the june planted acreage report today on "u.s. farm report", the june planted acreage report stuns the corn industry. our crop watchers around the nation are smiling a little more. and our market experts sort out big price moves this week. >> "u.s. farm report" brought to you by chevy an american revolution. good morning. welcome to "u.s. farm report". i'm john phipps. boy, if mouths dropped open when the june acreage report came out this week, like all market surprises, it depends on which side of your market is on, what your second reaction was. scott and our market gurus will have much more in a moment. over the last few years, the ability of farmers to pretty much plant whatever they want

has produced similar surprise for the commodity markets only we're not sure whether surprises are a good thing or not. like many other sectors, decision making in ag is being pushed down to the lowest levels of production allowing rapid, market response the a -- responses and often stunning collective results. whatever failings they might have, free markets can't be called boring:let's get started with the news now and scott kinrade. dismot. >> thank you very much, john. good morning, everyone. a much anticipated report from the usda was released tuesday morning giving the market and growers lots to chew on. we begin with corn. while up 1% from raft year -- last year, acreage is pegged at87 million the second largest since 1946 trailinged on 2007. despite wet and cool weather, producers made rapid progress in late may. for soybeans planted acreage is estimated at a record high 77 .5 million acres up 2% from last year.

if realized, 2009 will be the largest harvested area on record. total wheat plantings estimated at 59.8 million records down 5% from last year. winter wheat is 6% below last year, but up 1% from the previous estimate. cotton acreage took a hit this year as total plantings are estimated at 5.09 million acres. both 4% below last year and the lowest since 19783 -- 1983. along with the acreage report, the usda released an important quarterly grain stocks report. pro farmer chip flory joins us with analysis of those numbers. >> let's start with the easy part of june 1 grains stocks report that is the wheat stocks as of june 1. that's right in line with the average am trade and is your carryover for the 2008-'09 wheat marketing year. corn stalks as of june 1 came in above the average per year

trade gap most likely because of a slower than expected usage paid in the feed and residual category during the third quarter of the 2008-2009 marketing year. unfortunately, a points still carries over the 1.6 billion bushels estimated by usda in the june supply and demand report. soybeans stocks on june 1 were 10, 11 million bushels above the average trade gap. that gave if a -- gave it a negative gap off the set, but in reality, it is tight, usage is good and we're look for a carryover at the end of the 2008-2009 marketing year a tight 125 million bushelsment for the editors of pro farmer in cedar falls, iowa, i'm chip flory. proof that the corn cro crop watch this week offers proof that the corn crop is quite strong in some parts of farm country. take a look at this picture

sent into ag web by a family in webster county, iowa. all is well in this field. family reports corn it growing -- is growing like crazy. moving to lehr lebanon, pennsylvania, a farm there reports barley harvests are under way. high levels of ca scab found in any fields. take a look at this picture by a grower in west central kansas shows wheat ripening following a string of 100 degree days. >> were you surprised by the report on tuesday? >> flabbergasted. when you're look, there's a psychological if he no, ma'am men in hard to escape your own environment. i'm looking at a terrible corn crop. the idea they find two million more acres an the crop would be in great shape probably couldn't physically enter my mind. i was incapable of thinking that thought. consequently, i should have sold and not a prayer of that happening. you know, i'm just glad things are getting better even in the worst areas. >> thanks, scott. when we come back, our team of analysts will have plenty to

chew on this week following tuesday's report from the usda. the discussion begins in just 2:00. please, stay with us. more than a few

"u.s. farm report" round table guests this week gary wilhelmi floor commentator, brad harding, illinois farmer also wtvp farm director. >> let you know something i don't know. >> gary, what happened last week when the markets closed? >> we, of course, had surprising acreage number and that knocked the corn down to a limit loss. on friday, we continue to progress in -- or thursday, we begin to progress in that direction. december corn has got ballpark support under it 340-350. we're getting closer to that. you know, you go through all those numbers and shake them out and get half a billion more corn for next year. >> how about soybeans on --

