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2009 Corn Acreage up from Previous Estimates  

Source: National Corn Growers Association

Despite weather challenges at key planting times, U.S. corn growers planted 2 million more acres this season than previously expected, USDA reported today. In its annual report on planted acres, USDA estimated 87 million acres planted in ...

USDA APPROVES GUARANTEED LOAN FOR COMMERCIAL-SCALE BIODIESEL PRODUCTION PLANT 

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA Rural Development has approved a $25 million loan to enable a Minnesota biodiesel facility to diversify its operations and significantly...

Climate bill passes House narrowly, heads to Senate 

By David Bennett, Farm Press Editorial Staff

After robust debate Friday, June 26, the House of Representatives passed cap and trade legislation by a narrow margin, 212 to 219. Over 40 Democrats voted with Republicans against the bill. Eight Republicans crossed the aisle to vote for the 1,300-page bill, now headed to the Senate where another close vote is expected...

Water Is Standing In Many Corn Belt Fields 

Source: University of Illinois

It is mid-June and throughout the Corn Belt corn is waist to shoulder high with early planted fields beginning to reveal tassels. Soybeans are all ankle to knee high and early planted beans are beginning to bloom. In a typical year those conditions all might be true, but 2009 is not typical and those descriptions of corn and soybean fields...

Looking Ahead To 2010 And Pricing Corn 

By Ed Usset

If I have a handle on rent and fertilizer prices, I have a pretty good handle on my 2010 production costs. I used the FINBIN data base (the most important and underutilized tool available to farmers) to estimate production costs for corn in southern Minnesota. Assuming four-year average yields of 175 bu./acre, I estimate that I can produce a bushel of corn for $3.60-3.70. This figure assumes a direct government payment of about $20/acre, and includes a labor...

CSD Editor In Hungary For Trade Mission 

Greg Lamp, Corn & Soybean Digest editor, is heading out on a trade mission trip June 19 to Hungary with the Iowa Soybean Association. The Black Sea Trade Mission 2009 was established with state soybean associations and councils to prospect Black Sea/Mediterranean markets...

Wet Weather Has Farmers Wondering About Additional Nitrogen Applications 

Source: University of Illinois

The Illinois State Water Survey says that wet conditions in March, April and May 2009 were the “fifth wettest since statewide records began in 1895,” leading many farmers to wonder if they should apply more nitrogen (N) fertilizer to cornfields...

Asian Soy Rust Slow To Develop 

Source: Farm Press

Nearly a week after Asian soybean rust was located in south Louisiana and Alabama soybeans, the fungal disease hadn’t been found elsewhere. It was not from lack of looking, though. “We’ve continued to scout and make (leaf) collections, but nothing has been found since the St. Martin Parish outbreak,” said Clayton Hollier, LSU AgCenter plant pathologist on June 12. “Having already found rust in south Louisiana kudzu, “my associate looked at several ...

Subject: Soybean Aphids Arrive in Ohio, and in Big Numbers 

Source: Ohio State University

The soybean aphid has arrived in Ohio. Ohio State University Extension entomologists have found the sapsucker on early planted soybeans, and in some fields at numbers higher than expected...

Spray Drift Potential Increases During Warm-Weather Applications 

By Mark Hanna and Kristine Schaefer, Iowa State University Extension

Recent rains over much of the state are encouraging crop and weed growth and pesticide applications will be a primary focus as soon as fields are suitable. In a May 15, 2009 ICM news article, management factors to reduce...

NCGA View: Despite Critics, Research Clear on Food Inflation  

By Rick Tolman, National Corn Growers Association

It would be nice to be a mouse in the boardroom at the next meeting of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). Internal conflict within the organization over the ongoing public relations attacks on corn farmers and ethanol might prove...

Soybean Rust Stirring in the South 

By Daren Mueller, Iowa State University Extension

Soybean rust is starting to catch the attention of plant pathologists this year. If you peruse the USDA ipmPIPE Soybean Rust Web site, the distribution of soybean rust may not appear much different than in years past. Like before, soybean rust has survived the winter in the South on kudzu...

Glyphosate Nonperformance Issues And Glyphosate-Resistant Biotypes 

Source: University of Minnesota Extension

Glyphosate-resistant biotypes of giant and common ragweed and common waterhemp have been confirmed in Minnesota and are listed on the International Survey of Resistant Weeds Web site. Both species appear to be resistant to approximately four-times the labeled use rate of glyphosate (4X). In the short timeframe presented to us during the growing season, separating glyphosate nonperformance...

Lower Prices May Spur Fresh Soy Demand  

Source: Brock Associates

Soybean traders will be watching to see whether recent futures declines are enough to spur renewed interest in U.S. soybeans from Chinese buyers, who have delayed or cancelled some previous purchases over the past couple of weeks...

Interactive Soybean Exhibit Unveiled At Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo 

Source: Illinois Soybean Association

Now, children in the Chicago area have a hands-on opportunity to learn more about soybeans in a new exhibit at the Farm-in-the-Zoo Presented by John Deere. Soybeans: Growing Food, Growing World was unveiled to...