UnitedSoybean

Another slow week for export shipments

 USDA reports soybean and wheat exports for the week ending July 22 were above pre-report projections while corn was within estimates and soybean meal and oil were below all expectations. Physical shipments of corn, soybeans and wheat were all less than what’s needed weekly to meet USDA projections for the current marketing year.

Soybeans were pegged at 339,000 tons (12.5 million bushels), a significant increase from the week before and 4% higher than the four week average.

Brownfield story

98% are family farms

A new report from the USDA Economic Research Service says most U.S. farms, 98 percent in 2007, were family operations, and even the largest farms are predominantly family run.

Large-scale family farms and nonfamily farms account for 12 percent of U.S farms but 84 percent of the value of production. In contrast, small family farms make up most of the U.S. farm count but produce a modest share of farm output.

Brownfield story

USDA’s OIG clears Soybean Checkoff

The USDA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has cleared the United Soybean Board (USB) of allegations of mismanagement by the American Soybean Association (ASA).  USB Chairman Phil Bradshaw tells Brownfield they were expecting to be cleared.

“We thought we were doing it right, we’ve been vindicated."

Brownfield story with audio

Another slow week for grain and oilseed export inspections

Overall, it was a bearish week for USDA grain and oilseed export inspections. Corn inspections for the week ending July 22 were above pre-report projections while soybeans were towards the low end of estimates and wheat was under all expectations. Inspections of corn, soybeans and wheat were all less than what’s needed weekly to meet USDA projections for the marketing year.

Soybeans were pegged at 6.595 million bushels, a decrease of 3.072 million from the prior week and a decline of 2.673 million from this time last year. So far this marketing year, soybean inspections are 1.389 billion bushels, compared to 1.182 billion a year ago.

Brownfield story

U.S. corn, soybean development stays ahead of average

As of Sunday, 84% of corn is silking, with 17% at the dough making stage. 72% of corn is in good to excellent condition, unchanged from last week.

For soybeans, 75% are blooming, with 35% at the pod setting stage. 67% of soybeans are in good to excellent shape, steady with a week ago.

Brownfield story

CRP general sign-up begins August 2nd.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced a general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) will begin on August 2, 2010 and continue through August 27, 2010 at their local Farm Service Agency office. Land currently not enrolled in CRP may be offered in this sign-up provided all eligibility requirements are met. Additionally, current CRP participants with contracts expiring this fall covering about 4.5 million acres may make new contract offers.

Brownfield story

Reid wants to start energy debate next week

But first he must come up with a bill for consideration.

It’s not clear if provisions from existing energy and climate bills will be put together into one measure.  Several senators want carbon pricing included in the energy bill.

For his part, Reid says the bill would address the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, clean energy and job creation—and will also include a tax title and language on pollution from power plants.

Brownfield story

Grassley – EPA’s dust draft still a threat

“I’m greatly concerned that this puts us one step closer to imposing more regulations on farmers,” said Iowa Senator Charles Grassley. “It defies common sense to mandate that farmers keep dust between their fence rows when combining or that county government keep gravel dust on the road.”

Grassley is urging his colleagues to join him in a letter to EPA administrator Lisa Jackson asking her to rescind the proposal when it comes to agriculture.

Brownfield story

Ohio River barge tours planned

The Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) will be holding their 3rd annual Ohio River Barge and Port Tours in August.

Designed to provide farmers with an opportunity to learn more about grain movement on the river the tours will be held Monday, August 16 at the Ports of Indiana at Jeffersonville or Friday, August 20 at the Ports of Indiana at Mount Vernon.

The deadline to register is August 6, and space is limited.

Brownfield story

U.S. corn, soybean development ahead of average

As of Sunday, 65% of the U.S. corn crop is silking, compared to 30% a year ago and the five year average of 47%, with all major growing states at or ahead of their respective averages. 8% of corn has reached the dough making stage, and 72% of the crop is in good to excellent condition, down 1% from last week.

For soybeans, 60% are blooming, compared to 41% a year ago and 56% on average, with 18% at the pod setting stage, 67% of soybeans are in good to excellent shape, up 2% on the week.

Brownfield story