>> well, in the beans, in the focus of attention has rightfully been in the new crop, old crop spread release which has widened tremendously. we had some on again, off again corrective action. we're going to have plenty of beans next year, but this year we've got real debatable quantities. usda has never admitted to under 100 million. they're in a juggling process right now. >> wheat harvest, full progress this point in time, any response there. >> all the wheat we could ever use. we've got too much in the world and a harvest that's going along well. we had some problems in oklahoma and texas. you know, it's an awful difficult situation for them, but the world really doesn't need them. >> brad, last time you were here, you were still wanting to get your corn all planted. didn't know when you were going to do it. tell me how you came out. what happened and where it stands now. >> well, we're not complaining. we're glad to be done.

we've finished corn planting. i think just ahead of the cutoff date so that would be right around june 1. we've got the corn in the ground. >> either that or plant beans maybe. >> maybe. we didn't get the beans finished on our farm until june 29th. there's still ground left to be planted in the peoria, illinois, area. you go out about 40-mile radius. there's still ground unplanted right now if you go into that heart of illinois area eye tell producers where corn i know is waist high or better. they can't believe me when i say that because i know that for a fact. >> your waste is awful low, al. coming over today, i saw two things for sure. we are growing roads like cread crazy because construction is everywhere, and the biggest corn i saw was maybe about shoulder high on me. the crop looks great. agree with some of the experts right now. it looks great for mother's day. it doesn't look eat for the 4thof july. all the way from peoria clear here to south bend.

>> now, corn, most critical time is probably the tasseling and whenever the ear shoots out and that sort of thing. depeck op -- depending on which weatherman, some are predicting we aren't going to have as much rain. it will be real dry and maybe we won't get corn language the nick that we need to produce the airs. what do you think, gary? i know you're kind of a weather guy. >> yeah, well -- best weather instrument is a window. >> ok. >> that's what i was always taught. they found that to be true. i don't place much stock in long term forecasting. there is an el nino developing in southeast asia. the indian monsoon has been disappointing. converting that this side of the ocean is difficult and it's all guesswork. right now, there's going to be enough. >> you think it will be enough. what do you think? >> well, -- >> what in the middle of august you turned up dry until the end of september. >> i'm not going to redikt the

weather. nobody can do that. i'll tell you right now we won't have corn pollinating until the very earliest in central illinois, the third week in july. probably the last week in july we'll be pollinating clear through the third or fourth week in august. so, we shove that window back fully a month from where it was last year. last year, we had yields that were breaking records -- europe surprised? >> we were treeld tremendous over there. this year, we figure we have to have frost free until the first november and we've got to have some rain in august because that's when we'll be pollinating. you tell me what the weather is going to do. i'll tell you what the crop is going to do. >> i'm not going to attempt to tell you what the weather is going to do. we are in a market you both adisblee. >> just everything, forget about the numbers. eals that's also guesswork and see what mother nature deals us. it's going to be volatile. >> we'll have different topics when we come back with more "u.s. farm report"? just a moment.

round table guests this week, gary wilhelmi, floor commentator at the chicago mercantile exchange group, brad harding, illinois farmer wtvp television there in peoria, illinois, the anchor. i'm going to ask you just like

we did during a break, brad, what do you think the most critical thing in agriculture is in your area? >> well, we're guilty of looking out our backdoor thinking that's probably the most important thing. illinois, we did not get a budget passed at the end of june. the controller says we've got about eight or nine days worth of funds to continue going and they're not calling back anybody for 14 days. so, the fsa offices are usually part ner nerd with soley -- the state run office, department of agriculture, they're going to be out of money and farmers are probably going to have a disruption. not a permanent one, but a temporary disruption in services we have come to -- >> national deadlines -- deadlines are coming after that time and you have to go to fsa office to get it filled. >> we'll probably have the doorslocked for a while and get back to it hopefully if the guys come back to springfield and do their work. in illinois, between the weather, the late planting and the government shutdown, i've got enough to worry about right

