This piece looks at U.S. spring wheat plantings as of May 12 from 1985 to 2012 vs. the percent change in planted acreage from the March Prospective Plantings to June Acreage report.
As members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees seek to repeal mandatory country-of-origin labeling, backers tout a new survey from the Consumer Federation of America citing that 90% of Americans favor labeling the origin of meat.
Mild-mannered CPA Andy Biebl has complained in pastDTN columnsabout the increasing mischief he's observed in IRS audits, leaving some small business ownerswith six-figure tax bills when they have 100% of the law on their side.
May has seen a significant turn around in temperature leading to the demise of the snow cover and allowing soils to warm enough to let farmers begin their annual seeding operations in some areas.
The new RIN market which rolled out on the CME this week has developed trade activity by the end of the week. This market is expected to be another tool for traders in the ethanol and gasoline markets.
A University of California at Davis toxicologist's use of music and animation to convey food-safety messages merits the attention of farmers trying to tell ag's story.
5/17 1:58PM The July contracts of corn and soybeans have picked up the baton of tight old-crop supplies after the May contracts expired strong earlier this week. Both July corn and soybeans closed higher on the week, making it clear strong domestic demand still continues for limited available supplies of corn and soybeans. Planting activity should have accelerated for corn in the western Midwest this week and for corn and spring wheat in the Dakotas. The hard red winter wheat crop received some rain in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle earlier this week, but the overall forecast for the Southern Plains remains dry for the next two weeks.
Weather
Light to Moderate Rains Saturday5/17 1:06PM Saturday will feature widespread light to moderate rain in the Northern Plains and the southeastern Midwest. We'll see drier conditions elsewhere to begin Saturday.
Crops
Bee health is the focus of a new report from USDA. Beekeepers and bees are challenged by a host of environmental factors that have increased bee deaths and decline. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
Honey Bee CauseNo Easy Answer on Bee Health5/2 2:12PM A new report blames multiple factors for the challenges in honeybee deaths and declines.
Mon May 13, 2013 06:59 AM CDT Delayed soybean planting requires some management changes.
Livestock
Brian Sampson (left) is a row-crop farmer and a feedlot operator from rural Iowa. His name and personal information are on a list of 80,000 names EPA released to three, aggressive environmental watchdog agencies. Pictured (left to right) are Sampson, his son Bryce and Brian Waddington of the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers. (Photo courtesy of Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers)
Mon May 13, 2013 01:01 PM CDT Dewormers are still the No. 1 weapon for parasite control. But without good pasture management, you may not get the optimum return from that investment.
Mon May 13, 2013 01:07 PM CDT As of the week ending May 5, only 64% of the nation's pastureland was rated fair or better, 19 points below 2012 and the four-year average. Overall, this marks the sorriest start to the grass season in more than 17 years.
Mon May 13, 2013 01:05 PM CDT How can I control flies?
Land Management
In much of the Midwest, farmland values have risen on average by 300% since 2000 and show no sign of falling in early 2013. (Progressive Farmer image by Gregg Hillyer)
Mon May 6, 2013 11:39 AM CDT The buzz in ag last week was the obvious late start to planting across the heart of the corn/bean belt and what effect it will have on planted acres.
Farm Business
Four generations of the Gorden family of Decatur, Ill., have a vested interest in their farm, even though none of 91-year-old Ken Gorden's descendants operate it. (DTN photo by Elizabeth Williams)
Senior Partners - 4From Here to Eternity5/10 6:33AM For sentimental or practical reasons, some owners want their farmland to stay in family hands for generations to come. Sharing family stories builds commitment, but buy-sell agreements can impose disincentives to liquidate.
New, heavier pickups with at least a six-foot open box qualify for the fastest tax writeoffs. (Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company)
Those Vexing Vehicle Depreciation Rules4/30 10:08AM How much can you write off taxes if you buy a new truck this year? Unfortunately, the answer depends on the size, weight and type of vehicle.
Mon May 6, 2013 11:32 AM CDT Kubota builds compact and small tractors in Georgia. But it is looking to acquire an existing manufacturer to build large-scale production farm equipment.
Ag Policy
U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks to members of the Organic Trade Association on Tuesday. (DTN photo by Chris Clayton)
Farm Bill Goes to Senate FloorChairwoman Highlights Reforms, Boosts in Organic and Local Programs5/15 6:33AM Following a speech to members of the Organic Trade Association, Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would introduce a motion to proceed on the farm bill as early as Wednesday. Debate on the bill could begin early next week.
Wed May 15, 2013 10:47 AM CDT Under the original structure of the Senate bill, target prices for all commodities with the exception of rice and peanuts stayed the same as the current counter-cyclical program. But an amendment to the bill by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, completely restructures the proposed Senate target-price plan, known as Adverse Market Payments.
Fri May 17, 2013 02:50 PM CDT Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., said his conversations with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., suggest the farm bill legislation will be debated in mid-June. Debate begins on the Senate bill Monday afternoon.
Thu May 16, 2013 06:41 AM CDT House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., expressed confidence in the farm bill his committee crafted that was given bi-partisan support coming out of committee. He said he expects the legislation will see a floor debate in June.
Farm Life
Bee health is the focus of a new report from USDA. Beekeepers and bees are challenged by a host of environmental factors that have increased bee deaths and decline. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
Bee Focus of USDA ReportNo Easy Answer on Bee Health5/13 11:52AM A new report blames multiple factors for the challenges in honeybee deaths and declines.
Mon May 13, 2013 11:55 AM CDT House and Senate Ag Committees have repeatedly failed in trying to complete a farm bill largely because congressional leaders and the White House have never reached a "grand bargain" on the federal budget. As both committees again wade into the farm bill this month, committee-driven proposals on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program suggest cuts could range from $4.5 billion to $20 billion over 10 years.
Mon May 13, 2013 12:02 PM CDT Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., on Tuesday vowed to fight cuts to food stamps in the new farm bill, which she said could come up on the Senate floor as early as next week.
Mon May 13, 2013 12:08 PM CDT For sentimental or practical reasons, some owners want their farmland to stay in family hands for generations to come. Sharing family stories builds commitment, but buy-sell agreements can impose disincentives to liquidate.
Featured Column
Soybeans are not setting the world on fire with bullishness, but look capable of establishing late seasonal rallies. (DTN photo by Pam Smith)
Newsom on the MarketNot Just Another Frame 5/17 9:58AM One week after USDA presumably put the final nail in the coffin for grains, soybeans are showing stronger signs of life.
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Raising Cain Over Crop Insurance
