2023 was a good crop year for April Hemmes #829

Hey everybody. I'm Paul Yeager, welcome into the MtoM Show studio here at IowaPBS. I'm Paul Yeager. Glad to have you here in our studio and my hands are starting to give a little bit of an indication that things have changed. If you only listen to this podcast, which if it is, if it is the way you consume it, thank you. But if you watch, you'll notice some things have changed. And we'll get into that in a moment. At the end of this discussion, I'll tell you ways that you can be a part of this podcast, kind of fun. Today we're visiting with our old friend April Hemmes, and when I say I don't mean old as an age, I mean, this is an energetic, infectious personality farmer from Franklin County, Iowa, Hampton, Iowa is where April Hemmis is from. We've had her on before. She is the star. And I mean that, of combine karaoke, and the idea that she talks about where the source was. She also was well known for her interviews with other media outlets. We'll talk about one of my favorites and why she feels that it's important for her to be on that platform. We're going to discuss the year that was 2023. We're also going to find out what her roles are in the Iowa Soybean Association, which is a sponsor of this podcast from time to time, you will see they're mentioned. So I just need to get that out of the way. The Soybean Association did not contribute to the connection with April because we had her as a guest prior to that partnership that we have. So just that get that disclaimer out of the way. But April is someone that we keep running into in agriculture and you are going to want to hear what she has to say about farming in the year 2023. And what's ahead in 2024, in this installment of the program, welcome into our room is I mean, you've never seen this room.

April Hemmes: When I did this before it was over zoom. So yeah, people got to see the backside of my closet or something. 

[Yeager] So I think a lot of people, a lot of people's closets in the Zoom era were in a lot of meetings. And they're still I mean, I was I set up backgrounds, I still have a background in basically where I record some of these, but this is in the building.

[Hemmes] But the fake backgrounds on Zoom, just don't cut it for me, you know, because you try to put it in there. But I want all these listeners to know you have duct tape in here. Gorilla Tape, do you use it?

[Yeager]  We actually call that gaff tape. And it's a little different. It's not quite as sticky. It's used to tape that's how you didn't trip on the cord on the floor when you came in. 

[Hemmes] Gotcha. Well, I was I was looking for baling wire to but I don't see any you know,

[Yeager] That would be a good prop right here. Get some bailing wire right here and that would we show then we would ever mess up? I still have some at home that I use. I use it for everything. Yeah. made fun of why do you have that? Like because it works for many, many things. Yeah. Yeah. The Zoom background in your home now. You, what I wanted to interview you one time was in your combine? How many interviews have you done in your combine?

[Hemmes] Ooh, a few. Actually. Yeah. Yeah, a few and the record for people in my combine is five. Now people think I always ask me, how do you get that many women in your combine for combine karaoke? And which I'm guessing you're leading towards? And actually the most was when they were interviewing me about? What can we do for you? I think it was John Deere, somebody, you know, like, how can we help you? And I'm like, logistics, you know, they wanted me to say I'm like, No, I'm a one woman show. I gotta know where I'm going that day, what I'm doing, where I'm gonna end up, who do I have to call for a ride? So they're like, Yeah, well, sorry, lady.

[Yeager] We wanted to hear more about a gear shifter. Right, not a USB ... How many screens do you have in front of you when you're going down?

[Hemmes] In the combine? 1,2,3. Yeah. And then maybe my phone, you know, because you put it on auto steer and you're on my phone?

[Yeager] How was combine karaoke season 2, or 3? How was season three?

[Hemmes] Season three was wonderful because I started with a monologue. And I found out people really liked that. And it was an honest to god true story. My husband was giving me one of those rides, you know, I need to be shot, you know, shuttling the equipment and then like, he does the laundry in my house. I don't do laundry and I said have you seen my crop top and he looked at me with sheer horror and went crop top and I go Yeah, crop top. And he goes you have a crop top and I go Yeah, we wear them every year for combine karaoke. And he goes like one that shows your belly? Oh, good lord. No. No one that has an ear of corn on it.

