There are a few states that are still struggling, but overall the corn crop is off to a great start. Lots of farmers were in the fields over the Memorial Day holiday, planting over one fourth of the nation’s crop last week to tie the five year average at 88 percent, according to USDA. Emergence is catching up with 60 …
Put Your FFA Jacket in the Smithsonian?
You know how they refer to outlaw motorcycle gangs like Hell’s Angels as 1 percenters? Well, I jokingly referred to the omnipresent blue corduroy jacket wearing FFA members in high school as 2 percenters. That’s because only about 2 percent of the population had a real shot at becoming a farmer and feeding the world. There are more than 20 …
Planting Zooms Ahead on Potential Record Crop
USDA is calling for record corn and soybean crops in the first outlook report for the 2014-2015 season. Chief economist Joe Glauber says corn production is forecast at just a little bit more than last year’s record crop with higher expected yields more than offsetting a reduction in planted area. “What would be a record yield at 165.3 bushels per …
Farmer’s View of Sustainability
Walmart held a big event last week where the CEOs of major global companies made new commitments toward more sustainable products. Among the food and agribusiness company CEOs taking part were Monsanto, Cargill, Dairy Farmers Incorporated, General Mills and Kellogg, many whom talked about how they will be working with farmers on sustainability goals. Monsanto chairman and CEO Hugh Grant …
White House on Climate Change and Farmers
Agriculture is a big part of the new White House climate change assessment report out this week. “Corn producers in Iowa, oyster growers in Washington state and maple syrup producers in Vermont are all observing climate-related changes that are outside of recent experience,” the report states. Immediately after the report was released on Tuesday, the administrator of the Environmental Protection …
Corn Planting Slow and Steady
So corn planting is running behind the five year average right now - but it’s ahead of last year’s progress at this time and we had a record crop in 2013. Remember how the tortoise beat the hare in the old fable - slow and steady wins the race! Illinois, Indiana and Iowa have barely begun to plant, according to …
Energy Independence No Greased Pig Fantasy
There is an old saying…”make hay while the sun is shining.” Dating back to at least 1546 this traditional farmer logic translates into grab opportunity while you can. This has never been truer regarding the nation’s energy situation. A new report by the Energy Information Administration makes that abundantly clear. EIA says the greased pig fantasy of energy independence in …
Long Winter Takes a Hard Toll
From the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic, the long, cold winter has taken a toll on the spirits of people from all walks of life. From commuters sick of slugging away in traffic during snowy commutes to parents worn down by a barrage of weather-related school cancelations, winter’s death grip on much of the country seems to be firmly clenched as …
Water is Life and Drought Equals Higher Food Prices
Food prices are on the rise again and you probably already noticed. Thankfully, the mainstream media thus far is covering it in a balanced way and pointing out the primary drivers behind the increase. Those include things like drought in key growing regions, and an anticipated cut in planted acres in the Ukraine due to political unrest. But as …
Lower Farm Income No Crisis
Word out of USDA this week that farm income is projected to drop dramatically this year brought visions of tractorcades and Farm Aids from the 1980s, but hold those calls to Willie and keep the tractors in the fields because a repeat of the infamous farm crisis is highly unlikely. Net farm income is forecast to be $95.8 billion this …