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Logan
Hawkes
07/05/06
Crop News Weekly
There is something that warms my heart as I
watch a gala fireworks display honoring the celebration of our Nation's
independence. I'm not one for crowds, but in spite of day to day
distractions like work, finances, health and fitness, diet, debt and the
deluge of ever constant deadlines and drudgery, it still feels good to
be an American as I stand shoulder to shoulder with gathering, cheering
crowds of patriots who celebrate the ideal of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness afforded by our Declaration of Independence and
founding Constitution. I know we don't always get everything right, I
realize we are not in the favored limelight around the world, and I know
there are those that would destroy our national pride and topple our
democratic society if given the chance. While I admit we have a
multitude of domestic problems; while there may be corruption at high
levels and money motivated agendas at every corner, we are still the
world's leading free nation and blessed with the best citizenry around
the globe. Perhaps it's time to stop apologizing for which we stand and
start exercising our independence and demonstrating our fierce national
pride.
Whew -- it's amazing what a few fireworks can do to warm the
heart and loosen the tongue. Now, let's get down to business. In spite
of the holiday, there's still a lot of industry news and developments to
report, so without further introduction, dive in and catch up. Happy
reading.
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Farming
today requires more than growing crops
06/30/06
If you're one of Steve Prather's farm hands, you work
levees in the summer, run an excavator in the fall and guide duck hunts
in the winter. There's not much time to catch a breath for these
talented guys. Prather's farming operation is uniquely diversified to
keep cash flowing and employees going year-round. Guiding takes place in
December and January, equipment is maintained and overhauled in February
and March, the growing season goes from April though September, and
custom land-leveling takes place until duck season starts up again. -
Elton Robinson, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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California,
Sweden agree to develop biomethane
06/30/06
In a ceremony held at the Ministry of the Environment
in Stockholm, representatives of the Kingdom of Sweden and the state of
California signed an agreement pledging the two governments and their
related industries to work together to develop bioenergy, with a
particular emphasis on biomethane. The Swedish biomethane industry has
been growing at an annual rate of about 20 percent over the last five
years. - Farm Press Editorial Staff
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Survey
says Americans want cleaner fuel
A recent survey indicated 80% of Americans prefer the
cleaner and more environmentally friendly renewable fuel ethanol and
alternative fuel vehicles, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)
notes. The survey, sponsored by American Lung Association of Minnesota,
polled 1,651 vehicle owners, of which 92% said they prefer flexible fuel
vehicles (FFV) and 60% prefer E85 for use in FFVs. - The Corn &
Soybean Digest
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USDA
to provide emergency conservation funding
06/29/06
More than 10 months after Hurricane Katrina visited
death and destruction on the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coasts, USDA
says it will begin allocating $11.8 million in Emergency Conservation
Program funds to help rehabilitate land damaged by natural disasters.
While the ACP funding is only one of several programs USDA is using to
provide assistance to the 18 states affected by Katrina and other
natural disasters, critics are saying once again the money is too
little, too late. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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News from the Top of the
Hill
07/05/06
National Hog Farmer
AG Spending Bill Approved by Senate
Appropriations -- The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the
fiscal year 2007 agriculture appropriations bill. The $94.579 billion
bill includes $18.2 billion for discretionary funding and $76.379
billion for mandatory spending which would include payments for farm
programs and food stamps. The spending levels are similar to those
passed by the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee (see June
23 edition of National Hog Farmer for details). The committee did adopt
a $4.2 billion agriculture disaster relief package by Senators Byron
Dorgan (D-ND) and Conrad Burns (R-MT). The disaster assistance package
would provide a payment rate of 50% of the established price of the crop
is a farmer has a loss of at least 35%. The House passed agriculture
appropriations bill does not include disaster assistance.
Senate Express Views on Japanese Sanctions -- During
consideration of the agriculture appropriations bill, the Senate
Appropriations Committee adopted a "Sense of the Senate" resolution that
calls for sanctions on Japanese products if Japan has not resumed
imports of U.S. beef by the enactment of the bill. The National
Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) stated, "Our cattlemen have paid a
tremendous price for the continued delays by Japanese officials to
resume beef trade based on scientifically-recognized principles. Each
day the Japanese market remains closed, the U.S. beef industry feels a
negative economic impact equal to $6.7 million." Japanese audit teams
are currently reviewing U.S. plants. The reviews are to be completed by
the end of July.
