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speak out against distracted driving at decidetodrive.org. our round table guests this week on u.s. farm report, darren frye, water street solutions. greg wagner, gwx ag advisors. darren, i'll start with you, i asked you earlier what the market did on wednesday. what happened? >> wednesday closed down 29- cents, 10 1/2 on corn. there is a lot of surging going into this bottom, here, there are concerns about the world economy, what is happening in europe, what is happening with our own super committee failure. earlier in the week and the bottom line is that there is a lot of people still want to get to the side lines. the market feels heavy going into the holiday weekend.

>> markets went down. there is not that big of a surplus, is there? >> there is the surplus domestically as far as corn, soybeans, but if you look at it on a global basis, look at pricing, the world is awash in feed weed. we have competition from the black sea for corn. our traditional grape buyers south korea, japan, buying corn from the ukraine. they have 10 million mega tons export. coupled with the sea weed, they had chips -- export potential. >> owe the export potential -- exports are very important, even though we can meet everything here, we are talking about what is going on in the world. you are actually saying maybe this price going down is more than what is happening to the economy in europe because of the competition with the other countries? >> right, we have to look for a

price level where the corn market becomes competitive in the world market, but also what darren alluded to, the chaos, utter financial chaos in the euro zone, european monetary union will be with us for awhile. i think, no, we have -- we will have a delayed day, short day on friday after thanksgiving, but, you are looking, right now, marked corn down 62 1/2 cents so far this month. december corn down. january beans down 93 and a quarter, these numbers are awful. wheat down 49 1/2 a quarter. >> is that a trend it that will continue all the way into christmas? i'm doing to ask darren, first. because you are looking like you will say yes >> i hope not. i believe the market is in the final stages of surging into its lows, typically between thanksgiving and christmas and then the end of the new year,

alot of times, depending on what the january report does, we'll see a rebound. we are coming off a harvest. it wasn't as big as what we needed. with the slow down of the world economy, maybe it's big enough we'll see a need to secure acres going into the next year. i'll look for the market to stall around the 570 level versus the december corn and maybe try to gather mow mammotomy to stablize and rebound. >> you are nodding your head, does that mean you agree? >> i agree making the observation that the numbers i alluded to for month state losses are unsustainable. in other words, they cannot the acceleration to the down side will have to moderate. the market will find support at that point in time, you will have a similar situation where you will say, hey, you know what? these are good prices.

what are we doing down here, the caveat is what happens across the pond in europe and whether or not pressure comes on the euro zone and you have a dramatic surge in the dollar. >> i talked to a lot of people about what is going on and in the last two weeks, i have not talked that much about grain, i have been talking about the markets that are affecting grain prices. my question is that is that going to continue? the other markets? what happens in europe, what happens to gold, silver, all of the other stuff? >> i would say it would have a direct impack. i think the grains will separate themselves a little bit from the outside market. i think what greg alluded to, the competitive grains, feed grains around the world are having an impact, but i do think we'll seek a lower price as we have dropped for the

month a significant amount and we'll get to the point of value mmpetitive. l be more >> when we come back on u.s. farm report, we'll talk about what the producer can do in order to avoid losing for money and making some profits when we return on u.s. farm reports. .

round table guests, darren frye -- the first group, we said when we come back, we were going to talk about what a producer could do to perhaps make money with unsold grain. i'll start with you. >> take a look at it this way. what we talked about earlier, momentum, down time momentum will deaccelerate -- >> it's not going to keep going down. >> i'm not saying it's not going to go down further, but at some point in time, you will find value. there is risk involved in the outside market, those will

present for a long period of time. if you haven't sold grain, it's possible, short dated options, 10, 15 days left on them, possible to buy a call option if i pad you on the upside and then keep track of your basis level. they are starting it to weaken many i done know if they will weaken more like we mentioned earlier, later on, but you have an opportunity in levels that are above current levels and then you take a hard look on the 2012 -- >> reporter: when i listen to what you are saying, i'm thinking 2011 brain. i'm going to go to you, darren and talk about 2012 -- we are right around the corner. it will cost more to put the crop in, right? >> it will cost more, average, breaking even 10-cent as bush el, let's say, up from last year. we will get a balance. we will stop going down at some

