Pro Farmer back issues from February 2005:
Japan confirms vCJD case.(variant Creutzfeld Jakob disease)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... Japan says a man died in December from variant Creutzfeld Jakob disease (vCJD), which is caused by consuming ...
Pro Farmer's 2005 Profit Briefing at Louisville Show.
Feb 05, 2005 ... Join Pro Farmer editor Chip Flory Feb. 17 & 18 at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville for Pro Farmer's 2005 Profit Briefing. These special events--presented in cooperation with John Deere--start at 7:45 a.m. in Room 104 in the South Wing of the ...
Bleeding continues in grain markets.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... Professional trading funds stayed on the sell side of the corn, soybean and wheat markets last week, but started to slow the selling pace. Volume and ...
Canada still plans to up slaughter.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... Some Canadian sources indicate the U.S. is making too much out of the March 7 plans to restart trade of cattle under 30 months of age and to expand trade to include beef from animals over 30 months of age. Reason: Canada is ...
How many cattle will come here?(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... That's a debate point after the Feb. 3 Senate Ag Committee hearing on Canada/BSE and release of a 900,000-head import estimate for 2005 by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). USDA's ...
U.S. beef still not going to Taiwan.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... USDA announced in October that Taiwan agreed "in principle" to resume imports of U.S. beef. Nothing's moving yet. Why? Taiwan's ag and health ministries ...
Few shifts seen in Feb. 9 S&D.
Feb 05, 2005 ... With little fresh news on the supply side, look for USDA to mostly tweak usage figures for grains in the Feb. 9 Supply & ...
China's U.S. bean buys near 10 MMT.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... China has booked 9.887 million metric tons (MMT) of U.S. soybeans for import in the 2004-05 marketing year. That's an impressive 363.2 million bu. of soybeans! Last year at this time, China had booked 8.344 MMT. ...
Corn sales looking really slow.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... Total corn export sales crossed the 1-billionbu. level in the latest reporting period, but the disappointing tally of less than 400,000 metric tons (MT) ...
Crop consultant raises Arg. corn peg.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... PF crop consultant Dr. Michael Cordonnier raised his Argentine corn crop estimate to 18.0 MMT, up from his previous peg of ...
Brazil/Argentine bean pegs steady.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... Dr. Cordonnier's estimates of Brazilian and Argentine bean production were unchanged last week at 62.5 ...
Buffett, Gates bet on lower dollar.(Warren Buffett, Bill Gates)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... Billionaires Warren Buffett and Bill Gates say their currency investments are driven by a belief the U.S. dollar is headed lower. But ...
Jobs data falls short of expectations.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... The 146,000 rise in U.S. non-farm payrolls in January fell short of market expectations. But the jobless rate ticked ...
We're growing more confident every day over predicting an increase in corn acres for 2005.
Feb 05, 2005 ... In our travels to farmer meetings this winter, we're asking growers about their planned acreage mix for 2005. The question is simple: Will you plant more corn and fewer soybeans compared to last year? Most answer, "Yes." How much? "At least one more field of corn and one less field of ...
It is wet in Mato Grosso ...(weather)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... ... but one reason we showed the key production areas in last week's Pro Farmer (News page 4) was so you wouldn't be fooled by weather talk! Compare the production area maps to this map showing the percent of normal rainfall in January. Most areas of Mato Grosso (largest bean-producing ...
January Cattle Inventory Report shows beef breeding herd is expanding ... or is it?(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... The Jan. 28 Cattle Inventory Report showed expansion of the beef breeding herd with beef replacement heifers up 4% from year-ago levels. Even milk replacement heifers showed a 3% gain on year-ago, revealing general expansion. The 4% gain in beef heifer replacements followed ...
China barely bending to pressure to revalue yuan.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... All the pressure on Chinese officials from developed countries to raise the value of the yuan seems to have increased resistance to such a move inside China. In fact, it seems to have generated some very resourceful and creative efforts to manage the Chinese economy without budging the ...
El Nino weakens since start of 2005.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... Australia's Bureau of Meteorology updated its El Nino forecast last week. In it the Bureau said, "Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) across much of the tropical Pacific cooled since the beginning of the year, particularly in the eastern Pacific, indicating a return to a neutral (as opposed to ...
