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Logan
Hawkes
11/23/05
Crop News Weekly
Happy Thanksgiving Week, and welcome to the
holiday season - and to early winter weather across the upper Midwest.
As they say, 'tis the season. Speaking of the holiday season, and
especially Thanksgiving, once again the cost of preparing the big meal
has gone up this year over last. But when you compare that with the
increases in fuel costs, the rise in food prices is rather
insignificant. We do have a lot for which to be thankful.
In spite of the holiday week, there's a lot to report in the world of
agriculture news. First up this week, while agriculture is "clearly on
the defensive" with regard to environmental and pesticide issues, an
Environmental Protection Agency official says a proactive, collaborative
approach can provide "an opportunity to get out front on these issues
more than we have in the past." Also this week, they may be of different
political persuasions, but many row-crop farmers will applaud the recent
introduction of a one-year extension of the 2002 farm bill by a group of
Democratic congressmen. Meanwhile, things aren't looking so good for the
next DOHA round. The World Trade Organization is waiting on the European
Union to submit a "meaningful and credible" proposal on market access to
keep the December meetings from unwinding before they start. In other
news, if oil and natural gas prices are rising faster than they can
change the signs at the pumps, could crop protection chemicals be far
behind? You can bet your turkey they are. Also in the news, time is
running short to get registered for the 2006 Conservation Tillage
Conference and Expo scheduled in Sioux Falls. Link to online
registration from this newsletter.
You'll find these stories and more making the headlines in this issue of
Crop News Weekly. Thanks for dropping in - and have a great
holiday break!
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Cooperative
approach for environmental compliance
11/21/05
While agriculture is "clearly on the defensive" with
regard to environmental and pesticide issues, an Environmental
Protection Agency official says a proactive, collaborative approach can
provide "an opportunity to get out front on these issues more than we
have in the past." Jon Scholl, counselor for agricultural policy to the
administrator of the EPA, told members of the Southern Crop Production
Association at their annual meeting at Orlando that while "I'm aware the
EPA and the agchem industry have had a contentious relationship in many
ways, the general attitude I see among the administration and the
leadership in Washington is very much one that coincides with the themes
of the agchem industry." - Hembree Brandon, Farm Press Editorial
Staff
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American growers. Over the past four seasons, Quadris has been
increasing soybean yields on commercial fields an average of 6 bu/A and
helping produce better quality beans. For more information on Quadris
fungicide, please visit http://www.quadris-fungicide.com
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Laws:
Democrats propose farm bill extension
11/18/05
They may be of different political persuasions, but
many row-crop farmers will applaud the introduction of a one-year
extension of the 2002 farm bill by a group of Democratic congressmen.
Collin Peterson, D-Minn., ranking member on the Agriculture Committee,
and Jim Costa, D-Calif., say the extension would provide certainty to
farmers and allow U.S. negotiators to focus on the ongoing WTO Doha
Development Round negotiations. "With farmers facing record energy
costs, natural disasters, low commodity prices and cuts in farm
programs, this bill assures they can count on the farm bill to continue
in its current form until we see what the Doha Round could mean for
American agriculture," Peterson said. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press
Editorial Staff
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'Ball
is in EU's court,' U.S. negotiators tell WTO
11/17/05
The World Trade Organization is waiting on the
European Union to submit a "meaningful and credible" proposal on market
access to keep the Doha Round negotiations from unraveling before the
start of the Hong Kong meeting of WTO trade ministers in December. The
United States and members of the G20 group of countries appear to have
reached agreement on a number of issues under two of the so-called three
pillars of agriculture in the trade talks, says U.S. Trade
Representative Rob Portman. Those two are export competition and
domestic support. But lack of consensus on the third pillar -- market
access -- threatens to derail the agricultural negotiations ahead of the
Hong Kong ministerial meeting, Portman told reporters covering a press
briefing at the U.S. Trade Mission in Geneva. - Forrest Laws, Farem
Press Editorial Staff
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resistance on our farm, because resistance will add cost. In corn, we
use LUMAX with a burndown of Gramoxone and 2-4D pre-plant to get good
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'Team
effort' preserved 2002 payment limit language
11/17/05
Barring any unforeseen developments, U.S. farmers will
receive their 2006 farm program payments under the same rules that have
been in effect since President Bush signed the current farm bill in May
2002. Some growers may not realize that new regulations that would have
cut the maximum direct, counter-cyclical and marketing loan gain payment
amounts in half could have been in effect next year if a gaggle of
Midwestern senators and environmental organizations had had their way.
When the Senate began voting on Amendment 2359 to the Budget Deficit
Reduction and Reconciliation Act of 2005 on Nov. 3, opponents of the
group thought they had enough votes to defeat the proposal to place a
"hard" $250,000 cap on farm payments. But, in Washington, you never
count on anything until all the votes have been counted. - Forrest
Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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News from the Top of the
Hill
11/22/05
Prohibit Livestock Forward Contracting -
Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) has introduced H.R. 4257, the "Captive
Supply Reform" bill. This legislation would prohibit the use of forward
contracts and formula pricing in the livestock sector. Pomeroy said,
"Cattlemen and women from across the country should receive a fair price
from the free market, but all too often ranchers are held hostage to the
large packers who control the way livestock is bought and sold. The
Captive Supply Reform bill is a good first step towards leveling the
playing field for our ranchers." According to the legislation, formula
price would mean "any price term that establishes a base from which a
purchase price is calculated on the basis of a price that will not be
determined or reported until a date after the day the forward price is
established." A forward contract is defined as an "oral or written
contract for the purchase of livestock that provides for the delivery of
the livestock to a packer at a date that is more than 7 days after the
date on which the contract is entered into."
