Government

House Ag Committee Approves Farm Bill

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:15:00 +0000

Source: House Agriculture Committee

Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) issued the following statements after the House Agriculture Committee approved the farm bill, H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013, by a large, bipartisan vote of 36-10. Committee members also adopted, by voice vote, an en bloc amendment.

2013 General Conservation Reserve Program Sign-Up Starts May 20

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:46:00 +0000

Source: USDA

Landowners and producers can now enroll in continuous CRP with general sign-up to follow.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack reminds farmers and ranchers that the USDA will conduct a four-week Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up from May 20 to June 14. Vilsack also announces the restart of sign-up for continuous CRP, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative, the Highly Erodible Land Initiative, the Grassland Restoration Initiative, the Pollinator Habitat Initiative and other related initiatives. Sign-up for continuous CRP began on May 13 and will continue through Sept. 30, 2013.

May 10 WASDE Could Cause Grain Market Concerns

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:38:00 +0000

The USDA Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WADSE) Reports released on May 10 were regarded as bearish for the corn market and neutral to bearish for the soybean market in the coming months. Corn stocks are expected to more than double by the end of the next crop marketing year, while the ending stocks for soybeans are expected show more moderate increases for the 2013-2014 marketing year, which runs from Sept. 1, 2013 to Aug. 31, 2014.

Focus on Ag

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Monsanto

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:16:00 +0000

Source: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Monsanto in the case of Bowman v. Monsanto, saying, “Patent exhaustion does not permit a farmer to reproduce patented seeds through planting and harvesting without the patent holder’s permission.”

House Ag Committee Drafts Farm Bill

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Source: House Agriculture Committee

On May 10, the House Ag Committee marked up their version of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM) Act of 2013. It is nearly identical to the bill marked up last summer.

May 2013 WASDE: Corn, Soybean Production, Supply Estimates Up, Prices Down

Fri, 10 May 2013 22:42:00 +0000

Source: USDA

Corn production for 2013-2014 is projected at 14.1 billion bushels, up 3.4 billion from 2012-2013. Soybean production is projected at a record 3.390 billion bushels, up 375 million from the drought-reduced 2012 crop on slightly higher harvested area and higher yields. Corn prices and soybean prices are both projected down from highs last season.

Senate Marks Up the 2013 Farm Bill

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:35:00 +0000

Source: Senate Agriculture Committee

The Senate’s bipartisan 2013 Farm Bill represents the most significant reform of American agriculture policy in decades.

With the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act, the era of direct payments is over. Instead of subsidies that pay out every year even in good times, the bill creates risk management tools that support farmers when they are negatively impacted by weather disaster or market events beyond their control.

7 Questions About the Farm Bill

Thu, 09 May 2013 20:19:00 +0000

Source: University of Illinois farmdocDaily

Farm Bill markup likely will begin soon in both the Senate and House Agricultural committees. Much of the focus for traditional program crops will be around three programs: a revenue program, a target price program and a supplemental crop insurance program. While the exact nature of the programs will depend on negotiations, what is almost certain is that the programs' rationale will be risk management. Given a risk management focus, farm bill negotiations will need to debate and somehow resolve the following seven questions.

USDA to Update 2013-2014 Forecasts

Tue, 07 May 2013 21:21:00 +0000

With Friday morning’s monthly USDA supply/demand update expected to show only minor adjustments in 2012-2013 estimates, the corn and soybean trade will focus on the agency’s first monthly estimates for 2013-2014.

News from Brock Associates

USDA Announces Final Call for 2012 Census of Agriculture

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:39:00 +0000

Source: USDA

Don't miss your chance to provide the facts straight from the farm.

With the window to respond to the 2012 Census of Agriculture officially closing on May 31, the USDA is urging farmers and ranchers not to miss this opportunity to be counted and help determine the future of farming in America. USDA has already received more than 2 million completed Census forms.