Ag Moment

2010-10-20T21:00:00.001-05:00

Agmoment, sadly, is no more, I let the site lapse and it is now taken over by a malaysian cybersquatter. Maybe I'll try to bring something up around here sometime. But for now, try my new site focused on plant-derived proteins - Made In Plants

Out with the old, in with the new!

2006-01-11T19:03:00.000-05:00

Things have went better than expected and I can now say that Ag Moment is officially moving! Please visit the new site at www.agmoment.com Please update your links and I'll see you at the new site. I will not be updating this site anymore, the new site contains all the information contained here and more. A few comments about the new site and the move: A new web address - I have changed web-server providers, blogging programs, and web addresses. The new address is: www.agmoment.com Please update any links you may have to this address. Feeds - If you are pulling my feed to read this site (through bloglines, google, etc. . .), you don’t have to do a thing, just sit back and keep enjoying Ag Moment. This is just a start - I have been working long and hard on the new site and decided that since it contained as much information as my old site, I would go ahead and start the transfer process. I have a few ideas floating around in my head about what I want to do. Needless to say, you will be seeing a great deal of new things in the following weeks.

A major Ag Moment expansion?

2006-01-10T23:33:00.000-05:00

Due to circumstances that were within my control that I chose not to control (i.e. I didn't backup when I should have) I lost my current blog template for Ag Moment. Thanks to Google Desktop I was able to find a cached version to work from (thank you Google). The template is a few months old so I lost alot of links. If I lost a link to your favorite site, sorry, I'll get them back up as soon as I can. Rumor has it this site crash was due to a major expansion/overhaul currently going on behind the scenes at Ag Moment. Stay tuned for more details as they become known. 1/11/06 update - template back up to date. I think everything is functioning properly.

Ag Moment focus: recent sugar beet news

2006-01-10T17:59:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd try something new so here goes. Here is a compilation of a few stories (not necessarily recent) dealing with one subject. The first subject up to bat is Sugar Beets.

From the Business - Sugar beet farmers 'get too much cash'

Sugar farmers in Europe are getting far too generous compensation payments at the expense of Third World growers, according to a new report. Some of the poorest countries in the world will get a fraction of the £5bn payments paid to EU sugar beet growers over the next five years, said Lord Renton of Mount Harry, chairman of the Lords' environment and agriculture sub-committee. In today's 57-page report, Too Much or Too Little? Changes to the EU Sugar Regime, he said that the reform was “welcome and necessary”.

From Mlive.com - Can't beet it - Sugar-beet byproduct mixes with salt to keep icy roads clear and safe

Sugar is good on cereal, so why not snow? There's something called De-Ice 55, a liquid made from sugar beets, that's being used in parts of Michigan and throughout the country. It sticks to roads and helps salt do its job. The stuff isn't being used anywhere locally. Bay City uses a similar corn byproduct on its four bridges and around town.

From BBC.com - Sugar beet threat to biofuel unit

Farmers across East Anglia are likely to refuse to grow extra sugar beet for a new bioethanol fuel plant. The NFU claims farmers are enthusiastic about such uses for their crop but a price of £10 a tonne was well below production costs. British Sugar insist the price is the best for many years for the "C" grade beet they are targeting. Cole Carter from British Sugar said this grade was grown as a quota backup in case crops were hit by bad weather.

From the IdahoStateJournal.com - Soggy weather causes woes for area sugar beet growers

AMERICAN FALLS - Driving a Caterpillar tractor, Tony Baca escorted a green truck hauling two empty hoppers toward an immense pile of sugar beets. As Baca predicted, the truck sank into the mud and got stuck en route to pick up its sweet cargo. Mainly due to a wet spring, sugar beet growers statewide reported having their third best crop ever for total yield and second best crop for sugar content.

Ag Moment site of the moment (12)

2006-01-10T17:57:00.000-05:00

The Ag Moment site of the moment is: GreenCrazy.com If you can slap a John Deere logo on it and sell it, they have it.

South Korea, U.S. disagree over U.S. beef import details

2006-01-10T17:55:00.000-05:00

From the Korea Times - Korea, US Hit Snag in Beef Talks

SEOUL (Yonhap) _ South Korea and the United States failed to reach an agreement to allow the importation of beef products containing bone, the government said Tuesday. The two sides agreed to extend the talks to Friday, some South Korean officials said. South Korea banned U.S. beef imports in December 2003 after it was revealed a cow there had been affected with mad cow disease. The disease has been cited for causing the fatal Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.

Greece must lift ban on Monsanto's GM Seed Corn

2006-01-10T17:53:00.000-05:00

From Marketwatch.com - E.U. orders Greece to lift ban on Monsanto corn seed

BRUSSELS (MarketWatch) -- The European Commission Monday ordered Greece to lift its ban on one type of U.S. biotech giant Monsanto Co.'s (MON) genetically modified corn seeds, according to a document obtained by Dow Jones Newswires. No health or safety grounds justify the ban, the document said. The decision underlines splits in the European Union over biotech food. The Brussels-based Commission wants to allow them in order to defuse trade tensions with the U.S. and to keep European agriculture competitive. But European consumers - and their governments - are resisting. In September 2004, the Commission authorized 17 different strains of Monsanto maize for planting and sale within the 25 E.U. countries. But the Greek government banned the seeds in April 2005, saying it believed the products presented a health danger.

Immigration proposals will hit ag industry especially hard

2006-01-10T17:50:00.000-05:00

From the Farm Bureau newsroom - AFBF: Immigration Proposals Could Cause Ag Losses

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 8, 2006 – The American Farm Bureau Federation today said current legislative efforts to amend existing immigration law could cause up to $9 billion annually in overall losses to the U.S. agriculture industry and losses of up to $5 billion annually in net farm income.

Traditional regional methods of growing tobacco going away with buyout

2006-01-09T19:46:00.000-05:00

From the MiamiHearald.com - N.C. tobacco farmers trying new variety in buyout market

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina's shrinking ranks of tobacco farmers are placing their hopes on new competitiveness from a drop in the price of U.S. flu-cured tobacco and the state's status as a the top producer. Max Denning, 47, a fourth-generation farmer from Benson who grows flue-cured tobacco in five counties including Johnston, Wake, and Harnett, has some advice as tobacco farmers prepare to sign contracts for this year's growing season. For growers bold enough to keep planting leaf in the uncertain world of free-market tobacco farming, he says to get bigger, get better or get out.

