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Chinese Ministry of Agriculture Visits with Councell
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Chip Councell, Chairman of the U.S. Grains Council, hosted a team from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture at his farm last week, where they learned about conservation and technology in American agriculture. Topics discussed were soil health, crop rotation, nutrient management, conservation programs, and precision agriculture. They were impressed by his stewardship of the land and technology he uses on his grain farm. They were also very interested to learn about conservation incentives offered at the state and federal level. When asked what the most important factor in his success was, Councell answered, "It takes every piece of the puzzle. The conservation plans, the equipment, the biotechnology all put together in the best way to fit the operation."
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Plenish High Oleic Soybean
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Soybean oil is by far the most widely used edible oil in the United States. However, in the last decade, soybean oil has lost market share to other oils due to the transition of the food industry away from partially hydrogenated oils, which are the primary dietary source of trans-fats. Plenish high oleic soybeans developed by DuPont Pioneer are a key product innovation with the potential to take back markets lost to alternative edible oils. The oil from Plenish high oleic soybeans has a fatty acid profile similar to olive oil, with an abundance of heart-healthy monounsaturated oleic acid and a 20% reduction in saturated fats compared to traditional soybeans.
Lindsay Thompson recently met with Kim Phillips of DuPont Pioneer who relayed that Pioneer and Perdue are looking to significantly increase their acreage of Plenish soybeans in Maryland. Benefits to farmers include the same agronomic trait and disease packages as other soybean varieties, yields on par with or better than farm average, and possibly a premium from processors due to the higher value for end-use consumers. If interested, contact your local Pioneer dealer or Kim at (717) 471-5726.
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Wheat: It’s Not That Bad!
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Jason Scott, a Dorchester County farmer and Chairman of the U.S. Wheat Associates, recently wrote into the Delmarva Farmer reminding our local farmers of the benefits of growing wheat. After seeing world wheat prices fall dramatically over the past three years, farmers are responding to market signals, and the number of forecasted acres are down as well. But Scott sees much opportunity in the future of wheat. He believes that the predicted decrease in supply and increase in demand will likely cause prices to rebound. “Long term price prospects for wheat look good so don’t sell your grain drill yet,” he says!
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EPA’s Final 2017 Renewable Volume Obligation
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Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced their final 2017 renewable volume obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The agency finalized a total renewable fuel volume of 19.28 billion gallons (BG), of which 4.28 BG is advanced biofuel and 311 million gallons is cellulosic biofuel. Thus, the implied RVO for conventional biofuels like corn ethanol will be 15BG—up from the 14.8 BG proposed in May. The grain industry praised the EPA for increasing the 2017 ethanol volume to statute, although some hesitation remains with litigation of the 2016 renewable volume obligation still pending. ““The Renewable Fuel Standard has been one of America’s great policy success stories. It has improved our energy independence, our air quality, and our rural economies. Although we believe the EPA did not have authority to reduce the ethanol numbers in the first place, we are pleased to see the RVO finally back on track,” said Wesley Spurlock, president of the National Corn Growers Association.
NCGA Official Statement
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Model Predicts Elimination of GMO Crops Would Cause Hike in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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A recent study out of Purdue University analyzed how a global ban on GM crops would raise food prices and add the equivalent of nearly a billion tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Not surprising, that the study found that poorer countries would be the hardest hit by increased food costs. It also states that in order to compensate for lower crop productivity, more pastures and forests would need to be converted to cropland. "Some of the same groups that want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions also want to ban GMOs. But you can't have it both ways," said Wally Tyner, the James and Lois Ackerman Professor of Agricultural Economics.
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Feature your farm on the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) Instagram!
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To emphasize the new SMART Farm concept, photos and videos that feature technology used on your farms that allow you to be more sustainable (including irrigation systems, buffer strips, GMO crops and more) are welcome. All contributors will be given credit on our channel when the content is posted. Follow the link below to submit your photos. In the photo description field, please fill out what each photo is showcasing.
Submit Photos
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- NCGA Scholarship Applications are due TODAY! Apply Now
- A Lower Shore Post Harvest Marketing Workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This program will use two different post-harvest marketing plans to illustrate the pros and cons of pricing tools. A corn plan illustrates tools used to sell the carry: forward contracts, selling futures contracts, hedge-to-arrive contracts, and buying put options. A soybean plan illustrates four more tools: selling at harvest, holding unpriced grain, selling at harvest and re-owning with call options, and price windows. Registration fee $10. Pre-registration required. For more info, call 410-651-1350.
- A Mid-Shore Solar Leasing Workshop will be held on Friday, December 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Chesapeake College Higher Education Center, Wye Mills, Md. Landowners with properties in Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties who have been approached to lease their land to solar and wind energy companies are invited to attend. Three faculty from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland will address the advantages and disadvantages of using their private properties for energy development.
Register Online
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