The 2011-2012 corn marketing year is approaching the halfway point. "At this time of year prospects for marketing-year consumption and ending stocks are often fairly clear and the market begins to focus more on new crop prospects. This year, consumption, stocks and price prospects are far from clear," says University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Darrel Good. "There is considerable uncertainty about the pace of consumption for the rest of year in each of the major categories. If anything, the uncertainty outlined two weeks ago has intensified."...More

What will the national average corn yield be this year? No, that’s not a fair question. But what might be an easier question to answer is will the national average yield be above or below the trend line, which falls about 160 bu./acre for 2012? And that question is significant because the last two years of corn yields have been under the trend line. Will it be that way again, or will it be above?...More

There may be no such thing as the "normal" growing conditions of old that many corn farmers have been longing for after enduring extreme weather in recent years, says Bob Nielsen, a Purdue Extension agronomist. Instead, he suggests corn growers look at a variety of management techniques to give crops the best chance at success – regardless of the weather....More

Farmland owners are in for more property tax increases at least into 2015, Purdue Extension agricultural economist Larry DeBoer says. In the Jan. 27 issue of his column "Capital Comments," DeBoer said the base rate for the assessment of an acre of farmland will jump from $1,290 in 2011 to $1,500 in 2012. He estimates the base rate will be about $2,030/acre by 2015. The 2007 base rate was $880....More