Today, about 6.1-million veterans live in rural communities – a higher concentration than anywhere else in the country. In the time-honored tradition of standing with those who have served this nation in uniform, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is hosting a number of activities this week to recognize the soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and coastguardsmen who so ably serve. Their selfless and courageous contributions over generations mean that Americans enjoy the freedom and liberty our founders imagined.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says – we can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to the service members who were wounded or died in battle. We can, however, recognize and thank the more than 20-million living American veterans. And we can offer special thanks and acknowledgment to the more than 10-thousand veterans working at USDA.

A Department-wide Veterans Day observance will be held in USDA’s Jefferson Auditorium Thursday, “Honoring All Who Served.” Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will speak.

America’s farm families have an amazing story to tell – and Monsanto is continuing its “America’s Farmers” campaign to help them tell it. On Thanksgiving Day, Monsanto will launch the next wave of television commercials aimed at illustrating the important role of America’s farm families and modern agriculture in meeting the needs of our growing world. In addition, the America’s Farmers campaign can be heard on the radio and seen on billboards along major U.S. highways. Each farm family in the campaign will also be featured in a behind-the-scenes look at farm life through a series of webisodes at AmericasFarmers.com.

Spokesperson Jessica Simmons says, – this Thanksgiving, as people sit down to enjoy dinner with their family and friends, we hope to encourage them to take a moment and thank those who make it all possible – America’s farm families. According to Simmons, – as an agriculture company, Monsanto is proud to advocate on behalf of America’s farmers as they work tirelessly to provide plentiful food, clothing and energy for our country and the world.

Virginia farmer P.J. Haynie, featured in the new America’s Farmers television commercials, points out that – farmers contribute to the global food supply – food, fiber, textiles, so many things. He says – the products from rural counties are shipped all over the world. It’s an honor and a privilege to be an American farmer.

Other featured farmers are: Kelly Woodrow family of Springerton, Illinois, and Bill Schroeder family of Reynolds, Indiana.

During its November 15-16 meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, the National Pork Board will celebrate its silver anniversary and continue the work begun with the launch of the Pork Checkoff in November, 1986.

Prior to 1986, the pork industry had a voluntary Checkoff created in 1966 by a visionary group of producers known as the “Moline 90.” By the early 1980s, pork producers were sensing shifting consumer preferences toward leaner meat and feeling new market pressure from other proteins. Producer leaders determined they were going to need additional resources to compete and agreed the best solution was to ask Congress for legislation requiring every pork producer who benefitted from national promotion, research and education efforts to help support those programs.

Congress created the framework for the new Pork Checkoff in the 1985 Farm Bill which was overwhelmingly approved by a producer referendum in 1988. The first Checkoff collected about 27-million dollars. Today, producers have increased their support and in 2011 those proceeds are expected to total approximately 72-million dollars. By law, the money can be used by the national and state pork organizations only for promotion, research and consumer education.

Corn production in Missouri is forecast at 359 million bushels, down 3 percent from last year’s crop.  The projected yield of 115 bushels per acre is 8 bushels per acre below the 123 bushels per acre yield of 2010.  If realized, this will be the eighth largest corn crop on record.

Missouri soybean production is forecast at 194 million bushels based on November 1 conditions, 8 percent below 2010.  A State yield average of 37 bushels per acre is expected, 4.5 bushels per acre below last year.  This would be the fourth largest soybean crop on record.

Rice yield in Missouri is forecast at a record 7,200 pounds per acre, 720 pounds per acre more than the 2010 yield.  Even with the record yield, production is only expected to total 9.22 million cwt., 43 percent less than 2010 due to the large drop in harvested acres. Harvested acres are expected to total 128,000 acres compared with 251,000 acres harvested in 2010.

Cotton production in Missouri is forecast at 860,000 bales, 26 percent above last year’s production.  The forecast yield of 1,131 pounds is 63 pounds per acre above last year’s yield.  This would be the largest yield on record.

Missouri grain sorghum production is forecast at 2.80 million bushels, an increase of 9 percent from last year.  The State yield forecast of 80 bushels per acre is up 2 bushels per acre from last year.

 

United States Corn and Soybean Production down From October

 

Corn production in the United States is forecast at 12.3 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the October forecast and down 1 percent from 2010. If realized, this will be the fourth largest production total on record for the United States. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 146.7 bushels per acre, down 1.4 bushels from the October forecast and down 6.1 bushels from 2010. If realized, this will be the lowest average yield since 2003. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.9 million acres, unchanged from the October forecast.

 

U. S. soybean production is forecast at 3.05 billion bushels, down slightly from the October forecast and down 9 percent from last year. Based on November 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 41.3 bushels per acre, down 0.2 bushel from last month and down 2.2 bushels from last year. If realized, the average yield will be the second lowest since 2003. Area for harvest is forecast at 73.7 million acres, unchanged from October but down 4 percent from 2010.

A report released by CropLife America says the use of crop protection products, including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, helps U.S. agriculture to remain a key economic driver. The report, written by Mark Goodwin of Mark Goodwin Consulting, reveals that across the United States the increased crop production and resultant economic spin-offs generate 33-billion dollars in wages for over 1.05-million American workers. These jobs span beyond the farming industry to additional sectors, including manufacturing, food services, construction, transportation and more.

Data from the report finds that while every state received a positive economic spin-off from the use of crop protection products, California, Florida, Minnesota and Washington stand out with total salaries annually reaching 9.8-billion, 2.0-billion, 1.7-billion and 1.9-billion dollars, respectively. The report also found that plant science technologies lead to a 48 percent savings in overall grocery bills for fruits and vegetables for a family of four in the U.S.

Jay Vroom, president and CEO of CLA says – this report finds that when equipped with the best tools and resources, the agricultural community helps create well-paying jobs in the workplace through increased productivity and crop output. As such, it is more important than ever that we establish sound policy that allows U.S. agriculture to thrive, and allows for the continued innovation and investment in the crop protection industry.