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The first advances are projected to be Wheat/bu.—$0.035; Corn/bu—$0.14; Sorghum/bu.—$0.0945; Barley/bu.—$0.0525; Oats/bu.—$0.0056; Soybeans/bu.—$0.091; Upland Cotton/lb.—$0.0481; Rice/cwt.—$0.315 and Peanuts/ton—$25.55.
USDA also announced final 2003 CCP marks of 3.93
cents/lb. for upland cotton and $73 per short ton for peanuts.
Source: Pro Farmer; Vol. 32, No.43; Oct. 23, 2004
Animal I.D. program is progessing well
The U.S. animal I.D. program is progressing well, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
They have their Standardized Premises Registration System up and running out of Ft. Collins, Co. Now it's a matter of states using the system.
There is a heightened sense of urgency to have the system in use nationwide to assist in pinpointing and isolating both accidental and intentional introduction (by bioterrorists) of animal diseases into the U.S.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 67, No. 41-1; Oct. 8, 2004
Farm antibiotic use drops 8 percent
Antibiotic use fell 8 percent in 2003, according to a recent survey by the Animal Health Institute (AHI), which is made up of companies that make pharmaceuticals for pets and farm animals.
This continues a downtrend that began in 1999 and is cited by AHI as proof of careful use by veterinarians, belaying charges by others that animal antibiotics are overused.
Only 8 percent of total use is for health maintenance, while 92 percent is strictly for therapeutic treatment.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 67, No. 41-1; Oct. 8, 2004
Antidumping beef tariffs to be lifted by Mexico
On Oct.18, 2004, the Mexican government announced it will lift some antidumping tariffs on certain U.S. beef products.
Mexico will stop collecting tariffs on "select" and "choice" U.S. beef. Duties on other boneless and bone-in cuts will remain in place.
Earlier this year, a North American Free Trade Agreement panel agreed with the United States that Mexico had not proved that U.S. beef imports were harming domestic producers.
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; Oct. 18, 2004
Equipment sales are on fire
Sales of tractors over 100 hp soared 66 percent in August over last year and combine sales were up a stunning 124 percent.
Year to date, the former is up 45.4 percent and the latter up 42.4 percent.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 67, No. 38-1; Sept.17, 2004
That's reversing with a recovering beef market, falling soybean prices, and rising production costs.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report;Vol. 67, No. 41-1, Oct. 8, 2004
Fresh-cut is fastest growing produce segment
The Fresh-cut Produce Association has reported the results of a study produced by PakIntell, LLC, which shows that fresh-cut produce is the fastest growing segment of produce in the United States.
The report shows that packaged salads are the second-fastest selling item in U.S. grocery stores, followed by fresh-cut vegetables. Sales for fresh-cut fruit are slower, but optimistic. The fresh-cut industry accounts for $6 billion in sales to the foodservice sector annually.
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; Oct. 13, 2004
Wildlife groups sue over grazing, haying on CRP
In a lawsuit filed recently, seven wildlife groups claim that allowing farmers to graze livestock and harvest hay on acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program puts grassland bird populations at risk.
According to the lawsuit, the Agriculture Department and the Farm Services Agency violated CRP mandates with a new rule that allows managed and emergency grazing on CRP lands. The groups claim FSA did not carry out appropriate environmental impact assessments on the rule and did not gather sufficient public comment before finalizing it.
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; Oct. 22, 2004
