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Logan
Hawkes
12/21/05
Crop News Weekly
Merry Christmas Week on the Farm! Just a
programming note: Since both the Christmas and New Year breaks fall on a
long weekend this year, Crop News Weekly will publish its normal
schedule through the first week of January. The next two issues may
arrive in your mail boxes a few hours later than usual on each Wednesday
to allow for staff scheduling, but watch for us on the same usual day as
always.
Speaking of the holidays, holiday cheer to all! The year is just about
to slip away into the history books, and I certainly hope it was a
prosperous one for you and yours. Here's to a bigger, better year in
2006!
Down to business and leading off our coverage this week, immigrant farm
workers may get a break if legislation is passed as proposed by Sen.
Saxby Chambliss that would streamline and expand the H-2A guest worker
program and allow some who have entered the country illegally to obtain
legal, temporary, nonimmigrant status. Also in the news this week,
chances are the topic at your favorite breakfast place is usually about
the weather. Perhaps not anymore. Fuel costs have replaced the old
standard. The better question may be, for how much longer? And speaking
of questions, there has been a flurry of those flying around Hong Kong
as world trade ministers strain with the burden of a zealous world press
- and others. On the home front, some legislative reps are speculating
that unusually raucous debate in the House of Representatives over a
call for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq may have hurt the
chances for the passage of disaster assistance legislation for U.S.
farmers. And finally, it's not unrealistic to assume that by 2025,
agriculture will be supplying as much as 35 percent of the U.S. energy
supply. Just how good will that be for U.S. farmers?
You'll find these stories and a host of others in this issue of Crop
News Weekly. Happy reading and Happy Holidays!
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Chambliss
proposes guest worker reforms
12/20/05
Sen. Saxby Chambliss has introduced a bill that would
streamline and expand the H-2A guest worker program and allow some who
have entered the country illegally to obtain legal, temporary,
nonimmigrant status. Given the current political climate surrounding
border issues, the legislation would also beef up Customs and Border
Patrol personnel and detention facilities and allow local and state law
enforcement officers with proper training to enforce immigration laws
along the nation's boundaries. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial
Staff
|
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Years of university research have proven that Force is the most
consistent corn insecticide on the market. Force consistently
delivers reliable control of many soil-borne insects, including corn
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guesswork out of early-season insect control.
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Change
of mindset needed for biofuels potential
12/19/05
There was a time when the main topic of conversation
at the farmers' favorite breakfast or lunch place was the weather, and,
if everyone was agreeable with the topic, the current state of
government affairs. Now, it's all about fuel costs. And it's certainly
not as if there is little else of importance occurring in agriculture.
In the past few months alone, the United States' chief negotiator in
World Trade Organization talks has suggested eliminating all U.S. farm
subsidies. - Paul Hollis, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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Column:
Lessons learned in 2005
12/19/05
I often reserve my final column of the year to discuss
some of the most memorable events of the previous 12 months. It's an
opportunity to reflect on where I've been, recall the people I've met
and chastise myself for not doing a better job of telling their stories.
So, with that in mind, I'm not going to do that this year. I will,
however, discuss some of the things I've learned not to do and perhaps
will save some of you the pain and/or embarrassment of making similar
mistakes. Consider this your don't list for 2006. - Ron Smith, Farm
Press Editorial Staff
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""Lambsquarters are tough. By the time they die completely with
glyphosate, it's too late. We have to have a pre-emergence herbicide to
knock them out to get picture-perfect, high-performance fields. We are
managing to prevent glyphosate resistance on our farm, because
resistance will add cost. In corn, we use
LUMAX
with a burndown of
Gramoxone and 2-4D pre-plant to get good weed control with more than one
mode of action."
Blake Johnson, Holdrege, Neb.
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As the Hong
Kong WTO meeting spins...
12/16/05
"Can you spin it?" appears to be the only really
important question in Hong Kong as trade ministers from around the world
and emboldened non-governmental organizations apparently wish to "spin"
the WTO right into the ground. The press spin has increased as the week
drags on, making progress difficult for the WTO member countries.
