Ag News
Weather key to grain markets right now
Yesterday
A weather premium came into the marketplace late last week before localized rains helped some farm fields over the weekend.
The rain that came over the weekend was spotty, with some producers missing precipitation completely. The longer term outlook cooled temperatures down and put some moisture in the forecast for the end of May.
Illinois farmers planted 3.2 million acres of soybeans last week, according to Illinois Crop Statistician Brad Schwab. (Photo by Carrie Muehling/WJBC) Dry weather keeps planters moving
2 days ago
Illinois farmers planted 3.2 million acres of soybeans last week, according to Brad Schwab, chief crop statistician with the Illinois Field Office of the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Above normal temperatures and no rainfall across the state gave farmers ideal conditions for planting. Soybean planting progressed 36 percentage points in one week, now at 80 percent complete. That's compared to 38 percent last year and the five-year average of 37 percent. Forty percent of the soybeans have emerged.
Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture Bob Flider supports Gov. Quinn's proposals for reforming Medicaid and the pension system. (Photo by Carrie Muehling/WJBC) Flider: ‘We need to stop the red ink’
2 days ago
The acting director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture believes his department is part of the budget solution, but he supports Gov. Quinn's idea that Medicaid and pension reform are the top priorities right now.
Agriculture is the strongest industry in the state of Illinois, with nearly 25 percent of Illinois economy coming from jobs related to agriculture.
Acting Agriculture Director Bob Flider believes if Gov. Quinn's proposed reforms don't happen, the agriculture department will experience more cuts, along with education and other important areas.
Area farmers are nearly done planting and are scouting to see if fields need to be sprayed for pest pressure. (Photo by Getty Images) Pests already present in area fields
5 days ago
Farmers in the area covered by the Towanda location for Brandt Consolidated are nearly finished with planting for 2012, according to plant manager Phil Lawless.
Lawless said approximately 95 percent of the crop is in the ground, and no replant has been required.
"None of our customers right here had to replant. I know there were some farther north, up by Dwight. They had to replant some of theirs, but we were pretty safe right here," said Lawless.
Agronomist: ‘Leisurely’ spring has been good to farmers
5 days ago
Spring planting is nearly finished in Illinois thanks to a lot of good days for field work.
"It's actually been almost a leisurely spring," said Lance Tarochione, territory agronomist for Asgrow/Dekalb. "It's been so dry that we've had so many days that were good for planting or fieldwork that it's been a relatively unique spring. It hasn't felt rushed and we've been kind of ahead of the normal schedule all spring and it continues to be that way."
CropLife America is concerned about redundant regulation over the application of crop protection products. (Photo courtesy National Corn Growers Association) Crop protection group fighting ‘redundant’ regulation
6 days ago
CropLife America has concerns about EPA regulation as the group looks at future food demand and agricultural production.
The concerns stem from a decision made a few years ago in a federal circuit court of appeals that expanded the reach of the Clean Water Act to duplicate some existing regulatory processes for aquatic weed control. If the redundant laws are further expanded to include agriculture, which the group believes is very possible given the proximity of many farm fields to water, it could hinder farmers.
Farmers use a number of options including the futures markets to manage risk. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Increased volatility makes managing risk more important
1 week ago
Farmers may be focused on field work right now but this is no time to forget about marketing the product they are putting into the ground.
With input costs and equipment costs at extremely high levels, farmers have to manage those risks through marketing their crops.
"The biggest variable that we have is that all of those prices are moving every single day, and so our risk is the unknown that we have and we just try to manage that and the dollars are so high today that it's so important to manage it," said Cory Winstead, senior MaxVisor field representative with AgriVisor.
Fund liquidation pressures soybean market
2 weeks ago
Soybeans were under pressure to begin the market week, as beans were trading over $15 in the nearby market and have now fallen back into the $13 range.
"We continue to see fund liquidation. We have seen the funds develop quite a long position here as we rallied nearby futures about three bucks here since the first of the year and now we're seeing them liquidate that position pretty quickly," said Aaron Curtis, commodity risk consultant with Mid-Co Commodities.
Soybeans planted in Illinois progressed by 23 percentage points last week. (Photo courtesy www.ilsoy.org) Soybean planting moving forward, corn nearly complete
2 weeks ago
Normal precipitation and a drier weather pattern sent farmers back to the fields in many areas this past week.
Soybean planting advanced 23 percentage points last week and is now 44 percent complete. This compares to 12 percent last year and the average of 21 percent. Fourteen percent of the soybeans have emerged, compared to just one percent a year ago and the five-year average of three percent.
The Illinois Specialty Growers Association has launched a website that directs users to farmers’ markets and direct-from-the-farm sellers. (Photo used under Creative Commons from Flickr user ianmalcm) Eating local moves online
SPRINGFIELD - It should be easier to cover your table with fresh local produce, as the Illinois Specialty Growers Association is maintaining a web page that directs users to farmers’ markets and direct-from-the-farm sellers.
Gina Backes is involved with the Prairie Bounty program in her capacity as national program coordinator for MarketMaker, an organization which promotes local sourcing of farm goods. Backes is based at the University of Illinois Extension in Moline.
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