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Logan
Hawkes
08/16/06
Crop News Weekly
With so much trouble going on throughout the
world, it's sometimes difficult to get focused on the needs at hand. I
found myself drifting to the tube to surf the cable news channels this
past week, as if knowing the latest developments of Middle East and
terror activities would arm me with the ability to solve all the
problems; to make it all go away. Then I hear the rooster crowing and
realize I have spent half the night worrying about problems I can't
solve. - sheesh -
In addition to all the world news this week, there's a lot to review in
the world of agriculture, starting with another confirmed case of
soybean rust in Louisiana. Also confirmed this week, soybean rust at an
industry research field near Chula, Georgia, indicating the disease has
spread further north in that state. Six Georgia counties have now
confirmed ASR. In other news, a group of Texas farmers are challenging
Congress to act quickly to pass an immigration reform law or risk severe
damage to the state's agricultural economy, reflecting the opinion of a
growing number of growers in the U.S. Elsewhere, the fourth of five
2007 farm-bill discussion papers, this one on renewable energy and
energy-efficiency programs, is now available on the USDA Web site. The
first three, released earlier this year, covered risk management,
conservation and the environment, and rural development. Also in the
news, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), National Association
of Manufacturers, and Coalition of Service Industries have called upon
Congress to extend Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). They say TPA is
critical if the U.S. wants other countries to engage in serious
negotiations. And just in case you haven't heard, the national average
cost of diesel has risen to just over $3 a gallon this week. Finally,
and related, USDA and DOE have awarded nine grants totaling $5.7 million
for research aimed at accelerating the development of alternative fuel
resources.
You'll find these stories and a lot more in this issue of Crop News
Weekly. Happy reading.
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New
rust find in northwest Louisiana
08/15/06
Asian soybean rust has been found in northwest
Louisiana's Natchitoches Parish. Discovered in a Group 4 production
field on Aug. 11, the disease was confirmed on Aug. 14. The field "was
almost far enough along not to worry with rust," says Boyd Padgett, LSU
AgCenter plant pathologist. "I've heard nothing about more being found
in surrounding areas. That doesn't surprise me. It feels like it's about
300 degrees, right now. And there's been no rain. - David Bennett,
Farm Press Editorial Staff
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Soybean
rust moving north in Georgia
08/14/06
Asian soybean rust was confirmed Aug. 7 on leaves
taken from Group IV soybeans growing in an industry research field near
Chula in Tift County. A small leaf sample (<10 leaflets) was submitted
to the University of Georgia diagnostic clinic, and rust was confirmed.
The Tift County find makes six counties in south central Georgia
reporting infections. Tift becomes the 29th county in the U.S. with
soybean rust and the northernmost in Georgia this year. - Roy
Roberson, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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Immigration
reform needed this year
08/14/06
Representatives of the Texas fruit and vegetable
industry used last week's annual conference as a platform to challenge
Congress to act quickly to pass an immigration reform law or risk severe
damage to the state's agricultural economy. Tamar Jacoby, with the
Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, said the window of opportunity
to get a workable bill passed is narrow. Jacoby said if Congress does
not act quickly following the August recess, the issue likely will be
difficult to resurrect with a new Congress next year. She said the
Senate has passed a reasonable bill that includes the three elements she
believes to be crucial to a workable immigration program: border
security, guest worker program and offering current illegals a path to
legal status. - Ron Smith, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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Farm
groups on a roll...More to follow?