point, we are reaching the support or value levels, now in my belief and i think we could see a rally into the new year. if that happens, then that's an opportunity to price or protect in a better way 2012 the only thing i mentioned about 11 is the bases is really strong, right now, greg alluded to it. we talked about it ahead of coming onto the program, but any corn that will move prior to spring or around springtime, you need to get the bases taken care of in the next couple of weeks. maybe that's a bases contract. maybe that's a -- but i do think it's a good time not to pass up on the bases for '11. >> if you can make 40 or 50- cent as bush el, why not do it and bases can do that by snapping your fingers. i'm wondering if the bases will hold up whenever the suppliers can get all they need. >> first of the year, typically, you see more grain

move. i don't know if we'll see as much as normal. but it should soften after the first of the year. i think you have to take advantage of the strong bases we have, now. >> what can producers do. marketing is the number one thing. you don't know, you are shaking your head? >> not that it is impossible, you are in a difficult -- much more difficult environment than you were before in order to make marketingdecisions and it requires closer attention, you know. a farmer -- a producer spends so much time, the bulk of his time is put in inputs and growing the crop and >> growing and cultivating >> that energy, right now, down time, focus on the marketing. for discuss on looking at where trends are going as far as in the past, where we are, now, where your support and

resistance levels are. where some of your -- some people use futures. i'm not a big proponent of that but where options are priced and talk to somebody who does that full-time, professionally. >> >> your comments on making a profit, agriculture? >> number one is always production that's the biggest thing driving the bottom0>sine. second thing is going to be crop insurance, if you use it as a marketing tool. i think we'll have some attractive based prices coming in. i think growers need to buy up the coverage level. there are other tools available out there. such as the climate corporation, offering different products. third is marketing, marketing is tough. environment is difficult. sometimes, you see things clearly, other times you don't. 4th is making good financial purchasing equipment.

whether it is equipment. tax planning, input buying and minimizing the tax that you will have to pay on your operations. that's the order i kind of look at things. >> reporter: so, basically, are you saying you need to spend a lot of 0 time planning? >> you really do there is a big amount in that pot and it's comprehensprehensive and it has integrated and overlaid and dealt with constantly. >> >> don't forget, the name of the game for producers all around the country is profit. we'll be right back with u.s. farm report in just a moment. . @@ 

welcome back to the u.s. farm report. this is the weekend after thanksgiving and boy, do we have a change in the weather pattern. we have seen some truffeyness. that will not be the case as we

head into the week. we see a big trough into the ohio valley to the southeast. whether it cuts off or not, some computer models are notshowing. this. this will be a slow mover. we have a sharp trough and that will be bringing in colder air. another trough digs in in front of it and look at that cold shot of air as we head into the wednesday and thursday time frame. this will be coming off the arctic circle for the northern plains into the ohio valley and great lakes. that would bring a shot of very, very cold air. basically, we have seen a flip- flop over the whole continental united states over the past couple of weeks, suddenly, as we head into the first week of december, at least partial week of december. this week's temperatures, we are looking for below normal temperatures because of the big

cutoff here, even if it doesn't cut off, we are talking about cold air plungenning pretty far south. i'll go colder than normal all the way through the tennessee and ohio valleys and the southern great lakes. far northeast and the far northeastern plains across the northern rockies, above normal temperatures are expected in those areas. as far as precipitation for this coming week, i do see with the big trough in the east, a lot of gulf moisture picking up atlantic moisture as well. some of the areas, ohio valley, tennessee valley will get very wet at times this week and into the great lakes, western parts of this can be snow at times, do keep that in mind and it probably is going to be snows back across the canadian border. below normal precipitation and it looks like from nebraska, kansas, all the way back to the

four corner league and most of california, a fairly dry week. as far as the 90-day outlook is concerned, this takes us into february. below normal temperatures for the great lakes, western northeastern areas. western new york, western pe pennsylvania west war i think the east coast will be near normal most of the winter. above normal, four corner region across texas into louisiana. precipitation, the areas very dry and you are already starting off dry that's not good news. hopefully, we can get some moisture as we head into spring. above normal middle mississippi valley into the great lakes in parts of the northeast. we'll be back with more u.s. fr right after this. . up this half hour

with john's world. this week, he offers his op impact slow government can have on ernational trade. >> we wrap things up with john's world he offers his opinion on the impact slow government can have on international trade. >> beef producers have been twiddling their thumbs, waiting