China and U.S. Beef -- Twenty-seven U.S. Senators wrote Chinese
President Hu Jintao reminding him of China's commitment at the Joint
Commission on Commerce and Trade meeting to re-open its market to U.S.
beef. The Senators wrote, "China agreed to conditionally resume imports
of American beef by June 30, 2006. While this meeting was marked by
significant progress, we are disappointed and concerned that China has
yet to take the steps necessary to allow beef exports to resume." A USDA
technical team was in China earlier this week to discuss re-opening of
the market.
Canada Strengthens Feed Controls -- The Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced new efforts to strengthen its feed
controls for livestock feed and BSE. CFIA is banning cattle tissues
capable of transmitting BSE from all animal feeds, pet foods, and
fertilizers. In announcing the new feed ban rule, Chuck Strahl, Canada's
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Foods said, "This ban tightens already
strong, internationally recognized feed controls and shortens the path
we must follow to move beyond BSE. Preventing all these materials from
entering the animal feed chain minimizes risks and demonstrates the
commitment of Canada's new government to take necessary, science-based
actions to address BSE."
Over 100 Members Seek Action on Animal Waste Bill -- Over 100
Congressmen have written the House leadership urging the House take
action on H.R. 4341. This legislation provides that manure is not
considered a hazardous substance under the Comprehensive Environmental
Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) or Superfund.
The letter reminded the leadership that manure was not intended to be
considered as a hazardous wasted when Congress passed CERCLA
legislation. The members wrote, "Recently, a few state and local
governments have sued livestock and poultry producers claiming Superfund
liability. One Texas case has been settled, but only after 9 of 14
dairies went out of business, with each side paying millions in
litigation fees. Unless we act, farmers across America could face vast
liabilities under CERCLA and EPCRA -- an outcome not envisioned or
intended when Congress enacted these laws."
Permanent Renewable Fuels Incentive -- Congressman Kenny
Hulshof (R-MO) and Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) have introduced the "Renewable
Fuels and Energy Independence Promotion Act," that provides a permanent
extension of the renewable fuels tax incentives for ethanol and
biodiesel. Hulshof said, "Federal policy should strive to reduce our
dependence on foreign oil. Domestically produced renewable fuels must
play an integral role in a plan to promote energy independence. If
renewable fuels are to displace significant amounts of petroleum as
fuel, we must take bold, aggressive steps to achieve this end." The
current tax incentive expires in 2009.
Renewable Energy Conference in October - USDA and the Department
of Energy will co-host a national renewable energy conference to help
create "partnerships and strategies necessary to accelerate
commercialization of renewable energy industries and distribution
systems." In announcing the conference Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman
said, "Never has reducing our dependence on foreign oil been such a
pressing issue. We have the will and the means to replace significant
quantities of foreign oil with homegrown fuel. We are hopeful this
conference will identify major impediments and critical pathways to get
more domestically grown, renewable energy sources out of the laboratory
and into consumers' hands as soon as possible." The conference,
"Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance," will be
held October 10-12 in St. Louis. - from the desk of E. Scott
Shearrer
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Reducing
nitrogen needs takes time
06/29/06
In a natural vegetative system, soil, regardless of
quality or texture, naturally releases nitrogen in the summer and plants
suck it up. When corn, wheat or any row crop is planted, the crops suck
up the nitrogen, but then are harvested, leaving the soil bare until the
next crop is planted. Ideally, grain crop farmers would grow crops in
soils in which nitrogen and carbon combine to release nitrogen and for
that nitrogen to be available to the crop. That type scenario doesn't
occur over-night. If steps being recommended by NCRS agronomists across
the country are closely followed, results, primarily in reduced N
requirements should be evident in 8-10 years. - Roy Roberson, Farm
Press Editorial Staff
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Farmers
reap billions in benefits from herbicide use
Use of herbicides saved U.S. farmers 337 million
gallons of fuel in 2005, produced $16 billion in crop yield increases,
and cut weed control costs by $10 billion, according to a study funded
by member companies of CropLife America. Additionally, growers saved a
minimum of 1.1 billion hours of hand labor for weeding, which would have
required the employment of 7 million more agricultural workers. -
Farm Press Editorial Staff
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U.S.
