Podcasts about total farm marketing

On Thursday's show, we start things off with a market conversation between Susan Littlefield and Arlan Suderman of StoneX in Segment One followed by a new episode of Cattle Chatter with Susan and Brad Kooima from KKV Trading. Then, Jesse sits down for analysis with Bryan Doherty from Total Farm Marketing and we also kickoff a series of educational tips on futures and options, focusing on long call options to start.

Crops are looking solid across much of the Midwest, despite heat stress and wildfire smoke in the Great Lakes area. Soybeans rallied again on more Chinese demand business while corn and wheat were mixed and cattle ended their long losing streak with higher futures on Monday. Mike Minor with Professional Ag Marketing joins us to discuss on one of today's interviews. We also hear from John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing who joins us for analysis and perspective. There are also numerous weather factors being watched right now across the U.S. including wildfire smoke impacts in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, extreme heat continuing across some areas, severe weather potential and even activity in the Gulf. Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions joins us to discuss on our Weekly Weather Update. Find more at https://www.agweather.com.

Jill Welke joins us from Eau Claire to talk about the FRESH area being offered by the Marshfield Clinic.Stu Muck says warm weather is going to continue.Pam Jahnke gets the scoop from Ashely Huhn. Their team will be at Farm Technology Days. She learns where we can find them! Paid for by Steffes.Michelle Paul is the Equine Chair of this year’s event. She’s lined up an agenda that features a lot of horsepower! Their new trainer even and Belgian hitches are sure to amaze spectators.John Heinberg, Market Advisor with Total Farm Marketing talks the impact of heat, volatile wheat prices and the latest impact of the Iran/US war on the marketplace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing is guest analyst this afternoon plus Cary Artac of artacadvisory.com and wickedstocks.com talks technicals and equities and Jack Scoville of The Price Futures Group shares price action perspective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We saw the cattle complex shoot lower into Thursday's close with a fairly ugly close. Meantime, the soybean complex continued to selloff after confirmed sales to China while wheat found support on Thursday. Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing joins us to recap the trade action. Find more at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. For the past several weeks, we've been discussing the importance of preparing for the possibility of a lower cattle market. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down what is now the ninth consecutive day of lower August live cattle futures and what the recent price action could mean for producers.

Bryan Doherty of Total Farm Marketing is our guest market analyst this afternoon and Brian Bledsoe of Brian Bledsoe Weather provides a weather outlook. Brian Splitt of AgMarket.com shares price action perspective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This edition of the Closing Market Report covers the latest developments in agricultural commodity markets, crop progress, and regional weather forecasting. Host Todd Gleason opens with commodity price updates before talking with Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing, who details a recent technical recovery bounce driven by hot, dry weather patterns and underscores the market significance of the upcoming July WASDE report. The program also reviews the nationwide USDA NASS Crop Progress Report, highlighting that corn, soybean, and winter wheat developments are running well ahead of their historic five-year averages. A feature from Harvest Public Media examines the ongoing regulatory and ecological challenges surrounding the volatile herbicide dicamba and its propensity for off-target drift. Finally, meteorologist Don Day warns of an intense, unseasonable "heat dome" set to bring triple-digit temperatures and dry conditions to the northern Corn Belt, establishing a unique weather pattern wrapped by an outer ring of moisture.02:19 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing09:32 USDA NASS Crop Progress Report11:58 CropProtectionNetwork.com to Monitor Disease13:48 Dicamba, EPA, and U.S. Farmers18:06 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather ★ Support this podcast ★

There are some amazing ideas in food processing happening in Wisconsin, but some need a little financial support to get started. Pam Jahnke finds out about a recent project with Westby Coop Creamery and the USDA Rural Development Agency. Andrew Iverson is the state director for USDA Rural Development Agency. He explains their overarching duties in working with businesses and organizations on building infrastructure. Iverson describes the challenges being faced by Westby Coop Creamery. It's the only cottage cheese producer in the state and demand for their product has outstripped capacity. USDA Rural Development stepped in with at $15.5 million loan guarantee to help get that project underway. A calm Tuesday on the way weatherwise for Wisconsin. STu Muck say temps will still move to the upper 80's, and it will feel warm with little breeze today. There is a developing chance of storms moving in by Wednesday evening. July is an excellent time for preplanning your auction. Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group joins Pam Jahnke to talk about the process his staff is currently going through with a lot of operators looking at auctions later this year. Huhn says once that contract is signed, they start promoting the auction and items offered immediately. Paid for by Steffes Group. Soybeans led the way up on Monday after rumors of a sale to China inspired traders. So far, the gains have been maintained. John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend joins Pam Jahnke to explain what we know so far on the rumor. He also focuses on areas that are starting to see stress in this weeks crop progress report.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Naomi says grains extended gains on Tuesday on weather and China buys. However, how long can the rally be sustained? Can soybeans get above $12? Are cattle rolling over? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soybeans and soy products surged higher coming out of the holiday weekend, which helped pull corn and wheat higher on Monday too. Was this weather driven buying? China demand rumors? All of the above? We talk about the surge in the grains and a quieter day in the livestock sector with John Heinberg from Total Farm Marketing on today's show. Find more online at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. Now that we are past the 4th of July, could traditional seasonality start to impact meat demand and price action? How could tightening household finances play a role as well? Jeff Hoogendoorn with Professional Ag Marketing joins us to discuss that and the surge in the grain markets on Monday. Find more at https://www.professionalagmarketing.com. We saw some localized heavy rain and severe weather over the weekend, what does that mean for the bigger picture weather story? Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions joins us to discuss on our Weekly Weather Update for Monday, July 6th, 2026. Find more details online by going to https://www.agweather.com.

