CROP NEWS WEEKLY Penton Media February 11, 2009 Volume 9 Issue 6 If you want to view this on the web go to: http://enews.penton.com/enews/cropnewsweekly/v/311 ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT 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 ---------------------------------------- EDITOR'S NOTE Logan Hawkes 02/11/09 As Washington continues to deal with the troubled economy and the woes of Wall Street and the broader financial community, farmers are preparing for an uncertain year ahead. It's difficult to pretend that it's 'business as usual' down on the farm when so many major distractions fill the six o'clock news each day. But as Will Rogers once said, "A farmer has to remain optimistic or he wouldn't still be a farmer." It may be little consolation but, and quoting Mr. Rogers again, "You've got to do more than just live in the country to be a farmer." In this day and time you've got to do a lot more. As planting season approaches, and in spite of all the bad news on the TV and radio, we know the government is not working on a way for farmers to buy seed or fertilizer or pay off the farm. So, and as usual, the burden of surviving and making the farm operation work for another year rests solely on the shoulders of those that are dedicated to the industry. And that means you and I. Here's hoping we're up to the task - again. We're full of issues and news this week that will help you stay on top of all the recent developments within our industry, so let's get started. Happy reading. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT "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 ---------------------------------------- FROM OUR EDITORS --'Buy American' still in stimulus package By a vote of 65-31, the U.S. Senate rejected an amendment offered by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that would have stripped the requirement to buy American for all spending covered by the stimulus package now being considered by Congress. Led by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., the Senate previously included language mandating that all the iron, steel, and manufactured goods purchased in the public works portion of the stimulus bill be made in the United States unless an existing U.S. international obligation would open the bidding to foreign-made goods. - American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/news/buy-american-0206/ --Senate stimulus bill may miss the mark For weeks, every economist worth his salt has been saying Congress needed to be bold in crafting the stimulus package needed to revitalize the economy. So what did a supposedly bipartisan group of senators do when the stimulus bill came to the floor? They began whacking away at it to bring the legislation down to less than bold proportions. As this issue went to press, the senators were trying to agree on spending provisions "that truly help stimulate the economy," as Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said. Collins, Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska and others reportedly were planning $90 billion in cuts. As they met, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the country lost another 598,000 jobs in January, 207,000 of them in the manufacturing sector. Those losses bring the total for the period since January 2008 to 3.5 million and unemployment to 7.5 percent. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/legislative/laws-column-0210/ --More conventional soybean acres? Since mid-2008, Trey Koger has noticed a serious uptick of growers interested in conventional soybeans. That interest seems to be due mainly to three things, said the Mississippi Extension soybean specialist, who spoke at the recent Tri-State Soybean Forum in Oak Grove, La. "First, over the last decade, there has been a steady increase in the price of Roundup Ready seed. Last fall, there was a significant price increase -- more than what was experienced in the past. Some prices cited were 30 to 40 percent higher." Added to the mix is also the increased cost of glyphosate. In some situations, there is also concern for glyphosate-resistant weeds. "Those three factors have turned some farmers' interest back to conventional soybeans." - David Bennett, Farm Press Editorial Staff To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/soybeans/conventional-acres-0210/ --Missouri governor: full funding of biodiesel Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon unveiled his plan to balance the state's budget and maintain funding for several key initiatives during his first State of the State address in late January. Nixon specifically mentioned Missouri's renewable fuels industry among the budget priorities listed in his proposed budget. "We know that within Missouri's own agricultural capacity lies a possible solution to our nation's energy crisis," Nixon said. "Missouri must remain on the leading edge of efforts to develop the renewable energy sources of our future. That's why my budget provides full funding for ethanol and biofuels." - Missouri Soybean Association To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/news/nixon-biodielel-0209/ --Producers face shortened marketing season On May 21, 2008, seven soybean futures contracts were traded at the Board of Trade in Chicago. Nothing unusual about that unless you consider those contracts called for delivery of soybeans in November 2011. The seeds that will produce those soybeans will not be planted for another three years! That spring day effectively marked the beginning of the 2011 soybean marketing season, a season that will extend to August 2012, four years and three months after it began. Every one of those trading days will present a pricing opportunity to a producer. The purpose of the futures market after all is to allow producers and end users to lay off risk. The longer the season, the more chances a producer has to secure a good price. - Steven H. Scott, Scott & Associates Agricultural Marketing, Inc. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/markets/scott-column-0206/ --Reviewing the value of soil profile nitrogen testing Sometimes you have to dig deep to find hidden treasure. That_s the case when testing agricultural soils for levels of valuable plant-available nitrogen, a Kansas State University agronomist said. Using a profile nitrogen test, taken to a depth of 24 inches, to verify nitrogen credits can provide valuable information to producers, said Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, K-State Research and Extension nutrient management specialist. "Most producers are unaware of the amount of nitrogen that may be present in their soils from the previous season," Ruiz Diaz said. "Plant available nitrogen can be present in the soil from fertilizer carryover, previous manure applications, or legume plowdowns." To view the full article go to: http://southwestfarmpress.com/news/nitrogen-testing-0206/ --Senators: change payment limit rules USDA officials erred when they wrote the new interim final rule for payment limits and should rescind it before it "adversely affects producers and farm operations from coast to coast," a group of senators said. That charge -- contained in a letter written to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack -- is likely to draw a hearty amen from farmers who have expressed dismay over the new actively engaged language in the rule. The letter was written by Saxby Chambliss, ranking member, Blanche Lincoln, chairman of the Subcommittee on Production, Income Protection and Price Support, and 21 other members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and farm-state representatives. