July 3, 2009
Cornbelt Update
Cornbelt Update is a weekly summary of news from Extension, government, and other attributable sources, focused on marketing, farm management, and other issues that are of interest to Midwestern farm owners and operators.Posted by Stu Ellis at 1:19 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 2, 2009
When The Global Recession Ends, Will You Be Ready To Resume?
Is your farm income dependent on the export market? If you are raising sweet corn, pumpkins, and other domestic vegetables, there is probably not much dependency. But if you are raising corn, soybeans, and hogs, there is a substantial impact. Even though hog profits are elusive, $32 of the value of every market hog comes from the export market, and it was higher last year before the global recession hit. One of six rows of corn and one of three rows of soybeans are exported, and so when the recession spread around the world, US ag trade was interrupted and commodity prices were affected.Posted by Stu Ellis at 12:53 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
July 1, 2009
Where Did All Of This Corn Come From?
Call it “bloody Tuesday,” because of the USDA acreage and grain stocks reports that caught many farmers and commodity traders by surprise. The June Planted Acreage Report indicated more than 87 million acres of corn, a one million jump from last year and a two million jump from the March Planting Intentions Report. In concert with increased corn production, USDA found more corn stocks on hand than had been calculated, so with the country awash in corn, it is no wonder DEC corn settled down the 30 cent daily limit and lost 92 cents for the month. Where did all of this corn come from?Posted by Stu Ellis at 1:23 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
June 30, 2009
Are You In Control Of Weeds, Or Are They Controlling You?
Weeds! Until someone invents a purpose for them, we still have to fight them. If not, your beans will be starved for nutrients and moisture and have a dismal future. With plenty of rainfall this spring, the weed crop has taken over many fields and wet soils have delayed timely efforts to control them.Posted by Stu Ellis at 2:37 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
June 29, 2009
Will You Face Credit Challenges Going Into 2010?
Several times per week federal banking officials close a bank at the end of the day and it reopens as a new branch of a larger bank the next morning. Deposits are still there, so are the employees, but the change indicates the banking industry remains fragile for some banks. Fortunately, banks with largely agricultural clientele remain in good shape, but for how long is uncertain. What the Federal Reserve does report is that agricultural banks are taking measures to strengthen their own financial foundation, and that has an impact on farmers.Posted by Stu Ellis at 12:43 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
