September 26, 2017
• Cattle and calves on feed for the U.S. slaughter market in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.5 million head on September. The inventory was 4 percent above one year ago. Marketings of fed cattle during August were up 6 percent from last year, totaling 1.98 million head.
• August milk production in the U.S. totaled 18.1 billion pounds, 2 percent higher than August 2016, according to USDA’s Milk Production report released last week. The number of milk cows was up 71,000 head compared to last year.
• The Beef Checkoff will relaunch their famous "Beef, it's what's for dinner" campaign next month. The campaign originally launched in 1992.
• The Multi-Peril Crop Insurance closing date for fall crops is September 30 in most U.S. states (October 31 in Calif., Nev., and Utah). Included are the Forage Production APH and Forage (alfalfa) Seed policies for fall-seeded crops.
• World Dairy Expo kicks off Tuesday, October 3, in Madison, Wis. Visit the Hay & Forage Grower booth in the Arena Building. Also, don’t miss out on the excellent Forage Seminars.
September 19, 2017
• Vermeer Corporation unveiled a self-propelled round baler during Husker Harvest Days last week.
• University of Wisconsin-Extension offers this Android app to help price standing corn silage this fall.
• USDA pegged corn production at 14.2 billion bushels in their September Crop Production report, down less than 1 percent from the August forecast. Average yield is expected to be 169.9 bushels per acre. Analysts were expecting a larger projected drop in production, and markets took a dive upon release of the report. If the forecast proves correct, it will be the third highest yield and production on record.
• According to the Hoyt Report, total hay acres in California’s Imperial Valley are up by about 5 percent in September compared to last year, though alfalfa hay acres were down by 2 percent. Alfalfa seed, sudangrass, bermudagrass, and kleingrass acres were all higher.
• Many great forage events are happening all over the U.S. during the coming weeks. Check them out here.
September 12, 2017
• For current college sophomores or juniors wanting to learn and live the forage life, consider applying for our Hay & Forage Grower summer internship.
• Alfalfa exports to China declined for the third month in a row during July, according to data provided by the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service. China imported 84,384 metric tons (MT) of U.S. alfalfa during July, which was 23 percent below June and 30 percent behind July 2016.
• In spite of the lower July export numbers, China still has imported 25 percent more U.S. alfalfa in 2017 from January through July compared to the same period in 2016. Year-to-date comparisons for other leading trade partners include Japan (337,164 MT, up 23 percent), Saudi Arabia (188,888 MT, up 56 percent), and United Arab Emirates (187,576 MT, down 5 percent).
• Time is winding down for Southeastern Hay Contest entries. The deadline is Thursday, September 21.
• Drought-stricken North Dakota livestock producers now have the opportunity to apply for hay transportation cost-share assistance. Click here for more information.
September 5, 2017
• The University of California will be hosting an Alfalfa and Forage Field Day at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier, Calif., on September 20. It looks like a great lineup of topics and speakers.
• Net cash income for farmers is now forecast to reach $100 billion, about 13 percent more than farmers made last year. USDA’s Economic Research Service reports much of the rise in income can be attributed to stronger 2017 cash receipts from meat, dairy, poultry, and eggs. Net farm income is also expected to be higher in 2017 compared to last year.
• The Texas Farm Bureau’s Agriculture Research and Education Foundation is accepting tax-deductible donations to aid in the agricultural relief effort following the devastation from Hurricane Harvey.
• It will be interesting to watch what happens following the closing of the Dow-DuPont merger. Much is at stake for the forage seed industry, including corn silage.
• Registration for the 2017 Kentucky Grazing Conference is open and will focus on pasture management to control weeds and improve pasture production. It will be held October 17 in Lexington and October 18 in Hopkinsville.
