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Feb. 4, 2013

Article

Alfalfa-corn rotation increases yield and reduces nitrogen fertilizer needs

Farmers usually enjoy a yield boost when corn is planted following an alfalfa crop. The major reasons: reduced pest and disease pressure, better soil structure that enhances root growth and water infiltration, and an altered soil microbial community, says Jeff Coulter, a corn agronomist with University of Minnesota Extension....More
Jan. 30, 2013

Article

The row narrows: Testing 12-in. corn rows

Narrow-row corn just got narrower. Stine Seed Company planted and harvested 2,500 acres of 12-in.-row corn in central Iowa last year. A hybrid designed for high density production yielded 320 to 330 bu./acre on the cropland. “(The fields) were up where we had a little extra rain and a little extra nitrogen on it,” reports Harry Stine, president, Stine Seed. “Most of our other yields were much lower with a farm average of 145 bu./acre (mostly 22½-in. rows).”...More
Jan. 24, 2013

Article

Winners of the Faces of Farming and Ranching contest announced

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) announced that Chris Chinn (Mo.), Will Gilmer (Ala.), Katie Pratt (Ill.), and Bo Stone (N.C.), have been selected as the winners of its Faces of Farming & Ranching program, a nationwide search launched in summer 2012 to help put real faces on the American agriculture industry. More than 100 applications were submitted from passionate, dedicated farmers and ranchers across the country....More
Jan. 23, 2013

Article

Land sales rush could spell short supply, higher values in 2013 4

Economic uncertainty had some non-operating farmland owners rushing to sell, which was evident in the last three months of the year, according to Farmers National Company, the largest farmland and ranchland real estate company in the country. Overall for 2012, Farmers National reports that sales activity was up 40% over 2011. "We anticipated another record year in 2012, but what we've seen has exceeded our expectations," said Derrick Volchoff, ALC, vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National....More
Jan. 21, 2013

Article

Farmland tenure in the U.S. and in Illinois 4

The USDA collects a large amount of information directly from farmers and ranchers across the United States. Farmers and ranchers own the majority of the land dedicated to the production of agricultural products, yet a significant portion of our nation's farmland is rented or leased from non-operating landlords. In 2010, the USDA collected detailed information on land tenure, ownership patterns, and rental agreements through supplemental questions in the Agricultural Resource Management Survey....More
Jan. 9, 2013

blog

Land is selling in NW Ohio; tillage underway

The soil in the latter part of November was dry in NW Ohio. There was less than 1 in. of rain in the whole month of November. My Case IH dealer said he never saw so many tillage replacement parts go out the door. Everyone was interested in taking out the ruts that they put in the fields in September and October. Lots of vertical tillage finishing tools have been sold in the last year and everyone who had them was out working ground with them....More
Jan. 2, 2013

Article

IFES 2012: Crop insurance - tax reporting options 2

Approximately 80% of Illinois farmers purchased various types of crop insurance on their 2012 crops. The total premiums for these policies were over $770 million. It is projected that the total claims will exceed twice the amount of the premiums. If farmers do not defer their crop insurance proceeds until 2013, they will have an additional $1.5 billion of taxable income this year....More
Jan. 2, 2013

Article

IFES 2012: 2013 projected crop farm incomes: A drought reprieve

2012 Crop farm incomes...More
Jan. 2, 2013

Article

Land rental publications and forms now available 1

Cropland rental rates continue to vary widely throughout Minnesota (and other Midwestern states). Landowners and tenants alike are challenged when trying to calculate a fair and equitable land rent value. The North Central Farm Management Extension Committee has recently developed a series of land rent publications and forms that will aid landowners and tenants with determining a land rent value....More
Jan. 2, 2013

Article

Updated Purdue corn, soybean pocket reference guide now available

A popular Purdue extension pocket reference guide for corn and soybean producers has been updated and is now available. The 2013 Corn and Soybean Field Guide is an in-field reference to help farmers quickly identify and manage crop problems, such as weeds, diseases and insects....More
Dec. 28, 2012

Article

Specialists say farmers can resolve to improve farming practices in 2013

New Year's resolutions aren't just for those who are overweight, sedentary or struggling to break a bad habit. Farmers can resolve to avoid poor management practices or implement better production techniques in 2013. Purdue University crop, livestock and agricultural economics specialists shared their top three farmer resolutions for the year ahead. Those resolutions, and specialist comments about them, are: Chris Hurt, extension agricultural economist...More
Dec. 28, 2012

gallery

The year in images: Top 10 Farm Industry News galleries from 2012

Farm Industry News delivered agriculture news to readers around the world daily on its website in 2012. Of all content published on farmindustrynews.com, photo galleries have proven to be the most popular content by far. Here is a look at the year's top 10 photo galleries from Farm Industry News.
Dec. 27, 2012

Article

Risk management at forefront as farmers face uncertainty in 2013 1

One thing is certain for corn farmers in 2013, and that is the importance of risk management amid extreme uncertainty in yields and revenues, Purdue agricultural economist Chris Hurt says....More
Dec. 27, 2012

