CROP NEWS WEEKLY Penton Media April 15, 2009 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 15 If you want to view this on the web go to: http://enews.penton.com/enews/cropnewsweekly/v/321 EDITOR'S NOTE Logan Hawkes 04/15/09 Watching the Cable News this week reveals there is still a serious problem in the world with piracy. And while piracy on the high seas is not particularly related to farming, leave it to a farm boy like me to make the connection. It's a stretch perhaps, but with all the political positioning on agriculture issues in recent months and years, I am reminded of the pirate tactics of those Somali sailors. While Washington may not be using a fast boat and automatic weapons to hold farmers ransom, the back-and-forth policy changes and political intentions make for a similar predicament. One moment we're sailing along in calm waters, and the next we're being hijacked by policy suggestions that threaten to 'rock the boat'. I'm not saying farm policy reform is not needed. But there must be a better way to achieve the same goal without all the political theatrics. Once again we're loaded up with lots of ag news and issues you will find useful. And don't forget to check out our video pick of the week, and take a moment to log in and participate in our monthly survey. Now, dig in and make yourself at home. And thanks for reading this issue of Crop News Weekly. FROM OUR EDITORS --New limits missing in budget plans The chances the Obama administration -- and some Midwest, farm-state senators -- will be able to impose new limits on spending on farm programs appear to be growing dimmer for the 2010 fiscal year. In his budget message earlier this year, the president said he wanted Congress to phase out direct payments to farmers with more than $500,000 in gross annual sales and limit total farm program payments to $250,000 per individual. Neither of those provisions made it into the fiscal 2010 budget plans passed by the House and the Senate on April 3. Both were passed along party lines, by a vote of 55-43 in the Senate and 233-196 in the House. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff To view the full article go to: http://southeastfarmpress.com/legislation/budget-amendment-0409/?smte=wl --NCGA applauds CBO findings National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Bob Dickey released the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office's April 8 report, "The Impact of Ethanol Use on Food Prices and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions:" "We applaud this report, the next chapter in a growing narrative that shows ethanol is not principally responsible for higher food prices despite what food companies have tried to make consumers believe during the past 12-18 months. "The report found that the increased use of ethanol accounted for 0.5-0.8 percentage points out of the 5.1% increase in food prices between April 2007 and April 2008, representing 10-15% of total food price increases. - Corn & Soybean Digest To view the full article go to: http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/biofuels/0414-ethanol-food-prices/ --North Dakota cropland values A recent survey indicates that North Dakota cropland values continued their run higher, but at a lesser rate than the previous year. "The increase was about 16% (from January 2008 to January 2009), compared with a 20% increase the previous year," says Andrew Swenson, North Dakota State University Extension Service farm management specialist. "The latest increase puts the average cropland values at around $925/acre, compared with$800 the previous year." Swenson bases his calculations on surveys conducted in January by the North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. - Corn & Soybean Digest To view the full article go to: http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/corn/0414-north-dakots-cropland-values/ --Soybean exports at record level USDA is projecting record soybean exports and lower ending stocks for old crop soybeans and corn. The April 9 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates also projected improved export prospects for old crop cotton and the lowest ending stocks for rice in 10 years. Projected U.S. soybean exports for 2008-09 were increased 25 million bushels to a record 1.21 billion bushels, reflecting strong year-to-date shipments and outstanding sales, and prospects for reduced export competition from South America as the Argentina soybean crop continues to deteriorate. Soybean production for Argentina is projected at 39 million tons, down 4 million tons due to lower harvested area and yields. Soybean production for Brazil remains unchanged at 57 million tons. - Elton Robinson, Farm Press Editorial Staff To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/soybeans/soybean-exports-0409/ ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT Don't Spray Glyphosate without Adding Callisto Corn Herbicide for Residual Control Year after year, growers trust Callisto(R) corn herbicide for proven broadleaf weed management. In glyphosate-tolerant corn, combining Callisto with Touchdown Total(R) glyphosate herbicide delivers effective control of emerged weeds plus long-lasting residual