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Articles by PLC Programs
USDA: Peanut Price Highlights
Peanuts. Photo: Oklahoma State University Peanut prices received by farmers for all farmer stock peanuts averaged 20.2 cents per pound for the week ending February 6, down 0.2 cent from the previous week. Marketings of all farmer stock peanuts for the week ending February 6 totaled 90.5 million pounds, up 19.5 million pounds from the previous week. Runner-type peanut prices averaged 20.2 cents per pound for the week ending February 6, up 0.9 cent from the previous week.
Drought Monitor Weekly: Widespread, Patchy Precipitation as Temps Drop
A slow-moving coastal storm delivered heavy precipitation in parts of the Northeast on January 31 – February 1, with impacts (windy weather and snow showers) lingering for several days. Later, the focus for stormy weather briefly returned to the western U.S., although significant precipitation was confined to the northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest. By February 4, wintry weather shifted into the upper Midwest, where blowing snow and gusty winds briefly resulted in blizzard conditions.
Weekly Cotton Market Review - USDA
Average spot quotations were up 368 points from the previous week, according to the USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service’s Cotton and Tobacco Program. Quotations for the base quality of cotton (color 41, leaf 4, staple 34, mike 35-36 and 43-49, strength 27.0-28.9, and uniformity 81.0-81.9) in the seven designated markets averaged 81.08 cents per pound for the week ending Thursday, February 11, 2021.
Global Markets: Cotton - India’s Minimum Support Price Program Remains Active
Mature cotton rows ready for harvest. ©Debra L Ferguson India’s Minimum Support Price program (MSP) continues to purchase significant volumes of cotton amid expectations for record sales in 2020/21. As of February 1, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) had purchased the equivalent of 6.9 million bales (480 lbs.) of lint cotton from the 2020/21 crop; this represented about 40 percent of the cotton sold to date by farmers and 25 percent of the USDA production forecast.
Global Markets: Corn - China Drives U.S. Trade
U.S. exporters reported nearly 5.9 million tons of corn sales to China in January for delivery by the end of August 2021. The volume alone implies that China imports for calendar year 2021 will again exceed its tariff rate quota (TRQ), given that China will also buy corn from Ukraine and others. Last September, China’s National Development and Reform Commission announced that the corn TRQ for 2021 remains unchanged at 7.2 million tons.
Global Markets: Wheat - Indian Exports Resume Amid High Global Prices
As major exporter prices rise, India wheat exports are returning to the global market in a sizeable way for the first time in several years. India’s ample supplies are poised to reach additional markets as stocks tighten among many of the top exporters. India’s domestic support programs have a history of periodically expanding wheat production and burgeoning government-held stocks.
Global Markets: Rice - India to Supply Rising Parboiled Import Demand
©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography During 2020, India dominated parboiled rice trade and is expected to expand further in 2021 as demand rises. India is currently the largest parboiled rice supplier, followed by Thailand. In 2019/20, Thailand produced less rice, leading to sharply higher export prices that constrained total rice exports. Meanwhile, India has ample supplies and competitive prices and can respond to rising market demand.
Global Markets: Grains - High Corn Prices Spur Record Chinese Feed Use
Corn stocks at an elevator location during harvest. ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Images With record corn imports forecast this month at 24.0 million tons for 2020/21, China’s demand for feedstuffs continues to rise as its swine herd recovers from African swine fever. High corn prices are supporting record feed use of wheat and rice.
Global Markets: Oilseeds - Soybean Buyers Turn Attention to Brazil’s 2021 Harvest
Soybean harvest. ©Debra L Ferguson As soybean supplies in the United States tighten seasonally, buyers are turning to South America, particularly Brazil, where harvest is getting underway. Production in Brazil is currently forecast at 133 million tons, up 7 million from last year. However, a lower carryin reduces year-over- year supply growth to 5 million tons.
Moving Grain: California Asks FMC To Take Action on Ag Shipping Delays
California Asks FMC To Take Action on Agricultural Shipping Delays In a letter dated January 28, the State of California asked the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to take immediate action on port congestion. The action would aim to help agriculture exporters facing rising costs and delays resulting from the surge of import traffic in the fall and winter of 2020. The letter proposes steps, such as suspending or reducing detention and demurrage charges and canceling congestion surcharges.