now. that's for sure. >> i have to tell you i know some farmers wished that the government would shut down altogether. gary wilhelmi, what do you think one of the most critical issues would be in agriculture at this point in time? >> well, on a global basis, we're not the only ones that are suffering economically. it's worst in europe. people like to talk about the dollar and the cheap dollar creates more exports, but the dollar is really the basic measure of how you're doing. it's like a series of gauges. well, our dollar is cheap because we're not doing so well. they're even worse in europe. so, the entire world will have to work through this and government efforts here, some over there, that's fine, but the economy is just like a river. the river never has been as polluted as it got last year. ultimately, it will cleanse itself. the question is what will the new norm will be?

it's not going to be leicht old one. >> ok. >> so, you think the new normal will be a whole lot different than it was. united states used to kind of not run the world, but they look to us for leadership. is that still there like it used to be? >> it can't be. not the example we've set. we were better off when there was a balance of power with us and the russians. we kept each other halfway straight. since we've been in control, it's been like nerio ruling rome. he burned the place down. >> and agree with gary, but there's still no place else i'd rather be a farmer than right here in the good old usa especially as we hoist the flag for the 4thof july who will day. this is where i want to be. as bad as it is, it's worse other places. >> yes, indeed. >> you have freedom to succeed and you have freedom to fail. >> i noticed that. >> well, and -- >> i do. >> is that still as important as it used to be? some saying that the government cos along now and is bailing everything out and -- you're

shaking your head. you want to comment about that or not? >> i'd just assume go on my own. i don't want them meddling in my business. any businessman doesn't. that's the strength of the country, individual ingenuity, doesn't always work out, but at least you have a chance to do it. >> whenever you get in the market, um you have people like madoff who can go out and there run a ponz yi thing and -- ponzy thing and what innocent -- whatnot and some farmers still think everybody on the board of trade is out to get them rather to than to provide the vehicle for them to make more money. >> everybody in the world still looks to isn't it la salle street where the board of trade and the mercantile exchange are still right there and world is focused on our commodity markets. the livestock producer, that would be a concern for me no matter where i was in this country. those guys and gals are having a tough time too o'prices on corn are coming down. >> finally. they've had a lot of red ink to

deal with. >> how about demand? 9 flaf .5% out of work. you said 16%. >> actual terms, it's 16.5% that have either given up or freshly unemployed. that is -- that was what determines the value of the meats. recessionary demand is what we have. >> other foods too. >> other foods, too. yeah, you need trimmings. >> quickly, any bright things we can say now about agriculture? we've kind of looked at all the problems and whatnot. >> that was a pause. [ laughter ] >> of course there are. you know, it's going to work its way through. it will be a different woferld. i was listening to a comment on the way over today about the percentage of genetically- modified crops. that's 90% pretty much. wheat, corn and beans. >> it's looking better all the

time. >> best place to farm. happy 4thof july to everybody. >> thank you very much. we'll return with more "u.s. farm report" in just a moment.

welcome back to "u.s. farm report". we've been watching the drought monitor this season. it's basically stayed pretty much the same. you've seen the dry area from minneapolis and the western u. p. of michigan, mainly northern wisconsin into a moderate to severe drought in those areas and you've seen the dry pockets go away in the southeast. that's been the big change. we continue to see the dryest area basically from san antonio toward the coast of southern texas where it is just an extreme to exceptional drought. we have our typical dry areas off to the west. you can see some improvement in parts of the four corner region anyway. not quite as dry as it has been. let's go day by day as we head through this week. on monday, we're expecting pretty nice weather across the

