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Logan
Hawkes
03/26/08
Crop News Weekly
It's shaping up to be one of those weeks when
you're not really behind but can't seem to get ahead either. It's not a
bad thing, just a steady monotone of project after project that requires
a degree of precision management to maintain a delicate battle of
falling out or staying in the groove of the workload; neither getting
ahead or falling behind. You might say it's much like the current status
of farm bill legislation. While a temporary extension buys Congress time
to do tomorrow what they should have done yesterday, political leaders
are sporting an argument that they and the White House are not that far
apart on a final agreement. One politician was quoted as saying this
week that only $4 billion separate the Congressional version and the
Administration's version of a farm bill budget - 'just' $4 billion. I'm
glad I'm not that far behind in my weekly schedule.
In the news this week, USDA has announced the deadline for U.S. farmers
to turn in agricultural census forms has been extended until June 1.
Also this week, despite present troubles, the future of the biofuels
industry remains bright. One expert is saying the reason biofuels has a
bright future is the oil industry’s future is not so bright.
Elsewhere, a recent study at the University of Illinois created a bit of
a mystery for soil scientist: increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
was expected to increase plant growth, increase plant biomass and
ultimately beef up the organic matter in the soil – but it didn't. Go
figure.
You'll find these and other stories in this issue of Crop News
Weekly. Happy reading.
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USDA
extends ag census deadline
The deadline for U.S. farmers to turn in agricultural
census forms has been extended until June 1, according to Carol House,
National Agricultural Statistics Service deputy administrator. She says
the extension from Feb. 4 is because a large number of the census forms
have not been returned. “We are sending another form out there again
with encouragement to fill it out,” House said. “We’ll give a
little bit of time and then we’re going to start calling people. Of
course, calling costs money, taxpayer dollars, so hopefully producers
will fill it out before we have to make a phone call.”
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Fuel prices
enter weed control decisions
I will sure be glad when farmers get in the field and
the phone starts ringing. I am not too much of a worrier, because I am
usually too busy. However, I sit around when things are slow and worry
about our dollar, fuel prices, inflation, recession and all sorts of
related things. I am confident that the doldrums we are in will pass,
but I sure wish it would happen soon. The most discouraging part is the
politicians appear to be oblivious to the situation, which likely means
they haven’t a clue what to do. It would sure be more encouraging to
hear the presidential candidates addressing the issues head-on as
opposed to a lot of meaningless rhetoric. This too shall pass. I just
hope you guys hurry up and start planting. - Ford L. Baldwin,
Practical Weed Consultants, LLC
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Farmers
need farm bill action
As members of Congress return to D.C. from Easter
break, the trudge towards a new farm bill will begin anew. Before
heading home — with claims that Congress and the Bush administration
were $4 billion apart on a farm bill deal — the lawmakers did find
time to extend current law through April 18. Sen. Saxby Chambliss of
Georgia said while “significant progress” was being made on a new
bill, the short extension was “necessary.” However, “this in no
way eases pressure from the conference to come to an agreement regarding
funding for the bill,” said the ranking member of the Senate
Agriculture Committee. “We can get this done and finishing the farm
bill will be our No. 1 priority in the coming weeks.” - David
Bennett, Farm Press Editorial Staff
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Biofuels
future bright despite challenges
Despite present troubles, the future of the biofuels
industry remains bright. Speaking at the recent Mid-South Farm and Gin
Show in Memphis, Tenn., Tommy Foltz, president of Foltz Co., and 15-year
veteran of the alternative energy industry, analyzed current trends in
biofuels and offered direction for future success. “The reason
biofuels has a bright future — almost by a process of elimination —
is the oil industry’s future is not so bright. The bottom line is that
biofuels are inevitable. They are not just for tree-huggers anymore.
They are a mainstream fuel that will fill the gap between fuel demand
and petroleum supply.” Foltz emphasized that as biofuels gain
acceptance, ag producers will “farm our fuel” and agriculture will
benefit. - Chris Bennett, Farm Press Editorial Staff
|
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fight resistance in your fields. www.resistancefighter.com
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ROAD
WARRIOR: You're the Boss!
