Crops

MF Global leaves ag in limbo

By Matt Reese Many farmers and agribusinesses that traded on the futures market with MF Global have been left in limbo since the recent bankruptcy of the firm was announced. “MF Global is a futures commission merchant, they executed trades and helped client accounts and client funds for trades on the futures markets,” said Matt [...]

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USB elects new leaders

The national soybean checkoff just wrapped up its first 20 years, but the work doesn’t end there. As the United Soybean Board (USB) launches into the next 20 years, new U.S. soybean farmer-leaders take the reins and plan to continue the focus on creating profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. USB farmer-directors elected Vanessa [...]

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POET producing corn oil for biodiesel

With its patent-pending technology expanding to a total of 6 plants, POET will produce corn oil as feedstock for 12 million gallons of biodiesel per year by the end of 2011. Under the name, Voilà, POET has been selling corn oil separated from DDGs into biodiesel and feed markets since January, and new capacity is now [...]

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Does all the rain have you in a rut?

By Randall Reeder, Ohio State University Extension             “I’m in the combine cab, driving through water to get the corn picked,” said the voice on the other end of a cell phone call today (Dec. 2). Then the long-time no-tiller from Hardin County added, “I’ve got some ruts, but nothing like the neighbors who tilled [...]

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Genuity VT Double PRO receives approval

By Andy Michel and Ron Hammond, Ohio State University Extension entomologists   The EPA has just received approval for their Genuity VT Double PRO product to be planted with a refuge in the bag (RIB) strategy.  With the RIB, refuge plants are blended with the transgenic plants such that there is no need to plant [...]

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RMA streamlines Ohio acreage reporting dates

As announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) have established 15 common Acreage Reporting Dates for producers participating in RMA and FSA programs.  Brian D. Frieden, Director of the Springfield Regional Office, Risk Management Agency, states “For Ohio producers, this means the number of Acreage Reporting [...]

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ECO Farming a topic at No-Till Conference

By Matt Reese Wind and rain do not cause soil erosion. Bad soil management does. No-till is the answer to many of the problems behind (and resulting from) erosion at work in fields today, according to the line up of expert speakers at the Ohio No-Till Conference held in Plain City. “When you engage steel [...]

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Anticipating 2012 prices

Crop prices during 2011 were influenced by a wide range of factors that resulted in extremely large trading ranges, said University of Illinois agricultural economist Darrel Good. “The price patterns, however, were very different for corn, soybeans, and wheat. As the year ends, thoughts turn to likely price levels in 2012,” he said. December 2011 [...]

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Ohio’s Crop Progress Report – December 5th

Reporters rated 1.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the seven-day period ending Friday, December 2, 2011. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 16 percent adequate, and 84 percent surplus. Farmers were able to harvest some corn. However, continued wet weather prevented siginificant progress. Much of it will be harvested after [...]

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Ohio's Crop Progress Report – December 5th

Reporters rated 1.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the seven-day period ending Friday, December 2, 2011. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 16 percent adequate, and 84 percent surplus. Farmers were able to harvest some corn. However, continued wet weather prevented siginificant progress. Much of it will be harvested after [...]

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