This week on AgweekTV, USDA hits supply chain and shipping issues head on to help move U.S. ag exports. We’ll check in with the latest on sugar demand at the American Sugarbeet Growers Association’s annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. They’re a common part of the spring cattle sale season: how auctioneers drive the big money buys. And we’ll feature a unique goat and cattle operation in northeast South Dakota.
WELCOME TO AGWEEK TV, I’M MICHELLE ROOK.
THIS WEEK U.S. AG SECRETARY TOM VILSACK ANNOUNCED A PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP ADDRESS THE EXPORT SIDE OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS AND IMPROVE SERVICE FOR SHIPPERS OF U.S AG PRODUCTS.
AT A WEBINAR HOSTED BY AGRI-PULSE, VILSACK SAID THEY’LL PARTNER WITH CALIFORNIA’S PORT OF OAKLAND TO ESTABLISH A LOADING AREA TO FILL CONTAINERS WITH U.S. AG GOODS. THEY’LL PAY 60-PERCENT OF THE STARTUP AND SUBSIDIZE EXPORTERS FOR LOGISTICAL COSTS AND HOPE TO HAVE IT OPERATIONAL BY EARLY MARCH.
Tom Vilsack: The goal of this is essentially to get a quicker pick up of empty containers, provide access so those containers can be filled with agricultural products, avoid the congestion that often occurs in the ports and hopefully avoid surcharges and additional fees and in fact, hopefully see many of those empty containers filled with agricultural products.
VILSACK SAYS THE RESULT WILL BE MORE RELIABLE SHIPPING AND EXPANDED EXPORTS TO SEVEN OF THE TOP TEN MARKETS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. THE GOAL IS TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO OTHER PORTS ON THE COAST.
SUPPLY CHAIN AND SHIPPING DISRUPTIONS, HIGH OCEAN FREIGHT RATES, THE TRUCKER SHORTAGE AND IMPORT TARIFFS HAVE ALL COMBINED TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE PRICE OF NEARLY EVERYTHING FARMERS NEED TO FARM.
AT FARM SHOWS ITS BEEN REFLECTED IN THE PRICE OF INPUTS, EQUIPMENT, PARTS AND ANYTHING CONSTRUCTED. PALACE BUILDERS SELLS GRAIN BINS AND STEEL BUILDINGS AND HAS HAD TO RAISE THEIR PRICES WITH THE SHORTAGE OF STEEL AND OTHER RAW MATERIALS.
Steve Otterby: It depends upon the size of the facility but if you’re talking about a grain bin, the price may have gone up 30 to 40-percent and probably the same thing on a building.
HE SAYS WITH THE HIGHER COSTS AND LONG WAIT TIMES FOR BUILDINGS, SOME FARMERS HAVE PUT OFF PROJECTS AND PURCHASES.
Otterby: Somebody might be interested in putting up a facility and if we can’t get it in time for them to be any good for them, they just put it off or go someplace else.
KOOIMA AG WAS PROACTIVE AND ORDERED STEEL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, SO THEY’VE HAD A BETTER SUPPLY OF THEIR FORAGE HARVESTER PARTS AND SMALLER PRICE INCREASES.
Galen Jansen: We have gone up but we have not gone up that high. We’re trying to keep it you know manageable for us and for the customers.
AG COMPANIES SAY MATERIAL PRICES ARE STARTING TO LEVEL OUT AND THEY HOPE THEY’LL GO DOWN SLOWLY OVER THE COMING YEAR. BUT FEW HAVE EVER SEEN THIS KIND OF A MARKET.
AMERICAN SUGAR CONSUMPTION HAS DROPPED 20-PERCENT IN THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, EVEN AS THE POPULATION HAS GROWN. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE INDUSTRY, AND SUGARBEET GROWERS?
JENNY SCHLECHT HAS MORE FROM THE AMERICAN SUGARBEET GROWERS ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL MEETING, IN THIS WEEK’S AGWEEK COVER STORY.
Jenny Schlecht: DIET CONSCIOUS CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN CUTTING SUGAR FOR TWENTY YEARS. THE FUTURE OF SUGAR DEMAND WAS A HOT TOPIC AT THE AMERICAN SUGARBEET GROWERS ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL MEETING IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA.
