AgriTalk

AgriTalkAM-5-12-20

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley joins us to discuss business at hand in Washington, including proposed aid packages, and his own initiative regarding the meat packaging industry. Plus Greg Peterson – Machinery Pete – talks about his Pick of the Week, online auctions, and what he's got his eye on in the future. Then we have a conversation with White Tail Properties president Dan Perez about land values and opportunities for acquiring land for recreation or investment.

The Friday Free-for-all with panelists Jim Wiesemeyer, Shaun Haney and Pam Johnson discuss the trade situation with China, livestock euthanizing, packing plants in Nebraska, price of meat, recent increase of fuel consumption and more.

Dr. James Mintert, professor of agricultural economics and the director of the center for commercial agriculture at Purdue University, joins us to discuss this month's Ag Barometer. Dr. John Newton, chief economist at the American Farm Bureau, returns to AgriTalk to discuss the economic hardships impacting agriculture, including ethanol, plus the trade situation with China. Mary Soukup is the managing director of the Beef Alliance, an organization that strives to drive positive change in the beef supply chain.

Alan Hoskins, president and national sales director at American Farm Mortgage and Financial Services, brings his considerable experience and knowledge to the show today to explain certain financial options for farmer and ranchers plus it's the Farmer Forum with today's guests Mike Appert of North Dakota and Chad Leman of Illinois.

Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is also Rural Health Commissioner for Texas and he joins us to discuss how his departments are dealing with the pandemic's effects in his state. Plus Randy Russell of The Russell Group discusses the importance of restarting the economy as soon as possible.

It's Monday and you know what that means – Greg "Machinery Pete" Peterson joins us with his Pick of the Week. Plus Congressman Sam Graves (6th District – Missouri) discusses his support for programs in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, including aid for agriculture and businesses.

The conversation in today's Free-for-all includes the executive order to keep plants open, compensation for euthanized hogs, CFAP, and re-starting the economy. The panel features regulars Jim Wiesemeyer, Shaun Haney and Pam Johnson, who also tells her #FarmON story.

We have a fun show today. We talk with John Raines of The Climate Corporation and he describes how modern technology has been helping farmers after the COVID-19 pandemic erupted. Then we speak with Dr. Andy Randolph, technical director at ECR Engines, and he describes the benefits of ethanol in NASCAR racing and everyday cars. Plus we catch up with dairy farmer Dwayne Faber who gives us his #FarmON story.

Midwest Dairy CEO Molly Pelzer joins us to discuss how this organization is providing milk, cheese, yogurt and butter to those in need during this COVID-19 pandemic. Plus we have the Farmer Forum with Michelle Jones and Tim Recker.

Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs at the National Restaurant Association, joins us to discuss the tough situation restaurants across the country face. Tanner Ehmke, manager of the Knowledge Exchange Division at CoBank, discusses the challenges of ag operations across the board. Lynsee Pullen tells us how her online virtual livestock show is what #FarmON means to her.

Jim Mulhern is the president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation and he joins us to discuss the challenges dairy is facing in this country from many fronts, including demand destruction from restaurant and school closings, and the things NMPF is working on to aid dairy producers. Greg "Machinery Pete" Peterson returns with his pick of the week and what he's watching for next week. And farmer and rancher Bob Birdsell tells us what #FarmON means to him. Plus a weather update from Kirk Hinz of BAM WX.

Welcome to another Friday Free-for-all on AgriTalk. Panelist regulars Jim Wiesemeyer, Shaun Haney and Pam Johnson return to discuss the issues of the day: greater testing for Coronavirus, packing plant safety, when and how to get people back to work, aid packages, trade with China and more.

This morning's show is packed with important information. Kansas Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam discusses the steps being taken to protect packing plant workers from Coronavirus plus quarantine provisions made available to those who have tested positive. Then rural mental health specialist Ted Matthews returns to put some of the stress farmers are dealing with right now in perspective. Then Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig joins us to discuss measures being taken to keep packing plant workers healthy and the need to expand federal aid to more sections of agriculture.

Tom Karst from The Packer joins us to talk about the impact Coronavirus has been having on the produce market. Plus it's the Farmer Forum and we have Joe Del Bosque from California and Chris Bass of Iowa and they describe what they've been facing and how they've been dealing with it.