CROP NEWS WEEKLY NEW Penton Media January 21, 2009 Volume 9 Issue 3 If you want to view this on the web go to: http://enews.penton.com/enews/cropnewsweekly/v/308 ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT "I've definitely seen advantages of Force(R) over the top of traited corn acres. The insecticide allows corn rootworm to die without actually biting the root unlike with BT traits. Also, by controlling secondary pests, Force can add to a grower's yield, which is the main goal of any grower." Retailer from Greenview, IL. Click here for more details on this quote and the economics of using Force over traited corn. Force is a Restricted Use Pesticide. http://www.force-insecticide.com ---------------------------------------- EDITOR'S NOTE Logan Hawkes 01/21/09 Hats off to the NFL! At least the big games of the year are not staged during spring planting or fall harvest. I don't know if you're a football fan or not, but if you are, those free Sunday afternoons are a great time to catch up with the latest, and the playoffs this year have been more than exciting. Of course, it's all about to end when Super Bowl 44 arrives on Feb. 1. Then it's back to work. Speaking of work, newly sworn in President Barack Obama says he's ready to settle down into the massive job of grinding the economic slide to a halt. The word is out that Obama is sending clear messages down through the ranks of federal departments that his administration will be taking an active part in defining policies and enforcing a tight control of all government functions. What this means for agriculture, of course, remains to be seen. And while the question of whether the job is bigger than the man is yet to be answered, this week's historic inauguration at least indicates the President's term of office has started off with a big bang. Here's hoping the fuse doesn't fizzle. We're loaded up this week with news, issues and interesting information you'll find helpful. So dig in and enjoy. Happy reading. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT Prefix(R) pre-emergence herbicide combats early-season weed competition, helping growers capitalize on their crop's true yield potential. Prefix eliminates yield-robbing weeds that compete for soil moisture, light and nutrients. Prefix provides up to five weeks of residual control, helping soybean growers maintain clean fields. For more: http://www.prefix-herbicide.com ---------------------------------------- FROM OUR EDITORS --Bradley: 'Can-do' spirit sustains America Americans' "can-do" spirit will sustain the nation through today's turbulent economic times, says former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, who delivered the keynote address at the 90th annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation in San Antonio. Two simple things need to happen in order for the nation to move out of "can't do" mode, according to Bradley. "We need to put country ahead of party and we need to tell people the truth," Bradley said. "As Americans, we share more than what divides us." He cited good jobs, access to health care, a secure pension at retirement and access to education as examples of common goals for all Americans. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/news/farmbureau-bradley-0120/ --ASA sends priorities to Obama In mid-January, the American Soybean Association submitted a document outlining its 2009 policy priorities to the Obama administration. "ASA looks forward to working closely with the Obama administration to achieve these policy priorities, which not only make sense for soybean farmers, but also benefit our entire country through reduced dependence on foreign oil, job creation, increased U.S. exports and a modernized infrastructure system," said Johnny Dodson, ASA president and soybean producer from Halls, Tenn. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/soybeans/asa-priorities-0120/ --Senators: Implement disaster assistance In a mid-January letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln continued to push for disaster assistance for farmers impacted by severe storms in 2008. Similarly, in a letter to Barack Obama, North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad and Montana Sen. Max Baucus called on the incoming administration to take quick and decisive action to improve and implement the standing disaster provision in last year's farm bill. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/news/disaster-assistance-0120/ --Fertilizer prices have dropped Difficulties within the financial sector became apparent in the middle of September as the U.S. government grappled with responses to a worsening credit situation. The financial meltdown, along with public perceptions of economic problems, has led to concerns that a deep, world-wide recession is occurring. As a result, prices of many commodities have declined dramatically in the belief that demands for those commodities are being reduced. Among those commodities seeing declines are wholesale fertilizers. Lower wholesale fertilizer prices likely will lead to lower prices that farmers pay for fertilizers. Lower fertilizer prices then may lead to an increase in corn profitability relative to soybean profitability. To view the full article go to: http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/inputs/fertilizer/fertilizer-prices-dropped-0120/ --EU official: Europe must accept biotech Food imports produced through biotechnology should be less of a problem for European Union countries as the rest of the world adopts them, EU official Dan Rotenberg said at a seminar on U.S./EU trade relations during the American Farm Bureau Federation's 90th annual meeting in San Antonio. The EU must accept biotech food and feed or it won't be able to feed its livestock, Rotenberg said, and would then need to import meat from animals fed biotech crops in the United States or elsewhere. Rotenberg is the European Commission counselor to the United States. