April 22, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Valley. This is iglife. My name is Bob Quinn.
For the next hour, talk in agricultural production here in
the valley and all across the country. How did we
end up with snowpack? Rod bain starts us off.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
The summary of the now recently concluded Western water season,
the period between October and March where mountain snowpack accumulations
determined water runoff into regional storage reservoirs used for farm
irrigation at municipal water supplies.

Speaker 3 (00:27):
It's actually been a mostly favorable season, and particularly so
across the northern two thirds of the West.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says it particular.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
If you draw a line from the middle of the
Sierra Nevada almost due east to the Central Rockies. Most
water basins along and north of that line are in
good shape heading into the spring and summer of twenty
twenty five in terms of potential runoff, water supply and
current snowpack numbers.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yet he notes a sharp dividing line between halves that
have not since we do.

Speaker 3 (00:57):
Have some big areas of concern across Arizona, New Mexico
and even extending into southern portions of Utah and Colorado.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Now, how might that translate to water runoff equivalency that
will fill reservoirs in the spring and summer months. Rippy
starts by looking at reservoir levels going into this year's
Western Mountain snowpack season.

Speaker 3 (01:18):
When we started this twenty twenty four to twenty five
wet season, most reservoirs were in really good shape, the
exception being in the far northwest Washington State and the
far southeast New Mexico.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
Rippy says not much has changed regarding the water levels
for the region's reservoirs at the April first, ending date
of the western water season. He acknowledged, though.

Speaker 3 (01:37):
As we melt off some of that really abundant snowpack,
we might actually get a little bit of boost in
some of those Washington areas, especially in the southern part
of the state, and reservoirs will continue to fill in
states like Oregon, Idaho, into western Montana, Wyoming, even into
parts of Colorado and northern Utah. All those areas should
receive ample runoff in twenty twenty five.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
California is split, more abundant runoff in the north of
expected lower in the south.

Speaker 4 (02:02):
However, the southern areas.

Speaker 3 (02:03):
Arizona likely to lose ground on their reservoir storage. New
Mexico unfortunately, probably going to slide a little bit further,
and we may see a few areas in the far
northwest northern Washington State where we could come up a
little bit short on the runoff and that could lead
to continuing low reservoir levels.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Am Rod Bain reporting, if.

Speaker 1 (02:20):
You're listening to aag life Bob Quinn, here are some
farm news this morning. Friends. USDA's World Ag Outlook Board
expects US meat exports to take a hit the rest
of this year due to President Trump's tariffs and retaliation,
mainly from China. China earlier imposed ten percent retaliatory tariffs
on US pork and fifteen percent on chicken, and after

(02:43):
China went to one hundred and twenty five percent on
most US goods, President Trump just upped tariffs on Chinese
goods to a whopping two hundred and forty five percent.
USDA Worldag Outlook Board Chair Mark Jenakowski says the tariff
war is heating up, reflecting in lower beat export forecasts.

Speaker 5 (03:01):
The change this month was largely reflecting reduce exports to
China because of both tariff and non tariff barriers, including
the fact that we've seen a lapse in plant registrations
for exports to China.

Speaker 1 (03:14):
And that's meant greater meat export competition.

Speaker 6 (03:16):
Increased global competition in other markets, and that's increased competition
from the likes of Brazil, and that you supplying pork
into those markets.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
China also turned to Brazil this month for big purchases
of soybeans, as it did during its trade war with
the US during President Trump's first term. That trade war
ended with Trump's Phase one deal, but China fell some
eight billion dollars, or twenty one percent, short of keeping
its end of the bargain. US Trade Ambassador Jamison Greer
told senators recently, China's overall average tariff rate is seven

(03:48):
and a half percent.

Speaker 7 (03:49):
On ag products, it's fourteen percent. But we know that
this does not capture the full extent of the non
trade barriers and regulatory hurdles that they impose on our exports.

Speaker 1 (03:59):
USTR before the Senate Finance Committee. Well, friends, it's not
good to plant into wet soils. That's the first bit
of advice. Agronomous from the University of Illinois have for
farmers in the month of April. It's worse to plant
in cold, wet soils. Giovanni Prais Fontes says, there's still
plenty of time for field conditions to improve.

Speaker 8 (04:19):
We don't want to plant if the soideer is two
we just because of you know, that's not a good
start for the cross. It's probably gonna have a negative
impact on emergence and establishment, and you know, you're not
sending yourself to having a good stand.