We wrap up this short trading week ahead of the July 4th holiday with a Markets Roundtable with John Heinberg of Total Farm Marketing and Cory Bratland of AgMarket.Net. Plus Oliver Sloup shares price action perspective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

***Markets are closed in observance of the 4th of July holiday on Friday. We will return with a new program on Monday.*** It was a quiet end to the week in the grain and livestock markets as we head to the 4th of July holiday with little fresh news to work with. Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing joins us to recap the trading week and share perspective on market seasonality, chart direction and more as we celebrate 250 years of America this weekend. Find more online at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. The USDA has announced up to $500 million in assistance for meat processors, a move aimed at expanding packing capacity and strengthening the nation's meat supply chain. On this week's Cattle Chatter, we break down what the investment could mean for the cattle market, both in the near term and for the industry's long-term infrastructure. Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek also discusses this week's cash cattle trade and answers listener questions with Susan Littlefield.

The June 30, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive look at agricultural markets, conservation practices, and weather forecasts. The program begins with Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing analyzing the morning's USDA grain stocks and acreage reports, noting that while corn and soybean acreages aligned closely with expectations, a significant drop in winter wheat harvested acres due to drought offered some market support. The focus then shifts to a University of Illinois Extension conservation cropping initiative featuring a panel discussion with farmers Brent Fowler, Adam Dahmer, and Greg Thoren. They share their personal experiences overcoming familial skepticism, equipment limitations, and the necessary mindset shifts required to successfully adopt no-till practices and multi-species cover crops. Finally, returning meteorologist Ed Kieser delivers the agricultural weather outlook, forecasting intense heat across the Corn Belt leading into the holiday weekend, with scattered, "ridge-riding" thunderstorms expected along the edge of a high-pressure system before slightly cooler temperatures arrive the following week.01:05 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing07:49 Cover Crop Conversations: cultural and mindset shifts18:53 Ag Weather with Ed Kieser, Illinois Public Media ★ Support this podcast ★

Even with hot weather in the forecast this week, the grain markets saw a selloff and profit taking on Monday to kickoff what could be a volatile week of trading. John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing joins us to discuss how the hot weather might be a supportive factor short term, thoughts ahead of USDA's reports, macro perspectives and a look at cattle, hogs and dairy. Find more at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. Corn and soybeans were under pressure to start the week on Monday ahead of USDA's acreage and grain stocks reports on Tuesday. Mike Minor with Professional Ag Marketing joins us from the road to discuss crop conditions, report day ahead, last week's Quarterly Hogs & Pigs report and more. Find more at https://www.professionalagmarketing.com. A large heat dome is setting up over much of the U.S. east of the Rockies for this week. Along with that, ridge-riding thunderstorm and severe weather potential is out there as well. Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions joins us to discuss the set up and outlook ahead of the 4th of July holiday. Find more at https://www.agweather.com.

The cash cattle trade was in a bit of a standstill late in the day on Friday and that may have factored into some profit taking on the futures side. Meanwhile, lean hogs found a little support and the grain complex (although it was quiet to lower) did have some things to talk about this week. Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek in Sioux Center, IA joins us for market analysis in Segment Two today. Find more information online by visiting https://www.kkvtrading.com. Also on today's show, we begin in Segment One with some analysis from Kyle Bumsted from Allendale and close the show with comments from Arlan Suderman at StoneX and Naomi Blohm with Total Farm Marketing in Segment Four. In between, during segment three of the show, we talk with Farm Credit Mid-America Livestock Product Specialist Austin Robinson. He joins the show to share perspective on managing risk, changes to Livestock Risk Protection and more.

On today's Market Talk, we begin the show in Segment One with analysis and perspective from Sue Martin with Ag & Investments in Clarion, IA followed by this week's episode of Cattle Chatter in Segment Two as Jesse gets to talk with Brad Kooima from Kooima Kooima Varilek on this week's program. Then, we take a look at Thursday's strength in soybeans coupled with weather thoughts, a higher US dollar and more with Bryan Doherty from Total Farm Marketing to close out the show.

