| @C - - CBOT | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | High | Low | Last | Chg |
| Jul '17 | 364'6 | 356'4 | 357'6 | -5'0 |
| Sep '17 | 372'4 | 364'4 | 365'4 | -5'2 |
| Dec '17 | 382'6 | 374'0 | 375'2 | -5'4 |
| Mar '18 | 392'4 | 384'0 | 385'0 | -5'4 |
| May '18 | 398'0 | 390'2 | 391'2 | -5'2 |
| Jul '18 | 404'0 | 396'2 | 397'2 | -5'2 |
| @S - - CBOT | ||||
| Month | High | Low | Last | Chg |
| Jul '17 | 909'0 | 900'2 | 904'4 | 0'4 |
| Aug '17 | 913'0 | 904'4 | 908'4 | 0'0 |
| Sep '17 | 914'2 | 905'2 | 909'0 | -0'6 |
| Nov '17 | 917'4 | 907'0 | 911'0 | -2'2 |
| Jan '18 | 925'2 | 915'2 | 919'0 | -2'2 |
| Mar '18 | 931'0 | 922'2 | 925'6 | -1'6 |
| May '18 | 937'2 | 928'6 | 932'0 | -1'6 |
| @K - - KCBT | ||||
| Month | High | Low | Last | Chg |
| Jul '17 | 472'0 | 461'6 | 464'2 | -3'4 |
| Sep '17 | 490'0 | 480'0 | 482'4 | -3'2 |
| Dec '17 | 515'0 | 505'2 | 507'6 | -3'0 |
| Mar '18 | 529'2 | 520'0 | 522'2 | -3'0 |
| @L - - CME | ||||
| Month | High | Low | Last | Chg |
| Jun '17 | 119.575 | 118.525 | 119.200 | 0.575 |
| Aug '17 | 115.525 | 114.025 | 115.275 | 1.000 |
| @C - - ICEFU | ||||
| Month | High | Low | Last | Chg |
| Jul '17 | 73.10 | 71.03 | 72.65 | 1.51 |
| Oct '17 | 69.06 | 67.52 | 68.97 | 0.94 |
| Dec '17 | 67.33 | 66.33 | 67.02 | 0.28 |
Local
National
Compeer Financial ready to roll July 1st
| The president and CEO of a newly merged farm credit organization says they?ll be ready to do business as Compeer Financial come July first. Earlier this year, stockholders of Minnesota-based AgStar Financial, Badgerland Financial of Wisconsin, and 1st Farm Credit in Illinois voted to approve the merger. Rod Hebrink says he hopes the biggest change their clients notice is the new name. “We brought these organizations together to take advantage of the unique skills in each of the organizations.? Continue reading Compeer Financial ready to roll July 1st at Brownfield Ag News. |
World
Gulke: Commodity-Price Darkness Before The Dawn?
| The grain and livestock markets capitulated and headed lower this week, though it’s unclear whether this is the start of a new trend or the culmination of a sell-off before USDA’s June 30 acreage report. |
Facebook
Meet Ryan Schroer, one of our Grain Merchandisers at the Sedan ...
| Meet Ryan Schroer, one of our Grain Merchandisers at the Sedan Terminal. He grew up on a family farm south of Lawrence where they still raise corn, wheat and cattle. #KeepingItLocal> |
MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE
Chicago futures are slightly higher to ...
| MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE Chicago futures are slightly higher to start the final trade of the week. Grain bulls are ready for the weekend as its been a down week. On the weather front, things look non-threatening for the next few days. Rain is expected to be limited, but temps appear that it?ll be unseasonably cool. Looking ahead, next week is a big week. Friday, we?ll get the recent USDA acreage updates, month-end, quarter-end, and first notice day for July futures. On the open, corn is up ? cent. Soybeans are up 3-4, KC wheat down ? cent.> |
Ben Jones from our Wray, Colorado location explains the pros of the ...
| Ben Jones from our Wray, Colorado location explains the pros of the Yield Advantage program #YourYieldTour #YourYieldsYourFields #YourYieldsMatter> |
We are out west the rest of this week holding the Your Yields Tour in ...
| We are out west the rest of this week holding the Your Yields Tour in Wray, Colorado today and Grant tomorrow! #YourYieldsTour> |
MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE
Fundamental inputs remain weak this ...
| MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE Fundamental inputs remain weak this morning and the technical chart traders are liquidating ownership and adding new short positions. Market bears continue to talk about beneficial rainfall across most of the corn belt while market bulls could be looking for a bargain buying opportunity ahead of the June 30th acreage report. On the open futures are lower on non-threatening weather. Corn down 3-1/2, beans down 3, KC wheat down 7. Crude oil is up 20 cents per barrel.> |
I married my high school sweetheart, Katie, in the summer of 2011. We ...
| I married my high school sweetheart, Katie, in the summer of 2011. We were blessed with our first child, Clarence, this past March. Katie and I both grew up in Wood River where we attended high school. To read more about Josh Gartner click on the link below! #KeepingItLocal> |
MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE
Both bulls and bears continue to watch ...
| MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE Both bulls and bears continue to watch the weather maps each day. Tropical Storm Cindy will approach the coast of Louisiana and southeast Texas late today. Variable temps with chances of rainfall is keeping a lid on Chicago futures so far this week. Chicago, KC, and MPLS wheat futures are lower on the open due to Russian crop tours indicating good conditions and could exceed 70 million metric tons, or just over 2.5 billion bushels. Corn and soybean futures found technical support overnight. On the open, corn up 1-1/2, beans up a penny, KC Wheat down 6. Crude oil up 10 cents a barrel.> |
Meet Damon Kasselder who works out of our Grand Island Grain ...
| Meet Damon Kasselder who works out of our Grand Island Grain Terminal. His trade area includes Grand Island, Hastings, Doniphan, Giltner, Juniata and Roseland. #KeepingItLocal> |
Beautiful day out here in northeast Nebraska for the RFR Plot Tour! ...
| Beautiful day out here in northeast Nebraska for the RFR Plot Tour! #YourYieldsTour> |
MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE
The overnight session started stronger ...
| MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE The overnight session started stronger on steady to lower crop conditions. The marketplace was looking for a 2 to 3 point increase in corn and soybean conditions, corn was unchanged from last week and soybeans were only a point better. Spring wheat was rated 4 points lower than last week. The marketplace is patiently waiting for next weeks acreage report from the USDA. The report will be released on Friday morning. On the open at 8:30 am, Corn is down 2-1/2. Soybeans 4 to 5 lower. KC Wheat 5 lower, with crude oil trading over a dollar lower.> |
Is IDC starting to show up in your fields? If so, contact your local ...
| Is IDC starting to show up in your fields? If so, contact your local Aurora Cooperative agronomist to help you with some solutions.> |
MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE
Overnight, CME futures saw big volume on ...
| MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE Overnight, CME futures saw big volume on weather related trade. Corn futures opened sharply lower from Fridays close but managed to gain back some as soybeans and wheat futures traded higher. More talk this morning about a tropical storm getting fired up in the Gulf and moving north and east over the next few days. Both grain bulls and bears will be watching this closely. On the open, corn down 4, soybeans up 2, KC wheat up 3-4. Crude oil unchanged to slightly higher.> |
We want to wish all the dad's today a Happy Father's Day! This ...