[Yeager] I'm not laughing as hard as I Because I've seen the bid. I've seen the monologue, but it was oh, I was uncomfortable like your husband right there. What do you mean your crop top? I don't think I have that. Okay. I know what that means. I want to see that. So do you find that people want to enjoy a good play on words?

[Hemmes] They do. They do. And I've had only a few farmers go, why do you do that? And I go, Are you kidding me? It's fun. And we have fun. You know, and it's some legislators and some, you know, another lady that writes for she's, uh, she works for a company that does a lot of writing for agriculture. So, you know, we talk ag then. I always like to say, you know, it's like, Are we recording? Oh, yeah, this was live when they're telling the scoop of the Iowa State House. No, we just did. And I swear, I was at Walmart this year. And this lady comes up to me. Are you April? And I'm like, yeah. Do I know you from somewhere? She goes, yeah, from combine karaoke. I look forward to it every year. So I've made it at Walmart now. Yeah. But it's just fun. And we have a great time doing it. And it shows the world when we put it out there. You know, it's not all serious farming and we can have a good time. And, you know, is the cast the same? It's always the same. Yeah. When 

[Yeager] Who are the group of people that you have with you? 

[Hemmes] Yeah, so Annette Sweeney, she's an Iowa Senator,  Shannon Latham of Latham Seeds, and she's an Iowa representative. And Julianne Johnston, who worked for Morgan Myers and does a lot of Iowa Corn things and works for Iowa Soybean. For cyst nematode does a lot of the research writing and things like that. So I have no idea. And it started with you. And I can't even remember how I said it. 

[Yeager] It was a Zoom interview. Yes. And we were talking about because there's another person that you've interviewed, or that has interviewed you. And we'll get to that in a minute. And I just said, Well, you know, it sounds like you should do fine karaoke. 

[Hemmes] And so that's what I had to do once I said it on your podcast. It's like, when are we doing it? I'm like, okay, so and

[Yeager]  So you've done it three years, and you've had the response this year, I think Did you up your game with a screen with words?

[Hemmes] We did that last year? Oh, the problem is, is I have to make sure I'm in a field where I have cell reception. And in my part of the world, I'm in between two cell towers. So you know, a little shout out to get that broadband going to help in rural broadband. We do. So. But yeah, we just have and they look forward to it. And we set the date. And so I always joke, so I have a real live husband who doesn't farm with me or move me around. But I have a farming husband, I call him and like he was whenever I say okay, it's coming karaoke night. He just, it's like, you know, Homer Simpson backs into the bushes. He's like, nope, well, this year he shot he goes, What can I do? And I said, Well, you can haul the loads home and, and, you know, and come back because he was supposed to rain one of those nights. And the girls are like, come on, come on in. And he's like, no, no, just back to me. So we've tried to get more but yeah, it's just the four girls. 

[Yeager] He's played along but he's not gonna play along like that.

[Hemmes] Not gonna sing along. 

[Yeager] The guy that I refer to that interview is Kai Ryssdal on a public radio show called Marketplace. Kai's a great background loves to, I certainly get the sense he always loves to talk to people. And he asked you this year about how the crop was so I'm gonna steal a line from him. Okay, well, April, how's the crop this year? 

[Hemmes] How's the crop this year? Yeah, we I love doing Marketplace because it is a huge platform to have a farmer heard that we don't always get, you know, and I get to explain farming and what we do, and until I whined about you know, we don't have any rain I'm kidding. You know, I when I had earlier when I did my fan, like, Oh, I'm not gonna have a crop and and then this time, I said, Well, you know, Kai, farmers have to lose their crop about three times on average a year but I, I said I was I said, I must have been Goldilocks, we got half the rain, but just at the right time. So I hold record yields, both in corn and soybeans, but five miles north of me, not too good and 10 miles south, so I was just lucky. 

[Yeager] Truly Goldilocks? And you're part of the area and knowing that it's great growing conditions all around you, but to know that it can be so fine. Oh, does that make you think of when you do get the rain?