Speaker 1 (04:35):
The first rule is to wait for soil conditions to
be good for planting. When that happens, farmers should work
to get their seating rates dialed in to deliver a
plant density that maximizes profitability.

Speaker 8 (04:46):
So when we look at corn overall, what we found
is that and again this is looking at the economic
optimum plant density, right, So overall, what we found in
our research is that we kind of maximizing the high
is dollar return to seed. When we have population densities
of about thirty four to thirty six plants per acre.

(05:07):
For soybeans, we see the maximum return to seed it's
around you know, one hundred and fifteen thousand plans to
one hundred and twenty thousand plants per acre.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
U of I Agronomus say these seating rates are conservative
numbers related to the economic analysis well. Franz AIG's secretary
Brook Rollins said easing restrictions for non citizen farm workers
is a top priority as labor shortages continue to strain
farmers across the US. Changes in the H two A
VISA program and new legal pathways could offer some relief soon.

(05:40):
The Trump administration is working to finalize more lenient guidelines
for non citizen farm workers by harvest season. Now, she
says it's an issue she's had many long conversations with
the President about over the years. There is zero doubt
that labor is a massive issue for probably the large
majority of our egg industy, street farmers, and ranchers.

Speaker 9 (06:02):
Now.

Speaker 1 (06:02):
Her remarks came just days after President Trump told reporters
during a cabinet meeting that he may ease immigration restrictions
for farm laborers. Under his plan, farm and hotel workers
would leave the country and then return legally with the
backing of their US employer. Some farm used this morning,
you're listening to waglife and Fran's Ocean container rates from

(06:25):
Asia to North America saw a slight uptick last week
as the Trump Administration's tariff driven trade strategy royals Global Markets.
A report published by freithos says NOW rates from Asia
to the US West Coast were up ten percent week
over week to twy four hundred and sixty five per
forty foot equivalent unit per and April sixteenth market update

(06:47):
rates to the East Coast went up three percent to
three thousand, six hundred and forty seven as shippers navigate
trade uncertainty. A pullback in China to US volumes paired
with an increase in demand from other Asia trade lanes
may reflect quote diverging rates on the port pair level.
According to Frethos, now, US shippers have been front loading

(07:09):
good since November to get ahead of the tariff situation
farm US. This morning, you're listening to AAG life.

Speaker 10 (07:16):
It's another AGEWS update. One commodity that's related very closely
to AGG is natural gas. More after this, this.

Speaker 11 (07:26):
Is Shaquille O'Neill reminding you that anytime is a good
time for the cooling drying fresh in of gold bond
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Speaker 4 (07:35):
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Speaker 12 (07:36):
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Speaker 11 (07:39):
Or hard day's work. Stay cool with Gold bomb Pott
of Spreads.

Speaker 12 (07:43):
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Speaker 10 (07:46):
Bomb Ayachino is with Path Trading.

Speaker 13 (07:49):
Partners taking a look at main natural gas futures, which
has now dropped for four straight sessions and today close
lower for the fifth session in the last six. Going
back even further than that, natural gas has been lower
in eleven of the last fourteen sessions and since the
cycle high on March tenth. It's now down thirty four percent.

(08:12):
On a weekly basis, natural gas fell by eight point
three one percent, finishing its fifth week lower in the
last six. Interestingly enough, though year to date, natural gas
just turned lower this week for the first time. It's
now down three point five eight percent in twenty twenty five.
The natural gas storage report from the EIA was released

(08:32):
today and has showed a build of sixteen billion cubic feet,
slightly lower than market expectations. There is now one hundred
and forty six billion cubic feet of natural acid and storage,
which is seventy four billion cubic feet below the five
year average of one thy nine hundred and twenty billion
qub feet and four hundred and eighty billion cubic feet
below the level of a year ago, which was two thousand,

(08:55):
three hundred and twenty.

Speaker 4 (08:57):
Six billion cubic feet.

Speaker 13 (08:58):
Total working gas in storage, however, is within the five
year historical range.

Speaker 10 (09:04):
Farmers use natural gas for fertilizer production, irrigation, and grain drying.
It's another agnews update.

Speaker 12 (09:14):
Before I started working as a soil scientist, before.

Speaker 4 (09:17):
I became a systems engineer, before.

Speaker 14 (09:19):
I got started in aerospace, I was a kid making discoveries.

Speaker 12 (09:23):
I did my first lab experiment. I've found Oxiens school
in four h in four h in four h.