| We want to wish all the dad's today a Happy Father's Day! This picture of a hard-working dad was submitted during our planting picture giveaway. Amazing illustration of life with a dad who farms. Photo credit: Paige Yockey> |
Taken yesterday at our Doniphan Your Yields Tour! Photo credit to Sam ...
| Taken yesterday at our Doniphan Your Yields Tour! Photo credit to Sam Carey> |
Local
Meet Ryan Schroer, one of our Grain Merchandisers at the Sedan ...
| Meet Ryan Schroer, one of our Grain Merchandisers at the Sedan Terminal. He grew up on a family farm south of Lawrence where they still raise corn, wheat and cattle. #KeepingItLocal> |
Nebraska Ag Update - June 23, 2017
| Nebraska Ag Updates |
MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE
Chicago futures are slightly higher to ...
| MORNING GRAIN MARKET UPDATE Chicago futures are slightly higher to start the final trade of the week. Grain bulls are ready for the weekend as its been a down week. On the weather front, things look non-threatening for the next few days. Rain is expected to be limited, but temps appear that it?ll be unseasonably cool. Looking ahead, next week is a big week. Friday, we?ll get the recent USDA acreage updates, month-end, quarter-end, and first notice day for July futures. On the open, corn is up ? cent. Soybeans are up 3-4, KC wheat down ? cent.> |
Cut Soybean Plants and the Culprit
| We have received numerous reports of cutworms being problematic in safflower and sunflower so far in 2017. However, while scouting soybeans last week I noticed numerous areas within the field where soybean plants were lying dead near the row, but with no indication of defoliation. Upon closer inspection, it became evident that the plants had been cut near the soil surface. Reports of cutworms in soybean tend to be rare, but there are documented cases of them occasionally causing problems. The cutworm species that we found near the areas with cut plants was the dingy cutworm (Figure 1). Dingy Cutworm: Identification The dingy cutworm has been covered previously because of its presence in safflower and sunflower this year. The caterpillars are nocturnal, and can be found by digging 1-2 inches in the soil around cut plants. Dingy cutworms get their name due to their dull brown to gray coloration. These cutworms have a distinct pale gray line that runs down the center of their bodies. The dingy cutworm caterpillars have tubercles or spots present on the sides of each segment of their bodies that are all similar in size to one another (Figure 2). Scouting & Management Cutworms tend to be more of an issue in soybean fields that have been planted under reduced or no-till practices, fair to poorly drained fields, or fields with weed or cover crop presence prior to soybean planting. Cutworms can be scouted by examining fields for cut plants and also by digging in the soil near cut plants to determine population densities. To scout for cut plants, examine 20 consecutive plants in five locations throughout the field (100 plants per field). In addition to looking for cut plants, also examine plants for signs of defoliation as younger cutworm caterpillars may be incapable of cutting the plant. In areas where cut plants are observed, dig in the soil within the row to find any caterpillars that may be present. Insecticides Insecticide management should be considered if 20% or more of the scouted plants are cut and cutworm caterpillars that are 3/4 of an inch or shorter are observed. Caterpillars this size will continue to feed on plants and may further reduce stands. Please refer to the current edition of South Dakota Pest Management: Soybean for a list of insecticides labeled for the management of cutworms in soybean. Source: Adam Varenhorst, South Dakota State University Extension |
Midwest Corn-Time to Scout for Diseases
| The warm, humid weather has caused concern about foliar diseases of corn, particularly in southern Indiana where corn is at a growth stage where farmers need to be thinking about scouting fields prior to fungicide application. Of particular concern is a report from Kentucky of potential southern rust of corn, caused by (Puccinia polysora). The sample in question had common rust (Puccinia sorghi), not southern rust. More details on this report and updated management for southern rust, including fungicide timing, are reported in the Kentucky Pest News article that can be found here. We have NOT confirmed southern rust in Indiana to date. The most northern confirmation is currently in Arkansas. The fungus that causes southern rust does not overwinter in Indiana, and the spores blow northward each year. Southern rust typically reaches Indiana at some point in the growing season each year, but usually arrives too late to cause economic damage. However, in 2016, southern rust was severe, and farmers may be nervous about the potential impact in 2017. Just remember that common rust and southern rust are easy diseases to confuse, and any suspected samples should be sent to the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory (PPDL) for confirmation before deciding on a management tactic, such as fungicide application. The Purdue Extension publication "Diseases of Corn: Common and Southern Rust" has more information on distinguishing between common and southern rust. Other fungal diseases like gray leaf spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis) and northern corn leaf blight (Exserohilum turcicum) are more likely to be present at the critical tasseling period in 2017. It is very important to scout fields this year and check hybrid resistance ratings prior to fungicide application. Also consider crop production factors and their impact on disease development. Planting continuous corn or conservation tillage programs increase the risk for diseases such as gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight development since the fungi that cause these diseases survive in residue. Additionally, irrigated fields are at higher risk since irrigation creates an environment favorable for disease development. Purdue research indicates the optimum timing for foliar fungicides (if needed) for gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight is at the tasseling/silking (VT-R1) growth stage. Scouting corn just prior to VT-R1 can help determine if a fungicide application is needed. Consider a fungicide application if: The hybrid is rated as susceptible or moderately susceptible to foliar diseases AND 50 percent of the plants in a field have disease lesions present on ear leaf at tasseling. Consider a fungicide application if: The hybrid is rated as moderately resistant to foliar diseases AND 50 percent of the plants in a field have disease lesions present on the ear leaf or higher prior to tasseling AND additional factors or conditions that favor disease development are present (residue present, favorable weather conditions) Scout resistant hybrids for disease problems, but in general, fungicide applications to resistant hybrids are not recommended and will not consistently result in increased yield. For more information on gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight, please read Purdue Extension bulletin BP-056-W: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/bp/BP-56-W.pdf. Purdue Extension bulletin BP-084-W: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-84-W.pdf. Fungicide efficacy of specific fungicide products for corn diseases are described in the updated fungicide efficacy table for management of corn diseases, which is developed by the national Corn Disease Working Group: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-160-W.pdf. Source: Kiersten Wise, Purdue University Extension |
BeefTalk-How Early is Too Early to Wean?
