One of the amendments that sort of flew over my head when it was being debated on the floor Wednesday was from Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., that caps spending on the for the proposed House commodity programs at 110% of projected budget scores by the Congressional Budget Office from 2016 to 2020.
I like to believe people have good intentions until proven otherwise, but congressional efforts to promote "family farms" by imposing means testing on crop insurance eligibility seems seriously misguided.
The bounce higher in ethanol inventory at the end of last week has created additional concerns in the futures market. This pushed nearby ethanol futures lower, despite strong support in corn futures.
It would be naive to think Smithfield executives can just wave their corporate wands and transform the Chinese porkscape into a model of global efficiency.
On the eve of U.S.-EU talks on a trade-and-investment pact, the EU has acceded to a French demand for a "cultural exception." There's no "agricultural exception" -- yet.
DTN Staff Reporter Todd Neeley reports on how widespread ammonium nitrate (AN) use is, and more specifically on how much of the product is stored in various states. It proved a complicated task, and a touchy one as well, for many reasons.
6/19 1:56PM July Chicago wheat closed higher Wednesday with unconfirmed talk that China bought 200,000 metric tons of wheat from France. Along with the rumor came speculation that China may need more wheat than previously estimated. The talk was enough to spark short-covering in wheat just two days after wheat prices neared their lowest levels this year. November soybeans closed higher with ongoing concerns about planting and more rain in the forecast. Corn prices were also higher with July officially ending above the gap that was left behind on April 1.
Weather
Rains Return Thursday6/19 3:16PM Thursday will feature light rain in the northern and eastern Plains, western Midwest, Gulf Coast, and continued moderate to heavy activity in the southern and western Prairies. Dry conditions will prevail elsewhere.
Crops
Kane Bercaw of Union City, Mich., looks over his 2013 wheat crop. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
Scouting Time for PestsProducers Encouraged to Check Now for Insects6/13 10:56AM A wet spring may have distracted many farmers, but as insect activity picks up, producers should start scouting for pests such as armyworms and cereal aphids.
Tue Jun 11, 2013 03:51 PM CDT Government regulators have extended the comment period regarding the environmental impact of new 2,4-D-tolerant and dicamba-tolerant seeds, and will be holding online meetings to discuss those seeds prior to allowing commercial launch.
Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:00 AM CDT The ground is wet and the corn is yellow. Here's what to consider before you rush to apply extra nitrogen.
Livestock
Duane Strider says the beef business today is built on good cow genetics. The North Carolina cattleman's herd is Gelbvieh and includes 25 Dam of Distinction and Dam of Merit cows. (DTN/Progressive Farmer photo by Boyd Kidwell)
Refocus the HerdFertility, Longevity New Keys to Success6/17 10:38AM Duane Strider sells a lot of bulls, but he believes it's family that counts. Cow families, that is.
Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:47 AM CDT Grady Fort was once a cattleman. But three years ago, drought pushed this Texas Hill Country producer to sell off his entire herd and exit the beef cattle business.
Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:32 AM CDT Gerald Stokka is a North Dakota State University Extension livestock stewardship specialist, a position that does not exist in any other university Extension service in any other state. His task is to combine animal science with the philosophy of modern livestock production.
Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:51 AM CDT Why are my cows udders so similar in size?
Land Management
Ponding is a common sight in Midwest cornfields. This one near Macon, Ill., is beginning to drain, but the corn underneath is likely to be damaged. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
How Long Can Crops Swim?No Soggy Solutions: From Drought to Deluge6/10 1:36PM Crop fields have gone from drought to deluge in much of the Midwest. Plants can survive the conditions, but not for long.
Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:31 AM CDT Some Iowa farmers are struggling to get their crops planted after the wettest, coldest May on record in their state, and are looking at what it will mean now and in the longer term if they make prevented planting claims.
Mon Jun 3, 2013 02:23 PM CDT Farmers throughout the saturated northern Corn Belt are vacillating on what to do with their unplanted corn acres. For the first time in decades, growers with millions of acres of top corn and soybean ground are seriously toying with prevented planting claims.
Farm Business
All of the traditional safety net programs -- including the Senate-approved package and House Ag Committee proposals pending full approval next week -- curb price supports compared to protections available under the current law's Average Crop Revenue Election program, according to University of Illinois economist Gary Schnitkey. (DTN file photo)
Price Protection ShrinksCorn to Take Haircut Under Likely Farm Bill Options6/12 1:49PM Expect little in price supports if Congress approves either Senate or House farm bill options and season-average prices fall to around $4.50 or less between now and 2016, a new University of Illinois study cautions.
Wed May 22, 2013 11:29 AM CDT For Russ Quinn, author of the Vintage Iron column, having an interest in vintage equipment and farming practices, living on a farm and raising his own young family, has led Russ to try his hand at vintage farming.
Mon Jun 3, 2013 02:26 PM CDT Bruce Anderson, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln extension forage specialist, said a maintenance checklist is good idea for hay producers before the season begins.
Ag Policy
The House voted early Wednesday evening to move ahead with $20.5 billion in cuts to nutrition programs over 10 years. (Logo courtesy of USDA)
SNAP Cuts Stand in Farm BillHouse Votes on Farm Bill Amendments6/19 6:35PM For many Democrats, cuts to the food-stamp program were a deal breaker as they argued as many as 2 million people could lose benefits, while at the same time the House farm bill boosts funding for programs such as crop insurance.
Mon Jun 17, 2013 01:14 PM CDT U.S. President Barack Obama, England Prime Minister David Cameron and European Union officials held an event Monday in Northern Ireland to discuss trade talks between the U.S. and the European Union with the opening round of negotiations to begin the week of July 8 in Washington.
Wed Jun 12, 2013 01:46 PM CDT Expect little in price supports if Congress approves either Senate or House farm bill options and season-average prices fall to around $4.50 or less between now and 2016, a new University of Illinois study cautions.
Wed Jun 19, 2013 04:56 PM CDT Several members of Congress announced Wednesday their efforts to repeal the so-called "death tax" as a way to protect farmers, ranchers and small-business owners.
Farm Life
Honey bees have lost foraging sites as farms have consolidated and corn and soybeans have covered the landscape. More plantings of things like crimson clover are being encouraged (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
A Big Ball of WaxIs Big Ag to Blame for Plight of Honey Bee?6/17 10:53AM Agriculture is getting a lot of the blame for honey bee losses. A recent summit reveals the complexity behind the plight of the honey bee.
Mon Jun 17, 2013 09:02 AM CDT Gerald Stokka is a North Dakota State University Extension livestock stewardship specialist, a position that does not exist in any other university Extension service in any other state. His task is to combine animal science with the philosophy of modern livestock production.
Mon Jun 17, 2013 01:17 PM CDT Niche production provides a foothold for young growers who want to get into farming.
Featured Column
As per capita consumption of broilers continued to soar (e.g., climbing from 45 pounds in 1980 to 85 pounds in 2007), the theory of chicken fatigue started to make alchemy look reasonable. (DTN chart)
The Market's Fine PrintChicken Fatigue Revisited6/19 6:53PM When broiler consumption jumped nearly 10 pounds between 1975-1980, beef producers dismissed any serious long-term trend by focusing on a mysterious concept known as "chicken fatigue" -- the idea that the human palate could only tolerate a certain amount of blandness before storming the gates of red meat. Then came Chicken McNuggets.
= Subcriber Content:
Raising Cain Over Crop Insurance
