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Stabenow to include egg bill?

May 1, 2013 By 1 Comment

Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow reportedly plans to include the so-called Egg Bill, supported by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the United Egg Producers (UEP), in her markup of the Farm Bill.

Agri-Pulse reports that the chairwoman’s staff told staff members of pork, beef, and turkey groups, and the American Farm Bureau on Tuesday that she was aiming to include Senate Bill 820, sponsored bya bipartisan group of senators, including Stabenow herself and Democrat Dianne Feinstein. A companion “egg” bill was introduced in the House, HR 1731. The ag groups are strongly opposed to the legislation which would set federal standards on cages for egg laying hens.

Stabenow worked last year to shut down similar legislation in the Senate-passed farm bill. Agri-Pulse says Stabenow has been at the receiving end of political pressure from the Michigan Agri-Business Association and others who support the bill. The Association says the bill is supported “by every commercial egg producer in Michigan.”

Stabenow has indicated markup of the farm bill in her committee could begin as early as May 9th.

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

85th Ohio FFA State Convention

May 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ShelbyFaulkner_StatePresident (1)_editThe 85th Ohio FFA State Convention begins Thursday, May 2, at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.

State FFA President Shelby Faulkner says it’s a big week for FFA members across the state and while they’ll feature what’s become traditional, Shelby says they’ll also provide some new activities.

“We’re going to be recognizing our teachers and administrators on stage, which I think is very exciting,” Faulkner said. “And then we’re also going to have a concert for the first time ever.”

The concert features Casey James and Aaron Kelly.

Faulkner will be wrapping up her year as State President on Friday, May 3, she describes her year as “insane.”

“I’ve traveled all across the state of Ohio visiting many chapters and meeting students and as busy as I’ve been, I have enjoyed every single moment of it,” said the State FFA President. “I’ve had 15 officers that I’ve been able to watch grow and develop over the year, this is going to be the icing on the cake.”

Following her year as State President, Shelby tells Brownfield she’s going to take some time to relax and then begin taking classes in June at The Ohio State University where she’s majoring in Agriscience Education.

Audio: Shelby Faulkner, State President, Ohio FFA (5:55 mp3)

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

A little less profitable on the farm in April

April 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The monthly Index of Prices Received by Farmers in April showing a 6 percent decline from March. The Livestock Index was 0.6 percent lower while the Crop Index declined 6.6 percent for the month.

The average price for corn in April was $6.67 per bushel, down 46 cents from March. Soybeans were 40 cents cheaper at $14.20 per bushel, all wheat down 26 cents to average $7.52 per bushel and all hay increased $4 to average $200 per ton.

The average hog price for April was $61.10 per hundredweight up $1.90 from March; beef cattle were unchanged at $124 per hundredweight. Broilers were down a penny at 65 cents per pound, turkeys were up 2.2 cents at 67.2 cents and eggs dropped 30.6 cents to average 64.6 cents per dozen.

The April all milk price increased 20 cents from March to average $19.30 per hundredweight. The milk-to-feed ration for April comes in at 1.56 compared to 1.48 in March and 1.41 a year ago. Florida farmers getting the highest price for milk at $23.30 up 30 cents from March while New Mexico producers got the lowest price $17.80, unchanged from last month.  Normally average dairy cow prices are reported in April but those numbers are not available this time due to budget sequestration cuts.

The Index of Prices Paid by farmers is unchanged from March; higher prices for mixed fertilizer, concentrates, LP gas and feeder cattle offset lower prices for feed grains, diesel, gasoline and nitrogen.

The preliminary All Farm Products Index is up 6.2 percent compared to April of 2012 while the Index of Prices Paid is up 2.3 percent for the year.

Read the full NASS report here:

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

5% of U.S. corn planted

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

USDA reports producers made very little corn planting progress last week due to continued wet, cold weather in many key growing areas.

As of Sunday, 5% of the U.S. corn crop is planted, compared to 4% a week ago, 49% a year ago, and the five year average of 31%. All of the 18 major U.S. corn producing states are behind their respective average paces, with 11 at 5% or less, including 7 at 1% or less. That slow planting pace is also having an impact on emergence – 2% of corn has emerged, compared to 14% last year at this time and 6% on average.

Additionally, poor weather is taking its’ toll on the winter and spring wheat crops. 33% of this year’s winter wheat crop is in good to excellent condition, down 2% on the week and 31% on the year, with 14% headed, compared to 55% a year ago and 29% on average. For spring wheat, 12% is planted, compared to 70% last year and 37% on average, with 3% emerged, compared to 26% a week ago and 10% on average.