[Hemmes] Thankful. You know, and we were just talking about that today at our Iowa Soybean meeting, it's like, you know, we got, you know, this a little bit of rain in July, and then that a bigger rain in August. And I remember saying to my husband that just made my crop, you know, because I watched Market to Market. And I'm like, Okay, I should sell, I should sell, but I don't think I'm gonna have a crop. You know, in June, it was not looking good at all, especially my soybeans. And so now we're all like, why didn't we sell back then? So, but never underestimate what they're doing in technology and seeds now, how they, you know, grow, how we're managing our weeds better. It's truly amazing. And then they said, Oh, how are you gonna plan for next year? And I go, same as I always do. We could have a record crop or rain next spring? Who knows? It's Iowa. But we're dry, right? Yes, we are.

[Yeager] And that's different than last year at this time where we did have recharges. Yes, that gives you a little pause that maybe next year could be different. If nothing changes.

[Hemmes] Yes, I was just in a women's grain marketing group. And they just had a presentation on that. It's like we have tapped out that subsoil now, because they were showing the moisture levels. And so here we go again. You know, you just, I mean, what do you do though? We're farmers, we're the eternal optimist. So we bought the seed now. Load the planter and go in April. 

[Yeager] You get the rain at the right time. But it was the heat that came after the rain. And I'll also contend that the heat came after pollination. I mean, that could have been a totally different crop, right? Had the heat came in early July and not later...

[Hemmes] Right, exactly. And then what we got were cooler nights. So a lot of times it's so hot, but then it will cool down. You might get that dew on the soybeans. So I think that had a lot to do with it. But those hot days are brutal on a lady like me I'm telling you.

[Yeager] What's the conversation like when you go to town, which is five miles from the house or 10 miles and you go, you know, somewhere else? And you find out it's not so good for someone else? Is it the law of averages? Do you think that's how it works?

[Hemmes] You know, you get the Oh, isn't that nice? You had a great crop? I'm like, Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You're in the sand over there. You know, but yeah, you just you, I actually am, the guy who helps my farming husband said, don't talk about your good crop to this person or the you know, just know where they farm because, yeah, a lot of them were below average. So yeah, you're just what? Luckily I go to coffee with farmers that live a couple of miles from me. So we are all very happy. But other farmers who farm a larger area said, you know, my best bean field was right across the road from you, April are right across the fence, but didn't do so well. north or south. So yeah. 

[Yeager] Have you seen a year like this before? 

[Hemmes] Oh, yeah. 2012. You could go by the soil map. I could remember going through and getting almost zero on corn and then going up to 250 in the same pass, you know, so it's all about the soils and aren't we blessed and I have the soils that can hold that moisture. So we still can, you know, get those crops. 

[Yeager] You are on the Iowa Soybean Association Board of Directors, but you're also on the one American Soybean? United Soybean Board. So what's the conversation like on the United front when it's a little more national one? 

[Hemmes] Well, I had to apologize because I was kind of a big whiner in July when I was there, and I'm the demand committee chair and so I made them answer roll call with what do you think your crops gonna be above average or below? And most everybody said, average. So I was the whiner that, you know, there was some of us in the Midwest or like, new, new bad, and then I have to come back and we just had our meeting last week. And it was like the record crops. You know, I had to eat crow, but you know, that's okay.

[Yeager] Did others have to eat crow?

[Hemmes] Yeah, some were like Ohio was really wet. And Indiana was wet in parts. So it was absolutely the same thing as Iowa where it was. It was spotty. You know, some people had great crops, other people didn't, you know, we're farmers, we know there's always next year. 

[Yeager] What is the conversation like with those that have marketed grain? How many have locked doors or open them up?