Another Kentucky city bans smoking, campaign off to good start

2006-01-09T19:44:00.000-05:00

From Kentucky.com (Lexington Herald Leader) - Smoking ban has smooth start in Owensboro

OWENSBORO, Ky. - Many Daviess County businesses started out the new year smoke-free. But it's more than a resolution - it's the law. A county ordinance that bans smoking in any public establishment that is open to people under 18 took effect Jan. 1. Police say the start of the ban went smoothly. Both the Owensboro Police Department and Daviess County Sheriff's Department said they had had no calls to enforce it.

An alternate view: Corn stoves not so good

2006-01-09T19:42:00.000-05:00

From PES Network - Corn Stoves: an Interim Technology on a Crumbling Foundation?

Though cleaner burning that wood, and currently using a lower-cost fuel, the corn stove should not be regarded as a permanent solution to dependence on foreign oil. Do short term savings on the heating bill entail increasing famine risk in the long term?

More herbicide-resistant weeds to come?

2006-01-09T19:40:00.000-05:00

From Delta Farm Press - What will be the next herbicide-resistant weed?

For a long time weed scientists thought herbicide resistant weeds would never emerge as a problem. They were wrong. “We sat back and watched entomologists struggle with insects resistant (to insecticides) and thought nothing similar would happen on the weed side,” said Bob Scott, Arkansas Extension weed specialist at the annual Arkansas Soybean Research Conference in Brinkley, Ark., on Dec. 15. “We thought there weren’t enough generations in a year, there were too many different herbicides and different biological systems that would prevent weed resistance.”

Pork industry stable, profitable for anther year

2006-01-09T19:38:00.000-05:00

From CattleNetwork.com - Pork Industry Looks For Third Profitable Year

Pork producers are going for a threepeat in 2006. That means a third consecutive year of profits for an industry that could hardly find a positive tilt from 1998 through 2003. The financial tide finally turned to black in the spring of 2004 and has been on a winning streak ever since. Profits in 2004 averaged about $9 per live hundredweight for farrow-to-finish production. That number was near $10 in 2005 and the forecast for 2006 is for profits to be around $6.

Is all this concern about Soybean rust necessary?

2006-01-09T19:36:00.000-05:00

From MSN Money - Experts Weigh Soybean Rust Warnings

URBANA, Ill. (AP) - Government and industry spent millions of dollars last winter to prepare farmers for soybean rust, a fungus that could cost them thousands of dollars to control. But while the disease was found in southern states for a second straight year, it never reached the Midwest. Soybean experts say all the Web sites, brochures and seminars weren't a waste of time and money because farmers need to be wary again this summer.

Ag Moment site of the moment (11)

2006-01-05T19:36:00.000-05:00

The Ag Moment site of the moment is: Iron Search Find used tractors for sale, cheap ATVs and more with our online search.

John Deere makes lineup change at the top

2006-01-05T19:33:00.000-05:00

From Chicagobusiness.com - Deere names new CFO; makes other executive changes

Reuters) — Farm equipment maker Deere & Co. said on Thursday it appointed Michael Mack as chief financial officer and James Israel as president, John Deere Credit. Mack most recently served as treasurer and has been with Deere since 1986. Israel has been vice president for marketing and product support for John Deere agricultural equipment in Europe, Africa and the Middle East and has been at Deere since 1979.

But, will American's continue to pig out?

2006-01-05T19:29:00.000-05:00

From AgWeb.com - Economist: Pork Demand the Big Unknown

Iowa State University ag economist John Lawrence says the big unknown in the lean hog price outlook is pork demand. He notes demand for pork was very strong in late 2003 and 2004, with some quarters posting an increase in supply and an increase in price at the same time. "For the year of 2004, per capita pork consumption decreased 1% and Iowa farm level prices increased 33%, an approximately ten times bigger impact than was expected," he notes.

American's are pigging out

2006-01-05T19:26:00.000-05:00

From Philly.com - On the Side | It's been hog heaven for pork producers

Harry Ochs leans into his long butcher saw, slicing through the fly bone and then the flat back bone of the pork loin I'm buying to go with (this being the day before New Year's Eve) the sauerkraut I'll cook from White Oak Nursery in Strasburg and a handful of Dwain Livengood's defending-state-champion Yukon Gold potatoes. Yes, he says, he too has noticed an uptick in the fortunes and certainly the flavor of pork. He slides his hand over the white collar of fat covering the loin. "Things go full circle." Ochs is 77 now, presiding at his stand in the Reading Terminal Market in his signature flat, plaid cap and white apron, an observer for more than 60 of those years of the fads of food - no-fat, low-carb, whole-grain, some-more-fat.

Ag Moment picture of the moment (1)

2006-01-05T19:17:00.000-05:00

A new feature for Ag Moment. Here is your Ag Moment picture of the moment(1): It looks like this Massey Ferguson has seen its better days Image taken by liampatrickquigley, more photos from this person can be found at Flickr

Massey Ferguson announces line of "clean cab" tractors

2006-01-04T18:54:00.000-05:00

Another from AgNewsWire - Massey Ferguson Announces New Specialty Tractor Line

DULUTH, GA – December 5, 2005 (AgNewsWire) - Massey Ferguson has introduced three new specialty tractors equipped with pressurized cabs and air filtration systems designed to supply clean cab air for the operator. The system seals out pesticide particles and other contaminants to protect operators during specialty applications such as orchard spraying.

Farm Bureau purchases Crop1

2006-01-04T18:52:00.000-05:00

From AgNewsWire.com - Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company Announces Plan To Acquire Crop1 Insurance

West Des Moines, Iowa – (AgNewsWire) Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company announced today that it has signed a letter of intent to purchase Des Moines-based Crop1 Insurance in early 2006. Crop1 Insurance will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, one of three property-casualty insurance companies managed by FBL Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: FFG), an insurance and financial services holding company based in West Des Moines.

Ag Moment site of the moment (10)

2006-01-04T18:24:00.000-05:00

The Ag Moment site of the moment is the: Milk is Milk blog The Center for Global Food Issues (CGFI) Director of Research and Education Alex Avery provides commentary and analysis on issues impacting the dairy industry.

Monsanto sales rise 31%

2006-01-04T18:09:00.000-05:00

From Marketwatch.com - Monsanto tops profit forecast

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Monsanto Co. reported a first-quarter profit Wednesday that topped its own raised forecasts from a month ago, citing stronger seeds and herbicide sales. Shares of St. Louis-based Monsanto sold off early after it said its 2006 earnings would be at the high end of its previous outlook but below the Wall Street consensus. The stock then bounced back to close with a 25-cent gain at $80.07. It rallied more than 3% Tuesday. First-quarter net income at the seed and agricultural chemical company rose to $59 million, or 22 cents a share, reversing a $40 million, or 15 cents a share, loss, from a year ago.

