEKEND. AS YOU CAN SEE SO WE’RE KIND OF SETTLING IN FOR THE LONG TERM TEMPERATURES OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS. I’M GOING ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE GREAT LAKES MID-ATLANTIC NORTHEAST NEAR NEAR- NORMAL WHICH IS STILL WARM FOR THE SOUTHEAST BELOW NORMAL FOR THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ROCKIES. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE AS FAR AS A 30 DAY OUTLOOK FOR PRECIPITATION IS CONCERN ABOVE NORMAL IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS IN MONTANA. THAT’S GOOD NEWS THERE. ABOVE NORMAL MID-ATLANTIC AND THE SOUTHEAST ONLY BELOW NORMAL AREA WEST TEXAS IN NORTHERN MEXICO. TYNE THANKS, MIKE.
FARM JOURNAL REPORT
AS CONGRESS PUSHES THROUGH IT’S FALL SCHEDULE THE AG INDUSTRY IS WATCHING CLOSELY TO SEE IF SEVERAL MAJOR AGENDA ITEMS MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE FLOOR. THAT INCLUDES A NEW FARM BILL. CLINTON GRIFFITHS SPOKE WITH AG LEADERS ABOUT THE FARM BILL AND THE POSSIBLITY OF IT GETTING DONE THIS FALL. WELL I GREW IN WEST TEXAS SO I’M ETERNALLY OPTIMISTIC JUST BY NATURE SO LATE THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR HAS BEEN THE TIMELINE. CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE AG COMMITTEE MIKE CONAWAY TAKING TIME TO LISTEN TO FARMERS AT THE 2017 FARM PROGRESS SHOW. HE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE—PREPARING FOR A RETURN TO WASHINGTON AND WHAT COULD BE A BUSY FALL. ONE THAT COULD INCLUDE A FARM BILL. SO EITHER ONE OF THOSE WILL HAVE FLOOR TIME ONCE THE LEADER SAYS YOU CAN HAVE THESE DAYS ON THE FLOOR I’LL BACK UP FROM THAT ABOUT 10 DAYS GET IT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE AND THEN MOVE FORWARD. I THINK WE CAN GET IT DONE THIS YEAR ITS GOING TO BE UP TO THE LEADERSHIP TO GIVE US FLOOR TIME. BUT I THINK THE WAY THIS THING IS GOING THERE ARE GOING TO BE NO ACCOMPLISHMENTS COMING TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR AND THEY MIGHT SEE THE FARM BILL AS WAY TO HAVE A WIN. 1:55 AG LEADERS ARE HOPING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. ASA RON MOORE\PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION LETS KEEP IT OUT OF THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTION CYCLE, LETS DO IT NOW LETS GET IT DONE AND LETS GET FARMERS SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. SUPPORT FOR THAT TIMELINE ALSO COMING FROM DOWN THE MALL. PERDUE SONNY THE FARM BILL MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS AND THERE WERE A FEW SECTORS THAT DIDN’T FAIR AS WELL. DAIRY WAS ONE..IN WISCONSIN AND THE UPPER MIDWEST..COTTON WAS ANOTHER. THE COTTON AND STAX PROGRAM DIDN’T DO VERY WELL THEY CAME OUT OF TITLE ONE IN THE FARM PROGRAM AND I THINK THOSE WERE TWO AREAS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT. SPECIALTY CROPS AND ORGANICS ARE ANOTHER THING AND GROWING SECTOR THAT WE PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY MORE ATTENTION 4:50 CONAWAY 2:45 THE TWO MAIN BIG TICKET ITEMS THAT HAVE TO GET DONE IN THIS FARM ARE COTTON AND DAIRY AND COLLIN AND I ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. 