USDA Planted Acres Report Lowers Corn

Cindy Zimmerman

USDAUSDA’s new planted acreage report out this morning says corn acres are two percent higher than last year, but that is down a point from the March report with more acres are going to soybeans.

Corn planted area for all purposes in 2010 is estimated at 87.9 million acres, up 2 percent from last year. Acreage is up in Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio; but down significantly in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. Soybean planted area for 2010 is estimated at a record high 78.9 million acres, up 2 percent from last year.

MGEXThe Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) held a conference call on the report this morning, featuring commentary by Joe Victor of Allendale, Inc., who expressed surprise at the decrease from the March report in corn acres. “This is the first time that we’ve seen fewer corn acres in the June planted acreage report versus the March, but it’s also the second largest number of corn acres planted,” Victor said.

Allendale IncVictor says the stocks report, with corn up 1 percent at 4.31 billion bushels and usage at 3.38 billion, was also a surprise. “That’s the first time that we can ever put a 3 in front of total usage, that is a record amount of usage, March through May,” said Victor. The previous record was 2007-2008 at 2.83 billion bushels.

Listen to Joe Victor’s MGEX conference call here. The audio can also be found on the MGEX website.
MGEX Conference Call with Joe Victor

Audio, Corn, Soybean, USDA

Utrecht, Netherlands is Bike City

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello from Utrecht, Netherlands where I’ll be attending the 2010 Dairy Solutions Symposium, sponsored by Alltech. Just got in this morning and after a short nap went for a walk. I’ve never seen so many bicycles. They’re everywhere and just about every kind you can think of. This is a biking town no doubt.

For lunch I had a really good brie sandwich. I’m attending a dairy conference after all. I figure I’ll be eating pretty well the next couple days so it was strategic thinking to start out on the light side. Hopefully I’ll get to sample more of the cheeses made here in this region. I’ve just started a photo album for this event and have some photos from my walk in it: Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album

This evening I’ll be attending a dinner for speakers and others involved with the Symposium and we’ll get started officially tomorrow morning. Most of my coverage will be appearing on World Dairy Diary.

Alltech, Dairy, International

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

    Farm Foundation Spotlights Zoonoses

    Cindy Zimmerman

    I have to admit, I have never heard the word “zoonoses” until today. Up until now, I would have thought that “zoonoses” were the prominent part on the faces of animals that are primarily used for smelling. But, no – actually, the definition of zoonoses would be those infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans or visa versa. Learned something new today, thanks to Farm Foundation.

    zoonosesIf you want to learn more about Zoonoses, plan to attend an upcoming Farm Foundation symposium on the topic, to be held Sept. 23-24 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington, D.C.

    “The recent H1N1 outbreak is one in a long series of disease outbreaks that has raised questions about the relationship between the diseases, agricultural production systems and human health,” says Farm Foundation, NFP Vice President Sheldon Jones. “An understanding of the risks and interactions is critical tohealth professionals working with humans and animals,policy makers and regulators. This symposium is designed to help build a systematic knowledge of those relationships.”

    The symposium is targeted to the multiple disciplines involved in any disease outbreak-public health officials, epidemiologists, virologists, veterinarians, agriculture producer groups and media representatives, particularly those responsible for health, science and agricultural coverage.

    Find out more here.

    Farm Foundation

    New Soybean Federation Officers and Affiliates

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The year-old U.S. Soybean Federation (USSF) has two new state affiliates and new officers to announce.

    us soybean federationAccording to a news release, the Minnesota Soybean Federation (MSF) and the Oklahoma Soybean Federation (OSF) have joined USSF as state affiliates. They join the Nebraska Soybean Federation, Missouri Soybean Association, Oklahoma Soybean Federation and the Minnesota Soybean Federation as part of the group that was formed in 2009 with a mission of “ensuring U.S. soybean producers and the soybean industry are provided the maximum opportunity for success in the global marketplace through policy and advocacy efforts.”

    The USSF Board of Directors also announces recently elected new officers for the organization.

    Stepping into the position of president is Jerry Slocum, a soybean farmer from Coldwater, Miss. “I’m proud to serve as an advocate for my fellow soybean farmers on policy issues at the national level,” says Slocum. “These days we can’t have enough voices in our nation’s capital speaking on behalf of agriculture and farmers.”

    Joining Slocum on the USSF Executive Committee are Brian Greenslit, vice president and a soybean farmer from Franklin, Minn.; Greg Anderson, secretary/treasurer and a soybean farmer from Newman Grove, Neb.; and Warren Stemme, chairman and a soybean farmer from Chesterfield, Mo.

    The USSF Board of Directors will meet again this summer where it will review additional policy objectives moving forward. While OSF has already been accepted as a USSF member, MSF will formally be accepted at that time.

    Soybean

    Farm Bureau Outlines Farm Bill Principles

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The House Agriculture Committee has been holding hearings already to get input on the 2012 Farm Bill.

    afbfLast week, the committee heard from representatives of major agricultural organizations about farm safety net programs. Among those testifying was Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation, who noted that farmers in every state rely in some way on the economic safety net provided in the 2008 farm bill, but which programs are judged most beneficial depends largely on a farmer’s crop and region.

    afbf“While our farmers are generally supportive of the safety net provided in the 2008 farm bill, it can sometimes feel like you’re reading the old children’s story ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ when you talk to individual farmers about their experiences with farm programs,” Nelson testified. “Some farmers think the safety net coverage provided under the 2008 farm bill is ‘just right.’ But in other cases and for other farmers the coverage is sometimes too little. In a small number of cases, the coverage may even be duplicative and too much.”