Luther Markwart: THERE IS THIS MISCONCEPTION THAT WE’RE EATING LOTS OF SUGAR AND MAKING PEOPLE OBESE. AND FACT IS, IS THAT WE’RE EATING LESS SUGAR THAN WHAT WHAT WE DID TWENTY OR THIRTY YEARS AGO.
Jenny Schlecht: STUDIES SHOWING A CORRELATION BETWEEN HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP CONSUMPTION AND OBESITY HAVE HAD CONSUMERS CUTTING SUGAR FOR TWO DECADES. BUT WITH OBESITY STILL ON THE RISE, THE SUGAR INDUSTRY SEES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESET THE CONVERSATION.
Luther Markwart: AND WE HAVE TO EDUCATE THE POLICYMAKERS, THE REGULATORS IN WASHINGTON TO SAY LOOK, SUGAR IS ALL NATURAL, IT’S PART OF A WELL BALANCED DIET. WE’VE JUST GOT TO DO THIS IN A SMART, BALANCED WAY, WHERE THERE’S SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO BACK UP YOUR ARGUMENT.
Jenny Schlecht: THE REAL SUGAR CAMPAIGN HAS INCLUDED INFLUENCER TOURS, TARGETED ONLINE MARKETING AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AS WELL AS ADVOCATING FOR SUGAR’S ROLE IN THE DIET.
Courtney Gaine: THE MORE ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THE FARMERS ARE THE BETTER. YOU KNOW, YOU ONLY BELIEVE SOMETHING IF YOU SEE IT, SO THE MORE VIDEOS AND THE PICTURES AND THE MORE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS, IT GOES A LONG WAY WITH CONSUMERS FEELINGS ABOUT SUGAR.
IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA, THIS IS JENNY SCHLECHT FOR AGWEEK.
YOU CAN READ MORE IN THE NEXT AGWEEK MAGAZINE, AND AT
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INTERSEEDING COVER CROPS INTO CORN CAN PROVIDE SOME BENEFITS AGAINST PESTS, AND ADD TO BENEFICIAL INSECTS.
THAT’S ONE OF THE FINDINGS OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY A SOUTH DAKOTA FOUNDATION.
MICHAEL BREDESON IS A BIOLOGIST FOR THE ECDYSIS FOUNDATION. HE SPOKE AT THE ANNUAL FOOD AND FARMING CONFERENCE IN FARGO.
HE SAYS THE NEXT STEP IS TO SIGN UP ONE THOUSAND FARMS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN A LONGER-TERM PROJECT TO GATHER REGENERATIVE FARMING DATA. HE SAYS IT’S IMPORTANT FOR IMPROVING THE ECOSYSTEM.
Michael Bredeson: WHEN WE INTERSEED A COVER CROP, THAT CREATES THE ENVIRONMENT ON THE SOIL SURFACE THAT MAKES IT A MORE MOIST ENVIRONMENT, THERE’S SHADE THERE, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE PREY RESOURCES, THERE’S POLLEN AND NECTAR. YOU SEE AN EXPLOSION OF INSECT LIFE.
THE CONFERENCE WAS SPONSORED BY THE NORTHERN PLAINS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SOCIETY.
AGP HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR A NEW SOYBEAN PROCESSING PLANT IN DAVID CITY, NEBRASKA.
THE NEW FACILITY WILL CRUSH 50 MILLION BUSHELS OF SOYBEANS ANNUALLY AND FOLLOWS THE SUCCESS OF THEIR NEW PLANT IN ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA.
THE MEAL WILL GO TO THEIR EXPORT FACILITY IN ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON DESTINED FOR PACIFIC RIM CUSTOMERS. OFFICIALS SAYS STRONG DEMAND FOR PROTEIN AND SOYBEAN OIL DROVE THE COOP’S DECISION TO BUILD, AS THIS PLANT WILL NOT PRODUCE BIODIESEL.
AGP PLANS CONSTRUCTION TO BE COMPLETED BY 2025.
FARM STATE SENATORS ARE PUSHING TO REINSTATE MANDATORY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING FOR MEAT, BUT HAVE IT COMPLIANT WITH WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION RULES.
SOUTH DAKOTA’S JOHN THUNE SAYS THEY’RE ASKING THE U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE’S OFFICE TO WRITE RULES TO ENSURE THE U.S. DOES NOT FACE RETALIATORY TARIFFS FROM MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS LIKE MEXICO AND CANADA. BUT HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO MAKE M-COOL DEFENDABLE AGAINST THIS TRADE OPPOSITION?
