The Big Show

Friday's First Hour: At the top of the show, we talk with farmer Tim Couser in Story County about yields he's hearing about in the area. Jacob Handsaker from Hands On Tiling and Excavating joins us to talk about getting in on a batch and build project by contacting local NRCS offices. Al Kluis with Kulis Commodity Advisors analyzes today's markets with key notes he saw from yesterday's WASDE and then some focusing on how South American weather is becoming the point of emphasis for the trade. To end the hour, Nathan Fischer has a report for us on how that may play into 2024 marketing with Standard Grain president Joe Vaclavik.

Thursday's Second Hour: Retired Iowa State economist Steve Johnson talks some WASDE with us and discusses the impact of no new farm bill on ARC/PLC decisions. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig provides an update on the situation with highly pathogenic avian influenza. Don Roose from US Commodities ends the show with an update on the market reaction to the WASDE Report from USDA this morning.

Thursday's First Hour: Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson discusses the results of their team-up with Fareway to donate meat to the Iowa Food Bank Association. ISU Extension's Mike Witt gives an agronomy update from West-Central Iowa. It's WASDE Report day from USDA and US Commodities' Don Roose breaks down the numbers.

Iowa State University Extension Beef Program Specialist Beth Doran talks with us about their upcoming feed lot forum and who should be attending on January 16, 2024. University of Iowa Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Dr. Craig Just tells us about the Anaerobic Digestion on the Farm Conference taking place this week in Ames and how the information they are discussing impacts agriculture. Don Roose from US Commodities, Inc. ends this edition of The Big Show with a market update leading into the close with a WASDE Report coming from USDA tomorrow.

To begin the show, David Geiger has a special report for us with Christine McCracken, senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank, who says oversupply of pork and consumer inflation pressure could affect pork markets in 2024. We congratulate Speed Herrig from Cookies on earning the Iowa Grocery Industry Association Lifetime Achievement Award. DeKalb/Asgrow Agronomist Nicole Stecklein tells us what's left for harvest and what winter preparations are being made in Northeast Iowa. Don Roose from US Commodities, Inc. talks markets with us with soybean meal seeing contract highs and he explains why. On this Wyffels Wednesday, Wyffels' Western Business Manager Adam Ploog talks about their upcoming post-harvest meeting to hear from growers about their 2023 season and to help prepare for 2024. He also has an update on the location being built in Ames!

Tuesday's Second Hour: USDA Senior Advisor for Rural Engagement, Delivery and Prosperity Cindy Axne tells us about their announcement of a $2.2 million grant to Golden Grain Energy and another $500,000 to Pilot Travel Center to expand renewable fuels sales. USDA Researcher Ammar Bhandari joins David Geiger for a look at the geospatial technology they're developing to estimate crop damage by wind damage. Brian Hoops with Midwest Market Solutions wraps up the show with a look at when he sees the next big increases in markets coming up.

Tuesday's First Hour: Spencer Chase from Agri-Pulse gives us an update from Washington D.C. on policy activity affecting agriculture including the latest push for an extension of the current Farm Bill. Brian Hoops from Midwest Market Solutions dives into the markets with us and the big factors of today's trade. David Geiger ends the hour with a special report featuring Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley's comments on fertilizer prices.

Monday's Second Hour: We're off to Indianapolis again this hour listening in on some of Lydia's discussions with FFA students at the National Convention & Expo at the end of last week. The hour starts with her talking this some of the representatives from Muscatine FFA. Then later in the hour we hear from the new Central Region Vice President Kanyon Huntington. To end the hour Jamey Kohake with Paragon Investments has an update on ag commodity markets as the close approaches.

Monday's First Hour: Lydia Johnson caught up with some more FFA students from Iowa at the end of last week at the 96th FFA National Convention & Expo and we hear her conversations with members of Keota FFA and some of the competition winners. Jamey Kohake from Paragon Investments breaks down what he calls an "impressive trade" today for grains. The hour concludes with our weekly land and equipment market update from Tim Meyer with the Steffes Group and a look at their upcoming sales calendar as crunch time approaches to get on the 2023 schedule.

Friday's Second Hour: Iowa Corn Growers Vice President Stu Swanson starts the hour telling us about the verbiage they have put together and sent to Washington leadership to be included in the Farm Bill. We head to Indianapolis once again with Lydia Johnson at the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo courtesy of Sinclair Tractor as she talks with members from the Muscatine FFA Chapter who participated in the Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event. To end the program for the week, Bob Quinn catches up with Titan Tire's Scott Sloan at the Big Show Garage.