Onatario farmers will have to comply with Health and Safety Standards

2006-01-04T18:05:00.000-05:00

From the Fort Frances Times Online - Farming operations soon to fall under OHSA

When Ontario’s Health and Safety Act (OHSA) was established in October, 1979, farming operations were exempt. But as of June 30, 2006, a regulation passed by Queen’s Park earlier this year will come into effect, extending the OHSA to include farming operations with paid workers.

Soybean prices up, time to sell?

2006-01-04T18:03:00.000-05:00

From Agriculture Online - Opportunity for soybean sales, analysts say

As soybean futures prices rally on the Chicago Board of Trade and local cash basis levels drop, farmers are being presented with a marketing opportunity, analysts say . On Tuesday, CBOT March soybean prices finished 15 cents higher at $6.28 1/2 per bushel, a new high for the current rally.

Georgia vs. Soybean Rust, get ready for round two

2006-01-04T18:01:00.000-05:00

From the Southeast Farm Press - Georgia soybean growers again brace for Asian rust

Now that we have the soybean crop in Georgia harvested and out of the field, we can look back and try to assess the real importance of Asian soybean rust to producers in Georgia in 2005. To begin, Asian soybean rust was widespread in Georgia. An initial find in late April on volunteer soybean plants in Seminole County did not seem to have any real impact on our crop. The major sustained epidemic was first detected in mid-July in southwest Georgia. The disease continued to spread across the state and by the end of the season had been found in counties bordering Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Thailand to lift ban on U.S. beef

2006-01-04T17:59:00.000-05:00

From the Bangkok Post News - Thailand's ban on US beef to be lifted with conditions

A two-year ban on US beef following an outbreak of mad cow disease will be lifted in Thailand next week, according to Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat. US beef products will be allowed back into the Thai market on condition that a disease-free document is presented to the authorities prior to import, the minister said. ''We are going to use the same standard as Japan when it (lifted the ban on) imported beef products from the US. If everything runs in accordance with our regulations, there will be no problem for US beef to be sold here,'' said Mr Phinij.

Department of Agriculture critized for its regulation of GMOs

2006-01-04T17:56:00.000-05:00

From United Press International - Eat To Live: Agriculture inspectors chided

A blistering report was issued Tuesday to the Department of Agriculture by its auditor over the department's failure to properly regulate field trials of genetically engineered crops. In many cases, the report said, regulators didn't even know where the field trials actually were. The rebuke came the day after Monsanto, the St. Louis-based company that develops insect- and herbicide-resistant crops, announced it had received federal regulatory clearance for two of its genetically modified corn traits. One combines Roundup herbicide with the company's traits that protect corn against rootworm. The second includes protection against the corn borer pest.

Ag Moment site of the moment (9)

2006-01-03T20:32:00.000-05:00

The Ag Moment site of the moment is: The American Coalition for Ethanol ACE is the grassroots voice of the ethanol industry, a membership-based association dedicated to the use and production of ethanol.

A little more on the Pepsi Potato Farm in China

2006-01-03T19:18:00.000-05:00

Here's a little more detailed story about the Pepsi Potato Farm in China (the first part of the story is the same but later parts go into more detail): From FreshPlaza - To take China, Pepsi takes up potato farming

Standing amid rows of yellowish plants running to the horizon, Vicky Huang fretted in September about the fall potato crop at this 1,200-hectare farm operated by PepsiCo Inc., here at the desolate edge of the Kubuqi desert. Thousands of tons had to be harvested for the company's Chinese potato-chip business before temperatures plunged and tubers began splitting apart in the ground. Ms. Huang pulled a small, round spud out of the soil, rubbed off its brown skin with her thumb and shook her head. "They need 20 more days," she said. After concluding a decade ago that Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, held an insurmountable lead in soft drinks across much of the world, Pepsi embarked on a risky gambit in China and other key markets -- one that relies increasingly on potatoes, not just soda pop.

S. Korea, U.S. open talks on beef imports

2006-01-03T19:14:00.000-05:00

From the Miamiherald.com - S. Korea, U.S. to hold beef import talks

SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea has scheduled talks with the United States next week on ending its two-year-old ban on American beef, the government in Seoul said Tuesday. South Korean shut its doors to U.S. beef imports in December 2003 after the first U.S. case of mad cow disease. At the time it was the third-largest foreign market for American beef, after Japan and Mexico. The two-day talks will begin Jan. 9 in Seoul, the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry said in a release.

Louisiana farmers do their part to prevent soybean rust

2006-01-03T19:12:00.000-05:00

From the Beauregard Daily News - Rust alert helps some soybean farmers

BOYCE (AP) - Farmers took extra steps to avoid possible destruction of this year's soybean crop and were rewarded with a record yield, but rising energy costs could dampen the end result. But consumers may not even notice a difference. Kurt Guidry, an economist with the Louisiana State University AgCenter, said the cost of finished goods depends on more than just the raw commodity. "Consumers don't directly eat soybean, but soybeans are used in a number of products that consumers do eat," Guidry said.

Next time you decide to steal grain, make sure you're not messy

2006-01-03T19:09:00.000-05:00

From Mlive.com - Trail of grain leads police to soybean thieves

A trail of white pebbles helped Han-sel and Gretel find their way home. For two Muskegon County men, a six-mile trail of soybean grain led police to them -- and felony charges for allegedly stealing the grain. The thieves thought they were ripping off cracked corn to bait deer. It happened two days before Christmas. Trooper Mike Mosack of the Michigan State Police Grand Haven Post said the trail of evidence led to an easy confession. Mosack said he decided not to take the men to jail so they could spend the holiday at home with their children.

2005 CBOT contract trade volume highest ever

2006-01-03T19:07:00.000-05:00

From PRNewswire.com - CBOT 2005 Volume Surpasses 674 Million Contracts and Marks Fourth Consecutive Year of Growth

CHICAGO, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT(R)) (NYSE: BOT) today announced the Exchange achieved the highest yearly total volume recorded in its history, with more than 674 million contracts traded in 2005. Total annual volume rose 12.4 percent over the prior year, making 2005 the fourth consecutive record-breaking year for the CBOT. The Exchange's average daily volume (ADV) also increased 12.9 percent to 2.7 million contracts from 2.4 million contracts reported in 2004, setting a new record for the year.

