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Logan
Hawkes
05/31/06
Crop News Weekly
The Memorial Day weekend brought a few weather
surprises to much of America's farm land, most of it in the form of
beneficial rains. While there remains serious drought conditions across
much of the nation, every drop counts. By the way, tomorrow marks the
official start to the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season - for what it's
worth.
Speaking of the season heating up now that summer has arrived, debate
and political positioning over a new farm bill and other ag legislation
is also cooking on the Hill. For example, the Senate last week passed
legislation that would create a new guest worker program and grant
amnesty to some illegal immigrants, setting up a fight with House
members who would send anyone illegally in the country back to their
homes. Speaking of political agendas, the most important ingredient in a
recipe for another good farm bill, according to former U.S.
Representative Larry Combest, may be hard to find in Washington.
"Bipartisanship is rare and getting rarer," Combest reports. In other
news, and also related to warmer weather, it's mosquito breeding time
once again and farmers and ranchers now have a new tool to help control
the pests. And give credit to the think tank boys, there may be another
use for soy based materials in the works, and you won't believe this
one! Also this issue, Scott Shearer is back with a full wrap of what's
happening in our nation's Capitol, and Ag Road Warrior Dave Kohl takes
us through Part II of his 'Unfavorable Circumstances' series.
Finally this week, it's not often that the National Corn Growers
Association and the American Corn Growers Association come down on the
same side of an issue. In this case, the conservative NCGA and the more
progressive ACGA, along with Farm Bureau and the Renewable Fuels
Association, are teaming up to oppose efforts by House leaders and the
Bush administration to suspend import tariffs on ethanol.
You'll find these stories and more in this issue of Crop News
Weekly. Happy reading.
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more information on Syntinel RustTracker, please visit http://www.soybeanrust.com
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LATE
BREAKING: Surprise ASR hits portions of Mexico
05/30/06
A bout of Asian soybean rust left more than 20 soybean
seed growers near Tampico, Mexico unexpectedly dealing with the disease.
About 320 hectares, or 650 acres, were affected, resulting in
defoliation and potential large yield losses. ASR infections began in
January but became increasingly noticeable in March and April. "It
caught these particular growers by surprise, and it hit them pretty
hard," says Dr. Marty Wiglesworth, Syngenta technical brand manager,
fungicides. - The Corn & Soybean Digest
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Senate
passes immigrant reform bill
05/26/06
The Senate passed legislation that would create a new
guest worker program and grant amnesty to some illegal immigrants,
setting up a fight with House members who would send anyone in the
country illegally back to their homes. The Senate vote was 62-36. The
Senate bill, like the measure the House passed earlier, calls for
tighter border security. The Senate version includes the construction of
370 miles of triple-layer fencing along the Mexican border while the
House bill would provide 700 miles of two-layer fences. - Forrest
Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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Could
loss of incentives slow down biodiesel expansion?
05/30/06
How big can biodiesel get? According to one expert,
production capacity could grow to around 600 million gallons annually
with soybeans as a major feedstock. But much will depend on whether
federal incentives to expand biofuel production are extended, according
to the American Soybean Association. No doubt, biodiesel is enjoying
exponential growth. Production has grown from two million gallons
annually in 2000 to more than 150 million gallons projected for 2006.
Today, there are 65 operational biodiesel plants, while 50 more are
under construction. - Elton Robinson, Farm Press Editorial
Staff
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Global
competitiveness requires a new map for crops
05/30/06
Maintaining competitiveness in the world market
requires scientists to lay out a new roadmap for crops, according to a
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station leader. Bill McCutchen, Experiment
Station deputy associate director from College Station spoke on "A
Platform for Yield Gain through Genetic Discovery in Wheat" at the Small
Grains Field Day in Bushland, Texas, on May 25. "We have to maintain our
international competitiveness, especially with our wheat program and our
varieties," McCutchen said. "That means we have to stay a couple steps
ahead in the area of technology." - Kay Ledbetter, Southwest Farm
Press
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News from the Top of the
Hill
05/26/06
National Hog Farmer
House Passes Agriculture Appropriations --
The House of Representatives passed the $94.5 billion fiscal year 2007
agriculture appropriations bill by a vote of 378-46. The bill includes
$18.4 billion in discretionary spending and the remainder in mandatory
spending (farm programs, food stamps, etc.) The bill is similar to the
committee passed bill (see May 19 National Hog Farmer for spending
details). There were a number of amendments that were considered during
the debate on the floor of the House of Representatives. Some of the key
amendments were: MAP - Congressman Chabot's (R-OH) amendment to
eliminate the Market Access Program (MAP) was overwhelmingly defeated by
a vote of 342 to 79. The House passed bill fully funds MAP at $200
million and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program at $34.5
million. Sugar -- The House rejected Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
amendment to reduce the sugar loan rate. WRP -- Congressman Gil
Gutknecht's amendment to restore Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) acres to
the maximum 250,000 acres was defeated. Milk and Peanut Programs: The
House struck the House Appropriations Committee's provisions that would
have extended the peanut storage and the Milk Income Loss Contract
(MILC) programs for one month, which would have allowed them to expire
at the end of the 2002 farm bill. The Senate Agriculture Appropriations
Subcommittee is expected to consider its FY '07 appropriations bill next
month.