for japan to lift age restrictions on beef. fully opening the key market. it does seem to be taking a long time to resolve but to be fair, every democratic government around the world has found their processes closed by rules and procedures designed to protect minorities and insure all voices are heard. here in the u.s., we have senate rules that permit a handful or even one senator to bring a legislative process to a halt. we continue the college system, abolishing as a way to protect small state interest. in short, the rules designed to prevent the tyranny of the majority have been converted into paralyzing agents or special interests. the bottom line is normally a slow process become gray shall. meanwhile, the rest of the world is operating in nano seconds, i'm not the only one that sees the mismatch here

pressures are building for work arounds to avoid government log jams of our own makes. we should not be surprised to see the influence of powerful players like large corporations or technology providers grow simply because they can still work in something close to real time. gradually, it is dawning on us that slow government is no government. let us know what you think. send e-mails to mail bag at u.s. farm report. com or give us a phone call and leave us a voice-mail. >> >> coming up in our next half hour, harvest of thanks, our annual thanksgiving tribute to american agriculture. stay with us. . >> the second half of "u.s. farm report" is coming right up.

welcome to harvest of thanks, i'm clinton griffin >> and i'm andrew mcray. >> we are coming to you from living history farms outside of des moines iowa for our annual tribute to american farmers and ranchers >> we'll tell you about this museum later in the program. >> >> farmers and ranchers meeting the needs of a growing global population. >> it was at this time last year when we invited you to dream big with us. >> those dreams with being fulfilled. >> farmers feeding the world is dreaming huge and it has been that kind of first year. >> today, one out of every seven people in earth will wake up and not know how to fill this cup >> reporter: which is why they

are filling with with 1 billion people on the planet suffering from hunger the foundation is partnering to help feed those who need it, now. corporate friends at agri- business agree it's a problem desparately in need of a solution. >> it's a core of who we are. agriculture businesses are aimed at helping people produce more and better quality food. >> the next five years, i would like to think that hopefully, the people that matter particularly in some of thesation pacific companies, places that are characterized by literally hundreds of billions of small holder farmers are able to take up some of the modern technology that existed. >> food is something that should be in everybody's mind. because once you do that, you are not any longer your biggest problem. feeding people your biggest

priority you move onto other things, education and developing your country. >> feeding the world found a need for development firsthand in partnership with the howard g buffet foundation. the group toured afghanistan searching for ways to help and preparing to share with anyone who would listen >> to be able to understand what farmers are going through in a country like afghanistan with the history they had. you can't really get it unless you sit down and talk to them. for me, i don't think about -- i don't want to do anything foolish, but on the other hand, i think to really learn it and understand it and if we were going to get engaged and they can tell august the decision, we need to see it. we need to talk to people and understand what is going on on the ground. >> reporter: we are here to height fight world hunger, but

we need your help -- >> farmer feeding the world set up shop at events across the country. educating the masses of the global growing crisis and the role of american farmer. also announced this year, a pledge of half million dollar at chapters across the country. >> we are looking to work with 7700 chapters on local hunger programs throughout the country and we are going to award 130 to 150 grants of couple hundred dollars to chapters that put together sustainable agriculture programs. it's really good. >> the hidden hunger we have not talked about. we want them it to use this grant to think about ways they can do things that are sustainable. that they can continue. it that they can help the local communities do a better job. >> reporter: later in 2011, farm journal forum in washington, d.c will bring

together great minds, focusing on policies and ways america can continue to seek solutions to global hunger. in this land of plenty, farmer -- hoping one day the cups in the stomachs of everyone in the world will be full. as you can see, we are dreaming big here and we hope all of agriculture will join us, clinton? >> thanks, andrew. >> >> 2011 will go down as the year of weather extremes. we saw firsthand the devastation that can be caused by water. from north dakota to louisiana, you saw the nation's biggest rivers carrying into fertile soil and leaving deep scars in their wake. >> we also saw how a lack of rain can devastate farm and ranch land, but we saw farmers thankful for what they do. erica has the story. >> reporter: randy, the for the new fire department. he said they are lucky, many of

the wildfires north of lubbock was limited in size because the farmland is mostly cultivated. a few of the new deal volunteers assisted in other parts of texas where massive wildfires burned relentlessly. the effort was grueling and dangerous. >> we tried to keep our people rehabbed. we had one call where one fireman became dehydrated. just exhaustion from the heat. >> reporter: 2011 will long be remembered as one of the worst in texas. the worst in terms of drought, extreme heat and high wins, all of which fueled fires, lots of fires. >> everything just got so dry. once it became dry, everything burned and what i think maybe some folks didn't realize, that included -- it wasn't just the fact that the grass was brown and dry. houses were dry, wood is dry. you see evergreen trees that