control. Callisto also provides another mode of action, which helps manage against weed resistance and delivers improved activity on broadleaf weeds not currently controlled by glyphosate alone. http://www.farmassist.com/promo/callisto_landing/index.asp?nav=callistoLanding.html ---------------------------------------- --Crop marketing train wreck coming As our historic bull market rumbles to a possible end, producers find themselves traveling down two very different marketing paths. One will prove to be extremely dangerous with each season bringing the risk of a marketing catastrophe, while on the other path producers enjoy unprecedented long-term stability. Some may be able to move to the safer path in time, but others will not. As a marketing advisor with over 30 years of experience, I believe we are headed for a difficult sorting out period in agriculture. Much like the mid-80s, we may see good producers fall by the wayside and our ag lending community severely stressed. This time the test will come on the marketing side, and it promises to be quick and brutal. Once the wreckage is cleared away, I expect the way farmers manage marketing risk will be forever changed. - Steven H. Scott, Scott & Associates, Agricultural Marketing, Inc. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/markets/crop-marketing-0410/ --E10, E20 safe for engines A research project conducted on car engine parts showed no damage unique to an ethanol-blended gasoline when compared to unleaded gasoline. In fact, the ethanol-blended fuels cleaned the fuel pumps while the pumps in gasoline were dirty. The researchers at the Minnesota Center for Automotive Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN, conducted the tests. They ran eight models of fuel pumps and three models of sending units in gasoline, E10 and E20 fuels for 4,000 hours. Most of the tests showed no difference between wear on the parts and the fuel. - Farm Industry News To view the full article go to: http://blog.farmindustrynews.com/biofuellines/ --Members take oath of office Three members of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's subcabinet, who were confirmed in early April by the U.S. Senate, have been officially sworn into office. "These are exceptional individuals who I am proud to say will be serving in USDA's top leadership," said Vilsack. "They have extensive experience in food and agricultural issues, policy-making and civil rights, as well as a strong personal commitment to the president's goals for 21st century food and agriculture. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/news/usda-subcabinet-0410/ --Late planting spiking fertilizer prices As planting time approaches farmers in the upper Southeast continue to struggle with the question of what to plant and how to grow the crops they do plant. A result of these delays may be local shortages and price spikes on fertilizer as dealers struggle to sell high priced inventory and to find and finance lower-priced fertilizer inventories. Long-time economist and ag analyst Glen Buckley, who works for CF Industries, says growers are not likely to see an industry-wide spike in fertilizer prices on the scale that occurred in 2008. However, he says the overall trend in fertilizer prices is up over the next few years. - Roy Roberson, Farm Press Editorial Staff To view the full article go to: http://southeastfarmpress.com/peanuts/fertilizer-prices-0410/ --Soybean rust, fungicide update The following information on soybean rust and fungicides was released by Tom Allen on April 7. Allen, a plant pathologist, is an assistant Extension/research professor at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, Miss. "I wanted to take a couple of minutes to send a quick update. All 22 (soybean rust) sentinel plots have been established throughout Mississippi. We have been able to look at most of the plots, and the seed has germinated, stands have emerged and range from 70 to 100 percent full stand. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/soybeans/soybean-rust-update-0409/ --ACRE signup begins April 27 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that producers can elect and enroll in the Average Crop Revenue Election program, a provision of the 2008 farm bill, beginning April 27. ACRE has become a hot topic since it was included in the 2008 farm bill passed by Congress last June. Although many farmers have said they may not participate in the program, interest has been high in what it would entail once USDA announced the program rules. To view the full article go to: http://deltafarmpress.com/legislative/acre-signup-0409/ ---------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Enter the Syngenta Field Performance Sweepstakes for a chance to win a prize package designed to bring you performance on and off the field. Click here to tell your own Plant Performance story and get a shot at the ultimate performance experience. Be among the first 50 to respond and you'll also receive an official NCAA Division I college hat featuring the team of your choice http://plantperformance-sweeps.com ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------- ACRE SIGNUP BEGINS Read more articles from Kent Thiesse The Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program is being implemented by USDA for the 2009 crop year, as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (the new farm bill). Beginning in 2009, eligible farm operators will have the option to enroll in the new ACRE program, as an alternative to the current counter-cyclical payment (CCP) program that was initiated in 2003 as part of the last farm bill. The ACRE Program will offer the potential of revenue-based payments, based on yield and price, as compared to current price-only CCP calculations. The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has now released most of the official rules and regulations for the new ACRE program. The ACRE program information is available at County FSA offices and on the USDA FSA web site (listed below). Signup for the new ACRE program will start April 27 at county FSA offices, and will continue until Aug. 14, 2009. Producers may sign up for the 2009 direct and counter-cyclical payment (DCP) farm program at any time at their county FSA office and wait until a later date to decide on enrollment in the ACRE program. Producers who have already enrolled in the DCP program may now sign-up for the ACRE program starting April 27 until Aug. 14, 2009. Given that USDA has not yet finalized how farm-level yield guarantees will be determined, and the fact that final 2009 price guarantees will not be finalized until Oct. 1, 2009, there is no hurry to enroll in the ACRE program right on or after April 27. http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/ag-issues/0414-ACRE-program-signup/ ---------------------------------------- RICHARD BROCK ---------------------------------------- LOWER GRAIN, SOY CARRYOUTS EXPECTED The grain trade is expecting USDA to lower its 2008-2009 U.S. carryout estimates for corn, soybeans and wheat slightly in the monthly supply/demand update that due out on Thursday morning based on last week's March 1 stocks estimates. USDA seems almost certain to cut projected old-crop soybean ending stocks further after pegging March 1 stocks 132 million bushels below a year earlier. That stocks estimate implied record quarterly soybean usage. Trade estimates of 2008-2009 soybean ending stocks average 169 million bushels in a range from 101 million to 185 million bushels compared with USDA's March estimate of 185 million bushels and last year's carryout of 205 million. http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/richardbrock/0407-corn-soybean-wheat-supply/ ---------------------------------------- AUDIO/VIDEO FEATURES ---------------------------------------- NEW HERBICIDE FOR GRAIN SORGHUM Axial TBC is a cereal herbicide that includes Axial for grass control mixed with a broadleaf herbicide. Syngenta is receiving registration for Lumas and Lexar herbicides for use in grain sorghum. View the new video presented by Shawn Potter and Carroll Moseley of Syngenta - from Farm Industry News (FIN-TV) http://farmindustrynews.com/tv/0402-syngenta-herbicides/ ---------------------------------------- MORE MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS ---------------------------------------- THE FIVE C's OF PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT When a farmer or rancher needs a loan, the lender will frequently discuss the five C's of credit: character, capital, capacity, collateral and conditions. However, there are also five C's of personal financial management: careful budgeting, collaboration, compromise, communication and counseling. When I taught agricultural finance at Virginia Tech, I required students to track their personal expenses for one week. In many cases, students thought this was a silly and elementary task for juniors and seniors at the university level; however, comments on final course evaluations showed that this exercises was very valuable. http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/ag-issues/0414-personal-financial-management/?smte=wl TAKE OUR SURVEY Each month the Corn & Soybean Digest offers an ag community poll question designed to keep you informed about what other producers are thinking about a particular farm topic. This month, our quesion is: "What is your main limiting resource?" The answer-chioces include: * TIME * OPERATING CAPITAL * KNOW HOW USING NEW TECHNOLOGIES So far, farmers are saying "TIME" is the most limiting factor, followed by "OPERATING CAPITAL". Log in and cast your opinion, and check out the latest results. http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/ INTEREST IN NON-BIOTECH SOYBEANS GROWING Cheaper seed and lucrative premiums are driving more crop producers to plant non-biotech soybeans this year. U.S. soybean production is 95% dominated by biotech Round Up Ready soybeans. However a small percentage of that crop -- perhaps 5% -- will be planted to non-biotech soybeans, and the trend toward the latter is expected to continue in the near future, says Jim Beuerlein, Ohio State University Extension agronomist. http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/soybeans/0414-non-biotech-soybean-interest/ ---------------------------------------- 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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