What a difference a year makes. In 2020, the spring crop insurance prices for corn, soybeans and cotton were near the lowest levels of the last decade. Now, on the back of strong export demand from China and smaller-than-anticipated old-crop inventories, crop insurance prices have experienced the largest year-over-year increase in more than a decade, helping to boost insurance protection for farmers as they prepare for the planting season.
Read MoreThis report contains the results from the 2020 December Agricultural and County Agricultural Production surveys.
Read MoreAs the 2021 crop production season begins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact approximately 1,100 Louisiana producers to determine their plans for the upcoming growing season.
Read MoreAs the U.S. waits to see if record corn purchases from China will turn into record shipments, there may be an economic incentive to buy more U.S. corn.
American Farm Bureau Federation chief economist John Newton says the economics show China can buy U.S. corn at a discounted price compared to what buyers are seeing domestically.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station will host a soil health forum on March 17.
The forum is supported by the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation and National Resource Conservation Service. The Patrick F. Taylor Foundation awarded a grant to the LSU AgCenter to fund a four-year research project on reducing nutrient runoff from crop fields.
Read More2020 will be remembered by all, for a host of reasons. For those in the ag world, the Phase One Agreement between the United States and China will certainly be one of them. Signed on January 15, 2020, and in effect as of February 14, 2020, the agreement set lofty goals for U.S. agricultural exports to China. Now that all the data for calendar year 2020 is available, it’s time to see what went right and what did not.
Read MoreThe February USDA WASDE report did not elicit the pronounced market reaction observed last month. However, the grains exhibited technical selling in the futures market. With that, the corn and soybean markets will be watching for changes in South American production (weather) and export activity which could trigger technical influence in the market as the U.S. planting season approaches.
Read MoreAgricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2021 must do so by March 15. Producers who have not yet signed a 2021 enrollment contract or who want to make an election change should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to make an appointment. Program enrollment for 2021 is required in order to participate in the programs, but elections for the 2021 crop year are optional and otherwise remain the same as elections made for 2020.
Read MoreLouisiana pesticide applicator recertification looks a little different than in years past. Beginning in the late summer of 2020 the LSU AgCenter worked with Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) to provide different options for commercial pesticide applicators to become recertified to meet state and federal requirements.
Read MoreSeveral Webinars about crops to be grown this upcoming season have been scheduled by the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association.
Read MoreCorn and soybean prices have risen sharply since mid-August 2020. Smaller-than-expected 2020 U.S. harvests of both corn and soybeans are a key reason for the price rally. But just as important is the rise in exports of both crops to overseas destinations — primarily China. The increase in China’s demand for feedstuffs is tied to the resurgence in the Chinese pork sector as the country attempts to rebuild its hog herd and boost the supply of pork to Chinese consumers.
Read MoreChina’s historic buys last week seem to come with nervousness from other major importers. Arlan Suderman of StoneX says after USDA announced sales of 80.3 million bushels of corn to China early last week, but Wednesday’s sales to China also revealed purchases by “unknown destinations” that totaled 8.4 million bushels. Suderman said that could be an indication that other buyers are getting nervous.
Read MoreCorn prices climbed double digits on Tuesday. The market was fueled by news China made its biggest buy of corn in six months.
Read MoreIf you still have grain stored on the farm, are you confident it will be as high of quality when you pull it out as when you put it in? Gary Woodruff, district sales manager and grain conditioning expert for GSI, suggests taking steps to protect your investment inside your bins.
Read MoreCorn prices have skyrocketed since last fall. “They are knocking on the door at $5.35 per bushel,” said ag economist Dan Basse, president of AgResource Co. in Chicago, during a Jan. 14 Dairy Signal webinar sponsored by Professional Dairy Producers.
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