AUDIO: Mark Reisinger (4:27 MP3)

The Wall Street Journal says an estimated 25 to 50 percent drop in 2011 U.S. seed corn production could create problems for farmers who are planning to plant more acres to corn in 2012.

However, officials of both Monsanto and Pioneer say their seed supplies will be adequate to meet the increased demand. 

Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant was asked about seed supply during the company’s R & D pipeline update on Thursday. “We feel good about our own position and we are ready, willing and able to supply our farmer-customers,” Grant said, “so we’re in pretty good shape.”  

USDA chief economist Joe Glauber tells Bloomberg News while some of the more popular varieties may not be available, there is no evidence to suggest that planted acres will be constrained by a shortage of seed.

Bill Tierney, chief economist with Chicago-based AgResource agrees.  He says while some farmers won’t be able to buy their first choice, there would be no statistically significant impact on corn seedings or on corn yields.

Brownfield’s Dave Russell contributed to this story.

AUDIO: Heather Gotto (1:38 MP3)

They say that proposal could prevent youngsters who are under the age of 16 from detasseling.  It’s estimated that over 50 percent of seed detasslers nationwide are in the 13-15 age group that could be impacted. 

Thirteen year-old Haleigh Seizys of Lincoln, Nebraska was a first year detassler in 2011. She says it was a great experience.

“It really taught me what it’s like to persevere through hard work and tough conditions,” Seizys says, “and I learned a lot about teamwork as well.”

AUDIO: Haleigh Seizys (2:35 MP3)

Brad Hansen of Ceresco, Nebraska is 18. He has detasseled for the past five years.

“It’s been an excellent opportunity for me to develop a work ethic, develop character, and to make a great amount of money for my age,” Hansen says. “The past couple summers, I’ve made right around 25-hundred dollars for three weeks work—and I just can’t make that at any other job.”

AUDIO: Brad Hansen (2:45 MP3)

Dawn Buell owns and operates NATS Detasseling of Lincoln.  She employs 500 teenagers each summer, about 40 percent of whom are under 16.

“I believe it would really have such a detrimental effect, I’m not sure it would be worth staying in business any more, quite frankly,” Buell says.

If the teen labor force is cut, Buell says many companies would likely turn to migrant labor to get the job done.

AUDIO: Dawn Buell (2:17 MP3)

Nebraska Farm Bureau national affairs coordinator Jordan Dux says it’s just another example of federal government overreach.

“We have been concerned for the past few years on federal government really trying to sink its hands—and really regulate—what farmers and ranchers do a very daily basis,” says Dux.

AUDIO: Jordan Dux (6:27 MP3)

Thursday (December 1^st) is the last day to submit comments on those proposed child labor law changes to the U.S. Department of Labor.

AUDIO: News conference remarks-Nebraska State Capitol (26:46 MP3)

That might change, however, if proposed revisions to child labor laws are implemented.  They could impact the types of agricultural jobs that youth under the age of 16 are allowed to perform.

Terry Garner is in charge of U.S. seed production for Pioneer Hi-Bred, which employs 27-thousand detasselers each summer.

“We follow whatever the state laws are,” Garner explains. “So as they raise the worker age to 14, 15, 16—whatever it becomes across the system—that will have an impact–because probably 60 percent of our workers are 14 and under.”

The deadline for submitting public comment on the proposed rule changes to the U.S. Department of Labor is December 1^st. 

AUDIO: Terry Garner (3:59 MP3)

The program gives farmers the opportunity to purchase Stine seed corn and donate 100 percent of the seed value back to the Iowa FFA Foundation.

We talked to Dan Hansen, donor development manager for the Iowa FFA Foundation.

AUDIO: Dan Hansen (4:05 MP3)

AUDIO: Nick Lammers (5:19 MP3)

The company says the new 50-thousand square foot facility will help support corn breeding and product development, and corn and soybean product testing, for farmers in western and central Iowa, eastern Nebraska and northwest Missouri.

Construction of the new facility is scheduled to begin this month with completion anticipated in late spring 2012.

Pioneer has had a research location in Dallas Center since 2004.  The company says it has outgrown its existing facility.

AUDIO: Stephan Becerra (2:33 MP3)

AUDIO: Mike Leetch (5:04 MP3)