**Broadcasters--Please do not air this report after 11 am EDT Friday, August 11th** USDA is about to issue a major round of crop forecasts. Gary Crawford has more. PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford and World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski.

A several decades long partnership between USDA and a land grant university was on display recently with the groundbreaking ceremony of a new plant research facility. Rod Bain reports. PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Secretary Tom Vilsack

USDA’s annual look at both agricultural land values and cash rents reveals more year-over-year growth in those sectors. Rod Bain reports. PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Shawn Arita of the Office of the Chief Economist

Month over month changes in drought coverage in crop growing area were significant dependent upon region and crop. Rod Bain reports. PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey

Many of the top U.S. pilots are not employed by the military or the major airlines. They're employed by farmers. Gary Crawford has more. PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford and Jim Perrin, agricultural aviator from Bancroft, Wisconsin and President of the National Agricultural Aviation Association