Crop Yields and the Weather

Wednesday, April 30 -  Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com shares the news affecting small farmers in America, including a focus on the Trade War and how its escalation is affecting the struggling farm economy with tariffs coming into focus, the nations responding with tariffs of their own, and what the American Farm Bureau says about it. Doug also discusses the current administration’s primary focus addressing the economy — like the restrictions on immigration — and the stall with China on a trader resolution. Then, Doug introduces us to Brad Rippey, Agricultural Meteorologist with the USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist, for a conversation on weather assessments ad real-time yield intelligence for farming conditions. Brad is a member of the authorship team for the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor and the monthly North American Drought Monitor. Doug and Brad also discuss more about the USDA and the future amidst federal budget cuts, the benefit of the weather as it applies to livestock farming in addition to crops, and the overall impact on the soil. Lastly, Doug opines stability of farming, a difference in success of generational farming vs those who are just starting out, and addressing confusion and misunderstanding on the business side of farming and living on the farm. 

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