|
|
|
Logan
Hawkes
10/11/06
Crop News Weekly
With the end of harvest in sight and the
harvest moon waning in the night sky, we're reminded the close of 2006
is not very far away. Demanding our attention at the moment are both the
pending farm bill issue and, of course, midterm elections just on the
horizon. Regardless which way you vote, exercise your right and head to
the polls early next month.
In the top of the news, row crop farmers who have been struggling to get
a handle on abbreviations like DP and DCP and MAL may soon have two to
decipher if a National Corn Growers Association proposal begins to gain
traction. Elsewhere, a new facility that will produce biodiesel fuel
made entirely from soybean oil will soon be built in Arkansas, providing
hope for alternative fuels in the Delta country. And it's time again -
enrollment for the 2007 Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program
began Oct. 1 and continues until June 1, 2007. Also this week,
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announces that 51 watersheds in 50
states, the Pacific Islands and the Caribbean Area will be eligible for
the 2007 Conservation Security Program (CSP). These watersheds represent
more than 64,500 of the nation's potentially eligible farms and ranches.
Finally, what a difference a year makes. With apologies to all who
suffered through back-to-back hurricanes along the Gulf Coast last
August and September, motorists and farmers have a lot more to smile
about when they pull up to the pump this fall.
You'll find these stories and more in this issue of Crop News
Weekly. Happy reading.
|
|
|
|
Bootheel
research on alternative fertilizer
10/09/06
In an effort to help farmers reduce their fertilizer
bills, Michael Aide is in the first year of studying the use of chicken
litter on Missouri crops. "The concept of using poultry litter as an
alternative nitrogen source isn't new," the agronomy professor at
Southeast Missouri State University said at the recent Missouri Rice
Farm field day near Glennonville, Mo. "But there's renewed interest in
using it because of the current economic situation and cost of nitrogen
fertilizer. We thought it would be very appropriate to take another look
at litter in helping growers turn a profit." - David Bennett, Farm
Press Editorial Staff
|
Corn
growers unveil revenue assurance proposals
10/09/06
Row crop farmers who have been struggling to get a
handle on abbreviations like DP and DCP and MAL may soon have two to
decipher if a National Corn Growers Association proposal begins to gain
traction. The new abbreviations are BRP, which stands for Base Revenue
Protection, and RCCP, which is short for Revenue Counter-cyclical
Program. BRP and RCCP, which would work in complementary fashion, would
compensate growers when market revenue declines below target levels,
according to NCGA leaders. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial
Staff
|
Biodiesel
plant will use 100 percent soybeans
10/09/06
A new facility that will produce biodiesel fuel made
entirely from soybean oil will be built near DeWitt, Ark. Founders of
Arkansas SoyEnergy Group, LLC, say they expect to produce the first 100
percent soy-based fuel by late 2007. The plant will crush soybeans grown
within a 50-mile radius of DeWitt, creating a new market for area
farmers as well as providing "homegrown energy" that can be used in farm
machinery and vehicles. Soybean meal from the plant can be used for
animal feed.
|
2007
DCP sign-up begins
10/09/06
Enrollment for the 2007 Direct and Counter-cyclical
Payment Program began Oct. 1 and continues until June 1, 2007.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns encouraged farmers to sign up for the
program through the online DCP sign-up service. "Producers will find the
Internet-based DCP sign-up service convenient and very user friendly,"
said Johanns. "The service is an example of the strides USDA is taking
to make its programs more accessible, and I encourage producers with
Internet access to use the system."
|
Edible
soybeans an option for 2007
10/09/06
Small-seeded, highly water absorbing edible soybeans
varieties have been grown for a number of years in Virginia, but new
contract opportunities from Montague Farms offer even more opportunities
for the 2007 season. In the past yield has been a problem in Virginia.
Natto beans have only yielded about 80 percent of the yield of
conventional beans grown for oil and livestock feed. MFS-591 is the
'gold standard' for natto soybean varieties, because of its high
quality. - Roy Roberson, Farm Press Editorial Staff
|
News from the Top of the
Hill
10/06/06
National Hog Farmer
Congress Fails to Pass Disaster Assistance --
Congress failed to pass disaster assistance before leaving town for the
election recess. House Democrats collected 198 signatures on their
discharge petition, falling 20 signatures short of the required number
to bring disaster assistance legislation to a vote in the House of
Representatives. Only two Republicans, Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave
(R-CO) and Congressman Ralph Hall (R-TX) signed the petition.
Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN), ranking member of the House
Agriculture Committee, said "I am disappointed that the Republican
leaders in the House failed to stand up for our farmers and ranchers who
are suffering and struggling to cope with the impact of disaster on
their operations." He also indicated, "We are going to keep reaching out
to Republicans and Democrats from across the country to be sure that we
get a deal that will keep our rural communities afloat as they recover
from disaster." Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) and others were not able to
get unanimous consent for the Senate to consider disaster assistance.
This issue is expected to be considered again during the lame duck
session in November and December.
