FaRMeRs aRe being urged to speak more for themselves when addressing consumers about the farming industry. ...............................3
Wind FaRMs are not detrimental to residential property values or school district revenues, according to two new studies. .......4
Monday, August 1, 2011
a pRoposed senate ethanol tax compromise appeared in jeopardy last week amid disagreement among lawmakers. .................9
Three sections Volume 39, No. 31
Meteorologist: More heat could cut into crop yields BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Periodicals: Time Valued
Gail Martell, ag meteorologist with Martell Crop Projections in Whitefish Bay, Wis., believes last month’s heat wave reduced potential corn yield. “I think we’ve already taken a bite out of the corn yields. It went through pollination in very hot, dry weather,” Martell said last week at the Illinois Farm Bureau commodities conference in Normal. “But there still is a chance we could get a good soybean yield if we get some rain.” USDA last week continued a recent trend by lowering crop condition ratings nationwide as the portion of good to excellent crops declined from 66 percent to 62 percent for corn and from 64 percent to 62 percent for beans. Meanwhile, the portion of crops rated poor or very poor last week increased from 11 percent to 14 percent for corn and from 10 to 11 percent for beans. “What’s killing us this summer is the extreme heat,” Martell said of the persistent dome of high pressure that has been parked over a large portion of the Corn Belt
since last month. Unfortunately, the hot, dry pattern that dominated much of last month — except portions of the northwest Corn
FarmWeekNow.com View Gail Martell’s weather charts on how this summer’s weather is hurting corn yields at FarmWeekNow.com.
Belt (including Northern Illinois) and Southern Illinois that received above-average rainfall in recent weeks — could continue, based on Martell’s forecast. She noted the jetstream, which typically runs through the Midwest this time of year, has been in southern Canada while La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean could resurface. “I see the heat dome resurging heading into August,” Martell said last week. “That
would not be helpful for corn if we have a hot July followed by a hot August. “When it’s hot in August,” she continued. “It’s a yieldreducer” due to lower test weights. Martell’s projection of a possible yield loss in central and eastern portions of the Corn Belt could be offset by “a pretty darn good crop in Iowa and Minnesota.” But she still predicted a “below trend-line yield” this year for corn. There is time, however, for the soybean crop to produce a good yield. It just depends on the rainfall pattern this month, she said. Martell reported very hot conditions in August 1995 caused about a 10 percent yield loss in the U.S. corn crop but only a 2 percent reduction of bean yields.
U.S. credibility seen at stake in debt limit debate Drazek told FarmWeek he sees debt ceiling debate and FTA delays together America’s credibility could become a contributing to global doubts about “our serious issue if Congress this week can’t ability to convince our trading partners we reach agreement over an increase in the can actually negotiate deals and have them federal debt ceiling and pending implemented on our side.” free trade agreements (FTAs) “I think there’s a lot of headcontinue to languish, Washington scratching going on about ‘I think there’s a lot of head-scratching what’s happening here,” Drazek trade policy analyst Paul Drazek warned. going on about what’s happening here.’ said Friday. “Ultimately, it could U.S. House Republican leaders start to have an impact on our last week worked to craft a deal to ability to negotiate a Transraise the current $14.3-trillion — Paul Drazek Pacific Partnership (TPP) (Asian Trade policy consultant debt limit that would pass muster trade) deal. with the Senate and the White “The debate on the debt ceilHouse. After Tuesday, the U.S. ing also is reflected in debates on government will begin defaulting on its tance. The White House reportedly intends trade here. They’ve become so partisan and debt without an increase in the limit. so difficult to compromise on that I think to submit FTAs for a vote this fall, once Debt ceiling debate has spurred specula- debt debate is resolved. there’s a lot of questioning going on tion regarding funding for the next farm among other countries. What is it going to Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon bill. At last week’s Illinois Farm Bureau mean if this isn’t worked out and we do noted “everything appeared to be going Commodities Conference, IFB President default?” according to plan” with FTA movement Philip Nelson warned ag programs could The U.S. already has bilateral agreements until July, when U.S. Republicans and take an $11 billion to $50 billion hit under with four of the eight countries involved in Democrats intensified the feud over the proposed spending cuts related to raising TPP discussions, but a new agreement debt limit, spending, and taxes. the limit. could offer U.S. producers new inroads South Korea’s Parliament itself has “This would have a dramatic impact on pressing issues to address this fall, and Kim with Vietnam, Drazek said. If Japan were how we view ag policy going forward,” to re-enter and the Philippines join talks, suggested there will be significant delays if Nelson advised. “you’re talking some potentially big beneoverall FTA debate does not begin until Free trade agreements (FTAs) with fits for U.S. agriculture,” he maintained. September. BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek
South Korea, Colombia, and Panama also have been ensnared in debt limit discussions, he noted, reiterating that “we stand behind trade” and vowing continued efforts to educate lawmakers of its impor-
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