2:52 AND THE COSTS OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE STARTING TO ROLL OUT. I THINK ON THE OUTSIDE, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE CAN BE DONE FOR 150 MILLION OVER 10 YEARS. SO THAT’S ONLY 15 MILLION A YEAR..SO I THINK WE CAN DO IT. 1:32 ON THE CROP INSURANCE SIDE, A RECENT GAO REPORT SAYING THE ACTUAL RATE OF RETURN FOR THE COMPANIES FROM 2009 TO 2015 AVERAGED 16 PERCENT ONE CONSISTENT THING WE HEARD THROUGH ALL FIVE IS DON’T SCREW UP CROP INSURANCE. JUST DON’T SCREW IT UP. IF CROP INSURANCE WAS AS LUCRATIVE AS GAO SAID IT IS THE MARKET WOULD BE FLOODED WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES TRYING TO ELBOW THEIR WAY INTO IT. JUST THE OPPOSITE IS THE CASE. WE HAVE COMPANY AFTER COMPANY FLEEING THE MARKET BECAUSE THEY CAN’T MAKE THE KIND OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE. 2:06 AG SECRETARY SONNY PURDUE SAYS IT WILL BE LOOKED AT. I THINK WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE FACTS ON THAT. I DON’T THINK IT’S A THREAT WE LET COMMERCE DO..THERE ARE PLENTY OF BIDDERS IN THAT ARENA AND I THINK IF WE’RE LOOKING AT AN 18 PERCENT RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN THAT ARENA THAT’S PROBABLY TOO MUCH IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. WE’LL LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND SEE WHAT THAT IS. IT WAS NEGOTIATED THAT WILL BE PART OF THE FARM BILL AND WHAT THAT RETURN OUGHT TO BE. THERE ARE VERY FEW INDUSTRIES THAT MAKE AN 18 PERCENT RETURN ON INVESTMENT TODAY. 5:45 DESPITE THE CHALLENGES LEADERS SAY THERE IS RESOLVE TO GET THE WORK FINISHED. BOTH THE LEADER AND SPEAKER ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF GETTING A FARM BILL DONE. REPORTING FOR US FARM REPORT I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. THE FARM BILL WILL HAVE A TOUGH TIME SQUEEZING INTO A BUSY AGENDA THIS FALL. FROM TAX REFORM, TO IMMIGRATION, BUDGETS, SPENDING AND NOW POSSIBLY A FRESH RUN AT HEALTH CARE--LAWMAKERS SAY FINDING TIME TO GET ON FLOOR MAY BE A BIGGER CHALLENGE THAN PASSING THE BILL. UP NEXT, JOHN PHIPPS
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
AS LEADERS CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH NEGOTATING NAFTA, THE TRADE PACT MORE THAN 20 YEARS OLD DRAWING SCRUTINY AND PRAISE. SO, REALLY WHAT’S AT STAKE? JOHN PHIPPS HELPS US NAVIGATE NAFTA IN CUSTOMER SUPPORT. I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL IN ORDER TO GET SOME IDEA HOW THINGS COULD WORK OUT. “SO WHAT ABOUT NAFTA? CAN WE HAVE A LUCID CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT, NOW THAT IT’S ON