Speaker 4 (09:32):
One million new ideas.

Speaker 12 (09:35):
Learn more and see how you can help at fourh
dot org.

Speaker 10 (09:44):
American Cattle News USDA out with their latest monthly Cattle
on Feed report. More after this.

Speaker 12 (09:54):
Before I started working as a soil scientist, before.

Speaker 4 (09:57):
I became a systems engineer, before I got started in aerospace, I.

Speaker 12 (10:02):
Was a kid making discoveries. I did my first lab experiment.
I found outside as a school in four h in four.

Speaker 4 (10:09):
H in four h.

Speaker 12 (10:12):
One million new ideas, Learn more and see how you
can help at four dash dot org.

Speaker 10 (10:24):
Ted Seiford's was saying or agheageve.

Speaker 15 (10:27):
Cattle closed higher for the fifth session in a row,
and they ended up closing the gap that was left
on the chart from April third to April fourth at
two three fifteen to two oh three seventy. So that
was a big target to the upside on a chart
and it went and fulfilled that upside. Here on Thursday,
we also had our Cattle on Feed report released after

(10:48):
the close, on a very rare occasion where we get
that Catalan feed report on a Thursday and always at
the end of the week, always after the close, so
we have to now wait three days till Monday to
actually trade that. But I'm going to say it was
pretty close to expectations, maybe slightly bearished on the placement's number.

Speaker 9 (11:08):
I'll get into that here now.

Speaker 15 (11:10):
Cattle on feed year over year at ninety eight percent,
the trade expectations the average trade expectations were ninety eight
point two, so really very close to the trade guesses.
Placements were at one hundred and five percent. That's a
big increase month over month, and a lot of that
has to do with what's going on with the border
of Mexico. The expectations for placements were at one oh

(11:33):
three point four percent, so expectation or placements are the
ones that came in off of expectations higher than expectations.
That's where that number could be just maybe a little
bit bearish. But the marketing's number came in at one
hundred and one percent, the trade expectation there was one
hundred point six, so maybe just slightly higher than expectations,
that would be maybe slightly bullish. But overall, I think

(11:56):
if you look at it as a whole, it's really
very neutral. If not a little bit bears from that
placement's number, that might be for further.

Speaker 10 (12:04):
Out down down the line, though Ted Seifrid was seer
Agg Hedge and this is American Cattle News.

Speaker 16 (12:13):
This is Dairy Radio Now with Bill Baker.

Speaker 17 (12:19):
Buckle up for the next three to six months as
we look at how to prepare for a volatile world.
Dan Bossi with egg Resource shares his thoughts from a
recent PDP Dairy signal about the future of trade with China.

Speaker 18 (12:33):
When you think about the world we had Egg Resource
with thinking about an actual decoupling of the United States
and China, I am not optimistic on a trade deal.
I do not think one will get done, and so
I think as you look at China, which is buying
the board in Brazil in terms of soybeans. They bought
so many soybeans last week, close to eighty cargoes I

(12:53):
can't count, and they're still buying this week. So for China,
they have to buy the beans that they need, and
they are doing it in style, which is rally the
soybean market and the rather sharp gains. Milk prices have
come back. Corn and wheat demand has been at stellar
and so we're actually seeing some very very good demand.
Now where I worry about is going to be the

(13:15):
what I say, the period that China doesn't show up
for USIG commodities, which will be from mid September until
middle of January. I say that only because of the
biggest grain buyer per Se. They are important in our
milk markets. But when we look at soybeans, that's where
there's going to be a whole So today China's buying
so many soybeans in Brazil that other countries are coming

(13:36):
to the United States based on lack of availability, and
so for me, the Chinese have this view that indeed
they are not going to enter into a trade deal
because they're buying soybeans as far out as September October
from Brazil. They're trying to make amends to fill that
hole and avoid the United States as much as possible.
So when I step back from it, I believe the

(13:58):
Trump administration is going to try to do trade deals
with as many countries that are non Chinese as possible,
segregating the Chinese to the side, leaving them for a
later day. And this is really about a duopoly as
we think about it in agg resource where they're splitting
of the world in terms of trade patterns, and how
this all looks and going forward is going to be important.
And I do think the Trump administration, for what I'm

(14:19):
being told, is looking at longer term trade negotiations, not
for just the next three years, but maybe even longer
than that. So can it pull in Japan? It can
it pull in a country like Vietnam that imports thirteen
or fourteen million metric tons of corn but none from
the United States? Can it pull in India? We had
Indian discussions last week. India does not buy GM products,