[Hemmes] No, nobody? No, everybody that I've talked to said why didn't I do something the same as me and I because we didn't think we were gonna have it, you know? And I mean, I did some but not enough. So they’re still a work in progress. You know, what's it gonna take for you to say no, it is amazing. Isn't it our local ethanol plant just had a $5 push bid, only if you marketed more next fall. And I'm like, five bucks. That looks good. But I didn't do it and I don't know a whole lot of people that did. So it's gonna it's $5 is honestly that magic number. So, and but I'm blessed I have a lot of ethanol plants around me and soybean biodiesel and soybean crush facilities 10 miles down the road, and well, that's where I take mine, I will this fall, so I'm pretty lucky there. But those poor people on the river who are used to having that great bid, you know, there's no great movement. 

[Yeager] Do you find that you might benefit once some of those facilities on the river have to say we need product? And that might just push everybody else higher?

[Hemmes] Yeah, it might.

[Yeager] Is that your eternal optimism right there. Totally. Open it. All. Right. Oh. Do you get concerned we had a question on our marketplace last week about do we see the number three starting corn?

[Hemmes] And that's what those of us in farming, you know, I even had a younger gentleman say what if it's for and I go, I've sold corn under $2. Before, but our inputs weren't nearly what they are now. So it could happen. You know, we've got to get that export going. You know, everybody keeps talking about SAF, sustainable aviation fuel, and that's going to save the day. But all these regulations have to come into play. And you know, these facilities have to be built. And so it's hurry up and wait. And keep your you just have to know and I always say this, you have to know your cost of production period, and a story. Know what that is costing you to put it in the ground. And as long as you're selling it for more than that, you're okay. You're gonna lose money. 

[Yeager] Yes, you sound like Matt Bennett. What's your cost of production? You also make it sound like you know your policy. You just came from an Iowa Soybean Association Board meeting. Yes. The policy push this year is gonna be? 

[Hemmes] Good question. Two different things. Farm Bill. You know, we finally have a lot of things on Iowa policy, but not one specifically about let's get a Farm Bill. You know, that's good for soybean farmers because it was a soy and focused on that because, you know, we're not writing legislation in Iowa Soybean policy or corn. It's what we want our people to take to our legislators. So the big one is the farm bill on the national side. Locally, who knows? We never thought a lot of this stuff was gonna come up last year. We knew the grain indemnity fund would be kicked in. And I saw that on my checks. You know, all the farmers are starting to see it. It's not checkoff, that's the grain indemnity fund. So a lot of people, you know, get that confused. So until that gets brought up, that hopefully they're trying to find different ways to pay for it. But right now, it's coming out of our check, and that's fine. You know, that's what it's there for.

[Yeager] And you've done enough meetings over the years to know that things change, or that something we talked about 12 years ago, like, no, it's just finally happening now?

[Hemmes] Or I'll say, Yeah, I'll say, why is this in here? You know, and what might not be important to me might be important to other people in Iowa. So you know, there's, there's always some of those, you know, so, but not a whole lot of huge concerns. As far as policy, it's just updating things. 

[Yeager] So where are we at on water quality? Because I know that's always a topic. That's something that's gone on, but what is the focus, how has the focus changed on the water quality?

[Hemmes]  We got an update, and it will be coming back into the discussion and the three eight cent sales tax and things like that. So we were just updated on that. So hopefully, I take with pride water quality all over the world when I talk because I talk about my farm and what I do. And I said water quality is huge in Iowa, because we know where all our water goes down to the Gulf. And we may get blamed for that. And we don't want the regulations like they have in the Chesapeake Bay. So we take it very seriously. These are what we do on the farm. So you know, that's a great story to tell our nutrient reduction plan. 

[Yeager] But there are those who think that you're not doing enough and haven't done anything and it's like, how can you brag about being just the best of the worst or something? I mean, that's a story that I think you're fighting all the time.

[Hemmes] Exactly that in food versus fuel flow that's coming back into play too. But you have to. I think we have to do a better job at least telling what we do. You know, And and saying, Well, I have, you know, filter strips and, you know wetlands and I do all these things. And it's not just me, it's my neighbors too. So, you know, we can tell our story, but we have to say, hey, you know, no till is huge in my area, you know, we do no till Cover crops are really coming in. So, you know, I know we say we have to tell our story, but we have to get out there and tell it to the right people who are the right people anymore, isn't it the consumer, they're dictating so much of what's going on now. And the companies are listening to them. That's why we have the car carbon and, you know, carbon sequestration and a lot of that now everybody wants to go green. Well, it all starts on the farm. So here we go.

