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Record US corn crop possible despite drought-Texas A&M economist

U.S. corn production, slashed dramatically by drought in 2012, could rebound to a record-large crop this year if yields improve moderately, said an agricultural economist from Texas A&M University on Monday.

The economist, David Anderson, also said pork production could top beef in 2014, pushing beef into third place in U.S. meat production.

 

USDA offers loans to farmers who grow for locals

With interest in locally grown food soaring, the federal government said Tuesday it has created a small loan program to help community farmers who might not be able to borrow money from banks.

Call it seed money. The low-interest "microloans" of up to $35,000 are designed to aid startup costs, bolster existing family-run farms and help minority growers and military veterans who want to farm.

Mexico: High Path Avian Influenza H7N3 Outbreak in Aguascalientes

SENASICA reported that the outbreaks were located in both the San Francisco de los Romo and Aguascalientes City municipalities. These areas are approximately 22 kilometers from one another. The notice indicates that signs of the event first occurred on January 3, 2013, when a San Francisco de los Romo producer noticed clinical signs of avian influenza and notified appropriate officials.

Campylobacter infections in poultry processing workers

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal has published a study looking at Campylobacter infections among poultry processing workers. They found 29 cases of lab-diagnosed Campylobacter […]

Economic and financial conditions bode well for US agriculture

Bolstered by strong demand from developing countries, the falling dollar, and the growing importance of biofuels, U.S. agriculture enjoyed several years of high prices and strong demand prior to the 2008-09 recession. The same factors helped maintain high agricultural prices throughout the recession.

USDA report bad news for poultry processors

USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report on Friday predicted tighter stocks of U.S. corn and prices remaining in the $6.80 to $8.00 a bushel range.
USDA forecast by the end of the 2012/13 marketing year, corn stocks would tighten to 602 million bushels, down from 647 million bushels predicted a month ago and below the average traders’ guess of 667 million bushels ahead of the report.

 

Increased food costs due to US ethanol policy are eating American family budgets

A new study released yesterday demonstrates the dramatic change in U.S. food affordability trends since the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) came into being in 2005. Dr. Thomas Elam, president of FarmEcon, LCC, the study’s author, shows that compared to long term trends, in 2012 the average family of four saw about a $2,000 increase in food costs, meaning that for the first time since the 1970s, food is becoming less affordable.

Census provides opportunity to grow the future of agriculture

It’s not every day that a walk to your mailbox leads to an opportunity to help shape farm programs, boost rural services and grow your farm future. But for producers across the country, that opportunity will soon become a reality. The 2012 Census of Agriculture, the only source of consistent and comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation, is currently being mailed to millions of farmers and ranchers across the United States.