Canadian grain stocks as expected ... really big!(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... Statistics Canada (StatsCan) is Canada's equivalent of USDA's National Ag Statistics Service (NASS). Feb. 2, StatsCan released grain stocks as of Dec. 31, 2004, and revealed wheat stocks of 20.914 million metric tons (MMT), up from the year-ago tally of 17.916 MMT. Pro Farmer ...
Bird flu will be 'an issue' in Asia for years to come.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... "The disease will be present for several years in the countries that experienced outbreaks during 2004," according to the World Animal Health Organization and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. PERSPECTIVE: There's really no way to predict just how much impact avian flu ...
Commodity loan changes said to be in Bush budget.(George W. Bush)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... When details of President Bush's fiscal year (FY) 2006 budget plan hit Feb. 7, there is one key thing to keep in mind: An administration proposes, but Congress is the one that disposes of the details. In other words, administration suggestions for changes to garner budget savings are in no ...
Lawmakers press Johanns on Canada border plans.(Mike Johanns)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... Senate Ag Committee members have clearly been on the receiving end of a host of concerns relative to USDA's plan to reopen the border to some Canadian cattle and additional Canadian beef. New USDA Secretary Mike Johanns is certainly having his "baptism by fire" on this one with ...
Get on top of key crop insurance changes!(USDA approves Stonington Insurance Co. )
Feb 05, 2005; ... If you've been looking for that opportunity to get closer with your crop insurance agent--here it is. For the first time, you will be penalized if you over- or under-report acreage. Ruth Gerdes of the Auburn Agency, Inc., (Auburn, Nebraska) is one of the ...
Cattle.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor Feds Feeders I'05 0% 0% II'05 25% 0% III'05 0% 0% IV '05 0% 0% </Pre> GAME PLAN: Fed cattle producers have 25% of 2nd-qtr. marketings hedged in April live cattle at $83.85. Stay in touch to ...
Hogs.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor Lean Hogs I'05 0% II'050% III'05 0% IV'050% </Pre> GAME PLAN: Hedgers were advised to lift the 25% 1st-qtr. hedge in Feb. lean hogs Feb. 2. Light 2nd-qtr. coverage will be added in April hogs if futures show additional ...
Feed.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... Feed Monitor <Pre> Corn I'05 0% II'050% III'05 0% IV'050% Meal I'05 0% II'050% III'05 0% IV'050% </Pre> CORN GAME PLAN: The combination of heavy supplies and too-little demand is keeping futures pointed lower. Upside ...
Corn.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor '04 crop '05 crop Cash-only: 35% 0% Hedgers (cash sales): 35% 0% Futures/Options0%25% Short </Pre> GAME PLAN: Attitudes are very bearish and the market is overdue for a bounce ....
Wheat.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor--All Wheat '04 crop '05 crop Cash-only: 65%0% Hedgers (cash sales): 65%0% Futures/Options 0%0% </Pre> GAME PLAN: Hedgers and cash-only marketers will make additional ...
Soybeans.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor '04 crop '05 crop Cash-only: 60%0% Hedgers (cash sales): 60%0% Futures/Options 0%0% </Pre> GAME PLAN: Downside risk on unsold 2004-crop bushels is covered by unclaimed ...
Cotton.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor '04 crop '05 crop Cash-only: 25% 0% Hedgers (cash sales): 25% 0% Futures/Options 0% 0% </Pre> GAME PLAN: Hedgers and cash-only marketers will make aggressive oldcrop ...
General outlook.(Analysis)(United States economy)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005 ... INTEREST RATES: The federal funds rate rose one-quarter point last week, pushing the benchmark lending mark to 2.5%--the sixth consecutive rise in short-term rates. The Fed issued virtually the same message it did following the December meeting, sticking with its stance of "measured" rate ...
From the bullpen.(Analysis)(grain/soy markets)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2005; ... With the flip of the calendar, the proverbial "February break" will pressure the grain/soy markets in the coming weeks, right? After all, everyone knows February is the month of the "break." History says prices will come under pressure and therefore traders believe it will happen. In fact, ...
