Tag: Coronavirus

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CFAP commodities list expands at USDA

CFAP continues to expand its assistance to American farmers and ranchers.

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that his agency is making more commodities eligible for assistance under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. The USDA is also extending the application deadline for the program to September 11. After the agency looked through over 1,700 public comments and other data, the move means more farmers and ranchers will get the assistance they need to help keep their operations afloat through tough times.

CFAP
USDA announced that the list of eligible commodities for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program is expanding. (Photo from USDA.gov)

“We are standing with America’s farmers and ranchers to ensure they get through this pandemic and continue to produce enough food and fiber to feed America and the world,” Perdue says. “That is why he authorized this $16 billion worth of direct support in the CFAP program and today we are pleased to add additional commodities eligible to receive much needed assistance. CFAP is just one of the many ways USDA is helping producers weather the impacts of the pandemic. USDA is leveraging many tools to help producers, including deferring payments on loans and adding flexibilities to crop insurance and reporting deadlines

Background:

USDA collected comments and supporting data for consideration of additional commodities through June 22, 2020. The following additional commodities are now eligible for CFAP:

·        Specialty Crops – Aloe leaves, bananas, batatas, bok choy, carambola (star fruit), cherimoya, chervil (French parsley), citron, curry leaves, daikon, dates, dill, donqua (winter melon), dragon fruit (red pitaya), endive, escarole, filberts, frisee, horseradish, kohlrabi, kumquats, leeks, mamey sapote, maple sap (for maple syrup), mesculin mix, microgreens, nectarines, parsley, persimmons, plantains, pomegranates, pummelos, pumpkins, rutabagas, shallots, tangelos, turnips/celeriac, turmeric, upland/winter cress, water cress, yautia/malanga, and yuca/cassava.

·        Non-Specialty Crops and Livestock – Liquid eggs, frozen eggs, and all sheep. Only lambs and yearlings (sheep less than two years old) were previously eligible.

·        Aquaculture – catfish, crawfish, largemouth bass and carp sold live as food fish, hybrid striped bass, red drum, salmon, sturgeon, tilapia, trout, ornamental/tropical fish, and recreational sportfish.

·        Nursery Crops and Flowers – nursery crops and cut flowers.

Other changes to CFAP include:

·        Seven commodities – onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts and watermelons – are now eligible for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act funding for sales losses. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for payments on marketing adjustments.

·        Correcting payment rates for onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts, and watermelons.

Additional details can be found in the Federal Register in the Notice of Funding Availability and Final Rule Correction and at www.farmers.gov/cfap.

Producers Who Have Applied:

To ensure availability of funding, producers with approved applications initially received 80 percent of their payments. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will automatically issue the remaining 20 percent of the calculated payment to eligible producers. Going forward, producers who apply for CFAP will receive 100 percent of their total payment, not to exceed the payment limit, when their applications are approved.

Applying for CFAP:

Producers, especially those who have not worked with FSA previously, can call 877-508-8364 to begin the application process. An FSA staff member will help producers start their application during the phone call.

On farmers.gov/cfap, producers can:

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that his agency is making more commodities eligible for assistance under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. The USDA is also extending the application deadline for the program to September 11. After the agency looked through over 1,700 public comments and other data, the move means more farmers and ranchers will get the assistance they need to help keep their operations afloat through tough times.

“We are standing with America’s farmers and ranchers to ensure they get through this pandemic and continue to produce enough food and fiber to feed America and the world,” Perdue says. “That is why he authorized this $16 billion worth of direct support in the CFAP program and today we are pleased to add additional commodities eligible to receive much needed assistance. CFAP is just one of the many ways USDA is helping producers weather the impacts of the pandemic. USDA is leveraging many tools to help producers, including deferring payments on loans and adding flexibilities to crop insurance and reporting deadlines.”