| Can I wean 90-day-old calves that weigh 300 pounds? The answer is yes. Dry weather has made this - and variations - the question of the day. In an ideal world, mother and calf should enjoy green pastures from birth until weaning at about 7 months of age. The typical weaning age is 192 days for producers in the Cow Herd Appraisal Performance System (CHAPS) program. However, some calves are weighed along with the administration of preweaning vaccinations prior to the actual weaning day, so the average age at weaning could be a few days older. The CHAPS profile shows steers weigh 566 pounds, heifers 535 pounds and bulls 595 pounds, or an average of 553 pounds for all the calves. This translates to an average daily gain of 2.45 pounds. These values are good targets for producers when the year is average. But weather does not always cooperate, and when grass gets short, the calves may very well need to be pulled off the cows prior to reaching these goals. In fact, if one sits in on the local cattle sales this time of year, the cow-calf pairs often are split, with the cows going one direction and the calves another. In North Dakota, and many of the surrounding states, calving generally starts around March 10 to 17, with the average start on March 13. Most herds reach the calving halfway point around April 1 to 8, or on average, April 4. So, in actuality, by the end of June, at least half the calves should be 90-plus days old. Using an average birth weight of 83 pounds, plus 90 days of growth at 2.45 pounds per day, the calves should weigh 300-plus pounds. Early weaning is a case of much pondering, especially when the calves are just barely adapted to pasture and consuming copious quantities of milk from their lactating mothers. Information is available on weaning calves at various stages of life, but pulling the calves earlier than 4 months of age is always a question. The concern is not so much that the calves cannot adapt, but more that ranch facilities need to be adapted to handle the care of younger, bawling calves. This means more dollars invested in overhead. Pens, waterers and handling facilities all need to be adjusted. My advice: Start slow, learn well. The risks are real, and experience at weaning calves early is always a plus. Don’t wean a big bunch of calves. At the Dickinson Research Extension Center, calves have been weaned successfully at 4 months of age, averaging 400 pounds, with no more complications than normal weaning. Consistent and proper animal husbandry and common sense help calves do just fine. In 1980, the center weaned calves early when we experienced severe drought, even surpassing the 1936 low of only 2.03 inches of rainfall. The year was dry. Center animal scientists James Nelson and Doug Landblom reviewed the recommendation of other scientists and found five criteria for the time: Calves should be at least 35 days old if supplemental milk wasn’t going to be supplied. Calves should be supplied a highly palatable ration that is high in protein, available energy, vitamins and minerals. Starter rations should be available to the calves during a two- to three-week adjustment period before they are weaned. Calf vaccinations should be administered at the beginning of the adjustment period (or sooner). Injections of vitamins A and D also should be given at this time. Calves should be checked regularly and treated as needed to reduce or eliminate fly and pink eye problems. Nelson and Landblom weaned center calves from 38 days of age up to 105 days of age. The first year of the study, 58 calves averaged 154 pounds and gained 1.83 pounds per day. In the second year of the study, 26 calves averaged 157 pounds and gained almost 2.07 pounds per day. Nelson and Landblom reported “… good average daily gains (1.51 to 2.32 pounds) and excellent feed efficiency (4.3 to 5.9 pounds/pound of gain) on all rations as fed.” Only two cases of pneumonia were noted, and the calves were removed from the study. The remaining calves did not have any noted health issues. The scientists concluded that with proper care, calves can be weaned from 38 to 105 days of age with little significant issues if producers follow good nutrition guidelines, provide good management and understand good animal husbandry. One issue was that as the quality of the feed went up, so did the number of flies. In regard to nutrition, contact your local nutritionist or feed dealer to make sure the calves are meeting all their nutritional needs. And yes, early weaning is another good tool for managing dry weather. May you find all your ear tags. Source: Kris Ringwald, North Dakota State University Extension |
Eastern U.S. Gets Drenched, Plains Stay Dry
| A weather pattern change brought badly-needed, widespread showers and thunderstorms across the eastern half of the Nation, right after abnormal dryness (D0) developed in many areas of the Midwest and south-central Plains last week. This occurred after a wet May had alleviated many areas of drought – which was abruptly followed by dry and warm weather starting in late May into early June, a critical time for crop growth and development. View the latest Drought Monitor here. In addition, heavy showers fell along the eastern Gulf Coast, providing additional improvement to Florida and southern Georgia. Unfortunately, little or no rain fell on most of the northern third of the High Plains and southern Plains, drying out conditions in Texas and Oklahoma and worsening the flash drought in eastern Montana and the western Dakotas. In the Southwest, although June is climatologically dry and warm, extreme heat late in the period, subnormal precipitation during the past 60-days, and some impacts was enough to expand D0 in Utah, central Arizona, and southern New Mexico. On Hawaii’s Big Island, some deterioration was made as field reports indicated worse conditions than expected while scattered showers in southwestern Alaska were not enough to improve low stream flow levels, thus D0 and D1 was slightly expanded there. Southeast The summer rainy season continued across Florida and southern Georgia, and was enhanced by a slow-moving cold front and developing tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico (which became Tropical Storm Cindy Tuesday afternoon) late in the week. Most locations in Florida and southern Georgia saw 2 inches or more rain during the week, with up to a foot in south-central Florida. A few areas in central Florida and southern Georgia, however, only saw 1-2 inches of rain, thus improvements were limited to 1-category, and with lingering long-term (6-12 months) indices at D1-D2 in the region, a few small areas of D1(L) were left in southern Georgia, along with D0(L) in central Florida and southern Georgia. According to the USDA/NASS as of June 18, most crop, pasture, and soil moisture conditions were rated either good or adequate in both states. In the rest of Georgia, scattered showers mostly missed the D0-D1 area in central sections (minor changes), but D1(L) was reduced in northern Georgia (Lumpkin County to D0; D1 remained in White County) as enough rain in the western D1 area improved the drought by 1-category. In northeastern Mississippi and northwestern Alabama, moderate to heavy (2-3 inches) rains along the southern edges of the D0-D1 area were enough to trim away some of the drought and dryness; however, northern sections recorded under an inch, and D0 slightly expanded into extreme southern Tennessee with 60-day deficiencies of 2-4 inches. South A mostly dry and warm week, along with increased summer evapotranspiration and a climatologic wet time of year, led to a general decline of moisture conditions in Oklahoma and Texas. Some areas in the South did see moderate to heavy (1.5-4 inches) rains (eastern sections of Kansas and Oklahoma, northeastern Texas, southern and central Mississippi, and west-central Tennessee), and this resulted in some D0 removal in southeastern Kansas, northeastern and southeastern Oklahoma, and northeastern Texas. The remainder of the changes this week, however, included D0 and D1 expansion, namely in southern, west-central, and Panhandle of Texas, in central and eastern Panhandle of Oklahoma where Oklahoma City has measured only 1.19 inches of rain during May 1-June 20, normally the wettest stretch of weather here (normal about 8 inches). According to the June 18 USDA/NASS report, statewide topsoil moisture rated short to very short rose 14 and 29 points from last week to 49 and 50% in Texas and Oklahoma, respectively, although crop and pasture conditions were still mostly fair to good. With the heat building, this area is primed for rapid deterioration unless rain falls soon. Midwest A slow-moving, occasionally stationary cold front brought welcome, widespread showers and thunderstorms, some with severe weather and copious rainfall, across much of the region. Northeastern Missouri, east-central Illinois, and most of central Indiana recorded 3-6 inches of rain, while most of the remainder of the region saw 1-3 inches of rain, effectively ending concerns of a Midwest flash drought. With the moderate to heavy