Key market items on my 'to watch' list.(Analysis)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
Feb 05, 2005 ... 1) USDA Supply & Demand Report --Wednesday, Feb. 9, 7:30 a.m. CT Only minor adjustments are expected to carryover for corn, beans and wheat as USDA fine-tunes usage estimates. 2) USDA Export Sales Report --Thursday, Feb. 10, 7:30 a.m. CT ...
Emotions running high on cattle-trade issues.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... One trade policy observer says, "If the United States wants Japan to keep their markets closed to U.S. beef, then they should support the Conrad (Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.) resolution [to overturn USDA's Canadian cattle and beef trade rule] because this is just ...
Johanns to address Commodity Classic.(Mike Johanns )
Feb 12, 2005 ... USDA Sec. Mike Johanns will speak at the Feb. 24-26 ...
Whoa ... what a week for markets!(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... That headline might be a little surprising, but its true! The grain markets started to show life as a round of short-covering got underway and the livestock markets were barraged by news that could have long-lasting impacts ...
Johanns pulls plug on 'old' beef.(Mike Johanns)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... Immediately following USDA's announcement to restart some cattle trade and to expand beef trade with Canada March 7, we speculated there could be some changes. Specifically, we thought the rule allowing in beef from cattle 30-months and older could be modified. REASON: Why allow ...
Senators look to block cattle trade.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... A bipartisan group of Senators says it will try to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn USDA's rule on Canadian cattle trade. The Act allows lawmakers to overturn an agency's rule with a joint resolution within 60 days of a rule's ...
More talks planned with Japan.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... No date has been set, but the U.S. and Japan will have another round of "technical-level" talks at which Japan will present a list of steps it ...
Bush looks to cut farm payments.(George W. Bush)
Feb 12, 2005 ... We've got the details of proposed cuts to farm payments included in the Bush budget on News page 4. Keep in mind, ...
Next CCP should be 'in mail' soon.(countercyclical payments)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... USDA's Supply & Demand (S&D) Reports include season-average price estimates. These estimates are used to project annual countercyclical payments (CCPs) ....
Still dry in southern Brazil.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... PF crop consultant Dr. Michael Cordonnier says yield potential in Rio Grande do Sul continues to be cut by dry conditions. Drier conditions in Mato Grosso, however, allowed harvest to progress quickly. The Brazilian crop is about 7% to 9% harvested with some areas of Mato Grosso 20% to 30% ...
Watch for questions on rust in acreage survey.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... USDA will include questions on Asian soybean rust in producer surveys for the March 31 Prospective Plantings Report. USDA will ask the questions ...
President Bush looking to justify proposed cuts to farm benefits.(George W. Bush)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... "Right now, the federal government pays individual farmers as much as $360,000 a year in subsidy. I think that no farmer should get [sic] $250,000 a year in subsidy. That makes sense. That will save the American taxpayer $1.2 billion over the next decade. These are the kind of reforms that ...
Tobacco signup.(Public Notice)
Feb 12, 2005 ... Sign-up for the Tobacco Transition Payment ...
Too many big payments to too few farmers?(Mike Johanns)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... That's what we read from comments by new USDA Secretary Mike Johanns. Here's what he said: "The realization was there that very large sums of money were going to very few ... and that very ...
Care to comment on changes to farm program benefits as proposed by President Bush?(George W. Bush)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... We provide details on the proposed changes and some impact examples on News page 4. If you'd like ...
CBOT to launch ethanol futures.(Chicago Board of Trade)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... The Chicago Board of Trade will launch a denatured fuel ethanol contract April 8, 2005, to ...
BioWillie biodiesel!(Willie Nelson's Biodiesel)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... Willie Nelson and three business partners recently formed a company called Willie Nelson's Biodiesel that is marketing the fuel ...
USDA cuts corn exports; raises 2004-05 carryover.(United States Department of Agriculture)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... USDA updated Supply & Demand estimates Feb. 9, cutting the 2004-05 corn export forecast 50 million bu., to 1.9 billion bushels. The cut in use was added directly to estimated U.S. and global carryover. U.S. corn carryover is now estimated at 2.01 billion bu. and the risk is the ...
One step closer to beef trade with Japan.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... USDA Secretary Mike Johanns summed it up best: "This action now resolves the outstanding technical issues on resuming our trade in beef." U.S. researchers have supplied all the data and answered all questions from their Japanese counterparts. All that's left to be settled is ...