Background:

USDA collected comments and supporting data for consideration of additional commodities through June 22, 2020. The following additional commodities are now eligible for CFAP:

·        Specialty Crops – aloe leaves, bananas, batatas, bok choy, carambola (star fruit), cherimoya, chervil (French parsley), citron, curry leaves, daikon, dates, dill, donqua (winter melon), dragon fruit (red pitaya), endive, escarole, filberts, frisee, horseradish, kohlrabi, kumquats, leeks, mamey sapote, maple sap (for maple syrup), mesculin mix, microgreens, nectarines, parsley, persimmons, plantains, pomegranates, pummelos, pumpkins, rutabagas, shallots, tangelos, turnips/celeriac, turmeric, upland/winter cress, water cress, yautia/malanga, and yuca/cassava.

·        Non-Specialty Crops and Livestock – liquid eggs, frozen eggs, and all sheep. Only lambs and yearlings (sheep less than two years old) were previously eligible.

·        Aquaculture – catfish, crawfish, largemouth bass and carp sold live as food fish, hybrid striped bass, red drum, salmon, sturgeon, tilapia, trout, ornamental/tropical fish, and recreational sportfish.

·        Nursery Crops and Flowers – nursery crops and cut flowers.

Other changes to CFAP include:

·        Seven commodities – onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts and watermelons – are now eligible for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act funding for sales losses. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for payments on marketing adjustments.

·        Correcting payment rates for onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts, and watermelons.

Additional details can be found in the Federal Register in the Notice of Funding Availability and Final Rule Correction and at www.farmers.gov/cfap.

Producers Who Have Applied:

To ensure availability of funding, producers with approved applications initially received 80 percent of their payments. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will automatically issue the remaining 20 percent of the calculated payment to eligible producers. Going forward, producers who apply for CFAP will receive 100 percent of their total payment, not to exceed the payment limit, when their applications are approved.

Applying for CFAP:

Producers, especially those who have not worked with FSA previously, can call 877-508-8364 to begin the application process. An FSA staff member will help producers start their application during the phone call.

On farmers.gov/cfap, producers can:

·        Download the AD-3114 application form and manually complete the form to submit to their local USDA Service Center by mail, electronically or by hand delivery to their local office or office drop box.

·        Complete the application form using the CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator. This Excel workbook allows customers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, then signed and submitted to their local USDA Service Center.

·        If producers have login credentials known as eAuthentication, they can use the online CFAP Application Portal to certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center.

All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can be downloaded from farmers.gov/cfap. For existing FSA customers, these documents are likely already on file.

All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Our program delivery staff will be in the office, and they will be working with our producers in the office, by phone and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

·        Download the AD-3114 application form and manually complete the form to submit to their local USDA Service Center by mail, electronically or by hand delivery to their local office or office drop box.

·        Complete the application form using the CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator. This Excel workbook allows customers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, then signed and submitted to their local USDA Service Center.

·        If producers have login credentials known as eAuthentication, they can use the online CFAP Application Portal to certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center.

All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can be downloaded from farmers.gov/cfap. For existing FSA customers, these documents are likely already on file.

More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

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Minnesota Farmers Markets Opening with Precautions

Warmer weather and longer days mean it’s time for farmers’ markets to open for the season. At your local farmers’ market this year, customers will still be able to support Minnesota farmers markets and the state’s producers by purchasing all of their favorite produce and products, with a few new changes to ensure everyone’s safety.

Minnesota Farmers Markets

Minnesota Farmers’ Markets have been deemed an essential business and market vendors and managers are working hard to plan a safe and successful season. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Shopping the Farmers’ Market during COVID-19 guide helps customers know what they can do to ensure a safe market visit too.

Market shoppers should expect that things will look a little different this year at the market. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers’ markets have implemented new practices for protecting the health and safety of vendors and customers. These new practices may include physical barriers to separate customers and vendors, limits on the number of people in the market at one time, or pre-pay and pre-ordering systems. Despite these changes, the markets are still a great way to find local and fresh food, as well as celebrate the growing season!

