AG NEWS 890 PODCAST: Recent Episodes
DOUG GROFF
Farm Director Terry Loomis had the chance to talk with ND Farmers Union President Woody Barth.
Terry Loomis and Reed Ihry talk about insurance coverage during the first big day of BIG IRON.
We talked with Doug Landbloom about the Dickinson Research Center Field Day coming up August 29th.
Chuck Schwab, agricultural safety specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach talks tractor fire prevention.
USMEF Hosts Caribbean Sales Team
Last week the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosted a group of meat industry sales representatives from the Caribbean nations of Aruba, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, St. Maarten and Trinidad and Tobago for a firsthand look the production, processing and merchandising practices that drive the U.S. beef, pork and lamb industries. USMEF’s primary objectives in hosting these sales reps were to introduce them to a wider range of cuts that will satisfy their customers’ needs and provide them with detailed information that will enhance their ability to convey the positive attributes of high-quality U.S. meat product
Mick Kjar talks to Minnesota Senator Al Franken live from Farmfest near Redwood Falls, MN.
Ranking Ag Committee Representative Collin Peterson joins Mick Kjar on Farm Talk live from Farm Fest near Redwood Falls, MN.
Weekly USMEF Audio Report: Nebraska Rancher Excited about U.S. Beef’s Prospects in Latin America
Mick talks to ND Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring on a number of issues affecting North Dakota farmer and ranchers.
South Dakota Climatologist Dennis Todey talks about the South Dakota drought problems in his state.
North Dakota Climatologist Anan Akuse and Mick Kjar talk about the outlook for the rest of ND in 2012.
President of the ND Corn Growers Board Of Directors Darren Anderson visits with Mick about the ND corn crop and issues in the corn industry.
Jan Knodel talks to Mick about her trip to Washington to talk about the Farm Bill and more.
Farm Futures's Arlan Suderman talks to Joe Warren about the volatile markets, the weather and what we could be headed for.
In this week’s report, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Philip Seng offers his thoughts on the latest official export results for U.S. pork and beef, which are from the month of May. Seng notes that even compared to the record pace of 2011, pork exports are trending higher in most major markets. He highlights Mexico (up 15 percent in volume, 13 percent in value), Japan (up 10 percent in value despite a 5 percent decline in volume), China/Hong Kong (up one-third in volume, 83 percent in value) and Canada (up 14 percent in volume, 19 percent in value) as leading contributors to this year-over-year growth. On a global basis, U.S. pork exports are up 6 percent in volume to 968,485 metric tons and are 15 percent higher in value at just under $2.7 billion.
Major droughts in Indiana, Amanda Moesman of Warrick County talk to Mick about the conditions.
The one and only Max Armstrong from Farm Progress America joined Mick on Farm talk to chat about a number of agricultural issues.
Dan Halstrom, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) senior vice president for marketing and communications, is in Bogota, Colombia, this week for USMEF’s Latin American Product Showcase. This key promotional event for U.S. beef and pork seeks to build on the momentum of last year’s inaugural showcase, which was held in Panama City, Panama. Halstrom explains that while the 2011 event was a huge success, interest is even higher this year. He says about 25 U.S. companies will be exhibiting beef and pork products at the showcase, with about 50 buyers expected from 10 different Latin American countries.
Growing U.S. pork exports is not always a matter of displacing the competition, but rather growing overall demand. For example, the U.S. pork industry holds more than 90 percent of the imported pork market in Mexico, accounting for nearly one-third of total pork consumption. But per capita pork consumption in Mexico is only 24 pounds per year, compared to about 46 pounds in the United States.
ND State Veterinarian Susan Keller talks about potential heat stroke in cattle and renting your land to out of state livestock.
Farm Director Terry Loomis talks to Ranking Member on the Ag House Committee MN Representative Collin Peterson.
Last week the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosted a meeting with top officials from Japan’s Agriculture and Livestock Industries Corporation (ALIC).
Greg Hanes is USMEF’s assistant vice president for international marketing and former director of its Japan operations. He explains that USMEF and ALIC have a long history of working together on key issues, and that ALIC plays a critical role in the stability of Japan’s agricultural sector.
Hanes adds that the ALIC officials’ visit to the United States included a wide-ranging overview of the production and processing practices in the U.S. beef and pork industries. Top issues of interest for the group included animal welfare, which ALIC feels may take on a higher profile in Japan now that major restaurant and retail chains are favoring suppliers who follow particular production practices.
-RAYNELL MUELLER OF BIG STONE CITY SOUTH DAKOTA WAS DOING CHORES WHEN STRONG STORMS MOVED THROUGH NE SD, AND TELLS US HER EXPERIENCE.
-JAN KNODEL OF NDSU GIVES US A UPDATE OF SOYBEAN APHIDS, THEYE ARE STARTING TO APPEAR. LISTEN HERE
Underground storage tanks have new rules, Carl Ness of the underground tank program for ND explains.
Due to the diseases like the Emerald Ash Borer, ND is looking for new tree types and the Kentucky coffee tree seems to fit nicely.
