The condition of winter wheat declined last week, prompting a discussion of whether or not it's due to hot and dry weather or the "browning effect" that happens as wheat approaches harvest.
This piece looks at the difference in million bushels between the first WASDE stocks estimate and the final one for that marketing year issued 18 months later in the following November.
Wednesday's commodity and crop-insurance hearing in the House Agriculture Committee didn't exactly sound like a hearing of people preparing to accept some measure of austerity to cut the federal budget.
Economies of scale in farm equipment may be one of the biggest cost advantages large farmers hold over their peers--and those savings can be a whopper.
Machinery costs varied by almost $450/acre for more than 300 grain producers in the AgriSolutions' managerial accounting database between 2008-2011, the company's Sam Bachman found, a far bigger gap than other financial advisers have typically estimated.
Livestock feeders couldn't be happier about the grim prognosis for the U.S. corn market following the release of USDA's bearish supply and demand estimates on Thursday.
Farmers in Mato Grosso have sold all but 6% of their soybean crop, making for a very quiet market for the rest of the year. The Brazilian harvest isn't yet over, but farmers in Mato Grosso have already sold 94% of their crop.
Despite its efforts at transparency, the Federal Reserve is still studied the way the old Soviet Union was studied, with specialists reading between the lines for clues. Lately those studying the Fed have seen some signs that the Fed is starting to lean away from its current easy-money bias.
5/17 2:36PM It was another strong day for grains with wheat and beans posting the largest gains. Corn rallied modestly, though did overcome initial price resistance.
Weather
Midwest Dry Friday5/17 1:49PM Friday will feature dry, windy and very warm to hot conditions again in the Plains and western Midwest. Eastern Midwest areas will have milder temperatures but dry conditions. Showers will focus on the far northwestern Plains and western Prairies.
Crops
From the road, you would never see this bean leaf beetle destruction. It takes getting into the field to observe what's happening. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
Get Serious About ScoutingScouting Crops More Critical This Year 5/16 11:30AM Drive-by scouting doesn't cut it -- especially this year. Insect alerts are coming in fast and furious, but there's no substitute for walking your own fields.
Wed May 2, 2012 09:36 AM CDT Scouting for pests is even more critical this year. A mild winter coupled with an unseasonably warm start of the season should have growers on the lookout for insects this season.
Fri May 11, 2012 03:12 PM CDT A national summit discussed a coordinated strategy for managing herbicide resistant weeds in the United States. Best management practices are suggested before mandatory measures.
Thu May 10, 2012 06:19 AM CDT The early spring weather has entomologists on the watch for soybean insects. Here are some potential pests to scout for during the 2012 season.
Livestock
Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifers with the white, Tier Two tags in their ears sold best in a sale at Fruitland, Mo., May 5. Bidders averaged paying $134 more for the heifers bred to high-accuracy proven sires. (Photo by Duane Dailey, University of Missouri Cooperative Media Group)
Record HeiferBred Heifer Prices Bump Up Over $3,000 Mark5/14 11:00AM Registered Angus heifers took top spots in Missouri's latest replacement heifer sale at Fruitland Livestock Auction. A single, bred heifer sold for $3,400, setting a new record. She came off of Lazy P Ranch of Oak Ridge, Mo.
Mon May 14, 2012 11:09 AM CDT Old, open or ornery means an automatic ticket to town for Jacot Ranch cows. That's just simple economics for Paul Jacot and his son, John. But the Moline, Kan., cow/calf men have been changing their culling strategy lately in order to head the herd in a whole new direction.
Mon May 14, 2012 11:11 AM CDT No matter how much beef producers need it to be good, the productivity of the grass and feed season ahead still looks iffy.
Mon May 14, 2012 11:03 AM CDT Can I sell an animal that's been treated with a medicine that requires a long withdrawal time?
