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Anderson Says After a Happy Marriage for Awhile- the Wheat and Corn Markets Have Gone Through a Messy Divorce

Corn prices are at the lowest level since 2010 and wheat prices are trending that way. Many producers wonder if the prices are tied together.   Oklahoma State University Grain Marketing Economist Dr. Kim Anderson tells viewers on this past weekend's SUNUP about how the corn and wheat markets have had a similar downward fall.


Corn stocks were extremely tight in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Anderson said corn prices set a floor for wheat prices and the prices were married. Corn prices peaked in August of 2012 at $8.40 a bushel. Right now the Chicago corn December contract is about $3.50. That's a 58 percent price decline in corn prices. Wheat prices have declined as well. Wheat prices peaked out in February 2011 at $9.90 . Currently the December Kansas City wheat contract is about $6.15, which is 37 percent price decline.


"Yes they both have come down, but they have come down in different time periods and different percentages with corn coming down dramatically more than wheat has," Anderson said. "So they are divorced right now, they are attached a little but, they track mostly separately."


Can these prices go lower?  Click here to read more from Anderson on the market outlook for both wheat and corn. 

Farmers: Acreage, Yield Updates Due Soon to FSA  

Farmers have until late September to verify their current base acres, yields and 2009-2012 planting history with their Farm Service Agency office. This marks the first step growers will take under the farm bill's new risk management programs.   


Farmers should have received a letter from USDA in late July or early August, with a report of their base acres and yields for the past several years. These figures are used to calculate eligibility and payment for crop risk management programs through 2018, so it's imperative that the information be accurate. Later this fall, farmers and ranchers will have an opportunity to update their crop yield information and reallocate their base acres.


"These risk management programs are only as good as the information used to calculate them," said Jim Reed, chairman of the National Corn Growers Association Public Policy Action Team. "In some cases, the current base acres may not accurately reflect changes in farm operations in recent years. This is a good opportunity for corn growers to verify the accuracy of their farm records, and prepare for program decisions later on."


Growers have 60 days from the date of the letter to notify their FSA office of any inaccuracies. For example, for letters dated July 28, 2014, growers must contact FSA no later than Friday, September 26. If the information is accurate, no action is necessary.  Click here to learn more about signup for programs through the 2014 Farm Bill.
 

Lack of timely August rainfall has resulted in considerable moisture stressed cotton in many areas of western Oklahoma. In the far southwestern corner of the state, August was a brutal month and many fields have crashed. With the crop entering the bloom stage in mid-July in many fields, crop stress by mid-August was an issue.


The Mesonet graphic for rainfall in the state over the last 30 days provides a summary. When considering the marginal at-plant profile moisture, and in spite of good June and July precipitation in many areas, it can be seen that the far southwestern corner has not obtained enough August rainfall to carry a previously good to excellent rainfed crop across the finish line. Even though we had substantial rainfall in the southwest corner in June and July, the nearly 30-day August dry run, high heat and winds resulted in highly stressed cotton by the third week.


The irrigated crop is progressing very well where adequate irrigation capacity and water quality are available. The additional rainfall in some of these areas has provided an opportunity for good to excellent yields. One concern many producers have, especially in the Caddo/Blaine/Custer counties irrigated area, is adequate heat units to mature a somewhat late but generally well-set crop.


Click here for more articles in the latest edition of Cotton Comments from Oklahoma State University Extension.

September National Chicken Month and National Food Safety Education Month

September marks the beginning of many things: back-to- school, fall and football season. September is also the start of both National Chicken Month and National Food Safety Education Month.


As part of National Chicken Month, the National Chicken Council (NCC) invites you to keep watch for in-store promotions and online contests, recipes, fun facts and more. The average American will consume about 83 pounds of chicken this year. NCC encourages people this month: "Don't be average."


Follow us on Twitter (@ChickenFTW, @RoostSocial, @chickencouncil) and Facebook (The Chicken Roost, Chicken) for games, giveaways and tasty tailgating tips. Our Pinterest page will feature recipes and ideas for all your chicken meals and include specific ideas for including chicken when packing a school lunch.