08/12/06
They're not receiving much credit for it in the media,
but farm organizations scored a major victory when the Doha Development
Round negotiations collapsed in Geneva last month. In other years and
other scenarios, farm groups might have walked away from the talks,
muttering how U.S. trade officials had done it to them again by agreeing
to proposals from the European Union or Japan or other WTO members just
to get an agreement. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial
Staff
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USDA releases fourth of five
farm bill papers
08/11/06
The fourth of five 2007 farm-bill discussion papers,
this one on renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs, is now
available at www.usda.gov/farmbill. The first three, released earlier
this year, covered risk management, conservation and the environment,
and rural development. A fifth and final theme paper will examine
opportunities to strengthen U.S. ag's foundation. The latest paper is an
analysis prepared by USDA economists of the agency's renewable energy
and energy-efficiency programs, and looks at potential sources of energy
under the ag umbrella. It tracks results of USDA renewable-energy and
energy-efficiency programs, and contemplates enhancements and
alternatives to those programs. - Joe Roybal, BEEF Mag
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News from the Top of the
Hill
08/11/06
National Hog Farmer
Senators Ask Korea to Reopen Market to U.S.
Beef -- Thirty-one U.S. Senators asked South Korean President Roh
Moo-hyun to personally help in resolving the opening of the Korean
market to U.S. beef and reminding him of the importance of this issue to
the U.S.-Korea free trade negotiations. In the letter the Senators
stated, "It has been more than seven months since our countries' health
officials agreed on initial conditions to resume trade. The restoration
of beef trade prior to the conclusion of talks scheduled for the end of
this year is essential to making meaningful progress and addressing
Congressional reservations about a possible free trade agreement (FTA)."
The letter was initiated by Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), chairman of
the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Tom Harkin (D-IA), ranking member
of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
USDA Energy Farm Bill Paper -- USDA released its farm bill
energy paper, "Energy and Agriculture," which reviews USDA's renewable
energy and energy efficiency programs. The paper also discusses various
alternatives to these programs. The alternatives which are for
discussion purposes only are:
1. Expand Federal Direct Market Intervention to Support Renewable
Energy:
Raise the level of the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Extend renewable energy tax credits to 2015 or later.
Reduce biofuel tax credits when they are not effective in increasing
biofuel supply or are not needed.
Provide accelerated depreciation on renewable energy equipment and
facility investment.
Provide a depreciation allowance on certain land.
Use more land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for
biomass harvesting and wind energy.
Refocus the CCC Bioenergy Program.
2. Expand Federal Indirect Support for Renewable Energy:
Expand the national cellulosic ethanol research initiative.
Expand creative financial engineering to support development of the
biobased economy.
Bridge the gap between Federally-funded basic research and
industry-funded applied research and development.
Expand education and outreach for the bioeconomy.
Meet expected new demands for rural electric generation and
transmission. The paper is available at http://www.usda.gov/farmbill.
Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Risk Management Tools -- USDA
announced new risk management tools for pasture, rangeland and forage,
beginning with the 2007 crop year. USDA's Risk Management Agency will be
offering the Rainfall index insurance program and the Vegetation index
insurance program which will allow livestock producers the ability to
purchase insurance protection for losses of forage produced for grazing
or hay. These products may be purchased through approved insurance
providers. More detailed information regarding these two new programs is
available at: http:///www.rma.usda.gov/policies/pasturerangeforage/
Renew TPA -- The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF),
National Association of Manufacturers, and Coalition of Service
Industries have called upon Congress to extend Trade Promotion Authority
(TPA). AFBF said, "TPA is critical if we want other countries to engage
in serious negotiations with the United States. U.S. agriculture relies
on overseas markets and gaining access to those markets is vital to the
overall success of farmers and ranchers. Agriculture's ability to
compete in global markets, on fair terms, with better access to
expanding markets is dependent on TPA." TPA expires next June. This
authority allows the President to negotiate trade agreements for an
up-or-down vote by Congress.