(14:40):
but the Trump administration is trying to force that avenue. Also,
the Trump administration wants them to buy vegetables and vegetable
oils and wheat. So there's a lot of things happening
under the cover. You know, US agriculture was struggling because
we were looking at failing trade and having problems with negotiations.
We'll see how this all goes, but I believe that

(15:01):
when everything is done at the end, we're going to
have China and a few other countries like Russia and
maybe Brazil on one side, and then there's going to
be another side, which will be the United States and
some of these other allies that it's go going forward with.
And this pessimistic when you think of one of our
biggest day customers now number three, thin segued to the side.
But you know, Mexico and Canada continue to be very
strong buyers, and so that's giving me some optimism and

(15:23):
some hope, and I think the egg markets are reflecting it.

Speaker 17 (15:25):
Accordingly comments from Dan Bossi, president of Egg Resource Company,
on our recent PDP Dairy Signal, who says it's important
to stay positive.

Speaker 18 (15:34):
If I'm not as negative on all of this as
it sounds, but I still tell farmers the same thing,
which is you got to manage your margin, and so
we got to stay in business each and every year,
and we can't lose sight of that. So when you
can make some money, you know, set some targets with
malkar crops, whatever it is ten twenty percent, get some
sales on we can always defend them later with calls
or those kind of things. So be minding your margin.

(15:54):
Know when the opportunities are there, because this is a
period we need to stay around as a farmer. We
need to be there for the better times. They will
come again. We will get demand drivers, whether it's from
a host of other things internationally on trade or biofuels
or others, but it will come, but we just got
to make sure that we're there for that day. So
for now, we just need to take care of the turbulence,
make sales when we need to, and get some confidence

(16:16):
around us in terms from a capital perspective, so we're
there for the better time.

Speaker 17 (16:20):
Dan Bossi from egg Resource and once again, if you'd
like to hear those comments in its entirety for free,
simply go to PDPW dot org and click on the
dairy Signal. Our thanks to the Professional Dairy Producers for
today's sponsorship of Producer Tuesday.

Speaker 16 (16:34):
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(16:55):
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Speaker 19 (17:07):
The Western tree Nut Association, in conjunction with the California
Department of Food and Agriculture and the University of California
Agricultural Natural Resources, is coordinating pre harvest water assessment regional
workshops for tree nut growers. I'm Patrick Kavanaugh with the
California tree Nut Report, part of the vastag Information Network.

(17:30):
Roger Isom is President and CEO of the new Western
Tree Nut Association, and the goal of these workshops is
to ensure treenut growers are prepared for the Food Safety
Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule specifically now that the Finer
rule on pre harvest agricultural water requirements has come into effect.
We asked Roger Isom, Well, tree nuts really don't come

(17:52):
into contact with a lot of water. They're not like
leafy greens.

Speaker 9 (17:55):
They don't.

Speaker 20 (17:56):
But you've got to think of everything right, because you
use water to mix with chemicals for spring, those definitely
get on there. There is some requirements for testing your
well water, your irrigation water, and so yeah, you're right.
And elements especially because they have a pasteurization step so
they're exempted out and they're not eating wrong. Well. Some
stash shows definitely have some things in a lot of

(18:16):
these workshops and some of the discussion points are focused
on or those growers in particular. But you're right. Compared
to say, leafy greens or you know, something like that,
we definitely have less exposure from this particular aspect.

Speaker 19 (18:26):
For the dates of the workshops happening now. Aggprocessors dot org,
Agprocessors dot org.

Speaker 4 (18:34):
It's been popping up in orchards and vineyards all over
any origin theories.

Speaker 21 (18:38):
Callers, Oh hey, yeah, it's Seva fungicide from BASF, a
category leader and disease control.

Speaker 4 (18:44):
How do you explain these healthy crops well.

Speaker 21 (18:46):
Longer lasting residual. Plus, it's built for current regulatory standards
and prepared for what's to come, which improves crop marketing flexibility.

Speaker 4 (18:53):
So a fungicide that is out of this world, I
knew it, Seva fungicide from BASF for is it always readings.

Speaker 22 (19:03):
The best place to reach a farmer with a farming
solution message is when they're well farming. It's easy to
find them during the day as most farmers are behind
the wheel of the pickup truck or farm equipment with
the radio on, listening to this station for the AG
Information Network of the West News. So reach real farmers
right here, right now as they listen to what's important

(19:24):
to their farm operation. Give us a call and we'll
connect you with our local farming community. They trust us,
so they'll trust you with the AG Information Network. I'm
Patrick Cavanaugh.