amounts, D1 was improved to D0 in northern Missouri, D0 was erased across much of the northern half of Missouri, eastern Iowa, northern and southern Illinois, northwestern and southwestern Indiana, southwestern Michigan, and parts of southern Ohio. Moderate to heavy rains (1.5-3 inches) also fell on northern Minnesota (see High Plains), improving some of the D0-D1 by 1-category as April 1-June 20 precipitation was close to or above normal in all but the northwestern section. In contrast, a few areas missed out on the rains, including northwestern and south-central Iowa, central Illinois, near southern Lake Michigan, southeastern Michigan, and parts of northern and south-central Ohio. As a result, D0 remained from the previous week, or developed (e.g. northwestern Iowa, southeastern Michigan, northwestern Ohio) due to short-term (at 30- to 60-days) dryness. June 18 corn, soybean, and winter wheat conditions somewhat improved from last week’s USDA/NASS ratings, but another week of growth with this moisture should show even better conditions. Topsoil moisture, however, did show improvement as percent rated short to very short dropped 15, 13, 11, 19, 21, and 19 points from last week to 15,27, 8, 22, 16, and 30 percent in Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, respectively. High Plains While significant rains (1.5-3 inches) fell across northern and eastern North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota, and northern Minnesota (see Midwest) and provided some relief, little or no rain worsened conditions across eastern Montana, western and southern North Dakota, and the western half of South Dakota. Dry conditions during the past 30-days also allowed for a D0 expansion into central and southeastern Montana, northeastern Wyoming, and central and northeastern Nebraska (and into northwestern Iowa – see Midwest). Fortunately, cooler air finally filtered into the northern Plains as highs in the 90s and 100s degF during the previous week were replaced with 70s and 80s degF this period. With May-July normally the wettest time of the year in the northern High Plains (some areas typically receive half to two-thirds of their ANNUAL precipitation), a lack of adequate late spring and early summer rainfall can impact the region for the rest of the year. In northeastern Montana, most locations in nearly 20 counties have experienced 5-25% of normal precipitation since the end of April. Numerous locations have reported near- or record low precipitation since April 1, while temperatures for the past 30-days have averaged 1 to 4 degF above normal. The March-May period was the 14th warmest such period since 1895 for Montana, according to NCEI. While river flows remain normal across the state, northeast and eastern Montana are driven by dry land farming. The subnormal rainfall has been evaporated due to high winds and temperatures, with the Evaporative Stress Index at very high values for northeastern Montana. As for surface and root zone soil moisture, 95-98% of all Mays since 1948 have been wetter than this year in northeastern Montana, with percentiles dropping below the tenth percentile for wetness. The flash drought has quickly deteriorated crop conditions, with the June 9 forecast for winter wheat down 26% from the 105.35 million bushels produced last year, while June 18 USDA/NASS reported 37% of the spring wheat and 26% of pastures were in poor or very poor condition. Numerous field reports indicated poor or even no spring wheat emergence, and the ones that did emerge are stunted and badly need moisture. There has been little growth in pastures and ranges, and many were brown (dormant) with little or no dryland hay cut expected, impacting livestock feed and grazing. Accordingly, D3(S) was added to the driest areas where 2- and 3-month SPIs were D4, departures were greatest, and where impacts were the bleakest. D2 was expanded southward into southern Garfield County, while D1 was expanded westward and southward. In the Dakotas, western areas typically receive over two-thirds their annual precipitation during April-July, so a lack of adequate late spring and early summer rains are critical to dryland farming and livestock grazing and cuttings of pasture and range grasses. Similar to northeastern Montana, southwestern North Dakota and northern South Dakota have seen the lowest precipitation as compared to normal since April, with deficits of 3-6 inches at 60-days and 4-8 inches at 6-months. Temperatures have also averaged well above normal the past few weeks, and combined with strong winds, have evaporated much of the soil moisture much quicker than expected. Where recent rains have fallen (mainly in the eastern sections), some recovery of the crops and pastures have occurred, but winter wheat fields and other small grains that were planted early are much drier than corn, soybean, or later planted fields. The long fall (or late freeze) the Dakotas had last year contributed to the depletion of soil moisture this spring as the depth of the frozen ground was much shallower than usual and thawed much earlier and quicker this spring. In addition, many of the current drought areas were in drought last year, had exhibited short-term recovery over the winter, but the deficits were never fully erased, thus the soil moisture profile was susceptible to rapid drying this spring. In the June 18 USDA/NASS report, South Dakota crops rated poor or very poor included: 64% spring wheat; 17% corn; 16% soybeans; 34% sorghum; winter wheat 50%; oats 36%; and pastures 49%. For North Dakota, it was: 24% spring wheat; 10% corn; 11% soybeans; 20% barley; 30% oats; and 54% pastures. Topsoil (and subsoil) moisture rated short to very short was 55% (55%) and 43% (38%) for South Dakota and North Dakota, respectively. Based upon the numerous tools at varying time periods (30-, 60-, 90-, and 180-days) and reported impacts, the D2 was extended westward into western North Dakota and southward in South Dakota, with D3 areas drawn for the worst indicators over the varying time periods. D0 was also extended southward into Nebraska as the past 30-days were very dry and warm which could lead to rapid soil moisture depletion if the weather doesn’t improve. West With June a normally dry and warm month in the Southwest, it was not surprising that most of the region was rain free this week. But after a very wet winter season this year across the West (nearly every NRCS SNOTEL basin average precipitation since October 1, 2016 is above or much above normal), the past 3 months (March-May) have been drier than normal. The sudden end to the wet season, combined with a recent heat wave, has started to dry out the landscape quicker than usual now that the snow has mostly melted. Based upon ground observations of low stream flows, low SPIs, and increasing wild fires, D0 was added in central Arizona in eastern Yavapai and southeastern Coconino Counties. In Utah, short-term (60-days) SPIs were quite low in west-central and northeastern sections, leading to some D0 expansion in those two areas of the state. In southeastern New Mexico (similar to west Texas), short-term dryness and recent warmth has led to small deficits at 30- and 60-days, thus D0 was added where rainfall amounts were lower during the past 30-days. Additional areas will be monitored as the recent heat wave (June 20 highs reaching 92F in Flagstaff, 113F in Las Vegas, 115F in Tucson, 118F in Phoenix, and 125F in Death Valley) will quicken the drying of the Southwest. In contrast, the Northwest has been wet recently, with no dryness there. No other changes were made in the West. Looking Ahead During the next five days (June 22-26), the NHC guidance indicated that Tropical Storm Cindy (located in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico at 1 pm EDT Wed) will track north, then northeast, then eastward into southwestern Virginia by 7 am EDT Saturday. The WPC’s 5-day QPF forecasts the heaviest rains over and to the east of Cindy’s center, with 2-5 inches of rain expected in the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys into the central Appalachians. Decent rains (2-3 inches) are also expected in the Texas Panhandle and across Wisconsin and Michigan. Little or no precipitation is expected in the northern Plains and from the Rockies westward, and only light amounts in the western Corn Belt, coastal New England, and parts of Florida. 5-day temperatures should average below-normal from east of the Rockies to the Appalachians, above-normal in the Far West, and near-normal along the East Coast. For the ensuing five-day period (June 27-July 1), odds favor above-median precipitation in western Alaska, the southern Plains, along the Gulf and southern Atlantic Coasts, and in the Great Lakes region and New England, with sub-median rainfall in eastern Alaska, the Northwest, and the Tennessee Valley. Chances favor subnormal temperatures in the eastern half of the Nation while above-normal readings are likely in southern Florida, west of the Rockies, and in Alaska. Source: AgFax |
Ben Jones from our Wray, Colorado location explains the pros of the ...
