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Young Farmer Conference this weekend

January 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

The Indiana Farm Bureau State Young Farmer Leadership Conference is going to be held Friday and Saturday, January 28-29, at the Indianapolis Marriott East.

State Young Farmer Committee Chairman, Justin Inman of Lawrence County says the weekend will include a number of breakout sessions and plenty of opportunities for young farmers to share experiences and learn from each other. And for those attending, Inman hopes they’ll have a better understanding of Farm Bureau.

“More than anything, to let them know that Farm Bureau is fun and that we are here to promote agriculture and try to get the younger generation involved, so if they want to come back to the farm,” Inman said. “We try to make the whole weekend a good time and try to keep it lively and entertaining.”

Interview: Justin Inman, State Young Farmer Comm. Chair. (4:55 MP3)

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News Tagged With: ,

Farm shows anchor east, west ends of South Dakota

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A couple of major farm shows are underway at opposite ends of South Dakota. The Sioux Empire Farm Show continues through Saturday at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls. Cattle and goat shows are Friday along with the Mayor’s Roundup and Sale of Champions Friday evening. Youth shows and contests are Saturday with the draft horse pull closing the show Saturday evening.

Meanwhile the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo is in Rapid City. Livestock shows and rodeos are featured through all of next week. Included are a couple appearances Sunday by Susie McEntire at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. McEntire, Reba McEntire’s younger sister, tells Brownfield she’s right at home performing for people who are close to the land.

“When I hear a report on the stockyards and what everybody got for their cattle, I know what that means,” said McEntire, in an interview with Brownfield this week. “I know what it means when someone says we got a rain today. It’s not because I have to mow my yard next week, it’s because my cattle are getting fed out in the pasture. It means that you have a heart for them, you have an empathy for them and you know how to pray for them.”

Susie McEntire leads a cowboy church service at 11a.m. and another gathering at 4 p.m. Sunday.

AUDIO: Susie McEntire (5 min. MP3)

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News Tagged With: ,

South Dakota corn growers tout image

January 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

South Dakota farmers have launched an advertising campaign to show how growers preserve natural resources. The South Dakota Corn Utilization Council and South Dakota Corn Growers Association began this month letting the public know the ways farmers protect and improve their surroundings. That communication is important, according to Chad Blindauer, who farms near Mitchell and is vice president of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council.

“There are so many people anymore that are one, two or even three generations removed from the farm, so they don’t really know what goes on on a farm,” Blindauer said, during an interview with Brownfield Thursday. “It used to be, somebody had a relation that came from a farm somewhere, [but] anymore, that’s just not the case.”

The billboards and ads focus on improved farming methods, scientific advancements and new technology and how they allow producers to use less fertilizer, pesticide, water and tillage, reducing erosion and runoff. The campaign, called True Environmentalists, says plant and equipment technology advances have resulted in farmers producing ample food while conserving resources. The ads are on radio, television, newspapers and billboards.

AUDIO: Chad Blindauer (2 min. MP3)

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News Tagged With: , ,

Humane Certified – enriched colony cages

January 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

The European way of housing egg-laying hens is accepted by the American Humane Association’s “Humane Certified” program to replace so-called “battery cages” here.  Brownfield learned at the International Poultry Expo that U.S. companies are beginning to flock to it. 

AHA Vice President of Farm Animal Programs Tim Amlaw says the  “enriched colony cage system” meets his organization’s high standards. “We really worked hard over the last few years to look at where Europe had been, to maybe find a solution for California Prop. 2,” Amlaw says. “And certainly then you have Ohio with their rule-making authority there and some other areas trying to be more proactive.”

Amlaw tells Brownfield the enriched cages house 60 hens, a smaller population than cage-free operations and it meets the hens’ needs for perching, privacy and scratching and those of producers needing to comply with stricter requirements.

“Ours is the main-stream, middle-of-the-road kind of concept of finding solutions for everybody,” says Amlaw. ”It starts with the animals, it works for the producers and to the consumers and ultimately, it also has to work for the pocketbook.”

 J.S. West of California is using the enriched system approved by the American Humane Association.  Over the next year, he says, there will be 50 to 100 more egg companies using them.  The largest grocery retailer in the nation, WalMart, endorses them for their egg suppliers.

Filed Under: 2011 Events, 2011 Poultry Expo, Featured Tagged With: , , ,

Senate Ag Committee members named

January 27, 2011 By 2 Comments

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have announced the members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Chaired by Senator Debbie Stabenow, Democrat of Michigan, the committee will consist of:

Democrats:

  • Patrick Leahy, Vermont
  • Tom Harkin, Iowa
  • Kent Conrad, North Dakota
  • Max Baucus, Montana
  • Ben Nelson, Nebraska
  • Sherrod Brown, Ohio
  • Robert Casey, Pennsylvania
  • Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
  • Michael Bennet, Colorado
  • Kirsten Gillibrand, New York

Republicans:

  • Pat Roberts, Kansas
  • Saxby Chambliss, Georgia
  • Richard Lugar, Indiana
  • Thad Cochran, Mississippi
  • Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
  • Mike Johanns, Nebraska
  • John Boozman, Arkansas
  • Chuck Grassley, Iowa
  • John Thune, South Dakota
  • John Hoeven, North Dakota
Filed Under: News, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , , ,

USDA clears unrestricted planting of RR alfalfa

January 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

USDA has approved the unrestricted planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa. In making the announcement, U. S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, “After conducting a thorough and transparent examination of alfalfa through a multi-alternative environmental impact statement (EIS) and several public comment opportunities, APHIS has determined that Roundup Ready alfalfa is as safe as traditionally bred alfalfa.”  The decision clears the way for planting the biotech crop this spring.

