RFA Ethanol Podcast

2024 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Kick Off

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Cotton Council (NCC) and its cooperating partners are starting the new year with the 2024 Beltwide Cotton Conferences getting underway today in Fort Worth, Texas. Conferences coordinator Lauren Krogman says attendance is back to pre-COVID levels. “Right now our registration numbers are close to 800 so we are really happy to see everyone here,” said Krogman, who adds …

Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

USDA Lowers Forecast for Corn, Soybeans and Cotton

Cindy Zimmerman

The October Crop Production report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) lowered the production forecast this year for corn, soybeans, and cotton. Corn production is forecast at 15.1 billion bushels, down less than 1% from the previous forecast but up 10% from last year; soybean growers are expected to decrease their production 4% from 2022, forecast at 4.10 billion …

Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA

USDA Predicts More Corn, Less Soybeans and Cotton

Cindy Zimmerman

Corn production is up, while soybean and cotton production is down from 2022, according to the latest Crop Production report issued Tuesday by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Corn production is forecast to be up 10% from last year, at 15.1 billion bushels; soybean growers production is down 3% from 2022, forecast at 4.15 billion bushels; and cotton production …

Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA

USDA Adjusts Yields in August Report

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA’s first survey-based forecasts for the season slightly lowered yields for corn and soybeans compared to projections last month. In the August Crop Production report released Friday, USDA puts corn production for 2023/24 at 15.1 billion bushels, down 209 million from the July projection, but ten percent more than 2022 which would be the second highest on record behind 2016/17. …

Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

USDA Crop Report Surprises

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Planted Acreage report released Friday surprised many with an estimated 94.1 million acres of corn planted in the United States for 2023, up 6% from last year, while soybean area planted is estimated at 83.5 million acres, down 5% from last year. “You get a big surprise here I think …

Audio, Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA

USDA Releases 2023 Prospective Plantings Report

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2023 Prospective Plantings report finds farmers expect to plant more corn and soybeans this year than last year. According to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), producers surveyed across the United States intend to plant 92.0 million acres of corn in 2023, up 4% from last year, and 87.5 million acres of soybeans this year, up slightly from last …

Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

BASF Sponsors Awards at Beltwide Cotton Conferences

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF helped to recognize the Cotton Specialist of the Year and Cotton Marketer of the Year at last week’s Beltwide Cotton Conferences. Dr. Murilo Maeda, assistant professor and extension cotton specialist from Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension, in Lubbock, Texas, was named the 2023 Cotton Specialist of the Year. Maeda has been in the cotton industry his entire life, growing …

Audio, BASF, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

2023 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Wrap Up

Cindy Zimmerman

Another successful Beltwide Cotton Conferences is in the books and it was good to see attendance and participation back up to pre-pandemic levels. “I’m always glad to kick off the year with Beltwide,” said Hank Jones, RSJ Ag Services, who once again served as chair for the Consultants Conference. “One of the things that I’ve always loved about the conference …

Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

Corn, Soybean and Cotton Production Down in 2022

Cindy Zimmerman

Production for corn, soybeans and cotton all declined in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to the 2022 Crop Production Annual Summary from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. U.S. corn growers produced 13.7 billion bushels, down 9% from 2021. Corn yield in the United States is estimated at 173.3 bushels per acre, 3.4 bushels below …

Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA

Cotton Policy Update at #BWCC23

Cindy Zimmerman

Attendees at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences this week in New Orleans were updated on current policy issues relating to cotton by Bart Fischer, Co-Director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center Texas A&M University. Fischer says one of the big policy issues on the plate this year is the next farm bill. “The 2018 Farm Bill expires on September 30,” …

Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton, Farm Bill