| Ben Jones from our Wray, Colorado location explains the pros of the Yield Advantage program #YourYieldTour #YourYieldsYourFields #YourYieldsMatter> |
We are out west the rest of this week holding the Your Yields Tour in ...
| We are out west the rest of this week holding the Your Yields Tour in Wray, Colorado today and Grant tomorrow! #YourYieldsTour> |
Bean Leaf Beetles and Bean Pod Mottle Virus
| This year is certainly keeping us busy! It doesn’t seem to matter which way we turn or what crop we are scouting pests are being observed. Bean leaf beetles have been found in both soybean and alfalfa fields. With the amount of bean leaf beetles being observed out in the fields, producers need to also watch for Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) development. BPMV was first identified in South Dakota in 1998 and is considered an economically important soybean disease. What does BPMV look like? Bean pod mottle virus symptoms are commonly confused with herbicide injury and can resemble symptoms of other viruses. Symptoms associated with BPMV include mild to severe chlorotic mottling or mosaic and rugosity (distortion or wrinkling) on foliage, stunting, and delayed maturity (Figure 1). Symptom severity may lessen during hot weather or with maturity; however, the plant still remains infected with the virus. One effect of delayed maturity is the green stem disorder. This is where the stem remains green after the soybean pods have matured. Infection by BPMV decreases pod formation and reduces seed size, weight, and number. Seed coat mottling (the discoloration of the seed due to a black or brown pigmentation bleeding from the hilum) is another symptom caused by this virus. Grain with discolored seeds may be docked at the time of sale. BPMV is also associated with increases in seed infection by Phomopsis spp. How is BPMV spread? Bean pod mottle virus is primarily vectored by the bean leaf beetle, Cerotomoa trifurcate (Forster) in the United States. When bean leaf beetles feed on BPMV-infected soybean plants they also ingest the virus and become a carrier (viruliferous). The virus can be obtained with a single bite of an infected plant. Virus transmission occurs rapidly with the next feeding. As the beetle moves throughout the field, it spreads the virus to the healthy plants. Not only is the beetle an efficient vector, but it also feeds on the soybean foliage resulting in defoliation. Later in the season the bean leaf beetles will feed not only on the leaves but also on the soybean pods and are capable of causing yield loss by clipping the pods from the plant prior to harvest. Bean Leaf Beetle Identification Adult bean leaf beetles are approximately ¼ inch long and can vary greatly in color from white, yellow, brown, red and several other intermediate shades (Figure 2). Adult beetles have a black triangle directly behind their thorax and varying numbers of black spots (can have 0, 2, or 4) on their elytra (backs). Bean leaf beetles can be difficult to scout for due to their defensive behavior of falling off of plants when disturbed. If fields are exhibiting large amounts of defoliation a sweep net can be used to determine if the culprit is bean leaf beetles. Management Bean leaf beetles can be managed through insecticide applications which will inhibit the spread of BPMV. Bean leaf beetles should be managed when scouted plants have approximately 30% defoliation. Insecticide seed treatments are effective at managing the overwintering population of bean leaf beetles. Transmission of BPMV by the overwintering generation of bean leaf beetles causes severe yield loss. There is no chemical control available for BPMV infected plants found in the field. To date, no soybean cultivars have been found to be resistant to BPMV. Source: Connie Strunk, South Dakota State University Extension |
Trump Pledges His Support for Agriculture on Iowa Visit
| President Donald Trump celebrated political victories and promised more to come as he returned to Iowa Wednesday for a whirlwind tour through the state's second-largest city. The president's first visit to the state since taking office featured an official event in which he praised Iowa agriculture and pledged to boost rural high speed internet followed by an exuberant primetime rally that mirrored his 2016 campaign events in showmanship and rhetoric. In a visit to Kirkwood Community College, Trump stood between John Deere and Case IH farm machinery to pledge his administration's commitment to boosting agriculture exports, loosening federal regulations and supporting ethanol and biofuels. Funding for expanded broadband internet access, he promised, would be included in a forthcoming $1 trillion infrastructure package. "Farming is something that is very beautiful to me. I'm not a farmer, but I'd be very happy to be one," Trump told the crowd. "It's a very beautiful world to me, and it's a truly noble American profession." Trump carried the rural theme into a wide-ranging campaign rally in front of nearly 6,000 die-hard supporters that evening. Buoyed by Tuesday night's Republican victories in two special congressional elections and the raucous, chanting crowd, the president spoke for more than an hour, touting his administration's early accomplishments and predicting the imminent death of the health care law known as Obamacare. The address wasn't without one political wrinkle, though. In a riff on his support for all manner of energy production, Trump singled out and disparaged wind - a major generator of power, growth industry and source of income across Iowa. "I don't want to just hope the wind blows to light up your homes and your factories," Trump told the crowd after ticking off a list of energy sources his administration supports, "as the birds fall to the ground." Wind energy accounts for 37 percent of power generated in Iowa, and has long been a bipartisan point of pride. Wednesday's trip was Trump's first visit to the state since his post-election, pre-inauguration "thank you" tour stop in Des Moines last December. This time, he was joined by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Terry Branstad, the erstwhile Iowa governor who soon departs for Beijing at Trump's ambassador to China. Branstad, who has been in Washington, D.C., for the last several weeks preparing for his new role, traveled to Iowa on Air Force One with Trump. The pair walked off the plane together, sharing an umbrella as they descended the stairs in a rainstorm. They were greeted on the tarmac by Branstad's successor, Gov. Kim Reynolds, and acting Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg. "We're happy and really proud of Terry," Trump said at Kirkwood. "His legacy will endure for a long, long time in this state. ... Mr. Ambassador, thank you very much and have a good time in China." At the rally, Trump also spoke to the fast-moving but as-yet unseen bill in the Senate to remake the Affordable Care Act health care law, accusing Democrats of refusing to take part in negotiations over the legislation. "If we went and got the single greatest health care plan in the history of the world, we would not get one Democrat vote because they're obstructionists," Trump said. Thus far in the Senate, not even Republican members have seen the bill being drafted, while Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said a vote could be held as early as next week. While the crowd he met in Cedar Rapids was loud, boisterous and adoring, Trump remains a divisive figure in the country, drawing strong support from his GOP base but also contempt from Democrats and progressives. His job approval is underwater nationally, with about 40 percent of Americans approving of his performance as president compared to almost 54 percent who disapprove, according to a polling average compiled by Real Clear Politics. In Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, those divergent opinions were fully evident. About 250 to 300 anti-Trump activists gathered in two groups on street corners about a block from the U.S. Cellular Center, where the rally was held. The protesters voiced boisterous opposition Trump, chanting, "We want a flood wall, not a border wall," and "Trump, you're fired," while waving handmade signs with messages such as "Impeach Him" and "Trump Makes America Hate Again." Early on in his speech, a woman in the crowd behind Trump stood up and began blowing a whistle. The crowd erupted in boos and then began chanting "USA! USA!" as she was escorted