Shurley on Cotton: Eventful Week Leaves Questions, Uncertainty
Cotton harvest near cotton gin with modules lined up in the gin yard. ©Debra L Ferguson Cotton prices have been highly variable (wild) over the past week or more with triple digit moves up and down for 6 consecutive days Feb 4-11. Typically, this can be a sign of market surprises (good or bad) and/or nervousness. Prices continued up today with old crop March futures breaking 87 cents and new crop December just under 84 cents.
Louisiana: 3 to Be Inducted into Ag Hall of Distinction
Three fixtures in Louisiana agriculture will be inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction during a ceremony at L’Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge on March 4. The new inductees are former Louisiana Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson, of Ethel; sugarcane farmer John Gay, of Plaquemine; and Paul “Jackie” Loewer, of Branch, a rice farmer who has been a strong advocate for the rice industry in state and national organizations.
Tennessee: Cotton Focus - Dealing with Thrips and Bollworms - Videos
Tennessee: Cotton Focus – Dealing with Thrips and Bollworms – Videos February 12, 2021 By Tyson Raper, University of Tennessee Extension Cotton and Small Grains Specialist Thrips damaged cotton. Photo: University of Georgia To kick off the 2021 Cotton Focus Video Series, we are extremely grateful to have two videos from Dr. Scott Stewart- one discussing updates on thrips and one discussing updates bollworms.
North Carolina Soybeans: Shifting from Later to Earlier Maturing Varieties - Video
As more growers shift to producing earlier maturing soybean varieties in North Carolina and South Carolina, there are important lessons we can learn about management from the Mid-South region where growers shifted to producing earlier maturing soybean varieties many years ago. On February 8, 2021, we hosted a webinar to hear from Extension specialists across the Mid-South with expertise on the successful transition to producing earlier maturing varieties.
Biofuels: RFS Stands Before Supreme Court on Question of Small Refinery Waivers
The Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) has experienced more than its fair share of litigation over the course of its 15-year existence but it had not reached the Supreme Court. January marked a new milestone, the Supreme Court granted certiorari—the technical term for the Supreme Court agreeing to hear a case on appeal—for three small refineries challenging a recent decision by the 10th Circuit. The question presented to the Supreme Court is one of statutory interpretation.
Rice Market Update: Corn, Soybeans Compete for Acres
Young rice crop. ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography Cash Market The market in Texas remains firm and steady on supply scarcity. Growers in both Texas and Louisiana are already looking to new crop as the two states begin to prepare for planting season. This year’s spot market prices have proven extremely steady across the board, but especially so for Texas and Louisiana.
Midwest Cover Crops Council Conference, Online, Feb. 23-25
Cover crop plots. Photo: Kansas State University The countdown is on to the Midwest Cover Crops Council Conference! Organized by OMAFRA, the Ridgetown Business Development Centre, and SOILS AT GUELPH, this virtual conference running February 23-25 will have something for everyone! This year’s theme is Making Connections: Soil Health, Cover Crops, and People.
Corn: What Is Up with USDA Revisions to Quarterly Stock Estimates?
Grain bins in the spring. ©Debra L Ferguson It is not unusual for revisions to USDA crop and livestock estimates to be newsworthy. A good example occurred in January, when the USDA lowered its estimate of the U.S. average corn yield by 3.8 bushels to 172 bushels per acre. While this was a large downward revision from a historical standpoint, it was not without precedent.
House Ag Committee Passes Portion of FY21 Budget Reconciliation Bill
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported on Wednesday that, “The $1.9 trillion relief plan moving through the House of Representatives has roughly $16.1 billion in specific provisions for USDA — mainly for nutrition programs — but boosts in agricultural aid steered toward buying commodities or supporting minority or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. “The House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday afternoon marked up agricultural provisions for the aid package.
