Corn Refiners: Excessive Rail Fees Warrant Investigation, Clarification of “Reasonableness”

Dan Corn, Industry News Release

Corn Refiners Association (CRA) President & CEO John Bode appeared before the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to give testimony on behalf of CRA. The hearing, held due to concerns expressed by users of the freight rail network and other stakeholders about the changes to demurrage and accessorial tariffs being implemented by various Class I railroads, took place in the Main …

Farm Futures Planting Survey Shows Less Corn Acres than USDA

Dan Corn, Industry News Release, Soybeans, Wheat

Farmers indicate they may plant less corn than previously thought by the Department of Agriculture, according to the annual Farm Futures planting survey. The survey of 1,000 producers nationwide says that after planting more soybeans than corn in 2018 for the first time in 35 years, farmers want to return to more normal rotations this spring. However, with the impact …

USDA Expects Exports to Fall In 2019

Dan Corn, Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Soybeans

The Department of Agriculture is projecting a $1.9 billion drop in exports this year, led by a decline in trade with China. While talks remain ongoing between China and the United States, USDA during its 95th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum Thursday predicted 2019 fiscal year exports at $141.5 billion. USDA Chief Economist Robert Johansson told attendees China is expected to …

2018 Crop Totals

Dan Corn, Cotton, Peanuts, Soybeans

The partial shutdown of the Federal Government delayed reports for some of the final 2018 crop production numbers. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) was not able to release that information in January, but according to Tyron Spearman, NASS did include those numbers in their February report. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers …

USDA Releases Shutdown-delayed Reports

Dan Corn, Field Crops, Industry News Release, Soybeans, Wheat

The Department of Agriculture’s backlog of reports delayed from the government shutdown overall provided a neutral outlook. USDA reported 2018 corn production at 14.4 billion bushels with a national average yield of 176 bushels per acre. Meanwhile, USDA says farmers harvested a record 4.5 billion bushels of soybeans, up three percent from last year, with a national average yield of …

Farm Futures Survey Shows Planting Intentions

Dan Corn, Cotton, Field Crops, Industry News Release, Soybeans, Wheat

A survey by Farm Futures finds growers said they want to boost corn and cotton acreage, while cutting back on crops affected by China’s import tariffs on soybeans and sorghum. Farm Futures surveyed 626 farmers in December and January and reported soybean planting intentions of 84.6 million acres, down 5.5 percent from 2018, but more than the 82.5 million projected …

Corn Producers See Value through Red Meat Exports

Dan Beef, Corn, Exports/Imports, Industry News Release

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) recently received the results of an updated study aimed at quantifying the value delivered to U.S. corn producers through exports of red meat. Joe Schuele reports the original 2016 study, as well as the 2018 follow-up, were conducted by World Perspectives, Inc., a leading agricultural consulting firm. Dave Juday, senior analyst for World Perspectives, explains that …

MFP Payments Being Issued

Dan Corn, Cotton, Economy, Soybeans, Wheat

Commodity producers are now eligible to receive Market Facilitation Payments (MFP) on the second half of their 2018 production. Tyron Spearman has the details. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024

Second Round of Trade Aid Payments Underway

Dan Corn, Cotton, Dairy, Economy, Pork, Wheat

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is moving forward on the second and final round of trade mitigation payments to farmers hurt from retaliation by America’s trading partners. Commodity producers are now eligible to receive market facilitation payments (MFP) on the second half of their 2018 production. USDA has been sending out the first round of MFP payments to producers …