out. Trump, later, dismissed the protester as "a Bernie Sanders guy." The president's official event at Kirkwood was more apolitical, as Trump toured learning spaces for students in the community college's agriculture program and touted his administration's commitment to aid and support for rural America. New on Wednesday was the commitment from the president to include expanded rural high-speed internet in a vast infrastructure package he's been promising since the campaign but which has yet to take shape. "We must also ensure these students have the broadband internet access they need in order to succedd and thrive in this new and very modern and very changed economy and world," he said. "That is why I'll be including a provision in our infrastructure proposal - our $1 trillion proposal, you'll be seeing it very shortly - to promote and foster and enhance broadband access for rural America." Trump offered few details beyond that. In a briefing on Tuesday, Ray Starling, a special assistant to the president on ag issues, told reporters the administration would defer to Congress on how to implement a rural broadband program, but said he was hopeful new federal aid could "leverage" investments by private entities or state or local governments. The whirlwind tour at Kirkwood and the conspicuous appearances, by not just Trump but also Perdue and Ross, represented the administration's latest outreach to the Iowa agriculture community. Rural Iowa turned out big for Trump on Election Day in 2016, but has been cautious if his policy aims since he took office. His move to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and plans to renegotiate the NAFTA trade deal with Canada and Mexico have drawn concern from farmers, who benefit from international commodity exports. On the flip side, the administration last month announced a deal allowing the U.S. to export beef to China for the first time since 2003, opening a large new market for producers. Perdue made Iowa one of his first stops following his confirmation as the head of USDA, appearing in Boone last month to reassure commodity farmers here that he understood their concerns on trade, ethanol policy and more. Trump reiterated all those points on Wednesday, while underscoring his wariness of trade deals and wish to renegotiate existing arrangements. Source: AgriMarketing |
Tropical Storm Cindy to Push Rains As Far North As Indiana
| Tropical Storm Cindy made landfall overnight near the Texas-Louisiana border, causing severe weather along the entire Gulf Coast this morning. Much of eastern Texas and western Louisiana are being hit with heavy rainfall, according to Accuweather. Minor coastal flooding is expected with a risk of fresh-water flooding in the Deep South as rain had been falling ahead of the storm. As much as 15 inches of rain is possible along the Gulf Coast, according to the National Weather Service. The storm will push showers and thunderstorms up into the Ohio River Valley, reaching as far north as southern Indiana, according to the National Weather Service. In central Kentucky, heavy downpours and gusty winds are expected, along with the off chance of an isolated tornado. “Severe weather is not the main threat with this rainfall event, but a few strong storms with gusty winds and an isolated tornado will be possible Friday afternoon and evening,” the NWS said. Source: Agriculture.com |
Identifying and Correcting Manganese Deficiency in Soybeans
| Manganese deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency seen in soybeans in Michigan. Due to this year’s dry weather, deficiency symptoms are expected to be more prevalent and more severe than usual. The manganese deficiency symptoms depicted in photos 1 and 2 are likely to occur on muck or dark-colored sands with pH levels above 5.8 and lakebed or out-wash soils having pH levels above 6.5. Lately, I’ve seen more situations where manganese deficiency symptoms are occurring on coarse-textured soils having low organic matter levels. In these cases, the soil pH was above 6.5 and in one field, the pH was 7.0. The high pH was the result of applying too much lime. Michigan State University Extension advises that the best way to avoid this situation is to have your fields grid-sampled or sampled by management zones and apply lime using variable rate technology. Avoid raising soil pH levels above 6.5. Because increasing the available manganese levels in the soil is difficult, deficiency symptoms will reoccur in the same areas each year soybeans are grown. Broadcast manganese fertilizer applications are not recommended due to rapid fixation in the soil. Band applications of chelated manganese fertilizers are not recommended either, due to high fertilizer costs. However, manganese sulfate can be applied in a 2-by-2 band at planting when soil test levels are low. Foliar application of manganese sulfate at 1 to 2 pounds per acre of actual manganese is the most economical and effective method for correcting manganese deficiency. Apply 1 pound per acre of actual manganese when the first deficiency symptoms appear (six inch tall plants) and apply another pound per acre in 10 days if deficiency symptoms reappear. Manganese sulfate should not be tank-mixed with glyphosate as the performance of both products will be reduced. Ideally, the glyphosate should be applied first and the manganese sulfate applied at least three days later. In some cases, the manganese sulfate may need to be applied before the glyphosate. In this case, the two applications should be separated by at least seven days. If you must tank-mix a manganese fertilizer with glyphosate, always use an EDTA chelated manganese fertilizer. It is important to add the ingredients to the tank in the following order: Water Ammonium sulfate at 17 pounds per 100 gallons Glyphosate EDTA chelated manganese fertilizer A Soybean Management and Research Technology (SMaRT) trial conducted at two responsive locations (muck soils) in 2013 showed that manganese sulfate monohydrate fertilizer increased soybean yields by 1.9 bushels per acre over an EDTA chelate manganese fertilizer. Another SMaRT on-farm research trial was conducted at two potentially responsive sites (soil pH = 7.4) in 2013. The results confirmed that manganese foliar fertilizer application in the absence of visible deficiency symptoms will not increase soybean yields. In fact, research conducted by the Ohio State University in 2008 and 2009 found that foliar applications of manganese fertilizer in the absence of foliar deficiency symptoms actually reduced soybean yields. Source: Michigan State University Extension |
National
Compeer Financial ready to roll July 1st
| The president and CEO of a newly merged farm credit organization says they?ll be ready to do business as Compeer Financial come July first. Earlier this year, stockholders of Minnesota-based AgStar Financial, Badgerland Financial of Wisconsin, and 1st Farm Credit in Illinois voted to approve the merger. Rod Hebrink says he hopes the biggest change their clients notice is the new name. “We brought these organizations together to take advantage of the unique skills in each of the organizations.? Continue reading Compeer Financial ready to roll July 1st at Brownfield Ag News. |
Brazilian beef ban doesn?t bump up prices
| A cattle industry leader is surprised the market did not respond more favorably following the U.S. ban of fresh beef imports from Brazil. Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association president Krist Wollum says the USDA decision should improve the price outlook for domestic beef producers. “It should be a good thing, but the troubling part is that when they announced that there were shipments of beef coming from Brazil, our markets took a $3 dollar dip.? Continue reading Brazilian beef ban doesn’t bump up prices at Brownfield Ag News. |
U.S. biodiesel profitable despite expired tax credit
| The U.S. biodiesel industry has remained profitable this year despite the expiration of the Biodiesel Tax Credit. Data from the University of Illinois shows a pattern of good financial years tied closely to the $1 dollar per-gallon credit. National Biodiesel Board (NBB) vice president of federal affairs Anne Steckel says a combination of factors may explain why 2017 has been an outlier. “We have a tax incentive that’s been off and on.? Continue reading U.S. biodiesel profitable despite expired tax credit at Brownfield Ag News. |
Down farm economy impacting commodity groups
