News Update
August 13, 2012
USDA Forecasts Sharply Reduced Corn, Soybean Crops
The USDA's first survey-based measure of crop yield potential for 2012 lowered production forecasts for both corn and soybeans dramatically, due to the continuing drought. Economists with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) said the report is a harbinger of volatility in global grain markets.
"There is an old saying in commodity markets that small crops tend to get smaller," said AFBF economist Todd Davis. "If this holds true, then future reports will show declining projected production for corn and soybeans and further reductions in projected demand. This will also mean higher projected prices and great volatility in the commodity markets as demand is rationed and more supply is encouraged worldwide."
USDA forecast corn production at 10.8 billion bushels (bu.), down 13% from 2011 and the lowest production since 2006. The average yield for corn was forecast at 123 bu. per acre this year, reduced by 23 bu. per acre from the July prediction and 24 bu. lower compared to 2011.
Soybean production is forecast at 2.69 billion bu., down 12% from 2011 and the lowest production since 2007. The average yield for soybeans was forecast at 36 bu. per acre, reduced by 5 bu. per acre from both the July prediction and compared to 2011.
Corn ending stocks for the marketing year are pegged by USDA at 650 million bu., which represents just 21 days of supply.
The situation for ending stocks is similar for soybeans, projected to be 115 million bu. (about a 15-day supply), down 15 million bu. compared to USDA's July projection.
With these dismal U.S. projections becoming reality, the corn and soybean planting season in South America, which begins soon, is likely to be the subject of much attention and speculation.
"A bountiful South American corn and soybean crop should ease the pressure for exports from the U.S. and will help relieve concern over tight stocks," said Davis. "As always, weather will be the focus both in the North American crops, as well as in South America," he cautioned.
USDA is planning to conduct producer surveys and field analysis throughout the fall, which will provide information about the drought damage done to the 2012 corn and soybean crop, according to Davis.
The full August 2012 Crop Production Report is available online.
National Conference on Air, Soil and Water Quality Seeks Farmer Input
A national conference on the environmental impacts of poultry and livestock production is calling for abstracts, and not just from professional scientists, but from farmers and other agricultural innovators too, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service engineer.
The Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center will host "From Waste to Worth: 'Spreading' Science and Solutions" April 1-5, 2013, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Denver, Colo. The deadline for abstracts is Sept. 14, 2012.
"We'll be looking at the impact of helping farmers taking control of air- and water-quality management, and how it affects overall environmental quality," said Saqib Mukhtar, AgriLife Extension engineer and associate head of the Texas A&M University department of biological and agricultural engineering.
An abstract is a brief summary, usually only a few paragraphs long. The term usually applies to peer-review research articles, but can also apply to a thesis, conference proceeding or any in-depth analysis of a subject or technical innovation, Mukhtar explained.
For the full release, click here.
MU Researchers Provide Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers to Deal with Drought at Greenley Research Center Field Day
With significant crop yield reductions across Missouri and much of the Midwest, lots of nutrients and herbicides remain in the soil, having never been absorbed by drought-stricken corn and soybean plants. This presents opportunities and challenges for farmers looking to plant cover, winter or forage crops this fall.
Kevin Bradley, associate professor in the Division of Plant Sciences in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), offered guidance to producers at Greenley Research Center's annual field day, Aug. 7.
First and foremost, check labels, Bradley said. Several factors will influence herbicide carryover, including the type of herbicide applied, rate applied, time it was applied, the soil pH and rainfall since the initial application.
In fields where uncertainty of carryover is high, Bradley recommends farmers conduct a soil bioassay before sowing their fields. Farmers should gather soil samples from across the field in question several weeks before they intend to plant their fall crops, mix the samples together and plant their seeds into pots to evaluate whether there's any indication of herbicide carryover injury.
For the full release, click here.
Third QuickBooks Course Scheduled in Plainview
Due to High Demand
Two short courses scheduled by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service on QuickBooks Pro 2012 for Aug. 13-14 in Lubbock and Sept. 4-5 in Amarillo filled rapidly, so a third has been scheduled for Aug. 23-24 in Plainview, according to the presenters.
The additional course will be hosted at the AgriLife Extension office in Hale County, 225 Broadway St., Plainview.
The trainings will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at each location, said DeDe Jones, AgriLife Extension risk management specialist in Amarillo, who will coordinate the event in that city. Jay Yates, AgriLife Extension risk management specialist in Lubbock, will coordinate the Lubbock course.
