Ag Issues Archive
Crop Insurance Decisions
Feb 23, 2010, By Kent Thiesse
Many farm operators are now finalizing their crop insurance decisions for the 2010 crop year. March 15 is the deadline to purchase crop insurance for 2010. Following are some considerations...
USDA Forecasts Rebound in Farm Income
Feb 16, 2010, Source: Brock Associates
U.S. net farm income should rise 11.8% to $63 billion in 2010, primarily because of stronger livestock prices, USDA said on Thursday in its first income forecast of the year...
What’s Ahead for the CRP Program?
Feb 16, 2010, By Kent Thiesse
In 2009, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) celebrated its 23rd anniversary, and over two decades of conservation success. CRP was originally established in the 1985 Farm Bill, and today has over 400,000 landowners participating – most of which are farmers and ranchers – and involves over 31 million acres under some type of CRP contracts...
Why Is My Lender So Uptight?
Feb 16, 2010, By Dave Kohl
Many of you who are renewing lines of credit and seeking mortgage or intermediate-term credit are noticing concern among your lenders. Yes, if you are a livestock producer and your lender is financing that industry, the pressure is on. Even those in the grain industry, which has not faced downward pressure, will notice an occasional twinge of concern with the lender. What is going on?...
NCGA Takes Positive Story on Ag and the Environment to Energy Efficiency Forum
Feb 11, 2010, Source: National Corn Growers Association
Earlier this week, National Corn Growers Association CEO Rick Tolman presented on Agriculture and Global Warming: Challenges and Opportunities to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s third forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture held in Madison, WI...
The Most Important “C” of Credit
Feb 9, 2010, By Dave Kohl
If you have borrowed money, you have most likely heard your lender discuss the Five C’s of Credit. Recently, many lenders have indicated that character of the borrower is the most important of the Five C’s, particularly in tough economic times...
Wright Receives ISU’s Henry A. Wallace Award
Oct 20, 2009, Source: Iowa Soybean Association
David Wright, director of contract research and strategic initiatives for the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), was presented with the Henry A. Wallace award on Friday, Oct. 16. The award is presented by the Iowa State University (ISU) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences annually to honor ...
Survey Shows U.S. Farm Income Down
Oct 6, 2009, Source: Rabobank
Fewer than 5% of farms saw an improvement in income this year, a drastic downturn compared to the same time last year when one in four farms saw better year-over-year income, according to Rabobank’s Farm & Ranch Survey. “U.S. farmers and ranchers continue to take a consistently conservative position when anticipating future performance...
38% Drop In Net Farm Income Forecast
Oct 2, 2009, Source: Farm Press
Net farm income is forecast to be $54 billion in 2009, down $33.2 billion, or 38%, from the preliminary estimate of $87.2 billion for 2008, according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). The 2009 forecast is $9 billion below the average of $63.2 billion in net farm income earned in the previous 10 years...
NCGA Praises New USDA Initiative on Mississippi River Basin
Sep 25, 2009, Source: National Corn Growers Association
The National Corn Growers Association strongly endorses a new initiative announced today by the USDA to help provide for healthier watersheds in the Mississippi River Basin. Corn farmers have long been committed to conservation practices to decrease soil erosion and nutrient runoff from their fields...
Soy Transportation Coalition Publishes Study On Rail Transportation Of soybeans
Sep 25, 2009, Source: Soy Transportation Coalition
The Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) recently published, “Railroad Movement of Soybeans and Soy Products” – a comprehensive report that sheds light on the critical role railroads play in the entire journey from farm to dinner plate...
Senators Seek To Block EPA’s Indirect Land Use Rules
Sep 23, 2009, By Forrest Laws
Three Midwest senators have introduced legislation that would prevent EPA from penalizing U.S. corn and soybean growers for land-use changes or potential land clearing for increased biofuel production in other countries...
Crop Priority In ACRE
Sep 21, 2009, Source: University of Illinois farmdoc
Farmers who signed up for the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) can change their crop priority by Sept. 30. Crop priority determines which crop receives priority for ACRE payments. If corn is picked as the first priority and soybeans the second priority, ACRE payments will be received on the maximum number of planted corn acres and the remainder of eligible acres will be allocated to soybeans...
Nobel Laureate Norman E. Borlaug Dies
Sep 14, 2009, By Forrest Laws
Norman E. Borlaug, who received the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for developing high-yielding and disease-resistant wheat used to prevent famine in developing countries throughout the world, has died. He was 95...
Economy, Lower Commodity Prices Slowing Food Cost Growth
Sep 1, 2009, Source: Purdue University
After a couple years of above-average food-price inflation, Corinne Alexander, a Purdue University agricultural economist, believes the inflation rate will return to normal next year...
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