Manure Superfund Bill Discharged from Committee -- H.R. 4241
which clarifies that manure should not be regulated under Superfund laws
was discharged from the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The Farmers
for Clean Air and Water said, "This is good news for the nation's
farmers and ranchers. HR4241 -- clarifying that natural manure does not
fall under the severe liability provisions of the Superfund laws
intended to clean up industrial, mostly abandoned toxic waste sites --
has successfully moved beyond the committee stage in the U.S. House of
Representatives." The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for
consideration. It is not known whether the House will consider the bill
before Congress adjourns this year. There are currently 190 cosponsors
of the legislation.
Opposition to Manure Superfund Bill -- Congressmen Henry Waxman
(D-CA), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Diana DeGette
(D-CO) have written all members of the House of Representatives stating
their opposition to H.R. 4241. In the letter the members state that
communities need Superfund authority. The said, "Without this authority,
local governments will not be able to protect the health of their
communities, will not have the ability to mitigate resulting hazards,
and will not be able to recover cleanup or treatment costs for
contamination of public drinking water supplies caused by large animal
feeding operations." Joining in opposition to the legislation include:
U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, National
Association of Counties, American Water Works Association, League of
Conservation Voters, National Association of County and City Health
Officials, American Rivers, Clean Water Action, Environmental Defense,
Natural Resources Defense Council, and Sierra Club.
25x25 -- The House Agriculture Committee approved a House
resolution calling for a national goal of producing 25 percent of the
total energy consumed in the United States from renewable agricultural
resources by the year 2025. The resolution was endorsed by 20 state
governors and more than 280 agricultural, business, and environmental
organizations.
WTO Rules in Favor of Biotech -- The World Trade Organization
(WTO) ruled in favor of the U.S., Argentina, and Canada in their WTO
case against the EU over its illegal moratorium on approving
agricultural biotech products. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns
said, "Today's decision affirms what the world's farmers have known
about biotechnology for many years. Since the first biotechnology crops
were commercialized in 1996, we've seen double-digit increases in their
adoption every single year. Biotechnology crops not only are helping to
meet the world's food needs, they also are having a positive
environmental impact on our soil and water resources." - Scott
Shearer
|
Fight
weeds with plant pathogens
Although plant pathogens are typically viewed as
detrimental, plant pathologists with The American Phytopathological
Society (APS) say plant pathogens may be a successful, eco-friendly tool
for managing weeds. "The use of plant pathogens to suppress weeds is
considered as one of the alternative weed control options for areas or
production systems where the use of chemical herbicides is not permitted
or feasible," says Erin Rosskopf, USDA, Agricultural Research Service,
Fort Pierce, FL. "Plant pathogens may also be used when the herbicide
selection or usage must be rotated with other control methods in order
to prevent the development of resistant weeds or lessen the impact of
herbicides on the environment," she says. - American
Phytopathological Society
|
Road
Warrior: World trade blocs
10/05/06
Dave Kohl writes: "We spent considerable time
in the last Road Warrior column examining the newly emerging Asian trade
zone. With over half of the world's population and 25% of the globe's
output, it's a variable that farmers and ranchers must reckon with. In a
1990 article in a major dairy magazine, I wrote about the mega-trends of
the agricultural industry. In that article I presented a perspective
that global trade blocs would emerge in the next 25 years. My high
school ag teacher, who has since passed, read the article and said he
thought I was on to something." - The Corn & Soybean Digest
|
Test
nitrogen levels this fall
Testing nitrogen (N) levels this fall can save
producers time and money next spring, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln
soils specialist says. Fields that will be planted into corn or sorghum
next year may show higher than normal nitrates. Soil sampling for
nitrogen levels following harvest will determine exact N levels. This
gives producers a chance to plan for spring fertilizer applications,
says Charles Shapiro, soils specialist at UNL's Haskell Agricultural
Laboratory near Concord. - University of Nebraska
|
USDA
selects 51 watersheds for CSP
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announces that 51
watersheds in 50 states, the Pacific Islands and the Caribbean Area will
be eligible for the 2007 Conservation Security Program (CSP). These
watersheds represent more than 64,500 of the nation's potentially
eligible farms and ranches, covering nearly 24 million acres of cropland
and grazing land. "This is the fourth year the Conservation Security
Program has recognized farmers and ranchers for their ongoing
stewardship on working agricultural lands," Johanns said. "Our
investment in this voluntary program has already proved beneficial by
creating many successful cooperative public-private partnerships across
the nation." - The Corn & Soybean Digest
|
Energy
price outlook rosier than last year
06/10/06
What a difference a year makes. With apologies to all
who suffered through back-to-back hurricanes along the Gulf Coast last
August and September, motorists and farmers have a lot more to smile
about when they pull up to the pump this fall than they did this time a
year ago. Gasoline prices have dropped about $1 a gallon within the last
month and diesel fuel hasn't been far behind. While some political wags
have tried to attribute the decline to the upcoming mid-term elections,
there's little doubt the outlook for energy supplies has improved
considerably since September 2005. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press
Editorial Staff
|
Renewable
energy offers multiple advantages
10/06/06
One has only to contemplate the rapidly rolling
numbers on the service station pump to understand the need for a
reliable, affordable, domestic energy supply. Over the past few months
motorists have paid more than $3 a gallon for fuel to get them to work,
to markets and to even more critical locales such as hospitals. And
folks who drive for a living, long haul truckers, for instance, have
been hammered by high energy costs. - Ron Smith, Farm Press Editorial
Staff
|
United
States wins one in WTO ruling
10/06/06
The World Trade Organization has ruled in favor of the
United States, Argentina, and Canada in a WTO case against the European
Union over its moratorium on approving agricultural biotech products and
state bans of previously approved products. "Today's decision affirms
what the world's farmers have known about biotechnology for many years,"
said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.