QuickBooks Pro is a double-entry business accounting program often used by agricultural lenders and producers, Jones said. In the two-day course, participants will learn to enter transactions into the program and analyze costs and profits. No prior computer experience is necessary.
Registration for the two-day course is $125 and includes computer use and teaching materials. Couples are encouraged to attend and will be charged only one registration fee if they share a computer. Class size is limited to 15 people to provide a hands-on experience for all participants, Jones said.
The Amarillo and Lubbock courses are full, but those who are still interested in taking the course in Plainview should RSVP by Aug. 20. Payment is due upon arrival on the first day of the course.
For more information or to register, call Yates at 806-746-6101 or email jayates@ag.tamu.edu or Jones at 806-677-5667 or dljones@ag.tamu.edu.
Nebraska Donor Establishes First-of-kind Endowment to Support Key FFA Program
A Nebraska business owner and former FFA member has established a major endowment to support the development of current and future FFA members.
Through use of a revocable trust, the Ron Grapes Family Broadening Agriculture Experience Fund will provide grants that FFA members can use to successfully complete their required supervised agricultural experience (SAE).
All FFA members are required to complete an SAE, a project they conceptualize with the help of their teachers that involves them either owning and operating an agricultural-based business, getting an agriculture-based job or internship, or planning and conducting an agriculture-related scientific experiment. This learn-by-doing project gives FFA members invaluable experience as they progress through their educational careers.
Grapes' gift marks the first time in the 85-year history of FFA that an endowment specifically supporting the organization's SAE program has been established.
Nebraska FFA members are first in line to receive financial assistance through the new fund, according to specifics of the endowment. Students with the least agricultural background and students living in urban communities are next, followed by students with an interest in production agriculture. The endowment must be fully funded and earn income for a full 12 months before the first scholarship is awarded.
As a teenager, Grapes served as his FFA chapter's vice president, competed in his state's FFA meat judging contest and had the opportunity to attend Nebraska's state FFA convention. Today, he is principal owner of Grapes Family Farms in Big Springs, Neb.
"With this gift, I wanted to help provide an educated voice for the future national and global discussions of agriculture," he said.
Aflatoxin Found in Missouri Corn, Spider Mites in Soybeans
Fields in Barton County, northwest of Iantha, were scouted by Wyatt Miller, an agronomy assistant with University of Missouri Extension in Barton County.
"Several ears were found this week with Aspergillus ear rot, which typically causes aflatoxin. Aspergillus flavus is generally associated with drought stress and evident as a greenish yellow to mustard-yellow mold growth on the ear," said Miller.
Mold growth is optimum at 18%-20% moisture and can continue after harvest until moisture level is 13% or lower.
Those concerned with aflatoxin contamination should consider selling to elevators with grain intended for finishing livestock. The maximum acceptable level for aflatoxin in corn for finishing feedlot beef cattle is 300 bbp, while only 20 bbp for corn intended for human consumption.
"Soybeans scouted this week were between V-7 and full bloom. Several soybean podworm moths, also known as corn earworm moths, were seen this week. Producers should begin scouting for soybean pod larvae," said Miller.
For the full release, click here.
Organizations Unite in Suit Over Beef Checkoff Funds
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has formed a partnership with the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) to file a lawsuit seeking a permanent injunction against the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) using beef checkoff funds as a contractor.
Mike Callicrate is the plaintiff in the lawsuit, and the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Cattlemen's Beef Board (CBB) and the CBB's Beef Promotion Operating Committee are defendants. Callicrate is the owner of a meat packing facility and retail market called Ranch Direct Foods in Colorado Springs, Colo. He also is vice president of OCM.
Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that the NCBA receives a large majority of checkoff-funded projects. The lawsuit alleges that the CBB operating committee awards the contracts to NCBA and that 10 of the 20 seats on the committee are held by NCBA members. Fred Stokes, president of OCM, said he believes the NCBA is biased in favor of large cattle operations at the expense of smaller ranches.
But according to J.D. Alexander, president of NCBA, independent research shows nearly 75% of cattlemen and women support the beef checkoff.
"HSUS is an organization going state-by-state vowing to end production agriculture by outlawing scientifically validated production practices in animal agriculture," Alexander said. "Their efforts put people out of business and often jeopardize the well-being of livestock.
"Their actions will impact consumers by increasing protein costs at the grocery store," he added. "They are no friend to family farmers and ranchers or consumers and will be challenged at every corner by NCBA. Animal agriculture is vital to sustaining food production and we will not sit by and allow these organizations to stifle our ability to mitigate hunger and feed people here and abroad."
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