[Yeager] Oh, I think the last time we chatted, I even asked about this question in Des Moines at my Iowa Cubs game. There was a series of ads for years now about and it was sponsored by Iowa soybeans, and it was telling the story of agriculture and water and environmental stewardship in an urban audience. Yep. Do you think that that is money well spent in reaching somebody that's different than what usually might watch Market to Market?

[Hemmes] Yeah, I think things like that. It's amazing how the farmers' perception has changed. I've been going on my ninth year on I was soybean and United Soybean Board and we're deciding how to spend checkoff dollars and how that that very same question. And I jokingly said about seven years ago, I said, Well, if we could only have Taylor Swift tweet about how great soybeans are, our job would be done. Another farmer goes, I wonder how much that would cost, like more than our budget. But that's the reality of where we're at now, you know, getting it out to those people. Now, Will everybody agree? No, you know, so, but just to let them know, I love having conversations with people. But unfortunately, a lot of times it's one on one, where it's not reaching the masses. 

[Yeager] But a one on one conversation, sometimes people will feel more comfortable to ask you maybe a tougher question or a question they don't want to ask in front of somebody else. 

[Hemmes] And especially being a woman a lot of times that helps. They don't feel as intimidated. Oh, I'm gonna ask a woman farmer.

[Yeager] Okay. Yeah, yeah. But I'd say I didn't know. I didn't know if you meant that people would be there. They don't, they don't want to ask you a question.

[Hemmes] Oh, no, no, no, no, no, they want they would engage more with a woman? I don't know. I think so. 

[Yeager] But don't you think it could be a little bit of your personality, too? It's a little bit engaging. Maybe people want to have a conversation with you. 

[Hemmes] I'm not afraid to have one back. You know, I don't just dismiss goals. So yeah, I like to have those. Um, you know, cab drivers, like, we'll get in a cabin. What do you do? I'm a farmer. He goes, and my husband I know will go Don't tell him you're a farmer.

[Yeager] I'm in insurance.

[Hemmes] They hate it, or they love it, you know? And then it's like, like, where do you know, we've talked to, I've talked to cab drivers. And it's like, where do you sell your things, and I go, Well, I go to a, you know, an ethanol plant or my corn gets made into ethanol. And that also gets feed made into feed. And then without getting into it. And then the soybeans, I say, you know, it's a, it's made into feed. So you don't eat what you grow. And I don't eat what you grow. And I go do like bacon. Well, yeah, and I go, then you're eating what I grow. You know. So just the story of feeding livestock and, and especially Iowa has such a great story, you know, with the chickens, the layers and hogs that we raised. So we're very fortunate. 

[Yeager] The national story, let's go back to the Taylor Swift analogy for a minute, what happens if she tweets something not helpful, too?

[Hemmes] Well, and that's just it. So we had, that's why we don't really do that. We had farmers from all over the country sitting around the table. And we talked about influencers and things like that, especially sports people or something when they and we've had that very same. That's why we've kind of gone away from it. We haven't ever done that. Because what if you know, what ifs out there? So yeah, it could be so harmful, or so helpful. It can go both ways.

[Yeager] It goes back also to what we just talked about when Kai Ryssdal calls on a national public radio-distributed show that is not directed at agriculture, but business, you get a chance to tell a story in markets. I mean, it does cover markets so there might be plenty of people who trade kinda get they might get they might not trade all the commodities, but they look at screens for what options are or they know they might put their money in commodities, right? As a place to put it right and so that does help?

