KRAK Radio

11/23/2024

11/15/2024

09/02/2024

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-harris-campaign-appears-to-selectively-bar-reporters-from-campaign-coverage/ar-AA1pOSn3?ocid=socialshare&pc=HCTS&cvid=d7b23ca086114243bd59d81506c7ee39&ei=12

08/22/2024

AmericasFarmReport.com 8/22/2024 TODAY’S QUICK HITS

Mexico is on China’s heels as top U.S. food and ag export market: China was less than $500 million ahead of Mexico as the leading customer for U.S. food and ag exports as the fiscal year entered its final months, according to USDA data released Wednesday. The agricultural trade deficit, forecast to set a record this year, was already at $18.8 billion, with three months to go.

Poll: ‘Walz is more country than Vance’: Americans generally find Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be more “authentic” than Ohio Sen. JD Vance, according to an Axios Vibes poll about the Democratic and Republican nominees for vice president released on Wednesday. And by 41 percent to 35 percent, they say Walz, the Democrat, understands the issues affecting rural and small-town America better than Vance, the Republican.

Utah sues: Utah attorney general Sean Reyes is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to accept his lawsuit asserting state control over half of the federal land in Utah, which would allow the state to collect taxes on mining, grazing, and energy production. (Associated Press)

Mushroom crop down: The 2023-24 U.S. mushroom crop was worth $1.09 billion, down 4 percent from the previous year, with a 9 percent drop in production outweighing a price increase of 9 cents a pound. (USDA)

Pilgrim settles suit: Poultry processor Pilgrim’s Pride will pay $100 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it was part of a conspiracy to underpay farmers for broiler chickens. It is the largest antitrust payment ever in the protein industry. (Meat and Poultry)

08/21/2024

AmericasFarmReport.com 8/21/2024 TODAY’S QUICK HITS

EPA issues 'herbicide strategy' to protect hundreds of imperiled species: By adopting a so-called herbicide strategy, the Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday it will incorporate protections for more than 900 threatened and endangered species in the approval and renewal process for weedkillers. The strategy calls on the agency to identify ways for pesticide users to reduce the risk to imperiled species from airborne drift or runoff, such as windbreaks.

Solar premium for farmland is 1.4 percent per mile, says analysis
A comparison of farmland sales in Indiana indicates that land rises in value by 1.4 percent for each mile it is closer to a commercial-scale solar energy facility, said a graduate research assistant at Purdue University. The analysis gave weight to a rising belief that energy production was becoming a factor in land prices.

Kroger challenges FTC: Grocery chain Kroger asked a federal court for an injunction against the Federal Trade Commission, saying the FTC was unconstitutionally challenging its merger with the Albertson's supermarket chain in two tribunals. (Seafood Source)

H5N1 death in Cambodia: The Cambodian health ministry said a 15-year-old girl in Prey Ving province, east of the capital city Phnom Penh, died of the H5N1 avian flu virus soon after chickens in the village died; it was the country's 10th death from bird flu this year. (CIDRAP)

Rail strike would be devastating: The chief executive of the Union Pacific railroad said a Canadian rail strike, which could begin on Thursday, would have "devastating consequences" on the North American economy because of U.S.-Canadian manufacturing and trade ties. (Reuters)

Tourism fuels rural growth: "Rural recreation" counties had the steepest drop in employment during the pandemic but now are seeing the largest gains in jobs, an increase of 1.9 percent since 2019; the only other category with an increase was counties reliant on government jobs. (Daily Yonder)

07/22/2024

AmericasFarmReport.com 7/22/2024 TODAY’S QUICK HITS

Agricultural guestworker debate lurks amid GOP plans for mass deportations: U.S. agriculture has turned increasingly to short-term guestworkers to relieve a labor shortage in recent years. Farm groups and farm-state lawmakers want to expand the program. The Republican platform does not mention agricultural workers while pledging strong immigration laws. Project 2025, which describes itself as a blueprint for a new Trump administration, says the H-2A agricultural visa should be phased out over the next 10 to 20 years.

Seventh poultry worker in Colorado with bird flu: An additional worker became infected with the H5N1 avian flu virus while culling sick hens at a Colorado egg farm, said state public health officials, raising the U.S. total of infected workers to 11, all with mild symptoms. Eight of the cases, seven involving poultry and one involving dairy, have occurred in Colorado.

Pipeline moratorium: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation creating new regulations on carbon capture and sequestration, including a two-year moratorium on construction of carbon dioxide pipelines in the state. (Springfield State Journal-Register)

Biden and climate-smart agriculture: President Biden "brought to fruition a vision of a new and dynamic American economy built around clean energy, and climate-smart and resilient industries, including the agriculture sector," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack following Biden's decision to end his re-election campaign. (Vilsack)

Robots vs. weeds: As an alternative to herbicides, developers such as Greenfield and Aigen Robotics are building robots to tirelessly slice away weeds in U.S. farm fields. (Guardian)

USDA conservation grants: The USDA awarded $90 million in Conservation Innovation Grants to 53 projects to develop new tools, practices, and technologies for conservation of natural resources on private land. (USDA)

Cash rent gains popularity: Cash rental of cropland is benefitting from a small but continual gain in popularity in Illinois, and accounts for 48 percent of cropland in the state compared to 45 percent in 2019, according to data from a farm management cooperative. (farmdoc daily)

ON THE USDA CALENDAR
Monday: House Rules Committee considers terms of debate for four appropriations bills, including fiscal 2025 funding for USDA and FDA, 4 p.m. ET, H-313, The Capitol.

Soil and Water Conservation Society holds 2024 annual meeting, through Wednesday, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.

