In its Prospective Plantings report, USDA says, driven by favorable prices, U.S. farmers intend to plant 95.9 million acres of corn in 2012, up four percent from 2011. If realized, this will be the largest corn acreage in the United States since 1937, when producers planted 97.2 million acres of corn. The Prospective Plantings report provides the first official, survey based estimates of U.S. farmers’ 2012 planting intentions.

Farmers in Iowa, the top U.S. corn-growing state, intend to set a new record for the state by planting 14.6 million acres, up four percent from 2011. Growers in Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota also intend to plant record-high acreages. The largest year-over-year increase is expected in North Dakota, where farmers are recovering from last year’s floods.

At the same time, U.S. soybean growers intend to plant 73.9 million acres in 2012, down one percent from last year. Affected by the drought conditions that have continued from last year, Texas and Oklahoma farmers plan significant reductions in soybean acreage, expecting to dedicate 24 and 15 percent fewer acres respectively to the crop this year. On the other side of the coin, farmers in New York and North Dakota are expected to set new records.

Also affected by difficult weather conditions, the expected cotton area this year is 13.2 million acres, down 11 percent from last year. Heavy precipitation in the Delta Region has already delayed fieldwork in some areas. A mild winter in some cotton-growing states also has producers bracing for potentially higher than normal insect and weed pressure this year.

Courtesy: NAFB News

Commodity Classic 2013 is scheduled to be held in Kissimmee, Florida, next February 28 through March 2. The program’s co-chair mark Schwiebert, believes – with another broad offering of learning opportunities, a continually evolving tradeshow and the incredible Florida weather, we are on track for another year of helping farmers find the technologies, acquire the knowledge and build the relationships that will kick off another successful year.

Speaking of this year’s event, immediate past Commodity Classic Co-Chair Martin Barbre says – it was very gratifying to see that Commodity Classic’s appeal continues to grow, and I look forward to seeing it continue this tradition of excellence in Kissimmee next year. This year more than 6-thousand attended, a 25 percent increase over last year. Farm families comprised more than half of the participants.

The only national agricultural convention and trade show put on by farmers for farmers, Commodity Classic is presented annually by the National Corn Growers Association, the American Soybean Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers and the National Sorghum Producers.

Courtesty: NAFB News

A key working group of the International Maritime Organization has recommended approval of a U.S. proposal that corn gluten feed and corn gluten meal be reclassified in the official IMO code. The change would make transport of these ingredients simpler by eliminating a requirement that they be loaded on vessels with specialized fire suppression equipment. The proposal was based on the results of tests organized by the U.S. Grains Council, in cooperation with a number of U.S. producers, marketers and shippers.

In 2010, the U.S. Grains Council organized an industry group to address this problem. With samples donated by various shippers, the Council arranged for combustibility testing at several U.S. labs. Based on the outcome of those tests, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a letter of exemption in December 2010, allowing CGF and CGM to be loaded in U.S. ports as “low fire risk” cargoes.

Erick Erickson, USGC director of programs and planning, says – the exemption letter only extends to the limits of U.S. Coast Guard jurisdiction and is not binding on non-U.S. ship owners and arrival ports. The IMO task force action sets into motion a process that will culminate in the reclassification  over a period of three years.

Courtesy: NAFB News

30 U.S. Senators have introduced the “Preserve the Waters of the U.S. Act.” S. 2245 would stop the Environmental Protection Agency and Corp of Engineers from issuing their “Final Guidance on Identifying Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act.” The guidance is seen as a way to significantly expand the regulatory reach of the two agencies by eliminating the term ‘navigable’ from the Clean Water Act.

If finalized, the guidance has the potential to make it more difficult for Americans to build in their backyards, grow crops, manage livestock, expand small businesses and carry out other activities on private lands. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President J.D. Alexander says the legislation puts up a roadblock to EPA’s intentional end-run around the rulemaking process and Congress.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman says – expanding federal jurisdiction in this manner-well beyond the words and intent of Congress and the limits affirmed by the Supreme Court will harm farmers, ranchers and private landowners nationwide. Farm Bureau urges swift approval of the Preserve the Waters of the U.S. Act.

Courtesy: NAFB News

When a federal judge in New York Ruled the U.S. Food and Drug Administration must take action on certain antibiotic usage in animal agriculture one point was not made clear. Liz Wagstrom, chief veterinarian for the National Pork Producers Council, explains – the judge’s ruling addresses only the growth promotion and nutritional efficiency uses of penicillin and tetracycline. She emphasizes the drugs would still be available for use in disease prevention, control, and treatment.

Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief executive officer of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says – the judicious use of antimicrobials plays a key role in preserving the health of our nation’s food animals and the safety of our nation’s food supply. Still, AVMA acknowledges the growing concern regarding antimicrobial use and resistance in animals and people, and supports the judicious use of antimicrobials to maximize public and animal health benefits while minimizing risks.

DeHaven cautions that any decision to withdraw approval or ban any antimicrobial uses should be based on solid science and risk-based assessment, and not on anecdotal reports and speculation.

Courtesy: NAFB News