Monsanto gains clearance for a single event stacked gene corn line

2006-01-03T19:00:00.000-05:00

I hope your holidays went well. I am finally back from mine. Now, for some news: From the St. Louis Business Journal - Monsanto gets federal clearance for corn traits

Monsanto Co. said Monday it received federal regulatory clearance for two of its genetically modified corn traits, which it called a "major step" toward the commercialization of the products. The clearances were for the MON88017, which combines the company's traits that protect the corn against rootworm and Roundup herbicide, and another variety that includes protection against the corn borer pest.

This line is different from other gene stacked lines in that both genes were inserted in a single "event". Traditional (if you want to call it that) stacked trait lines were created by inserting each gene individually into different lines and combining the traits into one line by traditional breeding methods. This new approach should be faster.

The world soda wars: a roundabout strategy in China for Pepsi

2005-12-19T19:24:00.000-05:00

From the post-gazette.com - To take China, Pepsi takes up potato farming

DALATE BANNER, Inner Mongolia -- Standing amid rows of yellowish plants running to the horizon, Vicky Huang fretted in September about the fall potato crop at this 1,200-hectare farm operated by PepsiCo Inc., here at the desolate edge of the Kubuqi desert. Thousands of tons had to be harvested for the company's Chinese potato-chip business before temperatures plunged and tubers began splitting apart in the ground.

WTO agreement calls for end to farm subsidies by 2013

2005-12-19T19:21:00.000-05:00

From SFGate.com - WTO talks end with draft pact on farm exports All 149 members must still approve the call for an end to all subsidies by 2013

Hong Kong -- Trade ministers cobbled together a last-minute, face-saving agreement that saved the World Trade Organization meeting from collapse, but put off until next year a more sweeping pact, following six days of talks marked by discord inside the meeting and violent street protests outside. he draft agreement, which must be approved by all 149 WTO members, calls for the end of all farm export subsidies by 2013 and the elimination of subsidies to cotton exporters next year. The 2013 deadline is a victory for the European Union, which held out against pressure by developing countries that consider rich-world agricultural subsidies unfair to farmers in poor countries, and by the United States, which had proposed ending export subsidies by 2010.

World soybean production growing

2005-12-19T19:11:00.000-05:00

From the Joplin Globe - Soybean ranking tumbles

NEVADA, Mo. - During the last 15 years, world soybean production has doubled, according to University of Missouri Economist Ron Plain. The big boost means the United States has slipped from producing half the world's soybeans to a third of the supply. Brazil and Argentina combine to produce more soybeans than the United States, he said.

Borders still closed to U.S. Beef

2005-12-19T19:09:00.000-05:00

From Agriculture online - Ban on U.S. beef remains in many countries

As Japanese inspectors over the weekend accepted the first shipment of U.S. beef since a 2003 confirmed case of BSE, the industry now turns its focus on getting 28 other countries to lift their ban on U.S. beef. Japan is the biggest customer of U.S. beef with purchases in 2003 worth $1.5 billion. Without exception, this renewal of trade is very important to the U.S. beef industry. But, many countries have left their borders closed since 2003.

Follow-up Canadian duties will hurt Canadian hog farmers

2005-12-19T19:06:00.000-05:00

From Farmscape - Canadian Corn Duties Raise Risk of US Action Against Canadian Hogs

Manitoba Pork Council is expressing its frustration following news that Canada has imposed provisional antidumping and countervailing duties on unprocessed grain corn imported from the United States. Last week the Canada Border Services Agency announced, effective immediately, imports of unprocessed US grain corn will be subject to provisional antidumping and countervailing duties totaling $1.65 US per bushel. Manitoba Pork Council Chair Karl Kynoch says, while the biggest impact of this duty will be felt by Canada's livestock industry, it will have a minimal impact on American corn growers.

Is the U.S. dumping grain in Canada? Canada thinks so

2005-12-19T19:04:00.000-05:00

From The Vancuver Sun - Canada to impose duties on U.S. corn imports

OTTAWA -- Canada said Thursday it is imposing provisional duties on U.S. grain corn after a preliminary finding by the Canada Border Services Agency that imports of unprocessed grain corn from the United States are being dumped and subsidized. The decision came two months after the agency began investigating complaints from Canadian farmers that Washington was dumping and subsidizing grain corn.

Argentine soybean crop could use a rain

2005-12-15T18:11:00.000-05:00

From Agriculture Online - Argentine farmer says soybean crop suffering from drought in spots

With the Argentina soybean crop just planted, it may be early to get too nervous about its condition, but any dryness in the South American crop conditions is expected to keep a level of support in the U.S. soybean market, market watchers say. Because the USDA estimated in its December report a U.S. 2005-06 soybean carryover of 405 million bushels, a record if realized, the market is expected to pay close attention to South America's crop weather.

Canadian Swine ID and Traceability program progressing

2005-12-15T18:08:00.000-05:00

From Farmscape - ID and Traceability Offers Opportunity to Address Domestic as well as Foreign Animal Disease

A Prince Edward Island Veterinarian says the new national identification and traceability system being proposed for the Canadian swine industry has the potential assist in addressing common domestic disease concerns as well as reducing the risks associated with foreign animal disease.

Discussion: Is the soybean rust threat over?

2005-12-15T18:02:00.000-05:00

From Stopsoybeanrust.com - X.B. Yang asks and answers: Soybean rust -- Are we out of the woods?

12/15/20005 -- In the discussion board portion of a Web site, I recently read a message with a similar subject title by a producer. This question is also one producers in the North Central Region are asking because of the light occurrence of soybean rust this past season. Development of the disease was surprisingly slower than most of us had anticipated. In this article, I will address the questions raised by producers by reviewing what we learned this past growing season, which was summarized during the National Soybean Rust Symposium held last month.

Break out the A1, US beef on way to Japan

2005-12-15T18:01:00.000-05:00

From Bloomberg.com - U.S. Beef `On Its Way' to Japan, USDA's Johanns Says

Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. beef is already being shipped to Japan, just three days after the Asian nation re-opened its market following a two-year ban over fears of mad-cow disease, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said. U.S. meatpackers including Tyson Foods Inc. and Cargill Inc. once had a $1 billion market in Japan and Johanns said his department would work to rebuild that market, which in 2003 was the biggest importer of U.S. beef.

Ag Moment site of the moment (8)

2005-12-13T17:53:00.000-05:00

The Ag Moment site of the moment (8) is the: GMO Pundit blog A blog to give Australian primary producers a direct insight into what technology could offer them, and point them towards authoritative sources of information from all over the world. We help agricultural producers to stay ahead of the global competition. Welcome to the blogging community!

