U.S. Farm Report

The "U.S. Farm Report" (also known as "USFR" for short) is a weekly syndicated United States television program, presented in magazine format, and focusing on agriculture and agribusiness. It is currently hosted by John Phipps and is based in South Bend, Indiana. The program is owned by Farm Journal Media, a Philadelphia based company that owns a number of agricultural media properties including Farm Journal magazine.

Common topics covered on the show include market forecasts for various agricultural commodities, weather, agricultural business profiles, and some environmental conservation. The "U.S. Farm Report" is commonly broadcast in the early mornings on Saturdays or Sundays, but some stations may show the program at different times.

Each week, two separate half-hour versions of the program are produced, each with a different focus. The first half-hour is aimed at producers (particularly those who produce the "cash crops" of corn, wheat and soybeans) and focuses heavily on agribusiness and the discussion of market futures, along with a precipitation forecast. The five segments consist of top stories with news anchor Scott Kinrade, two market-related discussion segments in a roundtable format with Agribusiness Director and Substitute Anchor Al Pell, a 7-day weather forecast (geared at farmers and focusing on precipitation) with WNDU meteorologist Mike Hoffman, and commentary by host John Phipps. The second half-hour is aimed at consumers, with stories on current events, discussion of agriculture-related consumer items, and rural life, as well as a more general weather forecast. The five segments consist of top stories with Scott Kinrade/weather with Mike Hoffman, a feature story known as "Spirit of the Heartland", Machinery Minute, Tractor Tales/Country Church Salute, and a mailbag response from John Phipps. Television stations can air either one of the half-hour shows as a stand-alone program or air both shows back-to-back as a single one-hour program.

The show was founded in 1975, produced and hosted by longtime Tribune farm broadcaster Orion Samuelson until 2005. At that time, the show changed its name to "U.S. Farm Report - Town and Country Living", attempting to expand into such items as outdoor sports and recreation, but has since reverted to its original title and format. The program was distributed by Tribune Entertainment and carried on Superstation WGN until the end of 2007; at that time, Tribune Entertainment ceased operations and Superstation WGN became WGN America, replacing the show with sitcom reruns.

Full episodes of the U.S. Farm Report broadcasts are available via streaming Internet television for free on the station's Web site.

External links

* [http://www.agweb.com/usfr.aspx Official site]
* [http://www.tribtv.com/programs/usfr.html "U.S. Farm Report"] , Tribune Entertainment
* [http://www.agweb.com/aims/television/usfr.htm "U.S. Farm Report" channel listings]
* [http://www.johnwphipps.com/ John Phipps's official Web site]