Alabama farmers hope for better prices by Kelsey Cassebaum, Alabama Farmers Federation Despite low feed grain yields in 2016 because of drought, some Alabama farmers increased corn acreage this year, counting on good market conditions come harvest in July. Butler County’s Steve Tanner planted 1,100 acres of non-irrigated corn this year, up more than 300 acres from 2016. His non-irrigated …
Cargill: Grain Glut to Last
Cargill expects international grain markets to remain oversupplied. The company’s CEO told Reuters recently that the oversupply will remain “for a long time” due to bountiful harvests and an increase of crops in storage. Global corn, wheat and soybean inventories have increased over the last four years in the longest stretch of gains since the late 1990s, according to the …
Corn Prices May Not Improve, Even with Less Production
As farmers plant fewer acres to corn, will smaller supplies bring on better prices? This story from Gary Crawford answers that question. Seth Meyer, USDA Outlook Board Chairman, gives reasons for the USDA forecast for a 50 million bushel increase in the use of corn for ethanol in the coming marketing year…new projection, 5.5 million bushels. …
Agri View: Corn, the Oldest Crop
Everett Griner talks about corn. The most researched and oldest cultivated crops in the world in today’s Agri View. Corn is one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world. Maybe the oldest. Records go back 9,000 years. It is also grown in more places than any other crop. But here is a surprise. More research has been …
Minnesota Court Delays Syngenta Lawsuit Hearing
The Associated Press reports that the first of literally tens of thousands of lawsuits against Syngenta has been delayed until July. The suits accuse the Swiss agribusiness company of introducing a genetically engineered corn variety before China had approved it for imports, thereby causing farmers economic harm. The case was supposed to go to trial last week in a Minnesota …
Georgia Corn Growers Overwhelmingly Approve to Continue Assessment on Corn
Georgia corn growers voted their overwhelming support of continuation of the assessment of one cent per bushel of corn for the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Corn. The voting for the market order was conducted from March 15 to April 14 and was reaffirmed by a 93.5% favorable vote. The market order for corn requires vote by producers every three …
NCGA Urges White House: Don’t Withdraw From NAFTA
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) denounced reports that the White House has drafted plans to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The following is a statement from NCGA President Wesley Spurlock. “Mr. President, America’s corn farmers helped elect you. We are strong supporters of your administration and continue to stand ready to work with you to …
Syngenta Corn Lawsuits Underway
The first of several lawsuits filed against Syngenta is underway. Syngenta is facing dozens of lawsuits that claim a move by the company depressed corn prices in 2013. The farmers involved claim Syngenta’s selling of a corn trait that was not approved to export to China, and found in shipments of U.S. corn to China, depressed U.S. corn prices and …
2017 Corn Plantings Falling Behind
Wet conditions across the Corn Belt are delaying corn plantings. The Department of Agriculture indicated earlier this week corn plantings have fallen slightly behind the five-year average, and wet weather this week in the Midwest will likely bring further delays. With six percent of total corn acres planted by April 16th, progress fell three percentage points short of the five-year …
U.S. Corn Crop Planting Falls Slightly Behind
Corn planting progress has fallen slightly behind the five-year average, according to USDA’s weekly crop progress report. Only 6% of total corn acreage had been planted as of April 16, which is 3% short of the five-year average and 6% behind the same date last year. For the most part, the slower pace is a result of wet conditions across …