The June 23, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report focuses on dairy production, trade policy, agronomic profitability, energy markets, and regional weather outlooks. Host Todd Gleason opens the program with Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing to analyze the dairy sector and international trade. Blohm notes that the latest milk production report indicates a bearish trend, with May production rising 2.3% year-over-year, driving Class III milk prices below $16 despite robust domestic demand. The discussion transitions to the upcoming mandatory USMCA evaluation on July 1, highlighting market uncertainty regarding the United States' position, contrasted against efforts by Canada and Mexico to strengthen bilateral maritime trade routes.On crop production and management, the program highlights a multi-year data review presented by University of Illinois Extension agricultural economist Gary Schnitkey. The 11-year study reveals that increasing nitrogen application rates above the Maximum Return To Nitrogen (MRTN) baseline or adding extra tillage passes occasionally boosts yields but consistently fails to improve overall net profitability due to elevated input costs. Additionally, Extension weed scientist Aaron Hager previews the university's upcoming annual Weed Science Field Day, detailing its self-guided tour format designed for farmers and commercial applicators.In the agricultural energy segment, Kansas State University Extension economist Dan O'Brien reports stable domestic ethanol production, operating at approximately 89.3% of plant capacity across 201 active facilities. Plant profit margins remain steady between 11 and 15 cents per gallon, with eastern corn belt ethanol plants currently paying the highest cash corn prices in the nation. Turning to regional crop conditions, O'Brien characterizes the 2026 Kansas wheat harvest as exceptionally poor, citing near-record-low harvested-to-planted acreage ratios caused by severe storm and derecho damage.00:42 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing07:42 High N-Rates and More Tillage Do Not Pay10:54 USMCA Review Begins July 1 with an Uncertain Future14:44 Ag Energies with Dan O'Brien, Kansas State Extension19:58 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather ★ Support this podcast ★

It's National Lightning Awareness Week and Wisconsin farmers, golfers, gardeners, joggers should all heed the warnings. In Wisconsin, more people have died by lightning strikes since 2006, than by tornadoes since 1986. Chris Vagasky, Research Program Manager, Wisconet and Lightning Data Specialist, National Lightning Safety Counci, explains how people can protect themselves, and farmers can protect their livestock and assets. Rain starts moving back in by late Tuesday night. Stu Muck says it won't really amount to much but sets up a change in pattern that will bring very hot weather to the state by the weekend. A record breaking price on a tractor has gotten a lot of attention for the Steffes Auction Group. Ashley Huhn tells Pam Jahnke that live auctions are still drawing a crowd with money to spend. He explains the record sale. Paid for by Steffes Group. While Wisconsin communities continue to struggle with the data center question, Texas is now regretting some of their decisions. Sid Miller, Texas Ag Commissioner, says he hears about it every day. To date, Texas is home to about 575 data centers that consume about 430 million gallons of water daily. Miller contends they're overbuilt and using water resources most of Texas just doesn't have. Wisconsin crops are matching up about equal with other Midwest states as far as development. John Heinberg joins Pam Jahnke to discuss. Heinberg, with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, says that there's really no weather threat to get the market to move. At the same time, South America's harvest is moving along smoothly bringing more product to the marketplace. While the crop may be moving, Heinberg also explains the financial strain that South American farmers are facing as bankruptcies there increase.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could the cattle complex be ready to head sharply higher once again after the latest Cattle on Feed report and as we officially kick off summer? Is there some seasonal activity we need to watch? Also, grains were mixed to lower as we near first notice day and more. John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing joins us for analysis and perspective on today's show. Find more at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. As the calendar officially flips to the start of summer, this is the time of year where the grain markets start to typically pay attention to the weather for some direction. Meantime, how could household finances affect the overall meat demand picture and could it factor in to cash and futures trade in cattle and hogs? Jeff Hoogendoorn with Professional Ag Marketing joins us to discuss. More at https://www.professionalagmarketing.com. We saw more tornadoes in Illinois and Indiana over the weekend and there have been hundreds of tornadoes in Illinois this year alone. On our Weekly Weather Update with Eric Snodgrass from Nutrien Ag Solutions, he talks about the severe weather and the potential shift of tornado alley farther to the east. Snodgrass also shares some updates on recent rainfall and what it could mean for crop growth moving forward. Find more online at https://www.ag-wx.com. In Segment Four, we close the show with analysis and perspective of the grain and cattle trade with Tim Strunk from AgMarket.net. Find more at https://www.agmarket.net.

***NOTE: markets are closed on Friday for Juneteenth. We will be back with a new program on Monday. As we wrapped up the trading week on Thursday, USDA confirmed rumored soybean sales to China on the morning export report. So why did the grain markets (soybeans especially) find a negative tone into the holiday weekend? We discuss the broader selloff in grains and livestock ahead of Father's Day with Bryan Doherty, Senior Market Advisor at Total Farm Marketing on today's show. More at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. Also, it's a new episode of Cattle Chatter in Segment Two as Susan and Brad go through the week in the cattle market ahead of the long holiday weekend.

We saw the grain markets mixed to lower on Thursday as the June WASDE report came and went with minimal changes. Cattle futures saw a good day to the upside as the markets continue to digest New World Screwworm in the United States. Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing joins us for analysis and perspective on today's show. Find more at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. Meanwhile, it's been a week filled with head-scratching price action and volatility in the cattle market. According to Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek, the market has become increasingly difficult to read on a day-to-day basis. He joins Susan Littlefield for a new episode of Cattle Chatter in Segment Two. PLUS, we have analysis of the WASDE to open the show from Arlan Suderman at StoneX.