Louisiana: Sugarcane Farmers Meet Virtually to Prepare for 2021
After completing a successful harvest, sugarcane farmers in the Bayou Teche area met online Feb. 9 with LSU AgCenter experts to find out what they should be doing to prepare for next year’s crop. Kenneth Gravois, LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist, said clipping, followed by burning the residue could impair growth, especially with the possibility of a freeze in the next few days. Gravois said some farmers who clipped seed cane fields in 2019 of the variety L01-299 had to replant after clipping.
Minnesota: Virtual Nitrogen Smart Webinars in Feb., March
Corn fertilizer application. ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography Farmers and ag professionals interested in fine-tuning their nitrogen fertilizer management to improve profitability and water quality are encouraged to attend the upcoming Nitrogen Smart webinars offered by University of Minnesota Extension. Thanks to the generous support of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, there is no cost to attend.
Soybean Planting Considerations Webinar - Feb. 19
Soybean seed in planter hopper. ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography Hear the latest from Extension researchers across the United States who have recently summarized decades of research on soybean planting recommendations. A soybean planting consideration webinar will be hosted by Shawn Conley, Seth Naeve and Rachel Vann on Friday, February 19, 2021 from 11:45am to 12:45pm CST.
Webinar: Federal Crop Insurance Considerations, Updates - Feb. 17
Soybean plants stripped of their leaves by a hailstorm. Photo: Jeremy Ross, University of Arkansas After a season of volatile markets, unforgiving weather patterns and a global pandemic, federal crop insurance will play a key role in keeping many agricultural producers afloat in 2021. Although many producers may rely on this safety net, federal crop insurance can be a difficult topic to navigate for producers, lenders and attorneys.
North Carolina Tobacco: Steward Insecticide Registration Confirmed
Tobacco buwdorm. Photo: John Capinera, University of Florida A new insecticide, Steward, has recently been registered in tobacco. Steward, with the active ingredient indoxacarb, is labeled for tobacco budworm, hornworms, and tobacco splitworm and has a unique mode of action in tobacco. In addition to these labeled pests, we have also seen efficacy against tobacco flea beetle from early season foliar treatments.
March 15 Last Day to Complete Enrollment for 2021 ARC, PLC Programs
The degree of damage from standing water in this soybean field will depend on several factors and likely will lead to direct yield losses or indirect losses from increased disease pressure. Photo: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2021 must do so by March 15.
Selling Food And Gaining Influence - New Realities - DTN
Influencer marketing campaigns, notably one of the most effective ways to connect consumers to farmers, take time. These bridges also require strategy, said Kent Lewis, digital marketing strategy expert and head of Anvil Media. He believes in the years to come, influencer marketing will play a key role in the dynamic between the two groups. Trends he sees ahead revolve around these ideas. GLASS HOUSES.
Oil Crops Outlook: Soybean Prices Supported by Strengthening Soy Oil Market
Mature soybean pods ready for harvest. ©Debra L Ferguson In its Crop Production—2019 Summary report, USDA published an estimate of the 2019/20 U.S. soybean crop at 3.558 billion bushels, up 8 million from the previous forecast. The small production gain for soybeans is based on an increase for the U.S. average yield by 0.5 bushel to 47.4 bushels per acre. USDA’s forecast of U.S. soybean exports for 2019/20 is unchanged at 1.775 billion bushels.
Farmers Can’t Ignore Consumers…Especially Their Fears - DTN
Editor’s Note: Disruption is a catalyst for change. The tech industry has purposely pursued disruption for decades as a means of stimulating growth and innovation. Agriculture is certainly no stranger to disruption and the effect — good and bad — it can have on farmers and ranchers, as well as various segments within the industry. As we enter a new decade, the editors of Progressive Farmer begin a special series exploring those forces of disruption that will define and reshape agriculture.
Ag Economy: Jan. Observations from the Fed - Beige Book
Last week, the Federal Reserve Board released its January 2020 Beige Book update, a summary of commentary on current economic conditions by Federal Reserve District. The report included several observations pertaining to the U.S. agricultural economy.
Ag Trade: Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Chinese Purchases of U.S. Goods
Bloomberg writers Mike Dorning and Michael Hirtzer reported last week that, “President Donald Trump’s phase-one trade deal with China offers the promise of more overseas sales for American farmers, but the impact of the agreement remains unclear. “Trump has promoted a commitment by China to purchase $40 billion to $50 billion annually in farm products for the next two years.