Diametrically opposed quotes from the same interest are as common as the
protesters who line the streets every day. U.S. cotton programs have
been a focal point again and have been alleged to be responsible for
suicide, poverty, death and destruction the world over. As such, it has
been receiving the lion's share of spin. - Bill Gillon, Farm Press
Editorial Staff
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News from the Top of the
Hill
12/16/05
Scott Shearer
US Beef to Japan - Japan announced this week
that it was reopening its market to U.S. and Canadian beef from cattle
20 months of age and younger. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns
said, "Resuming beef trade with Japan is great news for American
producers and Japanese consumers, as well as an important step toward
normalized trade based on scientifically sound, internationally
recognized standards." The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA)
in a press release said, "We're much relieved to see some genuine
movement here, but U.S. cattlemen will continue to work toward fully
re-instating access for our products around the world, based upon
internationally recognized BSE guidelines." The American Meat Institute
(AMI) viewed the announcement as a partial reopening of the Japanese
market. AMI urged the Japanese government to adhere to OIE standards and
allow beef under 30 months to enter the Japanese market. The Japanese
market has been closed to U.S. beef and beef products since December
2003 with the discovery of the first BSE-infected cow in the United
States. U.S. beef and beef product exports to Japan in 2003 were $1.4
billion.
GAO Study on Mandatory Price Reporting - The General
Accountability Office (GAO) released its report on the Livestock
Mandatory Reporting Act. The report, "Livestock Market Reporting: USDA
Has Taken Some Steps to Ensure Quality, but Additional Efforts Are
Needed," was requested by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin
(D-IA). According to the GAO, USDA has taken "important actions" to
produce quality livestock market news reports, but that "USDA could
improve the reports' transparency." The GAO recommended that if Congress
extends the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act then the Secretary of
Agriculture should direct the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to:
"Increase transparency by (1) reporting to market news readers on
its reporters' instructions for making reporting decisions that reflect
prevailing market conditions, (2) periodically reporting on the effects
of reporters' decisions on AMS reported prices, and (3) reporting the
results of its audit efforts.
Clarify AMS reporter's instructions to make them more specific and
consistent by (1) consulting with packers, producers, agricultural
economists, and other interested stakeholders, and (2) undertaking
revisions that consider economic analyses of past reporting trends,
livestock and meat market variations, and federal statistical and
information reporting guidance.
Develop information about the overall accuracy of packers'
transaction data by auditing a statistical sample of packers'
transactions.
Further develop AMS audit strategies to identify recurring
significant problems.
Address the timeliness and consistency of AMS reporters' efforts to
follow-up on audit findings."
In a press release, Senator Harkin said, "GAO found that many times
these price reports are inaccurate and that USDA is not letting the
public know when it finds late or incorrect information." Senator
Grassley said, the GAO report shows that "we had some serious flaws in
the Mandatory Price Reporting law that needed to be changed"
Congress Not Expected to Renew MPR This Year - Congress is not
expected to renew mandatory livestock price reporting before they
adjourn for the year. Now that the GAO report has been released,
Senators Grassley and Harkin want to modify the law. Differences
continue between the House and the Senate versions of the legislation.
Earlier this year, the Senate passed S. 1613 which extends mandatory
price reporting through September 30, 2006. The House has passed H.R.
3408 which extends the law for five-years. The act expired September
30.
USDA to Allow Japanese Beef into US - USDA announced that it was
amending regulations that will now allow the importation of whole cuts
of boneless beef from Japan. Beef from Japan may be imported into the
U.S. if:
The beef is prepared in an establishment that is eligible to have
its products imported to the United States under the Federal Meat
Inspection Act. This includes provisions that specified-risk materials
(SRMs) must be removed under appropriate conditions and it also
prohibits the use of air-injection stunning devices.
The beef must be derived from cattle that are not subjected to a
pithing process at slaughter.
