Indiana Seed Weblog

TOP USDA OFFICIALS DISCUSS FARM BILL IMPLEMENTATION
Good afternoon from Washington. I’m Larry Quinn speaking to you from the Broadcast Center at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Welcome to today’s news conference with Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer to discuss implementation of the 2008 farm bill. Joining the Secretary in the studio are Chuck Conner, deputy secretary of Agriculture; and Floyd Gaibler, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.changenav/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentidonly=true&PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2008%2F06%2F0168.xml 

USDA Includes Indiana in Grants for Conservation Initiatives
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced $14 million in Conservation Initiative Grants (CIG) to fund 45 projects in 40 states to develop and refine cutting-edge technologies and approaches that will help farmers conserve and sustain natural resources on their operations. One of the grants for $255,014 goes to the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), which is headquartered in Indiana.
http://www.indianaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=467&yr=2008

Corn farmers’ hopes are dashed by the flood
This year’s corn crop was Bill Talsma’s lottery ticket — a potentially record-setting haul worth millions. Then came the flood. The raging rivers and streams destroyed nearly a quarter of the crop Talsma and his brother were growing on about 75 percent of their 9,000 acres in Iowa, and drenching rains damaged the rest. Had all his corn come in, Talsma could have seen a profit of as much as $6 million.
http://webstar.postbulletin.com/agrinews/292007222872926.bsp

Next Flood Challenge: Crop Insurance
With as much as 20% of Iowa farmland washed away, and more flooding in Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois already, the crop insurance industry is worried about what may be floating their way. A Business Week report this week notes that the industry is looking back at the last great flood year of 1993 and bracing itself for what may be coming.
http://www.the-farmer.com/index.aspx?ascxid=fpStory&fpsid=34388&fpstid=1

Congress and the Administration Prepared to slug it out over farm bill
The relief was evident in the faces of those Senators and Representatives who had worked hard on negotiating compromise farm legislation as addressed the press on Thursday (May 8). The news was that for all practical purposes an agreement had been struck and Congress would be voting on the compromise next week. The deliberations had been long and tough, which prompted Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, the chair of the Senate Ag Committee, to remark that delivering this farm legislation was a lot like passing a kidney stone-a slow, painful process.
http://www.minnesotafarmguide.com/articles/2008/06/16/ag_news/updates/update33.txt

American Agri-Women Urges Congress to Act on Ag Labor Legislation
Agriculture is uniquely in crisis regarding the need for a legal workforce is the message American Agri-Women conveyed at meetings with their congressional delegates this week in the nation’s capital. Congress must act. The Emergency Agriculture Relief Act was proposed as an amendment to the supplemental spending bill to fund military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, but was removed, so now agriculture organizations are working hard to get the EARA moved forward on its own.
http://www.indianaagconnection.com/story-national.php?Id=1416&yr=2008

Farmers facing difficult decisions about replanting
The 2008 crop season has been a challenge with cool wet weather that delayed or prevented planting and recent flooding that damaged and destroyed some crops. To help farmers faced with difficult decisions, Iowa State University Extension hosted an emergency crop production meeting Friday at the Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm at Nashua.
http://webstar.postbulletin.com/agrinews/297358194950641.bsp

 Governor to View Agriculture Damage
 Governor Mitch Daniels on Thursday will be joined by Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Andy Miller to assess agricultural damage following recent severe weather. Thursday‘s activities will begin at Premier Ag in Columbus, followed by visits to farms in Morgan and Daviess counties. An inspection of the levee in Elnora is also planned. Governor Daniels spent Wednesday touring sites in Moscow, Hope, Franklin and Spencer.
http://www.hoosieragtoday.com/wire/news/01010_gov_004905.php

USDA supply-demand report ‘friendly for soybeans’
Soybean prices are expected to remain strong despite this year’s increase in acreage. Moe Agostino, senior risk management consultant at Farms.com Risk Management, said the recently released U.S. Department of Agriculture supply-demand report was “friendly for soybeans.” Soybean production is projected this year at 3.1 billion bushels, up 520 million bushels from the 2007-08 crop. However, sharply lower beginning soybean stocks offset most of the increased production. The USDA report projected a soybean carryover of 186 million bushels compared to 145 million for 2007-08. Soybean crush is projected to increase less than 1 percent to 1.85 billion bushels, reflecting a small increase in domestic soybean meal use and a projected decline in soybean meal exports, according to USDA.
http://www.agrinews-pubs.com/display.asp?section=C14489BD26F497A8A9D62F219D720C8D3C103FBB6A372169&Article=6C16AF1C1219F153DA16D8EFBD78EE69AF7B618EF9D66E19