GAO Asked to Evaluate Animal ID - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) has
asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate USDA's
plans for a National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Harkin is
asking GAO to evaluate and find out the cost of implementing NAIS, costs
to producers and government, and determine how effectively USDA has used
money for developing NAIS. According to Harkin, "After two years of
discussions, USDA has no clear plan for moving forward with a workable
system. Producers are getting upset that they still don't know how much
the system will cost them and who will run it."
NCBA-AMI Urge Access to Japan for Cattle Over 20 Months - The
National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and the American Meat
Institute (AMI) have asked President Bush in his meeting this week with
Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi to pursue "immediate" access for U.S.
beef and also for U.S. beef over 20 months of age. In a letter to Bush,
NCBA and AMI stated, "U.S. animal health authorities find no scientific
basis in the current Japanese restriction regarding the age of cattle.
USDA estimates indicate the potential eligible product that could meet
the Government of Japan's requirements would be approximately 7-8% of
our current domestic production."
Manure Not Hazardous Waste - The House Energy and Commerce
Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials held a hearing this
week on "Superfund Laws and Animal Agriculture." During the hearing, the
National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) testified that animal
manure is a natural organic fertilizer and should not be regulated under
Superfund Laws as a hazardous waste. The American Farm Bureau Federation
(AFBF) testified that "Congress never intended that animal manure be
considered a hazardous waste and regulated under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).
Congress needs to reaffirm this now. We need some common sense that will
protect us from those who would litigate us out of business." NCBA and
AFBF cited court cases and recent efforts to have CERCLA (Superfund)
apply to manure from animal feeding, farming, and ranching
operations.
Mandatory Price Reporting - Time is beginning to run out for
Congress to renew mandatory livestock price reporting. Congress is only
expected to be in session one to two more weeks this year. There
continues to be a disagreement between the House of Representatives and
Senate. The House passed bill would renew price reporting for five
years. The Senate bill is for one year. Those supporting the House bill
include the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry,
National Cattlemen's Beef Association, and the National Pork Producers
Council. - Scott Shearer, National Hog Farmer
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Chemical
companies preparing to raise prices
11/16/05
You knew it was coming, didn't you? If oil and natural
gas prices are rising faster than they can change the signs at the
pumps, could crop protection chemicals be far behind? They aren't giving
specifics yet, but farm chemical manufacturers say prices of some
commonly used products could rise 3 percent to 4 percent between now and
the beginning of the 2006 crop season. Spokesmen for the companies
concede it isn't the best time to be raising prices for farmers, but
they say they also cannot continue to "eat" the rising costs of raw
material the way they have for the last two to three years. - Farm
Press Editorial Staff
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Farmers
brood over a future uncertain, uncontrollable
11/17/05
I spent a rainy October day recently in the company of
a few Northeast Texas corn, wheat and cattle farmers, a most enjoyable
way to spend any day and an especially good use of time when the soaking
taking place outside makes field work impossible and puts farmers in a
mood to chat. No one was in any particular hurry to get rid of me. Eric
Akins, Ken Griffin, his son Chris, and Jim Swart, a Texas Extension IPM
agent who leads me to good interviews from time to time, sat around a
table at a small café in Van Alstyne, munching on exceptional
cheese burgers and homemade French fries and talking about the sorry
state of farm economics. - Ron Smith, Farm Press Editorial
Staff
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Conservation Tillage Conference &
Expo
11/22/05
The Corn & Soybean Digest
Mark your calendars for the 2006 Conservation Tillage
Conference and Expo scheduled Feb. 1-2 at the Ramkota Hotel and
Conference Center in Sioux Falls, SD. The conference will focus on using
conservation tillage to boost Return On Investment and will feature
speakers from Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, University
of Nebraska, South Dakota State University and many top conservation
farmers.
Ademir Calegari, a soil scientist from the Agriculture Research
Institute in Parana, Brazil, will also be speaking at the conference.
Brazil is a leading adopter of no-till, and Calegari will provide a
fresh perspective on this method. Other topics include new technology,
soil and fertility and prepping for cost-share. In addition to the
speakers, the conference features a tradeshow where growers can see some
of the latest conservation technology.
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Plethora
of issues, ideas presented to USDA official
11/15/05
On Oct. 14, the Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock
played host to the 31st stop on USDA's "farm bill listening tour." Held
in a hall next to several pungent horse barns at the north end of the
fair's busy midway, the meeting began with a near full house singing the
national anthem. If not in the thick of a late harvest, even more
producers would have joined in. Standing in for Agriculture Secretary
Mike Johanns, Deputy Secretary Chuck Connor didn't take the rhetorical
beating his boss did in a Little Rock farmer meeting in June (see
http://deltafarmpress.com/mag/farming_sec_johanns_faces/index.html). At
least some of that had to do with the format -- those testifying were
limited to six listed topics and two minutes of speaking time. Still,
Connor took several jabs and heard well over two hours of emotional
pleas and blunt suggestions regarding trade and farm legislation. He
also heard from a handful of rural bankers warning of serious financial
difficulties in the short-term (see accompanying story). - David
Bennett, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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House
panel passes $3.7 billion reconciliation package
11/15/05
The House Agriculture Committee passed an agricultural
reconciliation package drafted by Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., that
would cut spending by USDA by $3.7 billion over five years. The proposed
reduction is 23 percent more than the $3 billion target assigned the
Agriculture Committee by the House Budget Committee and more than the
$3.014 billion in spending reductions approved by the Senate Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. - Farm Press Editorial
Staff
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