TABLE?” LEO LEGORETTA, NEPONSET, IL NAFTA IS MUCH ON THE MINDS OF FARMERS THESE DAYS, BUT THIS TOPIC WILL NEED A FULL AGSPLAINER. TYNE HAS BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB OF PROVIDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND BREAKING NEWS REGARDING NAFTA NEGOTIATIONS. I’LL TRY TO BREAK DOWN THE ISSUES AND POSSIBLE OUTCOMES. BROADLY SPEAKING GRAIN AND LIVESTOCK FARMERS BENEFITED FROM INCREASED EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES AS NAFTA TOOK EFFECT. PRODUCE GROWERS SUCH AS TOMATO PRODUCERS, NOT SO MUCH. OVERALL THE AG SECTOR HAS A LOT TO LOSE SHOULD TALKS FAIL OR IF NAFTA IS ABANDONED. NOW, LET’S LOOK AT WHAT SEEM TO BE THE BIGGEST ISSUES TARGETED FOR REVISION OR RENEGOTIATION. TH FIRST IS THE RULES OF ORIGIN. GOODS TRADE FREELY IN NORTH AMERICA IF 62.5% OF THE CONTENT ORIGINATES THERE. WITH MORE COMPONENTS BEING SOURCED FROM ASIA, THERE IS PRESSURE FROM THE US TO RAISE THIS NUMBER. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT. NEW RULES WOULD ALLOW US COMPANIES TO BID MORE EASILY FOR MEXICAN OR CANADIAN CONTRACTS AND VICE VERSA. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. HOW DO YOU SETTLE THE INEVITABLE CLAIMS OF VIOLATING THE RULES? UNDER NAFTA INDEPENDENT BOARDS DECIDE BOTH SUBSIDY AND DUMPING COMPLAINTS AND DISPUTES BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS AND FOREIGN INVESTORS. IN BOTH OF THESE AREAS, NAFTA CRITICS WILL CLAIM A LOSS OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY BY SUBMITTING TO OUTSIDE AUTHORITIES. SUPPLY MANAGEMENT. TWO TARGETS HERE ARE THE CANADIAN DAIRY PROGRAM AND THE US SUGAR PROGRAM. I COUNT THE REST AS SOMEWHAT LESSER PROBLEMS. CURRENCY MANIPULATION IS OFTEN MENTIONED BUT LITTLE EVIDENCE FOR IT EXISTS. LABOR RULES WILL GET ENTANGLED WITH US IMMIGRATION AND RIGHT-TO- WORK LAWS. THE US HAS GRIPED ABOUT SOFTWOOD LUMBER TRADE AND STRICT CANADIAN LIQUOR LAWS FOR DECADES, ALONG WITH HOW MUCH STUFF CROSS-BORDER SHOPPERS CAN BRING IN DUTY FREE. THAT’S WHAT TO WATCH. NEXT WEEK I’LL TALK ABOUT WHAT COULD GO RIGHT AND WRONG IN THE TALKS. THANKS, JOHN.
TEASE
AS NEW AND USED IRON CONTINUES TO SEE PRESSURED PRICES, SOME SECTORS ARE SEEING SALES SKYROCKET. SO, WHAT’S MACHINERY PETE SEEING? W’ERE ON THE ROAD WITH MACHINERY PETE TO BASICALLY HIS BACKYARD IN NORTHIELD, MINNESOTA NEXT.
ON THE ROAD WITH MACHINERY PETE
AFTER A SLUGGISH STORY IN SALES OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRACTORS, THE LATEST ASSOCIATION OF EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS FLASH REPORT SHOWING A COMEBACK, WITH SALES UP 66 PERCENT IN AUGUST. SO, WHAT’S PERFORMING THE BEST ON TEH BOOKS OF MACHINERY PETE? WE’RE ON TEH ROAD THIS WEEK TO SEMA EQUIPMENT IN NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA. A LOT OF PODS TYLER” PLANTED IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, DOUG FELTON IS