[Hemmes] Yes, it does. And then our lingo you have to remember to leave the farm lingo at the door. And what Kai is really good at is ‘tell me more about that’? What does that mean? And so then you put it into layman's terms, you know, things like that. So, you know, that's what's that's what's great. About having that broad, broader audience and, and then just a side story is I got a text, this last one I did from a friend of mine who said, Oh my gosh, I just heard from a former a friend of mine who was the former Ag Secretary of Illinois and said that was the best farmer interview they'd ever heard. I'm like, Oh, I thought I bombed it. Yeah, no. But just to have that, they said the same thing. Just to have that voice out there. And step up, say yes. You know, when asked. 

[Yeager] I've told this story before on this podcast, my father once was approached by a reporter. And he said, I don't think I have a story to tell. And I'm like, You're killing me. I call farmers and they'll say, No, don't be that guy.

[Hemmes] Or don't be that gal.

[Yeager] Yeah, sure. Just don't be that.

[Hemmes] Well, that's true. And I, you know, obviously, I'm not shy, I can get in front of a mic, but I go, you guys, you're just talking about your farm, you're telling your story. That's all we need to do to get out there. 

[Yeager] Last time I talked to you in person, we were hanging out at the World Food Prize. Tell me about the global stage of the American farmer in the the Iowa farmer story that

[Hemmes] I love the World Food Prize, I got to go with my daughter who did the Youth Institute so I was there before. But what shocked me kind of surprised me was how much those the speakers up there said, you have to start with the farmer, the farmer has to be at the table. And I heard that over and over again. And oh, that made me so happy. Finally, corporate America's getting it or the NGOs or you know, because a lot of people there have this idealistic way that we should farm. And it isn't with tractors. But it's amazing how now they're getting in if they want to do all these things, you have to start on the farm, you have to talk to us. And we can say, yeah, we can do it. Or, you know, maybe not, but the US farmer has such a great story to tell we've been sustainable, raising our crops for years. So and that's truly what they're looking for now all over the world.

[Yeager] And you then find, again, the one on one conversation, because do you ever find yourself after a panel going, Hey, I want and then you go up? And then you ask the question.

[Hemmes] Yes, yes, that's what's great. Um, I went to a side, one of AI and agriculture that the Iowa did, and that was phenomenal. Because we think so many times about self-driving cars, and I'm like, you know, we've had driving tractors for a long time. You know, in agriculture, we're, we're, what is it quick to, we hate change, but we're quick to adopt technologies, you know, so it's so true. And that's what's amazing. And all those people are right there, you know, they're there. And we get to, you know, talk with them and have that conversation one on one. And then that only helps us get better whether it's, you know, at a commodity group or a farmer. 

[Yeager] Shortly after, then you got on a plane and went a little further away on a mission trip, a global trade mission. Is that what it would be? 

[Hemmes] Yeah. So it was the China International Import Expo. CIIE, 500,000 people there. It's China. And the Expo Center is like four huge ones, kind of in a cloverleaf leaf shape. And it was unbelievable. And where, and USDA was there, for the first time US Soy has always been there. So we were right there. And they had the ambassador there. The U.S. Ambassador opened it up, and the Chinese media was all over the place. And then and with us and talking to us, and then I got to speak at the Ag part, the Ag session, a breakout where there were, you know, secretaries of ag from countries. I sat right next to the CEO of Louis Dreyfus and was sitting right next to him like, oh, yeah, I'm thinking what's the big dogs here. And they all got up and read their five minute speeches off the paper, and I got up, showed slides on my farm, a video of me combining, not singing. Sorry. That's right, no calm landing, showing the great crops that we raise, you know, and then going around and waving at the screen and, and showing the beans going into the hopper, you know, and showing that these are the quality crops we're delivering to you in the world. And I have to tell you, the emcee of that he loved it, he goes, there she is, she was energetic, smiling, you know, but it's the story you know, here we are out there representing the world. So I was good and it was, you know, people were getting a little sleepy. So I upped my game a little.

[Yeager] Because of the pre-read things. 

[Hemmes] Yeah, they were just like this and I'm like, Oh no, I'll wake him up. So. But that's great. I mean, when do we get audiences like that, and that's what these trade missions are for, is to showcase US farmers.