Pork Exports Remain Strong through April; BSE Case Shouldn't Slow Beef Exports Significantly
Stan Miesck, Chief Brand Inspector of North Dakota Stockman's Association talks about an additional $1,000.00 reward for information on the Cattle shooting in Hankinson, ND.
Kristen Hassebrook, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Director for Nebraska Cattlemen, talks about how the EPA is spying on Cattlemen's feedlots from the air.
In a recent address to U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) members, John Brook, USMEF regional director for Europe, Russia and the Middle East, provided an update on the BSE-related suspension of U.S. beef imports imposed by Saudi Arabia. As Brook explains, the ban not only lacks any scientific justification, but the timing of the announcement also created a significant amount of havoc for U.S. exporters.
Fortunately, U.S. trade officials were recently able to persuade their counterparts in Saudi Arabia to change the effective shipping date of the import suspension to May 10. While this did not overturn the ban, it did help accommodate beef shipments that were already en route prior to Saudi Arabia’s suspension announcement – which originally had an effective shipping date of April 19.
On a more positive note, Brook adds that while Saudi Arabia’s decision had raised fears of similar action being taken by other Middle East trading partners, no other country in the region has altered the level of market access. In fact, Indonesia is the only other importing country to impose new restrictions on U.S. beef as a result of the BSE case. (While Indonesia had previously accepted a wide range of U.S. beef products, it is now allowing only boneless beef cuts from cattle less than 30 months of age.)
One of the highlights of last week’s U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Board of Directors Meeting in New Orleans was a product showcase in which USMEF member companies exhibited beef, pork and lamb items for more than 100 meat buyers representing 12 international markets.
Charles Elhard plant protection specialist for ND talks about the Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Board of Directors Meeting and Product Showcase will be held this week in New Orleans, opening Wednesday, May 23, and running through Friday morning.
USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng says the meeting will allow producers, exporters and other meat industry leaders in attendance to hear from USMEF’s international directors about market conditions and challenges in key destinations for U.S. beef, pork and lamb.
He adds that the USMEF Product Showcase is a great opportunity for visiting teams of foreign buyers to learn more about U.S. meat products – including production, processing, shipping and merchandising. The event also allows U.S. producers to see a wide range of their products exhibited and to get a feel for the manner in which they are packaged, displayed and marketed internationally.
Seng says farmers and ranchers have made an important investment in international marketing through their checkoff programs, and this meeting offers an opportunity to and learn more about how this support is used to grow international demand for their products.
U.S. Pork Exports Post Impressive First Quarter Results; Set New Per-Head Value Record in March
Don Guthmiller, SDSU Extension Agronomy Business Management Field Specialist talks about a new website for producers.
As the U.S. Meat Export Federation’s (USMEF) regional director for Europe, Russia and the Middle East, John Brook already oversees a massive portion of the Eastern Hemisphere. But he says West Africa features several areas of rapid economic growth that present interesting, untapped potential for U.S. beef exports. The region already imports some beef variety meat from the United States, but Brook sees growth opportunities for muscle cuts as well, if transportation challenges and other obstacles can be overcome.
In September 2011, USMEF participated in the region’s first-ever U.S. beef promotion in Dakar, Senegal, and a similar event is planned for May 14. Brook says this year’s promotion will showcase more economical beef value cuts, which have the best potential for growth in this region.
Rita Maloney of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange explains all the ins and outs of the extended trading starting May 21st.
Country singer Steve Azar joins Mick to talk about his new song "American Farmer" and how all proceeds go towards the FFA.
While the pace of U.S. pork exports to China has slowed from the record volumes recorded late last year, China still makes up a key component of the U.S. industry’s global export picture. Through February, U.S. pork exports to China (including variety meat) totaled 137.7 million pounds valued at $122.3 million. For the China/Hong Kong region, exports totaled 172.4 million pounds valued at $158.2 million.
NDSU'S Dave Franzen talks about alfalfa and what conditions are best for optimum growth.
Patrick Boyle of the ND NASS Office tells us if there were any surprises in the latest survey.
Mick talks to ND Stockman Association Director Julie Ellingson about various livestock issues.
NDSU Energy Educator Carl Peterson has a new app for your Iphone to help you save money on heating bills.
Jason Goltz, Richland County Extension Agent talks about the field conditions around the county.
USDA Rural Development Director Jasper Schneider tells us he is still focusing on North Dakota's needs despite the budget axe.
ND SOYBEAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TALKS TO MICK ABOUT THE UPCOMING FARM BILL DURING THE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES CONFERENCE THIS WEEK IN FARGO.
Mick talks to Dr. Won Coo about the upcoming Issues and Challenges Conference at the Holiday Inn, Fargo.
NDSU Vice President Of Agriculture Ken Grafton tell us about the bioscience of the North Dakota Study.
NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT BART SCHOTT TALKS ABOUT THE SENATE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT TO REPLEAST THE ETHANOL EXCISE TAX CREDIT.