News and Information for the Grain, Milling, Feed, Seed and BioFuels Industries http://www.grainnet.com Fri, 16 May 2008 20:40:46 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Kansas_City_Federal_Reserve_Bank_Finds_Surge_in_Farmland_Value__Income__and_Spending_May_Be_Slowing-57358.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Kansas_City_Federal_Reserve_Bank_Finds_Surge_in_Farmland_Value__Income__and_Spending_May_Be_Slowing-57358.html http://www.agriculture.com/ag/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/ag/story/data/1210862594361.xml Fri, 16 May 2008 20:39:12 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/USDA_ERS_Report__U_S__Agricultural_Productivity-57359.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/USDA_ERS_Report__U_S__Agricultural_Productivity-57359.html http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/AgProductivity/ Fri, 16 May 2008 20:38:16 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Proposed_Flood_Water_Pumping_Station_for_Mississippi_Delta_Still_Held_Up_By_EPA_Despite_Congressional_Authorization__Delta_Farm_Press__-57362.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Proposed_Flood_Water_Pumping_Station_for_Mississippi_Delta_Still_Held_Up_By_EPA_Despite_Congressional_Authorization__Delta_Farm_Press__-57362.html http://deltafarmpress.com/legislative/yazoo-project-0514/ Fri, 16 May 2008 17:27:54 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Biologists_Propose_Maps_to_Show_U_S__Biotech_Crop_Acreage__Check_Biotech_-57363.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Biologists_Propose_Maps_to_Show_U_S__Biotech_Crop_Acreage__Check_Biotech_-57363.html http://www.checkbiotech.org/green_News_Genetics.aspx?infoId=17844 Fri, 16 May 2008 16:51:08 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Midwestern_Soybeans_of_Mason_City__IA_Files_Suit_Against_Continental_Western_Insurance_for_Failure_to_Pay__186_000_Damages_on_Moth_Eaten_Soybeans__Des_Moines_Register_-57361.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Midwestern_Soybeans_of_Mason_City__IA_Files_Suit_Against_Continental_Western_Insurance_for_Failure_to_Pay__186_000_Damages_on_Moth_Eaten_Soybeans__Des_Moines_Register_-57361.html http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080514/BUSINESS/80514011/1001/ Fri, 16 May 2008 16:46:53 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Biotech_Companies_Seek_Patents_on__Climate_Ready__GM_Crops__Ag_Weekly_-57360.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Biotech_Companies_Seek_Patents_on__Climate_Ready__GM_Crops__Ag_Weekly_-57360.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051202919.html?hpid=moreheadlines Fri, 16 May 2008 16:28:25 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Arkansas_Soybean_Promotion_Board_Launches_Soybean_Seed_Quality_Research_Project__Delta_Farm_Press_-57357.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Arkansas_Soybean_Promotion_Board_Launches_Soybean_Seed_Quality_Research_Project__Delta_Farm_Press_-57357.html http://deltafarmpress.com/topstory/research-soybean-0516/ Fri, 16 May 2008 12:26:37 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Cyclone_Damage_in_Myanmar_Could_Cause_Surge_in_World_Rice_Prices__Reuters_-57338.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Cyclone_Damage_in_Myanmar_Could_Cause_Surge_in_World_Rice_Prices__Reuters_-57338.html http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNewsandstoryid=2008-05-15T120750Z_01_KLR155708_RTRUKOT_0_TEXT0.xmlandWTmodLoc=NewsArt-R3-RelatedNews-8 Fri, 16 May 2008 12:23:30 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/NGFA_Tells_Congress_It_Supports_Moratorium_on_Granting_Hedge_Exemptions_for_Funds_in_U_S__Ag_Futures_Markets-57337.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/NGFA_Tells_Congress_It_Supports_Moratorium_on_Granting_Hedge_Exemptions_for_Funds_in_U_S__Ag_Futures_Markets-57337.html Washingtonand#151;The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) told Congress this week that it formally has petitioned the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) urging the agency to impose a moratorium on all hedge exemptions for certain investment funds in U.S. agricultural futures markets to provide time for the market to adjust. In testimony presented to the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, the NGFA said one of the “bedrock” fundamentals underpinning agricultural futures markets – the previously predictable convergence (narrowing) between cash and futures market prices during the delivery period – “has deteriorated to a point Fri, 16 May 2008 10:44:46 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/U_S__Grains_Council_Hosts_Ag_Industry_Showcase_for_Russian_Grain_Buyers-57324.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/U_S__Grains_Council_Hosts_Ag_Industry_Showcase_for_Russian_Grain_Buyers-57324.html This article is reprinted from the May 15 edition of the U.S. Grain Council's Global Update. Representatives of Russia’s feed grains industry saw firsthand U.S. agriculture during the Russian Grain Buyers Mission, hosted and organized by the U.S. Grains Council from April 28-May 7. While in the United States, the delegation visited the Chicago Board of Trade where they heard a presentation, took a tour of the facility and discussed risk management issues with representatives from Archer Daniels Midland Company, a Council member, and FC Stone. The group also participated in a short course at the International Grains Program (IGP) at Kansas State University. During the Fri, 16 May 2008 10:02:28 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Congress_Overwhelmingly_Approves_Farm_Bill_Conference_Agreement__CNN_Money_-57322.