UnitedSoybean

Firm forecasts record Brazilian soybean crop

According to a report on DTN, Agroconsult is the first major forecaster to peg the 2010-11 Brazilian soybean crop at over 70 million metric tons as fears of a La Nina-related drought subside. The firm raised its forecast to 70.3 million tons, up from 68.4 million in December and outstripping last year’s record of 69 million tons.

An Agroconsult spokesman says as the harvest season begins, the crop looks great in all parts of Brazil.  In his words, “it looks like a bumper crop.”

Brownfield/DTN story

Vilsack announces another CRP signup

Vilsack made the announcement Friday during an appearance at Pheasant Fest 2011 in Omaha.  He said the 30-day CRP signup will begin March 14^th, running for 30 days.  The goal is to bring an additional four-million acres into the program this fall, basically replacing the roughly four-million coming out of CRP this year.

Brownfield story with audio

Similarities draw Illinois growers to Brazil

Even though they farm in opposite hemispheres, it is the similarities with South American producers that draw Illinois soybean growers to Brazil. That’s according to Ron Moore, Chairman of the Illinois Soybean Association, and one of more than a dozen Illinois soybean growers visiting Brazil.

Despite harvest nearing for many of the growers in Brazil’s soybean producing states, which is opposite the season for Northern Hemisphere growers, Moore, of Roseville, Illinois, says growers from Illinois come to Brazil because, Brazil’s farmers are more colleagues than they are competitors.

Brownfield story with audio

Another good week for soybean exports, shipments

USDA reports soybean sales for the week ending January 20 were larger than expected while corn, wheat and soybean oil were within projections and soybean meal fell below estimates. Physical shipments of soybeans were larger than what’s needed weekly to meet USDA projections for the 2010/11 marketing year but corn and wheat fell short of their respective marks.

Soybeans were pegged at 780,900 tons (28.7 million bushels), an increase of 7% from the week before and 36% higher than the four week average. At this point in the marketing year, soybean sales are 1.372 billion bushels, compared to 1.270 billion this time last year.

Brownfield story

USDA clears unrestricted planting of RR alfalfa

USDA has approved the unrestricted planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa. In making the announcement, U. S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, “After conducting a thorough and transparent examination of alfalfa through a multi-alternative environmental impact statement (EIS) and several public comment opportunities, APHIS has determined that Roundup Ready alfalfa is as safe as traditionally bred alfalfa.”  The decision clears the way for planting the biotech crop this spring.

Brownfield story

Senate Ag Committee members named

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have announced the members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Chaired by Senator Debbie Stabenow, Democrat of Michigan, the committee will consist of:

Brownfield story

Vilsack: Obama, farmers take same track

President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday followed a road map laid out by the nation’s farmers, according to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

In an interview Wednesday morning with Brownfield, Vilsack paraphrased the President, saying the chief executive wants to spend less and spend wisely; President Obama acknowledges that the U.S. needs to take the lead globally in innovation and in building while getting serious about deficit reduction. That, said Vilsack, is the same formula used by agriculture.

Brownfield story with audio

First House Agriculture Committee meeting brief

Officially, the meeting was held to consider a few rule changes, but Chairman Frank Lucas commented on what budget challenges await the committee when 2012 Farm Bill consideration begins.

“To effectively address those challenges in the most fiscally responsible way, we will need everyone working together,” said Lucas, during his opening remarks.

Brownfield story

Grain Handling Safety Coalition formed

The deaths of two teenagers from Mt. Carroll, Illinois and another death at Geneseo this past summer due to grain bin engulfment has brought several groups in Illinois together to form the Grain Handling Safety Coalition.

“We put this together largely focused on hoping to raise awareness and education among farmers and among the commercial grain industry about the dangers of being in grain bins if you’ve got equipment running,” said Jeff Adkisson, Executive V.P. of the Illinois Grain and Feed Association.

Brownfield story with audio

 

Top Republican on Senate Ag Committee to resign position

Georgia Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss says he intends to give up his status as ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, swapping it for a similar position on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution Online points out the leadership move from agriculture to intelligence will remove Chambliss from negotiations over the next farm bill in 2012.

Brownfield story