Wisconsin is home now to 79 weather stations that dot the state. These stations are generating real time information that farmers and outdoor enthusiasts can tap into. Pam Jahnke visit with Chris Vagasky, Research Program Manager for Wisconet. Vagasky says one new element they've added to these stations are soil sensors. The 400 soil sensors provide "plant available water" readings at multiple depths in the soil profile. Heat and humidity are building in Wisconsin today with some severe weather that could develop. Stu Muck hones in on what areas need to be alert. The lull in auction action is over. Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group tells Pam Jahnke that they're already seeing a surg on auctions being booked for later this fall. Huhn says by being proactive, clients get the benefit of solid preplanning, preparation and advance promotion. Paid for by Steffes Group. The market's continuing to watch development of New World Screw Worm. Now a total of four cases have been detected, including a dog in New Mexico. While it's not a food risk, it is a market disrupter. John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, joins Pam Jahnke to discuss the chatter online. He's also watching certain regions in the latest crop progress report.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's show, Susan Littlefield sits in again and has conversation with Jeff Hoogendoorn from Professional Ag Marketing, Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions and John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing.

Dan Schaefer of Schaefer Beef Consulting tells Kiley Allan about common mistakes producers make when transitioning from dairy to beef. Stu Muck outlines a beautiful day in the Revolution Plastics Ag Weather Update. Is manure feeding your crops like it used to? Division of Extension Specialist Chris Clark tells Stephanie Hoff about her latest research out of the UW Dairy Innovation Hub looking at manure micronutrients and where farms are falling short. Ashley Huhn and Pam Jahnke discuss The Steffes Group's auction calendar and resources for both buyers and sellers. Market advisor John Heinberg of Total Farm Marketing walks Stephanie Hoff through the first USDA crop condition ratings and the recent loss of bullish momentum in the grain markets. Heinberg explains that while early corn and soybean ratings landed slightly below market expectations, the primary downward pressure on prices stems from a typical seasonal peak and heavy global competition from South American harvests. Ultimately, he advises producers to look past early-season weather anxieties and implement defensive risk management strategies before the market historically runs out of steam in mid-June.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New month, same story it seemed on Monday as the grain and livestock markets were largely mixed with the exception being soybean oil and cattle finding early week support. John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing joins us on today's show to provide analysis and perspective as the markets enter a new month with many of the same dynamics and headlines factoring into the trade. Find more at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. We saw soybean oil move higher again on Monday, along with crude oil, while the rest of the grain markets were mixed to lower watching the same old news headlines and more. Meantime, cattle futures had a decent rebound from last week to kickoff the month of June. Mike Minor with Professional Ag Marketing joins us to discuss on today's show. Find more online at https://professionalagmarketing.com. As the calendar flips to June, farmers and ranchers are watching the drought monitor, severe weather, rain potential and more closely as we enter the growing season. Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions joins us to discuss on our Weekly Weather Update. More at https://www.ag-wx.com. We also close out the show in Segment Four as our own Susan Littlefield talks markets after Monday's session with Matt Bennett from AgMarket.net.

We saw soybean oil and soybeans find support on Thursday with the latter being pulled higher by a surge in bean oil. The rest of the markets had a mixed to sideways tone as we near the end of the week and the month of May. Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing joins us to discuss the market action on today's show. Find more at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. Also, it's a new episode of Cattle Chatter with Susan Littlefield and Brad Kooima in Segment Two and we hear from Sam Hudson of Cornbelt Marketing to open the show in Segment One who gives perspective on this week's market trade action.

Wisconsin continues to move forward with the goal of connecting everyone to the internet. Ben Jarboe finds out that the path has been rife with challenges. Alyssa Kenney, State Broadband and Digital Equity Director for Public Service Commission of Wisconsin says the goal remains to achieve full broadband access statewide by 2030. The state has had a broadband expansion grant program in place since 2014. Early funding was modest, but investments increased significantly starting in 2019 and surged during the pandemic. State and federal funding (including the American Rescue Plan Act) have driven major broadband expansion. Over $365 million has been invested, supporting more than 400 broadband projects. Nearly 1 million people (about 300,000 locations) have gained improved broadband access in the last five years. Heat has returned to Wisconsin! Stu Muck says now everyone needs to stay aware of the possibility for severe weather as the week unfolds. Career opportunities abound with the Steffes Group. Ashley Huhn visits with Pam Jahnke about some of the areas they need staff that may not first come to mind for people. Paid for by Steffes Group. The fertilizer industry is as anxious as consumers to find out what damage has been caused in the Strait of Hormuz. Corey Rosenbush, President and CEO of the Fertilizer Institute says about a third of the world’s urea, 20 percent of the phosphate, and more than half of the sulfur moves through the Strait of Hormuz effectively blocked by Iran since March 2nd. Unfortunately, says Rosenbusch, there are no simple or quick answers to bringing those prices back down. Oil prices did take a break over the holiday weekend. John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing our of West Bend says traders will watch that today. He also notes that China has told Brazil they're not accepting their beef until after detecting hormones in some packages, but thinks there's some gamesmanship there. He also recaps Friday's April Milk Production figures. Big cow numbers and big production. That'll keep the pressure on Wisconsin dairy operations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The week started with plenty of volatility in the grains and oilseeds while we ended the week with big losses in feeder cattle futures. Will this volatility stick around after Memorial Day? What seasonal windows should we be watching in the grain trade? Naomi Blohm with Total Farm Marketing joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on the markets and risk management. Find more online at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. News of the lockout at Cargill in Fort Morgan, CO, more rumors of other plant strikes, fund movement ahead of the holiday weekend; there appears to be a lot of things happening across cattle futures to close out the week. Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek joins us for analysis and perspective on the week in the livestock trade. More at https://www.kkvtrading.com. And as we saw heavy volatility in the cattle futures to end the week, Brady Huck with EmpowerAg Trading joins us to share some thoughts on the technical picture in the feeder cattle market. We also discuss the weather situation and how that could play into the herd rebuild and the grain markets moving into summer. Find more at https://www.empoweragtrading.com.

