Month: January 2018

From Across the Field – Time to Think About Recertifications

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is looking forward into beginning a new year in the coming days. Well 2017 was certainly an exciting year both in the world of agriculture and for myself on a personal note. It has been great to be able to meet so many people and learn so much about agriculture here in Henry County. I look forward to continuing to do so in 2018.

Here in the next couple of months I will be highlighting the different Extension meetings and programs that will take place here in the county and NW corner of Ohio, so stay tuned for that information going forward. Continue reading From Across the Field – Time to Think About Recertifications →

N Prices on the Rise

By: Russ Quinn
DTN Staff Reporter

OMAHA (DTN) — The recent rise in anhydrous prices comes as a big lump of coal in farmers’ stockings right at the holiday season. With already tight crop margins, higher anhydrous prices were not on any farmer’s Christmas list.

The average retail price of anhydrous was $461 per ton the third week of December 2017, up 12% from $410 the third week of November 2017, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. Continue reading N Prices on the Rise →

2018 Outlook: Regional Economics to Influence Hay Prices Most

By: Anna-Lisa Laca, for Drovers

For many livestock species, alfalfa is a critical component of the diet. As we look to 2018, national hay prices aren’t expected to soar, but look for regional economics to play a heavy role in the price you pay at the farm gate.

Rising highway costs are making the expense of delivering hay more of a consideration, which is resulting in very regionalized hay prices, according to Dan Undersander, a member of the University of Wisconsin Madison forage team. The latest Agricultural Prices Report from USDA shows the national average price for alfalfa was $152 per ton in October. While it’s important to note that price is representative of all quality levels, let’s compare it to the average price in several states: $185/ton in California, $205/ton in Kentucky, $219/ ton in New York and $215/ton in Tennessee. Continue reading 2018 Outlook: Regional Economics to Influence Hay Prices Most →

Farm Service Agency Highlights from 2017

Through the work of dedicated staff in over 2,100 county and state offices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides vital farm safety-net assistance to agricultural producers across America.

“We’ve seen recent challenges in farm income and commodity prices,” said Robert Johansson, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for the Farm Production and Conservation mission area. “The ‘safety net’ provided in the 2014 Farm Bill has helped producers withstand economic losses as well as losses resulting from natural disasters. Loans for operating expenses, farm purchases and other purposes help current producers stay in business and allow a new generation of farmers and ranchers get their start.” Continue reading Farm Service Agency Highlights from 2017 →

USGC Rolls Out 2017/2018 Corn Harvest Quality Report

By AgWeb Guest Editor

An excellent growing season resulted in record yields and good quality for the 2017 corn crop, according to the U.S. Grain Council’s (USGC’s) latest corn quality report, released recently.

The 2017/2018 Corn Harvest Quality Report is the seventh in the Council’s annual corn quality survey. The report revealed that the majority of 2017 corn crop conditions were rated as good or excellent during the growing season, leading to strong plant health, good kernel size and a projected record yield of 370.3 million metric tons (14.58 billion bushels), the second-largest crop on record. Continue reading USGC Rolls Out 2017/2018 Corn Harvest Quality Report →