Use of the crop had been halted in 2007 when a U.S. District Court Judge in Northern California ordered a new Environmental Impact Statement be prepared. That Statement was completed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service a month ago.

First commercialized in 2005, Monsanto says more than 5,000 farmers had planted Roundup Ready alfalfa on over 250,000 acres before the court ruling.  Monsanto says they, Forage Genetics International and other alfalfa seed companies “have varieties of Genuity Roundup Ready Alfalfa seed in stock and ready for sale.”

The announcement drew praise from a number of ag interests:

The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives CEO Chuck Conner said: “Today’s decision is a victory for science and for America’s alfalfa producers, giving them access to a safe, proven technology that will allow them to boost productivity while enhancing their good stewardship of natural resources. In deregulating RRA without conditions, USDA has upheld the integrity of regulatory process for biotechnology crops that has existed since the adoption of the Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology in 1986.”

Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization stated: “Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s decision is based on sound science and two decades of regulatory precedent. Most importantly, this announcement restores the principle of farmer choice and allows growers to move forward with decisions about spring planting. This action also supports President Obama’s pledge to support science-based decision-making and to steer away from policies that create barriers to economic growth.”

National Corn Growers Association Chair Darren Ihnen: “We would like to thank Secretary Vilsack for keeping grower choice as a priority. Farmers need access to technology so that they can choose the option that is best for their farm. Biotechnology can improve a farm’s efficiency and decrease the amount of chemical needed for that crop. We need choice to raise more food, feed, fiber and fuel for the world’s growing needs.”

House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas: “Genetically engineered alfalfa has been subjected to an extensive multi-year review and the conclusion has always been the same: it’s safe. A product that has been repeatedly found to be safe should be deregulated. I am pleased that USDA used sound science and respected the limit of its statutory authority to make this decision.”

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow: “I applaud the USDA’s decision to deregulate Roundup Ready alfalfa, giving growers the green light to begin planting an abundant, affordable and safe crop. While I’m glad this decision was guided by sound science, I’m concerned that USDA’s process creates too much uncertainty for our growers. Alfalfa was one of nearly two dozen genetically modified crops awaiting USDA evaluation and approval – a bottlenecked process that hinders growth and progress.”

Not everyone in support of the decision, the Cornucopia Institute stated: “We are extremely disappointed with the USDA’s decision to fully deregulate Monsanto’s GE-alfalfa. It appears that the political muscle of bio-tech sector trumped the many concerns about widespread contamination of organic and conventional alfalfa that were expressed by tens of thousands of consumers and farmers to the USDA. This action raises the likelihood of a renewed court challenge by the Center for Food Safety to GE-alfalfa, a case in which The Cornucopia Institute is a plaintiff.”

Filed Under: News, Top Stories, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Wheat lower on profit taking

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Soybeans were mostly higher on technical and commercial buying. Demand continues to look strong with another good week for export sales and shipments. Fundamentals remain solid and traders are continuing their efforts to buy some acreage back from cotton and corn. Past that – gains were limited by the sharply lower crude oil and improved weather in Argentina. The U.S. Census Bureau reports December’s bean crush was slightly larger than expected at 153.05 million bushels. Soybean meal and oil followed beans higher. Oil outgained meal due to comparatively better demand following a net reduction for old crop meal sales in the weekly export report. DTN states a group of importers from Israel bought 7,000 tons of U.S. soybean meal. Brazilian firm Agroconsult projects that nation’s 2010/11 soybean crop at a record 70.3 million tons while the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange left its outlook for Argentina’s crop at 47 million tons with 99.6% of the expected area planted.

Corn was lower on profit taking and fund selling, along with spillover from wheat and crude oil. Weekly export sales were near the low end of estimates and shipments remain slower than what’s needed to meet USDA projections. Also, with the supply lower than it has been in a long time and prices around two year highs, traders are continuing their efforts to try and ration demand while not selling off too hard or discouraging producers from increased acreage. According to DTN, a group of Israeli buyers purchased 40,000 tons of U.S. corn and 20,000 tons of ddgs. A Chinese agriculture minister via Dow Jones Newswires states Chinese grain demand should increase by 4 million tons a year over the next 5 years. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange pegs 2010/11 Argentine corn production at 19.5 million tons, unchanged from its last guess with 99.2% of the crop planted.

