Demand for grain remains strong – but global stocks remain tight – so grain prices may increase again soon. The Chicago Board of Trade shows a 13-percent decrease in corn prices – but Morgan Stanley Head of Commodities Research Hussein Allidina says corn may rally to 10-dollars before this time next year since cattle and hog producers haven’t culled herds as feed costs have risen. A Bloomberg News survey says corn may get as high as 8-75 a bushel before next year’s Northern Hemisphere harvest. Still – with livestock producers looking to substitute other grains for feed – Allidina says wheat prices will be supported. Gainsborough Managing Director David Sheppard says it’s the calm before the storm with world grain markets – as Russia and the Ukraine are running out of exportable surpluses and France is selling into recent tenders. Allidina says inventories are the tightest they have been in his lifetime – and the world can’t afford anything below trend line yields in Argentina, Brazil and the United States.
Author: Micheal Clements
Heat Rises on Gestation Crate Debate
Gestation crates have taken the spotlight across the nation – but Hog Farmer Tom Dittmer says the reason the pork industry switched to crates wasn’t to harm the animals – but to keep them safe. Many corporate pork customers and animal rights groups have turned up the heat on the pork industry to return to group sow housing. More than 30 companies have announced 10-year plans to quit buying pork from suppliers who use gestation crates. Farmers says it’s built around a misunderstanding from people who don’t know anything about raising animals or pigs – so they are taking a stand and trying to show those people how they raise their animals. Research by Iowa State University on sow housing shows Dittmer’s farm costs would rise by 1.3-million dollars a year if he moves back to group housing – while his sows probably would produce one to two fewer piglets each year. Kansas State University Associate Professor of Ag Economics Glynn Tonsor says there’s no obvious reason for farmers to voluntarily switch from gestation crates to pens.
Man Allegedly Scams Boarding Kennel, Leaves 17 Animals
The owner of a St Joseph boarding kennel is accusing a man of scamming more than $6,000 from him.
Floyd Ball is the owner of the Evergreen Boarding Kennel. The man who allegedly took the money, also left the kennel with 14 cats, and three dogs. Now the kennel is trying to find a new home for the animals.
“The main thing I’m concerned about is, like I said, we board for other people and we can’t afford to keep 10 stalls closed in where we could be boarding somebody else. I would hate to have these animals neutralized and stuff because it’s not their fault,” Ball said.
He says the alleged scammer left 14 cats and three dogs in his care. They’ve already found a home for the three dogs and four of the cats. They are still trying to find a home for the remaining 10 cats. Call the Kennel at 667-5717 for adoption information.
A Charge of Stealing was filed in September against the man in a separate incident and a warrant was issued then. The kennel owner has also filed a case against the man for allegedly owing more than three months worth of rent on a home.
Soy Checkoff Study Avoids Potential Trade Issues Between U.S. and Japan
USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration conducted an analysis on chemicals of the 2011 U.S. soybean crop – as part of a study funded by the United Soybean Board’s Global Opportunities program. The study analyzed the soybeans by using statistically representative export samples of the most recent crop to determine if more than the allowable levels of agricultural chemical residues exist. Results showed no violation of levels in U.S. soybean exports and also found the fungicide detected in an instance by a Japanese soy importer has never shown up in a GIPSA analysis of U.S. soybeans. USB Director Dwain Ford says this study helps protect U.S. soybean exports and assure customers the U.S. provides a safe, high-quality product year after year.
NWMSU Class Surveying Awareness, Use of Mozingo Lake Park
Northwest Missouri State students are conducting a survey on the usage of the Mozingo Lake Park and golf course.
The survey, which will take less than 10 minutes, is organized by an advanced advertising class at Northwest.
They are assessing the resources for the park and asking resident what facilities they know about and use. The class is also working to raise the image of Mozingo as a local park and regional destination.
The Mozingo Lake Park and golf course are located five minutes east of Maryville on U.S. 136 Highway. The 3,000 acre park includes a 1,006 acre lake and was completed in 1994.
