As corn prices have declined substantially over the past week and the prospect is for relatively small ending stocks, a University of Illinois agricultural economist believes it is important to continue to monitor the rate of corn consumption to confirm that the necessary rationing is occurring....More
Love the volatility. Well — maybe not. Commodity price volatility is not exactly something that all producers enjoy. Volatility makes marketing decisions difficult and stirs up emotions almost as much as not getting any rain for a month....More
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) has issued its preliminary recommendations for safeguarding the sanctity of customer funds in the aftermath of the MF Global bankruptcy....More
A new report on world agricultural supply and demand estimates issued today by the Agriculture Department is setting up what could be an interesting new crop market dynamic, according to economic analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation....More
None would argue that $7 billion in sales of cotton and rice are insignificant, yet in the same Ag Census year of 2007, organic, direct-to-retail and local foods sales conservatively added up to $8 billion....More
There is an increasing disconnect between boots-on-the-ground agriculture, the consumer public, and those who write farm programs, enact rules and regulations, and devise budgets....More
Louisiana farmers have been informed that the Port Allen facility near Baton Rouge will not be accepting grain from this year’s wheat or fall harvests....More
In early March, the National Farmers Union (NFU) formally announced their 2012 farm bill proposal which incorporates the use of a farmer-owned inventory system. They call their proposal Market-Driven Inventory System (MDIS and pronounced Midas)....More
On March 23, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative opted to appeal the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling on Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)....More
Two dollar a pound cotton is now in the past, but its influence worldwide continues to drive the price, the demand for cotton products and the planting intentions of farmers worldwide....More
During a Wednesday hearing, congressional investigation of the MF Global collapse and subsequent bankruptcy – the eighth-largest in U.S. history -- is expected to focus on less senior members of the brokerage’s back-room team....More
Negotiators should work toward a comprehensive United States-European Union free trade agreement that addresses agricultural barriers, NAWG, U.S. Wheat Associates and nearly 40 other agriculture groups wrote this week in an open letter. ...More
The sugar industry has shed 139,000 jobs in the past 19 years because of two decades of low, stagnant prices and rising input costs. But there have been fewer facility closures under the current Farm Bill than any of its predecessors....More
Farmers looking for information about the approval status of U.S.-grown corn hybrids in certain export markets now have access to the most current data through the National Corn Growers Association’s Know Before You Grow program....More