| The impact of agriculture?s financial slump is being felt by state commodity groups. Michael Petefish, newly elected president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, says his job probably would?ve been easier a few years ago when corn and soybean prices were higher. “We’re 100 percent membership-based, and when farmers are struggling they’re not as concerned about being a member.? Or they don’t see the ramifications of some of the political stuff as easily because they’re just looking at the Chicago Board of Trade, the weather and their fields, and their vision kind of narrows.” He tells Brownfield that narrow focus isn?t necessarily a negative, just something farmers need to do as business owners trying to remain profitable. Continue reading Down farm economy impacting commodity groups at Brownfield Ag News. |
May cattle placements jump 12%
| The USDA says more cattle were placed on feed in May than what many analysts were expecting. Placements jumped 12% to 2.119 million head, analysts were expecting an average of about 10.5%, with those cattle heading to market this winter. Pasture conditions generally look good and feed costs are relatively low. By weight, placements of cattle weighing less than 600 pounds were 400,000 head, with 600 to 699 pound placements at 315,000 head and 700 to 799 pound placements at 529,000 head, while placements of cattle weighing 800 to 899 pounds were 550,000 head, 900 to 999 pound placements were 235,000 head, and placements of cattle weighing more than 1,000 pounds were 90,000 head. Continue reading May cattle placements jump 12% at Brownfield Ag News. |
Missouri Farmers Care: Drive to Feed Kids
| The Missouri Farmers Care Coalition has launched a Drive to Feed Kids through the food bank distribution networks in the state. Farmers Care Chairman, Alan Wessler, says there are parts of Missouri where one out of three children don?t know where their next meal is coming from. The coalition is partnering with Feeding Missouri, Brownfield Ag News, the Missouri State Fair and Missouri FFA to deliver kid-friendly meals to hungry children in the state, ?I think it?s opened some doors and it?s also opened some eyes to folks that hunger is a bigger problem in Missouri that we may realize.? Wessler says the Drive to Feed Kids is about feeding kids and more, ?Highlighting the job that farmers and ranchers are doing in producing safe, wholesome and abundant food for us.? Drive to Feed Kids events are taking place on the opening day of the Missouri State Fair, August 10th?– including a film and Sawyer Brown?concert – and during the Missouri FFA Food Insecurity Service day?at the fair?August 15th. Continue reading Missouri Farmers Care: Drive to Feed Kids at Brownfield Ag News. |
Milk futures higher, cash dairy mixed
| Class III milk futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were supported by an oversold bounce. July was up $.13 at $16.05, August was $.23 higher at $16.97, September was up $.20 at $17.16, and October was $.11 higher at $17.20. Cash cheese blocks were down $.005 at $1.54. Seven loads were sold, including one at $1.54 and four at $1.545. Barrels were up $.03 at $1.37. A total of 23 loads were sold, three at $1.37. Continue reading Milk futures higher, cash dairy mixed at Brownfield Ag News. |
Report: Kansas wheat harvest nears half-way point
| The winter wheat harvest in Kansas is near the half-way point, according to a report released today (Friday) by the Oklahoma-based wheat marketing organization Plains Grains. The report said the harvest was well into the north-central and northeastern areas of Kansas. While it had not yet crossed the northern border, some test cutting was expected in Nebraska within the next few days. The group says yields continue to be variable in Kansas, generally averaging between 30 and 40 bushels per acre, but ranging anywhere from 20 to over 80 bushels per acre. Continue reading Report: Kansas wheat harvest nears half-way point at Brownfield Ag News. |
NCBA says ban is proof the food safety system works
| The National Cattlemen?s Beef Association says the ban on fresh beef from Brazil is proof the US food safety system works. Colin Woodall says 100 percent of fresh beef imports from Brazil have been inspected.? ?The fact that have discovered some issues, has been enough to raise the concern means they are doing a good job in that inspection process,? he says.? ?This is something that I think we can all support and feel good about, to be honest.? Continue reading NCBA says ban is proof the food safety system works at Brownfield Ag News. |
Corn moves to new lows
| Soybeans were mostly lower on commercial and technical activity. Demand is solid, but the trade expects a big crop, with USDA?s acreage numbers out on the 30th. Quarterly stocks numbers are also out on the 30th. It was an up and down, pretty quiet session, with the trade also watching the weather. Soybean meal was down and bean oil was up, adjusting product spreads. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange held its soybean production estimate for Argentina at 57.5 million tons. Continue reading Corn moves to new lows at Brownfield Ag News. |
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: June 23, 2017
| Jul. corn closed at $3.57 and 3/4,?down?5?cents Jul. soybeans closed at $9.04 and 1/2,?up 1/2?cent Jul. soybean meal closed at $293.60,?down?20 cents Jul. soybean oil closed at 31.61,?up 6?cents Jul. wheat closed at $4.59 and 3/4,?down?1 and 1/2?cents Jun. live cattle closed at $119.20,?up 57 cents Jul.?lean hogs closed at $85.30,?up 27 cents Jul.? Continue reading Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: June 23, 2017 at Brownfield Ag News. |
Cattle futures were higher and hogs were lower
| The cash cattle trade was at a standstill on Friday with business essentially done for the week. For the second consecutive week cash prices plunged sharply lower, nearly $20.00 since early June. Positively beef processing margins continue to balloon, theoretically encouraging packers to accelerate chain speed and procure greater cattle numbers. The weekly kill totaled 632,000 head, 4,000 above the previous week, and 24,000 greater than last year. Boxed beef cutout values were sharply lower on choice, steady on select on light to moderate demand and offerings. Continue reading Cattle futures were higher and hogs were lower at Brownfield Ag News. |
Michigan?s bread basket gets drenched
| Up to 15 inches of rain in Michigan?s major field crop production regions could have lasting impacts this season. Parts of Central Michigan, the Saginaw Valley and Thumb receive five to 15 inches of rain over the past week. Reports say Kinde in the Thumb, a major area for dry bean and sugarbeet production, had more than eight inches from one storm. The Michigan Agri-Business Association says dry beans will be most affected as farmers were still trying to finish planting, but the entire crop was not damaged. Continue reading Michigan?s bread basket gets drenched at Brownfield Ag News. |
Early planted Eastern Iowa corn ?chin to nose high?
| An eastern Iowa farmer says his earlier planted corn is doing well.? John Maxwell of Donahue, Iowa, near the Quad Cities, tells Brownfield Ag News his best crop was planted between April 11 and April 15. ?That corn looks absolutely beautiful,? Maxwell told Brownfield Ag News Thursday.? ?I am about six feet, five inches tall, and it?s about chin to nose high on me.? Rain after mid-April created a challenge for finishing corn and planting soybeans, according to Maxwell.? Continue reading Early planted Eastern Iowa corn ‘chin to nose high’ at Brownfield Ag News. |
Lighthizer: Asian trade efforts continue
| Washington lawmakers want to know how the Trump administration will promote Pacific Rim trade in the absence of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. One of the president?s first acts after taking office was to pull the U.S. out of the twelve-nation deal. Agri-Pulse says U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer assured House Ways and Means Committee members this week that the U.S. will not abandon trade efforts with Asia-Pacific countries.? The trade ambassador didn?t specify potential bilateral deals with countries in the region, but says a list is being drafted of countries that would be good candidates for bilateral trade deals. Continue reading Lighthizer: Asian trade efforts continue at Brownfield Ag News. |
World
Gulke: Commodity-Price Darkness Before The Dawn?
