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Articles by Florence Remnants
Seasonal Drought Outlook - Oct., Nov., Dec.
Drought expanded and intensified across the Pacific Northwest and northern Plains during the past month, while heavy to excessive rainfall resulted in major drought reduction throughout the middle to lower Mississippi Valley and the southern half of the Great Plains. Much of the eastern U.S. remains drought-free except for parts of the Tennessee Valley, New York, and Vermont.
Drought Monitor Weekly: Tropical Activity Mostly Misses Heavy Drought Areas
Three tropical systems drenched three separate drought areas this past week, with Hurricane Florence affecting the Carolinas with record rainfall, a low pressure system in the western Gulf of Mexico bringing rain to parts of Texas and Louisiana, and Tropical Storm Olivia bringing yet more rain to Hawaii. Drought conditions improved or were alleviated across these regions. Some showers and thunderstorms were seen across the Plains, but not enough to improve drought conditions.
Moving Grain: Significant Decline in Barge Tonnages - Hurricane Recovery
For the week ending on September 15, grain barge shipments on the locking portion of the Mississippi, Ohio, and Arkansas Rivers experienced a significant decrease (58 percent drop) in grain tonnages. The total weekly tonnage and down bound grain barges both reached the lowest point since the second week of March this year. The total weekly grain tonnage was 0.54 million tons, with corn down 55 percent and soybeans down 65 percent from last week, respectively.
Arkansas: Winter Wheat - Combination of Factors May Boos Acres
Higher contract prices may add winter wheat acres in Arkansas, for which harvested acres had dropped its lowest level in six decades. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Arkansas farmers harvested 100,000 acres in 2018, the lowest number since 1956. Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist for the Division of Agriculture said on Tuesday. “This was partially due to prices, but a bigger factor may have been the dry fall which prevented some from planting.
Wheat: Weather Continues to Affect Global Production
USDA expects global wheat production to fall to the lowest level in 5 years at 733 million metric tons (MMT), down 3 percent from the record high of 758 MMT in 2017/18. If realized, it would be slightly below the 5-year average. This downturn is, unfortunately, led by decreasing supplies in historic wheat exporters. At the same time, USDA raised its forecast for global wheat consumption to a record high 746 MMT, up 1 percent from 2017/18.
North Carolina Soybeans: 10 Considerations Following Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Florence has caused catastrophic damage across parts of North Carolina primarily from flooding but also from wind damage. The impacts of this damage on the soybean crop will vary widely across the state depending on a variety of factors discussed below. We have a wide range in soybean maturity across the state.
Rural Broadband: More Incentives Needed to Help Build Networks
Though progress has been made by the Federal Communications Commission to remove barriers for infrastructure investment, the rural-urban digital divide persists. A new CoBank Knowledge Exchange Division report, “Broadband Partnerships,” addresses some of the long-standing challenges to building broadband networks, such as the high entry costs, taxes and legal implications, and even the lack of investment incentives. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System.
Texas Livestock: What’s Your Biggest Predator? Take the Online Survey.
“When you tally the losses annually across all sectors of livestock, whether it’s lambs, goats or calves, the dollars add up quickly.”said Bill Thompson, AgriLife Extension economist based in San Angelo. A new online survey statewide survey will replace the last comprehensive survey of predators in Texas, which was conducted about 10 years ago. “With this new survey, producers can go online at their convenience and provide their responses,” explained Thompson.
Hay: 3rd Largest U.S. Crop in Harvested Acres - Why Is It Trending Lower?
Hay is the 3rd largest U.S. crop in terms of harvest acres. It also provides environmental services, notably erosion control. Understanding the U.S. hay market is therefore important for both market and policy reasons. This article examines the U.S. hay market since 1919, or when the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistical Service began to report data separately for alfalfa hay.
Iowa Soybeans: Harvest Strategy for Securing Market Facilitation Program Payment
The lion’s share of payments under the new Market Facilitation Program (MFP) are going to pork and soybean producers. Given the most recent USDA production estimates, Iowa producers stand to gain more than $550 million from this program. The MFP will be administered by USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices and the deadline for signing up is Jan. 15, 2019. The MFP payments have a $125,000 cap per person or legal entity, but the cap works separately between crops and livestock.
Kansas Soybean Yield and Value Contests - Is Your Crop Up to Snuff?
As fall harvest ramps up, farmers should think about the annual Kansas Soybean Yield and Value Contests. Entries must be postmarked no later than Dec. 1. Kansas State University (K-State) Extension personnel or a designee must witness the harvest. A designee may be anyone not involved with the farm enterprise. For example, a family member or input supplier may not serve as the witness. Pertaining to harvest, some of the contest rules’ highlights include the following.
