When the combines have wrapped up the harvest, the real work of marketing all that grain starts to unfold. Regardless of where it's going, a lot of that grain will travel the Mississippi River. Kiley Allan catches up with Captain Jimmy "JRock" Cheatam, Hines Furlong Line Inc. He makes trips up and down the Mississippi daily. He says recent rains have temporarily relieved drought conditions across the Upper Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio rivers, allowing barges to operate without major tonnage restrictions. Fuel prices are at near-record highs, significantly reducing profit margins for towing companies and raising shipping surcharges for agricultural clients. He also discusses the shortage of available and trained labor.
Tonight Wisconsin starts experiencing some dramatic weather changes. Winds pick up. Rain moves in and temperatures drop. Stu Muck says it's only temporary though.
Beginning next week, thousands of Wisconsin youth are heading to the 99th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. If you're a parent that's not familiar with this event, you might worry. Larry Lee visits with Cheryl Zimmerman, executive director of the Wisconsin FFA Association and also the National Secretary of the National FFA. She says parents can rest easy that advisors and adult chaperones have things under control, and the National FFA makes a unified effort with Indianapolis to keep kids safe.
Milk prices are finally starting to rebound after a trough of tough weeks. Pam Jahnke finds out why from Owen TeVelde, dairy market advisor with EA Risk. He says that seasonal buying has finally moved in creating a swirl of activity focused on the holiday season.
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