great lakes into most of the northeast although lingering showers in northern new england. some sunshine through this areament stationary front will have stalled out finally across the southeast. this will cause scattered showers and thunderstorms mainly the afternoon variety. that will extend back into the southwest. of course, some of this is monsoon moisture kind of coming into the southeast. that's definitely afternoon and evening type of showers and thunderstorms. system coming through the northern parts of the rockissies will cost areas of showers and thunderstorms as well with cool air coming in to the west end. as with you go towards wednesday, we'll see that front move farther. it's not quickly though. warm air surging northly. looks hot in the northern and central plains. scattered showers and still lingering scattered stuff along the stationary front into the typical stuff in the southwest. on the friday then, we'll see that first system finally take off move into eastern canada and then stall out through the northern great lakes. this is another system. it could be fairly wet across the northern plains late this

week with this system just scattered systems across the south and stale few lingering showers and thunderstorms in the southeast with that stationary front. otherwise, the heat and humidity really come up into the great lakes and the rtheast. it looks like as we head through the latter parts this have week. we'll check the longer range forecast in our next half hour.

more than a few organizations and towns have decide to cut back or even eliminate their independence fireworks display this year. gicht difficult situation most local government finances, that's very understandable. let's face it. fireworks are one tiny step away from actually burning money at least from the buyer's point of view. it doesn't make much sense. except when you look at our history as a species. somewhere around one million years ago, our ancestors learned to control fire.

this discovery enabled them to both kill and digest more protein and the raw teerls material need ford increasing our brain size. it's not hard to see why myths like pyrmatheus resonate with our cull injury. our love heir affair with fire has persisted until today. suddenly, we are expecting too much fire can be a problem. greenhouse gas emissions are evidence of our dependence on combustion for our voracious energy appetites t could even be said that humans, since we are powered by oxidation, are simply small, slow fires. in short, who we are and how we live has been shaped by fire. i think our attraction to it could even be genetically encoded. we enjoy pieo techniques like early -- pyrotechnics like early humans did bomb fires. one thing we know deep inside our cultural memory, fireworks.

-- fireworks. as always, we want to hear from you. send comments to info@usfarmreport.com or leave as you voice mail by calling 800-792-4329. coming up in our next half hour, an oklahoma ranch brings the old west back to life. stay with us. the second half of "u.s. farm report" is coming right up.

today on "u.s. farm report", a contentious debate and vote in the house on climate change legislation. a cattle industry landmark falls prey to industry trends and tighter regulation. meanwhile, ohio voters may have a chance to voice their opinions on farm an nal -- animal care standards. >> "u.s. farm report" brought to you by chevy, an american revolution. good morning. welcome to "u.s. farm report". i'm john phipps. our legislative process is being tested by slib racialal matters that strain the limits of our democracy on issues from financial regulation to health care reform, debate sin tense and often acrimonious. it would be easy to grow discouraged regardless of which side you are on. i think we may be both

forgetting history and unnecessarily underestimated our citizens and our system. loud and heated exchanges have not been unknown, we can now include many more participants and provide much better access to detailed information. thanks to the internet, our nation goes these decisions with the best decision aids ever. with commitment to a common future, we could surprise even ourselves with the results. that's a good start of the news now and scott kinrade. scott? >> thank you very much, john. good morning, everyone. the much talked about climate change bill passed by the house of representatives last week is being examined very closely by the ag industry. the american clean energy and security act of 2009 will require carbon emissions to be reduced by 17% by 2020, 80% by 2050. for agriculture specifically, a number of provisions are included to begin with. the plan would permit payments on farm activity to help reduce

greenhouse gas emissions. the legislation would remove oversight from the epa to the ag department. despite these provisions, many farm groups believe the plan will be a financial drain on producer by driving energy prices higher. early analysis by the american farm bureau shows at a minimum net farm income would dip by some $5 billion annual by 2020 if the legislation becomes law. along with higher energy costs, some ag groups are concerned about trade sanctions in the proposal that would impose tariffs on imports for any country that doesn't take the same climate change steps as the u.s. this week, the environmental protection agency has accepted an invitation by charles grassley to visit the hawkeye state. as you may remember, last month the republican senator made the offer after he learned some epa staffers who would be writing regulations pertinent to farmers had never bean on a farm. >> probably -- never even been