[Yeager] So why has USDA not gone before?

[Hemmes] I don't know why they never had one before. But in China, soybeans are kind of a big deal. So they are from all the world, I think they import almost half of the world's soybeans and one out of every three rows of ours, you know, so it's a huge, huge market and very important to them.

[Yeager] You had conversations you said with the Chinese media, did they interview you, too? 

[Hemmes] Chinese media, and what are they asking you so you know, about the farm, but then how important that relationship was really, I mean, because they they, they didn't say this, but it was the side talk of, you know, does America really hate us? And what you know, because I said, Listen, politics, change, politics are here and there. But there's one thing we know, we need your markets, and you need our commodities, we need each other. And that's really the thing that we need to take away from this. And they all agreed with that. So had you been to China before? Yes. Many times. Okay. So when was the last time you were there? Well, pre COVID 19. Okay. And I was shocked at the change. Okay, that's what I'm gonna add. That's what I want to ask, what's the channel after that? I say they shipped me off to southern China to do a, it was called a person to person or Farmer to Farmer. And we saw some agriculture was down by the ocean. So it was beautiful there. And it was amazing what we heard. So it was Mara, Ministry of Ag and Rural Affairs, who sponsored this trip? Yes. Yeah. Both are okay. Yeah, it was both places. And, what amazes me is when I was there before, they were trying to bring the rural people into the cities, you know, and bring them in, because it was almost half, when I first went there, almost half of the population lived rural, where we're wet less than 2%. Now. And so they were trying to bring them in, well, now they realize, oh, you know, our cities are getting over, you know, or they're getting crowded. Now. They're improving infrastructure, technology for their health care, because they have an aging population also. So they're improving their lives out in the country. So they stay there. So that was really a huge shift. And President Qi got on the I watched this, got on the TV and said he wanted all the women to stay home and start having children. And all the women I talked to of working age are like no, you know, they've, they say too expensive. They want to work, but see they're running into that one child policy is catching up to him. So it's the dynamics of all of that are amazing. 

[Yeager] You mentioned the city / urban debate or change. But what about when you said the policy from '19 to '23 different presidents had different ways we view we had a trade discussion than we'd like we have a trade discussion now. Do you get the sense that that's changed at all?

[Hemmes] I'm a little bit, you know, I think they're more open because they just approved, genetically modified, you know, where they're going to start planting it. So it's, it's coming around, you know, but we really, we need to engage them in trade way more discussions.

[Yeager] Do you get the sense that they're trading fair? Of course, what's going on?

[Hemmes] Can I say that? Yeah.

[Yeager] You just did. And that's what I mean.

[Hemmes] China doesn't do a whole lot of things fair. Because they don't have to. They don't, you know, they don't have to go to Congress and ask for anything. It's like, this is what we want. Okay, it's done. You know, so. So, um, that, I mean, you really have to watch, we have to have the eyes open when, you know, you have to have your eyes open when you go into agreements with them. So, you know, but better, you would kill agriculture. It would really hurt if we had another two and the tariffs are still on, which people don't understand, but they said they get waived all the time for commodities. So, you know, did the tariffs work? I don't I don't, I don't I I went down that rabbit hole because we were talking on another program about what would a 10% across the board tariff due to agriculture and how much would it cost it? So I was looking up articles and I didn't realize it would lower our GDP actually, it's tariffs are not good for an economy so That was kind of surprising to me, you know, but I love free trade agreements. You know, I think they're great for agriculture. 

[Yeager] And that's usually the products that America can bring to the table of this is what we can get your country. Yep. Or agriculture.

[Hemmes] Yep. Yeah, we just had a former trade ambassador, you know, who did all the negotiations. And he said, You have to be tough, but you have to keep something in your back pocket. Because you know, it's going to be back and forth. You have to trade. And I mean, there has to be some kind of you, we have to give them something, but we have to get something in return. So, you know, that's fascinating to me. 