Animal ID Frustration -- The main issue during House
consideration of the agriculture appropriations bill was animal ID. A
number of members stated their frustration that the U.S. does not have
an animal ID program in place and criticized USDA. The bill prohibits
USDA from spending any money in fiscal year 2007 for its animal ID
program until USDA sends the House Appropriations Committee a "complete
and detailed plan, including but not limited to proposed legislative
changes, cost estimates and means of program evaluation." The committee
said USDA has been sending "mixed signals" as it relates to animal ID.
The House overwhelmingly defeated (389-34) an amendment by Congressman
Ron Paul (R-TX) that would have eliminated all funding for the animal ID
program.
Japan -- End Beef Ban -- Over 30 Senators joined Senator Jim
Talent (R-MO) in sending a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi
urging the Japanese government to resume beef trade with the United
States. The Senators said, "This prohibition on trade is unfounded and
inconsistent with the guidelines of the mutually recognized World Animal
Health Organization (OIE), which establishes the legal framework of a
science-based approach to safeguard trade for the sake of international
solidarity." Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) has called upon Koizumi to "end
swiftly" Japan's unfair ban on imports of U.S. beef. In a letter to
Koizumi, Baucus said, "The scientific evidence is absolutely clear: U.S.
beef is safe. As all of Japan's food safety and animal health concerns
have been addressed, many Americans are beginning to conclude that other
motivations lie behind the continuation of the ban. Pressure, therefore,
is building for the U.S. government to step up action to address this
matter -- in the World Trade Organization or otherwise."
Senate Energy Plan -- The Senate Democrats have unveiled a
comprehensive energy proposal. The "Energy Development for a Growing
Economy" is to promote energy independence by increasing the use of
renewable fuels. The proposal would give the president authority to
increase the renewable content of motor fuel to 25 percent by 2025.
Also, 25 percent of vehicles sold in the U.S. would run on ethanol,
biodiesel or alternative fuels by 2010. The proposal would require that
10 percent of electricity in the U.S. come from renewable resources by
2020.
Risk Management Conference on Energy Costs -- USDA will hold a
conference on June 27-28 in Kansas City, MO to examine risk management
issues and strategies as it relates to alternative energy production and
use in agriculture. The conference will focus on: maximizing profits in
a higher energy cost environment; renewable energy enterprises on the
farm; protection against supply, production and price fluctuations for
small alternative fuel production plants; new energy-related risk
management tools; and government policies that encourage or accommodate
new risk management strategies. Details and program registration are
available at http://www.farmfoundation.org
or http://www.usda.gov.
Drop in Cropland Erosion -- USDA announced that total soil
erosion on cultivated and non-cultivated cropland in the U.S. decreased
by 43 percent between 1982 and 2003. Wind erosion decreased by 44
percent and sheet and rill erosion decreased by 42 percent during this
time period. USDA's National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
conducted the survey. Additional details are available at http://www.usda.gov/technical/NRI.
- Scott Shearer
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Bipartisan
effort crucial for advantageous farm bill
05/26/06
The most important ingredient in a recipe for another
good farm bill, according to former U.S. Representative Larry Combest,
may be hard to find in Washington. "Bipartisanship is rare and getting
rarer," Combest told participants in the Texas Cotton Association's 95th
annual convention recently in South Padre Island, Texas. Combest, in the
keynote address, cited bi-partisan support as the best chance of getting
"the best program possible." He said the Freedom to Farm Act of 1996,
for instance, was developed in a "divisive, partisan" atmosphere. -
Ron Smith, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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Control
mosquitos on the farm
It's the time of year again when standing water in
troughs and ponds on the farm could breed those unwanted,
disease-carrying mosquitos. Get ahead of mosquitoes with the new
PreStrike Mosquito Torpedo. The Torpedo is a tablet that treats more
than 100 sq. ft. of water without affecting water clarity. It prevents
mosquito larvae from becoming breeding adults and does not adversely
affect humans, animals, fish and vegetation. The torpedo will control
mosquitoes in standing water for 180 days. The active ingredient in the
Mosquito Torpedo is methoprene. - Farm Industry News Product
Update
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Tired,
aching feet? Slip into socks made from tofu
05/26/06
OK, so you know about soydiesel, the soy product that
is helping to reduce our nation's dependency on foreign oil supplies.
