Extension Update is a weekly summary of news from Extension, government, and other attributable sources, focused on marketing, farm management, and other issues that are of interest to Midwestern farm owners and operators.

USDA’s Prospective Plantings Report confirmed the expected shift from corn to soybean acreage, but the shift was even greater than anticipated. Here is a summary:
1) 78 mil. acres are intended for corn, but traders expected at least 80 to 81 mil.
2) If realized, that would be 5% under 2005, and the least since the 75.6 mil. in 2001.
3) 76.9 mil. acres are intended for soybeans, but traders only expected 73 to 75 mil.
4) If realized, that would be 7% above 2005, and the largest ever soybean acreage.
5) 57.1 mil. acres are in wheat, the least since 1971, continuing the downward trend.

Large acreage shifts are expected across the Corn Belt, according to USDA’s report:
1) IL corn acres are down by 700,000 and soybean acres are up by 600,000.
2) IA corn acres are down by 300,000 and soybean acres are up by 300,000.
3) IN corn acres are down by 400,000 and soybean acres are up by 500,000.
4) OH corn acres are down by 300,000 and soybean acres are up by 150,000.
5) NE corn acres are down by 300,000 and soybean acres are up by 300,000.
6) ND wheat acres are down by 1.2 mil. and soybean acres are up by 1.2 mil.

USDA’s Grain Stocks report indicated more corn and beans on hand than at the same time a year ago. Corn stocks totaled 6.99 bil. bu., up 3%. The Dec/05-Feb/06 disappearance was 2.83 bil. bu. compared with 2.70 bil. bu. during the same period last year. Bean stocks totaled 1.67 bil. bu., up 21% from a year ago, and the largest Mar 1 stocks volume ever. Quarterly disappearance was 834 mil. bu., down 10% from 2005.

Reduced corn plantings and rapidly increasing consumption will magnify the importance of the 2006 growing season, says U of I Marketing Specialist Darrel Good. With consumption having the potential to balloon to 11.5 bil. bu. in 2006-07, a crop of at least 10.4 bil. bu. is needed to maintain an ending stocks-to-use ratio of 10%. He says a 142 bu. yield is needed, 5% below a trend yield for 2006. Darrel Good believes prices could be quite volatile during the growing season if periods of adverse weather surface.

Insured acreage is unknown, but USDA has revealed the number of crop insurance policies that were sold, and, for example, IL farmers increased their use of GRIP by 194% for corn and 64% for soybeans. For the 2006 crop year, there was a 6% increase in the total number of crop insurance policies sold for corn and 4% for soybeans, compared to 2005 crops. Nationwide, 1,960,738 policies were sold.

April 14 is the deadline in the latest CRP signup. USDA will match soil types on your land to an index of environmental benefits, based on what you plan to do with the acreage and your proposed rental rate. Visit USDA’s website, or consult your local FSA/NRCS staff.

Farmers are among a myriad of managers who supervise employees applying crop protection chemicals. If that includes you, obtain a copy of “How to Comply,” a new publication detailing management’s responsibilities in Worker Protection Standards.
1) Print the manual from EPA’s website.
2) Or print a 2-page summary of WPS requirements, instead of the 141 page manual.

If Avian Influenza is a concern, be assured that our food is safe; USDA is keeping ahead of any potential outbreak. Here are a number of information resources to consult:
1) Biosecurity for the Birds
2) Understanding Avian Influenza
3) Purdue University
4) US government website for a pandemic outbreak
5) Extension’s emergency disaster network

What is the WTO, and why does it affect me? Answers to those typical farmer questions are provided by U of I Ag Policy guru Bob Thompson, since world trade is being negotiated at the same time as a new US Farm Bill and will likely prevent renewal of some farm program subsidies. He says LDP’s & CCP’s will be converted into funding for conservation, rural infrastructure, research, or some form of farm revenue assurance. Read his FAQ’s here.

This just in… Sen. Ag Cmte Chr. Saxby Chambliss says the delays in settling on new world trading rules are causing him to rethink the 2007 Farm Bill, and extend the 2002 Farm Bill provisions until everyone knows what will be in the new WTO trade rules.

One of the more amazing collections of information to originate at USDA was released this week. It is all of the comments made by speakers at the USDA’s Farm Bill Listening Sessions. Thousands of suggestions were categorized into 41 subject areas. Read them here.

With all the new soybeans that will need a home, it is timely that April is National Soy Foods Month. Soybean promoters will travel widely to tell you how to consume more soybean products. “Order a soy foods cookbook at 50% off during April.”:http://www.soyfoodsillinois.uiuc.edu./

The “Good Old Days” were tough in agriculture, and you really don’t want to relive them. But the Illinois Agriculture Historic Preservation Society will rekindle memories. This fledgling group has some artifacts to share, programs to present, and a museum to build someday. Visit its website, and share your information. Oh, yes; pass along this information to Grandpa, and put him in charge of contributions.

Stu Ellis

Leave a Comment

Name (required)

Email (will not be published) (required)

Website