You can take the survey online, go to mozingosurvey.com.
Congressman Comments on What it Will Take to Get Farm Bill Done
House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Sam Farr says Congress finishing the farm bill really depends on how much heat Republicans receive. Farr says House tea party members don’t want to let their leadership bring up a bill that can’t be passed without a Republican majority because they believe building a coalition shows weakness. While Farr believes a new farm bill needs to be passed – he says the resolution that was passed and lasts through March 27th will take care of farmers for awhile.
New Study Shows Chicken Industry Positively Impacts U.S. Economy
The National Chicken Council and U.S. Poultry and Egg Association have released a new economic impact study that shows the positive impact the chicken industry has on U.S. jobs, wages and federal and state revenue. NCC President Mike Brown says while chicken farms and processing plants aren’t located in every state or congressional district in the U.S. – the study captures how the industry’s positive economic impact extends across the country – hitting every sector of the economy. The study shows the industry directly and indirectly provides more than 1-million jobs, 47-billion dollars in wages, 197.5-billion dollars in economic activity and 17.2-billion dollars in government revenue. For more information on the study – go to www dot chicken feeds America dot org (www.chickenfeedsamerica.org).
USFRA Panelists For Nov. Food Dialogues Includes MOFB President
The U.S. Farmers and Rancher Alliance is gearing up for a November Food Dialogues event, November 15 in New York City following their board meeting.
The panelist teams have been set and one includes the President of the Missouri Farm Bureau.
The Media, Marketing and Healthy Choices panel will examine how the media’s coverage of food and its health benefits has impacted consumer choice. This discussion also will address what more can be done to answer Americans’ questions about how their food is grown and raised. Expert panelists include:
• Tracie McMillan, author, The American Way of Eating
• Debbie Beauvais, New York School Nutrition President and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson
• Blake Hurst, President, Missouri Farm Bureau
• Craig McNamara, California organic farmer
• Richard Ball, New York vegetable farmer
Read more Here.
City Announces Open Burning Dates
The fall open burning season for St Joseph will starts the first week of next Month.
The City released the dates Thursday for the fall open burning season. It will Start Monday November 5th and end Sunday November 25th. Open burning will be permitted under certain guidelines including yard waste for residential properties only.
Guidelines:
Burning for yard waste of residential properties only.
Burning shall be allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m
All fires must be in an upright cylindrical metal container with a volume equal to no more than 55 gallons. Containers must be located at least fifteen feet away from any building. Only one burn container per residence is allowed.
All fires shall be monitored from a point on the property where the fire is
located, by a person capable of containing a fire, should containment become necessary.
ONLY dry yard waste such as leaves, brush and logs grown on the property can be burned. NO trash, paper, lumber or building debris may be burned.
Fire-fighting material, including but not limited to, a garden hose or a container of water sufficient to contain any fire started shall be at the site of the fire.
If weather conditions such as high winds indicate the safety of the community or the public may be endangered or if open burning may create a health hazard, the Fire Chief or Health Director may invoke a temporary burning ban.
Any violation of the open burning restrictions may result in a summons to appear in court for a misdemeanor violation.
Corps Fund Flooding Effects Study by Benedictine College
The Corps of Engineers is funding a more-than $150,000 study at Benedictine College to study the effects of last years flooding.
The Corps of Engineers awarded the $180,000 to collect data on the river along the border of northeast Kansas.
Specifically, the grant is for studying the effects on cottonwood forest. It will include Benedictine students and professors.
“The goal of the current project is to assess the effects of the 2011 flood on cottonwood forests,” said Dr. Terry Malloy, chair of the Benedictine Biology Department.
The work involves many scientists at several institutions, including Benedictine College, South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota. Malloy is overseeing the project on this segment of the river.
“Over the past summer, funding for this project supported four student research stipends,” Malloy said. “Funding has also been allocated to support student research stipends for the 2013 and 2014 summer field seasons.”