Minnesota Farmers Markets
Minnesota has more farmers markets than ever before. (photo by localharvest.org)

“Now is a perfect time to discover your local farmers market,” said Maple Grove Farmers Market Manager Kirsten Bansen Weigle. “During this time, many of us are looking for foods grown locally with minimal handling. That’s what you’ll find at your local market! Please connect with favorite markets online to learn about their COVID-19 response plans and how to be a safe market shopper.”

Eager customers can expect a bounty of early spring crops at the market: from rhubarb to leafy greens, spring onion, and asparagus, there is fresh produce to enjoy at the market already. Many vendors are also selling local products from Minnesota farms like maple syrup, baked goods, meat, eggs and cheese.

It’s easy to find a nearby farmers’ market by searching the Minnesota Grown Directory, which has 192 farmers’ markets and more than 1,000 total farm and market listings. Directory users can search by product, city, zip code, or look along a route to discover local foods and products for sale near them.

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USDA announces new $19 billion aid package for Ag, food

Here’s the entire Friday night press conference with Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program will take several actions to assist farmers, ranchers, and consumers in response to the COVID-19 national emergency. President Trump directed USDA to craft this $19 billion immediate relief program to provide critical support to our farmers and ranchers, maintain the integrity of our food supply chain, and ensure every American continues to receive and have access to the food they need. 

USDA
President Donald Trump and Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue announce details regarding a $19 billion aid package for agriculture and the U.S. food supply chain. (photo from flipboard.com)

“During this time of national crisis, President Trump and USDA are standing with our farmers, ranchers, and all citizens to make sure they are taken care of,” Secretary Perdue said. “The American food supply chain had to adapt, and it remains safe, secure, and strong, and we all know that starts with America’s farmers and ranchers. This program will not only provide immediate relief for our farmers and ranchers, but it will also allow for the purchase and distribution of our agricultural abundance to help our fellow Americans in need.” 

CFAP will use the funding and authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), and other USDA existing authorities. The program includes two major elements to achieve these goals. 

  1. Direct Support to Farmers and Ranchers: The program will provide $16 billion in direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted and will assist producers with additional adjustment and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19.  
  2. USDA Purchase and Distribution: USDA will partner with regional and local distributors, whose workforce has been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat. We will begin with the procurement of an estimated $100 million per month in fresh fruits and vegetables, $100 million per month in a variety of dairy products, and $100 million per month in meat products. The distributors and wholesalers will then provide a pre-approved box of fresh produce, dairy, and meat products to food banks, community and faith based organizations, and other non-profits serving Americans in need.

 On top of these targeted programs USDA will utilize other available funding sources to purchase and distribute food to those in need. 

  • USDA has up to an additional $873.3 million available in Section 32 funding to purchase a variety of agricultural products for distribution to food banks. The use of these funds will be determined by industry requests, USDA agricultural market analysis, and food bank needs. 
  • The FFCRA and CARES Act provided an at least $850 million for food bank administrative costs and USDA food purchases, of which a minimum of $600 million will be designated for food purchases. The use of these funds will be determined by food bank need and product availability.

 Further details regarding eligibility, rates, and other implementation will be released at a later date. Additional Background:USDA has taken action during the COVID-19 national emergency to make sure children and families are fed during a time of school closures and job losses, as well as increase flexibilities and extensions in USDA’s farm programs to ensure the U.S. food supply chain remains safe and secure. Feeding Kids and Families

  • USDA expanded flexibilities and waivers in all 50 states and territories to ensure kids and families who need food can get it during this national emergency.
  • USDA is partnering with the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, McLane Global, PepsiCo, and others to deliver more than 1,000,000 meals a week to students in a limited number of rural schools closed due to COVID-19.
  • USDA authorized Pandemic EBT in Michigan and Rhode Island, a supplemental food purchasing benefit to current SNAP participants and as a new EBT benefit to other eligible households to offset the cost of meals that would have otherwise been consumed at school.
  • USDA expanded an innovative SNAP online grocery purchase pilot program in Arizona and California, Florida and Idaho, and DC and North Carolina, in addition to Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska, New York, Oregon and Washington.