Article

NCGA announces National Corn Yield Contest winners for 2012

Advanced production techniques, informed growing practices and improved seed varieties helped corn growers achieve high yields in the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) 2012 National Corn Yield Contest. Despite a severe drought that plagued most of the Corn Belt, entrants continued to far surpass the national average corn yield, even doubling it in some circumstances....More
Dec. 27, 2012

Article

IFES 2012: Crop and livestock price prospects for 2013

Crops The crop price environment will likely remain very volatile in 2013, reflecting production uncertainty and unsettled economic issues. However, a transition to lower prices is anticipated as production rebounds. The extent of the price decline will depend heavily on the outcome of the 2013 crops....More
Dec. 20, 2012

Article

Christmas tree from North Carolina farm presented to Michelle Obama

Russell and Beau Estes won the honor of providing the annual Christmas tree in August through the National Christmas Tree Association Grand Championship contest. This holiday season, the two accompanied the 18.5-ft. Fraser fir tree grown on their Jefferson, N.C., farm to the White House and helped present the award-winning tree to Mrs. Obama. The tree is displayed in the White House Blue Room during the holiday season....More
Dec. 19, 2012

blog

Abundant hay, continuing drought, mineral feeder

A normal year for growing hay is cutting three to four times a growing season. The drought year of 2012 produced five cuttings of alfalfa. The hay season started early and received enough rain to keep growing all summer until November. Alfalfa is a plant with a tap root that was able to use what subsoil moisture was available....More
Dec. 13, 2012

Article

Vote in the Faces of Farming and Ranching national spokesperson contest 1

The deadline is approaching on Saturday, Dec. 15 for the Faces of Farming and Ranching national spokesperson contest sponsored by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). View the candidates and cast your vote here. The nine finalists were selected by a panel of judges, and one will be chosen as a national spokesperson for agriculture based on votes. USFRA put out a call earlier this summer for outstanding farmers and ranchers who are focused on continuosly improving their farm and ranch operations....More
Dec. 12, 2012

Article

Drought potential sparks extreme uncertainty in 2013 corn yields, prices 1

A return to more normal U.S. corn yields in 2013 could send new-crop prices spiraling downward, but persistent drought in some of the nation's top corn-producing states could have the opposite effect, says Purdue Extension agricultural economist Chris Hurt. The USDA predicts the midpoint of U.S. farm prices on 2012 corn will be $7.60 per bu. If yields are more normal in 2013, Hurt said prices could fall by $2.10 to $5.50 per bu. - the largest ever year-to-year drop....More
Dec. 10, 2012

Article

Will corn and soybean prices return to pre-drought levels? 1

March 2013 corn futures dropped below $5.50 in early May 2012 and were drifting lower when U.S. drought conditions turned prices higher starting in mid-June. The price of that contract peaked in early August, just short of the $8.50 mark. March 2013 soybean futures dropped below $11.50 in December 2011before South American drought conditions and then U.S. drought conditions sent that contract above $17.25 by mid-September 2012....More
Dec. 5, 2012

blog

Land auction draws big and locally

2012 has been a remarkable year for farmland values. Even a record-setting drought hasn’t dampened the market. And as this year draws to a close, the number of land sales has increased along with the prices paid for the land....More
Dec. 5, 2012

Article

Food industry taking steps to soften impact of 2012 drought on consumers

Consumers appear to be better educated about the impact of the 2012 drought on crop yields and livestock numbers and are taking actions to try to lessen the pain of the weather-related food price increases, a food industry expert says....More
Dec. 4, 2012

Article

Current conditions point to continued strong corn prices

Corn prices peaked in August, moved sharply lower in September, and have been in a sideways pattern over the past two months. Within that sideways pattern, prices have moved higher over the past two weeks, with March 2013 futures trading within $0.10 of the post-September high. The recent rally has been fueled by some supply concerns and more optimism about near-term demand....More
Dec. 3, 2012

blog

The drought is not over 4

There is a wire, ear-corn crib in our pasture that I drive by at least a dozen times a week. Today I noticed that is was empty, and has been empty for the last 25 years. The old ear-corn crib is not the only empty bin on our farm. Three useable bins (the old wire ear-corn bin is a permanent bird roost) on our farm are unused as harvest 2012 is complete. The unused space would have held the 30% loss in corn yield, and the 15% loss in soybean yield due to the drought. An unused bin is not all bad since I hope to refurbish/update one of the bins this winter....More
Dec. 3, 2012

Article

Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute forum identifies ag industry’s innovation needs for future

The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) recently hosted a forum aimed at identifying the agriculture industry’s innovation needs for the next decade. About 30 agriculture leaders from across Saskatchewan, Canada, gathered to give their input on the future of the industry, covering such topics as crop characteristics, rural population challenges, genetically modified crops, labor and technology. Some of the key needs identified at the meeting included:...More