Sen. John Thune: I’m hoping that we can construct, with the input and help of the people that have to defend this at the World Trade Organization, language that gives us a better chance of succeeding.
OTHER SENATORS CONTEND THAT FOR A PRODUCT OF THE USA LABEL TO BE ACCEPTED BY TRADING PARTNERS, IT SHOULD BE PART OF OUR REGULAR TRADE DEALS. AND THE USTR OFFICE SHOULD BE NEGOTIATING M-COOL AS PART OF THOSE PACTS.
UP NEXT ON AGWEEK TV, OUR LIVESTOCK TOUR CONTINUES WITH A TRIP TO A UNIQUE SOUTH DAKOTA GOAT RANCH.
THE AGWEEK LIVESTOCK TOUR IS SPONSORED BY 701x,TRANS OVA AND FARMERS MUTUAL OF NEBRASKA.
OUR AGWEEK LIVESTOCK TOUR CONTINUES, WITH A VISIT TO A SOUTH DAKOTA OPERATION RAISING UNIQUE GOATS ALONG WITH CATTLE.
EMILY BEAL TAKES US TO THE LAZY J BAR RANCH.
EMILY: THANKS MICHELLE. TODAY I’M MAKING A STOP ON AGWEEK’S 2022 LIVESTOCK TOUR IN MINA, SOUTH DAKOTA WITH STEPHANIE JUNG.
SO STEPHANIE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT Y’ALL’S GOAT OPERATION?
Stephanie Jung: HI. WE GOT STARTED IN THE BOER GOATS IN 2010. WE WENT AND BOUGHT A PRETTY LARGE HERD OF COMMERCIAL GOATS AND WE JUST UPGRADED SINCE THEN.
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WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT NUMBER WITH YOUR HERD?
WE RUN ABOUT 130 MATURE DOES AND USUALLY SOMEWHERE AROUND 50 KIDS COMING BACK IN.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS MARKET YOUR OFFSPRING TOWARDS? MARKET GOATS, MORE COMMERCIAL SIDE? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
Stephanie Jung: WE HOST A PRODUCTION SALE HERE AT THE RANCH EVERY YEAR IN APRIL, WHERE WE OFFER ALL OF OUR SPRING BORN DOE KIDS, AND SOME SELECT SHOW WETHERS. SO MOST OF OUR BREEDER QUALITY DOES AND BUCKS GO TO OTHER REGISTERED OR COMMERCIAL BREEDERS. AND YES I DO ACTUALLY UTILIZE QUITE A BIT OF OUR OWN BUCK POWER. AND THEN OF COURSE GO SEARCHING FOR BUCKS TOO. I LIKE NOTHING BETTER THAN SHOPPING FOR BULLS AND BUCKS, AND HORSES.
AND LOOKING FORWARD ARE YOU GUYS COMFORTABLE WITH THIS SIZE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GROW?
Stephanie Jung: I THINK WE’RE PROBABLY ABOUT CAPPED OUT ON HERD SIZE WITH JUST THE TWO OF US DOING ALL THIS. PLUS WE BOTH HAVE OFF THE FARM JOBS. MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT OF CHALLENGE WHEN YOU RUN COUPLE HUNDRED HEAD OF COWS AND ABOUT 200 HEAD OF GOATS AND RAISE CHILDREN AS WELL.
EMILY: ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH STEPHANIE. ON AGWEEK’S 2022 LIVESTOCK TOUR, THIS IS EMILY BEAL FOR AGWEEK.
THE AUCTIONEER CAN REALLY MAKE OR BREAK A SALE. WE CAUGHT UP WITH ONE OF THE BEST, ROGER JACOBS, AT THE ANNUAL ELLINGSON SIMMENTAL AUCTION NEAR DAHLEN, NORTH DAKOTA.
He’s lot 34. The auction is in your hands. Who’ll give me 20 thousand?
ROGER JACOBS HAS BUILT A REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE BEST CATTLE AUCTIONEERS IN THE BUSINESS
15, 15, 15…will you bid 15 thousand. 15. Now five!
ONE SALE AT A TIME.
“Sold Bull! 75-hundred!”
JACOBS WAS RAISED ON A RANCH IN WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA..