LOOKING AT A GOOD CROP, BUT ONE HE DOESN’T THINK WILL REACH A RECORD. THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A LITTLE MORE OF A CHALLENGE. WE’VE HAD SPOTTY RAINS AND IT WAS COLD COLD AND WET UP HERE EARLY. FELTON KNOWS THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT YEAR, BUT 2016 WASN’T TOO FAR OFF. THE BEST PART ABOUT 16 WAS WHETHER IT WAS LIGHT GROUND OR HEAVY GROUND OR WHATEVER IT ALL WAS GOOD IF YOU DIDN’T GET 200 BUSHEL CORN THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG.I’D SAY LAST YEAR WAS PROBABLY OUR BEST YEAR. YIELDS MAY NOT HIT LAST YEAR’S LEVELS, BUT WITH A GOOD CROP, ADDITIONAL MACHINES ARE NEEDED IN THE FIELD EACH YEAR. WE NEEDED ANOTHER TRACTOR IN THE SPRING. A LOT OF TIMES WE WERE SHORT ONE. SO I JUST BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE AND UPGRADED THAT. GENERALLY I AM A SECOND BUYER ON MACHINERY. WE’RE LARGE ENOUGH TO HAVE ONE GOOD COMPLETE LINE OF MACHINERY. BUT IF I CAN TO HAVE SOMEBODY TAKE THE TOP OFF OF A COMBINE WHICH I DID LAST YEAR OR THE TOP OFF OF A TRACK TRACTOR WHICH I DID LAST YEAR THERE WERE SOME OPPORTUNITIESMOST EQUIPMENT DEALERS AREN’T SEEING THE SAME DEMAND FOR IRON THEY DID 5 YEARS AGO. BUT SEMA IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA SAYS THE RECORD YIELDS LAST FALL SPILLED OVER INTO 2017, ULTIMATELY DRIVING SOME DEICISIONS. ] IN THE PAST WE’VE ALWAYS WORKED WITH CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE TRADED YOU KNOW EVERY YEAR EVERY TWO YEARS AND IF WE HAD THEIR TRADE 12 MONTHS LATER AND THEY WERE ASKING FOR ANOTHER NEW PRICE IT WAS LIKE WOW WE STILL GET YOUR ONE FROM LAST YEAR SO WE’VE ASKED OUR CUSTOMERS FOR SOME HELP BECAUSE WE’VE WE’VE NEEDED TO RESTRUCTURE HOW WE DO CERTAIN DEALS. BUT IN ORDER TO FIND A MORE HEALTHY LEVEL IN USED INVENTORY, SEMA TOOK A CREATIVE APPROACH, HOSTING AN AUCTION. ] OVERALL NUMBERS CAME IN BETTER THAN PROJECTED. SO IT WAS DEFINITELY SUCCESSFUL AUCTION IN OUR EYES.MACHINERY PETE SAYS THAT AUCTION FLAGGED SOME IMPRESSIVE PRICES ON HIS END. BUT I THINK FOLKS OVER THE LAST 12 TO 18 MONTHS HAVE BEEN COGNIZANT OF THE OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF THEM TO UPGRADE IN THE LATE MODEL USED. MACHINERY PETE’S TRENDS INDICATE SEARCHES FOR HIGH HORSE POWER TRACTORS TOP IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER AND MARCH. SO IF YOU FLIP THAT, YOU’D SAY WELL ONE COULD I MAYBE GET BETTER VALUE AND I WOULD YOU KNOW BE LOOKING MAYBE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS OR EARLY FALL. AND I THINK THERE’S OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME GOOD VALUE THERE.. HE SAYS A FARMER IN THE MARKET TO BUY CAN FIND THE BEST DEAL ON PLANTERS. TODAY. BUT THE SECTOR WITH THE MOST MOMENTUM, LOOKS TO BE LOWER HORSEPOWER EQUIPMENT. EVEN TODAY DEALER WE WERE INTERVIEWING WAS TALKING ABOUT GOSH WE JUST CAN’T KEEP THEM IN. AND I SEE THE