2005 - The second largest corn and soybean harvest

2005-12-13T17:47:00.000-05:00

From the Argus Leader - Corn, soybean harvest big

The nation's farmers have harvested the second-largest corn and soybean crops on record this year, but many are concerned that low prices for livestock and grain and other factors will challenge farmer profitability. Some analysts say the added volume from a large crop will help offset depressed prices, but sagging U.S. crop exports and ballooning grain supplies threaten to push prices even lower.

Japan Lifts Ban on US Beef

2005-12-13T17:43:00.000-05:00

From the San Francisco Chronicle - Beef sales back in the saddle U.S. to ship again to Japan after mad cow scare

On Wednesday, the Harris Ranch Beef Co. will spend the extra money it will take to send 10,000 pounds of beef to Japan via air rather than ship, in hopes of being the first producer to return to a market that was slammed shut nearly two years ago. In December 2003, a dairy cow at a ranch in Washington state was found to have mad cow disease. Japan, the largest foreign consumer of U.S. beef, quickly stopped buying it, followed by many other importing nations. Suddenly, the Japanese market for U.S. beef, valued at $1.4 billion annually, evaporated.

Canadian wheat tariffs lifted

2005-12-13T17:40:00.000-05:00

From the Globe and Mail - NAFTA panel opens door to Canadian wheat

Bismarck, N.D. — A North American Free Trade Agreement panel has rejected a North Dakota Wheat Commission appeal over Canadian spring wheat imports, clearing the way for the U.S. government to lift tariffs on grain from north of the border. The Canadian Wheat Board described the decision this week as the last hurdle to Canadian grain freely crossing the border again.

No really, its OK to destroy GM crops in France

2005-12-13T17:32:00.000-05:00

From Yahoo News - Activists' destruction of GM crops was justified: French court

ORLEANS, France (AFP) - In a judgement expected to send a chill through companies growing genetically modified (GM) crops in Europe and embolden their opponents, a French court acquitted 49 activists who destroyed GM plants after ruling their actions were justified. The court in the central city of Orleans dismissed the criminal charges of organised vandalism against the 49, who had uprooted GM maize in the region planted by the US biotechnology group Monsanto in two incidents, one last year and the other in 2005.

Comments at Common Sense for the Biochemist

Japan one step more step closer to opening up US beef exports

2005-12-08T17:11:00.000-05:00

From CBC News - Japan moves closer to allowing North American beef

The slow process of reopening the Japanese market to beef from Canada and the United States inched ahead Thursday. The Japanese Food Safety Commission, which prepares risk assessments other government agencies then consider, said beef from North American cattle – less than 21 months old – is safe.

Anti-GMers turn up the heat in Austrailia

2005-12-08T17:02:00.000-05:00

From The Austrailian - Jennifer Marohasy: Costly harvest of ignorant GM campaign

THE organic food market is growing and according to some studies this demand is being driven by increasing consumer resistance to genetically modified foods. This resistance in turn is driven by anti-GM campaigning. In Australia, state government bans on GM food crops prevent the planting of GM corn, soybeans and canola, varieties grown overseas, including in the US. During the past two weeks the Australian organics industry has sponsored a lecture tour by anti-GM advocate and US-based consultant Charles Benbrook.

Corn after Corn may not be as profitable next year

2005-12-08T16:54:00.000-05:00

From the Illinois Farm Bureau - U of I: Corn-After-Corn May Not Pay Off in '06

Corn-after-corn production may be less profitable than soybean production in 2006, meaning the recent trend of increasing corn production may end, according to a University of Illinois Extension study. "Between 2000 and 2004, corn returns exceeded soybean returns in many areas of Illinois," said Gary Schnitkey, U of I Extension farm management specialist who co-authored the study with fellow Extension specialist Dale Lattz.

Benlate fungicide contamination lawsuits back

2005-12-08T16:40:00.000-05:00

From The Ledger - DuPont Lawsuit Given New Life

HONOLULU -- A federal appeals court has ruled that six Hawaii plant growers can bring racketeering and fraud charges against chemical maker DuPont Co. for crops they lost using a contaminated fungicide. In a unanimous decision, three judges on the 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a federal judge's dismissal of the case and reinstated the suit against the chemical manufacturer.

Its legal to smoke it, now the Netherlands may make it legal to grow it

2005-12-07T17:55:00.000-05:00

From the Winston-Salem Journal - Dutch may allow pot to be grown like tobacco

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands A broad coalition of political parties unveiled a pilot program yesterday to regulate marijuana farming on the model of tobacco, which opponents say would be tantamount to legalizing growing the drug.

Soybean market has the winter blues

2005-12-07T17:53:00.000-05:00

From Agweb.com - The soybean market continues to be a big concern

Soybeans started the week on a good note, however, the funds were unable to hold strength, and over the past two days the market dropped. The market closed lower today but off from its extreme lows. On a positive note, soybeans have not taken out last week’s low, but the risk still exists.

USDA corn report, just what was expected

2005-12-07T17:50:00.000-05:00

From Agriculture Online/Dow Jones newswire - DJ SURVEY:Analysts See Few Surprises For US Corn In Report

CHICAGO (Dow Jones)--With the harvest complete and the combines stored after farmers produced what is expected to be the second largest U.S. corn crop in history, analysts contacted by Dow Jones Newswires expect little change to the corn ending stocks figure in Friday's supply and demand report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Will a new farming reality show be real?

2005-12-06T19:18:00.000-05:00

From the Mercury News - Farm leader concerned about reality show

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - We're not hayseeds, says a Nebraska farm leader, worried about how accurately a new TV reality show will portray farmers and their problems. John Hansen, the president of the Nebraska Farmers Union fears that "The Farmer Wants a Wife" intends to turn its rural reality cast into media fodder as naive bumpkins.

Bayer gets OK for new fungicide in UK

2005-12-06T19:12:00.000-05:00

From Reuters - Bayer gets fungicide registration in UK

FRANKFURT, Dec 5 (Reuters) - German drugs and chemicals group Bayer has received the first registrations in the United Kingdom and China for its fluopicolide mildew and blight fungicide, it said in a statement on Monday.

A little ethanol for Missouri gas tanks?

2005-12-06T17:43:00.000-05:00

From the Missourian - Mo. gas could have 10 percent ethanol

JEFFERSON CITY — All Missouri drivers would have corn in their gas tank if a bill filed for the next legislation session that addresses a key Missouri agriculture issue passes. The bill would require all gasoline sold after Jan. 1, 2007, to be blended with at least 10 percent ethanol. Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from fermented agricultural products, such as corn.