Tuesday: The House could begin debate of the USDA-FDA funding bill for fiscal 2025 as early as Tuesday, although it was last on a list of legislation circulated by Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
House Agriculture Committee hearing, "Financial conditions in farm country," 10 a.m. ET, 1300 Longworth.

Renewable Fuels Association holds board meetings and Hill Day, Washington.

National Grain and Feed Association, Grain Journal, and Grain Elevator, and Processing Society hold CONVEY'24, a conference and trade show for grain handlers, through Thursday, Omaha, Nebraska.

Wednesday: USDA releases Census of Agriculture report on Watersheds, noon ET.

Thursday: House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, "Reauthorizing the CFTC: Stakeholder perspectives," 8:30 a.m. ET, 1300, Longworth.
USDA releases monthly Food Price Outlook, 9 a.m. ET. At present, the USDA forecasts grocery prices will rise 1 percent this year, the smallest increase since 2019.

USDA releases monthly Cold Storage report and Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook, 3 p.m. ET.

Friday: USDA releases annual Farm Production Expenditures report, 3 p.m. ET.

Sunday: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association holds annual meeting, through July 30, New Orleans.

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Energy holds Maine Open Farm Day, described as "a fantastic opportunity ... to connect with farmers and explore Maine's vitally important agricultural community."

07/15/2024

Back in 2001, tired of government inaction, an artist in Los Angeles crafted and installed a perfect fake sign to fix a confusing highway interchange, helpin...

07/12/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PikGAGUKXf0

Some major Democratic donors told the largest pro-Biden super PAC that roughly $90 million in pledged donations will remain on hold if Joe Biden maintains hi...

07/09/2024

AmericasFarmReport.com 7/9/2024 TODAY’S QUICK HITS

Ag trade deficit tops $15 billion with four months to go: The U.S. agricultural trade deficit was a record $17 billion in fiscal year 2023 and is certain to break records again this year, according to preliminary federal data released on Monday. The cumulative deficit totaled $15.2 billion at the end of May, with four months remaining in fiscal year 2024.

Republicans back massive deportations, call for tariffs to protect farmers: Republican delegates approved a Trump-backed party platform on Monday that endorses "baseline tariffs" on imports and more stringent trade relations with China in the name of protecting U.S. farmers, workers, and industries from unfair trade. The 16-page document also called for "the largest deportation operation in American history," aimed at undocumented immigrants.

Thirteen months in a row: June was the 13th month in a row of record-high global temperatures and the 12th with temperatures that were 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than before the industrial era. (Associated Press)

Climate-adapted crops: The Food and Agriculture Organization and the international research center CIMMYT will work together to promote diverse, nutritious, and climate-adapted crops grown in healthy soils. (FAO)

Lowest price since 2020: Futures prices for corn and soybeans fell to their lowest level in four years at Chicago exchanges on Monday, with corn dropping below $4 a bushel due to the strong dollar and healthy crop conditions. (Reuters)

Strong beef exports: U.S. beef exports totaled $902 million during May, the highest monthly total in a year, thanks to large sales to Japan, Mexico, and Taiwan; the three markets accounted for 37 percent of purchases. (U.S. Meat Export Federation)

07/05/2024

:( OMG :( Unbelievably STUPID :(

Separate grass fires broke out in a vacant field behind Wylie High School, causing the WesTex Connect Fireworks Spectacular to abruptly end early on Wednesda...

07/04/2024

https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/life/music-spotlight-the-great-divide/?newsletter=1

There is something called Red Dirt Country that evolved 25+ years ago in rural Oklahoma. Many red dirt acts started playing in local bars surrounding Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The genre also encompasses the music made south of the Red Dirt River in Texas. The Great Divide is...

07/03/2024

AmericasFarmReport.com 7/3/2024 TODAY’S QUICK HITS

Moderna gets U.S. contract to develop bird flu vaccine: The government awarded a $176 million contract to Moderna to develop an mRNA-based vaccine to protect people from bird flu, said Health Secretary Xavier Becerra on Tuesday. Public health officials say the risk to the general population was low from the H5N1 avian flu virus, and there were no immediate plans to use the vaccine.

Labor Department proposes heat safety rule: Under a Labor Department proposal announced on Tuesday, employers would be required to provide rest breaks and access to shade and clean water for their workers as a shield against extreme heat. If finalized, the proposed regulation would be the first federal safety standard for excessive heat in the workplace and would cover 36 million workers.

Higher lease rates, escalator clauses offered for solar projects: Developers of solar farms are offering higher and higher annual lease rates — often above $1,500 an acre — with escalator clauses to sweeten the deal, said farmers in a Purdue University survey released on Tuesday. Some 27 percent of farmers who spoke to developers said they were offered at least $1,500 an acre, according to the monthly Ag Economy Barometer.

Emerging economies take the lead: India, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa will account for half of the growth in global consumption of agriculture and fisheries in the coming decade, and China will play a less important role, said the OECD-FAO agricultural outlook. (FAO)

Antibiotic-free-beef retreat: Tyson Foods is cutting back on its offerings of antibiotic-free beef, a change in course after two decades of marketing the products for consumers who wanted meat that was produced more naturally. (Bloomberg)

Ban brominated vegetable oil: The FDA revoked its regulation allowing the use of brominated vegetable oil in food following studies that found the potential for adverse health effects. (FDA)

Farmers' share of cookout: Grocers would charge $41.83 for the hamburger, buns, sweet corn, and potato salad for a Fourth of July cookout, but farmers would get only $5.32 of it because the food system fails to fairly compensate farmers, said the National Farmers Union. (NFU)

07/02/2024

07/02/2024

The First Lady's first husband has spoken out 😳