on a farm. >> probably visit a family farm in central iowa. we will take them to an ethanol plant because they have some rules that are pending on ethanol. we'll probably show them some research facilities so that they know agriculture is trying to enhance production so that we don't have this argument about our grain being used for food or fuel, but that we can show them that there's ample progress being made so that there's multiple use of our crops. >> grassley syd says the visit to iowa is scheduled for september 3. he says the epa's assistant administrator as well as an epa director will be on the farm tour. hundreds of sal rid employees will be soon off the books at john deere. the machinery giant reports that 800 workers will leave as part of a voluntary separation program announced back in april n all, deere expects to save about $75 million in the first

year. about 25 million more than they were expected. -- expecting. as part of the plan, john deere is providing the ag commission with consumer unit. the slumping economy is taking the toll on the organic market. reports a growing number of farmers who went all natural when organic sales were growing at a double digit pace are now giving up their organic certification. sales are expected to dip this year. the first drop for an industry that's seen annual groap growth of 12-23% since 2003. it's the end of an era in south dakota. the sioux falls stockyards holds its final cattle sale. opened since 1917, the final sale day at the stockyards was june 25th. according to an. p. report, the operation used to be a focal point for livestock in the upper midwest with as many as 200,000 cattle sold annually. they say a informal factors pled to the -- led to the closing including stricter

waste water rules from urban sprawl. lawmakers are work on a plan to provide a statewide care standards board for stock. according to the ohio farm bureau, this is in a move to threats from the humane society that wants to remove some practices including poultry cages and gestation crates. the humane society was successful in getting a similar measure approved by california voters. initiative in ohio could be on the ballot this november. that's a look at the headlines. i remember when the sioux city stockyards closed. it really hayes an affect on a community. >> it really does. oddly enough, i think it's worse for smaller communities because that was the one that small farmers with a few head of cattle gave them a market. i think it's one of those economic entities that maybe outlived its time as people are growing under contract and actually don't need that intermediary. going into tuesday and thursday, it was a big event. that's been 50 some odd years ago. it was pretty exciting back

then. maybe we don't need it now. thank you, scott. >> thank you. boy, much of the past week especially the early parts of the week was just downright chilly around the great lakes and the northeast. there were some places that set record cold high temperatures for this time of the year. it is warming up. the jet stream making a surge northward through the northern plains so it will begin to get a little better as we move through time. it will still be nice through the great lakes with a fair amount of -- amount of sunshine. this stalled out front will be basically keeping the muggy air to the south and slightly coolinger -- cooler air to the north. 28 star -- it will start to warm up. this will be the areas of showers and thunderstorms into the southwest and we'll see an area in the northern parts of the rockies as a little bit of cooler air comes in. the strowf digs in out west. we'll see cool air out there. the ridge really builds into the central parts of the country. so, hot air surging northward.

still kind of cool in the northeast. these will be areas of showers and thunderstorms as you can see. this could be decent rain. that will continue as another system ripples along the front in the northern plains with some decent rain there as well. so, scattered afternoon and evening variety thunderstorms in the southeast. the basic jet stream kind of comes into the great lakes and starts to bring in some of the that heat and humidity farthereast as well. let's take a look at things. next week, this is july 12-18. i'm looking for above normal temperatures. most of the central, southern plains northeast to the ohio valley, northern great lakes, farther out west. for precipitation, below normal for the tennessee valley back in oklahoma. unfortunately, still texas far west and also above normal from the northern rockies into the northern plains. maybe the western great lakes as well. on through the next 30 days, my 30-day outlook is for below normal temperatures for the great lakes and far northeast, above normal temperatures from mississippi through texas into the southwest. precipitation over the next

month then above normal from nebraska and kansas on um up into the great lakes and northeast. unfortunately, -- dush unfortunately, below normal for texas, southern oklahoma and same thing out west. john? >> thanks, mikement when "u.s. farm report" returns, an oklahoma farmer turns childhood dreams into an oversized reality. "spirit of the heartland" is next.

