Expectations for higher-than-normal May temperatures have Wiregrass corn producers on edge as the spring growing season shapes up to be a dry one. Brandon Dillard, an Alabama Extension regional agent of agronomic crops, said farmers in the area were ahead of the planting schedule earlier in the season. “This was one of the best looking dryland corn crops I’ve seen …
Marketing Assistance Loan Deadlines Approaching
May 31 Deadline for Feed Grains, Upland Cotton, Soybeans and Minor Oilseeds U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce reminds producers of the May 31 deadline to apply for crop year 2018 marketing assistance loans for feed grains, upland cotton, soybeans and minor oilseeds. “These commodity loans provide short-term financing, allowing producers to meet interim …
Corn Refiners: Excessive Rail Fees Warrant Investigation, Clarification of “Reasonableness”
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
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
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
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 ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the …
Summarizing 2018 Crop Production
USDA has released its summary of the 2018 crop production year. Rod Bain has more details. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the Future of the Florida Cattle IndustryOctober 31, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober 24, 2025
USDA Releases Shutdown-delayed Reports
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
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
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 …