The wheat complex was lower on profit taking and technical selling. As much as anything, contracts were due for a correction after the recent run to more than two year highs. In any event, weekly export sales were solid and the tight global supply of high quality wheat remains supportive. DTN reports Japan bought 61,603 tons of Australian food wheat but didn’t find any sellers on their tender for 37,100 tons from Canada, while an Israeli group rejected offers on 35,000 tons of feed wheat from Europe or Australia. European wheat was lower on profit taking and a slow week for export licenses. The Primary Industries Minister in Australia’s state of New South Wales says roughly half of their wheat crop has been downgraded from food to feed use. According to the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange, 8.6% of Argentina’s wheat crop is harvested.

Filed Under: Closing Futures & Livestock Briefs, Markets Tagged With: , , , ,

Hog weights show a decrease from last week

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Cattle country was quiet on Thursday afternoon after some late trade in the North at 168.00 in the morning. A few cattle also traded in Colorado at 104.00. Business looks to be done for the week. Cattle left on the show lists are priced around 106.00 to 107.00 in the South and 170.00 plus in the North. Negotiated confirmed sales through Thursday morning totaled 140.372 head. The cattle kill totaled 127,000 head, 1,000 more than last week, but 11,000 over last year.

Boxed beef cutout values were steady to weak on light to moderate demand and offerings. Choice boxed beef was down .49 at 173.10, select beef was .17 lower at 171.61

Chicago Mercantile exchange live cattle contracts settled 50 points higher to down 27 but mostly lower on profit taking, late month worries over beef demand and short covering. Cattle futures were all over the place during the session with April and June posting a 250 point trading range. February settled .27 lower at 106.95, and April was down, 10 at 112.17.

Feeder cattle ended the session 10 to 65 points lower on the downturn in the live pit despite lower corn futures prices. January expired at noon at 126.15 down .20, March the new lead month was down .52 at 125.60, and April was .65 lower at 126.37.

Feeder cattle receipts at the Green City Livestock Auction, Green City, Missouri totaled 3390 head this week. Compared to two weeks ago, feeder steers were 2.00 to 8.00 higher, and heifers were 2.00 to 6.00 higher. Steers medium and large 1 and 1-2 weighing 500 to 600 pounds brought 130.00 to 142.00 per hundredweight, 7 to 8 weights traded from 120.00 to 133.25. 5 to 6 weight heifers traded from 128.25 to 137.50, and 7 to 8 weights brought 116.10 to 118.00.

Lean hogs settled mostly lower with only February in the black supported by bull spreading and ideas of strong late winter, early spring export demand. February settled at 83.95, up .92, and April was down .10 at 90.02.

Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota direct trade closed 1.41 higher at 78.41 weighted average on a carcass basis, the West was up .95 at 77.74, and in the East the market was .41 higher at 75.10. Missouri direct base carcass meat price closed 1.00 higher from 69.00 to 70.00.

Pork trading was slow, with light demand and mostly light offerings. Pork carcass cutout value closed .21 higher at 87.69.

Thursday’s hog slaughter was estimated at 419,000 head, the same as last week, but 8,000 less than last year. Iowa barrows and gilts averaged 274.3 pounds last week, .5 pounds lighter than the previous week and 4.4 pounds heavier than 2010. Live weights finally seem to be consistently dropping. Seasonally, hogs should get lighter at least through the end of February.

Filed Under: Closing Futures & Livestock Briefs, Markets Tagged With: ,

USB: Awareness of poultry end users vital

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The poultry industry is a huge customer of U.S. soybeans.  The United Soybean Board is trying to promote more awareness of that fact. USB Director Dwain Ford, a soybean farmer in Illinois, says there is a “disconnect” many soybean farmers have in understanding their end users.

 “Many times, for instance, out in the country when a domestic livestock producer wants to build a new facility, they actually oppose the livestock producer building the facility in their area,” says Ford. “They just really don’t understand how important the livestock industry is and if we lose the livestock industry, both domestically and internationally, we can lose our soybean industry.”

Ford says USB research shows growers often think of their local elevator as their end customer and that needs to change.

Filed Under: Crops, Livestock, News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Campaign aims to increase FFV awareness

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Legislation introduced in the Senate this week would mandate that 90 percent of all vehicles produced in the U.S. by the year 2016 be flex fuel vehicles.  But getting more flex fuel vehicles on the road is only part of the challenge. 

According to Burl Haigwood, coordinator of a national Flex Fuel Vehicle Awareness Campaign, only a small percentage of current FFV owners realize that their vehicles can burn high volume ethanol blends like E85.

“There’s nine million on the road today.  About 90 percent of those vehicle owners don’t know they have this special vehicle,” Haigwood says, “and then the automakers are making a million more every year—and they’re not really engaged in selling the consumer because there’s not E85, or high blends, available—until now.  So that’s changed and we’re really trying to work with the FFV dealers and the E85 sellers to teach consumers.”

Haigwood says the FFV awareness campaign is targeting major ethanol producing states as well as urban areas where high concentrations of FFVs are registered.  The campaign has been tested in Texas and Florida and is currently being rolled out in Ohio.

Haigwood was in Lincoln, Nebraska Thursday for a presentation to the Nebraska Ethanol Board.

AUDIO: Burl Haigwood (6:30 MP3)

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News, Renewable Energy Tagged With: , ,
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