Kentucky: Wheat, Double-Crop Soybeans Look Profitable in 2019
As Kentucky grain producers look ahead to 2019, they may want to consider adding wheat seeding to their plans this fall. The combination of wheat followed by double-crop soybeans is appearing to be more profitable for the upcoming marketing year compared to a corn-soybean rotation, said Todd Davis, University of Kentucky agricultural economist.
World Rough Rice Prices Unchanged
The Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2018 crop, which will become effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). Rough rice prices for both long grain and medium/short grain remain unchanged from the previous announcement.
Diesel, Gas Prices Up Slightly
The U.S. average diesel fuel price increased 1 cent from last week to $3.27 per gallon on September 17, 2018, 48 cents higher than a year ago. Gulf Coast prices rose nearly two cents to $3.06 per gallon, Midwest prices increased over a cent to $3.21 per gallon, West Coast prices increased nearly a cent to $3.76 per gallon, and East Coast prices increased less than a cent, remaining at $3.25 per gallon. Rocky Mountain prices decreased less than a cent to $3.36 per gallon.
Virginia Cotton: Defoliate Now Before Overcast Conditions Return
The best conditions for the next couple of weeks will be during the next few days. Excellent results would be expected using high Dropp rates and relatively low herbicide or Def/Folex rates. Beginning Saturday evening, rain becomes more likely. Off and on sun and rain are expected all of next week and humid conditions until the end of next week. This pattern is based in part of tropic conditions that can contantly change as we have just experienced.
Arkansas: 2 Counties Designated Natural Disaster Areas from Hail
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated two counties in Arkansas as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Arkansas and Monroe counties who suffered losses due to hail and high winds that occurred July 20 through July 21, 2018, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. This designation by Secretary Perdue allows FSA to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters.
Midwest Corn: Tar Spot Update - Video
Midwest Corn: Tar Spot Update – Video Posted on September 19, 2018 By Nathan Kleczewski, University of Illinois Extension Plant Pathologist Tar Spot on corn with Black raised “bumps” and small necrotic fisheye symptoms. Photo: University of Illinois Tarspot in corn continues to be the hot topic in our field crops this season. I put together a brief update on what we know based on this seasons observations.
Who Benefits from Agricultural Policy? - Commentary
If you asked, “Who benefits from agricultural policy?” we suspect that the first answer would be “farmers.” And, that would be partly correct. Farmers are directly affected by agricultural policy. Agricultural policy establishes the rules within which they engage in the production of food and fiber. But if they were not farmers, they could do something else to earn their living. Consumers, on the other hand, we would argue, are the primary beneficiaries of agricultural policy.
Illinois Corn, Soybeans: 2019 Crop Budgets Suggest Dismal Returns
Due to lower soybean prices and higher costs, budgets suggest returns will be very low for corn and soybeans in 2019. Conserving cash, cutting investments, reducing costs, and renegotiating cash rents should be aggressively pursued. If prices do not increase, the budgets indicate it is unlikely that farmers will be able to generate profits on rented farmland in 2019. Each year, the University of Illinois releases crop budgets for three regions of Illinois: northern, central, and southern Illinois.
Kentucky Sweet Sorghum: Sugarcane Aphid Numbers Low, Keep Monitoring
Sugarcane aphid can build to several thousand per leaf of sweet sorghum. Photo: Ric Bessin, University of Kentucky This season, sugarcane aphid was first spotted close to the same time as last year. Generally, populations were slow to build, but this year a number of growers were prepared to treat with Sivanto Prime, which is available through an emergency exemption Section 18.
Pistachios: Italian Researchers ID New Fungus That Causes Cankers, Declines
Symptoms caused by newly described pathogenic fungus of pistachios observed in the field. Photo: Dalia Aiello Starting in the spring of 2010, farmers from Sicily – the major pistachio production area of Italy – have been reporting a previously unknown disease on the trees. Characterized by cankers and declines, it sometimes leads to the collapse of the entire plant.
Texas Field Reports: Battling Armyworms
Hay and forage producers and homeowners around the state are battling armyworms following rains and cooler weather, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. The fall armyworm is a common pest of Bermuda grass and many other crops in Texas, Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, Overton, said. Given their appetite, numbers and ability to move, fall armyworms can consume entire fields or pastures in a few days.
Illinois Corn, Soybeans: Survey Ranks the Most Problematic Pests of 2018
As field and research season winds down, we’re able to finish collecting and summarizing data. One of our biggest summer projects is the annual corn and soybean survey. While some of that information was shared at Agronomy Day, the complete results are summarized below. As a recap, this survey has been carried out across the state for several years (2011, 2013–2018).
Ohio: Don’t Forget to Calibrate Your Yield Monitor!
