The Drought Mitigation Center released a new drought monitor this morning with Northeast Iowa now seeing dome D4 Exceptional Drought. We begin the show with DeKalb/Asgrow Agronomist Nicole Stecklein in that corner of the state talks about the dryness, planning for 2024, and the beginning of harvest activity. Syngenta Agronomy Service Manager Jami Loecker discusses reports of dicamba-resistant water hemp and looking ahead to weed control next season. We hear from Don Roose from US Commodities for market analysis with a look at where he thinks the lows will be for new crop corn and soybeans.

We're continuing the kickoff of Beck's Feed The Farmer program. David is joined by Beck's seed advisor Frank Rydl at the start of the hour with a word on showing appreciation for farmers and an update on field conditions. Another Beck's seed advisor Chance Cook talks about the look ahead to 2024. We wrap up from Plainfield, IA with Rachel Hyde and Randy Timm from Beck's Hybrids talk about their deliveries of meals this morning. We also take a look at weather after parts of Central Iowa exceeded 3" of rainfall yesterday with local areas near 5"! Brian Hoops with Midwest Market Solutions is our market analyst and says that he's hoping to see enough rain to help with river levels and shipping and once yield numbers come in, it will really determine what direction prices go. It's also Wyffels Wednesday as Bob catches up with Randy Harding about harvest activity and planning for next year.

David is in Plainfield, IA at the farm of Pat Lentz feeding farmers with Beck's Hybrids! We start the show with Pat who talks about his growing season in Northeast Iowa and preparing to get the combine rolling. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig talks about the harvest season, staying safe on the farm, and showing appreciating farmers. Beck's Seed Advisor Brandon Parrish talks about packing meals for farmers and tells us about what he's hearing from customers as harvest gets underway and evaluating to make decisions in 2024. Midwest Market Solutions' Brian Hoops is our market analyst today and he says the market is being influenced today by potential harvest delays caused by rain across the Midwest yesterday and later this week. We head back to Plainfield at the end of the hour and talk with Lee Koenigsfeld, an agronomist from Beck's, and discuss scheduling harvest to maximize success

We start the hour with an update from Spencer Chase with Agri-Pulse in Washington D.C. on the latest news legislatively impacting agriculture including progress on a farm bill and how talks of a government shutdown could slow it down. Alliant Energy Lead Safety Consultant Kent Sodawasser informs us on some of the best practices for staying safe around power lines and equipment around the countryside. Garrett Toay from AgTraderTalk ends today's show with an update on markets and he says he expects soybeans to bounce more than corn coming up.

Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Meaghan Anderson gives a rainfall update from Central Iowa and tells us what she is noticing for harvest activity and yields. AgTraderTalk's Garrett Toay is our market analyst today and tells us what ongoing harvest activity is doing to the grain markets plus the upcoming planting season for South America. To end the hour, we take a look at some rainfall reports from the Pioneer Seeds Textline.

Charlie Hurburgh, the professor in charge of the Grain Quality Laboratory at Iowa State University, tells us about what he is seeing so far for test weights on crop coming out of the field and how kernel size is affecting data. Alex Jansen from Iowa DOT breaks down the ins and outs of the All-Systems Permit allowing year-round hauling of heavier loads across much of the state of Iowa. Jamey Kohake with Paragon Investments walks us through today's markets with corn lower and soybeans down even more sharply.

We are joined by Pioneer Seed field agronomist Sarah Wood providing some information on red crown rot in soybeans and what has been causing it to creep toward the Midwest. Jamey Kohake from Paragon Investments has a look at markets for us today with grain and livestock all lower today. Lance Lillibridge from the Iowa Corn Growers Association calls us with an update on what he's hearing from growers around his area in Benton County and about the production of millet in the area. Tim Meyer previews the upcoming Steffes Group calendar and celebrates some rain over the weekend in Southeast Iowa.

Friday's Second Hour: We wrap up our coverage from the presentation of the 178th Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award with the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers to the Dolch Family from Montgomery County! Steve Dolch talks about what has kept them in the cattle business as long as they have been. Linda Dolch expresses her pride in raising four kids to go into the ag industry. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig talks about his experience with the Dolch family, including daughter Mikayla who once worked at IDALS. As we end our year of Good Farm Neighbor Award presentations, Brian Waddingham from CSIF tells us how you can submit your nominations for 2024! Joana Colussi with Farmdoc Daily at the University of Illinois discusses with David the effect of the record output year in Brazil and Argentina's record drought causing need for them to import some of the Brazilian crop. Alan Brugler from Brugler Marketing and Management tells us what harvest activity looks like in his area near Omaha, NE and what numbers are telling us nationally. He also tells us why corn has been stuck between $4.70 and $4.85 lately and what is pushing soybeans lower today as the end of the week approaches.

Friday's First Hour: Today we are honoring the 178th Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award recipient: Steve Dolch and Family from Montgomery County! We start the show learning from Steve about the Dolch's angus operation and the infamous event in 1912 that makes Montgomery County so well known. Sons Matt, Marshall, and Michael and daughter Mikayla Dolch talk with Bob about their upbringing on the farm and how it led to them staying in the ag industry as they've become adults. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig gives praise for the Dolch Family and their dedication to agriculture and fills us in on the meeting he was at this week in Wyoming with secretaries of ag from other states. Brian Waddingham from the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers talks about how they can help livestock producers in the state and the need to expand the cattle industry. Alan Brugler from Brugler Marketing and Management updates us on today's markets after the WASDE report earlier this week and comments on the validity of numbers coming out of the Black Sea region. Kody Havens from CSIF tells us about the decisions they help livestock producers make and how they help interpreting the rules and regulations.

David Geiger is in Winneshiek County today near Calmar, IA at the Tri-State Dairy Expo! He is joined by the Iowa Dairy Ambassador and an admissions representative from Northeast Iowa Community College talking about the opportunities in the dairy industry that young folks are being shown today. He also brings in two Northeast Iowa FFA members who talk about the great turnout among young people for this year's Expo and the importance of keeping youth informed on the importance of ag. We also talk grain bin safety with NECAS Director Dan Neenan. Brian Hoops from Midwest Market Solutions ends today's Big Show with an update on markets approaching the close.