Dave Kohl writes: "Several weeks ago, my Road
Warrior travels took me to Red Deer, Alberta, between Calgary and
Edmonton. Agricultural producers in this province think
entrepreneurially and outside the box. After one of my speeches, a
producer discussed with me his strategy for his youngster who wanted to
farm with him. His operation was mid-sized, but not big enough to
support both of them. His strategy was to fire himself and make his son
the boss..." - The Corn & Soybean Digest
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Increased
carbon dioxide in atmosphere linked
A recent study at the University of Illinois (U of I)
created a bit of a mystery for soil scientist Michelle Wander: increased
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was expected to increase plant growth,
increase plant biomass and ultimately beef up the organic matter in the
soil – but it didn't. What researchers found instead was that organic
matter decay increased, along with residue inputs when carbon dioxide
levels were increased and they think the accelerated decay was due to
increased moisture in the soil. - The Corn & Soybean Digest
|
Pathologist:
Be wary of fungicide yield boost claims
Farmers who apply fungicide to corn and soybeans
because they believe the chemical boosts yields could be treating their
crops with little more than a placebo, Greg Shaner, Purdue University
Extension plant pathologist, says. After two years of field trials to
determine whether fungicide provides a yield response in healthy crops,
the data are inconclusive, says Shaner. "It's almost a coin toss as to
whether producers will get their money back in increased crop yields
from fungicide treatments," Shaner says. "Producers probably should only
use a fungicide if they have reason to think they will have disease
pressure." - The Corn & Soybean Digest
|
Upper
Southeast soybean growers optimistic
The high price and relatively low input costs of
growing soybeans has sparked a renewed interest in the crop in the upper
Southeast. Add in a double digit increase in wheat acres and the
opportunities for double-cropping look like a natural. In 2007, Virginia
growers proved that soybeans, either full season or double-cropped can
be grown at yield levels comparable to the Midwest. Virginia Tech
Soybean Specialist David Holshouser points out that 14 new members were
inducted into the Virginia Soybean Growers Association Bushel Clubs. At
the top of the Bushels Club is Roxbury, Va. grower Jon Black, who was
inducted into the 90 Bushel Club. Black won the state yield contest with
a whopping 93.2 bushels of full season soybeans per acre, using Pioneer
94M80 variety beans. - Roy Roberson, Farm Press Editorial
Staff
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Advocates:
extending 2002 farm bill not feasible
Farmers have been promised a new farm bill. However,
it remains a mirage while Congress is on Easter break and the Bush
administration continues its hard-line approach to funding. Prior to
signing an extension of current law through April 18, President Bush
said there’d be no more short-term extensions. If Congress can’t
supply a bill he’s willing to sign by mid-April, Bush warned he’d
push for a yearlong extension. Perhaps emboldened by Bush’s lame-duck
status and current agriculture commodity prices, farm advocates don’t
seem terribly bothered by the White House threat. - David Bennett,
Farm Press Editorial Staff
|
Farm
bill: calls for a one-year extension
As members of Congress return to D.C. from Easter
break, the trudge towards a new farm bill will begin anew. Before
heading home — with claims that Congress and the Bush administration
were $4 billion apart on a farm bill deal — the lawmakers did find
time to extend current law through April 18. Sen. Saxby Chambliss of
Georgia said while “significant progress” was being made on a new
bill, the short extension was “necessary.” However, “this in no
way eases pressure from the conference to come to an agreement regarding
funding for the bill,” said the ranking member of the Senate
Agriculture Committee. “We can get this done and finishing the farm
bill will be our number one priority in the coming weeks.” - David
Bennett, Farm Press Editorial Staff
|
Australia
feed millers to try U.S. DDG
A prolonged drought curtailing Australian grain
production might compel that country to import more U.S. dried
distillers grains (DDG) in the future, according to the U.S. Grains
Council. The action would be necessary to help keep Australia’s
livestock industries going, said USCG Chairman Dale Artho, a Texas grain
producer. During a USGC tour of Australia, Singapore and the
Philippines, Artho said Australian feed millers have agreed to a feeding
trial using imported U.S. DDG. “What they’re looking for is some
energy and protein for their rations. And since Dried distillers grains
are cooked, you don’t have the problem with weeds or other foreign
material being in it. It’s a clean product, and the quarantine laws
shouldn’t be as strict.” - Elton Robinson, Farm Press Editorial
Staff
|
Agricultural
Marketing Service : Redesigned Web site
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS) will launch a newly redesigned Web site April 4.
Users will find the new site at the same Internet address as the current
site — www.ams.usda.gov. AMS
attempted to launch the new site several months ago, but technical
problems forced the agency to roll back to its current site. “After
months of intensive testing, we are confident that the new site will
meet or exceed our customer’s needs,” said AMS administrator Lloyd
Day.
|
USDA
announces new sign-up for Conservation Security
April 18 is shaping up to be a red-letter day for many
farmers. For openers, it’s the new expiration date of the current farm
bill. It’s also the date eligible farmers can begin sign-up for a new
round of Conservation Security Program enrollments. USDA announced
farmers could begin sign-up for CSP contracts in 51 watersheds April 18.
The sign-up, which will run through May 16, will be available to about
64,000 potentially eligible farms and ranches covering 23.7 million
acres. Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, the author of the Conservation Security
Program and chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition
and Forestry, said the announcement broke a “log-jam” that had
prevented new enrollments in the CSP since the end of the 2006 fiscal
year. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff
|
Glyphosate-resistant
johnsongrass in Mid-South
Johnsongrass, the latest entry to the lengthening list
of glyphosate-resistant weeds — in both Arkansas and Mississippi —
was announced in mid-March. It is the first glyphosate-resistant
warm-season grass found in the United States. “But there’s close to
5 million acres of Roundup Ready crops that get two or three
applications of Roundup every season. Plus, we’re using Roundup as a
burndown. It’s inevitable that such weeds are produced. It’s hardly
a surprise,” says Bob Scott, Arkansas Extension weed specialist. -
David Bennett, Farm Press Editorial Staff
|
Bt-resistant
bollworms in Mid-South cotton?
A team of University of Arizona researchers claims
that Bt-resistant populations of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa zea, have
evolved in more than a dozen crop fields in Mississippi and Arkansas.
“What we’re seeing is evolution in action,” said lead researcher
Bruce Tabashnik. “This is the first documented case of field-evolved
resistance to a Bt crop.” However, University of Arkansas entomologist
Randy Luttrell, whose data were used in the study, disagreed with some
of Tabashnik’s conclusions. “One of the key words is field
resistance. If I’m talking to an Arkansas or Mississippi cotton
farmer, field resistance means they believe they have a problem in the
field that’s worse than they had before. That’s where I don’t
necessarily agree (with Tabashnik’s conclusions). That doesn’t mean
I’m ruling out the possibility of it.” - Elton Robinson, Farm
Press Editorial Staff
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Check out the latest corn and soybean market advice from
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