Remember the old adage … Garbage in = Garbage out. Many of us use our yield data to make additional management decisions on our farms such as hybrid or variety selection, fertilizer applications, marketing, etc. Data from an uncalibrated yield monitor can haunt us for many years by leading us into improper decisions with lasting financial affects. In today’s Ag economy we can ill afford any decision with adverse financial implications.
Ohio Soybeans: Late Season Insect Considerations
Although the growing season is winding down, we are still receiving some reports of insect activity and damage in soybeans. At this point, the risk is mainly to late-planted or double-cropped beans that are still maturing and still green when other fields are yellowing. Late-season soybean aphids, which feed on sap, do not cause yield drag after seed fill is complete. Stink bugs, grasshoppers, Mexican bean beetles, and bean leaf beetles can feed on pods later in the season.
Ohio Corn, Soybeans: Preparing Grain Bins for Post-Harvest Storage
First – before using any product to treat grain bins, always read the most current label for the product to assure that the product is used correctly. This is for the protection of the grain to be stored in the bin as well as for the protection of the applicator of the product. Labels for products are subject to change from one year to the next, product registrations can be changed and/or canceled and rates may be changed.
USDA: Weekly National Peanut Prices
The following prices are effective from 09/19/18 at 12:01 am Eastern Time until midnight Tuesday 09/25/18. The next announcement is scheduled for 09/25/18 at 3:00 pm Eastern Time. * $424.49 per ton for Runner peanuts * $415.84 per ton for Spanish peanuts * $429.80 per ton for Valencia peanuts * $429.80 per ton for Virginia peanuts These NPP are based on the 2018-crop loan differentials announced June 25, 2018.
DowDuPont Announces Senior Leaders of Independent Corteva Agriscience, DuPont
DowDuPont has announced the senior leaders of the independent companies that will be created following the separation of its Agriculture (Corteva Agriscience) and Specialty Products (DuPont) Divisions, which is expected to occur by June 1, 2019. In addition, the company announced that Ed Breen, chief executive officer of DowDuPont, will become executive chairman of DuPont following the separation.
Man Accused of Public Indecency at Library in Greenwich
Police have arrested a Bridgeport man who is accused of public indecency at the public library in Greenwich.Kenneth Belle, 38, is accused of masturbating in front of a female at the library Monday.The female told police she was sitting at a table when she saw a man lower his pants and expose his genitals, lick his fingers and rub a magazine against his underwear.Belle was charged with public indecency and he is due in Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 1.
Lamont and Stefanowski Take Part in Debate
Net Lamont and Bob, Stefanowski are two of the three candidates hoping to be the next governor of Connecticut. They faced off at the Shubert Theater in New Haven Monday night.
Senate Delays Kavanaugh Vote to Hold Hearing for Sexual Misconduct Allegation
The Senate Judiciary Committee has postponed a crucial vote on Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination. The delay comes after an allegation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl while in high school 36 years ago.
Celebrate National Cheeseburger Day
It's National Cheeseburger Day! If you are a burger connoisseur, you know there are many places to grab a mouthwatering, juicy cheeseburger in Connecticut. Here are some of them: Shake Shack recently opened its first Hartford-area location in West Hartford's Corbin Collection. The popular chain also has a location in New Haven to enjoy its SmokeShacks and 'Shroom Burgers, along with its fries and shakes.
Virginia Cotton: Defoliation to Begin Mid-Week
Virginia Cotton: Defoliation to Begin Mid-Week Posted on September 18, 2018 By Johnny Parker, Commonwealth Gin After missing the majority of the negative impact of Hurricane Florence for our region, we are now making plans to get back going with our normal agricultural activities. As we specifically focus on cotton, the ground is fine, but I am seeing some hardlock that I did not see a week ago. The good news is that this knotty cotton is not anything like we thought we would have experienced.
Nebraska Corn: Stalk Rot Diseases Hard to Diagnose
Various stalk rot diseases have been confirmed in samples from corn fields across Nebraska. Stalk rot diseases and the pathogens that cause them are common in corn fields. They can weaken corn stalks leading to stalk lodging, breakage, and harvest difficulties for producers. They can also impact yield if they prematurely kill corn plants. Ears lost due to lodged corn may also create volunteer corn issues during the following year(s).
Connecticut National Guard Rescues Person, Dog from Storm-Hit South
The Connecticut National Guard rescued a person and the person’s dog while providing assistance in North Carolina after Florence struck. This photo captured the moment Sgt. Michael Justo, of the Connecticut Army National Guard, reached his hand out of the helicopter during the rescue efforts. Members of the CT National Guard have been supporting search and rescue missions and transporting relief personnel and equipment.
