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Channel -- Channel Sales Support Manager Randy Romant expects a late spring in much of the Cornbelt. At this point, that isn?t translating into a change for the acreage mix. ?So there?s some conversations of where that mix is going to be at. I don?t think anybody?s adjusting at this point based on weather. It?s something we?ll keep an eye on but we got plenty of products, both on the corn and soybean side, so I don?t see it being an issue from a supply standpoint for our customers.?
Emergency Horse Housing -- NDSU?s Equine Center will offer emergency housing for horses if spring flood waters reach 35 feet in Fargo. NDSU Extension equine specialist Carrie Hammer says the biggest thing for horse owners to remember is to plan ahead. Hammer offers these preparation tips??Make that they move their hay, their grain to a dry area and that they have at least a week?s worth of feed that they can bring with them to kind of have ready. We?re not really reserving spots so the stalls will be filled kind of on a first come, first serve basis and definitely call before arriving.?
Vilsack Delivers Keynote Address to Commodity Classic Audience -- While highlighting the values seen in Rural America, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack offered a message of appreciation to the Commodity Classic audience. "It is that value system, in addition to your economic survival, that is at risk if this country doesn't start paying attention to the decline of Rural America and doesn't start focusing and investing resources and effort to rebuild it," said Vilsack, "It is why trade is important; it is why domestic markets are important; it is why the biofuels industry is important; it's why broadband is important; it's why local food production is important; these are all strategies to help build vitality and prosperity." Regarding trade, Vilsack said a sophisticated, multi-faceted approach must be taken to expand markets. Vilsack also said domestic markets can be built through the biofuels industry. The former Iowa governor emphasized the Obama Administration will make renewable energy a national industry.
Crop Insurance Proposal May be Difficult for Growers --  An attempt is underway to move an important crop insurance payment deadline to coincide with the government's fiscal year in September. Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Treasurer Bill Gordon says farmers now use the fall harvest to make the crop insurance payment in November. "It doesn't work so well with the farming and banking issues; you've got to come up with the crop insurance (payment) early and that makes it tough when you're trying to set up your budget with the banker and say I need my crop insurance paid before I actually harvest my crop."
No Trade Policy --  At the Bayer CropScience Media Summit, Jim Wiesemeyer, vice president, Informa Economics, says Congress will wait until after the elections to deal with free trade agreements. Trade is not a priority for the Obama Administration. "As far as I'm concerned, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk is the Maytag Repairman of this Administration; he has nothing to do," said Wiesemeyer, "The reason is they have no trade policy; it is a shame." Wiesemeyer's entire speech can be heard at http://www.rrfn.com/indepth/0303jimwiesemeyer.mp3.
Russian Pork Agreement Announced -- USDA has developed an export verification program to address Russian trade concerns. With this announcement, the Agricultural Marketing Service is expected to approve the first plants that can export to Russia sometime this week. Russia delisted most US pork facilities last year. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the reopening of the Russian market to US pork during his Commodity Classic speech.
E15 Would Boost Demand --  The National Corn Growers Association wants the Obama Administration to make a commitment for E15. NCGA First Vice President Bart Schott, who farms at Kulmn, North Dakota, says E15 would build demand for corn. "It's not a mandate; you can go up to E15; we think it is good for the corn farmer as well as the ethanol industry."
MN Soybean Takes Active Role in Policy Discussion --  The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association submitted a variety of resolutions for the American Soybean Association policy session. According to MSGA Executive Director Jim Palmer, the state group got most of what it wanted. "There were several issues involving the environment, water quality and the right-to-farm; it was impressive to see how much the American Soybean Association and state affiliates were standing up for the livestock industry." The ASA board will meet in Washington, DC next week, bringing its new policy priorities to the Administration and Congress. RRFN's coverage of Commodity Classic was sponsored by Minnesota Soybean Farmers and the Soybean Checkoff.
MSGA Wants ASA to Drop Freedom of Information Request --  There has been a lot of infighting in recent years between the American Soybean Association and United Soybean Board. Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Vice President Kurt Krueger, who is from Rothsay, says that has to end. "There has a lot of bickering in the last few years and we've got to settle down and realize what we're really here for and that's to increase soybean profitability." Lance Peterson, who is a past president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, says there is still friction between ASA and USB. Last year, ASA filed a Freedom of Information Act request to learn what was happening in USB executive sessions. Minnesota wants this issue resolved. "Let's move forward, let's work together in a positive manner and get some things accomplished." With little debate, the MSGA resolution was defeated Saturday. The issue is expected to resurface during next week's ASA board meeting.