look green, they are not green. they burn real easily. that helped to fuel alot of the fires. so, everything became so dry the slightest spark would set it off. >> reporter: in some places entire neighborhoods were destroyed. for his department, there were a lot of close calls. >> get the grass burning right up next to the structure, embers flying around in backyards, and a few more minutes would have made a big difference. >> reporter: the important of volunteer fire department hit home close to me. this is the farm where most my parents keep most of their equipment. all of their hay equipment and even some livestock. a fire late last march hit in the pasteur behind me and if it weren't for the volunteer fire department, my parents could have lost everything in their farming operation.

>> we got a call that we had a grass fire, near carmen we will very, very high winds sweeping toward our barn. we had equipment out there and it was blowing right toward everything and our fire department responded, in fact, five of our real fire departments responded and they if they had not been there and put it out, we would have lost the whole place. >> reporter: fire was headed directly toward this hay barn the neighbors helped to move the equipment to safety and the fire department arrived just in time. >> it was about as scary as i have ever been of losing everything i worked for on that day i can't say enough about the rural fire departments in this part of the country because they work together hand in hand. >> reporter: sadly, many families in texas and oklahoma did lose homes, barns, equipment or livestock this

year, but the heroic efforts of volunteers saved thousands of structures and saved my family's farm stead. >> rural fire departments have done an excellent job. sheriff's departments work very well with us, keeping everybody informed, what the need is and what needs to be done, but without proper equipment. without trained volunteers, our job would be much more difficult. >> hey honor one another and when somebody is in trouble, they call and someone goes and others help. we are thankful to have that eere. >> reporter: although volunteer firefighters don't do the jobs  -- on this day, we give thank to those men and women would have selflessly given to their neighbors and communities. >> >>

welcome back. each year at this time, we reflect on the blessings we have in our homes and as a nation.

now, we would like for you to meet some of the american farmers responsible for putting this bountiful harvest on our table we go to auburn, illinois, where a corn grower says among all of his blessings, evidence is thankful to live his life on the farm. >> for many growers, it was a tough growing season, wet fields in the spring, dry in the summer, took a toll on many of the feels, but for illinois farmer gary nemar, harvest time is a time of great reflection. gray skies, but a clear mission for gary nemeyer, a third generation farmer with more than 40-years to his credit. the crop was able to overcome some tough weather challenging. but it's the year end result that gary describes in one word, amazing. >> no matter how much time i spend harvesting and planning, i'm amazed at how things end up turning out at the end. this is really a fantastic

story we have had to tell. >> reporter: gary said the land and what is produced on it each year is at the core of every american farmer. he says that may be difficult for people woe are not associated with agriculture to understand. his dad understood. >> my dad was the best guy there ever was and as far as him encouraging me to farm, i don't think he discouraged me, but he wanted me to be who i wanted to be and i wanted to farm. >> reporter: in his role as president of the national corn growers association, gary feels the need to carry the torch for america's farmer. >> it's within you as a farmer and everybody has that certain faith they are going to come back and produce another crop next year and it will be better yet and i think you have to have to to be a farmer. this is something i cannot

relate very well to the average person. i don't know how they can understand what i'm saying. you have to live it. >> reporter: gary, along with wife sheryl, raised three children in central illinois the kids chose a different career path and may not return to the farm. while the kids don't work the land, gary knows they still respect the land, the farm stead and what it means. >> this is the time of year you havve to be thankful for the things you have had. i had the great opportunity to live my life on a farm. i appreciate that and i hope my grandchildren will too. >> reporter: sharing the passion an living the life in american agriculture -- .

