Corn

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

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

Market watchers often debate how the commodity markets must "buy" corn or soybean acres in any given year. In fact, price relationships may shift some last-minute acreage plans. But when you take into consideration all that goes into production, yield is the rotation trump card....More

Keith Dittrich was 17 when he was a farmer activist in the making. Over 30 years later, he chairs the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA), or as it’s safe to say, “the other corn growers’ association.” Dittrich, who farms in Tilden, NE, says the nearly 25-year-old ACGA is still entrenched with its philosophy of getting farm policy handled at the grassroots level....More