Speaker 23 (19:35):
Earth Optics has released their twenty twenty five PREDICTIVEAG Report.
Cam Norgate, co founder and vice president of Products at
earth Optics, talks about the company and what it specializes in.

Speaker 9 (19:49):
Earth Optics is a leader in soil analysis and understanding
the physical, chemical, and biological profile of the soil, and
we use that data to inform your plan for the
next season. So really using a comprehensive set of analysis
to help inform all those key decisions around what seed
to plant, how to protect that seed and that yield potential,

(20:10):
and how to feed that plant through fertility in the soil.

Speaker 23 (20:13):
He talks about the data and the companies that predict
a Vag Report.

Speaker 9 (20:17):
The Predictive Bag Report is our take on what you
might think of as a farmer's almanac for this century,
and the idea is that we run a ton of
analysis across the Midwest looking at various physical, chemical, biological
attributes of the soil, and so we have this deep
insight into what's going on and what sort of risks
and opportunities there are throughout the Midwest for farmers going

(20:40):
into the next crop season. We really want to surface
and share that information to folks so they can understand
what risks might be in their region and ultimately start
planning for their next crop season. So that's the goal
of the predicta Bag Report is taking all of this
great data that we have and really aggregating it up
to the major things to think about as we go
into the next year.

Speaker 23 (20:58):
The report mentions will be a big challenge to farm
profitability in twenty twenty five.

Speaker 9 (21:04):
Yeah, So IFU serium is a really interesting one for
us because it's a well known disease. It affects the
seedling and the roots early in the season. We typically
will handle that through seed treatments, and conventional wisdom is that, hey,
we've kind of solved that problem or we've managed it
pretty well. But the data we're seeing when we run
our analysis and we run trials across thousands and thousands
of acres, we're seeing very substantial yield loss associated with

(21:28):
high levels of fuseerium. So again, our testing, our analysis
can detect and measure the exact levels of fusyrium in
a field, and that is actually predictive of upwards of
fifty bushels of yield difference between fields that are really
high risk. It's surprising to us because it's one that
we thought we had had that manager controlled.

Speaker 23 (21:44):
And he talks about Wich area is a farm country
are most at risk for a few serium development in
twenty twenty five.

Speaker 9 (21:51):
It will vary throughout the Midwest, but we're seeing the
highest levels of that actually kind of in the eastern
Iowa and out into southern Nebraska. It tends to correlate
more heavily with the majorcorn growing regions where there's a
lot of corn on corn, and futherium is certainly a
large disease of corn, and we see again that already

(22:11):
fifty bushel difference where there's really high risk for feutererium,
and that's where we tend to see it.

Speaker 23 (22:16):
Norgate talks about where farmers can find the twenty twenty
five at Predictivac report.

Speaker 9 (22:21):
Head to www dot earthoptics dot com and we will
have that posted up on the main landing page of
our website, So earthoptics dot com to find the report.
You can get all this great detail across the sium
and a wide array of other pest disease and biofertility measures,
all covered through our analytics here at earth Optics.

Speaker 23 (22:41):
Again that is Cam Norgate, co founder and vice president
of Products at earth Optics, and again that website is
Earthoptics dot Com. America's largest biofuel trade association just got
a little bigger. Emily's Score, CEO Growth Energy, talks about
their newest member, John Deere.

Speaker 24 (23:01):
Is among the world's most iconic brands, and we're thrilled
to welcome them to our membership network. Deer's decades of
experience providing renewable fuel solutions to their customers demonstrates their
commitment to a vibrant rural economy, and their membership at
Growth Energy underscores the strong connection between biofuels.

Speaker 4 (23:17):
And the farm economy.

Speaker 24 (23:18):
We look forward to leveraging their agricultural expertise as we
work to champion policies that advance the biofuel industry and
expand the bioeconomy.

Speaker 23 (23:26):
Corey Read is the John Dere President of the Worldwide
Agriculture Turf Division. He talks about how a company best
known for tractors and other farm equipment fit into a
trade association focused on biofuels.

Speaker 14 (23:39):
Renewable fuels like corn ethanol deliver clear benefits by enhancing
energy independence, reducing prices at the pump, and lowering emissions,
all of which are made possible by our farmer customers.
John Deere has long worked with farmers to advance and
promote the use of crop based renewable fuels, and we're
proud to partner with Growth Energy to continue this critical
work through policy advocacy, industry engagement, and public education.

