Farm Radio

The 2019 Farm Bill agreement has been reached in the Senate and House Ag Committees. Still needs to be written and voted on By Congress. Lots of factors including it being a Lame Duck Session and the passing of George H.W. Bush are holding the process up. A trade deal has been reached between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It will replace NAFTA if ratified by U.S. Congress. It is called the USMCA. China has agreed to halt trade wars with the U.S. and will be buying farm goods again. The sticking point is that there is still a high 25% tariff) on ag commodities by China. Farmers are expressing concern over the lack of a new farm bill in the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The monthly survey in November asked producers how concerned they were regarding the farm bill. 75 percent of respondents said they were either somewhat or very concerned about the lack of a new farm bill with 33 percent of respondents indicating they were very concerned. Just 24 percen...

Lorrie Boyer Named 2019 NAFB President Boyer to lead 900+ members PLATTE CITY, Missouri (November 16, 2018) – Veteran Farm Broadcaster Lorrie Boyer, current farm director at KSIR in Fort Morgan, Colorado, was named 2019 president at the 75th National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Convention, held November 7-9, 2018, in Kansas City, Missouri. “NAFB is honored to have Lorrie Boyer represent our association as president for the 2019 calendar year,” said Tom Brand, executive director, NAFB. “Her passion for farm broadcasting, creativity, and outgoing personality will represent our 900+ members well.” In her role with KSIR, Boyer covers issues at the local, state and national levels. “I serve my community by staying on top of ag issues impacting their bottom lines,” Boyer said. “I book and produce interviews and hourly market reports; and I offer daily ag news headlines for the KSIR audience.” Boyer also recognizes the importance of her station as well as her r...

The Colorado Noxious Weed Advisory Committee is searching to replace five positions. They are seeking to agricultural producers, a private landowner and large positions to fill the roles. The committee discusses Colorado's weed management challenges and finds solutions that best reflect public and private interests. they then make recommendations to the Colorado Department of Agriculture concerning designation of state noxious weeds, classification of state noxious weeds, development and implementation of state weed management plans and prescribed techniques for eradication, containment and suppression of state noxious weeds. Nominations are currently open until December 1. Terms are for two years. For more information, call 303-869-9034.

Producers in Morgan and Phillips counties, who suffered losses due to hail, high winds, rains and tornadoes that occurred July 28 and 29th, 2018 may be eligible for USDA emergency loans. That means that producers in contiguous counties are also eligible and those counties are Adams, Logan, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld and Yuma Counties, along withe Chase and Perkins counties in Nebraska.

With hot and dry conditions in Northeast Colorado and drought and fires in Southeast and Southwest Colorado, some producers are having to make deep cull cuts according to Executive Vice President of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, Terry Finkhauser. He looks for about a 20% increase in cattle runs, with 35-40% increase in stocking capacity because of less and deteriorating pasture resources.  In addition, hay resources are becoming harder to find and there is an increased amount of hay being moved into Colorado from other states. Colorado Governor, John Hickenlooper has approved a change in height restrictions on hay loads, so that more hay can be transported at one time. Finkhauser says that producers are also looking to adjust rations given that there are more poor-quality feeds being given to cattle right now. CCA has activated a hay lists that has resources for hay for sale. Much of the hay that is for sale right now is from Montana, Idaho and the Dakotas.  ...

Ag News Notes this week: Colorado State Fair ends Monday, September 3. Jr Livestock sale this year netted $45K Congress will conference on the 2019 Farm Bill for the second time next week. Bills differ a lot between Senate and House. The U.S. and Mexico have found common ground in a trade deal that would replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. is trying to get Canada to do away with their dairy support program so that Canada can again be a part of NAFTA. They have not agreed to do that as of now. Silage harvest has begun in NE Colorado. There will be fewer trucks on the road in Morgan County because a lot was lost East and West of Fort Morgan due to weather and storms. Early Wheat planting has begun in NE Colorado. Need moisture to really get going going with planting.

From www.eenews.net (Photo from farmfutures.com) The Obama-era Clean Water Rule became the law in 26 states today as a federal judge in South Carolina issued a nationwide injunction on the Trump administration's delay of the regulation that defines what wetlands and waterways get federal protection. The  injunction  targets the Trump administration's February order suspending the rule while EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers worked up a new version. The Southern Environmental Law Center sued on behalf of several environmental groups, saying the administration rushed the rulemaking and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. U.S. District Judge David Norton for the District of South Carolina agreed with the greens, saying the administration failed to seek public comment on the substance of rule or the implications of delaying the regulation by two years. "Certainly, different administrations may implement different regulatory priorities, but the [Administra...

Morgan County has really taken a hit this growing season. On July 29th, producers on the Eastern end of the county experienced two F2 tornadoes that have resulted in field and livestock damage. Some corn fields are a 100% loss, others are so hail damaged that it will be difficult to harvest and what is harvested will be low quality. Western Sugar reports an 8% loss in sugar beets. The beets will continue to grow, but will spend the energy growing a new canopy and not sugar content in the beet below ground. Hail also took a toll on livestock. I know of at least one cow that dies from the half-dollar size hail that swept through the Hillrose- Synder area. A local veterinarian reported in an interview that the stress cattle endured during this storm will most likely lead to issues when breeding time rolls around next month. Facebook also had photos of welts and some open lesions in horses. In addition, nitrates could pose a problem as the corn that is not harvested will leave nitrat...

Lots of Milk! (Photo from Youtube.com) The latest milk production data from USDA shows farmers are still harvesting a lot of milk, even with low prices. Colorado's production is leading the way in the amount of milk produced in the U.S. Colorado has increased production by 11% over last year, Kansas reports a 7.55 increase and Texas is up by 6.6%. Nationwide, milk production is up 1.3% from last year in the top 23 milk producing states. USDA is also reporting the highest per cow milk production numbers- with individual cow production averaging just over 19,000 pounds per month.

The House of Representatives placed the farm bill back in the court of the Senate, voting to move towards conference yesterday. The voice vote approval paves the way for the Senate to consider similar action so the two chambers can appoint conferees to mend differences between the House and Senate versions of the farm bill. Now, the Senate must also vote to proceed to conference and appoint conferees. However, when the conference committee will convene remains uncertain, before or after the August recess. The current farm bill expires September 30th. Wheat harvest is nearing completion (about 85% complete). Dryland yields are averaging 40 bushels per acre, irrigated about 80 bushels per acre. Of course where hail and heavy winds have hit, those yields are much lower. In addition, farmers in NE Colorado are dealing with an epic sawfly infestation. There is not much they can do but ride it out at this point in the growing season. There is a photo of a f...

(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting ) Japan Will Resume Sheep and Goat Imports from U.S. (Photo credit: African  Farming) Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the Japanese government has finalized the technical requirements that will allow U.S. sheep and goat exports to Japan to resume for the first time in 14 years. U.S. Meat Export Federation Chair Dennis Stiffler says Japan was a primary market for U.S. lamb before losing access in December of 2003 because of mad cow disease detection in the American cattle herd. “Our lamb producers and the overall industry are very excited about the opportunity to export our quality products to an upscale market,” Stiffler says. “The Japanese have proven in the past that they’re very receptive to the unique flavor of U.S. lamb.” While U.S. lamb has already been well-received in other markets like Taiwan, which reopened to U.S. lamb in 2016, Japan presents an exceptional opportunity for significant export growth. Japan...