soybean farmers partner with Paragua
06/27/06
U.S. soybean farmers are looking for new ways to build
demand for soybeans and soy products by exploring partnership activities
with growers in Paraguay. U.S. soybean grower-leaders recently met with
Paraguayan farmers to discuss how they could work together to increase
market potential and improve soybean farmer profitability. The result is
a farmer-based agreement, called the Global Grower Development
Agreement, signed between the United States Soybean Export Council
(USSEC) and the Paraguayan Chamber of Cereals & Oilseeds Exporters
(CAPECO) and Paraguayan Soybean, Oilseeds and Cereals Producer
Association (APS). - The Corn & Soybean Digest
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Riding on
E85... keep your gas credit card handy
06/28/06
An interesting exercise in alternative fuel
utilization was conducted recently by Rick Tolman, chief executive
officer of the National Corn Growers Association. For a series of
meetings, he drove his Yukon SUV from St. Louis to Chicago, then on to
St. Paul, Minn., and back to St. Louis, with several refueling stops
along the way. His goal was to power the trip solely with E85
gasoline/ethanol blend and to post observations on the NCGA Web site.
- Hembree Brandon, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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Thiesse's
Thoughts: Grain prices drop
06/27/06
Market prices for corn and soybeans made some nice
improvement in May, but have dropped back down again in recent weeks.
The domestic and export demand for corn and soybeans remains strong;
however, a large inventory of 2005 grain that is still in storage,
combined with very good 2006 crop development in most areas of the Corn
Belt, have lead to some recent pressure on the grain markets. The
Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) current corn price opened at $2.24/bu. on
June 26, which compares to $2.57/bu. on June 5. Similarly, soybeans on
the CBOT opened at $5.72/bu. on June 26, which compares to $6.09/bu. on
June 5. - Kent Thiesse, The Corn & Soybean Digest
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Road
Warrior: Selling your lender on agriculture
06/27/06
The Road Warrior of Agriculture writes: "Many
of you reading this column serve on bank, Farm Credit and agribusiness
boards of directors. Recently an agricultural banker in Arkansas asked
how one could go about selling senior management on why they should loan
monies to agriculture.
First, agriculture is the leading industry in many rural communities.
Historically agricultural producers have had the reputation of paying
back commitments even in distressed times. Second, many agricultural
loans lead to other business such as checking, savings and investment
accounts. The typical farm or ranch balance sheet averages 11.8 credit
and financial service opportunities, thus they are rich for mining
related services..." Dave Kohl, The Corn & Soybean Digest
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Biofuel
can buy time until something else comes along
06/28/06
With global oil reserves estimated at between 2
trillion and three trillion barrels, and global daily consumption of oil
for fuel at about 85 million barrels, the last gallon of petro-fuel will
burp out of an exhaust pipe sometime between 2070 and 2102. According to
Andrew Couch, coordinator of the West Tennessee Clean Cities Coalition,
expanding biodiesel and ethanol capacity could push this extraordinary
day further into the future, perhaps buying enough time for development
of a new abundant fuel source, maybe hydrogen, solar power, ethanol made
from municipal waste or a combination of many sources. - Elton
Robinson,
Farm Press Editorial Staff
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2006
shaping up as driest in memory
06/28/06
Weather related conditions, like flood and drought,
have always been a problem for farmers, and always will be. But this
year's dry conditions in parts of the nation is being called one of the
worse possible in recent history. Take for example the Northeast Texas
farmer who has lost most of his corn crop and is culling his cattle
because of dry pasture conditions. Officials say it may be the worse
drought on the books since the 1956 Dust Bowl days. - story by Ron
Smith, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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