[Yeager] Not like gift giving that your relatives, everybody has to give a little or some give more than others? 

[Hemmes] Uncle Harry owe any money?

[Yeager] We know where he goes as we look to 2024 to start the new year here. What do you think will be the biggest story for you? For Franklin County? 

[Hemmes] Oh, how dry it's gonna be? Everybody's looking at that. Yeah. And talking about it, you know, what worked for you last year? What are you going to do next year on the farming side of it? And what do you plant in? But you know, we're, that is truly my biggest concern is water.

[Yeager] Have you committed all your acres? allotment? When where you going with when nothing is going to change? You know, beans go into some ridiculous numbers. I'm going to change it. 

[Hemmes] No, no, it really isn't. Because I don't want to mess up that rotation. And I hate corn on corn. I do a little bit of corn on corn, but it's not my favorite thing to do. So now, it's yeah, it would take a whole lot of rain. Not being able to get the nitrogen on, you know, because I don't do liquid in the spring with my burn down. So yeah, it would take a huge weather event for me to change.

[Yeager] Will the presidential election impact you at all?

[Hemmes] Ooh, that's a really good question. If we don't get a Farm Bill? Well, and I think a lot of that's, you know, weighing on that.

[Yeager] In the hours before we recorded this, there was another story about very much pessimism to meet that September 2024 deadline. I guess I'm not asking for what was said in the room just a few hours ago. Oh, no. Is there any optimism? Well, they use it? 

[Hemmes] No. I, unfortunately, because I've seen too many of these happen, where it's like, oh, we'll give it to your extension. And then three weeks before they're like, Oh, crap, we gotta get this thing done. So what I've heard from a lot of people is on the Ag side, it's mostly done. You know, it's the food side that needs to. 

[Yeager] Which is 75%.

[Hemmes] Now 84. I just saw a presentation on that. And that has doubled where the farms, farm side, kind of stayed stagnant. So we'll take what you know, but it's, these are huge numbers that I never thought I would see in my lifetime that we're spending.

[Yeager] And do you ever see. I mean, do you think that there would be a splitting of the two? 

[Hemmes] Not because we wouldn't ever get? We wouldn't, I don't think. And I've heard that from everybody I've ever talked to keep it together, you know? So yeah.

[Yeager] Last hard question. Will there be a season four of combine karaoke? 

[Hemmes] How can we not? We're working on a disco ball next? Oh, yes. And that was going to bring a strobe light noise. Yeah, I don't think I can handle that. But maybe a disco ball. The best line was this year was ‘April, how long are you going to farm?’ And I said till about 8:30 She goes, That's not what I mean. And I said I know but I'm not getting any younger and those bins aren't getting any shorter. And I said I'll go as long as I can. Because I love what I do and I'm very blessed to be able to do not many people get to do exactly what they want to do. And I was lucky to be born into a farming family.

[Yeager] Well, enjoy your crop and 2024.

[Hemmes] Give me a request if you want, okay if I want to request, maybe we can get you to join us or come join.

[Yeager] There's only so much room in there. Oh, we got plenty you know to make room for all right on the platform out here outside the window. April. Thank you so very much. Appreciate the time.

[Hemmes] You bet, it was great.

[Yeager] Okay, my thanks to April. Good luck in '24. Hope the rain falls the way it does now to these items that you see right here, whether it's a tractor, which is something that we've pledged before on Market to Market, same with this mug, but then we start to have some other things that have shown up we would like to see some of your call collectibles if there's something you think that would look good on our podcast set, send it to me. At the MToM Show podcast, PO Box 6450 Johnston, Iowa 50131 There's the address on the screen right now. You can also just send it to Iowa PBS and Market to Market and it might just take it here. And if you have a story about why you think it would go well, here, pen that out as well. You never know what might make it onto the set of an upcoming episode that comes out each and every Tuesday. You can send me an email as well. MarkettoMarket@IowaPBS.ORG. We'll see you next time. Thanks for watching or listening. Bye bye.