May 31st, 2016
St Joseph |
|
Yellow Corn |
3.75 – 3.83 |
White Corn |
no bid |
Soybeans |
10.36 – 10.44 |
LifeLine Foods |
3.79 |
|
|
|
Atchison |
|
Yellow Corn |
3.89 |
Soybeans |
10.22 |
Hard Wheat |
3.82 |
Soft Wheat |
2.89 |
|
|
|
Kansas City Truck Bids |
|
Yellow Corn |
3.93 – 3.98 |
White Corn |
4.35 – 4.44 |
Soybeans |
10.59 |
Hard Wheat |
4.27 |
Soft Wheat |
3.60 |
Sorghum |
6.25 |
For more information, contact the 680KFEQ Farm Department.
816-233-8881.
Drier weather has helped the soybean harvest to make progress in Argentina. 72 percent of the crop was harvested as of Thursday. Pro Farmer’s First Thing Today says that represents an 11-point increase from a week prior, but harvest is still 18 percent behind last year’s pace. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange notes that record yields in areas not hit by rain have allowed it to maintain the 56 Million Metric Ton forecast, in spite of losing 1.65 million bean acres. Corn harvest is also progressing, with 29 percent of the crop out of the fields. The exchange also reports that farmers have sown three percent of total land amounts they plan to put wheat production.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a one-time 30-day deadline extension to the June first deadline for recording farm organization structures related to Actively Engaged in Farming determinations. This date is used to determine the level of interest an individual holds in a legal entity for an applicable program year. Farming operations now have until July first to complete their restructuring or finalize any operational change. USDA issued the extension in response to farmers and ranchers who requested more time to comply.
The past president of the National Pork Producers Council, Dr. Howard Hill, spoke at a Congressional sub-committee hearing on livestock, and said the U.S. is unprepared for a foreign animal disease outbreak. He says Foot and Mouth disease poses a serious threat to hog farmers who have no way to treat the disease should American pork producers be hit by an outbreak. Brownfield reports that Hill says the only way to treat the disease is with vaccinations. The U.S. currently cannot produce a large number of vaccines for even an initial outbreak, let alone long term. Hill said the country must put together an FMD vaccine bank, and that’s consistent with a recent Homeland Security presidential directive. NPPC wants the government to establish an offshore vendor-maintained bank, which would contain an inventory of 10 million doses, which NPPC estimates will be needed during the first two weeks of an outbreak.
Agricultural exports in fiscal year 2016 are projected at $124.5 billion, which is $500 million below the February projection. The Hagstrom Report says it’s also $15.2 billion dollars below fiscal year 2015. USDA says grain and feed exports are forecast at $27.7 billion, up $500 million from the February forecast. The rise in grain and feed exports is primarily because of larger wheat and corn volumes, as well as higher unit values for corn and sorghum. Oilseed and its product exports are forecast at $26.1 billion dollars, up $700 million in response to stronger soybean and soybean meal export volumes as well as higher soybean unit values. Cotton exports are forecast at $3.1 billion, down $100 million from the February forecast. The forecast for livestock, poultry, and dairy is forecast at $33.5 billion, down $1.2 billion because lower prices in dairy, poultry, and beef won’t be offset by gains in other livestock products. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said the numbers show the importance of getting the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement passed in Congress.
Tyson Foods, the largest chicken processor in the United States, is investigating allegations of animal abuse at a contract farm in Tennessee. A Bloomberg News report says the group Mercy for Animals claims an undercover video shows birds are suffering in windowless sheds and suffering from injuries. Mercy for Animals also claims the chickens are bred to grow too fast and are being weighed down by their own body weight. The group said most of the video comes from a contract farm in Lewisburg, Tennessee, with the rest of the video coming from other farms in different locations. In October of 2015, Tyson fired two Mississippi workers after a video from Mercy for Animals showed bird mistreatment. A Tyson spokesman said “it’s disturbing to us to see sick or injured birds,” adding that if the investigation uncovers any wrongdoing, Tyson Foods work quickly to address the problems.
USDA officials told the Organic Trade Association’s policy meeting that the group should expect a series of organic regulations to be finalized before the end of the year. Politico says five rules are listed on the Department’s 2016 regulatory agenda. The rules include proposed standards to address a dairy cow’s transition to organic; aquaculture; beekeeping products; pet food; and the humane handling of livestock and poultry. The list doesn’t include an organic checkoff proposal that the Trade Association submitted earlier this year. The Association’s Executive Director hopes the Ag Department will release a checkoff program this summer.
The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing this week to discuss challenges and opportunities in the poultry and livestock sectors. The National Farmers Union defended much-needed market relief efforts because of the current low prices and a consolidated market facing farm families. Producers faced a drop in beef prices last year despite forecasts of higher than average prices. USDA forecasts show lower prices and higher beef production into 2017, and NFU President Roger Johnson said that will make it tough for producers to recover financial losses from the recent decline. The situation is more troubling because of a sharp decline in the number of family farmers and ranchers over the last decade due to a heavily concentrated cattle market. That makes it tougher for independent producers competing against packers. Roger Johnson said at the hearing that “the marketplace is tipped disproportionately against the family producer.” He said four packers currently account for 70 percent of the value of all livestock purchased for slaughter.