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/news/eu-biotech-0119/ --Building soybean's parts list Soybean farmers soon will be one step closer to better drought-tolerant soybean varieties. University of Missouri researchers will construct a comprehensive database of all proteins and metabolites in soybeans. Once compiled, the database will allow researchers to study changes in proteins and metabolites in soybeans grown under drought and other stressed conditions. When combined with data from the recently released soybean genome, scientists will have a very powerful set of tools that will help breeders engineer better-performing soybean plants. The research project will be funded by a new three-year, $1.1 million grant awarded by the United Soybean Board. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/soybeans/soy-data-0119/ --Schafer: U.S. agriculture force for peace In what may be his last public speech before leaving office Jan. 20, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said one of the lessons he learned during his year in office is how interconnected the world is -- and how agriculture can be a force for peace. Speaking at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 90th annual meeting in San Antonio, Schafer said that although America has long played the lead role in providing emergency food aid to the world's hungry, it's now time to take another step. The greatest challenge, Schafer said, is to feed the 70 million additional people who join the world's population every year. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/news/farmbureau-schafer-0119/ --House selects Ag Committee Agriculture Committee Chair Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota has announced the members selected to serve on the House Agriculture Committee for the 111th Congress. The House Democratic Steering Committee named 11 freshmen members and 17 returning members to serve on the Agriculture Committee. The House Republican Conference named 17 Republicans to serve on the committee and left one seat vacant. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/legislative/ag-committee-0116/ --$58 million for new conservation program Up to $58.4 million in financial assistance is available to agricultural producers and entities through the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program, established in the current farm bill to promote ground and surface water conservation and water quality improvement. USDA is seeking project proposals from potential partners through this program. Proposals must be submitted by March 2. The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program request for proposals can be viewed at the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service's Web site; at the official government regulation Web Site; and at the Federal Register. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/news/conservation-program-0116/ --USDA's interim final rule amends EQIP Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today announced changes to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's largest conservation program for working agricultural lands. USDA published an interim final rule containing the statutory changes to EQIP in the Federal Register today. USDA is seeking public comment on the rule through March 16, 2009. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, or 2008 Farm Bill, includes non-industrial private forestland as an eligible land use and provides payments for conservation practices related to organic production or the transition to organic production. It also provides for increased payment rates to historically underserved producers, including limited resource, beginning, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. To view the full article go to: http://southwestfarmpress.com/news/eqip-rule-0119/ ---------------------------------------- "Waterhemp is a significant problem in soybeans, and the potential for it to be an even bigger problem is huge. I've seen a yield reduction of 40 to 50 bushels per acre when it's taken over the field. It's one of those weeds you have to remove from the field -- physically remove. If you just pull it up and leave it there, it'll re-root and remain or gain as a problem." Ken Dahlenburg, grower, central Illinois. Learn more at http://www.resistancefighter.com ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- For early season grass and broadleaf weed control, nothing works harder than Lexar(R) herbicide. With three modes of action, Lexar shuts out even the most stubborn yield-robbing weeds. And unlike its early-season rivals, Lexar doesn't quit working until the job's done. Click here for more information or go to lexar-herbicide.com. Lexar is a Restricted Use Pesticide. ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Residual control in a glyphosate corn herbicide. Very unexpected. New Halex_ GT gives you everything your current glyphosate does, plus residual weed control. It's the only herbicide specifically designed to improve your glyphosate corn program whether you grow AgriSure(R) GT or Roundup Ready(R) corn. Halex GT stays in the soil to take care of continuously emerging weeds. Its residual control lasts far into the season for better yield potential and a more convenient, more productive glyphosate program. Try Halex GT on your farm and see for yourself ---------------------------------------- KENT THIESSE ---------------------------------------- 2009 Farm Program Sign-up Sign-up for the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) for 2009 is now underway at county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices, and will continue until June 1, 2009. The DCP was initiated as part of the 2002 Farm Bill, and will continue as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (the new farm bill). There are actually five different farm program payments that are part of the new bill. They include: Direct payments Counter-cyclical payments (CCPs) CCC marketing loans or loan deficiency payments (LDPs) Average crop revenue election (ACRE) payments (optional) Supplemental revenue assurance (SURE) payments http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/ag-issues/2009-farm-program-0120/ ---------------------------------------- RICHARD BROCK ---------------------------------------- Brazil Soy Sales Slowly Picking Up Sales of Brazil's new soybean crop continue to lag well behind normal, but have accelerated since the start of the new year with the advance of early harvest under favorable weather in the center-west, grain analysts said on Monday. In the current credit environment, with rising international prices and drought over the southern soy-producing states and Argentina, producers have been slow to sell their new crop. But the start of early harvest earlier in January in Brazil's main soy-producer state of Mato Grosso in the center-west has prompted the sales of beans in recent weeks. http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/soybeans/brazil/brazil-soy-sales-0120/ ---------------------------------------- AUDIO/VIDEO FEATURES ---------------------------------------- Maximum Economic Return in soybeans is more important than ever. A new Corn & Soybean Digest video tells you how to find the magic intersection of plant population, fertility, tillage, variety selection, insect scouting and seed treatment use to lock in a profit rather than simply increase yields. This information comes from soybean expert Palle Pedersen, Extension soybean agronomist, Iowa State University. soybeandigest.com/tv/maximize-economic-return-0116 You'll find other helpful videos on a variety of agronomic, economic, production and marketing topics at CSD Live, http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/tv/ ---------------------------------------- MORE MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS ---------------------------------------- ROAD WARRIOR: Economic Recovery: Next Decade? One of the questions I am most frequently asked at seminars is "When will the U.S. economy turn around?" On a humorous side note, a number of Aussie bankers asked that question within the pretext of "What are the factors we need to be watching for when you 'yanks' have the economic ship in shape?" First, it will probably be in the next decade before the economic correction occurs. Before your blood pressure starts to rise, the next decade is only 12 months ahead of us. A typical recession usually lasts 11 months; however, in recent years it has been reduced to seven months with longer periods of business expansion. http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/ag-issues/economic-recovery-0120/ 2009 Ag Symposium Brock Associates is hosting the 2009 Agricultural Economic Symposium on Feb. 23-25, just before Commodity Classic. "This year's Agricultural Economic Symposium will again be immediately prior to the Commodity Classic, and this year we're all headed to Dallas, TX," says Richard Brock of Brock Associates. "This arrangement allows you to attend two great industry events in one convenient location" Sessions include Agriculture and The World in Transition, Farmland Values, Farm Transition Planning, Managing in New Economic Times, The Economics of Innovation, Weather--Long-Term Impact, The Impact on Grain and Livestock Prices, Meeting Global Demands Through Innovation, Ethanol --Will the Growth Continue and Grain Price Outlook--Where Are We Headed? "The 2009 Agricultural Economic Symposium is jam packed with dynamic, high profile speakers who are among the sharpest minds in the industry," says Brock. "We are once again fortunate to have Rob Fraley from Monsanto on the program. Also on the program will be the ever-popular Dr. David Kohl." Registration for the conference is $325, and includes all sessions, handouts, breaks, meals and a reception on Monday evening. To register, call 800-558-3431 or go to www.brockreport.com/seminars.php. ROAD WARRIOR: 2009 PREDICTIONS Happy New Year! Let's go out on a limb and make some predictions for 2009 for both the agricultural and general economy. We will mix in some trends and general observations, as well. The first six months of 2009 will see a deepening recession with high unemployment and job losses or cut backs in hours. Do not be fooled by unemployment rates because the reported figures do not include discouraged or displaced workers. What is reported can be 2-3% lower than the actual level of unemployment. http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/ag-issues/2009-productions-0112/ The fifth annual Conservation Tillage Conference is little more than a month away. The two-day event is scheduled for Jan. 28-29 at Jackpot Junction, Morton, MN. Leading industry and university experts will cover topics like: planting corn in cooler soils, placing fertilizer close to seed, tuning up your planter and getting the most out of your nitrogen fertilizers. Plus, you won't want to miss the general session which will include a farmer panel discussing the latest conservation tillage practices. Cost for the conference is $100 until Jan. 9. After that, the price is $125. For more details and registration, log on to http:www.tillageconference.com, or call Jodi or Mary Jo at the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Office, 507-337-2800. The conference is brought to you by the University of Minnesota and Corn & Soybean Digest. http://www.tillageconference.com ---------------------------------------- ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER You are subscribed to this newsletter as #email# To subscribe to this newsletter go to: http://subscribe.cropnewsweekly.com/?tc=NLSUB To unsubscribe from this newsletter go to: http://subscribe.cropnewsweekly.com/?tc=NLSUB&cid=#message_id#&lid=#list_id#&email=#email# For information on advertising in Crop News Weekly, please contact: Roger Randall at mailto:roger.randall@penton.com For questions concerning delivery of this newsletter, please contact our Customer Service Department at: US Toll Free: 866-505-7173 International: 847-763-9504 or mailto:cropnewsweekly@pbinews.com To get this newsletter in a different format (Text or HTML), or to change your e-mail address, please go to your profile page here: http://subscribe.cropnewsweekly.com/?tc=NLSUB&email=#email# Penton Media | 249 W. 17th Street | New York, NY 10011 Copyright 2009, Penton Media. 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