NCC will also be celebrating National Chicken Month with a "Chicken a Day." We'll share a #chickenaday for each of the 30 days of September to reflect on all of the joy brought to us from America's favorite protein. Whether it's your favorite chicken dish, a stuffed animal, a t-shirt or something else entirely, any picture that's your "Chicken a Day" can be shared. When fans use the hashtag #ChickenADay they'll automatically be entered into a sweepstakes to win $500, enough for one free chicken meal per week for a year - through either a gift card to a local grocery store or to a local chicken chain restaurant. The winner will be chosen randomly from the pool of entrants and contacted to claim their prize.  Click here to read more about National Food Safety Education Month.
 

US Animal Agriculture Champions of Production Efficiency

If you are beef cattle producer, if you are a dairy farmer, you are a champion of the environment. I interviewed Dr. Frank Mitloehner of the University of California Davis said modern production agriculture techniques make the US the best in the world.   


"We today produce twice as much beef today with half the number of animals as we did 50 years ago," Mitloehner said.  


 Mitloehner said the same is true for the dairy sector.


"We have shrunk our herds so much that we have multiplied the amount of output by these animals and that means we are extremely efficient," Mitloehner said.


Mitloehner is world renowned when it comes to animal agriculture and green house emissions. He said when environmental footprint calculations are done correctly it shows very clearly that the US is least polluting industry. He said the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and others have stated production efficiency is inversely related to pollution.


"That means when production per animal goes up, pollution goes down and that's what we are good at in this country, but we are not good at telling the public our story," Mitloehner said.  

Click here to read more or to listen tothis segment of our Beef Buzz series with Dr. Mitloehner about what US producers should be telling consumers.  

AND- if you  have not gone and listened to my entire conversation with Dr. Mitloehner- it will be worth your time to do so- especially if you are involved in animal agriculture in any way- click or tap here to check it out.

US Meat Export Volumes Lower, but Values on Record Pace

U.S. red meat exports slowed in July, the first time this year that year-over-year export volumes were lower for both beef and pork. But 2014 exports remain on a strong pace, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).


July beef exports fell 15 percent in volume to 101,799 metric tons (mt), although this was in comparison to large totals in July 2013. July export value was steady at $621.7 million. For January through July, beef exports were still 4 percent higher in volume (687,752 mt) and remained on a record pace in value ($3.89 billion, +13 percent).


Pork export volume was down 3 percent in July to 173,270 mt, while value was up 14 percent to $573.5 million. For January-July, exports established a record pace in both volume (1.32 million mt, +7 percent) and value ($4.0 billion) - marking the first time pork export value has exceeded $4 billion before August.  

Click here to learn more about how US beef is performing well in Asian markets and the strength in pork exports despite record prices.
 

Planting Window for Winter Canola to Open This Week- AND We've Got Moisture!

The Crop Insurance dictated planting window for winter canola opens up later this week on Wednesday- September 10th- and it appears that the significant rainfall from the end of last week into the weekend will be a major help in allowing producers to get canola into the ground at the front end of the window- from Matt Mahler of KWTV, News9 in OKC- here's a graphic from Sunday morning that shows where a lot of rainfall rolled in:

This graphic from our Oklahoma City based TV friends does not show the significant rainfall that the western Panhandle has received- and the lesser amounts that the southwestern corner has picked up- but still for many farmers considering canola- the end of this past week and Saturday were tremendous blessings.

Speaking of Canola Planting- there are a series of Canola Calibration Seminars planned- starting later today.

OSU and Great Plains Canola Association agronomists will hold educational sessions on how to set box drills, air seeders and planters from 9-11 a.m. September 8-16.


Calibration kits and procedure materials will be available at each of the four sessions which will be held this morning September 8 at the OSU Caddo Research Station near Fort Cobb, September 11 at the Kingfisher County Fairgrounds, September 12 at the OSU North Central Research Station one mile west of Lahoma and September 16 at the Community Clubhouse in Seiling at Cedar Street and W. 6th Street. OSU Extension canola specialist Josh Bushong and GPCA agronomist Heath Sanders will hold the four sessions. 

You don't have to preregister- just show up and these guys will be happy to help you get ready to get that canola planted successfully here in the soon to open planting window!