The Big Show

Scott Sloan from Titan Tire is on the road today delivering tires in Northeast Iowa and he pulls back the curtain on the tire designing and making process. James Schnabel from EnGenious Ag tells us about their new innovation with a sensor to measure nutrient levels for crops, soils and water. We close the day with Ag Trader Talk's Garrett Toay looking at the factors bringing down grain markets today, but he says we are a bit up off of today's lows

Iowa State Extension West-Central Iowa Field Agronomist Mike Witt joins us with an update on planting progress and some of the extreme rainfall totals from over the weekend. He also tells us what he is hearing from producers about hay cutting and alfalfa weevils. Garrett Toay from Ag Trader Talk walks us through the factors shoving markets lower again today. We are also celebrating a Wyffels Wednesday, and we are joined by Wyffels District Sales Manager Blake Ballard with an update on plating, emergence, and rainfall in Central Iowa where he is based.

We start with Doug Hensley from Hertz Farm Management with his thoughts on the strength of the farmland sale market and values. Iowa Beef Industry Council Executive Director Mike Anderson also joins us to tell us about some May Beef Month deals that he has seen around the state and how the IBIC website can be used as a resource to find new ways to use lesser-known cuts of beef. As we close the show, we take a peek at ag commodity charts with Al Kluis of Kluis Commodities and talk about what targets he's looking for.

Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Rebecca Vittetoe in East-Central Iowa has an update for us on the alfalfa weevil issues she has been observing in that area and how weather, especially heavier rains, is affecting field conditions. He expected the markets to be down today, but not this much.... Al Kluis from Kluis Commodities tells us what is pushing grains sharply lower this morning. And David Geiger has a report for us this morning on what he heard in this morning's comments from Chuck Grassley on agriculture

As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we are joined by Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH) Director Brandi Jansen, PhD to discuss how to reach out for help or watch for signs among others in the ag community. Grant Kimberley, Executive Director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, joins us with an update on soybean planting progress and soybean exports and the countries they are going to. Wrapping up today we talk with Jamey Kohake looking at the markets with grain higher and says he expects to hold those gains at the close. He is also watching for the update on planting progress this afternoon from USDA.

For the first time in a long time, Northwest Iowa was the winner across the state in terms of rainfall over the weekend. Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Gentry Sorenson fill us in on the rainfall totals including an isolated spot with over 7" of weekend rain. He also tells us what pest issues he has been hearing about so far this growing season. With grain markets shooting up today, Jamey Kohake updates us on what is pushing them higher and takes a look back at Friday's WASDE numbers.

David Geiger has a report this morning for us as the World Food Prize has named its 2023 Laureate: Heidi Kühn. We are ending this week with a WASDE Report out from USDA right at the start of The Big Show and Don Roose from U.S. Commodities dives into what is driving the corn and soybeans lower but wheat sharply higher. And with the WMT Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade just over four weeks away, the event's manager Matt Kenney has detail on how you can still get signed up to ride with us through Fayette, Clayton, and Winneshiek Counties June 11-14!

Des Moines FFA Chapter Instructor Kevin Anderson and his student Lucy Auge tell us about their new beehive project and more on their downtown chapter. With today's breaking news of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding California's Proposition 12, Iowa Pork Producers Association President Trish Cook joins us with her reaction. Ag Trader Talk's Garrett Toay wraps up this edition of The Big Show with a look at markets and the things concerning him about the grain trade in the near future.

With 91 days until the great Iowa State Fair, we are joined by Iowa Cattlemen's Association Director of Member Services & NW Iowa, Tanner Lawton, with an update on the Governor's Charity Steer Show and he tells us more about how it has benefitted the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa. Garrett Toay from Ag Trader Talk takes a look at today's market trade with corn down and beans mixed. We also take a look at the breaking news from this morning on the Supreme Court's decision on prop 12. And David Geiger has and update with Beck's hybrids SE Iowa Agronomist Greg Shepherd on conditions in the fields in that corner of the state and what he is telling producers to do and watch for in this warm week with rainfall coming.

We begin the hour with a special report from our newest Big Show journalist, David Geiger, on this morning's confirmation hearing for USDA Deputy Secretary Nominee Xochitl Torres Small. We get some more info on the happenings in Washington D.C. related to agriculture with Spencer Chase from Agri-Pulse including the latest on the farm bill hearings and debt ceiling negotiations slowing down legislation on other matters. Don Roose from U.S. Commodities wraps up the day with a look at markets a half hour from the close.