Land Management
Tom Hill and Sons Farm has reduced its catfish production in light of changing economic times, Wayne Hill says. The farm produces half the cats it once did and now produces more soybeans, wheat and corn. (Progressive Farmer image by Jim Phillips)
Beans Vs. CatsHigh Feed Prices, Foreign Competition Drain Many Catfish Ponds4/4 10:35AM A decade ago, a drive north out of Belzoni, Miss., on U.S. Highway 49 had the feel of cruising on a causeway across a massive lake. On both sides of the highway were dozens of man-made ponds -- the view was of a virtual sea of catfish.
Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:34 AM CDT Charles and Lawrence Davenport, of Pitt County, N.C., farm along a major river near the Atlantic Ocean. With water all around the row-crop operation, you'd think soil moisture wouldn't be a problem. But irrigation is a key to producing high yields here, and the Davenport brothers are developing strategies to conserve a precious resource.
Mon May 7, 2012 05:35 PM CDT Cattleman uses rotational grazing on his farm to decrease the effects of raging rivers.
Farm Business
Accumulator grain sales contracts offer farmers a way to earn a premium, but it comes with substantial risk. (DTN photo by Jim Patrico)
Smart Marketing - 1Accumulator Contracts: Big Premium, Bigger Risk5/11 12:24PM Accumulator contracts may be popular in the big grain-growing states, but farmers should be aware of the terms and how it can leave them exposed to price risk.
Boeing workers prepare communications satellite SkyTerra 1 for launch. Boeing was listed as LightSquared largest creditor when it filed for bankruptcy. (Photo courtesy LightSquared)
LightSquared Files BankruptcyCompany Plans to Continue Pursuit of Network5/15 1:35PM LightSquared lists between $100 million and $500 million in debt spread out between 50 and 99 unsecured creditors. It was feared the company's planned wireless network would interfere with GPS signals and precision ag.
Fri May 11, 2012 12:19 PM CDT Western Growers, which represents major fruit and vegetable producers in California and Arizona, is working to pull together a coalition of business groups wanting Congress to take some action to help address labor challenges.
Thu May 17, 2012 05:27 PM CDT A House Ag Subcommittee repeatedly examined how the Senate safety net, the Agriculture Risk Coverage program, or ARC, would work with insurance, or not work at all depending on the commodity or region. The best option going forward is an alternative program that offers farmers a target price for crops.
Fri May 11, 2012 12:17 PM CDT Though TransCanada said a new proposed corridor for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline would avoid the Sandhills, local property owners remain unconvinced.
Farm Life
Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve may increase interest rates, but that likely won't happen in a hurry. (Photo by Medill DC (CC BY-SA 2.0)
An Urban's Rural ViewFed More Hawkish But Rate Rises a Ways Off5/14 1:41PM Despite its efforts at transparency, the Federal Reserve is still studied the way the old Soviet Union was studied, with specialists reading between the lines for clues. Lately those studying the Fed have seen some signs that the Fed is starting to lean away from its current easy-money bias.
Mon May 14, 2012 02:19 PM CDT A decade ago, a drive north out of Belzoni, Miss., on U.S. Highway 49 had the feel of cruising on a causeway across a massive lake. On both sides of the highway were dozens of man-made ponds -- the view was of a virtual sea of catfish.
Mon May 14, 2012 11:37 AM CDT One of the vacations of my childhood was to beautiful Des Moines, Iowa. Because they were close by and probably fairly inexpensive, my family tended to utilize the surrounding states close to eastern Nebraska for our family vacations.
Tue May 15, 2012 08:28 AM CDT View From the Cab participant Katie Sanger Hancock waits for precip in Kentucky before planting soybeans while Ryan Brodersen is getting just-in-time rains in Nebraska.
Featured Column
The national average corn basis continues to run well ahead of the five-year maximum and average. (DTN chart)
Sanow's Market SenseWhen Will Corn Basis Collapse?5/17 12:01PM The fast planting pace means there will be corn harvested earlier than normal, setting the stage for basis levels to collapse.
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Keeping a Brother's Trust