Not Where's the Beef, but how old's the Beef?

2005-12-06T17:36:00.000-05:00

Yep, I haven't posted in a few days. The neph-critter gave me one heck of a cold or something over Thanksgiving. First up from Reuters - How old is that US beef? Japan wants to know

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Stan Isaacson can look at the cattle in his sprawling Texas feedlot and estimate each animal's age fairly accurately. That skill has served him well in managing his cattle, but it will not be enough if he and other cattle producers intend to ship beef to Japan when that market reopens, perhaps as soon as late this month.

Japan will only be allowing the export of cattle 20 months of age or younger.

New Soybean Aphid Resistance Found

2005-12-01T17:53:00.000-05:00

From Checkbiotech.org - Research discovers aphid resistance in Chinese soybean cultivars

The soybean aphid is a major pest of the crop, and is difficult to control and remedy. There are currently no commercial cultivars with resistance to the pest, but headway has been made in the latest issue of Crop Science, where Clarice Mensah of Michigan State University, and colleagues, document the “Resistance to Soybean Aphid in Early Maturing Soybean Germplasm.”

Link to the article is here

Grain exports below expectations

2005-12-01T17:51:00.000-05:00

From Agriculture Online - USDA corn, wheat, and soybean export sales below trade estimates

Though a holiday shortened week is blamed for keeping U.S. export sales lower last week, a developing trend of low sales is troubling, according to one analyst. Don Roose, U.S. Commodities, said the export soybean sales are not meeting goals set for the year by USDA. "We're falling drastically behind on soybean sales," Roose said.

Contracted grain coming in early

2005-11-30T18:19:00.000-05:00

From Dow-Jones newswire via Agriculture Online - DJ US Cash Grain Review: Contracted Grain Coming In Early

CENTRAL CITY, Neb. (Dow Jones)--Activity increased at many U.S. grain elevators Wednesday, with many facilities accepting early deliveries of December-contracted grain from farmers due to extremely slow cash sales. "We're picking up corn piles and taking Dec contracts," said a merchandiser for one Nebraska grain elevator. "We about had to ... there's no spot stuff coming in."

USDA ups its monitoring for soybean rust

2005-11-30T18:16:00.000-05:00

From Southwest Farm Press - USDA expands national soybean rust risk management tool

USDA is again funding projects to track the spread of soybean rust and create the Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education to provide producers with information about additional legume pests and diseases in 2006, officials announced. The nationally coordinated network will help producers in making crop management decisions that reduce pesticide input costs, reduce environmental exposure to pesticides and increase the efficiency and efficacy of pesticide applications.

New thinking on nitrogen rates (2)

2005-11-30T18:12:00.000-05:00

From Pantagraph.com - Suggestions for fertilizing corn amended

Corn growers, forget about "1.2 is all you should do." With nitrogen fertilizer prices pushing record prices of $500 per ton, it's time for a new approach to application rates. University of Illinois agronomists have been reviewing the traditional nitrogen fertilizer recommendation for months along with cohorts across the Corn Belt.

Will lowering EU farm tariffs only help U.S. exports

2005-11-30T18:07:00.000-05:00

From Reuters AlertNet - WTO farm talks ignore majority concerns -EU lobby

GENEVA, Nov 30 (Reuters) - World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks on farm reform are too focused on commerce and ignore a majority view that food security and other issues be addressed, the European Union's top farm lobby said on Wednesday. "Unfortunately the negotiations have been dominated so far by the voice of the United States and Brazil whose almost sole concern is to increase their exports," the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations (COPA) said.

More on the WTO/EU Farm tariffs can be found in these posts: 1, 2, 3

U.S. wheat exports compete with Austrailia for Iraq market

2005-11-30T18:04:00.000-05:00

From the Herald Sun - Iraq buys 1m tonnes US wheat

EXPORTERS reported the sale of 200,000 tonnes of US wheat to Iraq today, boosting US sales to Iraqi to 1 million tonnes of hard red winter wheat this month. Along with the latest sale, Iraq bought 800,000 tonnes of US HRW wheat on November 4. Australia was the dominant wheat supplier to Iraq for years but US sales have climbed sharply in recent months.

US #1 exporter of soybeans

2005-11-30T18:02:00.000-05:00

Another story from Wisconsin Ag Connection - American Soybean Farmers Still Number One in Exports

U.S. soybean farmers remain on top when it comes to international markets, as the U.S. hits another year as the top exporter and producer of soybeans.

Wisconsin Corn/Soy EXPO -January 26-27

2005-11-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

From Wisconsin Ag Connection - Wisconsin Corn/Soy EXPO Slated for January 26-27

The latest information on new technologies for corn and soybean production will be featured at the annual Wisconsin Corn/Soy EXPO in Wisconsin Dells early next year. The event, which is being co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, the Wisconsin Soybean Association, Wisconsin Pork Association and Wisconsin Agri-Service Association, will be held at the Kalahari Conference Center on January 26-27.

Gonna talk 'bout corn and soybeans eh?

New ways of reducing dust in CAFOs

2005-11-29T19:48:00.000-05:00

From innovations report - Oil Mist Reduces Airborne Hazards in Concentrated Swine Feeding Operation

A specially developed oil mixture reduced airborne levels of particulate matter at a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) in a study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The researchers evaluated an oil spray developed to reduce the airborne health hazards at industrial feeding facilities.

Low linolenic soybean varieties available for next spring

2005-11-29T19:40:00.000-05:00

From Brownfield - Midwest soybean growers have a choice

Soybean producers in the Midwest have the opportunity to plant a new variety of bean in 2006 and get paid a premium for it. An alliance between Bunge, DuPont, and Pioneer called the Biotech Alliance is offering producers the chance to grow low linolenic soybeans. Farmers who contract to grow the low linolenic varieties can receive a premium at harvest of 35 to 40 cents per bushel.

Ag Moment site of the moment (7)

2005-11-29T17:53:00.000-05:00

Your Ag Moment site of the moment is: Toytractorshow.com Your #1 source for farm toy news

62 news hybrids available from Pioneer next season

2005-11-29T17:32:00.000-05:00

A little late on this one, sorry. From Pioneer.com - Pioneer Releases 62 New Hybrids For 2006 Planting

DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 22, 2005 - Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., announces the recent release of 62 new Pioneer® brand corn hybrids, available to growers across North America for the 2006 planting season. This includes nine new genetic families with 34 hybrids containing technology from the Herculex® family of insect protection traits, including hybrids with Herculex XTRA or Herculex RW Rootworm protection for transgenic corn rootworm control, and new hybrids containing the Roundup Ready® Corn 2 trait.