|
Do you
know a farmer/rancher that could use $10,000?
10/07/06
Nominations are now being accepted for American
Farmland Trust's 2007 Steward of the Land Award. The $10,000 prize is
presented each year to a farmer or rancher that best exemplifies
American Farmland Trust's (AFT) mission of stopping the loss of
productive farmland and promoting farming practices that lead to a
healthy environment.
Nomination forms can be completed online at http://www.farmland.org/programs/award/default.asp,
or can easily be printed out for completion by tradition methods at the
same address. You may also call 202-378-1255 for an application, or with
questions. Nomination materials will be accepted until
5 p.m. EST on Friday, December 1, 2006.
Tom Hutson, a dairy farmer from DeLancey, NY was named the 10th Steward
of the Land earlier this year. He operates River Haven Farm in New
York's Catskill Mountains, part of the Catskill-Delaware watershed,
where reservoirs supply drinking water for millions of New York City
residents. By working with the locally-based Watershed Agricultural
Council (WAC), and often himself serving as the pilot-site for project,
Hutson and neighboring farmers have kept the watershed pristine enough
to satisfy federal drinking water standards, sparing New York City the
cost of a billion dollar water filtration plant. He and fellow farmers
have participated by conserving their land and implementing conservation
practices with technical and financial assistance from WAC.
"Tom has always understood how his farm's stakeholders include not only
the consumers of his products but also the residents of New York City,
whose clean drinking water depends on environmentally friendly
agriculture," said Ralph Grossi, president of American Farmland Trust.
"Tom both works the land and sustains it, yet preserved his land through
an easement."
Noting the bald eagles that nest at Hutson's farm, Grossi added, "Tom,
like all of AFT's Stewardship winners, is a champion of good
agriculture-leading and showing by example on his farm how you can
provide consumers with food and environmental benefits-and attract
wildlife at the same time. He is a true steward of the land and a great
inspiration to farmers across the country."
AFT's Steward of the Land Award is also working to raise awareness of
the public benefits agriculture provides as discussions about changing
farm policies in the 2007 Farm Bill begin. "As the 2007 Farm Bill
approaches, it's more important than ever to show examples of people in
agriculture working so hard to implement good stewardship practices on
their land," said Grossi. "We need to keep in mind the many things that
good farm stewards provide: clean water, open space and wildlife habitat
and more, in addition to the food, fiber, fuel and timber products we
enjoy every day. AFT can only honor one farmer each year through its
Steward of the Land Award, but by supporting incentive-based farm
policies that link payments to good stewardship and sound land
management, our nation can honor thousands of farmers every year."
Established in 1997, AFT's Steward of the Land Award recognizes the
American farmer or farm family who best demonstrates leadership in
protecting farmland and caring for the environment. The award honors the
memory of Peggy McGrath Rockefeller, an avid farmer and conservationist
who helped found AFT.
|
|
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
You are subscribed to this newsletter as #email#
To get this newsletter in a different format (Text or HTML),
or to change your e-mail address, please visit your profile
page to change your delivery preferences.
For questions concerning delivery of this newsletter, please contact our
Customer Service Department at:
Customer Service Department
Corn & Soybean Digest and Farm Industry News
A Prism Business Media publication
US Toll Free: 866-505-7173
International: 847-763-9504
Email:cropnewsweekly@pbinews.com
US Toll Free: (866) 505-7173
International: (402) 505-7173
Prism Business Media
9800 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66212
Copyright 2006, Prism Business Media. All rights reserved. This article
is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property
laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated,
transmitted,
displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium
without the prior written permission of Prism Business Media.
About This Newsletter
To unsubscribe from this newsletter go to: Unsubscribe
To subscribe to this newsletter, go to: Subscribe
For information on advertising in Crop News Weekly, please contact: Mike Santi.
|
|
|
|
Farm Industry News
Product
of the Week
View and read about the Farm Industry News Product of the
Week.
Click here to visit farmindustrynews.com
Corn & Soybean Digest
Market News
Richard A. Brock
Check out the latest corn and soybean market advice from
marketing guru Richard Brock by visiting cornandsoybeandigest.com
|
|