The mitigation measures must be certified on an original certificate
issued by an authorized veterinary official of the Japanese
government.
Congress Expected to Finish This Weekend - The House and Senate are
expected to finish their legislative work this weekend for the year.
They hope to complete budget reconciliation, Hurricane Katrina relief,
defense authorization, renewal of the Patriot Act, etc. Many items will
be carried over until next year including pension reform, tax
legislation, immigration reform and mandatory price reporting. -
National Hog Farmer
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regular part of your day.
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Congressmen,
farm groups want OFAC language
12/16/05
A large group of senators, representatives and farm
and trade organizations has called on a House-Senate Conference
Committee to prohibit the use of fiscal year 2006 funding to enforce the
Treasury Department's payment-in-advance rule for cash agricultural
sales to Cuba. The request by seven senators, 42 House members and 55
farm organizations is setting up a potential confrontation with the
White House, which has threatened to veto legislation that contains the
Cuba agricultural trade language sought by the letter writers. -
Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff
|
Berry
says disaster bill chances decreasing
12/15/05
The recent, unusually raucous debate in the House of
Representatives over a call for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq
may have hurt the chances for the passage of disaster assistance
legislation for U.S. farmers. "Two weeks ago before we came home for the
Thanksgiving recess, I would have told you I thought the likelihood of
that legislation passing would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 to
70 percent," said Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark. "Then we got in one of those
disgusting, political, partisan knife fights, and everybody lost focus
on anything that didn't amount to a hill of beans. All we did was call
each other names, and, as you all know, that was very unproductive and
didn't get anything done for anybody." - Forrest Laws, Farm Press
Editorial Staff
|
Agriculture
could play major role in U.S. energy picture
12/15/05
It's not unrealistic to assume that by 2025,
agriculture will be supplying as much as 35 percent of the U.S. energy
supply, says David Bransby, an Auburn University professor of agronomy
and soils and a nationally recognized authority on biofuel alternatives.
Bransby spoke at the recent Alabama Agriculture Energy Conference held
in Auburn. "The United States accounts for 25 percent of the global
consumption of oil, but we own only 3 percent, making us critically
vulnerable," says Bransby. "We import more than 60 percent of what we
use, and 15 percent of that comes from the unstable Middle East. It's
not possible to replace that 60 percent, but it is possible to replace
that 15 percent." <0>- Paul Hollis, Farm Press Editorial Staff
|
Producers
argue science, consumers prefer caution
12/14/05
U.S. agricultural and trade negotiators have been
pressuring the Japanese to reopen their market, which has been closed to
U.S. beef since BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or mad cow
disease) was first detected in the U.S. herd at the end of 2003. The
U.S. is also in a trade dispute with the EU (European Union) over the
EU's restrictions on the importation of GMO (genetically modified
organism) crops. In both cases the United States has argued that, on the
basis of "sound science," both of these trade restrictions ought to be
lifted. On the face of it, it would seem that the U.S. argument is very
strong. After all, how could and why would one argue against sound
science? For their part, the Europeans and the Japanese defend their
actions on the basis of the "precautionary principle." - Daryll E.
Ray, Farm Press Editorial Staff
|
Brazil
moving ahead with biofuel initiatives
12/14/05
Last month Brazil took a big step forward with its
biofuel usage and research program with the launching of a large scale
National Agroenergy Plan. Its goals are to set policies countrywide to
encourage farmers to start producing and using biofuel more
consistently. Around the primary producing areas of Brazil, natural
energy sources are already used to generate electricity and to run small
engines. The government wants to boost the scale of these practices with
the new effort. The primary reason for the initiative is to rely less on
oil and prepare the production chain to inevitable fossil fuel
shortages. Experts working for the program say that around 2050, oil
prices will be prohibitive and the world, farmers included, will need to
have an energy source other than petroleum. - Sergio Osse, Farm Press
Editorial Staff
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Corn & Soybean Digest
Market News
Richard A. Brock
Check out the latest corn and soybean market advice from
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