The National Corn Growers Association has unveiled the Agriculture Disaster Assistance Program, a commodity title proposal for the 2012 farm bill that will modify and replace the existing Average Crop Revenue Election Program and provide a more effective and responsive safety net for growers. According to NCGA, ADAP builds on the existing structure of ACRE and is designed to address the need for simplification and elimination of overlapping coverage with individual crop insurance.

NCGA President Bart Schott says – responding to a charge by our voting delegates to investigate transitioning direct payments into programs that allow producers the ability to mitigate risk, our grower-led Public Policy Action Team developed a crop-specific, revenue-based risk management tool that provides a safety net when growers are facing a loss. Schott says – we are focusing on simplification and faster delivery of assistance when it is needed.

Changes include the use of harvest prices and crop reporting districts to set the crop revenue guarantee and would establish a guarantee based on the five-year Olympic average of revenue. Also, payments would be limited to 10 percent of the guarantee, based on planted acres and adjusted to a farm’s yield. Payments would cover lost revenue between 85 to 95 percent of the guarantee. Marketing loan rates would be restored to standard levels, rather than being reduced by 30 percent in ACRE.

Monday’s Crop Production report from the Department of Agriculture confirmed expectations of a smaller U.S. corn crop than forecast in August. The U.S. corn crop is now forecast at 12.497-billion bushels – 50-million larger than the 2010 crop – but 417-million smaller than the August forecast. The lower forecast reflects a U.S. average yield of 148.1-bushels – compared to 153-bushels forecast last month. Yield expectations were reduced by 10-bushels in Iowa; nine-bushels in Illinois; six-bushels in Missouri and Nebraska; and five-bushels in Indiana, Kansas and Ohio.

The 2011 U.S. soybean crop is forecast at 3.085-billion bushels – 244-million smaller than the 2010 crop – but 29-million larger than the August forecast. The U.S. average soybean yield is now forecast at 41.8-bushels – 1.7-bushels below the 2010 average – but 0.4- bushel above the August forecast. The yield forecast was unchanged for Illinois; was reduced by one-bushel for Indiana and Iowa; and was increased for Michigan – three-bushels, Minnesota – one-bushel, Nebraska – three-bushels and Ohio – two-bushels.

According to University of Illinois Ag Economist Darrel Good – taken together – the USDA Crop Forecast and World Agricultural Supply Demand estimates are negative for near-term soybean and wheat price prospects. Many observers – however – believe the soybean production forecast will be reduced in October. Good says the reports were generally supportive for corn prices.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – Researchers at the University of Missouri are using machines that simulate drought to better understand how plants respond to a lack of water.

Their goal is to help develop drought-resistant crops for use by farmers. The machines are like motorized greenhouses on rails. Rain gauges trigger an over-sized garage door that covers the researchers’ corn and soybean plants at the first sign of water.

 A handful of similar devices can be found elsewhere in the U.S. and overseas, particularly in China and India. Landscape researchers at Texas A&M University use drought simulators to test turf grasses for the ability to withstand summer dry spells.

Missouri researcher Felix Fritschi says the machines give researchers an advantage by letting them control how much water plants receive at different stages of development.

Next Monday, USDA issues its latest crop production report, as well as the monthly World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates.  In the meantime, three groups have issued their own estimates.

The Linn Group has lowered its corn yield estimate to 149.1 bushels per acre, three bushels less than earlier this month. Linn set corn production at 12.4 billion bushels down from 12.8 billion earlier. For soybeans, the Linn Group cut the yield two bushels, to 41 bushels per acre.

The crop is down about 150 million bushels, to 3.05 billion bushels.

Meanwhile, FC Stone now has the corn crop down to 12.3 billion bushels, putting the average yield at 146.3 bushels per acre. That’s almost seven bushels per acre less than USDA’s current forecast. Stone’s corn estimate represents a 1.1 billion bushel drop in production compared to estimates as recent as July. FC Stone also lowered its soybean yield from 42.4, to 41 bushels per acre, putting production at 3.03 billion bushels.

As for next year, Farm Futures magazine expects U.S. farmers will increase production of corn, soybeans and wheat. According to its first farmer survey on planting intentions, Farm Futures forecasts corn acreage at 93.7 million, up nearly two percent from this year. If that happens, that would be an all-time record.

Soybean acreage is expected to reach 76.9 million acres, up 2.3 percent. Total wheat plantings are projected at 58.6 million, up nearly four percent. And Farm Futures says 2012 spring wheat acreage will increase 4.2 percent, reaching 14.2 million acres.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Wyoming ranchers say they’re getting sky-high prices for hay because of drought conditions across Texas and the southern plains.

Demand for hay has driven prices in Wyoming from about $84 a ton last year to about $115 a ton this year. The high prices are linked to drought conditions in prominent cattle-producing states such as Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

University of Wyoming professor Steve Paisley says high hay prices could continue into next year because drought area may struggle to re-establish crops.

According to estimates by the World Wind Energy Association, the worldwide wind capacity reached 215-thousand Mega Watts by the end of June 2011. 18,405 Mega Watts were added in the first six months of the year. Major wind markets China, USA, Germany, Spain, and India continue to lead the show in capacity addition. They, together representing a total share of 74 percent of the global wind capacity.

The global wind capacity grew by 9.3 percent within six months and by 22.9 percent on an annual basis, mid-2011 compared with mid-2010. In comparison, the annual growth rate in 2010 was 23.6 percent.

China continued to dominate the world wind market during 2011, adding 8 Giga Watts in only 6 months, the highest number ever within the first half-year.

In what has become a familiar routine this year, government officials will be assessing damage in 15 Missouri counties from a recent wind and hail storm.

Gov. Jay Nixon has asked the federal Farm Service Agency to survey damage from storms between Aug. 18 and Aug. 22 in central, western and northwestern Missouri. The assessments are the first step in determining whether farmers in certain counties can qualify for emergency loans or other federal aid.

The August outbreak of high wind and hail was the latest in a series of storms, floods and tornadoes that have caused damage in Missouri, beginning this spring.

The 15 counties being assessed this time are Andrew, Atchison, Caldwell, Cooper, DeKalb, Gentry, Holt, Johnson, Lafayette, Moniteau, Nodaway, Pettis, Platte, Saline and Worth.

ELLSWORTH, Kan. (AP) – The days of the Old West will return to parts of Kansas in the next three weeks.

A 200-mile cattle drive starts Saturday near Caldwell and will end Sept. 24 in Ellsworth. The drive is part of the state’s 150^th Anniversary celebration.

About 200 cattle will be gathered Saturday in a pasture south of Caldwell. At least seven drovers will round up the herd Monday and drive them through Caldwell.

One of the event’s organizers, Dennis Katzenmeier, says more cattle will be added as the drive continues, with plans to end the in Ellsworth with 400 head of cattle.

From Caldwell, the cattle will be driven to Kingman on an old cattle trail. Several cow camps will be staged along the way.