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Congress_Overwhelmingly_Approves_Farm_Bill_Conference_Agreement__CNN_Money_-57322.html http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/15/news/economy/congress_food.ap/index.htm?section=money_latest Fri, 16 May 2008 10:00:38 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Kentucky_Farm_Bureau_Calls_for_Farm_Bill_Veto_Override__Southern_Farmer_-57321.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Kentucky_Farm_Bureau_Calls_for_Farm_Bill_Veto_Override__Southern_Farmer_-57321.html http://www.southern-farmer.com/index.aspx?ascxid=fpStoryandfpsid=33768andfpstid=2 Fri, 16 May 2008 09:36:18 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Canadian_Grain_Commission_Subsidy_Cuts_Could_Mean_Higher_Producer_Costs_and_Less_Safety_Provision-57316.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Canadian_Grain_Commission_Subsidy_Cuts_Could_Mean_Higher_Producer_Costs_and_Less_Safety_Provision-57316.html Ottawaand#151;Conservative government plans to drastically reduce Canadian Grain Commission spending will hurt grain producers and Canada's international reputation for quality, according to three former senior officials of the federal agency and the Agriculture Union which represents employees of the CGC. A new government spending forecast released this morning comes to light a day before Agriculture Minister Ritz is scheduled to testify on his department's spending before the Commons Agriculture Committee. A spending forecast published by the federal government shows Grain Commission producer protection programs will be slashed by 67% while grain quality programs will be reduced by almost Fri, 16 May 2008 09:13:46 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Kansas_Wheat_Applauds_Farm_Bill_s_Built_In_Safety_Net_for_Farmers-57308.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Kansas_Wheat_Applauds_Farm_Bill_s_Built_In_Safety_Net_for_Farmers-57308.html With both Senate and House Ag Committee chairmen starting the Farm Bill process more than a year ago with harmful statements about the direct payments, it appears that Kansas wheat growers might soon get a safety net for the crop they are preparing to harvest. The conference committee report was released for public review Tuesday and will be voted on by both houses this week. Results critical to Kansas wheat growers are the direct payment and crop insurance programs. Direct Payment participants will suffer a two percent cut to the base acres covered by the program during the middle three years Fri, 16 May 2008 22:30:19 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Carnegie_Mellon_Economist__Oil_and_Commodities_Prices_Show_No_Sign_of_Easing__Trading_Charts_-57249.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Carnegie_Mellon_Economist__Oil_and_Commodities_Prices_Show_No_Sign_of_Easing__Trading_Charts_-57249.html http://news.tradingcharts.com/futures/4/6/108735264.html Fri, 16 May 2008 22:26:20 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Soybean_Seed_Expensive_and_In_Short_Supply__Southeast_Farm_Press_-57278.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Soybean_Seed_Expensive_and_In_Short_Supply__Southeast_Farm_Press_-57278.html http://southeastfarmpress.com/news/soybean-production-0515/ Fri, 16 May 2008 22:21:48 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/NCGA_Niemeyer_Voices_Concerns_About_Divergent_Cash_and_Futures_Markets_to_House_Ag_Committee-57301.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/NCGA_Niemeyer_Voices_Concerns_About_Divergent_Cash_and_Futures_Markets_to_House_Ag_Committee-57301.html http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2008/May/051508b.asp Thu, 15 May 2008 16:35:56 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Agricultural_Forecast_Center__Rain_Will_Slow__But_Not_in_Time_for_Optimal_Corn_Planting-57303.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Agricultural_Forecast_Center__Rain_Will_Slow__But_Not_in_Time_for_Optimal_Corn_Planting-57303.html State College, PAand#151;The AccuWeather.com Agricultural Forecast Center reports that while weather should improve in the next two weeks, it will not be enough to make up for planting delays already endured by the nation's corn farmers. A late planting increases the risk of vulnerability of the crop to midsummer heat during pollination and fall frost during harvest. As the cost of crude oil rises and ethanol made from corn is increasingly used to augment gasoline, demand for this year's corn crop is at high levels. Dow Jones reports that this will also reduce grain and feed stores for livestock. The current Thu, 15 May 2008 16:27:59 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Farm_Groups_Comment_on_Farm_Bill_Vote-57302.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Farm_Groups_Comment_on_Farm_Bill_Vote-57302.html http://www.agweb.com/get_article.aspx?pageid=143090 Thu, 15 May 2008 16:20:20 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/NCGA_Applauds_Senate_Farm_Bill_Passage-57300.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/NCGA_Applauds_Senate_Farm_Bill_Passage-57300.html http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2008/May/051508.asp Thu, 15 May 2008 16:18:42 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Viterra_Secures__400_Million_5_Year_Credit_Facility-57299.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Viterra_Secures__400_Million_5_Year_Credit_Facility-57299.html Regina, SKand#151;Viterra Inc. (TSX:VT) announced May 15 that it successfully completed a $400 million, five-year term credit facility. The loan facility was underwritten by TD Securities, acting as sole bookrunner and co-lead arranger and GE Corporate Lending Canada and GE Capital Markets acting as co-lead arrangers. The transaction was oversubscribed and includes eleven banks in the syndicate. Upon closing, Viterra received $300 million in proceeds from the facility and approximately $232.5 million of this amount was used to fully repay the remaining Thu, 15 May 2008 15:19:22 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Transportation_Workers__Identification_Credential_Deadline_Delayed_to_April_15__2009-57291.