EXACT SAME THING AT AUCTION WHATEVER COLOR IF IT’S UNDER 100 HORSE IN GOOD SHAPE. IF IT’S ONE YEAR OLD IF IT’S 25 YEARS ALL THAT STUFF IS KIND OF RED HOT. AS HARVEST NEARS, MACHINERY PETE IS ALSO WATCHING TILLAGE TRENDS… SMALL USE TILLAGE EQUIPMENTS BEEN STRONG, WHEREAS LARGER TILLAGE EQUIPMENT, LIKE 40 OR 60 FOOT TILLAGE EQUIPMENT, SALES HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING. SO IF YOU’RE LOOKING AT BUYING A 60 FOOT FIELD CULTIVATOR AND YOU’RE WONDERING GOSH VALUES HAVE BEEN DROPPING WHAT I’VE BEEN SEEING IS THOSE VALUES STARTING TO HOLD. SO AGAIN IF THAT CAN PUSH YOU OFF THE SIDELINES THAT THAT’S JUST WHAT I’VE BEEN SEEING, THE USED VALUES STABILIZING. IN MINNESOTA, SEMA’S ALSO SEEING GROING DEMAND FOR FALL TILLAGE, WITH MORE INTEREST IN MINIMAL TILL. IT’S TIMELINESS AND ACRES PER HOUR SO YOU’RE ABLE TO COVER THE GROUND REALLY FAST AND EFFICIENTLY. YOU HAVE LESS COST PER ACRE BECAUSE YOU’RE NOTDEEP TILLING IT AND IT DOES A GOOD JOB OF SIZING CROP AND GETTING READY FOR THE SPRING. IT’S LOOSENING THE GROUND UP SO IT GET BETTER WATER PENETRATION. AS CONRAD MOVE TO MORE MINIMAL TILLAGE, THE 2100 MINIMAL TILL RIPPER IS HIS GO-TO TOOL. IT’S LOWERED OUR USE OF THE DISK RIPPER A LOT. MOVING TO A FOUR YEAR ROTATION WITH IT… AND THEN WE’RE DOING THE COVER CROP STUFF AND LEAVING CORNSTALKS FOR. BEANS. NOW WE DO THE HEADLANDS WITH THIS INTO THE END OF THE CORN STALKS AND STUFF. WHEHER IT’S IN THE FIELD OR IN THE CAB, TECHNOLOGY IS HELPING CONRAD IMPLEMENT BETTER CONSERVATION PRACTICES. THE FIRST YEAR YOU WANT TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE CAB THROW IT ON THE GROUND AND DRIVE OVER IT. THE SECOND YEAR, YOU’RE GETTING ACCUSTOMED TO IT. IT’S PRETTY NEAT. THE THIRD YEAR YOU WO’T FARM WITHOUT IT. AND IT’S LAYING THE GROUND WORK FOR A SUSTAINABLE OPERATION THAT’S IN FOCUS, NO MATTER WHERE COMMODITY PRICES SIT TODAY. I FEEL WE’RE GOING TO GET A DECENT CROP. I JUST. DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO BE HANDED TO US. WE’D LIKE A BETTER COMMODITY PRICE. BUT I’VE BEEN IN THIS SO LONG YOU KNOW WE ALWAYS SEEM TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SURVIVE. AND NEXT MONTHWE’RE ON THE ROAD WITH MACHINERY PETE TO OLATHE KANSAS.
TEASE
WHEN WE COME BACK, MACHINERY PETE REJOINS US FOR TRACTOR TALES
TRACTOR TALES
WELCOME BACK TO TRACTOR TALES FOLKS! THIS WEEK WE HAVE A JOHN DEERE 730 FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS TO SHARE WITH YOU. GAIL GOODELL STARTED COLLECTING TRACTORS WITH THIS CLASSIC DIESEL. AND ALTHOUGH HE’S NOT FOND OF THE WAY IT RIDES, HE’S BEEN DRIVING IT IN PARADES EVER SINCE HE PURCHASED IT. I’M STANDING HERE BY 730 IN 1958 MODEL. I BOUGHT IT FROM A NEIGHBOR. AND HE HAD TWO OF THEM AND I BOUGHT THIS ONE. THIS WAS MY INTRODUCTION INTO COLLECTING TRACTORS. TO. WANT TO BUY A HOUSE. HE NEEDED SOME MONEY. I SAID I’LL JUST BUY THAT TRACTOR FROM YOU. NOT