Corn plants that Monsanto Company genetically modified to resist rootworm are falling prey to the predator in several Iowa fields. The findings have scientists concerned that farmers who use these genetically modified crops could create superbugs. Monsanto said the corn seeds are working as expected “on more than 99% of the acres planted with this technology.” Read more (The Wall Street Journal).
Drought along the southern Plains has created high demand for hay. That’s good news for farmers in the north, but bad news for producers in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas who are paying inflated prices for the hay and additional costs to have it transported. The average price of hay climbed to $170 per ton this summer compared to $112 per ton last July, according to statistics from USDA. Read more (Associated Press).
A survey of Indiana farmland showed prices rose 25 percent across the state in 2010. Supply and demand along with strong grain prices and low interest rates have sent the state’s farmland to record highs. According to the survey, poor-quality farmland averaged $4,400 an acre while top-quality farmlands average more than $6,500 per acre. Read more (Associated Press).
USDA issued guidance this week for producers who have livestock in states that may be affected by Hurricane Irene. These tips will help farmers and ranchers protect the health of these animals in the event of power outages, flooding and other problems associated with the storm. Review the guidance.
Producers and landowners interested in participating in the Biomass Crop Assistance Program have a couple of weeks left to sign up. BCAP provides incentives to farmers, ranchers and landowners to produce biomass crops for heat, power, biobased products and biofuels. Producers in participating counties who enter into BCAP contracts are eligible for reimbursements of up to 75 percent of the establishment costs of the perennial energy crop, up to five years of annual rental payments for herbaceous crops and up to 15 years for woody crops. Those interested must visit their county office before the Sept. 16 deadline. Learn more.
Children ages two to eight participated in an FSA-sponsored Pee-Wee Showmanship.
by Holly Gates, Defiance/Tiffin Ohio FSA
As the summer is in full swing, so are county fairs across the nation and Ohio is no exception. The Tiffin/Defiance FSA Farm Loan team along with the Wood County FSA and the Bowling Green Ag Credit office sponsored the 2nd Annual Flying Pig Pee Wee Swine Showmanship in Wood County, Ohio.
The contest is in its second year in Wood County and allows for any child under the eligibility age rules for 4-H, exhibiting their talents in swine showmanship. This year the contest consisted of 35 participants ranging from ages two to eight. Each participant received a gift certificate for a milkshake from the Ag Credit office and each winner of the five classes received a bucket full of show “tools” and other goodies from FSA. Though not a swine judge by trade, State Executive Director Steve Maurer served as an honorary judge and stated that he thinks he did a great job selecting some outstanding future showman. “I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the youth,” he said.
USDA and the state of Kansas have agreed to expand the existing enrollment cap for the Upper Arkansas River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program from 20,000 to 28,950 acres. The additional acres and increased cap will allow landowners and operators in select counties to participate in CREP at a higher rate. This program “is an excellent example of a voluntary federal/state partnership that provides multiple environmental benefits including the potential to increase the population of the lesser prairie chicken and extend the life of the Ogallala Aquifer,” said Adrian J. Polansky, state executive director of the Farm Service Agency in Kansas. Learn more.
Exposure to ozone reduces soybean yields, according to researchers with the USDA Agricultural Research Service. The Soybean Free Air Concentration Enrichment experiments showed that exposure to 82 parts per billion (ppb) ozone reduces soybean yields by an average 23 percent across all 10 varieties. With ozone concentrations rising for decades, scientists hope the study provides the groundwork for breeding more ozone-tolerant soybean varieties. Read more.
Pictured l to r: State Committee Members Jack Whittenburg, Eddie Anderson, Robert Collier and Patti Hutchinson.
The Tennessee FSA State Committee convened for their August meeting last week and brought with them 138 pounds of non-perishable food items for the Feds Feed Families Food Drive. STC Chairman Eddie Anderson said the committee hopes to encourage all FSA employees in Tennessee to continue their good work on the annual food drive with the kind of generosity and volunteer spirit for which Tennesseans are known. The Feds Feed Families Food Drive concludes this month.
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service released its Farm Labor report yesterday. The 19-page report includes information collected from nearly 12,000 farmers across the United States on the number of agricultural workers, hours worked and wage rates at the national and regional levels. The information helps ensure the Department of Labor makes accurate decisions to allow temporary non-immigrant alien farm workers. Read the report.