Our lineup this afternoon is Bryan Doherty of Total Farm Marketing, Lance Honig, Agricultural Statistics Board chair, Methodology Division director and acting Statistics Division Director at NASS, and Patrick Linnell of CattleFax.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cattle complex was down sharply on Thursday as it appears multiple factors (the lockout at Cargill in Fort Morgan, CO, upcoming Cattle on Feed Report, etc) had a hand in limit lower feeder cattle and big losses in live cattle. The grains and oilseeds also saw more selling pressure as we near the weekend holiday. Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing joins us to discuss the Thursday trade action and share market perspective. Find more online by visiting https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. Those in the cattle industry have been aware for the past four weeks that the Cargill beef processing facility in Fort Morgan, Colorado, has been dark. However, news of a labor lockout grabbed the attention of trading algorithms this week, adding pressure to cattle futures despite the situation being well known within the industry. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek discusses the impact of the plant shutdown, the continued strength in the cash cattle market, and even the outside pressure created by President Trump's social media comments about addressing the nation's beef shortage. We also begin the show with Mike Castle from StoneX and hear from Susan and Sue Martin from Ag and Investments in Segment Four.

Today's dairy operator's are being asked a lot. Many industry partners need to share details about sustainability practices with their consumers, but need the dairy story as part of the dialog. Stephanie Hoff talks with Jennifer Block, director of value chain partnerships, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. Dairy farmers have improved efficiency for decades, but they have lacked a consistent, credible way to quantify these efforts to receive financial recognition in the marketplace. There is increasing pressure on the supply chain to report Scope 3 emissions -- the carbon footprint generated directly on the farm -- making verified data more critical than ever. Empower+ provides a structured, third-party verified framework to turn everyday improvements into measurable climate outcomes that the value chain can trust. Unlike top-down mandates from corporations, this program allows farmers to choose the practices that fit their specific business, whether that is genetics, cow nutrition, or manure management. There are three pillars of implementation: 1) Gathering a complete baseline across feed, herd, manure, and cropping; 2) Running "what-if" models to identify the biggest efficiency gains before a farmer invests capital; 3) Using third-party audits to prove to processors and buyers that a reduction has actually occurred. The program focuses on an "insetting" model, keeping the carbon value within the dairy value chain (farmer, processor, and buyer) rather than selling it to outside industries. Most farmers already have an ongoing wish list of improvements; the ultimate goal is to ensure no value is left on the table as the global market shifts toward carbon-conscious sourcing. Rain moves through the state this morning. Stu Muck says some of the storms may have measurable rain, and strong winds. Once we're past this front, he says things calm down, and dry out. Steffes Group is still open to your item for their bi-monthly sale. Ashly Huhn tells Pam Jahnke about how this opportunity fits many elements of equipment. Paid for by Steffes Group. The Indy 500 will have a dairy presence again this year. Jenni Browning, CEO of the American Dairy Association of Indiana says it’s a time-honored tradition. One new change this year is making milk available for purchase during the race. China has agreed to a $17 billion commitment to the U.S. and its annual agricultural purchases. John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend says the market can only trade off that for so long. Heinberg's also watching the wheat ratings as those crop scouts finish their observations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The grain markets shot higher to start the week as the White House released news on Sunday of reported agricultural purchase commitments made by China during last week's summit between Trump and Xi. Does this news give the grain markets enough juice to work back through key levels of resistance in the trade? How does the weather conversation play into things? John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing joins us to discuss the grains and livestock markets on today's show. Find more online at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. As the grain markets reacted higher on Monday to reported news of China agricultural purchase commitments after the Trump/Xi summit, the livestock markets trade mixed to lower to start the week. Mike Minor and Luke Wells from Professional Ag Marketing join us to discuss the trade action in cattle, hogs and the grain markets. More at https://www.professionalagmarketing.com. We saw a large outbreak of severe weather over the weekend in parts of the Plains and Western Corn Belt with numerous reports of large hail, damaging winds, heavy rains and tornadoes across parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri with more on the way to start the week. Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions joins us to discuss in our Weekly Weather Update for the week of May 18th, 2026. More at https://www.ag-wx.com.