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/legislative/payment-limit-0210/ --USDA to release long-term ag projections The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will release new 10-year agricultural projections Feb. 12 at 12:00 noon EST. "USDA Agricultural Projections to 2018" will be released on the Office of the Chief Economist Web site at http://www.usda.gov/oce. USDA publishes the projections each year in February. The report will be available in printed form Feb. 26-27 at the USDA's 2009 Agricultural Outlook Forum in Arlington, Va. (Conference details found at: www.usda.gov/oce/forum). Copies also can be ordered from the National Technical Information Service at http://www.ntis.gov or 1-800-999-6779. Request document OCE-2009-1. To view the full article go to: http://southeastfarmpress.com/news/agricultural-outlook-0209/ ---------------------------------------- Quilt(R) fungicide combines the Power of Two_ industry leading brands, Quadris(R) and Tilt(R) fungicides, to deliver complete disease protection and help your corn crop reach its full yield potential. Combining preventive and curative activity, Quilt helps improve Plant Performance_ by offering long-lasting residual control of foliar diseases and improved plant physiology. Click here to learn more. www.quilt-fungicide.com ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Monsanto says Harness(R) Xtra provides similar early season weed control to Lexar(R) and Lumax(R) herbicides, at a cheaper price. But comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. For starters, Harness Xtra offers just two active ingredients. Lexar and Lumax, on the other hand, feature three active ingredients, including mesotrione_the heavyweight champion of broadleaf weed control. What's more, they are labeled specifically for long-lasting residual control of broadleaf weeds and grasses--in fact, twice as long as Harness Xtra. Lexar or Lumax is your best opportunity for a one-pass program when used pre-emerge at a full rate. Lumax and Lexar are Restricted Use Pesticides. http://www.farmassist.com/prodrender/index2.asp?nav=resources&ProdId=874&sub=lumax_performance ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- By ridding a field of tough-to-control weeds such as common ragweed and waterhemp early in the season, Prefix(R) pre-emergence herbicide offers greater post application flexibility for glyphosate products such as Touchdown Total(R) herbicide. Prefix followed by Touchdown Total helps growers establish a complete, season-long weed-management program. Click here to learn more. http://www.prefix-herbicide.com ---------------------------------------- KENT THIESSE ---------------------------------------- ETHANOL: TO THE BANK AND BEYOND Profits at most ethanol plants deteriorated rapidly in 2008 as the cost of corn rose considerably early in the year, well beyond the projections of most experts in the ethanol industry. In addition, world oil prices and gasoline prices in the U.S. also dropped extensively in last few months of 2008, as did the price for ethanol. The result was some big financial losses for many ethanol plants in the last half of 2008, and bankruptcy filings by some ethanol corporations, including VeraSun Energy Corporation. Profitability at ethanol plants has improved somewhat since fall 2008, but overall profits in the ethanol industry remain quite tight. Even though the corn prices are close to half of what they were at peak prices in summer 2008, ethanol prices remain quite low, which continues to put strains on profit margins. Ethanol plants that are completely paid for, and are not servicing much debt, have been able to operate at a small profit in recent months. http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/biofuels/0203-ethanol-to-the-bank/" ---------------------------------------- RICHARD BROCK ---------------------------------------- CHINA WARNS OF TOUGH 2009 FOR FARMERS China's government Sunday warned 2009 will be "possibly the toughest year" since the turn of the century in terms of economic development and consolidating the "sound development momentum" in agriculture and rural areas, vowing price support, land controls and curbs on imports to shore up flagging rural incomes and ward off unrest. The first policy document of the year issued by the State Council, or cabinet, and the Communist Party Central Committee, contained a warning about the pressures from the global financial crisis, falling commodity prices and rising migrant worker unemployment. http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/ag-issues/0203-china-warns-farmers/ ---------------------------------------- MORE MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS ---------------------------------------- NEW POLL Your opinion counts! Log on to the Corn & Soybean Digest and cast your vote on our new poll question: What is your biggest concern as you enter the 2009 planting season? *Nitrogen prices *Spring and summer weather *Land/rent prices *Credit Cast your vote at cornandsoybeandigest.com Tillage Conference Highlights How to farm with fewer inputs, less energy and less soil erosion was the focus of The 2009 Conservation Tillage Conference, Morton, MN. Sponsored by the University of Minnesota Extension and Corn & Soybean Digest, it featured a strong lineup of farmers providing first-hand experience on their tillage practices, plus Extension specialists and industry experts. Their focus was getting more mileage from inputs and soil moisture, building soil structure, and generally farming smarter. Topics covered fertility, pest management and crop development in reduced tillage environments. Conference PowerPoint presentations can be accessed at Tillageconference.com. Sessions included how to band fertilizers without burning tender seedlings, best nitrogen practices, reduced tillage pointers from seasoned strip-and no-tillers, seedling and root physiology, tillage economics, opportunities in today's farm economy, new precision ag technologies, planter tune-ups, soybean genetic advances, double-cropping with wheat, integrated pest management guidelines and others. So, to get presentation details on this premier conference, go to www.tillageconference.com. Check Out New Corn Weed Control Guide Want a fast breakdown of which herbicides will control or suppress your problem weeds? Then visit Corn & Soybean Digest's interactive 2009 Corn Weed Control Guide. It can formulate your weed control program with a few clicks of your mouse. Just visit www.cornweedcontrol.com. From there, you'll be able to click on your most troublesome weeds and within seconds have a breakdown of preplant, pre-emerge and postemerge herbicide offerings. Plus, there's an easy-to-follow weed control identification guide. So don't wait, check out www.cornweedcontrol.com now. This year's guide is sponsored by DuPont. 2009 AG SYMPOSUIM 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 ---------------------------------------- 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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