May 24, 2013

On this week's Market Journal with host Jeff WIlkerson, guests discuss current issues in crop and animal production as well farm programs and the farm bill.

• Livestock Markets — Kate Brooks, UNL Extension livestock economist, analyzes the latest USDA Livestock Slaughter report. Brooks looks at demand concerns in the cattle industry and export opportunities for beef and pork.
   
• Beef Checkoff Announcement — After nine meetings across the state, the Nebraska Cattlemen has decided not to pursue a state-based checkoff program. Dave Hamilton, Thedford rancher and chair of the Nebraska Cattlemen Marketing and Commerce Committee, explains how months of drought affected the decision.
   
• Farm Bill, Farm Program Discussion — Brad Lubben, UNL Extension public policy specialist, talks about the selection of ACRE or DCP. The ACRE sign-up deadline is June 3. Lubben also clarifies differences in House and Senate versions of the proposed farm bill.
   
• PEDV Confirmed in U.S. — On May 17 USDA confirmed the presence of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in the U.S. The virus is not a threat to humans or meat consumption. Dennis Hughes, Nebraska state veterinarian, describes the virus and how farmers can minimize the risk of contracting it on their farms. Also see an interview with Steve Dritz, Kansas State Univeristy veterinarian and swine specialist, who joined Market Journal Wednesday to discuss the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus.
   
• Winter Wheat Treatment — Stephen Wegulo, UNL Extension plant pathologist, gives an update on diseases in Nebraska’s winter wheat crop, including rusts, leaf spot, powdery mildew and fusarium head blight. Information on label restrictions can be found in Stephen’s CropWatch article.
   
• Scout Emerging Corn — The latest USDA Crop Progress report shows 26% of Nebraska’s corn crop has emerged. Those plants are now susceptible to injury from certain types of insects. Bob Wright, UNL Extension entomologist, says producers should be scouting for cutworms, wireworms and white grubs. Also see his recent CropWatch article for treatment recommendations.
   
• Weather Forecast — Al Dutcher, UNL Extension state climatologist, gives his forecast for the coming week.

Next Week

While the corn market has struggled over the last few weeks, soybeans have gone in the opposite direction. The Market Journal will talk with analyst Elaine Kub to get her thoughts on whether both trends will continue. We also will look at Extension Agronomist Greg Kruger’s crop rotation research at the West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte.

Broadcast Times

Market Journal — television for agricultural business decisions — is funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board.

View this week's program, as well as previous programs, online at marketjournal.unl.edu and watch for future broadcasts on these networks.

• NET1 – Saturday, 7 a.m. CT
• NET2 – Sunday, 9 a.m. CT
• Podcast on iTunes

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