Actions to Ensure a Strong Food Supply Chain

Whole of Government Response in Rural America

  • USDA released The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide, a first-of-its-kind resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.
  • USDA opened a second application window (April 14, 2020 to July 13, 2020) for $72 million of funding under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program.
  • USDA Rural Development lenders may offer 180-day loan payment deferrals without prior agency approval for Business and Industry Loan Guarantees, Rural Energy for America Program Loan Guarantees, Community Facilities Loan Guarantees, and Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees.
  • USDA will use the $100 million provided for the ReConnect Program in the CARES Act to invest in qualified 100 percent grant projects.

 For all the information on USDA’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic and resources available, please visit https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus. 

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Coronavirus outbreak and career choice questions

Coronavirus outbreak. Two words that have dominated our lives. It’s hit home in my house, and I bet we aren’t the only ones. Isn’t it funny how the lives of 7.53 billion people (not all in my house) can be so radically affected by something we can’t even see? Yet the coronavirus outbreak has cost many of us work, time with friends, and most importantly, our health in many cases. How many cases there are is up for some debate, depending on which of the 24-hour “news” stations you get your information from.

I’ll stick with local news if I have to turn something on to find out what’s going on. My buddy Brian Winnekins of WRDN radio in Durand, Wisconsin, says it best; “These stations aren’t reporting the news. It’s more about entertainment and ratings than factual reporting of the news.” He’s not wrong at all.

But enough about that. I’ve lost paying work because of the coronavirus outbreak. Imagine this; going into the heart of the coronavirus pandemic here in the U.S. and Minnesota, and I get this text message from my boss, Scott Bestul, (who used to be the) editor of the Rushford newspaper: “We’re done.” Gifted wordsmith that I am, I replied, “What?” Our group of a half-dozen newspapers had been sold. To the competition, no less, only adding salt to a gaping wound! Have you ever accidentally gotten salt into an open cut? There’s a reason it’s probably a widely used method of torture. It freaking hurts.

That was my most regular paycheck. By the way, if I didn’t mention it, I’ve been a full-time freelance writer for about four years. Not getting rich but learning to enjoy it. So, the newspaper group is done. Then, I get a message from a second job, the one that pays the most per story, saying “we’re cutting way back because times are tough.” And to be fair, they aren’t just cutting back on freelancers. The editors found out they’re required to take a two week (UNPAID) break anytime between now and June. Just to save a few bucks.

It’s things like this that cause a middle-aged man to question his career choice, you know what I mean? So here I am. I do still have gainful employment with the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (thank the Lord!). However, I’m stuck for regular work to do Monday through Friday.

coronavirus outbreak
“So that’s what the top of my desk looks like?” That was my first reaction to seeing my cleaned up desk. I’ve (unfortunately) got a
little more time for chores like that these days. (Photo by Chad Smith)

So, to fill the time while I wait for the stay at home thing to end (which it will at some point), I find myself making some choices I didn’t expect to have to make. I’ve gotten more yard work done here in the early days of April than I got through a rain-plagued May last year. I’m getting some housework done. Cleaned up the office; had no idea what a pigpen it had turned into. It’s immaculate now if I dare say so myself. I get the sense that I’m trying to adjust to a new (temporary) normal. Bet I’m not the only one.

I’ve signed up to take some Bible Classes through the Christian Leadership Institute. Not considering any type of career change at this point. Just trying to draw closer to God during a challenging time in our family (and country, and world) history.

This might be an unpopular question among the more liberal parts of America, or even in the healthcare community; as the coronavirus outbreak winds down, can we please start putting people back to work? We’ve got bills to pay and filing for unemployment doesn’t help cover the bills.

If we feel the need to try and continue the stay at home “orders,” could we just include the most vulnerable parts of our population. All I’m saying is there has to be a fine line, right?

Anyway, good luck to you and your family amid the coronavirus outbreak. Stay healthy. Stay at home. We’re gonna get through this.

