Planting Progress Varies 

By Kent Thiesse

There has been some limited tillage and corn planting completed in some areas of southern Minnesota from April 23 to April 25, prior to the heavy rains, wet snow and cold temperatures late last week...

The Better are Getting Better 

By Dr. Dave Kohl

My work with the farm business management instructor teams in south-central and southwest Minnesota provides an excellent source of data on progressive producers...

Global Economic Forecast 

By Dr. Dave Kohl

For the readers of this column who are invested in the red-hot grain industry, let’s go up to 100,000 ft. and explore an overview of the global economic forecast...

Spring Planting 

By Kent Thiesse

Like the start of a big race, or the beginning of a championship game, farmers in Minnesota and Iowa are anxiously awaiting the initiation of full-scale fieldwork...

Little Corn Planting Progress 

By Richard Brock

U.S. producers made very little progress planting their 2008 corn crop last week as cool, wet conditions continued to limit fieldwork...

Three Pricing Alternatives For Farmers 

Source: Purdue University

Grain buyers and elevators, like producers, can’t afford to take all the risk and some have stopped offering cash-forward contracts to price new-crop corn, soybeans and wheat...

NCGA Hails Japan’s Growing Acceptance Of Biotech Corn For Food 

Source: National Corn Growers Association

It’s great news for Japanese consumers and U.S. corn growers that Japan is turning more to biotech corn to meet growing food needs, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) says...

How Much Is Ethanol Saving Missourians? 

Source: Missouri Corn Merchandising Council

A study released today confirms Missouri drivers are saving money at the pump thanks to ethanol. The research results were announced at a press conference in the state capitol and concluded...

Leading Food Policy Center Study Cites Rising Oil Costs as Underlying Force in Food and Fuel Argument 

Source: National Corn Growers Association

A study released recently by Texas A&M’s Agricultural and Food Policy Center illustrates corn prices have had little to do with rising food costs, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) notes...

Wide Margins for 2008 Corn Profits 

By Bob Sampson, University of Illinois

Corn appears to be more profitable than soybeans in 2008 by wider margins than in recent years, according to a new University of Illinois (U of I) Extension study...

NCGA Sees More Reason for Optimism on Corn Acres 

Source: National Corn Growers Association

A rise in the projected use of corn for export and as livestock feed provides increased room for optimism about corn acreage, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said recently...

First Quarter 2008 in Review 

By Dr. Dave Kohl

The first quarter of 2008 is the tale of two economies. The general economy is moving into recession. The breadth and depth of the recession will be dependent upon converging events and factors...

China's Grain Crop Forecast Higher 

By Richard Brock

China’s production of major grains may rise in 2008 due to higher yields, despite a reduction in planted area, the China National Grain and Oils Information Center (CNGOIC) said on Monday...

Short Soybean Seed Supply Increases Need For Good Planting Practices To Avoid Replanting 

Source: University of Missouri

Cool, wet soils can cause extra hazards to soybean seed being planted this spring. Caution should be taken at planting time to assure good stands, says Bill Wiebold, a University of Missouri Extension agronomist and soybean specialist...

High Corn Prices, Saturated Soils Put Spotlight On Nitrogen 

Source: Iowa Soybean Associate On-Farm Network

For the second year in a row, farmers in many parts of the Midwest are facing moisture-saturated soils that could leave corn short on both nitrogen (N) and yield in 2008...