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Transportation_Workers__Identification_Credential_Deadline_Delayed_to_April_15__2009-57291.html This article is reprinted from the USDA's May 15 Grain Transportation Report. The Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration has postponed the final deadline for all workers needing unescorted access to secure marine facilities to obtain a Transportation Workers’ Identification Credential (TWIC) card. The date was moved from September 2008 to April 15, 2009 giving workers an additional 7 months to comply. The program is on track to complete enrollment for a substantial number of jurisdictions by the end of 2008; however, owners and operators of facilities located within Captain of the Port Zones Boston, Northern New England, and Southeastern New England are on track Thu, 15 May 2008 13:24:04 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/National_Sorghum_Producers_Supports_New_Farm_Bill_-57280.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/National_Sorghum_Producers_Supports_New_Farm_Bill_-57280.html The National Sorghum Producers is urging Congress to vote for the proposed Farm Bill Conference Report and give farmers the stability they need to continue to provide the safest, most affordable food supply in the world while contributing to Americas fuel independence. Our organization would like to thank House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson and Senate Committee on Ag, Nutrition and Forestry Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss for their interest in the sorghum industry and their leadership in reaching an agreement on this farm bill, said NSP President Dale Murden. They and their staffs worked tirelessly to protect the Thu, 15 May 2008 12:57:23 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/National_Farmers_Union_Applauds_Senate_Passage_of_Farm_Bill-57277.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/National_Farmers_Union_Applauds_Senate_Passage_of_Farm_Bill-57277.html Washingtonand#151;The U.S. Senate on May 15 followed yesterday's action in the House of Representatives by approving the farm bill conference report, sending the bill to the president's desk. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 passed the Senate by a 81-15 vote. "The Senate's vote demonstrates the broad support the 2008 Farm Bill has across the country," NFU President Tom Buis said. "It's taken two years to get to this point and while no piece of legislation is ever perfect this is a good bill and I am pleased to see such overwhelming support in Congress." The 2008 Farm Bill will benefit Thu, 15 May 2008 12:50:39 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Senate_Approves_Farm_Bill_85_15-57276.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Senate_Approves_Farm_Bill_85_15-57276.html http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080515/ap_on_go_co/congress_food_energy_3 Thu, 15 May 2008 11:22:31 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Ag_Secretary_Schafer_s_Reaction_to_House_Passage_of_Farm_Bill-57270.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Ag_Secretary_Schafer_s_Reaction_to_House_Passage_of_Farm_Bill-57270.html Washington, DCand#151;For over a year, Congress has had the opportunity to work with the Administration to craft a farm bill that delivers reform to outdated, costly farm programs while strengthening the safety net and adhering to fiscal discipline in a time of nationwide economic challenge. Instead, Congress chose a different path, and today they passed a bloated, earmark laden bill that spends nearly $20 billion over its original cost and continues to balance subsidy payments to the wealthy on the backs of the middle class taxpayer. The bill passed today is a farm bill in name only. It does not target Thu, 15 May 2008 09:40:26 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/NCGA_Applauds_House_Passage_of_Farm_Bill-57254.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/NCGA_Applauds_House_Passage_of_Farm_Bill-57254.html http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2008/May/051408a.asp Thu, 15 May 2008 09:27:53 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Leaf_Rust_Showing_Up_on_Great_Plains_Wheat__Agriculture_Online_-57251.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Leaf_Rust_Showing_Up_on_Great_Plains_Wheat__Agriculture_Online_-57251.html http://www.agriculture.com/ag/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/ag/story/data/1210791746847.xml Thu, 15 May 2008 09:15:49 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Northeast_Iowa_Producers_Miss_Optimal_Corn_Planting_Window_Due_to_Adverse_Weather__WCF_Courier_-57247.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Northeast_Iowa_Producers_Miss_Optimal_Corn_Planting_Window_Due_to_Adverse_Weather__WCF_Courier_-57247.html http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/05/13/business/local/10335413.txt Thu, 15 May 2008 09:15:05 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Cold_and_Rain_Make_for_Latest_Wisconsin_Corn_and_Soybean_Planting_in_12_Years-57248.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Cold_and_Rain_Make_for_Latest_Wisconsin_Corn_and_Soybean_Planting_in_12_Years-57248.html http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=749826 Thu, 15 May 2008 08:57:59 CDT http://www.grainnet.com/articles/House_Approves_Farm_Bill_318_106__Baltimore_Sun_-57246.html http://www.grainnet.com/articles/House_Approves_Farm_Bill_318_106__Baltimore_Sun_-57246.html http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.farmbill15may15,0,4147322.story