Agriculture has not come up so far in President Trump's meeting with China President Xin Jinping, which has the grain markets sharply lower at midday. Riley Smith visits with Amanda Brill of Total Farm Marketing. 

Soybeans fell into some hard profit taking on Thursday as traders apparently caught wind of some small nuggets of information from the Trump/Xi meeting ongoing in China. That pulled corn and wheat lower while cattle futures closed lower as news came out regarding new higher limits starting on June 1st. Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing joins us for analysis and perspective on today's show. More at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. The cattle market is entering uncharted territory, with cash trade surging $7 higher in the North and $3 to $5 higher in the South, with some northern sales reported as high as $265. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the latest price movement and discusses the newly announced expanded trading limits. Effective June 1, Live Cattle limits will move to $8.50, while Feeder Cattle limits increase to $10.75. Markets are also keeping a close eye on trade developments with China, including questions surrounding why nearly 400 packing licenses were approved and then later pulled back. At the same time, worsening drought conditions are prompting more cattle to move to market, though producers appear committed to holding onto their cow herds—signaling continued confidence in long-term fundamentals.

Consumers are continuing to confront high beef prices at the store. Is the industry closer to helping resolve the imbalance? Stephanie Hoff finds out with the help of Jeff Swenson, meat and livestock specialist, DATCP. Swenson says high cattle prices are leading to larger swings in both directions, influenced by fluctuating harvest rates and packer demand. Despite market volatility, farmers currently hold more leverage than packers, as market-ready cattle remain at a premium. Meat packers are currently struggling with profitability, balancing high cattle costs against wholesale beef cutout values. Feed remains the number one expense for cattle feeders, while fuel and pharmaceutical costs (vaccinations) continue to rise for cow-calf producers.High pasture rents and the initial cost of livestock make it difficult for new farmers to enter the beef industry. Many dairy producers are transitioning to eef as an exit strategy or diversifying their operations with "beef-on-dairy" crossbreeding. While dairy-beef crosses are improving in quality, 100% purebred beef animals still command a price premium. The typical 10-year cattle cycle has been elongated due to drought, resulting in a tighter supply than historically expected at this stage. Rain is drifting across the state today, bringing with it some gusty winds. Stu Muck says that temps should stay above average Sales averages on many implements and tractors remains firm. That's the latest update from Ashley Huhn at the Steffes Group. He is also seeing a surge in interest for fall auctions. Paid for by Steffes Group. Meet Gabrielle Huitema from Markesan! This UW-River Falls grad is another finalist for the 79th Alice in Dairyland position. Huitema has focused most of her college and career experience on humane anmial handling in the slaughter process. She wants to make sure the message gets out that many things go right in the animal handling arena. Wisconsin farmers are almost caught up on spring planting pace. Pam Jahnke provides the latest crop progress update. John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend tells Pam Jahnke that most areas of the U.S. are now on par with planting progress. The unfortunate crop right now is wheat. Heinberg also highlights news that the Trump administration intends to allow more beef imports into the U.S. Heinberg says the U.S. is already on a record pace of accepting outside beef, but it's usually much lower quality than what's produced in the U.S. Markets will be watching developments during the meeting of President Trump and China President, Xi JinpingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brandon Doherty of Total Farm Marketing joins Mark Magnuson for today's midday market podcast.

The Trump administration is preparing to temporarily lower tariffs on imported beef in an effort to ease record-high beef prices for American consumers. That news on Monday sent cattle futures on a wild ride that ended well off of session lows, as some early week cash cattle trade surfaced on the day as well. John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing joins us to discuss the livestock and grain trade to start the week, including a look ahead to the May WASDE Report, US/China meeting and more on tap this week. Find more online at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. Could we see a warmup in the weather pattern to help propel more spring planting this week? What about the early week frost concerns in the Upper Midwest? Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions joins us to discuss on our Weekly Weather Update as we look at U.S. weather, updates for South America and Europe and more. Find more at https://www.ag-wx.com. In Segment One, we also get some market perspective from Tyler Schau with AgMarket.net and Arlan Suderman with StoneX at the top of the show.

We saw more profit taking in cattle futures on Friday while this week's cash trade was strong again. What's going on with the disconnect between the two markets and where do we go from here? Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek joins us for analysis of the week in the livestock trade and more on today's show. Find more at https://www.kkvtrading.com. We are also seeing some positive money flow into commodities like grains, oilseeds and crude oil on Friday ahead of the weekend where any number of headlines could flow that might impact trade. Meantime, fertilizer prices continue to be a major talking point worth watching. Mike Castle, Senior Commodities Economist at StoneX, joined us for analysis and perspective at midday on Friday. More at https://www.stonex.com. And late Thursday afternoon Bryan Doherty, Senior Market Advisor at Total Farm Marketing, joined us to share perspective on the week in the market trade. War headlines, the upcoming US/China meeting, weather and more are all at play in these markets and we discuss that on this episode. Find more online at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com.