California Almonds: 4 Goals to Improve Sustainability by 2025
At The Almond Conference 2018, the California almond industry announced four ambitious goals with a seven-year target timeline to achieve each. The Almond Orchard 2025 Goals build off decades of previous achievements and are intended to define the industry’s journey toward continuous improvement while acknowledging the challenges of growing almonds in the Central Valley.
Kansas: Industrial Hemp Conference, Wichita, Feb. 4
Industrial hemp grown for CBD. Photo: Kansas State University Kansas State University officials will present the most current information on how to grow hemp in Kansas, based on the first year of research trials at university test plots across the state. The Industrial Hemp Conference is scheduled for Feb. 4 at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center, located at 7001 W. 21st Street North in Wichita (near the intersection of 21st Street and Ridge Road).
USDA: Weekly National Peanut Prices
The following prices are effective from Wednesday 01/22/20 at 12:01 am Eastern Time until midnight Tuesday 01/28/20. The next announcement is scheduled for Tuesday 01/28/20 at 3:00 pm Eastern Time. * $424.13 per ton for Runner peanuts * $416.70 per ton for Spanish peanuts * $430.94 per ton for Valencia peanuts * $430.94 per ton for Virginia peanuts These NPP are based on the corrected loan rates for 2019-crop peanuts announced on October 10, 2019.
Corn: Record U.S. Production Possible in 2020, Prices to Remain Flat
Harvested corn pouring into grain truck. Photo: University of Tennessee With a whirlwind of trade activity as a backdrop, commodity market gyrations have made unsettling times for grain producers in Texas and across the nation, but there’s hope those are leveling, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist. “Trade is a powerful tool,” said Mark Welch, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension grain marketing economist, College Statio.
Texas: Last Chance CEU Training, San Angelo, Jan. 28
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is holding a Last Chance CEU Training Course on Jan. 28 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 7887 U.S. Highway 87 N. in San Angelo. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 1 p.m. The cost is $25. The program will cover topics ranging from integrated pest management, trees and landscape diseases, pesticide laws and regulations, to drift minimization and calibration.
Georgia Pecans: Look Out for Fire Ants in Orchards
Fire ant mound. Photo: University of Georgia The recent wet, unseasonably warm weather has lots of insects on the move. Most of them don’t matter much to pecan growers, but fire ants can be a different story. That’s especially true if the ants build their mounds inside the guards used to protect young trees from herbicide applications. Filling the tubes with dirt is a bad thing for the trees and also makes any control difficult or impossible.
Iowa: Soil Fertility Workshops Offered Through March
Photo: University of Minnesota This winter we will be hosting several soil fertility workshops around the state to help farmers better understand how to interpret soil test results and make soil fertility recommendations.
Cleveland On Cotton: Become “Somewhat Aggressive” With New-Corp Marketing
This was a positive week for agriculture. For cotton, closing the week near its daily high is always good, The U.S. and China resolved what was called Phase1of the trade dispute and Congress, after extensive and inexcusable delay, allowed the new NAFTA agreement to become law. These trade packages are very beneficial for agriculture. The resolution with China removes all uncertainty from the trade tiff and relative to the cotton market.
FSA Encourages Producers to Enroll Soon in ARC, PLC Programs
Corn stalk lodging and rot. Photo: Tamra Jackson-Ziems USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers to enroll now in the Agriculture Risk (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. March 15, 2020 is the enrollment deadline for the 2019 crop year. Although more than 200,000 producers have enrolled to date, FSA anticipates 1.5 million producers will enroll for ARC and PLC. By enrolling soon, producers can beat the rush as the deadline nears.
Illinois Corn, Soybeans: 2020 Crop Budgets Revised
Budgets for 2020 have been revised and are now available on farmdoc. Revised budgets use a corn price of $3.90 per bushel and soybean price of $9.10 per bushel, both of which are an increase in price expectations following what appears to be softening of trade difficulties between China and the U.S. Even at those prices, returns are projected at negative levels for 2020. Before 2020 returns are positive, yields must be well above trend or Market Facilitation Program payments must continue in 2020.
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