ANAHEIM, Calif. — A “paradigm shift” in U.S. farmer attitude occurred in late 2016. James Mintert, an agricultural economics professor at Perdue University, tracks farmer confidence in the agricultural economy through a monthly survey of 400 farmers across the nation. He targets growers with more than $500,000 in revenue, the eight percent of farmers who […] Read more
Tag Archives Commodity Classic
U.S. ethanol-gasoline blending under fire
Senator says system hurts oil sector and asks president to cap renewable fuel credits at a fraction of their current value
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ethanol is once again under attack in the United States, threatening corn and other grain prices. Texas Senator Ted Cruz and the oil industry have asked U.S. President Donald Trump to cap renewable fuel credits at 10 cents per gallon, which is a fraction of their current value. Credits can be bought […] Read more
U.S. farm sector fears looming financial crisis
Growers lobby for a U.S. farm bill with a robust crop insurance program and improved risk management programs
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The U.S. farm sector is on the brink of a full-fledged crisis, say commodity groups. Kevin Skunes, president of the National Corn Growers Association, said the average Iowa farmer in 1993 was paying $74 per acre in machinery costs, $113 per acre in input costs and $92 per acre in land costs. […] Read more
Options called ideal marketing tool
An ag risk management consultant says they help manage the markets without knowing where prices are heading
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Dave Fogel knows one surefire way to navigate through all the dizzying array of market advice: don’t believe any of it. “Nobody knows where price is going, and I think you’ll find if you want to get on board with that, then marketing starts getting easier,” he said. The good news is […] Read more
VIDEO: U.S. farmers worry about trade war with China
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The segment of the electorate largely credited with bringing U.S. President Donald Trump to power is not thrilled with his trade policy. Farmers do not like his approach to the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership or his strong-arm tactics with China. The latest kafuffle came last week when Trump […] Read more
Mergers said bad for farmers
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The third of three big mergers in the agriculture seed and chemical business is nearing completion, and that is not good news for farmers, says the head of a network of growers. Reuters is reporting that the European Union is poised to give its approval to Bayer’s takeover of Monsanto before its […] Read more
Crop wreck that would save markets not likely this year
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Farmers should not count on Mother Nature to lift grain markets out of the doldrums in 2018, says a weather expert. Bryce Anderson, DTN’s agricultural chief meteorologist, said the weather cycle will likely move from a weak La Nina phase to a neutral phase by mid-spring and stay that way through summer. […] Read more
Plans on track for hybrid wheat
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Syngenta is still on track to introduce hybrid wheat in North America by the end of the decade. The launch will happen in the United States first. The Canadian launch will be slightly delayed because of the variety registration system. Darcy Pawlik, North American cereals portfolio lead for Syngenta, said the […] Read more
Bayer hopes merger will aid wheat program
Potential merger with Monsanto should accelerate work with hybrid wheat varieties, says Bayer’s research head
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Wheat will be one of the crops that benefits most from Bayer’s acquisition of Monsanto, say the heads of research for both organizations. “Wheat is one of the areas that this potential merger is going to really accelerate,” Adrian Percy, global head of research and development with Bayer, told reporters attending […] Read more
High oleic soybean in red tape
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — High oleic canola is getting another year of reprieve from facing full-on competition from high oleic soybeans. The original goal of the U.S. soybean industry was to have commercial introduction of two high oleic soybean traits in 2014. That will not happen until 2018 at the earliest because of regulatory delays. […] Read more