ASA's Quest for Transparency --  Nine months ago, the American Soybean Association used the Freedom of Information Act to gain insight into the work of the United Soybean Board. ASA President Rob Joslin says it was appropriate action. "I believe sunshine and transparency is the best thing to answer these questions." RRFN asked Joslin what information ASA was seeking from USB and USDA. "There was a list of things that we filed for; there was clearly some statements about the understanding of administration of international marketing and a lot of it transpired over some claims made by past USB leadership that we did not understand and we asked for some clarity." Meanwhile, three members of ASA and USB have scheduled what is termed facilitated conversations. This group will look for a process to help the two groups move forward. Joslin wants that work wrapped up by the end of this year.
MGEX Changes Stance on Transgenic Wheat -- The Minneapolis Grain Exchange has voted to remove a rule that could potentially restrict the trade of deliverable Hard Red Spring Wheat. President and CEO Mark Bagan says the vote returns the MGEX to a neutral position regarding the potential delivery of transgenic wheat. Bagan says the commercial marketplace will sort through the transgenic wheat issue.
Brazil's Soybean Crop is Shrinking -- Kory Melby, with Brazil Ag Investment Tours and Consulting, says the crop has been getting smaller for a month. "We had a streak the first seven days of February of 100 degree heat that is nipping a certain segment of most everybody's crop, depending on maturity, and it's taking five, ten, 15 percent off the top." Melby thinks Brazil's crop will total about 65 million tons, which will still be record-large. The RRFN interview with Melby can be found at http://www.rrfn.com/indepth/030210korymelby.mp3.
RR Beets Issue Remains Unresolved -- A hearing on a petition seeking a preliminary injunction blocking the planting of Roundup Ready sugarbeets ended Friday without a ruling. US District Judge Jeffrey White took the matter under advisement after a nearly two-hour hearing in San Francisco. White did not say when he would announce a decision. Attorneys representing both sides in the case expect a ruling to come relatively soon because farmers will soon be ready to start planting. If the injunction is granted, planting of Roundup Ready beets would be halted until USDA conducts an Environmental Impact Statement, which could take two or three years. American Crystal Sugar Company President and CEO David Berg says there would not be enough conventional seed to plant an entire crop. Berg issued a memo to shareholders Friday saying the scheduled hearing on the main issues in the case is still on for June and that it still threatens the long-term use of Roundup Ready beet seed.
Another Lawsuit -- Environmentalists have filed a federal lawsuit against the US Fish and Wildlife Service, accusing it of illegally allowing farmers to grow biotech crops in a national wildlife refuge in Delaware. The three environmental groups say up to 80 other national wildlife refuges are now growing biotech crops and could be vulnerable to similar legal action. Last spring, these same groups won a similar lawsuit against plantings of biotech crops within the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.
EU May Ease Biotechnology Policy -- The European Commission has approved four biotech crops and says it may allow EU countries to decide whether or not they grow biotech crops on their soil. The Commission's decision to allow cultivation of BASF's Amflora potato and four Monsanto biotech corn varieties drew condemnation from environmental groups. Amflora is the first biotech cultivation approval by the European Commission in 12 years. BASF says the approval clears the way for commercial cultivation of its new potato, which is designed to yield industrial starch.
Pork Producers Gather in KC --  Pork producers are concerned about agriculture's image with consumers. During the National Pork Industry Forum, Pork Act delegates put an emphasis on an image campaign. National Pork Board CEO Chris Novak says that will include cooperation with the rest of animal agriculture. "A part of what the delegates have charged us to do is to work across the agriculture industry, work with the beef industry, the poultry industry, the dairy industry, because we know that the challenges and the concerns of American consumers aren't specific to the pork industry, but really more along the lines of how is our food produced and is it safe and affordable." A national celebrity may be used to help carry agriculture's message. Who? The conversation centered on Mike Rowe, who hosts Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel. Delegates also passed a new strategic plan and reaffirmed their support for premises ID, as part of animal disease surveillance and emergency preparedness.
A Bounty on Coyotes --  A coyote bounty bill has been introduced in the Minnesota Legislature. "If you're from rural Minnesota, you understand and you've heard a lot about coyote predation; in other words, coyotes preying on the cattle and sheep, there's some real concern in the countryside," said Doug Peterson, President, Minnesota Farmers Union. Peterson said a coyote bounty would be no different than a bounty on pocket gophers. "It's completely optional for counties to do that and it may help."