Speaker 23 (24:04):
Emily talks about where she sees growth. Energy work EMOS
closely with Deer.

Speaker 24 (24:09):
Like Deer, our members are focused on powering growth in
rural America. Our ultimate goal is to advance policy solutions
that will open new markets for farmers and reward innovation
across the US bioeconomy. With Deer as a partner, will
have new opportunities to educate leaders in Congress and the
Administration on the needs of rural communities and about the
benefits of policies that promote the use of crop based

(24:31):
renewable fuels.

Speaker 25 (24:33):
It's time for California AG today on the AG Information Network.
I am Hailey's ship California allamand growers are seeing both
global progress and local innovation First, a new US Japan
agreement marks a major milestone. USDA and Japan's Ministry of Health,
Labor and Welfare have signed a voluntary aflotox and Pretesting

(24:54):
Protocol yours in the making. This breakthrough reduces Japan's inspection
frequency for participate biding handlers, cutting export costs and streamlining shipments. Meanwhile,
the European Union is reshaping its approach and response to
farmer protests. The e US new Vision for Agriculture and
Food outlines plans for stricter import controls. These include increased

(25:17):
emphasis on food safety, pesticide rule, sustainability standards, and the
application of mirror clauses which aim to hold imports to
the same standards as domestic goods and back at home.
The Almand Board of California has launched a new tool
to support growers pursuing conservation stewardship program funding. A feature
in the California Almond Stewardship Platform now translates farm practices

(25:40):
into NRCS codes.

Speaker 26 (25:42):
Desert growers know just how much damage avits can do
to leafy vegs, coal and parussica crops, but versus insecticide
from BASM makes all visible avents disappear thanks to a unique,
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(26:05):
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Always read and follow label directions.

Speaker 27 (26:12):
Today we're talking with aphids and wife flies about sephena
insecticide from basf We just.

Speaker 4 (26:18):
Get nailed with it.

Speaker 12 (26:19):
So tell us how you feeling.

Speaker 10 (26:20):
Really really weird and you still want to devour this field?

Speaker 4 (26:26):
No way, way, bro.

Speaker 12 (26:27):
There you have it, folks.

Speaker 27 (26:28):
Sofena insecticide is specifically engineered to disorient aphis and wife
flies so they can't eat, and when they can't eat,
they can't destroy.

Speaker 2 (26:36):
He'll protect your alfalfa from aphids with sephena insecticide.

Speaker 23 (26:39):
Always read and follow label directions.

Speaker 25 (26:42):
Get the equipment you need it. Richie Brothers next to
Larry Auction on April twenty fourth bit on over fifteen
hundred items, including a wide selection of farming equipment. This
absolute unreserved auction is open to the public and free
to register. For more details, visit rbauction dot co. This
is the AGG Information Network Bob Quinn.

Speaker 1 (27:01):
Here are some farm news this morning friends. USDA's World
Ag Outlook Board expects US meat exports to take a
hit the rest of this year due to President Trump's
tariffs and retaliation, mainly from China. China earlier imposed ten
percent retaliatory tariffs on US pork and fifteen percent on
chicken and after China went to one hundred and twenty

(27:23):
five percent on most US goods, President Trump just upped
tariffs on Chinese goods to a whopping two hundred and
forty five percent. USDA WORLDAG Outlook Board chair Mark Jenikowski
says the tariff war is heating up, reflecting in lower
meat export forecasts.

Speaker 5 (27:40):
The change this month was largely reflecting reduced exports to
China because of both tariff and non tariff barriers, including
the fact that we've seen a lapse in plant registrations
for exports to China.

Speaker 1 (27:52):
And that's meant greater meat export competition.

Speaker 6 (27:55):
Increased global competition in other markets, and that's increased comp
petition from the likes of Brazil and you supplying pork
into those markets.

Speaker 1 (28:04):
China also turned to Brazil this month for big purchases
of soybeans, as it did during its trade war with
the US during President Trump's first term. That trade war
ended with Trump's Phase one deal, but China fell some
eight billion dollars, or twenty one percent, short of keeping
its end of the bargain. US Trade Ambassador Jamison Greer
told senators recently China's overall average tariff rate is seven

(28:27):
and a half percent.

Speaker 7 (28:28):
On ag products, it's fourteen percent. But we know that
this does not capture the full extent of the non
trade barriers and regulatory hurdles that they impose on our exports.

