Corn Crop Increase Surprises

USDA surprised many with the crop production forecast out this month estimating a two percent increase from last month for corn. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 175.4 bushels per acre, up 3.6 bushels from the October forecast and up 0.8 bushel from 2016. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record …

New ImpactZ™ Herbicide from AMVAC® Receives Federal Registration for Corn

AMVAC Chemical Corporation today announced its new broad spectrum, low use rate corn herbicide, ImpactZ, has received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ImpactZ herbicide will give growers a new safe and flexible solution for control of tough broadleaf and grass weeds – including glyphosate resistant species – in corn. ImpactZ herbicide is registered for use in …

Iowa Farmer is 1st Woman to Chair USGC

Iowa farmer Deb Keller was elected as U.S. Grains Council (USGC) chairman at the organization’s 57th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Vancouver, Washington earlier this month. She is the first female selected for the role in the organization’s nearly 60 year history. Keller’s experience as a strong advocate for trade will amplify the Council’s mission of developing markets, enabling …

USDA Forecast Optimistic Despite Conditions

U.S. farmers are expected to produce a record-high soybean crop this year, according to USDA’s August Crop Production report released Thursday. Soybean production is forecast at 4.38 billion bushels, up two percent from last year, while corn growers are expected to decrease their production by seven percent from last year, forecast at 14.2 billion bushels. Soybean yields are expected to …

EPA Hearing Draws Biofuels Supporters

Over 140 witnesses provided feedback to the Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday on the agency’s recent proposed volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), with the majority supporting renewable fuels. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen thanked EPA for proposing to maintain the 15 billion gallon requirement for conventional renewable fuels in its 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) …

USDA Reports Record High Soybean Acreage, Corn Acres Down

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is estimating a record high 89.5 million acres of soybeans planted in the U.S. for 2017. That’s up seven percent from last year. Corn acres are looking to be down about three percent. All cotton acreage for 2017 is estimated at 12.1 million acres, 20 percent above last year, while all wheat planted …

American Ethanol E15 250 by Enogen Syngenta

The NASCAR Xfinity American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen took place June 24 at the Iowa Speedway, where race fans and farmers came to watch their favorite drivers run on clean burning ethanol. Syngenta and Growth Energy use this race to demonstrate the value of E15, a low-cost, high-octane fuel powering NASCAR for 10 million miles of competitive racing. …

Iowa Gov and Ag Groups Announce China Trip

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will lead an all-Iowa agriculture trade mission to China July 19-28 with representatives from the state’s corn, pork, soy, beef, egg, poultry, dairy and turkey industries. The trip marks the first time all of Iowa’s farm groups have come together for a trade mission which will be jointly funded by the participating organizations. Reynolds made the …

Nebraska Press Conference on Mexico Grain Trade

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts asked grain industry officials from Mexico and the United States join him Tuesday for a press conference to highlight the importance of Mexico to U.S. agriculture and how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has benefited both countries. Representatives from the Nebraska Corn Board, the U.S. Grains Council, and the National Corn Growers Association joined …

GROWMARK Reports on #Plant17 Conditions

While corn planting in Illinois was gaining momentum last week, Tim Laatsch of the Agronomy Division at GROWMARK was talking about the field conditions around the state and how the warmer, drier winter combined with wet conditions this spring is causing winter annuals to thrive in some areas, providing a good habitat for cutworms. In this interview, Laatsch also talks …

SMART Farmer Nancy Kavazanjian

This is episode number six of the USFRA SMART Farmer podcast and this one is with Nancy Kavazanjian, who served as the second chairperson of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. Nancy farms with her husband Charlie Hammer in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin on land that has been in his family for 150 years. She grew up on Long Island, made …

2017 Commodity Classic

Welcome to the virtual newsroom for the 2017 Commodity Classic sponsored by FMC, John Deere, and Farmer’s Edge. “Farmer Up” was the theme for this year’s event held March 2-4, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show, produced by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), American Soybean Association …

DuPont Pioneer Unveils New Corn and Soybean Products

With the theme of “Innovation Elevates Performance for Growers,” DuPont Pioneer used virtual press conferences this week to unveil new corn and soybean products by region. Pioneer is launching 54 new A-Series soybeans for North America; and 53 new top-yielding corn products as part of its expanded lineup for 2017 spring planting. Listen to the Delta/Southeast regional presentation of the …

Hundreds in Detroit for #ExEx16

Hundreds of buyers and sellers of U.S. coarse grains and ethanol co-products have arrived in Detroit for Export Exchange 2016 (#ExEx16) and even though they are from more than 30 countries they are busy making connections and building relationships. The event, which has been held every two years since 2010, is co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the …

U.S. Trade Enforcement Action Against China

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers today announced the launch of trade enforcement action against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The action challenges China’s use of “market price support” for three key crops (rice, wheat, and corn) in excess of China’s commitments under WTO rules. Congressional members …