Corn and Soybean Digest

Weaker La Niña For Planting

jbennett — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:11:05 +0000

With below-average sea temperatures beginning to warm, La Niña peaked in mid-February. It’s transitioning toward ENSO-neutral conditions during March through May 2012, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials.

Take Profits Early | Corn Marketing is Still a Volatile Venture in 2012

jbennett — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:57:04 +0000

John Story had about 25% of his expected 2012 corn production marketed by March 2011, two months before the government’s intentional explosion of a Mississippi River levee that flooded his fields in southeastern Missouri. Despite the worst disaster in his region’s history, the deep water didn’t drown his spirits as he geared up for even stronger grain sales this year.

More Aphid Ammunition | Soybeans with Genetic Aphid Protection Squelch No. 1 Soybean Pest

jbennett — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:49:10 +0000

Two genes that help soybeans fend off aphids worked well in 2011, both as single and stacked traits. That’s according to a six-state study of soybeans with aphid resistance genes, known as Rag1 and Rag2. Individually, the genes slowed aphid growth significantly, says Iowa State University entomologist Matt O’Neal, who led the research.

Coming Soon To A Field Near You: Corn Pests and Diseases

jbennett — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:39:45 +0000

From Aflatoxin to Western Corn Rootworm, corn growers have a lot to keep an eye out for this growing season.

The scene: A beautiful, sunny afternoon. Walking through a flourishing cornfield with strong roots, green leaves and bright silks. Suddenly, clouds roll in, the leaves start browning and shriveling, worms eat away silks, stalks crumble in front of you as rootworms demolish the roots, and charcoal rot erodes the stalks. Your feel-good movie has turned into the latest horror flick.

Will SCN Be Moderate or Bad This Year?

jbennett — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:02:44 +0000

Source: farmgate blog

Dry soils can create much more havoc than just reducing yield. During the drought in 1983 many farmers realized that spider mites were sucking the sap out of soybeans, and because of the lack of soil moisture to replenish it, the mites had a greater impact than in wetter years when populations were nearly as equal. With dry soils going into the 2012 growing season, researchers are warning soybean producers about another potential problem that will manifest itself if the weather continues on the dry side.

Know What's In Proposed Child Labor Law

jbennett — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:46:45 +0000

Source: Purdue University

Parents of children who work on the family farm or are in agriculture education programs should thoroughly review proposed changes to child labor laws so they fully understand how the new rules could affect them, advises Bill Field, a Purdue farm safety specialist. "Because the proposed rule changes are 51 pages long, I don't know that many people understand exactly what's being presented," Field says. "The changes not only hold the potential for positive but also significant negative effects to youth less than 16 years old who seek employment or are currently employed in agriculture."

Decision Making Based On True Profits

dkohl — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:38:44 +0000

Ask any farmer or rancher how profitable they are, and the response is usually “according to my taxes, I lose money most years.” However, the producer purchases new equipment, land and in some cases, personal assets, such as a new truck or car, or a vacation. How can this be? Many businesses are being managed using tax statements rather than an accrual-adjusted income statement.

CSD Blogs and Opinions

March 15 is Crop Insurance Deadline

kthiesse — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:35:33 +0000

March 15 is the deadline to purchase crop insurance for the 2012 crop year. A good crop insurance program is a key part of a solid risk-management plan for a farm business. Farm operators are encouraged to discuss the Common Crop Insurance Policy (COMBO) insurance options, as well as other 2012 crop insurance needs and options with their crop insurance agent before the deadline.

CSD Blogs and Opinions

USDA Sees Farm Income Down Sharply

rbrock — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:27:14 +0000

U.S. farm income is expected to drop sharply in 2012 from last year’s record high as production costs rise by more than $10 billion for the second year in a row and crop receipts are limited by drought, USDA said recently in its first income forecast for this year.

CSD Blogs and Opinions

ESCO Introduces New Compac Wheel Dolly For Agricultural and Earth Moving Machinery

djohnson — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:46:25 +0000

esco-compac-90538-wd-pr.pdf