On a related note, the Pioneer.com website has yield data from the 2005 growing season available here

New Cereal Herbicide on the way from Syngenta

2005-11-29T17:29:00.000-05:00

From Syngenta.com - Syngenta obtains first regulatory approval for Axial™

Syngenta announced today that its new cereal herbicide, Axial, has received its first registration in the UK , one of the most important markets for cereals in Europe . Further registrations in other major cereal markets are anticipated in time for the 2006 season. Axial is expected to achieve peak global sales of at least $150 million.

Syngenta is expecting US and other countries approval in time for the 2006 season.

Korea not yet ready to allow US beef back into the country

2005-11-29T17:22:00.000-05:00

From The Korea Times - Korea Delays Decision on Beef Imports

South Korea Tuesday delayed an announcement on its probe into the safety of U.S. beef, a step that is widely believed would lead to a reopening of the Korean market to U.S. beef. The delay came right after a farmers’ group threatened to stage rallies, if the government removes the ban on beef from North America.

Heat from corn stoves is a popular alternative this winter

2005-11-29T17:18:00.000-05:00

From the Quad City Times - Alternative fuels looking brighter

While many homeowners feel anxious about what their heating bills will be this winter, Earl Beasley of Taylor Ridge, Ill., feels at ease. Four years ago, he bought a stove that burns corn — not the cobs, but the kernels themselves — to heat his two-story, 3,000-square-foot house. Beasley figures he spends about $2 a day, or about what he pays for a bushel of corn.

Wheat, cotton, sorghum, and other crops roundup (2)

2005-11-29T17:16:00.000-05:00

From CattleNetwork.com - Ag Update: Winter Wheat Conditions Improve In Corn Belt

Temperatures were below normal east of the Mississippi River, with moderate rainfall along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Conditions were mostly dry in the Ohio River Valley, while light rain in the central Corn Belt and interior Delta improved winter wheat condition in some areas.

More on possible European ag tariff cuts

2005-11-29T17:13:00.000-05:00

From Forbes.com - Blair says 'we must go further' on agriculture tariff cuts to get WTO deal

LONDON (AFX) - Industrialised nations 'must go further' on agricultural tariff cuts to achieve a satisfactory deal at the WTO meeting in Hong Kong next month. Speaking at the CBI annual conference, Blair said the Hong Kong meeting is 'vital' to opening up markets to developing nations.

More on this developing situation can be found in these posts: 1, 2

East Lansing, MI pushing future farmers out of the city

2005-11-28T20:16:00.000-05:00

Publisher's note: I am a little biased towards this story because I am an advisor for Farmhouse Fraternity at MSU. The City of East Lansing is in the process of redeveloping a portion of the city near the Michigan State University campus (the nation's premier land grant univeristy). Plans call for the extension of a road that would call for the use of eminent domain to evict a Farmhouse Fraternity chapter from their property. This plan will force MSU students to live further from campus while the economic returns are questionable. More information on this plan can be found at:

SaveFarmhouse.com

Ag Moment site of the moment (6)

2005-11-28T20:14:00.000-05:00

The Ag Moment site of the moment is: The National Association of Wheat Growers webpage Information and resources for wheat growers

No GMOs in Switzerland for five years

2005-11-28T19:46:00.000-05:00

From Reuters.com - Swiss agree to 5-year GMO farming ban

Switzerland voted in favor of a five-year ban on the use of genetically modified plants and animals in farming on Sunday, putting in place some of the toughest measures in Europe. Results of the referendum, compiled by Swiss television SF DRS, showed that 55 percent of voters had accepted the proposal to place a five-year moratorium on GMO crops and the import of genetically modified animals.

More talks of European farm subsidies cuts

2005-11-28T19:42:00.000-05:00

From ippmedia.com - C’wealth heads want farm subsidies scrapped

Heads of state and government of Commonwealth member countries meeting in Valleta City in Malta have called for the removal of farm subsidies by 2010 for the benefit of developing countries. The leaders want the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) meeting due to be held in Hong Kong next month to remove subsidies on agricultural produce and make African products competitive in the global market.

Birdflu = lower corn and soybean prices?

2005-11-28T19:37:00.000-05:00

Welcome back from Thanksgiving, I hope your was as enjoyable as mine was. And now for some news: From Bloomberg.com - Corn, Soybeans May Fall on Concern Bird Flu Will Erode Feed Use

Corn and soybean prices may fall in Chicago for a third straight week as a deadly bird virus in Asia and Europe threatens to reduce poultry production and demand for animal feed, a Bloomberg survey shows.

Deere's profit falls

2005-11-22T16:39:00.000-05:00

From Bloomberg.com - Deere 4th-Qtr Net Falls 35% as Tax Incentives Expire

Nov. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Deere & Co., the world's largest maker of farm equipment, said fourth-quarter profit declined 35 percent as crop prices fell and farmers slowed purchases after U.S. tax incentives expired.

Wheat, cotton, sorghum, and other crops roundup

2005-11-22T16:37:00.000-05:00

From Cattlenetwork.com - Agriculture Update: Winter Wheat At Or Ahead Of Normal

Temperatures averaged above normal along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, while below-normal temperatures prevailed in the Corn Belt and Rocky Mountains. Moderate rainfall in the Delta eased topsoil moisture shortages. Locations across the southern and eastern Corn Belt, Ohio River Valley, and Northeast also experienced moderate precipitation. Warm, mostly dry weather along the southern Atlantic Coast was favorable for cotton and peanut harvest. Dry weather also prevailed across the Great Plains and Southwest, while light to moderate precipitation across the Pacific Northwest improved winter wheat condition slightly.

2005 Field trial results starting to filter in, Univeristy of Illinois results are ready

2005-11-22T12:27:00.000-05:00

From Agriculture Online - University of Illinois corn, soybean trial results are in

Corn yields were a pleasant surprise across the state The University of Illinois has released the results from its 2005 corn and soybans testing program. Many producers like to double-check to see how the seed they ordered stacks up against the competition. "If the seed company participates in the university trials, such data represent a valuable source of such information," Emerson Nafziger, U of I Extension agronomist, said in a university release.

Link to the results is here

EU sugar subsidies to be phased out?

