The Big Show

Clean Water Wednesday continues this afternoon from Lee Tesdell's farm in northern Polk County near Alleman, IA! Iowa Soybean Association CEO Kirk Leeds kicks off hour two discussing the history of their efforts to keep water clean, dating back to the 1990s and talks about the importance of research and testing to make progress in water quality. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is with us as well discussing how crucial clean water is because, as he says, we all live in a watershed. He also talks about the importance of field days like the one today at the Tesdell farm to show people the real-world application. The show closes with a market update from Al Kluis from Kluis Commodities informing us how the higher crude oil markets are bringing up some of the ag markets while the global marketplace is causing wheat to push lower.

In Alleman, IA we are celebrating Clean Water Wednesday! We are joined at Lee Tesdell's farm by the Iowa Ag Water Alliance and the Iowa Soybean Association. Sean McMahon from IAWA joins us to talk about the success of the Nutrient Reduction strategy 10 years later and the boom of batch and build projects. We chat with Lee as well about the beginning of the Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here initiative and the importance of keeping water clean in northern Polk County before it gets to the Des Moines area. Polk County Water Resources Supervisor John Swanson elaborates more about the progress that has been made to keep water in the county as clean as possible. For some market analysis, we get in touch with Al Kluis from Kluis Commodities as corn and beans are mostly stronger, but wheat is lower. It's also a Wyffels Wednesday! Bob chats with Wyffels corn breeder Chris Eichorn about what he expects to see from the emerging crop and highlights some of the Wyffels hybrids that he recommends to growers.

Justin Glisan, State Climatologist for the Iowa Department of Agriculture, covers the state's drought, precipitation, and rising temperatures. Kurt Seevers, a technical development manager for Verdesian, talks about profitability for farmers regarding inoculant use. Brian Hoops from Midwest Market Solutions rounds out the show with the grain markets and the potential impact of future weather conditions

Bob Quinn and David Geiger are joined by Virgil Schmitt, a field agronomist from Iowa State University Extension, who discusses problems with soybean emergence and managing alfalfa weevils in Southeast Iowa. Brian Hoops at Midwest Market Solutions shines a light on the ups and downs of the current corn, wheat, and hog market trends. David shares his report on the growth of the Iowa dairy industry and forecasts for 2024 prices.

Greg Thessan, Director of USDA NASS's Upper Midwest Regional Office, tells us about how they come up with crop planting progress numbers and about the confidential surveying they conduct to put these reports together. Spencer Chase from Agri-Pulse has today's update on policy-making in Washington D.C. including the debt ceiling discussions and how it may delay progress on the farm bill. Jamey Kohake from Paragon Investments wraps up today's showe with a look at markets approaching the close with grains still sharply higher.

Angie Rieck-Hinz, field agronomist from Iowa State University Extension, joins us today to talk about planting progress in North Central Iowa and drought conditions and how much they are varying in her area. Jamey Kohake from Paragon Investments explains to us what is causing grain markets to shoot higher today. The Steffes Group has some big farmland properties and used equipment up for auction in the near future and Tim Meyer tells us all about them and how to bid online.

Bob Quinn and David Geiger are joined by USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie and talk about carbon units and impact for livestock producers, Mike Steenhoek of the Soy Transportation Coalition reports on groundbreaking for new locks on the Mississippi and benefits for growers, and Don Roose closes out the show with market analysis.

Bob Quinn and David Geiger discuss the hazy atmosphere, speak with ISU Agronomist Megan Anderson about Central Iowa crop emergence, Don Roose with US Commodities discusses markets and impact on extension of shipping through Ukraine

Channel Seeds Technical Agronomist Matt Nelson here in the state of Iowa starts off this hour with us with an update from his point of view on how the crops are emerging and discusses what he's hearing from producers with waterhemp issues. NPPC Economist Holly Cook joins us with a look at the state of the pork industry, what year-over-year trends are showing, and some of the key export numbers. Brian Hoops from Midwest Market Solutions is with us to close the show talking commodity markets and his targets for the next couple of weeks

- David Geiger has a report for us this morning about a new use for soybean husks: cat litter! David is joined by Steven Vaughn from USDA ARS to tell us more about the process of making the soy-based product. With soybeans showing some positive signs today, Brian Hoops from Midwest Market Solutions tells us what factors he sees being the cause and talks about how news from Ukraine and conditions in Kansas are pushing down wheat markets today.