Speaker 1 (28:38):
USTR. Greer before the Senate Finance Committee. Well Franz. Cover
crop usage continues to grow across the country, Mike Davis
as a report.

Speaker 28 (28:48):
Earlier this week, the Conservation Technology Information Center announced the
findings of its eighth National cover Crop Survey. Rob Myers
of Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education or SAYER was one
of the presenters and noted that familiarity with cover crops
breeds appreciation.

Speaker 29 (29:06):
Those that actually have experience working with cover crops have
become very convinced of the benefits. And that's something we
hear from farmers widely that once they've had a few
years of experience with cover crops, they really tend to
stick with them. They have become a believer and the
benefits for soil health and other aspects of their farming
and ultimately in their economic bottom line.

Speaker 28 (29:28):
Benefits include erosion protection and increased soil health. Myers noted
some barriers to adoption of cover.

Speaker 29 (29:35):
Cropping economic return. There's a question from those who have
not yet used them, is this really going to pay
off for me? Understandably, any farmer making a decision on
spending money on inputs, whether it's cover crop seed, new
equipment of fungicide, they've got to evaluate the economics. So
there's a perception among those that haven't yet used them

(29:55):
that there might not be that economic return, especially in
the first year. We could look at our past cover
crop surveys of farmers to see quite a bit of
economic data that actually does show that cover crops pay off,
especially after the first two to three years.

Speaker 28 (30:11):
In addition to the agricultural advantages, Meyer said, many have
taken advantage of the incentives programs, particularly from NRCS.

Speaker 29 (30:20):
NRCS is the number one source. Indeed, the largest amount
of dollars flowing to cover crop incentive payments are coming
not only from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, but the
Conservation Stewardship Program or the two big ones within RCS.
We've seen other special projects that have been funded by
NRCS through competitive grants that have also provided support for

(30:41):
cover crops.

Speaker 28 (30:42):
I'm Mike Davis.

Speaker 1 (30:44):
Meat exports into Africa continues to grow as we hear
in this US Meat Export Federation update.

Speaker 30 (30:50):
US exporters met with buyers from across Africa in the
first ever US Meat Export Federation Trade seminar in Ghana.
USMEF President and CEO Dan Hallstrom says Africa is critical
to the US industry's efforts to expand and diversify global
markets for US red meat.

Speaker 31 (31:05):
We have twelve countries represented here in opera, and we
have about thirty different exporting members of ours as well.
So really that's one of our core missions is to
bring buyers and sellers together, especially in these emerging markets
that are still not developed today. It's time to take
the next step and get aggressive and really tell our

(31:26):
story in each countries.

Speaker 30 (31:27):
According to USMEF Africa representative Matt Copeland, the centerpiece of
the event was face to face beatings between the buyers
and exporters.

Speaker 32 (31:34):
This relationship building like most markets in the world, and
so we wanted to make sure I could put the
best possible delegates from the USA into the best possible
buying room we could facilitate. So this room is full
of fifty one companies, seventy six buyers, and I can
tell you total values of one hundred and forty thousand
tons of protein purchased a month. We have this emerging

(31:54):
middle class, and those guys one of the first things
they do as they emerge is they want to spend
my and a bitter experience. We'ven it's take advantage of
that wave.

Speaker 30 (32:03):
Robert Presca of trading company LAMA says those meetings generated
productive leads.

Speaker 33 (32:08):
I've been working Africa for fifteen years and I have
met nine people today who are established businesses in Senegal
in Ivory coasts who I had not met before, and
we've had very productive meetings. At these meetings. We have
several people and high end restaurants who are interested in
high quality beef to put on the plate, and we're

(32:29):
really trying to work to get some air samples over
because it's going to be very difficult to sell them
a full container right off the bat. But if we
can get some samples into them somehow, it becomes feasible
that in a few months we could be talking about
moving some containers of primal cuts over for.

Speaker 30 (32:46):
The US to meet Export Federation. I'm John Harris farm US.

Speaker 1 (32:49):
This morning. You're listening to Aglife.

