Prospective Plantings 

Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA

Corn planted acreage down 8% from 2007; soybean acreage up 18%; all wheat acreage up 6%; all cotton acreage down 13%.
Corn growers intend to plant 86 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2008, down 8% from last year...

Operation Strip-Till Gets Rolling 

Source: Iowa State University

Two north-central Iowa men put their heads together and created an opportunity for farmers interested in trying strip-till on their farms...

Stand Establishment And Soil Compaction Challenges May Crop Up This Spring 

Source: Purdue University

Cool, wet weather conditions are expected to continue this spring, which may result in stand establishment and soil compaction concerns for many Hoosier farmers...

Argentine Farm Strike Continues 

The two sides in the Argentine farm strike appear to be digging in their heels as the protest enters its third week. Transportation into the nation’s main export ports has been blocked...

New Fuel Price Data Shows Ethanol’s Cost Savings for Consumers 

Source: American Coalition for Ethanol

The availability of ethanol is currently reducing the cost of gasoline by between 6 and 9¢/gal., according to data collected by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE)...

USDA Reports 

By Bob Sampson

The most important of three upcoming USDA reports in terms of crop prices may be the Prospective Plantings report, says Darrel Good, University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist...

Expert Advises Farmers To Plant Corn In Fields Not Yet Committed 

Source: Purdue University

The market incentives all winter have been telling farmers to plant more soybeans, but we have seen a reversal in the new crop futures, says Chris Hurt, a Purdue University Extension agricultural economist...

Pathologist: Be Wary Of Fungicide Yield Boost Claims 

Source: Purdue University

Farmers who apply fungicide to corn and soybeans because they believe the chemical boosts yields could be treating their crops with little more than a placebo, Greg Shaner, Purdue University Extension plant pathologist, says...

Glyphosate-Resistant Johnsongrass Confirmed 

Source: Monsanto

The University of Arkansas and Monsanto have confirmed glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass in a field in southeast Arkansas. In a separate case, Monsanto and specialists at Mississippi State University (MSU) confirm a case of johnsongrass...

Increased Carbon Dioxide in Atmosphere Linked to Decreased Soil Organic Matter 

Author: Debra Levey Larson

A recent study at the University of Illinois (U of I) created a bit of a mystery for soil scientist Michelle Wander: increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was expected to increase plant growth, increase plant biomass and ultimately beef up the organic matter in the soil – but it didn't...

Views from the Top 

By Dr. Dave Kohl

Recently I was in Embrun, Ontario, Canada, south of Ottawa, at a Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Speaking Series event. Brian Little, the head of RBC agribusiness for Canada...

Crop Insurance Deadline 

By Kent Thiesse

Monday, March 17 is the deadline to purchase crop insurance for the 2008 crop year. Producers need to analyze how crop insurance fits into their risk management and grain marketing strategies for the coming year...

USDA Cuts U.S. Soy, Wheat Stocks 

By Richard Brock

On Tuesday morning, USDA lowered its estimates of 2007-2008 U.S ending stocks for soybeans and wheat by more than the trade expected, while leaving its corn carryout estimate unchanged from February...

Researchers at University of Nebraska-Lincoln Determine On-Farm Costs of Producing Switchgrass for Ethanol 

Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The on-farm cost of producing switchgrass for cellulosic ethanol averages about $60/ton, according to a new study by Rich Perrin, University of Nebraska-Lincoln agricultural economist, and others...

New Reports Look at Ethanol Industry Progress and Outlook 

Source: National Corn Growers Association

The U.S. ethanol industry produced a record amount of fuel ethanol in 2007, according to year-end data released recently by the U.S. Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) – 32% more ethanol than in 2006...