We talk about drivers and motorcycle operators using care when sharing the road with large farm equipment. We also must focus attention on the farm youth that could be operating those implements. Ben Jarboe talks with Brittany Marquard, the education and programing manager at The Food and Farm Exploration Center in Plover. She says the with distracted drivers causing more accidents then ever before, it's important that young operators receive some training before operating. Marquard says even for 'farm kids', there's training necessary. Parents need to also have realistic expectations on what their kids can do. Understanding their body size and maturity are key components. Marquard says with all the increased horsepower on today's farm, even a small string on a hoodie can become a lethal entanglement that youth need to be aware of. Nice day on the way - and dry! Stu Muck says he's been seeing some seeders out, fertilizers getting spread - all thanks to drier conditions. Temperatures will cool a bit today, and there's still a chance of frost in the forecast through Thursday mid-morning. Auctioneering is a people to people service. Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group joins Pam Jahnke to recap some comments from clients that have worked with the group. Huhn says every employee in their firm makes a human connection with the client. That's a difference maker. Paid for by Steffes Group. Weather is causing problems for more than just Wisconsin farmers. Alyssa Kenney, State Broadband and Digital Equity Director for Public Service Commission of Wisconsin says some broadband internet projects got held up too. Kenney notes that Wisconsin has about 92% of their connectivity projects complete, but areas in Door County that received a lot of late snow are delayed. Still, she believes the state is well on its way to attaining statewide connectivity by 2030. Crop progress report had a few items of note this week. John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend joins Pam Jahnke to review. Lots of risk for Wisconsin farmers to monitor and manage coming up over the next 10 days according to Heinberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We saw a strong day in soybeans, backed by more strength in soybean oil and some frost concerns from the weekend with November soybean futures breaking $12 before finishing off the highs. Meantime, corn was moderately higher with December futures breaking the $5 mark and closing above it. Kristi Van Ahn-Kjeseth with Van Ahn & Company joins us for market analysis and perspective on today's show. More at https://www.vanahnco.com. Corn and soybean futures tested key resistance and psychological levels on Monday with December corn closing above the $5 mark. Meantime, cattle and hogs saw more selling pressure to start the week. Was it simply follow through selling after Friday's poor close? John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing joins us to discuss on today's show. Find more online or reach out at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. We saw some areas get frost over the weekend and there is some concern that it may have impacted early planted crops. What does the forecast look like as we move into the first full week of May? Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions joins us to discuss on our Weekly Weather Update. Find more online at https://www.ag-wx.com.

Today's guests include Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing, Sue Martin with Ag & Investments and a new episode of Cattle Chatter with Susan Littlefield and Brad Kooima from KKV Trading.

It was a higher day across many grain and livestock markets to start the week on Monday. Is this a one-off, general money flow kind of day or the start of something else? John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing joined us for analysis on Monday's episode of Market Talk. Find more online by visiting https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. Farm Profit Manager, a newly launched farm financial management platform, has surpassed one million acres enrolled by producers in just 10 days with 500 users in 23 states in North America. We sit down with Shay Foulk, co-developer of Farm Profit Manager and an owner of Ag View Solutions, who gives us background on why they have developed this platform and what farmers can expect when they use it. Learn more online as well by visiting farmprofitmanager.app. We also begin the show with an agronomic conversation as Tryston Beyrer from The Mosaic Company joins us in Segment One and later in the show Brian Splitt from AgMarket.net joins us for more market analysis in Segment Four.

Michelle hosts a panel discussion to review the week's market action with Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing and Matt Bennett of AgMarket.net.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weather worries impacted the Kansas City wheat market on Thursday as the trade surged higher, spilling over into Chicago and Minneapolis wheat too. Cotton also saw some consolidation and support from the dry weather in the south it seemed on the day. Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing joins us for analysis of the grain, livestock and dairy markets today. Find more online at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com. Also, the market is still searching for clarity on border developments, especially after Brooke Rollins canceled her planned Friday visit to Arizona. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima at Kooima Kooima Varilek looks at how that uncertainty is adding to an already quiet tone in the cash market, where a standoff continues and could stretch through Friday's close. For now, cattle weights aren't raising major concerns, while attention is starting to turn toward seasonal demand. With one of the biggest grilling occasions of the year—Mother's Day on May 10—just around the corner, there's optimism that boxed beef values could see improvement in the weeks ahead.

