Michigan Agriculture Now

 Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Dallas are schedule to end this week - and U.S. Trade Representative Chief TPP Negotiator Barbara Weisel says much progress has been made. That progress is helping reach the goal that was set by leaders - Weisel says - which is to make as much progress as possible this year…

Farmland is the foundation of American agriculture’s terrific productivity. American Farmland Trust believes farmland is America’s greatest natural resource and is important for the future of Americans and people around the world. AFT President Jon Scholl says to suitably meet the challenges placed upon the agriculture industry, AFT believes conservation programs have to be a priority for the 2012 Farm Bill…

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says if President Barack Obama is elected to a second term - he will not be part of it. The former Dallas Mayor says he will leave office in January one way or another.

Meanwhile - Kirk says negotiations over the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal have been as open as possible. When there are nine nations bargaining for an agreement - Kirk says it’s impossible to do everything in public. But he says the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks have been as transparent as possible - and suggests the end result will put U.S. goods in one of the hottest markets in the world…

 A consultant and former USDA official says timing, southern crop subsidies and the size of food stamp cuts will decide if a farm bill gets done this year.

Scott Shearer led Congressional Affairs at USDA during the first Clinton Administration and worked for former Illinois Senator Alan Dixon on the Senate Ag Committee. Shearer says Senate Ag leaders will have to deal with farm bill opposition from southern crops…

Mark Longstroth is along with our Monday fruit report...

Record corn numbers - higher soybean exports - a bigger wheat crop - all in the latest USDA Crop Supply and Demand Reports. World Ag Outlook Board Chair Gerald Bange says the market saw the bearish corn numbers coming - with planted area of nearly 96-million acres - harvested area just over 89-million - and a record 166-bushel yield

The Humane Society of the United States turned up the pressure on Tyson Foods to eliminate gestation crates from its supply chain with the release of a video taken surreptitiously at a Wyoming hog farm documenting cruel and inhumane treatment of the animals. HSUS Director of Corporate Policy for Farm Animal Protection Josh Balk says the Wyoming operation was a Tyson supplier…

The farm bill hasn’t even hit the Senate floor and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says big fights lie ahead in both the Senate and the House when and if the farm bill moves to the Senate floor. There’s no word yet as to when that will be - but Grassley says it will be open season for amendments…

Bruce says traps are picking up signs of early pest activity.

No doubt -- Michigan growers got dealt a bad hand this spring.  The question becomes...what to do next?

Last week the Senate Ag Committee passed its proposal for the 2012 Farm Bill. That proposal will see floor debate in the Senate later this month. Iowa 5th District Congressman Steve King on Thursday said the House Ag Committee has been working on a farm bill as well. King says a series of field hearings - or listening sessions - have been completed. He says hearings in Washington will be next…

Mark Longstroth joins us with and overview of the Southwest Michigan fruit situation and what growers are doing to remain viable next season...