Why aren't low prices encouraging big demand?(Agricultural prices)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... It takes time. "The best cure for low prices ... is low prices" only kicks in when prices have stayed low enough, long enough to rebuild lost demand. Don't forget ... bean prices shot past $10; meal prices past $375; and corn prices past $3.30 just eight to 10 months ago. Because prices at ...
USDA cuts crush and Brazilian crop; raises carryover.(United States Department of Agriculture)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... USDA increased estimated U.S. soybean carryover by cutting 2004-05 crush by 5 million bushels. That cut to the crush estimate came despite a quicker-than-needed crush pace so far this marketing year. Somewhat surprisingly, USDA also cut the Brazilian bean crop estimate 1.5 ...
Wheat carryover lowered via boost to export demand.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... USDA increased estimated 2004-05 wheat exports 25 million bu., dropping carryover by that amount from month-ago levels. Year-to-year, the trend in carryover is up a slight 12 million bushels. Wheat export demand has been "good," but not "great." That makes USDA's move to raise exports a ...
Canada expected to seed more wheat in 2005.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... According to Agriculture Canada, all-wheat plantings are expected to hit 26.5 million acres in 2005, up 3.1% from the 2004 tally of 25.7 million. They project production, however, will drop 6% for the 2005-06 marketing year to ...
Beef and pork production headed up; cattle and hog prices headed down.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... That's according to USDA's Feb. 9 Supply & Demand Report. Year-to-year production growth is featured for both. Cattle--The availability of Canadian live cattle for slaughter in the U.S. is evident in the chart below. Beef production is expected to rise sharply from year-ago in ...
U.S. cotton carryover downticks on higher use.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... USDA cut 400,000 bales from estimated 2004-05 cotton carryover thanks to a 100,000-bale increase in estimated domestic use and a 300,000-bale increase in estimated exports. Still, carryover is expected to be huge at 7.3 million ...
Bush proposes midstream changes to farm policy.(George W. Bush)
Feb 12, 2005; ... The budget axe is starting to fall on farm spending--and President Bush is holding the handle. For those who felt the 2002 Farm Bill was "untouchable," the fiscal year (FY) 2006 budget process will test whether farm program components can be reworked midstream of a farm bill's life. ...
Cattle.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor Feds FeedersI'05 0% 0% II'0525% 0% III'05 0% 0% IV'05 0% 0% </Pre> GAME PLAN: Fed cattle producers have 25% of 2nd-qtr. marketings hedged in April live cattle at $83.85. Stay in touch ...
Hogs.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor Lean HogsI'05 0% II'05 0% III'05 0% IV'05 0% </Pre> GAME PLAN: Carry all risk in the cash market for now. Light 2nd-qtr. coverage will be added if April hogs can't recover back above the early February lows ....
Feed.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... <Pre> Feed Monitor CornI'05 0% II'05 0% III'05 0% IV'05 0% MealI'05 0% II'05 0% III'05 0% IV'05 0% </Pre> CORN GAME PLAN: The corn market is overdue for a short-term corrective bounce. But the long-term fundamental picture ...
Corn.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor '04 crop '05 crop Cash-only: 35% 0% Hedgers (cash sales): 35% 0% Futures/Options 0% 25% Short </Pre> GAME PLAN: The upside is limited to mild corrective buying near-term ....
Wheat.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor--All Wheat '04 crop '05 crop Cash-only: 65%0% Hedgers (cash sales): 65%0% Futures/Options 0%0% </Pre> GAME PLAN: Hedgers should be ready to finish old-crop sales on a ...
Soybeans.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor '04 crop '05 crop Cash-only: 60% 0% Hedgers (cash sales): 60% 0% Futures/Options 0% 0% </Pre> GAME PLAN: The bean market is overdue for a bounce and has indicated a ...
Cotton.(Analysis)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2005 ... <Pre> Position Monitor '04 crop '05 crop Cash-only: 25% 0% Hedgers (cash sales): 25% 0% Futures/Options0% 0% </Pre> GAME PLAN: Hedgers and cash-only marketers will make aggressive old-crop ...