Roger Jacobs: WHEN I AS A YOUNGER KID I TAGGED ALONG TO THE SALE BARN WITH MY FATHER. I ALWAYS LIKED LISTENING TO THE AUCTIONEERS, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A FUN THING TO DO.
HE GRADUATED FROM NDSU, AND WORKED IN THE CATTLE BUSINESS FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE BECOMING AN AUCTIONEER. NOW, HE’S BASED OUT OF BILLINGS, MONTANA, AND HE CALLS AUCTIONS FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW YORK AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.
Gotta go!
JACOBS CALLS FROM 80 TO 100 CATTLE SALES A YEAR. HE DOES A VARIETY OF BREEDS, BUT HE SPECIALIZES IN PUREBRED CATTLE. AND HE’S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FASTEST, AND BEST, AUCTIONEERS IN THE BUSINESS.
Roger Jacobs: THE HIGHEST PRICE BULL I EVER SOLD WAS 420 THOUSAND DOLLARS. I BELIEVE THE HIGHEST PRICE COW I EVER SOLD WAS 450 THOUSAND. THE HIGHEST AVERAGING SALE WOULD HAVE BEEN THIRTY SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS PER LOT.
JACOBS SAYS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THE JOB IS THAT EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT. ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES A LITTLE TOO MUCH SO.
Roger Jacobs: I’VE HAD CATTLE IN THE AUCTION BLOCK WITH ME. I HAD A BULL JUMP IN THE AUCTION BLOCK AND KNOCK ME OUT. AND LOST MY SENSE OF SMELL AS A RESULT OF THAT TEN YEARS AGO. BUT I’VE SEEN THEM OUT IN THE CROWD. I’VE SEEN EVERYTHING HAPPEN.
ONE OF JACOBS’ FORMER NDSU PROFESSORS, NOW WITH THE AMERICAN SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION, SAYS JACOBS’ OUTGOING PERSONALITY IS PART OF WHAT MAKES HIM A GREAT AUCTIONEER.
Russ Danielson: HE INTERACTS WITH THE CROWD VERY WELL. IT MAKES THEM COMFORTABLE AND THEY TRUST HIM.
AND JACOBS SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO SLOW DOWN ANY TIME SOON.
Roger Jacobs: EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT, SO IF YOU DON’T LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY, IT’S TIME TO PACK IT IN AND GO HOME. AND I’M NOT READY FOR THAT.
Make it break fifteen!
JACOBS SAYS HE DRIVES AS MUCH AS 100-THOUSAND MILES A YEAR TO AUCTIONS, ALTHOUGH THESE DAYS HE FLIES TO SOME OF THE FARTHER ONES.
STILL AHEAD, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NORTHERN CORN AND SOYBEAN EXPO.
WE MISSED OUT ON THE BIG WINTER STORM THIS WEEK, AND GROUND HOG DAY CONFIRMED SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER. BUT WHAT IS REALLY AHEAD IN THE FORECAST?
HERE’S JOHN WITH OUR AGRI-WEATHER OUTLOOK.
LIKE SO MANY EVENTS LAST YEAR, THE NORTHERN CORN AND SOYBEAN EXPO WENT VIRTUAL. BUT IT’S BACK LIVE THIS YEAR, WITH LOTS OF GREAT EVENTS. ROSE DUNN TALKS WITH THE ORGANIZERS, TO GIVE US A PREVIEW.
ROSE: AND JOINING ME NOW ARE STEPHANIE SINNER ON THE END WITH THE NORTH DAKOTA SOYBEAN COUNCIL AND JEAN HENNING WITH THE NORTH DAKOTA CORN COUNCIL. LIKE SO MANY EVENTS, YOURS LAST YEAR WENT VIRTUAL BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT THIS YEAR YOU’RE BACK IN PERSON. TELL ME ABOUT THE DAY.
Jean Henning: THE DAY IS GOING TO BE ON FEBRUARY 21ST, 2022, AT THE FARGODOME IN FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA. 8 A.M. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LIVE TAPING OF THE U.S. FARM REPORT. WE NEED THAT LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE, SO WE’RE GOING TO CLOSE THE DOORS, AND WE’RE GOING TO BEGIN THE SHOW, AND THAT SHOW IS GOING TO LAST FROM EIGHT TO NINE A.M. AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO MOVE RIGHT INTO SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT WE’RE GOING TO DISCUSS.