USDA’s next national crop progress report is out May 6 at 4 PM Eastern/3 PM Central.

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

Farm bill movement likely in May

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow says she she’ll hold a markup of a new farm bill in May—though she has not set a specific date yet.

Stabenow’s announcement echoed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s instructions to the Senate last week.  Reid said the Senate must act on the farm bill and the water resources bill by the end of May in order to clear enough floor time for consideration of comprehensive immigration reform.

However, Capitol Hill observers say there are two big hurdles for the Senate Agriculture Committee to overcome. The first is garnering support from southern senators for a rewrite of the commodity title that, in the words of Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor, treats both Midwestern and southern producers “equally”. 

The other is budget savings.  Last year’s Senate bill scored at saving about 23 billion dollars. But the Congressional Budget Office has determined that that same bill – given a 2013 economy and USDA spending – would only save about 13 billion dollars.

On the House side, Representative Frank Lucas, chair of the House Agriculture Committee, says his May 15th committee markup is on track. Lucas says the markup will build off the House Ag Committee’s 2012 bill.

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

Build the Team. Grow the Company. Have Fun.

April 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

We haven’t exactly “gone fishing” but we are going to be away for a couple of days.

It was 40 years ago that Clyde Lear and Derry Brownfield teamed up to create a state-wide farm radio network.
Learfield Communications, Inc. started with just a few people and now there’s a bunch of us, working in offices and newsrooms all throughout the country.

We are all getting together on Thursday and Friday, April 25 and 26, to celebrate Learfield’s vibrant past, present, and future.

In the meantime, check out this 1984 PBS segment on Learfield Communications.

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes, Top Stories Tagged With:

Assessing flood damage

April 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Farmers and land owners are being reminded that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) may have funds available to help repair damage caused by recent rains and flooding to conservation practices.

“If there’s something going with Mother Nature, there are times we have special funding that we can get to go back and fix some of those problems,” said Terry Cosby, State Conservationist in Ohio.

Cosby says that while his office has not received any calls about damage, he knows other state NRCS offices have. For those with flood damage, Cosby suggests contacting your local NRCS office for assistance.

Audio: Terry Cosby, NRCS, State Conservationist, Ohio (:55 mp3)

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

High water causing river problems

April 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Army Corps of Engineers picture

Army Corps of Engineers picture

High water is presenting a lot of challenges to barge traffic on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. The Coast Guard is closing part of the Illinois River near Peoria to protect levees. The Army Corps of Engineers has activated its Rock Island District Emergency Operations Center and an alternate center in Quincy, Illinois serving a 78,000 square mile, five-river basin in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and Minnesota.

Crews are scrambling to capture numerous barges which have broken loose; seven barges broke loose and ran up against the dam at Marseilles, Illinois on Thursday. After inspection the dam was declared sound. (picture)

Thirty barges carrying coal and grain broke free from their mooring at Vicksburg, Mississippi on Sunday and struck a railroad bridge closing the river. The Coast Guard reports one sank, one was partially submerged and one ran aground on a dike. The river was reopened to southbound traffic on Monday.

The latest information from the Army Corps of Engineers is available here:

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

4% of U.S. corn planted

April 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

According to USDA, U.S. corn and spring wheat planting paces remain much slower than average, while the winter wheat condition rating declined slightly as recent weather conditions continue take their toll on crops.

As of Sunday, April 21, 2013, 4% of the U.S. corn crop is planted, compared to 26% on April 21, 2012 and the five year average of 16%. Only North Carolina is ahead of average and 12 of the other 17 major production states are less than 5% planted.

8% of the winter wheat crop has headed, compared to 42% a year ago and 19% on average. 35% of winter wheat is in good to excellent condition, down 1% from last week and 28% less than this time last year. 32% of the crop is in fair shape, 1% under a week ago, and 33% is called poor to very poor, up 2% on the week.

7% of spring wheat is planted, compared to 52% a year ago and the five year average of 24%.

USDA’s next national crop progress report is out Monday, April 29 at 4 PM Eastern/3 PM Central.

Filed Under: Crops, Markets, News, Spring Planting, Top Stories, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Lucas plans May 15 farm bill markup

April 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

House Ag Committee chair Frank Lucas says he will hold a farm bill markup on May 15th.

According to a report on politico.com, Lucas is determined to move ahead with the markup despite pressure from Republican leadership to take more time and consider tough changes in the food stamp program to win over conservative votes.
Senate Ag Committee chair Debbie Stabenow had expressed hope her panel would mark up a bill in April, though just one legislative week remains before the next congressional recess.

The current one-year extension of the 2008 Farm Bill expires on September 30th.

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