Speaker 34 (32:54):
From the Egg Information Network. This is your Agribusiness Update.
A bill moving through the House wouldst wolves from the
Endangered Species Act, and just passed out of the House
Natural Resources Committee. Sponsored by Wisconsin's Tom Tiffany, the bill
is called the Pet and Livestock Protection Act and now
leads to the full House for a vote. Supporters include

(33:15):
several leading agg groups, including the American Farm Bureau, National
Cattleman's Beef Association, and the Public Lands Council. A new
Cobank report says rapidly worsening expectations about everything from inflation
to personal income to business conditions that labor supplies are
elevating economic concerns. Questions of whether declining expectations will translate

(33:37):
into slower spending and tightening profit margins should come into
view by late June. Uncertainty over trade and bile fuel
policy pulled commodity prices down last quarter despite a weaker dollar.
Trade concerns weighed heaviest on wheat as world buyers have
multiple suppliers. The US Department of Commerce intends to withdraw

(33:58):
from the twenty nineteen agreement ending the anti dumping investigation
on fresh tomatoes from Mexico. The Commerce Department says the
agreement failed to protect US potato growers from unfairly priced
Mexican imports. This action will allow US growers to compete
fairly in the marketplace.

Speaker 26 (34:14):
Desert growers know just how much damage aphits can do
the leafy vegs, coal and brassica crops. But versus insecticide
from BASF makes all visible aphits disappear thanks to a unique,
single and targeted motive action. Let's get the aphids response
to this simple, effective solution. Taking calls now to hear
from those unhappy aphids. Hello, anyone making aphens disappear from

(34:38):
leafy vegs, coal, and brassica crops is easy with versus insecticide.
Always read and follow label directions.

Speaker 4 (34:44):
It's been popping up in orchards and vineyards all over
any origin theories callers, Oh.

Speaker 21 (34:50):
Hey, yeah, it's Seva fund aside from BASF, a category
leader in disease control.

Speaker 4 (34:54):
How do you explain these healthy crops well.

Speaker 21 (34:57):
Longer lasting residual Plus, it's built for current regulatory standards
and prepared for what's to come, which improves crop marketing flexibility.

Speaker 4 (35:04):
So a fungicide that is out of this world. I
knew it Sevya fungicide from BASF for is it always
reading impressions from the Egg Information Network.

Speaker 12 (35:15):
I'm Bob Larson with today's agribusiness update.

Speaker 1 (35:18):
Bob went back to wrap up aglae Ford today. Friends.
While planting season is among the busiest times on the farm,
sometimes adding to stress for our growers, what are some
techniques to reduce stress so well? Rod Bain has our final.

Speaker 2 (35:32):
Report planting season. Since last mouth growers have been working
on their fields at getting their spring planted, crop, seed
and inputs into the ground. David Brown of Iowa State
University Extension is above those who understand a farmer's plantag
season is much like harvest time in that.

Speaker 35 (35:50):
I know they're putting in long houry.

Speaker 2 (35:52):
Long hours contributing to a lack of sleep and relaxation.
What of several factors that add to stress for the individual.
Brown also acknowledges that during planting season there may not
be much opportunity for rest. Yet there are strategies that
can help growers regarding reduction of fatigue and stress. For starters, try.

Speaker 35 (36:14):
To build in short breaks when whatever you're doing, trying
to take a little short.

Speaker 2 (36:17):
Walk, getting as much sleep as possible regardless of the
circumstances of the field and farm. Indeed, is important even
during busy times like plant tic at harvest. When there
is downtime, Brown suggests taking a few minutes for relaxation
in the form of deep breathing, exercise, prayer or meditation.

Speaker 35 (36:37):
Pry to focus only when you have that time. Do
your go to thing that helps you relax. What is
the one item that you can rely on when you
have that little bit of downtime that you can relax.

Speaker 2 (36:46):
Another tip in longer periods of downtime, if there is
a particular hobby of interest and enjoyment, Brown says that
can assist in relaxation. As social interaction is also a
stress reduction strategy.

Speaker 35 (37:01):
Who can you talk to? Who can you socialize during
the time those off hours when you can actually get
out and about who can you socialize with?

Speaker 2 (37:08):
Brown ads There are several resources available to producers in
the way of stress reduction techniques and strategies.

Speaker 35 (37:16):
A need of the extension services across the nation have
farm stress websites you missed my Google farm stress and
many of them have a lot of different items to
talk about.

Speaker 2 (37:25):
Also available several farm stress hotlines for growers to call
if they need resources or just someone to talk to,
including those through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network,
a collaboration of regional networks operated by land grant universities
with support from USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture ABROADBANE,

(37:49):
reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, d C.

Speaker 1 (37:53):
With that, friends, out of time for today, thanks for
joining us back tomorrow morning with another edition of Baglife.