Corn plantings to fall even amid record demand
Beyond bad weather, booming worldwide demand to feed livestock and make biofuel, coupled with rocketing energy prices, explains corn’s surge to nearly $7 a bushel from around $4 a year ago.  And fast-growing economies in developing countries like India and China only add to the pressure on already tight supplies.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/BUSINESS/806110399/1003/BUSINESS

 
Rain’s toll on crops heavy
Farmers throughout the rain-drenched Corn Belt are concerned that damage to recently planted crops will hurt yields, helping to drive up prices of everything from eggs to meat to bread. Last week’s rain-fed jump in corn prices was the largest one-week rally in history.  In Indiana, the overabundance of rain begain last month. The amount of rainfall in the state — 6.1 inches — was 37 percent more than normal in May.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/BUSINESS/806110391/1003/BUSINESS

Indiana Farm Bureau applauds new farm bill
Indiana Farm Bureau praised Congress for the May 15 passage of a new five-year bill that provides crucial funding for agriculture, nutrition and conservation programs.  “This farm bill, while certainly not perfect, represents the best interests of the majority of Indiana’s farmers and other Americans,” said IFB President Don Villwock, who farms in Knox County.  “It increases support for the environment and those in this country who need food assistance, while continuing to provide a basic safety net for farmers.”
http://www.agrinews-pubs.com/display.asp?section=C14489BD26F497A8A9D62F219D720C8D3C103FBB6A372169&Article=0CAC312FCA082D1005FF53E65D261EA8FBD660118CAB7B0D

My prayers go out to the many Hoosier families affected by flooding across the state, especially Indiana’s farm families. Governor Daniels has contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to request expedited assistance for our state’s farmers. To support the Governor’s disaster request, we need farmers to report livestock, crop or equipment losses to their local USDA Farm Service Agency office as quickly as possible.

“As is typical in the agricultural community, the agencies that serve farmers are working together to help during this extraordinary weather event. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is working with USDA officials to get additional information to farmers as soon as it is available. Farmers should contact the Indiana Board of Animal Health for issues related to livestock and poultry ( www.in.gov/boah or 317‐227‐0300). If farmers have manure, pesticides or other farm chemicals that have spilled due to flooding, they should contact the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Spill Hotline at 317‐233‐7745 or 1‐888‐233‐7745.”

The following file is a copy of the letter Governor Daniels sent to the United States Secretary of Agriculture.

governors-letter-to-usda

National Guard troops and U.S. Marines help battle floodwaters
President Bush declared 29 counties in the central and southern parts of the state federal disaster areas Monday. Daniels also is asking that the U.S. agriculture secretary declare 44 counties — including Daviess and Warrick — agricultural disaster areas, due to damage to crops and livestock, stemming from repeated bouts of severe storms that began May 30.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/jun/10/waterlogged-state/

Eateries pull fresh tomatoes
Indiana has seven confirmed cases from the outbreak, according to the Indiana State Health Department. A sign posted at the Subway at Jefferson Boulevard and Clinton Street alerted customers that tomatoes would not be served based on a warning from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080610/LOCAL/806100305/1002/LOCAL

U.S. corn planting 95% complete as of Sunday
The United States Department of Agriculture reports that as of Sunday, June 1, 95% of the U.S. corn crop had been planted. That’s up 7% from the previous week, but 4% behind last year and 3% less than the five year average. Only North Carolina has officially planted its crop – this time last year, five more states had complete activity, including Illinois and Indiana. Emergence is at 74% as of Sunday, compared to 92% this time last year and the five year average of 89%. The crop’s in 63% good to excellent condition, compared to 78% in 2007’s first assessment.
http://www.brownfieldnetwork.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=4B1D74B5-B456-6A22-CD60349A9C13E7AB
Food Prices Predicted to Stay High and Grow Volatile
Food prices will remain high in the coming decade, with meat prices forecasted to rise rapidly, according to the latest latest Agriculture Outlook from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The report, published by the two agencies at the world food summit in Rome, notes that the growing demand for biofuel is one factor contributing to higher prices and suggests further review of existing biofuel policies.
http://www.indianaagconnection.com/story-national.php?Id=1297&yr=2008