Farm Futures magazine recently released its survey of 2018 planting intentions, which shows that farmers aren’t quite ready to make major changes to their crop rotations. However, they are going to plant more of what paid best in 2017. For the first time since 1983, farmers want to plant more soybeans than corn. Back then, the government’s PIK program idled millions of corn acres, but even then the difference was just 35,000 acres. Growers are planning to put in 90.1 million acres of crops this year, not much different than in 2017. Farm Futures is projecting more wheat planting this year, saying farmers are ready to put in 11.8 million acres of spring wheat, up 6.7 percent from last year. The first Farm Futures survey of 2018 planting intentions showed farmers wanting to boost corn acres and cut back on soybeans, but price relationships have changed quite a bit in the last four months. Cotton farmers also intend to raise the amount of planted acres to 13.2 million, a five percent jump. Cotton was one of the few bright spots in the crop community in 2017. Farm Futures did say that all of this information could be subject to change based on changing prices and the weather.

The government shutdown has entered its third day, with a vote planned for Noon Eastern Time today to end debate and move forward to a stop-gap funding bill. The shutdown appears to loom on a group of roughly 20 Senators who have yet to find compromise and agree to vote for a spending measure, with some Senators expressing optimism Sunday that the shutdown would be short-lived. Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement that “USDA is committed to safeguarding life and property through the critical services” provided by the federal agency. Those include food inspections through the Food Safety and Inspection Service, import controls, core nutrition programs, and keeping Rural Development offices open in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA says crop insurance services will continue, and indemnity payments will continue to be made. The U.S. Forest Service will continue emergency and defense preparedness, including fire suppression. Select services through the Agricultural Marketing Service will continue, and the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations will be supported and maintained.

(ASA) High oleic soybeans have crossed their final regulatory hurdle, clearing the way for farmers to plant more acres of high oleic soybeans in 2018. Full global regulatory approval can help expand the market for high oleic soy and create opportunities to increase U.S. soybean value and competitiveness in the global marketplace. “Achieving high oleic global regulatory approval enables us to meet end-user needs with a product they want and increase the use of U.S. soybean oil,” says Lewis Bainbridge, United Soybean Board chair and farmer from Ethan, South Dakota. “We encourage farmers to talk with their seed representatives about high oleic soybean variety options for 2018 planting to help keep pace with growing demand for this high-functioning oil.”

(MOFB) MIssouri Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general farm organization, Thursday launched “Digging In,” a weekly podcast that will highlight current news and developments affecting Missouri agriculture in state and national politics. The MFB legislative team will give insight into what is happening with legislation, regulations and the decision makers involved, and will analyze how those developments will affect rural Missouri and the state’s farmers and ranchers. Digging In will also feature interviews with newsmakers about current developments in agriculture and rural policy. This week’s episode is available for listeners on the iTunes App Store, SoundCloud and mofb.org.

President Donald Trump said again this week he “may” terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying such a move would yield the “best deal” in renegotiations. The president says many people “are going to be unhappy,” if he terminates the agreement, but counters that they “don’t realize how good it would be” if he did. But, just last week Trump said he would be “a little bit flexible” on the withdrawal threat. Agriculture and the auto industry is pressing the administration to not withdraw from the agreement, and the auto industry is even suggesting Trump back away from some of his demands. The comments from Trump come as Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the president now understands the benefits of NAFTA for agriculture, according to Bloomberg. However, Perdue warns the president’s view on trade should not be confused with a softer approach to the negotiations.

A new coalition of agriculture groups is focusing on the importance of the North American Free Trade Agreement. More than 30 organizations across the agriculture sector announced the formation of Americans for Farmers and Families, noting that food and agriculture supports 43 million U.S. jobs and depends on trade with Canada and Mexico. The group was formed to “ensure” President Trump and Congressional leaders understand the “importance of preserving and modernizing” NAFTA to America’s agricultural economy. As part of the effort, the coalition will be launching an educational campaign to highlight the positive impact of NAFTA and lay the groundwork for an updated trade agreement that “preserves America’s strong economic standing for decades to come.” Coalition members include the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and many various commodity groups.

(NAFB) President Donald Trump has nominated just seven of the 13 Agriculture Department positions that require Senate confirmation. The Senate has confirmed just four nominations, being Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Deputy Secretary Steve Censky and Undersecretaries Ted McKinney and Greg Ibach. The undersecretary nomination of Bill Northey remains on hold by Senator Ted Cruz, and one Trump nomination, Sam Clovis, withdrew from the process. The Partnership for Public Service said that Trump has fallen behind his predecessors in filling top government posts. As of January 13th, less than 40 percent of the 626 Senate-confirmed appointments still had no nominee. Trump has nominated Stephen Vaden as general counsel for USDA and announced intent to nominate Ken Barbic as assistant secretary for congressional relations. Open nominated positions remaining at USDA oversee administration, civil rights, nutrition, food safety, natural resources, research and the chief financial officer post remains vacant, according to the Hagstrom Report.

(NAFB) An agriculture official from Canada says trying to determine the U.S. direction for the North American Free Trade Agreement is like “following a pinball.” Ron Bonnett, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture president, was attending when President Donald Trump spoke at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention last week. Bonnett told an Ontario, Canada-based newspaper that he is still optimistic that NAFTA will be renegotiated, but says “It’s like following a pinball to figure out exactly where it’s going,” regarding the ever-changing positions taken by Trump. Reports from Canada last week suggested that the county was expecting Trump to withdraw from the agreement. But, at the same time, reports in the U.S. are suggesting Trump may be softening his position on NAFTA, and shifting away from the threats to withdraw. Further, the Canada farm organization reports seeing more pressure building in the U.S. from agriculture and other industries to keep and modernize the agreement. Canada will host the sixth and potentially make-or-break round of NAFTA talks later this month in Montreal.