Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is in Florida today after surveying Hurricane Irma damage in his home state of Georgia last week. In Georgia, Perdue toured pecan farms where thousands of trees were lost and will take years to replace, with estimates that 20-30% of this year’s crop was lost, and also visited with cotton farmers who may have lost …
No Hurricane Damage Included in New Crop Report
Two hurricanes in the past two weeks mean that the September Crop Production report is already a bit out of date. Rainfall from Hurricane Harvey caused flooding in parts of southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana, impacting data collection activities for the September report, so NASS will collect harvested acreage information in both states for a number of crops in preparation …
Bayer Showcases Cotton and Peanuts
The peanut and cotton crops are looking especially good right now in Georgia and with harvest still about two weeks away farmers are hopeful Hurricane Irma will spare them. “Harvest season is always critical and you can have a great year and it all be ruined by one hurricane,” said Keith Rucker, Bayer Southeast region technical service rep, during a …
USDA Reports Record High Soybean Acreage, Corn Acres Down
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is estimating a record high 89.5 million acres of soybeans planted in the U.S. for 2017. That’s up seven percent from last year. Corn acres are looking to be down about three percent. All cotton acreage for 2017 is estimated at 12.1 million acres, 20 percent above last year, while all wheat planted …
Wet Weather Delays Corn Planting
Many planters around the Corn Belt were sitting idle last week as wet weather continued to delay planting progress at the start of the season, much to the dismay of farmers anxious to get into the fields. The latest crop progress report from USDA this week shows corn planting progress at six percent falling behind last year at this time …
Peanut and Cotton Growers Provide Farm Bill Input
Peanut and cotton growers provided their input into commodity programs in the next farm bill during a hearing this week before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. Georgia farmer Tim McMillan testified on behalf of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation in support of maintaining the peanut provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill and the …
More Beans and Cotton, Less Corn and Wheat
The first estimate for crop plantings this year by USDA is calling for less corn and wheat but more soybeans and cotton. The 2017 Prospective Plantings report based on farmer surveys estimates that corn planted area for all purposes in 2017 will be 90 million acres, down 4 percent or 4.0 million acres from last year. Soybeans planted area for …
Bayer Opens Texas Cotton Breeding Station
Southwest cotton growers will benefit from a new $16.7 million Bayer breeding and research station near Lubbock, Texas that celebrated its grand opening this week. The facility will focus on developing drought-resistant cotton varieties and traits for limited-input situations. Pictured in the ribbon cutting photo are: Tom Speed, Bayer cottonseed and traits; Tim Timmis, Bayer project execution; Margaret Shields, US …
FMC Supports #MSFGS17 and Cotton Growers
Mid-South Farm and Gin Show took place last week in Memphis, Tennessee and FMC is a big part of making that happen as a long-time sponsor. Chris Reat says the show is a lot of fun; a place where relationships are built and reconnected as members of the industry gather to learn about a commodity which plays a lesser part …
Farm & Gin Show is #MSFGS17 and 65
The Mid-South Farm & Gin Show just celebrated 65 years! And to learn more about this year’s show I spoke with show director, Tim Price. I have to share this anecdote from my hotel the night before the show started. Waiting for an elevator a small group of people were discussing the show sign that was in the hallway. One …