2005-11-22T12:23:00.000-05:00

From the Washington Post - EU Sugar Plans Meet With Resistance

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- European Union plans to phase out subsidies to sugar farmers and cut the price of sugar by 39 percent met with resistance at a meeting of EU farm ministers Tuesday. Failure to reach a deal could cause the EU severe embarrassment at next month's world trade talks, which are aiming to open up global agriculture markets to competition. The EU's head office was forced to propose cuts in its subsidy system after a successful World Trade Organization challenge by Australia, Brazil and Thailand.

Well, Michigan sugarbeet farmers aren't the only ones having a hard time.

Ag Moment site of the moment (5)

2005-11-17T17:51:00.000-05:00

The Ag Moment site of the moment is: Applied Weed Science Research Projects at the Univeristy of Minnesota A site full of resources pertaining to, well, weeds and their control. Make sure and check out the herbicides and weed identification sections.

Senator Condemns Farm Union Assault

2005-11-17T17:45:00.000-05:00

From the PR newswire - State Senator Condemns Farm Union Assault on Oregon Agriculture and Rural Communities

SALEM, Ore., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- In a strongly worded letter, State Senator David Nelson (R-Pendleton) condemned the tactics of the UFW as threatening the livelihood of the workers and rural communities that depend on Oregon agriculture. "I have become increasingly alarmed as unions have broadened their assault on high quality Oregon agriculture companies, such as Kettle Foods, Tillamook, NORPAC and Threemile Canyon Farms -- threatening national boycotts up the customer supply chain, which would cripple our fragile rural communities, which depend on a strong farm economy -- just at a time when we face increasing competition from national and international growers," said Nelson.

Texas Drought Damage Recap

2005-11-17T17:42:00.000-05:00

From Texas A&M Ag News - Drought Losses Significant, But Agriculture Has Some Bright Spots

COLLEGE STATION – Losses from the 2005 drought in Texas are mounting in the eastern half of the state, but agriculture still has some bright spots. Damage to the livestock sector could reach $1 billion by next spring, said Dr. Carl Anderson, professor emeritus with Texas Cooperative Extension. He and Dr. David Anderson, Extension agricultural economist-livestock marketing, estimated the losses from:

Cost for Thanksgiving Dinner Up

2005-11-17T17:39:00.000-05:00

From CattleNetwork.com - Farm Bureau: Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Up Slightly This Year

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 17, 2005 – A traditional Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the trimmings, increased slightly in price this year, but still remains affordable, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. In AFBF's 20th annual informal survey of the price of basic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table, the average cost of this year's feast for 10 is $36.78, a $1.10 price increase from last year's survey average of $35.68. “When the Stallman family gathers to eat our turkey dinner this year, we will certainly be thankful for the bounty produced by America's farm and ranch families,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “I encourage all Americans to take a moment during their Thanksgiving celebrations to recognize the role our farmers and ranchers play in producing an abundant, affordable and safe food supply throughout the year,” he said.

Bush wraps up trip to Japan, ban on U.S. beef not lifted yet

2005-11-17T17:34:00.000-05:00

From the People's Daily Online - Roundup: Koizumi, Bush hails alliance, downplaying beef issue

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and visiting US President George W. Bush stressed Wednesday the importance to remain close allies and shrugged off the dispute on US beef imports. Emerging from an one hour and 15 minutes meeting, Koizumi told reporter that the Japan-US alliance in the global context was the "overriding" contents of their talks, describing the relationship with the United States was "indispensable" to Japan.

Ethanol production taking bite out of Nebraska corn supplies

2005-11-17T17:31:00.000-05:00

From the Columbus Telegram - Ethanol providing new market for corn

Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board, said that without ethanol's demand for corn, the corn mountains would be higher and corn prices would be even lower. Producers are still frustrated with high production costs and low corn prices: Recent reports say corn is selling at $1.65 a bushel, down from $2.15 for the same time last year. Doug Jose, an ag economist at the University of Nebraska, said ethanol demand has added about 10 cents to the price of a bushel of corn.

Corn Genome to be sequenced

2005-11-17T17:27:00.000-05:00

From the Washington Univeristy Record - Corn genome to be sequenced by WUSTL cente

Genome Sequencing Center (GSC) researchers at the School of Medicine will lead the sequencing of the genome of maize, popularly known as corn. "Maize is a very exciting genome, both in terms of the roles it has played in contemporary and historic plant genetics and because of its role in agriculture," said Richard K. Wilson, Ph.D., director of the GSC, professor of genetics and lead investigator on the project. "It's a top food source for humans and animals and a leading U.S. export."

Its unfortunate how little maize genome sequence is available. Lets hope that some progress is made with this grant.

Ag Moment site of the moment (4)

2005-11-16T17:27:00.000-05:00

The Ag Moment site of the moment is: Soybeanrust.com This site has numerous resources relating to that pesky fungus, Asian Soybean Rust.

US corn and soybean exports lower

2005-11-16T17:23:00.000-05:00

From Agweb.com - The USDA, Corn, Soybeans, and Demand

We expect the export sales news to take center stage. Currently, the corn and soybean export sales are significantly behind last year's pace and this year's needed pace to meet USDA expectations. Today, we will examine the pace of export sales as of the USDA report on November 10, 2005.

Florida's Ag Industry wants $2.1 billion for hurricane damage

2005-11-16T17:18:00.000-05:00

From The Ledger - Florida Agriculture Industry Asks Congress for $2.1 Billion in Aid

Florida lawmakers asked Congress on Tuesday for $2.1 billion to aid hurricane-stricken agriculture industries, saying their state's economy has particularly suffered from devastating back-to-back storm seasons.

Canadian beef restrictions lessened

2005-11-16T17:14:00.000-05:00

From Sciencedaily.com - U.S. to ease Canadian beef restrictions

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday it will lift all mad cow-related restrictions on Canadian cattle by the middle of next year. Agriculture spokesman Ron DeHaven said the ban on cows more than 30 months of age will then be allowed for import, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., reported.

Taken into consideration the fact that Japan is looking to lift the ban on U.S. beef, it looks like things are starting to return to normal for the U.S. beef industry.

New plant biotech center opens at Cornell

2005-11-16T17:10:00.000-05:00

From Newsday.com - Cornell opens research park devoted to farming

GENEVA, N.Y. -- Cornell University on Wednesday opened a new 72-acre research park dedicated to agriculture and food technology. "Cornell University is committed to technology transfer as a potential engine for economic development," said Susan Henry, dean of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Science. The $8 million research park is the result of nearly 10 years of planning, Henry said.

The center will initially open with four companies all with Cornell faculty members being involved.