    Acknowledging that the 2012 farm bill will be written in a difficult budget environment, Nelson said AFBF believes that five key principles should be followed during the rewrite process – that the options be fiscally responsible; that the basic funding structure of the 2008 farm bill should not be altered; that proposals will aim to benefit all agricultural sectors; that world trade rulings should be considered; and that consideration be given to the stable business environment that is critical to success in agriculture.

    Read Nelson’s testimony or watch a video of it on the AFBF website.

    AFBF

    Absence Speaks Louder Than Presence

    Melissa Sandfort

    In recent weeks, myself and two partners in crime have gone through what’s politely referred to as an “external evaluation.” Let’s face it folks, it’s an audit. During this process, we were subjected to an interview. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been interviewed for about 3 years now and it felt a little threatening at first. I’m usually the one on the other end of the microphone, asking someone else to talk. After I had a chance to mull over the conversation, something was still plaguing me.

    Tradeshows.

    I was asked: How do you measure the success of a tradeshow?

    My answer: Well, we do a drawing/giveaway at every show, and it’s based on personal contact, so if you figure up the “cost per impression” you’re looking at about $100 per impression. You have the booth cost, travel, lost time per employee, food, lodging, items to hand out at the booth …

    Ouch.

    As a PR professional, I find measurement of tradeshows to be the hardest task when it comes to justifying what’s in my job description so that they keep me working year-to-year. The appropriate answer to the question above is that our absence speaks louder than our presence at some shows. But how do you measure that? I can feel the mom coming out in me: BECAUSE I SAID SO, THAT’S WHY!

    So what I’m asking of my colleagues is this: How do you effectively measure tradeshow participation when you just have to be there, just because someone said so?

    We are now open for comments.

    Until we walk again…

    Uncategorized

    Why Agriculture Needs Corn Ethanol to Survive

    Joanna Schroeder

    “If you really look at whose behind the ethanol industry, it’s the American agricultural industry,” said Steve McNich, CEO of Western Plains Energy based in Oakley, Kansas. “There’s no better example at working your way out of a market than the American farmers. The history of the American farmer is that if there is ever an opportunity to make money, they’ll produce enough to make sure that doesn’t happen. The ethanol industry is no different.”

    This is how McNich explained the tie of American farmers to the ethanol industry and what the future may hold with the predictions that America will have the largest corn harvest in the country’s history this year. This coming after several years of record production levels and rising surplus numbers.

    One of the main problems with current policy, specifically the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2), is that it caps corn-based ethanol numbers to 15 billion gallons and also stipulates that corn ethanol can never be considered an advanced fuel. McNich explained that another problem with the policy is that while people perceive the policy to pit biofuels against oil, it really pits biofuels against biofuels. He said that as advanced technologies get into the market, it will further limit the amount of corn ethanol in the marketplace which is going to put more and more corn on the ground. McNich continued, “We could have an economic train wreck this country is not prepared for and ultimately looking at a farm bail-out.”

    You can listen to Steve’s full interview here. Steve McNich Interview

    Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy expanded upon the surplus concern by stressing that the American farmer can produce the fuel America needs and still produce food. However, Americans have been fed mis-truths so Growth Energy has launched a national TV campaign to re-introduce the benefits of ethanol to Americans.

    Buis also noted that a year ago, when Growth Energy was formed, they knew the importance of consumer involvement in telling ethanol’s story and so they created GrowthForce. Now more than 17,000 members strong, the team of consumers helps to tell ethanol’s positive story to neighbors, friends and colleagues and legislators. You can become a member by signing up here.

    As policy is one of the key elements to the future success and growth of the ethanol industry, Growth Energy is focused on several key pieces of legislation on the federal level including mandating all cars be flex-fuel, all gas stations should have a blender pump, as well as the extension of the ethanol blender’s credit, and keeping the ethanol tariff in place. You can hear Tom Buis discuss these key priorities in an interview here. Tom Buis Interview

    Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, Ethanol

    Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010

    Chuck Zimmerman

    This is where I’ll be this week. The Netherlands and the Dairy Solutions Symposium put on by Alltech and the Centre for Animal Nutrition. It will be held at Utrecht University on Thursday and Friday. Most of my posting will be on World Dairy Diary.

    Rumen health is of critical importance for efficient transformation of dairy cows diets into nutrients. As such it is a major cause of economic losses in the dairy industry and important in maintaining the health and welfare of the animal.

    This two day symposium, Rumen Health: A 360 degree Analysis, aims to bring together leading scientists in dairy nutrition to discuss a variety of topics including the impact of rumen pH on ruminal digestion, occurrence and prevention of sub-acute rumen acidosis, maintenance of an optimum rumen function and Ruminal adaptations during the transition period.

    For you Twitter fans and I know there are a lot of you in the dairy business, follow the conference hashtag: #AlltechDSS

    Alltech, Dairy, International

    ACE Provides Communications Opportunities

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 265For those of you not familiar with ACE you might think hardware but it’s actually an agricultural communications organization. The full name is Association for Communications Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Life and Human Sciences. I conducted a presentation on social media at their convention recently and recorded a conversation with their President, Steve Dodrill.

    Steve works in Extension for Oregon State University. He got started with ACE because of the professional improvement and networking opportunities he found by attending their meetings. He believes that people have lost their connection to agriculture and there is a need to educate them about food production.

    ZimmCast 265
    The Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) is an international association of communicators, educators and information technologists. It offers professional development and networking for individuals who extend knowledge about agriculture, natural resources and life and human sciences.

    The program ends this week with “Pot O Gold” by Excellent Adventure from Music Alley.

    Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, Novus International, and Leica Geosytems for their support.

    The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our a Subscribe page.

    ACE, Audio, ZimmCast