Pro Farmer Crop Tour Pegs Illinois Corn Crop as Slightly Bigger Than USDA- Soybeans Continue to Struggle 

Brian Grete, who is leading the Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour's Eastern Leg, says that they were able to compute the Illinois estimate for this year's corn crop after Day Three was concluded.  In his report on agweb.com- he reports "For the state of Illinois, the Tour corn yield came in at 121.6 bu. per acre, down 22% from the 2011 Tour average. Soybean pod counts in a 3x3 square were 944.05, down 21.1% from year-ago. It was simply a case of too much heat and not enough rain in Illinois this summer."  Still, that number is a little higher than the 116 bushels per acre for Illinois that was predicted by USDA in their August Crop Production report.  Click here to read Brian's full report  that was posted last night.   

The western leg spent their time in western Iowa yesterday- and the actually found some pretty good corn, according to the latest from Chip Flory. Late last night- Chip writes "The problems in the soybean fields were the same as we've been descibing the last two days- too much heat and too little water.

"Weighting the yield averages for corn, the western on-third of the state is down about 11% from last year on corn yields."

Click here for the Chip Flory report from the road of the Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour, which concludes today with the western leg jumping up into Minnesota and the eastern leg covering the eastern two thirds of Iowa before they meet up to offer a final midwest corn crop prediction and mid August assessment of the soybean crop.   

Oklahoma Pork Council Joins Call for RFS Waiver 

The EPA is considering how to respond to formal requests from governors from five states to grant waivers to the Renewable Fuels Standard requiring ethanol be blended with gasoline. Prospects of a corn harvest significantly lower than USDA forecasts is putting upward pressure on corn markets, making livestock feed more expensive. Governors calling for the RFS waiver say it is necessary to prevent greater economic damage to livestock industries in their states.

Roy Lee Lindsey, executive director of the Oklahoma Pork Council, spoke with us recently and says the issue is a huge one for hog producers.

"When you start talking about raising hogs, it takes you somewhere in the neighborhood of six to eight bushels of corn to take a hog to market weight. Across the country we're talking about a little over 100 million hogs. If you use the midpoint, you're talking about 700 million bushels of corn just to get hogs to market weight."

Lindsey says economists have estimated that a waiver of the RFS could potentially reduce corn prices by as much as $2.30 per bushel. Even if the impact were modest, say $1.00 per bushel, Lindsey says the nearly billion-dollar impact to producers and consumers is enormous and the issue of a waiver is worth serious consideration by the EPA. Both the Oklahoma Pork Council and the National Pork Producers Council have asked the EPA to grant a waiver. 

Click here for more from Roy Lee Lindsay, including our full interview.

Prudent Decisions Maximize Early Wheat Planting Success, Edwards Says

There are a number of considerations that go into planting a wheat crop early, and OSU Small Grains Extension Specialist Dr. Jeff Edwards prepared a video presentation discussing potential problems and benefits to be considered.

The first decision, Edwards says, is deciding whether the crop will be used mainly to produce forage, grain, or a combination of the two. Depending on the choice, the planting window will vary.

Edwards says many cattle producers in Oklahoma opt to sow about the end of August for maximum forage production. However, he says, planting that early comes at a significant loss of grain yield potential. Maximum forage production usually results from plantings in the first week of September.

He says grain yield potential is maximized when the crop is sown from October 10th to October 20th.

Many Oklahoma producers who are looking for a balance of forage production and grain production choose to sow about September 15th, Edwards says. 

Click here to view Dr. Edwards' presentation.

Soy Checkoff Study Shows Infrastructure Investments Could Save U.S. Farmers Millions

U.S. farmers depend on a 50-year-old highway system, a 70-year-old inland waterway system and a railway network build in the late 1800s to move their products from the fields to end users. This aging transportation system has been providing U.S. soybean farmers a competitive advantage in the global market, but a recent study funded by the United Soybean Board's (USB's) and soy checkoff's Global Opportunities (GO) program supports the growing evidence that this advantage continues to be threatened by the deterioration of U.S. highways, bridges, rails, locks and dams. The study, "Farm to Market - A Soybean's Journey," analyzed how soybeans and other agricultural products move from the farm gate to customers, highlighting weaknesses found in the system along the way. The study was recommended by the checkoff-funded Soy Transportation Coalition.

"The entire transportation network has been vital to the U.S. soy industry, not only in moving our product to domestic processors but also in delivering U.S. soy to our international customers as well," says Dale Profit, soybean farmer from Van Wert, Ohio, and USB director. "We need to protect this advantage if the United States is going to remain the preferred source for soy throughout the world."

The U.S. inland waterway system remains a precarious leg of a soybean's journey. The deteriorating lock system remains at risk of failure, and dredging needs to be done to encompass new larger ships that will be possible with the expansion of the Panama Canal, due to open in late 2014. 

You can read more by clicking here.

Farm Bill Now Coalition Unites Nation's Farm Groups in Push for Passage of Farm Legislation

A coalition of 39 of the nation's agricultural organizations is mounting an effort to raise public awareness of the need for Congress to pass a new, comprehensive, five-year farm bill before current farm programs expire in September.

The coalition, called Farm Bill Now, comprises associations and coalitions representing commodity crops, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, state and local governments, minor crops, energy and biobased product groups, farm cooperatives and financial groups, as well as the nation's two largest farm groups, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union. Each organization has strong and distinct policy priorities, yet all 39 are committed to passing a new, comprehensive bill this year.

The group issued the following statement, titled "Why We Need a Farm Bill", on the importance of new farm legislation for America's farmers:

"Calling the farm bill the 'farm bill' suggests its impact is limited only to farms and to the rural areas to which they are so closely tied. It's really a jobs bill. A food bill. A conservation bill. A research bill. An energy bill. A trade bill. In other words, it's a bill that affects every American.

Click here to read more and for a list of all 39 coalition members.
 

Oklahoma Among Recipients of Rural Economic Development Funding

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the selection of recipients for grants and loans to help spur economic development and create or save jobs in six states including Oklahoma.

"This funding will help rural businesses obtain the financing they need to thrive, grow and create jobs," Vilsack said. "These grants and loans are part of the Obama Administration's ongoing commitment to ensure that rural communities attract capital investments that lead to business development and job creation."

In Oklahoma, the Caddo Electric Cooperative, Inc., will receive a $400,000 loan. These funds will be used to help Kimball and Company, LLC expand an existing veterinary clinic. This project will create or save a total of 18 jobs. 

To read more of this story, click here.

Gary England. Rain. Coming.  We'll Keep You Advised. 

When it comes to Oklahoma weather- there are few guarantees- but our friend and colleague here at Griffin- Gary England of KWTV News9 offers some very encouraging words about rainfall 'wobbling" in from the desert southwest over the next day or so.  

Specifically, his weather models show northern Oklahoma having a real good chance of some soaking rains by Friday and into Saturday- up to three inches in some areas.  Gary goes caution that as new data comes in- the the track of this LOW pressure will likely change somewhat- and that will impact how much rain may actually develop.  

Early this morning- Alan Crone with the News on 6 says before that storm approaches- we have fire danger to deal with today- "The fire danger will continue to be high today before a storm system will approach the region this weekend with rain and storm chances. A red flag warning is underway for the counties just north of the Tulsa area."

So- say a prayer for the rainfall to arrive- and click here to check out what Gary England, Alan Crone as well as the National Weather Service have to say about rain chances Friday through Sunday.