s nestled in a region of southern idaho, it is an area river in agriculture and relying on irrigation. the curious name is a result of damming the snake river. routeing it turned terrain into productive farmland. >> we have very little rainfall, most of us enjoy a very large supply of water so we can raise consistently high quality crops. >> wayne lives in burly where

he runs an irrigation operation. wheat harvest started late on the hearse farms, usually cutting by the end of july. it didn't start until the end of august. >> eat crop, overall, at leave as good as average and maybe a little better than average in quality and in our yields we are seeing. >> wayne's grandfathers were full-time farmers, his parents were educate tors, but also part-time farmers. as a boy, wayne spent most of his time as a farmer it was clear what the future would hold. >> i felt good about farming because i felt it was good to be able to provide food for others. i felt like farming was a noble profession. i still believe that. >> reporter: wayne hopes his teen-age sons have the same belief in agriculture. >> several of my children as it is mentioned an interest in

doing that. we haven't pressured them at all, but i would hope that one return to the farm eventually. >> reporter: wayne's grown daughters help on the farm as they can. all three are married to military men wayne's wife takes an active role in the business. >> everything we do, we talk about. whether it is marketing the crops or doing something substantial, she's the sounding board. >> when he is not busy on the farm, he is traveling the country as president of the national social of wheat growers touchdowning to issues affecting the farmers. -- >> and you work closely with nature and work closely with the elements to try to produce the best crop you can and it's always gratifiesing to have a healthy harvest. >> it's always amazing to me,

take one concern el of wheat and it produces all of this wheat. to think you can get so much from such a little thing. you can produce and bread and crackers and food for not only yourself and for th or the united

states, but people throughout the world. . >> the experience i had a few years ago, taught me what i needed to make sure we didn't end up with resistant heed, soybeans have done very well for us. this year, they will probably be our best. they are as good if not better, knowing that i can get the tough weeds. a big plus another mode of action we can have in our tool box to kill the weeds, being able to killed weeds. .

harvest in the western corn belt played out under mostly sunny skies. in the end, farmers were able to fill their trucks with golden grains. we head to his fields in syracuse, nebraska where no matter the crop, good farming is key. michelle has the story -- . it's harvest time in syracuse, nebraska and this farmer is carrying on the tradition handed down to him by his grandfather. >> i have never really had a big plan on the size of an operation, but i always have

concentrated on being as productive and efficient on whatever acres we do have here to produce from. >> >> reporter: a philosophy that has been familiar to him. he said his desire to be a leader is rooted in his involvement in church and his involvement in community and agriculture service. >> i want to be a part of that. >> >> reporter: the leadership provided will be critical for u.s. farmers as we go into the writing of the farm bill in 2012. >> we are definitely moving toward more of a risk management, compliments crop insurance and it will be something based on current pricing and not decade oughlieds that don't reflect the current value of the grain we produce. >> reporter: beyond the farm belt, he is excited about the opportunities he sees in this new era of agriculture.

>> we look at the growing world demand. >> that is rooted in this year's harvest. >> it's gratifying the so the results of hard work and mother nature's contribution. >> reporter: that harvest is one of the things wellman is thankful for. he got the love of the land an the miracle of life. from there, my wife susan and our kids, we have been very fortunate interest have a good life and work together and be a part of the familerations. >> reporter: he is also thankful for the opportunity to produce products american consumer and serve as the agriculture's president -- .

very simple program. today, more economical. enabling us to farm more ground we are bigger farmers than we

used to be, we are also much better. >> i think growers should be concerned about wheat becoming resistant. as time goes on and the more information i received. if it's not here, it is coming here. trying to do the right thing to make sure we keep the program around -- >> i don't think the farmer of 10 years ago is the farmer of today. whatever we can do to stall the amount of resistant weed, weed, we should start to do that -- . . in what has become a tradition in our harvest of thanks special, we are joined by john with this holiday message. >> thanksgiving is a time we associate culturally and historically with the farm.

there are many warm pictures people have of going home for thanksgiving. it's also a time when many americans give thanks for those of us who work here in the country to provide the food and fiber for america. but, this year, i would like to turn that around. probably because we are looking at record farm income for many of us and also, we have seen the chance to be one of the brightest spots in the economy over the last four or five years. i would like to say thank you to some people that i depend on. people who supply me tools. people who supply me information the people who process my raw materials in the food that you can use to the customers, who buy those products to the taxpayers who support me with subsidies. all of these people deserve a thanks from those of us who are fortunate to live this life.

because if you can't have an attitude of gratitude about farming in 2011, there may not be a year when you will. >> thanks, john, what a perfect way to wrap up another harvest of thanks. >> as we celebrate, we invite you to learn more about farmers in the world. how to get involved, how to make a difference, how to contribute. it's all available online. >> we would like to thank living history farms for their help during our visit him. >> thanks for joining us for this harvest of thanks, have a wonderful holiday season. .