John Heinberg of Total Farm Marketing is guest analyst this afternoon plus Drew Lerner of World Weather, Inc. shares near-term outlook as well as over the next few months for North and South America. Matt Bennett of AgMarket.net with price action analysis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coordinating data is becoming a bigger part of the picture for today's beef producers. Jill Welke finds out about the full scope of information out there from Andrew Coppin of RanchBot. RanchBot looks at the global situation with beef and indicators like weather and pasture conditions. The company serves over 12,000 farmers and ranchers by helping them monitor available water and trough levels remotely. Warmer weather in Wisconsin today, but keep an eye on Canada for what might be coming next. Stu Muck says that system will be dumping feet of snow in places like Alaska and the Northwest. Ultimately it could bring more wet weather and cooler temperatures to Wisconsin, especially along the Lakeshore. The heavy push of auctions is beginning to draw to a close for the Steffes Group. Ashley Huhn says as more farmers head to the field for planting, their tempo eases up. Still, Huhn says prices are remaining firm and resilent on mid-size equipment. Paid for by Steffes Group. Wisconsin farmers only had 1% of their corn in the ground as of Sunday. Pam Jahnke recaps the thin results of fieldwork courtesy of the WI Ag Statistics Service. Dry weather, not planting progress, is what's keeping the markets attention this morning. John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend says there's already some field abandonment discussed in the marketplace. Plus cattle are making some moves based on speculation that some Mexican cattle might re-enter the market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

- Naomi Blohm, TotalFarmMarketing.com- John Deere Updates Right to Report & DEF- Gerald Mashange, University of Illinois- Don Day, DayWeather.comThe April 7, 2026 Closing Market Report highlights significant concerns regarding geopolitical tensions with Iran and their impact on agricultural commodities. Total Farm Marketing's Naomi Blohm notes that traders are squaring positions ahead of an impending deadline with Iran, closely watching crude oil resistance levels. University of Illinois agricultural economist Gerald Mashange elaborates on this "escalation trap" in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that damage to energy and fertilizer infrastructure could cause prolonged supply chain disruptions and price spikes akin to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.In agricultural news, John Deere announced software updates complying with new Environmental Protection Agency guidelines to allow farmers temporary overrides on emissions and diesel exhaust fluid equipment during critical operational windows. On the weather front, Don Day from DayWeather forecasts much-needed rain for the drought-stricken winter wheat regions in the Southern Plains. This precipitation is expected to move northeast across the Corn Belt, though central and western parts of Nebraska and the Dakotas may remain largely dry. ★ Support this podcast ★

It won't be long before Wisconsin roadways will have some large, heavy equipment heading to the fields. Safety has to be a paramount concern for the farmers operating it, and the drivers sharing the road. Kiley Allan gets a refresher course on what to remember from WI State Trooper. Warmer temps are coming to Wisconsin from Canada. Stu Muck says there's still a chance for rain in the forecast, and for people farther north - possible snow again. Farmers are preparing to head to the fields for spring planting. Once that seed is out of the bag and in the ground - they're committed. But what happens if their agribusiness partner, which was going to buy that product closes or goes bankrupt before the harvest? What's their recourse? Stephanie Hoff talks with Randy Fleishauer of Plover River Farms, Stevens Point. He currently sits on DATCP's Producer Security Council which is designed to deal with that dilemma, if it happens. Fleishauer says losing a specialty crop processor disrupts the essential rotation needed for potatoes; without a "place to go" with secondary crops, growers cannot maintain soil health or yield. Unlike row crops like corn or soybeans, canning crops are "timely" and cannot be stored on-farm. If a processor can’t take them, the crop is often disced back into the dirt or sold as cattle feed. And potato growers have limited on-farm storage. A shift in crop types forces local fertilizer and equipment suppliers to pivot their entire inventory, often driving up costs for the grower due to last-minute supply chain demands. Fleishauer site the Del Monte bankruptcy last summer as an example of when this council comes into play. The first crop progress report for 2026 was released on Monday. Pam Jahnke reports that moisture situations look adequate statewide. Only about 2% of oats have been seeded so far. Corn and soybeans have decoupled from the Iran War in the marketplace. John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend says that's lessened the swings on prices. Triggers are still out there with crude oil until June, when there appears to be a "break". Heinberg also notes that live cattle prices continue to climb. Drier conditions in the west put critical grazing land in question for many cow/calf operators.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rain looks like it will be here to stay for a few days according to ag meteorologist Stu Muck. Warmer weather gives the feeling of summer right around the corner and one staple of the summer is bees. Jill Welke chats with Galen Klisiewicz, the Director of the Chippewa Valley Beekeepers, to see why it has been a bit tough in recent times. Farmers are constantly looking to get the most out of their operation and for dairy farms that might mean carbon credits. Stephanie Hoff talks with Jennifer Block, the director of value chain partnerships with Edge Dairy Cooperative, to see how their EmPower+ program can help farmers get more out of their carbon credits. Ben Jarboe talks with John Heinberg, a market advisor with Total Farm Marketing, to get a preview on upcoming reports and discuss what is happening with cattle. He says today's report may be heavily dictated by fertilizer for planting acres.--See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This afternoon's coverage of Commodity Classic is sponsored by Syngenta. Weekly markets contributor Oliver Sloup of Blue Line Futures joins us in person in San Antonio for an extended conversation on the markets. And Bryan Doherty of Total Farm Marketing by Stewart-Peterson talks commodities, including milk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.