It's the only alternative fuel to pass Environmental Protection Agency
testing specifications, and can be used with no engine or fuel system
modifications. And you know, too, about soy-based printing inks, now
used by a third of the nation's newspapers and more than 90 percent of
daily newspapers with more than 1,500 circulation. These inks are more
environmentally friendly than petroleum-based inks, and paper printed
with soy ink can be more effectively recycled. - Hembree Brandon,
Farm Press Editorial Staff
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Prevention
and control of E. coli in fresh produce
05/25/06
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced yesterday
that USDA has awarded $1.2 million to a collaborative research effort to
identify sources and risk factors of E. coli O157:H7 contamination in
fresh produce. The funds will also be used to inform growers about
strategies to prevent pre-harvest contamination. "Consumption of fresh
fruits and vegetables is increasing in the United States, highlighting
the importance of scientific research that enhances safe growing
practices," said Johanns. "This research will help to ensure that our
farmers can continue to deliver safe and wholesome products from the
farm to the dinner table." - Farm Press Editorial Staff
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Corn
growers unite to oppose lifting import tariff
05/26/06
It's not often that the National Corn Growers
Association and the American Corn Growers Association come down on the
same side of an issue. When they do, you can bet that farmers may be
getting gored by somebody. In this case, the conservative NCGA and the
more progressive ACGA, along with Farm Bureau and the Renewable Fuels
Association, are opposing efforts by House leaders and the Bush
administration to suspend import tariffs on ethanol to supposedly bring
down prices of the alternative fuel. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press
Editorial Staff
|
There
may be less to Doha Round than meets the eye
05/25/06
A friend asked a question about the WTO negotiations
the other day. "If cotton producers export 70 percent of their crop," he
said, "why aren't they more excited about the prospects for trade
liberalization in the Doha Round?" That's a logical question for someone
who spends more time following grains and soybeans than cotton. Grain
and soybean groups are pushing hard for a new WTO agreement because they
want increased market access in Europe and Japan. - Forrest Laws,
Farm Press Editorial Staff
|
Road
Warrior: Unfavorable Circumstances: Part 2
05/23/06
Road Warrior Dave Kohl writes: "In my last
column we focused on the question posed to me concerning the biggest
threat to being a low cost producer in the global market. This was
identified as continued appreciation of land values.
The next factor is a combination of attributes. For commodity producers
in the high government payment zones, it would be the 2007 Farm Bill,
along with high input costs. Concerning government supports, let's put
the U.S. in perspective with other regions of the world. Supports are 17
percent of gross farm revenue in the U.S. Contrast this to Canada at 22
percent, the European Union at 34 percent, Brazil at 3 percent and New
Zealand and Australia at 2 percent and 3 percent respectively. Thus,
emerging regions of competition have a cost or revenue benefit to the
U.S..." - The Corn & Soybean Digest
|
Thiesse's
Thoughts: Corn belt shifting
05/23/06
For many decades, the primary area of the Corn Belt in
the U.S. was generally considered to be Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,
eastern Nebraska, southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Since the mid 1970s
the area known as the Corn Belt in the U.S. has been shifting and
expanding. Favorable grain prices in the early 1970s caused that primary
area for corn and soybeans to expand to the south and west, with the
Southeast U.S. becoming a major soybean producing region. Expanded
irrigation in Nebraska greatly increased corn production. - Kent
Thiesse, The Corn & Soybean Digest
|
Embarrassment
at lack of border control efforts
05/24/06
Congressman Henry Bonilla expressed his
"embarrassment" that the U.S. government has not done more to "get
borders under control. "Immigration is a red hot issue," said Bonilla,
who chairs the agricultural appropriations sub committee. Bonilla gave
the keynote address recently at the Texas Agricultural Forum in San
Antonio, where he also accepted the Texas A&M College of Agriculture
Distinguished Service Award. "The immigration issue has many aspects,
including border security and guest worker issues," Bonilla said. He
said security concerns have heightened in recent year, following the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack and also from an influx of illegal
immigrants labeled OTM, "other then Mexican." - Ron Smith, Farm Press
Editorial Staff
|
Soybean
rust spores abundant, movement slow
05/23/06
As of May 18, soybean rust has not been found in any
sentinel plots, including the 22 sentinel plots in Alabama -- a
primary watch state for movement of disease causing spores. "So far the
disease hasn't even moved in the kudzu patches that we are monitoring,"
notes Auburn University Plant Pathologist Ed Sikora. On May 18, Sikora
checked kudzu patches and found only seven lesions in five patches.
Soybean rust over-wintered in kudzu as far north as Montgomery, Ala.,
but the Auburn scientist says as of mid-May the virus just hasn't moved
at all. - Roy Roberson, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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UT
establishes soybean rust hotline
05/25/06
A toll free hotline has been established for producers
and others to call for up-to-date information about the possible spread
of Asian soybean rust to Tennessee. The number is 877-875-BEAN
(877-875-2326). Although the fungal disease had not been confirmed as
occurring in the state in 2006, experts want to be ready for a possible
outbreak, says Melvin Newman, Extension plant pathologist with the West
Tennessee Experiment Station in Jackson. - Farm Press Editorial
Staff
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