Stephanie Sinner: WE’RE GOING TO COVER WEATHER, ALONG WITH THAT SOME OF THE CARBON MARKETS. A LOT OF CONFUSION AND QUESTIONS OUT THERE, ABOUT WHAT IS THIS REALLY ALL ABOUT, AND HOW DO YOU PARTICIPATE, AND IS PARTICIPATING IN A CARBON PROGRAM FOR YOU AND YOUR FARM OPERATION? IN ADDITION THIS YEAR WE’RE ALSO COVERING CYBER SECURITY. I KNOW IT’S BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN QUITE A FEW FARM CIRCLES, BUT REALLY BRINGING IN SOME EXPERTS TO TALK ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR FARM DATA, AND AS FARM OPERATORS AND OWNERS, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE VULNERABLE IN THE WORLD OF CYBER DATA SECURITY.
ONE THING WE JUST KEEP HEARING OVER AND OVER, TOP OF EVERYONE’S MIND, IS THE RISING COST OF INPUTS.
Jean Henning: YOU ARE RIGHT. THE COST OF FERTILIZER, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, HAS BECOME SUCH AN ISSUE, SO WE ARE BRINGING IN JOSH LINVILLE IN FROM STONEX. HE’S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF FERTILIZER. AND HE WILL BE TALKING DURING THE U,S, FARM REPORT TAPING.
AND ANOTHER THING WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
Stephanie Sinner: YEAH, SO WE’RE GOING TO ROUND OUT EXPO WITH A PANEL OF EXPERTS TALKING ABOUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, A TOPIC THAT CHANGES DAILY. WITH WHAT EVERYBODY IS EXPERIENCING FROM COAST TO COAST AND REALLY WITH INTERNATIONAL EXPORTS TOO. AND THEN ALSO TALKING ABOUT TRUCKING. WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE NORTH DAKOTA MOTOR CARRIERS ASSOCIATION TO COME IN AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE TRUCKING SHORTAGE ISSUES AND LABOR ISSUES THAT WE’RE HEARING ABOUT.
DON’T FORGET TO PRE-REGISTER, NORTHERN CORN AND SOY
, FEBRUARY 21 AT THE FARGODOME.
ROSE: WELL WORTH YOUR TIME TO SPEND THE DAY AT THE NORTHERN CORN AND SOY EXPO.
COMING UP ON AGWEEK TV, HOW COVER CROPS CAN ADD TO YOUR BOTTOM LINE..
THE “TOUR DE FORAGE” MADE ITS WAY THROUGH SOUTHERN MINNESOTA OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, TOUTING THE BENEFITS OF COVER CROPS AS FORAGE.
FORAGE SPECIALIST JIM PAULSON IS A RETIRED NUTRITIONIST WITH UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION, SO HE EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGH QUALITY FEED FOR LIVESTOCK.
HE SAYS COVER CROPS CAN BE A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR FARMING SYSTEMS, NOT JUST FOR FEED, BUT OTHER BENEFITS LIKE IMPROVED SOIL HEALTH, WATER RETENTION AND PREVENTING SOIL EROSION. SO HE SAYS IT’S GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS THE BOTTOM LINE.
Jim Paulson: AND WHEN WE CAN PUT LIVESTOCK INTO THE SYSTEM WHERE WE CAN UTILIZE SOME OF THOSE COVER CROPS, WE’VE GOT A WIN-WIN SITUATION.
THE MEETINGS WERE PUT ON BY THE MIDWEST FORAGE ASSOCIATION, THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND SEVERAL OTHER GROUPS. PAULSON SAYS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, START WITH YOUR LOCAL EXTENSION AGENT.
STORIES YOU’LL ONLY SEE ON
AND AGWEEK MAGAZINE THIS WEEK,
MINNESOTA HAS NO STATEWIDE REGULATIONS ON CARBON PIPELINES, MEANING THE TWO PROJECTS TO CAPTURE CARBON FROM MINNESOTA ETHANOL PLANTS WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES FOR PERMITS.
AND AN ANNUAL REPORT IN NORTH DAKOTA FOUND CROPLAND SALES EXCEEDED THE 2013 RECORD BY SEVEN AND A HALF PERCENT, OR ABOUT 219 DOLLARS PER ACRE.
THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK’S EDITION OF AG WEEK TV.
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