The Big Show

Mike Witt, Iowa State Extension's field agronomist in West-Central Iowa, talks about his recent soil temperature readings and what he expects out of some of the recently planted crops in that area. Garrett Toay from Ag Trader Talk takes a look at the markets with us, siting demand as a factor bringing down corn prices today. Finally, it's Wyffels Wednesday! Wyffels Agronomy Manager, Eric Wilson, talks about the ideal planting situations for growers and stresses the importance of soil conditions.

Dekalb/Asgrow Technical Agronomist Nicole Stecklein in Northeast Iowa gives us some insight on soil temps in that area, what she is telling people up that way gearing up to plant, and says she is concerned about corn that's already in the ground. Don Roose with U.S. Commodities is along with us to analyze the marketplace with corn and soybeans continuing to drop. At the conclusion of the hour, we listen in on a discussion WMT's Doug Wagner had with economist Ernie Goss about the financial health of the ag industry.

Iowa State Extension field agronomist Meaghan Anderson in central Iowa gives us an update to start the hour on corn and bean planting in her area and soil moisture and temperature levels preventing planting activities. Tim Recker joins us from Fayette County to tell us about a wetland project on his land and our upcoming Clean Water Wednesday show there as well as an update on planting conditions in Northeast Iowa. Al Kluis wraps up the week with us from Kluis Commodities with targets for corn and bean markets and says that this is the lowest a November bean contract has been at this point of the year in three years.

It's a Big Show Garage day to wrap up the week! Bob is joined by Ryan Bales from Titan Tire, presenting sponsor of the Big Show Garage, as they discuss the upcoming planting season in the state of Iowa. Skip Sagar from Titan is also in the garage talking about his winter in Florida and their recovery from Hurricane Ian, as well as the WHO Tractor Ride coming up win June with the registration deadline coming up on May 1. Al Kluis from Kluis Commodities dives into today's market trade with grains sharply lower once again today. At the end of the hour, we chat with Titan's Scott Sloan about the significance of AM radio and the crop conditions he has seen in his recent travels across the Midwest.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird starts off this hour of The Big Show with an update on WOTUS and recent lawsuits resulting in a preliminary injunction on the rule. Kurt Maertens from BASF in Iowa and Illinois discusses pest activity in his region including some corn borers that have already been spotted. Brugler Marketing's Alan Brugler wraps up the day with market analysis on the down day across the board.

Iowa State University Extension Agronomist Virgil Schmidt in Southeast Iowa along the Mighty Mississippi joins us with an update of field conditions with widely varying soil temps in his territory; a 20-degree difference between Lee and Jackson Counties. Alan Brugler from Brugler Marketing fills us in on the days market activity and the factors causing all markets to fall into the red. To end the hour, Rebecca Vittetoe from ISU Extension in East Central Iowa has some information on their May 17 Crop Scouting School and how to get involved!

Our Clean Water Wednesday coverage continues in Adel with the folks at the Iowa Ag Water Alliance! We kick off the hour joined by Sean McMahon discussing the different water shed projects and the effectiveness of their efforts in removing nitrogen and phosphorus from Iowa's waterways. DMACC President Rob Denson talks about the wetland project on the corn cam site and the ag programs available at DMACC. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig joins us as well talking about the significance of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy in its 10th year and how it has improved water quality in Iowa. To wrap up the show today, we hear from Gray Crawford at USDA with a special report on food prices seeing some declines for the first time in a while.

It's a Clean Water Wednesday today with the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance! Bob is back and joined in Adel, IA by the IAWA talking about a big new water shed project that has been installed on the DMACC Farm north of town. DMACC Agribusiness Program Co-Chair Travis Lautner is on hand as well talking about the practice in place at the DMACC learning plot. IDALS Environmental Specialist Shane Wulf talks about their contributions to address the issue that DMACC had on their land and turning it into a wetland. Mike Shannon, Ducks Unlimited regional biologist discusses the benefits of wetlands in Iowa's wildlife population. Polk County Water Resources Supervisor John Swanson talks about the programs the county takes part in to promote clean water in central Iowa including funding help. Doug Pooch from Wyffels Hybrids tells us about the discussions he his having with growers who are getting ready for planting and about the seeds that will be planted this season at the DMACC Corn Cam plot.

Our coverage of the Iowa FFA State Leadership Convention continues today with Jennifer Holliday joining us from Ames talking with current and former FFA students, ag educators, and former Iowa FFA Alumni Association board member Steve Dolch. Jennifer's reports from the conference are being brought to you by the Iowa Soybean Association and the Soybean Checkoff. We are also joined today by some of the ISA leadership. President-elect Suzanne Shirbrun talks with us about the ISA's partnership with the Iowa FFA Foundation to help fund FFA programs across the state including many in rural Iowa with less funding. Joe McClure from the ISA Research Center for Farming Innovation talks about a recent grant they received from USDA. And ISA Research Agronomist Scott Nelson talks about the upcoming planting season, concerns he hears from producers, and tips he gives.

It's State FFA Convention time in Ames! Jennifer Holliday has her boots on the ground talking with convention student and teacher participants about many of the different competitions, state officer elections, and how to participate in FFA. Jamey Kohake is today's market analyst from Paragon Investments keys us in on what is causing corn, soybeans, wheat, and livestock to all push higher today. We also catch up with Tim Meyer from the Steffes Group about their online auction options and how to get on this spring's schedule.