all you need is a big, cardboard when you're a kid, all you need a big, card boork board box like a refrigerator box and you have the makings of a cool fort. what happens when you grow up? we meet a man who took his greem dream and made it come through. in oklahoma city, here's our story. >> reporter: he might climb this little short grass hill for the view, maybe to check on

cattle, even to bring newlywed for a marriage ceremony. >> we're on the western edge of it right here. >> reporter: every step he takes on his ranch is really reliving a childhood dream. >> played cowboys and indians with my friends. i thought someday vial my old town. that's what i'm doing. i'm recreating what's in my mind. >> don grew up around here. used to fish a pain over the hill. he heard the stories from his grandparents about rung cattle up and down the trails. after years of saving and growing, don's family bought the flying w. ranch. don started filling it with his childhood visions of the old west. >> original wagons, everything we have here is all original. when we do it, it's 100% authentic. >> don and his crew got pretty close, too. he built an entire general store, everything inside from sugar augers to snake oil came from an old store in eastern cloak oklahoma. >> had -- had to find out what it was. we had to go learn.

>> reporter: he dug up the old black smith equipment including this wheel shrinker on the old 40. >> you'd pull this arm here to make the band smaller. >> is it link ?on. >> he shoved of a bunch of other collections, farms, satdles, oafl old buffalo bones into a big museum. >> the overall picture is working out well. >> reporter: the result is the flying w. guest ranch, part cat operation, part dude ranch, part restaurant but all don's childhood vision come true to the point where even work is still just play. near sayer, oklahoma, reporting for the "u.s. farm report". >> if you'd like to see don's creation firsthand, head on- line to flying w. on-line.com for directions and lodging information. sefng for the best trees to preserve tennessee forestland. >> enter at stimpland true.com.

versatile, simple, reliable, easy to maintain.

welcome back. on this steamy 4th of july weekend, a good shade tree welcome back. on a steamy 4thof july weekend a-good shade tree can come in handy for backyard barbecues and family reunions. researchers have tackled a project to preserve forestland for future generation. they're concerned that urban sprawl and poor forest management could take away many acres of trees. as chuck denney shows us in this rort, they're searching fortrees that work best for landowners and wildlife. >> majestic oaks stand proudly next to towering pines, stunning beauty in a peaceful setting. what's going on in this still forest is a decades long research project. this is part of the orchard at ames plantation. >> 100 acres, many different

species. we have over 22,000 trees under study. >> u. t.'s institute of agriculture has been watching the grote of -- growth of several forests including these genetically improved white oaks that are about 20 feet tall. soon the stand will be thin a red ribbon needs the tree is a coop he -- keeper. high quality feed from the young observation will eventually be passed along to tennessee landowners. dr. houston is searching for trees that will benefit tennessee's timber industry and still provide habitat and food for wildlife. >> what we're doing is trying to identify the mother trees. that one and that one, another over here that we think will pass on genetic traits the very best genetic traits. they can be straightness and growth. they can be disease resis tenet tense. >> these orchards will produce seedlings genetically improved to grow faster. researchers here are also studying planting and groaning growing conditions for trees so land oars own customers pick

the variety they think will work best for them. this practice is known as precision forestry. work going on at the shackleford orchard highlights 509th anniversary of its tree improvement program a lover of nature and beautiful hardwoods, margaret finnly shackleford left a significant portion of her estate to fund projects like this. researchers say because of this generous gift, over $1 million, they've been reward with increasingly productive orchards. >> right now, we're starting to thin a couple of the orchards so we anticipate acorn production in several of the orchards to occur in the next few years. that will be the beginning of the payoff of this. >> in a few years, these young trees should look like this. giants reaching for the sky. what's also growing at the shackleford orchard is knowledge that will benefit tennessee landowners and that's the absolute best thing we can have to manage and preverve our

precious forest. this is chuck denney reporting. to learn more about this project, head on-line to aimsplantation.org/forestry. we'll be sure to post a lifng on our home page for -- link on our home page for easy access. our country chuj church salute and tractor tales. please, stay with us.