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Spring sports in Minnesota on hold, for now

Here’s the complete conversation with John Loney, Rushford-Peterson High School Athletic Director, looking ahead to the possibility of spring sports. No question, there’s a lot of uncertainty right now.

Spring sports in Minnesota have been put on hold, just as many other sectors of the state have, due to the coronavirus. Just as spring sports athletes across the state were getting underway with practices they’ll have to take a short break. The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) suspended all  activities between Wednesday, March 18, through Friday, March 27.

Because of the Emergency Executive Order signed on March 15 by Governor Tim Walz, there will be no MSHSL activities and athletics at any of the member schools. That includes training, practices, scrimmages, and contests. Rushford-Peterson Athletic Director John Loney says students won’t have any organized practices with coaches after Tuesday, March 17.

spring sports
Spring sports like baseball, softball, track, and golf are all on hold in Minnesota, thanks to the coronavirus. As of right now, they’re tentatively scheduled to resume on April 6. (photo from kfilradio.com)

“As of right now, we’re scheduled to return to school on March 30,” he said. The activities association says we can resume spring sports on April 6. I’m sure they’ll be gathering information and monitoring the situation leading up to that date.

“The one thing we have going for us here is the spring activities we offer are all outside,” Loney added. “They are also not quite as physical as basketball and football, where kids spend a lot of time running into each other.”

Loney is concerned about the fact that the recommended number of people in group settings keeps getting smaller to help control the spread of coronavirus, which could be a challenge for getting spring sports contests going once school resumes. Loney is still hoping to get at least some games in so the seniors can end their high school years on a positive note.

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H-2A Workers Help from USDA/Dept. of Labor

H-2A workers have been hard to find consistently in agriculture as long as I’ve been covering it, which is the better part of my adult life. I don’t have enough day-to-day experience dealing with this to know why on Earth we can’t seem to figure this out? Any ideas? Please leave a comment and let me know the whole story? And does this news from the USDA and Department of Labor actually help?

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to help facilitate the identification of foreign and domestic H-2A workers that may be available and eligible to transfer to other U.S. agricultural sector employers to fulfill critical workforce needs within the U.S. under existing regulatory authority during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

H-2A
For as long as I can remember, we’ve been struggling to get enough H-2A workers into the country consistently enough to make sure all our farmers can get their work done. Why can’t we figure this out? (Photo from agnetwest.com)

“Ensuring minimal disruption for our agricultural workforce during these uncertain times is a top priority for this administration,” Secretary Perdue said. “President Trump knows that these H-2A workers are critical to maintaining our food supply and our farmers and ranchers are counting on their ability to work. We will continue to work to make sure our supply chain is impacted as minimally as possible.” 

“American farmers and ranchers are at the frontlines of maintaining the nation’s food supply,” Secretary Scalia said. “In these unprecedented times, it is critical for them to have the workforce they need. This new partnership between USDA and DOL will help support our farmers, ranchers, and American families.” 

Background:USDA and DOL have identified nearly 20,000 H-2A and H-2B certified positions that have expiring contracts in the coming weeks. There will be workers leaving these positions who could be available to transfer to a different employer’s labor certification. The data, available on www.farmers.gov/manage/h2a, includes the number of certified worker positions, the current employer name and contact, attorney/agent name and contact, and the worksite address. This information will be a resource to H-2A employers whose workforce has been delayed because of travel restrictions or visa processing limitations. Employers should be aware that all statutory and regulatory requirements continue to apply. Employers are encouraged to monitor www.travel.state.gov for the latest information and should monitor the relevant Embassy/Consular websites for specific operational information. 

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Coronavirus headlines disrupt commodities

Here’s the complete conversation with Arlan Suderman of INTL FCStone on the commodity markets reaction to the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus headlines and the commodity markets. It’s been a while since we’ve seen the commodity markets this reactive to news headlines on an almost daily basis. While it’s not unheard of, one commodity expert says it’s been over a decade since the markets have been hit this hard by the news. Arlan Suderman is the Chief Commodities Analyst for INTL FCStone, talks about why the news coronavirus headlines seem to be playing havoc in the commodity markets.