USDA Changes -- The Senate has confirmed Bruce Knight as USDA
Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. He will oversee
the Agriculture Marketing Service, Animal Plant Health Inspection
Service, and Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Agency. Knight is a
native of South Dakota and prior to confirmation was head of USDA's
Natural Resources Conservation Service. JB Penn, Under Secretary for
Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, announced he will be leaving
USDA at the end of the month to become chief economist for Deere and
Company. - from the desk of Scott Shearer
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National average for diesel tops
$3 mark
08/11/06
The national average price for diesel passed $3 for
the week ending Aug. 7, reports http://www.landlinemag.com. The
U.S. Energy Info Agency says the $3.055/gal. national average is the
highest since October 2005, when diesel hit $3.157/gal. in the wake of
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Everything from strikes in Nigeria by
owners of fuel tankers, to the EPA-mandated switch to ultra-low sulfur
diesel, to the needs of U.S. farmers to irrigate more because of drought
is being blamed for the disruption and depletion of diesel supplies.
- Crop News Weekly
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Thiesse's
Thoughts: Welcome rainfall in Mid West
08/10/06
If there ever was such a thing as a just-in-time
rainfall, it was probably the rain that fell across the southern third
of Minnesota and northern parts of Iowa on August 1-2. Many of these
areas were getting critically short of soil moisture and crops were
starting to show some stress, especially after the extremely hot
temperatures in late July. Most of the previously mentioned region
received 2-4 in. or more of rainfall on August 1 and 2; however,
rainfall amounts dropped off north and west of this region. Many areas
of West Central and Northwest Minnesota got very little rainfall, and
drought conditions continue to persist. The rainfall did come with some
severe storms. Tornadoes touched down in Watonwan County causing
significant damage to a handful of farm sites, and strong winds reaching
over 80 mph flattened thousands of acres of corn in Jackson County, as
well as across the border in Northwest Iowa. - Kent Thiesse, The Corn
& Soybean Digest
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Why
do lenders weight collateral and equity heavily
08/10/06
Road Warrior Dave Kohl writes: "This was a
question asked by an agricultural producer panel at a recent lending
school. I often joke that lenders loan money on the five "C's" of
lending: collateral, collateral, collateral, collateral and collateral.
Of course, for many that is not true. Repayment capacity, character,
conditions surrounding the loan and profitability are in many lenders'
toolboxes, particularly for larger commercial agricultural loans.
However, collateral and equity do play a role. They are the last line of
defense for a lender in the worst-case scenario to recover monies loaned
to the producer. Too little equity and collateral, and the lender and
borrower can get upside down (liabilities & loan amount higher than
asset value). In this case, the lender incurs losses." - The Corn &
Soybean Digest
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Soybean
checkoff continues fight against disease, pests
08/10/06
With the growing season in full swing, soybean
producers are paying attention to soybean rust confirmations in the
South. And while rust is a serious disease that commands attention, it's
not the only yield-robber out there. The farmer-leaders of the soybean
checkoff are committed to helping producers fight plant illnesses and
pests, including, but not limited to, rust. Economists estimate the
effects of a soybean rust outbreak could potentially cost $240 million
to $2 billion annually. - Farm Press Daily
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Workshop
on energy from biomass
08/11/06
A workshop for legislators, the business and
manufacturing community, community leaders and interested citizens on
the potential for producing energy and value-added products from biomass
is set for Aug. 24 and 25 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Little Rock.
Milo Shult, the UA system's vice president for agriculture, said
speakers will include leaders of companies now producing biofuels and
other biomass products, including Cal McCastlain of Patriot Biofuels;
Gary McChesney of Viceroy Acquisition Corporation (formerly Eastman
Chemical); and Tommy Smith of Potlatch Corporation. - Farm Press
Daily
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USDA,
Energy fund bioenergy fuels research projects
08/09/06
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and Agriculture
Secretary Mike Johanns announced the Departments of Agriculture and
Energy have awarded nine grants totaling $5.7 million for research aimed
at accelerating the development of alternative fuel resources. "To be a
reliable renewable energy source, farmers and ranchers will need to be
able to grow biomass in large quantities," Johanns said. "This joint
research initiative will address our need for alternative energy
resources and improve the efficiency with which biomass and plant
feedstocks are used to produce renewable fuels such as ethanol." -
Farm Press Daily
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