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[school bell ringing] [car horn honks] if your kids rely on subsidized school meals, contact your feeding america member food bank to learn about free summer meals. celebrates dependence day, tractor tales as the nation celebrates independence day, tractor tales this week couldn't be more appropriate. scott kinrade highlights a special machine made to commemorate america's 200th birthday. >> jay geiger of lebanon, indiana, is the proad proud owner of a case 1570 called the spirit of '76 handed down from

his father of j. lomplt bought it knew that year. according to case, only 200 made, the spirit of 76 is the biggest two-wheel drive case had made up in that time. designed to speed of tillage, road crop and heavy pto work, the spirit of 176 turbo december hl transmission. with eight on the go speeds in the tillage range and if fast 19.5transport speeds for quick travel between fields, the spirit of 76 helped increase the american farmer activity. if you were one of the lucky few to own one. tractor has been semi retired, however they still use it in the field occasionally and also take to tractor shows and stock tractor pulls throughout indiana where its spirit helped win many of the competitions. jay has worked with the toy company to help them reproduce his tractor for young, future farmers to play with and

collectors to cherish and couldn't be more proud of his 30-year-old case spirit of 76. for "u.s. farm report", i'm scott kinrade. have a great 4thof july. >> thanks, scott. my neighbor had one of those and we were terribly envious of him. on our country church salute this week, we're happy to feature the new hope baptist church on the banks of the creek. it was gun in 1825. the current chump has been remodeled and enlanchd over -- enlarged over the years, but they're in the process of building a new church home. attendance averages about 100 and they still baptize in the creek in front of their church. pastor is brother henry stringer and we give our thanks to mary lou roberts. next, we travel to arnette, oklahoma, and the arnette christian chump to celebrate their centennial. there will be a special service, meal and program on june 7 to mark the occasion. special recognition will be given to the surprising number

of people who have served that church for more than 60 years. pastor richard royal leads acongregation of about 50. charles nichols sent us the information. thank you, charles. as always, we'd like to learn about your home church as well. salutes can be sent to the address on the screen. please stay with us. the mailbag is next. >> miss any of today's show? head to usfarmreport.com. "u.s. farm report", the spirit of the countryside. question from from don wolf from wisconsin:

"i grew up on a dairy farm in wisconsin and am now in my middle 40's and would like to have a time now for our

closed camtion captioning brought to you by optimum brand innovations. science with service delivering success. i'm here with you from our weekly look inside the old farm report mailbag. we have a familiar question from don wolf from wisconsin. i grew up on a dairy farm in wisconsin and in my middle 40s and would like a farm of my owned. with the price of land and equipment so high, i don't know where to begin to get started. are there government programs available to help a person get started? don, we receive letters like this all the time. good news is there are several efforts to help beginning farmers. i would start first with your county extension office and the

farm service agency for a general idea of what's available in your area. another source of information is the farm credit system which is a strong policy of helping new farmers. contact your local farm bureau office about your young farmer and rancher programs. finally, i would search the ag media web site. despite all these efforts, i should be square with you. the paradigm of starting with a few acres and livestock working incredibly hard and growing to a commercially viable farm has almost disappeared. as you noted, the amount of capital and the access to land has raised the entry threshold. at the same time, technology is replacing hard, physical labor which is the biggest asset beginning farmers bring to the business. the labor capital mismatch is growing. nonetheless, i think there are opportunities for entry in two areas. agrarian -- einvestigatorrian farming surp such as organic or direct to consumer farms.

like all self-employment, even these choirs not sure things either. please, let us know what you think. feel free to contact us directly. send e-mails to usfarmreport.com or call 800- 792-4329 and leave as you voice mayor. for scott, al and mike, i'm john phipps saying thank you for watching "u.s. farm report". be sure to join us neck week -- next week. we'll be working to do even better. today on u-s farm "u.s. farm report" is