Another Bid for Terra -- CF Industries Holdings Inc. has re-launched its hostile bid for Terra Industries, raising its bid to $4.75 billion. The increased bid is an effort to break up Terra's planned takeover by Norway's Yara International. CF's latest offer is about $6 per share above the bid Terra accepted from Yara.
Hannaford Hub is Ready for Spring -- Central Plains Ag Services held an open house at its new 25,000 ton dry fertilizer plant near Hannaford, North Dakota this past week. General Manager Art Schmidt says the facility will result in a more stable fertilizer supply. "As things become more and more of a logistics issue, especially with a product coming off of the river in the Cities, trying to find trucks on time, it's really about garnering a stable supply." The Hannaford hub serves farmers in about a 75-mile radius, through agronomy centers in McVille, Aneta, Courtenay, and Cooperstown, North Dakota. Central Plains Ag Services is an LLC formed between CHS Country Operations and Triangle Ag LLC, out of Ulen, Minnesota.
Wilbur-Ellis Expands -- Wilbur-Ellis Company has purchased the assets of Kroeplin Ag Service, Inc., a retailer and aerial applicator in Highmore, South Dakota. The purchase includes locations in Miller and Blunt, South Dakota.
Expansion for Dow and DuPont -- Dow AgroSciences has announced plans for a multi-year expansion of its global headquarters in Indianapolis, with the investment of more than $340 million and the addition of more than 550 scientific and commercial jobs over the next five years. DuPont and the State of Missouri have announced that Pioneer Hi-Bred plans to build a commercial and parent soybean seed production facility in New Madrid County, Missouri. Pioneer expects initial operation to begin in the fall of 2011 after construction is completed.
A Price Cut for Ignite -- Bayer CropScience has announced a price cut on Ignite herbicide for the 2010 growing season. Bayer is reducing the price in the range of 20 percent, effective immediately. Ignite is a non-selective herbicide alternative to glyphosate, and is used on LibertyLink corn, cotton, canola and soybeans.
InBev Reports 4Q Financials -- Anheuser-Busch InBev posted a fourth-quarter profit of $1.28 billion, down 20 percent from the previous quarter. Sales fell five percent from the third quarter but were up nearly four percent from the previous year. For all of 2009, AB In-Bev made a $4.6 billion profit.
A Turnaround for JBS -- For the fourth quarter, JBS had net profits of $128 million reais. That's the equivalent of $71 million US. That compares to a loss of $53 million reais in the same quarter last year. JBS is the world' largest producer of animal protein and is based in Brazil.
The Search Continues -- The North Dakota State University presidential search committee has identified a dozen candidates that will continue in the process. That list includes interim president Dick Hanson and NDSU College of Agriculture Vice President D.C. Coston. Candidates also include John Gardner, who is with Washington State University. Gardner is a former director at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center. Additional candidates are still expected to apply for the NDSU vacancy. The search committee will meet again March 24th.
NAWG Leaders -- Kansas wheat producer Jerry McReynolds has been elected president of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Other members of the 2010 NAWG officer team are Wayne Hurst of Idaho, first vice president; Erik Younggren of Hallock, Minnesota, second vice president; and Bing Von Bergen of Montana, secretary-treasurer. Karl Scronce from Oregon is the immediate past president. The election was held at Commodity Classic.
Ag Hall of Fame -- During the North Dakota Winter Show, Armand Bauer, Ed Schafer and Eugene Dahl were inducted into the North Dakota Agricultural Hall of Fame. Bauer served as a soil scientist at North Dakota State University. Schafer served as North Dakota's governor from 1992 to 200 and US Agriculture Secretary for the last year of the Bush presidency. Dahl was instumental in the development of farm equipment and farm equipment companies, including Steiger, Bobcat, Concord and Amity Technology.
Miller Given Pork Checkoff Honor -- The National Pork Board presented Dale Miller with its Distinguished Service Award during the National Pork Industry Forum. Miller is the editor of National Hog Farmer.
NGFA Officers Elected -- The National Grain and Feed Association has elected new officers. Hal Reed, with The Andersons Inc. in Ohio is the new chairman. The new first vice chairman is David Hoogmoed, executive vice president of Land O' Lakes. Bailey Ragan, with Bunge Grain in St. Louis, was elected second vice chairman. CHS Inc. senior vice president Rick Browne was elected to serve on NGFA's executive committee.
Johnson Moves to Valent -- Valent USA has announced that Paul Johnson has joined the company as crop and key accounts manager. Johnson will provide technical and marketing support for new Valent seed protection products, as well as help introduce new seed protection products. Johnson is a 16-year veteran of the seed and crop protection industries, most recently working for Bayer CropScience.
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