| The grain and livestock markets capitulated and headed lower this week, though it’s unclear whether this is the start of a new trend or the culmination of a sell-off before USDA’s June 30 acreage report. |
Machinery Pete: Sprayers Spark Interest
| What’s the biggest surprise in the used equipment market thus far this year? |
Editor's Notebook: Focus on Now
| Every word in this issue is aimed at helping you get the most from the crop now in the ground. |
Farmers Take the Driver's Seat at AgTech Expo
| Registration is now open for the first Farm Journal AgTech Expo, designed by farmers for farmers who want to explore how to use today’s newest ag technologies on their operations. |
Arkansas Plant Board Votes to Ban Dicamba ? Now What?
| A soybean plant showing telltale signs of dicamba injury: cupping and puckering. Credit: University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service The Arkansas State Plant Board has voted to pass a proposed emergency rule to ban the use of in-crop dicamba, with an exemption for pastureland, and to expedite the rule increasing civil penalties for dicamba misuse. The proposed rule is the first step in the process of establishing an emergency rule. The next step includes a review of the proposed rule by the governor before being submitted to the Executive Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council for approval. ?Governor (Asa) Hutchinson has followed this issue closely and previously tasked Secretary (Wes) Ward and ASPB Director (Terry) Walker with visiting farmers in areas with heavy dicamba damage. Governor Hutchinson will be conducting a thorough review of the proposed rule as soon as possible,? says Adriane Barnes, spokesperson for the Arkansas Agriculture Department. As of the morning of Friday, June 23, the board had received 242 complaints about dicamba drift across 19 counties in the state ? and the number continues to grow by the day. The complaints are what triggered the vote. Earlier in the week, the board passed further restrictions that would require hooded sprayers and a one-mile buffer in order to apply the in-crop use of dicamba. ?When you see those numbers of complaints, something is not working. It just gives me a lot of pause. I?m really anxious about it,? Andrew Thostenson, Pesticide Program Specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service, says. He adds: ?I feel really bad for those people who had their crops damaged. This is not a deal where we?re talking $10 or $15 dollar soybeans ? the margins are not where they?ve been in previous years. If you have a short crop because of a drift situation, it?s much more devastating at these lower prices.? ?I think we made a monumental effort to try to teach everyone, but I still think there was a lack of understanding by a lot of guys just how important it was to follow all of the regulations.? ?Bob Scott; credit: University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research & Extension Bob Scott, Professor and Weed Scientist at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, spent about two weeks on the road when the complaints started coming in to take a look at the damaged fields and offer growers help. He tells AgriBusiness Global that a majority of the drift damage reported up until about 10 days ago was on soybeans that were in the vegetative stage, when the crop is still able to recover somewhat if irrigated and sprayed properly thereafter. When injury occurs in this stage, ?it does not usually result in big yield loss, according to our limited data. There is really nothing you can do except give them time to recover,? he says. He is more concerned about complaints that have popped up in the last week, because despite the tropical depression that had moved through and delayed plantings, more plants would have still moved into the reproductive stage, where impact on seed production, plant development, and yield loss is much more severe. Scott blames the drift problems in Arkansas primarily on wind movement and possibly inversions, as opposed to volatility, which BASF?s Engenia formulation (as well as Monsanto?s XtendiMax, although it is not labeled for use in Arkansas) addresses. Impact of a Ban In a state where about 35% to 40% of soybeans are Roundup Ready 2 Xtend, there were about a half-million acres of dicamba-tolerant soybean crops as of last week that either hadn?t been sprayed or could possibly need a second application of dicamba, according to an unscientific study Scott?s extension service team conducted. But that figure will decline each day as growers continue to spray until the governor reviews the rule. This number includes acres where Flexstar might still work and PPO resistance to pigweed has yet to develop. ?The bottom line is, if a farmer planted Xtend soybeans because he has PPO-resistant pigweed, he would be left without an option to control pigweed, so (a ban) would be a bad deal for those guys,? he says. In some cases, Scott got calls to visit farms that had been accused of drifting to their neighbor?s fields, but there was no clear indication the growers had done anything out of line with the label requirements. ?Those are the ones where you leave scratching your head. They are good applicators, have good records, and seemed to follow the guidelines well, and yet they still have unacceptable movement,? Scott says. ?Going into the fall, we?re really going to have to look at drift complaints, categorize and narrow them down, and try to figure out what?s going on here to determine whether we can use this technology or not ? I think we made a monumental effort to try to teach everyone, but I still think there was a lack of understanding by a lot of guys just how important it was to follow all of the regulations. Also, unless you see it for yourself, it?s hard to believe how sensitive the soybean is to even the smallest amounts of dicamba. I just think a lot of guys didn?t really comprehend how bad it could be,? he says. Scott says that in his experience, ?most of the guys who got drift aren?t walking around mad. They just want the problem solved, and if the only way to solve it is a ban, then that?s fine with them. I don?t think they necessarily want that, but they just want to farm their crops and not be drifted on.? He says, ?We?re a pretty diverse state. We?ve got conventional soybean growers; we?ve guys that like LibertyLink; and we?ve got guys that made the switch from Roundup to Xtend or Liberty to Xtend, and we?ve got vegetable growers. I?m a big believer that a guy should be able to grow whatever he wants on his land, and shouldn?t have to plant any one company?s type of bean just in self-defense, to prevent injury.? Thostenson adds: ?My heart goes out to those inspectors and people down there trying to figure out what?s going on. This is going to be very tough; the scale of problems is very big. Up here in North Dakota, if we have more than 50 or 60 complaints in a growing season you?ve got a major problem. You?re talking hundreds down there ? that boggles the mind.? |
Don't Drink The COOL-Aid
| Mandatory Country Of Origin Labeling (COOL) is back in the news. Dropped after WTO rulings and predictions of financial losses, the controversial labeling issue has resurfaced in a lawsuit against the USDA. |
For Weaned Pigs, Feed Quality is Critical
| Grain quality issues can create additional problems with weaned piglets, but so can the protocols meant to protect pigs against contaminated feed, say researchers. |
Count the Rings Around the Corn Collars
| Knowing how to count corn collars at this point in the season is a valuable skill because it can help you make accurate decisions on timing postemergence herbicide applications, says Farm Journal Associate Field Agronomist Missy Bauer. |
U.S. Ag Delegates Visit Cuba After Tougher Trump Policy
| Last week, President Donald Trump announced a tougher policy with Cuba, and the first United states delegation to the country started its visit Tuesday. |
Record Levels of Cheese in Storage
| Industry watching butter to see when and where it will peak |
Is High-Tech Subsurface Moisture Monitoring on the Way?
| Purdue University has developed technology that researchers say could be used by farmers in the future to more accurately sense subsurface moisture by measuring the reflections from communication satellite signals. |
Will Option Expiration Fuel Grains?
| Grain markets are higher ahead of the weekend and option expiration. Outside markets have a mostly quiet report day, but are considering the impact of Washington policy announcements. |
Trump Pledges Rural Broadband Support in Infrastructure Package
| President praises farmers, vows to ‘rebuild rural America’ |
Trump Vows Support for 'Under Siege' Ethanol Amid EPA Delays
| President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for the U.S. ethanol industry in an Iowa speech Wednesday, even as his administration stokes uncertainty by considering last-minute changes to the way it mandates domestic consumption. |
Trump Vows Support for `Under Siege' Ethanol Amid EPA Delays (1)
| Trump Vows Support for `Under Siege' Ethanol Amid EPA Delays (1) |