Biofuel: Mississippi Ethanol Plant Closing in Vicksburg
Ergon BioFuels, LLC, a subsidiary of Ergon, Inc., announced on Friday, September 14 that it will close its ethanol plant in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in December 2018. The 56.5 million gallon per year plant was constructed in 2007 as a joint venture between Ergon Ethanol, Inc., and Bunge North America, Inc. The plant had previously halted production in December 2012. Ergon purchased Bunge’s ownership in the facility in 2013 and restarted the plant in July 2015.
A Year After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Ricans Rebuild Amid Setbacks
There are still blue tarps on homes in Canóvanas, one of the Puerto Rican cities hardest hit by Hurricane Maria, Ramón A. Paez Marte told NBC News. Rebuilding his home has been a struggle, and getting federal aid for it nearly impossible — FEMA denied his application and tens of thousands more on the island, hit by the devastating storm one year ago. Families across the island are still reeling from the nearly 3,000 deaths, more than 200,000 people who left and the roughly $90 billion in damages.
'I Want You To Be My Wife': Surprise Proposal Highlights Emmys Night
Director Glenn Weiss went home with an Emmy and a new fiancée after he pulled off a successful proposal to his girlfriend, Jen Svendsen, as the cameras were rolling onstage.
Alumnae From Kavanaugh Accuser's High School Express Support
More than 200 alumnae of the Holton-Arms School in Bethesda are said to have signed a letter supporting a classmate who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct when they were both in high school. The signatories rallied around Christine Blasey Ford after she went public in The Washington Post with allegations that Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed at a house party in the early 1980s in Chevy Chase and wouldn't let her leave.
East Granby High School, Middle School on Lockdown: State Police
East Granby High School and East Granby Middle School are on lockdown, according to state police. No additional information was immediately available.
'Tonight’: Lenny Kravitz Reacts to His Giant Scarf Meme
Lenny Kravitz shares the backstory behind the giant scarf he wore that transformed him into a meme.
‘Tonight’: Voting Avenue Ft. Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi and Jimmy Fallon take a walk to Voting Avenue to get all of the information they need about voting. To learn more about voter registration, head to vote.gov or ask, "Siri, how do I vote?" on your iOS device.
'Late Night’: Julianne Moore Was Embarrassed to Sing in 'Bel Canto'
With her movie "Bel Canto" coming to theaters Friday, Julianne Moore chats with Seth Meyers about her fear of singing for the film, in which she plays an opera singer.
'Late Night’: A Closer Look at Kavanaugh Accusation, Manafort Flip
Seth Meyers takes a closer look at President Donald Trump's ex-campaign chairman flipping on him and the sexual assault allegations leveled against his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.
'SNL' Duo Stand and Deliver at the Emmys
Emmy hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost emerged Monday clad in tuxedos. But for a moment they looked almost naked without their usual “Weekend Update” news desk to give them cover. It didn’t take them long, though, to stand and deliver. “It is an honor to be here sharing the night with the many, many talented and creative people in Hollywood who haven’t been caught yet,” Che quipped.
CT Army National Guard Holds Send-Off Ceremony
On Monday at the State Armory, the Connecticut Army National Guard held a send-off ceremony for 40 members of the 192nd Engineer Battalion. The Stratford-based unit is expected to take off in a few days to support Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. “This will be my first deployment to Afghanistan,” said Captain Nichole Giunto. Giunto along with others on the team will help oversee clearing roads of everything from trees to explosives, making it safer for others to pass.
Hartford Looks to End Illegal Trash Dumping
If you've driven around Hartford, you've probably seen it: bulk trash left on the side of the road, a lot of it dumped illegally. It's a big problem for the city and they're looking to put a stop to it. "It's a huge problem. It imposes a huge cost on our city, both in terms of manpower and time and resources to clean it up. But it also affects how the city looks, and we take that very, very seriously.
Car Crashes Into Building, Catches on Fire in Bloomfield
Crews responded to a building in Bloomfield after car crashed into it and caught fire on Monday night. Witnesses tell NBC Connecticut that a car went through a stop sign and crashed into the former Bloomfield Hardware Store on Tunxis Avenue. The building then caught on fire within five minutes of the crash. According to witnesses, people driving by stopped and helped pull the driver out of the vehicle. Police said the driver was not seriously hurt.
And The Emmy Goes To: 2018 Winners List
Winners of the 2018 Emmy Awards:Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesBill Hader, Barry (HBO)Outstanding Lead Actress in Comedy SeriesRachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesAlex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs.
Police Search for Suspect in Thompson House Invasion
Detectives from Connecticut State Police are investigating a house invasion in Thompson on Monday. Police were called around 8:38 a.m. by a homeowner on Laporte Road. The homeowner said he was the victim of an armed robbery. According to the homeowner, he was inside of his house, exiting the bathroom in his master bedroom when he was confronted by a man.
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