“I think that’s a question a lot of people have these days,” Suderman says. “It’s a valid point to discuss.

Coronavirus
Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Analyst at INTL FCStone says the commodity markets have been hit hard by news reports surrounding the coronavirus, as well as the resulting “fear outbreak” from people all over the world.

“I was initially downplaying the market reaction in January,” he recalled, “before doing some research at the end of that month. This is the type of virus that’s going to trigger a lot of fear in people. When you have that much fear, the fear of the coronavirus headlines will be worse than the threat of the virus itself.”

He points out that when people get afraid, they stay home, they don’t travel, and they don’t go out in public as much. That’s been the case in China as everywhere the disease has hotspot outbreaks, everybody stays home.

“Shanghai, a city of millions of people, is now a ghost town,” Suderman said. “Now we’re seeing pictures of that in lots of other places, including Italy.

“When people stay home and don’t go out, they tend to consume less food,” he added. “That includes consuming less meat and a lot more starches. Overall, it does tend to change consumption patterns a lot.”

People also consume less energy in these situations as they aren’t driving a lot while airlines are also canceling flights as people don’t want to travel. Less consumption in the energy markets hurts the biofuels markets as well.

Even things like shipping commodities get much more complicated as people are staying home, thanks to the coronavirus headlines. That’s been the case in China and is becoming prevalent in other countries too.

“People didn’t show up to work,” he said. “Ports become congested, ships don’t get unloaded, and shipping slows way down. That’s lost demand you likely don’t get back. You may get some of it back, but not all.

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Blogging: There’s so many things to talk about!

Blogging. What’s it all about? Every time I sit down to write a blog post, I freeze. Writer’s block is not something that happens to me very often, but in this case, I’m not sure what’s interesting enough in my life and the lives of others around me to write about.

Blogging about sports is a good place to start. Watching the Timberwolves play the Miami Heat and realizing just what a dull and uninteresting franchise they are. Notice I didn’t use the words “professional sports” in front of the word “franchise.” I’m honestly not sure they qualify. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a team revamp virtually their entire roster and not reap any kind of rewards.

blogging
Is Karl-Anthony Towns the right guy to lead the Timberwolves for the next several years? Great offense. LOUSY defense. Doesn’t appear to think he commits fouls at all.. and hurts the team with his constant bellyaching. (Photo from onlinegambling.com)

I suppose I need to give them time. We’ve already given them decades and gotten a couple of good seasons for all of our patience. Where have you gone, KG? Can I ask an honest question? As good as the big KAT is, IS he the right guy to lead this franchise into the future? Fantastic offensive talent. Lousy and disinterested on the defensive end. This is a team that cannot play a lick of defense. Great to score 137 points, unless you give up 140 to the opposition. It’s still a loss.

The NFL Combine is in full swing and I couldn’t be more blasé to the whole thing. Why am I so uninspired about the Vikings and their potential future draft choices? What direction is this franchise going in and how are they going to disappoint their fans next? I mentioned this in an earlier post, but I think it bears repeating; WHY do you want to be a running team first and spend so damn much on a quarterback and two wide receivers? I’m getting a bit of a mixed message here.

Blogging
Still trying to figure out the direction of this franchise, especially with the head coach and general manager going into the last year of their contracts. (Photo from bleacherreport.com)

By the way, isn’t the NFL a passing league now? And if that’s the case, does Zimmer’s insistence on running the ball mean the game has passed him by a little bit? Not saying it has or it hasn’t. Just reading the tea leaves here.

On to other topics. What’s up with the coronavirus outbreak? Have you seen the hysteria surrounding the “Pandemic?” I’ve been looking behind the headlines and am finding out that the coronavirus fatality rate appears to be three percent. My South Dakota/Minnesota math tells me that 97 percent of the people who are infected appear to actually survive? If that is the case, WHY are we hearing about a “global epidemic” in every major news outlet, making it sound like the second coming of the plague? What don’t I know about this?

