September 15, 2000
Cotton exports see
big jump
The United States' upland cotton accumulated exports for Marketing Year
(MY) July 31, 1999 through Aug. 1, 2000, were 6.37 million bales, up 61
percent from last year’s exports of 3.96 million bales.
Mexico remains the top export destination for MY 1999/2000 with accumulated
exports for 1.7 million bales, up 21 percent.
Exports to Turkey increased six-fold from last year, from 146,000 bales
to 835,000 bales at the end of MY 1999/2000. This export increase made
Turkey the number two market for U.S. cotton in MY 1999/2000, up from
eighth place in the last marketing year.
Exports to Brazil increased dramatically from 5,300 bales in MY 1998/1999
to 320,000 bales in MY 1999/2000. Exports to South Korea and Canada have
fallen slightly from last year’s levels.
Source: USDA; Cotton: World Markets and Trade, Aug.
2000
Ag board advises CADs on ag values
Property Tax Code Section 6.12 requires the chief appraiser—with
the consent of the County Appraisal District’s (CAD) board—to
appoint three or more members to an agricultural advisory board.
The advisory board advises the chief appraiser on appraisal and use of
land designated for agricultural, open space or timber land use. Some
174 CADs—two less than 1999—have active agricultural advisory
boards, with a state membership total of 664 members.
Source: Statement, Aug. 2000
Look for major crop insurance changes
The Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 made major changes to crop
insurance programs. It also provided $5.5 billion for this fiscal year,
in farmer assistance, due to low market prices. The bill provides producers
with current transistion payment contracts (AMTA) to receive a payment
equal to and in addition to their 1999 payment. Payments are to be made
before the end of the current fiscal year, Sept. 30, and will total $5.4666
billion.
Below are the AMTA payments for the crop years 1999 and 2000, expressed
in cents per bushel. Notice that congress based the second AMTA payment
(market loss payment on 1999 AMTA payment rates rather than 2000 payment
rates, which are lower.
AMTA payment rates for crop years 1999 and 2000, respectively, include:
• Corn: 36.3 cents—33.4 cents.
• Sorghum: 43.5 cents—40 cents.
• Barley: 27.1 cents—25.1 cents.
• Oats: 3 cents—2.8 cents.
• Wheat: 63.7 cents—58.8 cents.
• Rice ($/cwt.) $2.82—$2.60.
• Cotton (cents/lb.) 7.88 cents—7.33 cents.
Source: Landowner, June 19, 2000