ENOUGH TO GET ME. I GOT A TRACTOR AND HE GOT HOUSE. HE HAD DONE SOME OF THE MECHANICAL WORK ON IT AND I DID SOME MORE ON IT AND THEN. HAD IT PAINTED AND IT WENT ON A LOT OF TRACTOR RIDE BECAUSE I BEFORE I HAD A WHOLE LOT OF. TRACTORS TO CHOOSE FROM. ITS STILL A VERY NICE OLD TRACTOR ITS A ELECTRIC START. RUNS NICE. I LIKE IT A LOT. I KEEP IT AROUND HERE. I THINK EVERYBODY OUGHT TO HAVE A 730 JOHN DEERE TRACTOR. THEY’RE VERY VERY POPULAR. THE LAST ERA OF THE TWO CYLINDERS. AND THIS IS A GOOD ONE THAT’S REALLY SOUND AND TIGHT. I JUST LIKE IT I SOMEHOW LIKE THE SOUND OF TWO CYLANDER TRACTOR. BUT FUEL ECONOMY IS ASTOUNDING. YOU CAN JUST I TELL. MY PEOPLE WITH OTHER BRANDS OF TRACTORS EVERY SO OFTEN I HAVE TAKE FUEL OUT OF THE TRACTOR BECAUSE IT’S THAT GOOD. AND I BEEN INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND LOOSENED GEARS AROUND TO GET NEW FACES ON SOME OF THE GEARS. SO IT’S I QUIETED IT DOWN QUITE A BIT ON THE GEAR LASH. SO I DID DO THAT. OTHERWISE I’VE DONE NOTHING TO THE INJECTION PUMP. LOOKS LIKE I COULD DO A LITTLE BETTER JOB OF CLEANING IT. BUT IT’S A POPULAR TRACTOR. WHEN I TAKE IT ON TRACTOR RIDES. WHENEVER THERE’S ANYBODY EXTRA. YOU KNOW THEY’D LIKE TO TAKE THIS ONE AND I LIKE TO LET THEM TOO. IT’S A NICE PARADE TRACTOR, SOUNDS NICE IN A PARADE.
COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE
TODAY’S COUNTRY CHURCH SALUTE GOES TO THE TRENTON BAPTIST CHURCH IN TRENTON, KENTUCY. IN 2010, THE CONGREGATION CELEBRATED ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY. THE BROOKSHIRE FAMILY TELLS US THE CHURCH IS STILL AN ACTIVE, GROWING AND VITAL CHURCH IN THE CITY OF TRENTON. THANKS FOR SENDING THAT IN! FROM TEH FARM PHOTOS ARE NEXT.
FROM THE FARM
WELL, MIKE, WE FOCUSED ON THE SEVERE HURRICANE IMPACT, BUT, OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTHWEST ARE DEALING WITH ANOTHER EXTREME-- WILDFIRES. JEROME STENBERG HAS J-BAR STENBERG RANCH IN MONTANA. AND LOOK AT THESE STARK IMAGES... HE SAYS NOT ONLY ARE THEY SEEING SEVERE DROUGHT, BUT FOREST FIRES ARE BURNING HOMES, FARMS ANED RANCHES FORCING MASSIVE EVACUATIONS IN MISSOULA. HE SAYS 3-QUARTERS OF A MILLION ACRES ARE IN UNCONTROLLED FIRE AND THAT GROWS.. EVEN THIS SUMMER, THEY WERE ATTENDING THEIR COUNTY FAIR WHEN IT WAS ENDED ABRUPTLY BY PEOPLE BEING NOTIFIED TO GO HOME AND EVACUATE. THEY’RE ONLY HOPE IS FOR RAIN OR MOUNTAIN SNOW TO HELP PUT THE WILDFIRES OUT. AND RACHEL GRABBED THESE IMAGES OF A FIRE EAST OF LIVINGTON MONTANA. THE BLACKTAIL FIRE BALLOONED TO 5 THOUSAND ACRES MID-WEEK. FIREFIGHTERS AND THE COMMUNITY WORKING TO CONTROL THE FLAMES, FILLING UP WATER AND APPLYING IT AERIALLY WITH A HELICOPTER. THANKFULLY, RAIN CALMED THE FLAMES, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, ACRES OF LAND SEVERELY SCARRED.
FROM ALL OF US AT U.S. FARM REPORT, I’M MIKE HOFFMAN.AND 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.