Why am I still on social media? I was just perusing a short time ago and couldn’t believe how much the current president is being skewered over the coronavirus. And before you get snippy, I didn’t vote for him. If I blamed presidents I didn’t vote for as much as the current political left does, NOTHING would get done. Ever. Didn’t vote for Clinton either. I’d give my kingdom for a reliable third-party candidate or possibly a middle-of-the-road Democrat. The current list of Democratic presidential candidates are all bat-crap crazy.  Not sure the incumbent is a great option either.

I really enjoyed social media when it was first ramping up. After all, I’d just left full-time media for the first time in my adult life and it was my only outlet to keep doing what I loved. I really don’t enjoy it much anymore. Have we as a society ALWAYS been this spiteful and vindictive? Is social media just a convenient outlet for all that vitriol we’ve been saving up? Frankly, the behavior of grown adults on social media is the same thing we all remember growing up during the turbulent teenage years.

Well, there you go. Almost 700 words later and I guess the writer’s block is gone? I do welcome comments when I’m done blogging. You don’t have to agree with me. Just don’t be a jerk about it. Let’s be adults and educate each other about the things we don’t know. Be willing to listen to other people’s point of view once in a while. You and I both might learn something. Think I’ll try this blogging thing again really soon.

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Coronavirus and Possible Effects on Commodity Markets

Coronavirus
Joe Vaclavik, founder and president of Standard Grains in Chicago talks about the potential effect the Coronavirus may or may not have on the grains. (Photo from vimeo.com)

Coronavirus. As it continues to make headlines, commodity experts are wondering what kind of effect the spread of the virus will have on markets. Joe Vaclavik, President of Standard Grains in Chicago, says the outbreak will have some effect, but it’s hard to tell what kind or for how long.

“It’s not a positive. I don’t know that it’s the biggest negative in the world. It could be, and that’s why you’re seeing liquidation in some of these markets, like the stock market, and that’s why you’re seeing the grain markets soften up. Nobody wants to be long in this stuff. The Coronavirus probably goes the way of SARS, or some of these other similar types of outbreaks that we’ve last a month, maybe two months, maybe the better part of a year. Then, it probably makes its way out of the headline.”

He says the possibility of a significant impact on markets has likely grown over the past couple of weeks.

“There’s always that risk that it turns into something much bigger. It could eventually disrupt the flow of trade. Maybe there’s a country out there that decides to throw up trade barriers and says ‘hey, we don’t want corn from the U.S. because they’ve got too much of that virus going around. There’s always that sort of risk on the table.”

Coronavirus
Mike Zuzolo, President of Global Commodity Analytics in Atchison, Kansas, says there are a couple ways to look at the spread of Coronavirus and it’s possible effect on the livestock markets. (Photo from YouTube.com)

Mike Zuzolo, President of Global Commodity Analytics in Kansas, says the virus will likely have a significant impact on China’s poultry flocks. Separate reports have millions of chickens “on the edge of death.” But they aren’t necessarily sick with Coronavirus.

“Animal feed suppliers cannot get their shipments through, raw materials can’t get through, and this also corresponds with another article from the South China Morning Post that said hedging is not being done, soy meal is not being hedged, so soybeans are not being bought. I think what you’re looking at is probably pent-up demand for the livestock industry and that 300-million chickens die because of not being fed because of Coronavirus. That number of pounds of protein, you’re going to have to replace, eventually.”

There is a long-term buying potential for commodities, but only if the virus outbreak doesn’t last longer than reports are suggesting.

“If China and the scientists are correct and we see a peak in the maximum pressure of this virus, outbreaks of this virus, and, in the next 7-10 days, the price action we’re seeing right now will not last. It will set up a long-term buying potential for commodities.”

Again, that’s Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics, as well as Joe Vaclavik of Standard Grains.