Archive for June, 2010

Volunteer corn plagues soybean fields

Saturday, June 12th, 2010

  Reminders of 2009’s challenging corn harvest are cropping up in soybean fields across Illinois. High densities of volunteer corn are requiring growers to take action with post-emergence herbicides.

  Aaron Hager, University of Illinois Extension weed specialist, said the first step in selecting a herbicide to control volunteer corn is to determine the type of corn planted in 2009.

  ”Volunteer corn can be controlled with glyphosate or glufosinate unless it carries the traits conferring resistance to these herbicides,” Hager said. “If volunteer corn in 2010 originated from a herbicide-resistant hybrid planted in 2009, alternatives to glyphosate or glufosinate will be needed.”

  Volunteer corn density also determines if additional management options are needed. Previous research shows that volunteer corn, growing in clumps or as individual plants, can reduce soybean yield. The higher the volunteer corn density and the longer the interference duration, the greater the soybean yield loss.

  Hager said several post-emergence herbicides provide excellent control of volunteer glyphosate- or glufosinate-resistant corn. ACCase-inhibiting herbicides (such as clethodim, quizalofop, fluazifop and sethoxydim) provide broad-spectrum control of grasses and are frequently tank-mixed with glyphosate for control of volunteer glyphosate- or glufosinate-resistant corn. Other post-emergence herbicides that can control or suppress volunteer corn include glufosinate (Ignite), imazaquin (Scepter) or imazamox (Raptor).

  ”Instead of including a tank-mix partner with glyphosate during the initial post-emergence application, farmers often wait to see if additional volunteer corn emerges before treating,” Hager said. “While it’s understandable, the longer volunteer corn grows with soybean, the greater the likelihood of soybean yield loss. Growers will also have to use higher rates of ACCase-inhibiting herbicides to control larger volunteer corn.”

Senate support for controlling the CAP and trade Thursday

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

  Thursday is sponsored by the Senate expected a resolution by Senator Lisa Murkowski (voting strength R-AL), that EPA should wait a year before the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under Clean Air Act.

  Some see this vote as an indication of great support to the leader of the majority in the Senate, Harry Reid for the passage of the CAP and trade legislation this year. Last year, the House passed legislation that would reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and establish an emissions trading scheme.

  I do not think he was elected to cap and trade, and I know that Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), told reporters Tuesday.

  Grassley is one of 41 co-sponsored the resolution supporting Murkowski regret supporting conservative Republicans, including Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.

  Agriculture uses a lot of energy, so that the maximum carbon, farmers and rural communities severely affected, said Grassley.

  Grassley argued that Congress never intended the Act respecting the air quality of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide or methane. EPA is under a Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that the Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the law says.

  Laura Sands Agricultural Carbon Market Working Group, said that even if the Senate approves the resolution Murkowski, it is unlikely that Parliament will adopt its own rules, and even less likely that President Obama will sign it.

  I do not think it would be a legislative proposal that has broad support, said Sands Agriculture.com Tuesday. Your group that includes farmers who are active in several groups is because the case was the CAP and trade legislation, much better for agriculture, because farmers could benefit by being able to sell credits carbon dioxide, but if the EPA is the only beneficiaries of carbon controls could not.

  The Ag-carboxyl group is not promoting the resolution Murkowski, however, and continues to focus on the law change.

  If we want to create energy independence should be adopted a package of energy-climate, said Sands.

  Reid is the head of the Senate, in a letter last week saying he wanted a vote on a kind of energy bill (but will not remain silent climate regulation) this summer, partly as a way to keep oil companies financially responsible for environmental damage, such as the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Current limits of the law firms, and oil of 75 million dollars.

  Murkowski faces a lower resolution than most legal obstacles in the Senate, is not subject to blockage and a majority of 60 votes. The opportunity could not get the 51 votes needed some groups holding cap and trade legislation, I hope.

  Because of the potential cost of EPA regulations and the cap and trade legislation, the Farm Bureau supports the resolution and reject Murkowski cap and trade , he said.

  Thatcher said he believes that the oil spill in the Gulf region is public support for legislation on climate change has increased.

  I think it’s all spin. I do not think there is more support than it was 50 days, he said.

  Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union, is less certain.

  I think golf has many people scratching their heads, said members of Congress. It creates more uncertainty about how the Senate vote on Thursday and act on climate change legislation before the November elections.

  NFU has no place Resolution Murkowski, but in a climate bill, although agriculture in favor of emissions trading.

  We prefer that the legislation for Congress to address climate and move on, he said.

Algeria 43 years, for the first time, the export of barley

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

About 1 million tons in Algiers Algerian barley 5 port of shipment sold to the international market. This is the north big grain imports in Algeria 43 first export of barley.

State radio quoted Algerian state grain, the general manager of words, a nur 1.1 million tons of French buyers to purchase barley in the price of $140 tons per shipment to Tunisia.

The official said that over the next few years, Algeria plans to export of barley. At present, Algeria barley reserves can meet the demand of domestic 2 years.

However, from France, Spain and Canada wheat, barley of Algerian exports is still low. Official figures show that by 2010 for four months, Algeria grain imports lower than the same period last year, but still amounted to 6.4% 194.5 tons.

The 2008-2009 agricultural season, Algeria grain harvest, grain output reached 61 tons, barley 240 tons.

In South Africa, Algeria Mediterranean area ranked second in Africa. According to Algeria 2010-2014 new five-year plan, the country will be spending heavily to develop agriculture.

USDA: Farmers making big planting strides

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

This spring’s roller coaster ride of corn and soybean planting took a huge step toward completion over the last week, as farmers made major progress getting their corn and soybeans in the ground, according to Tuesday’s USDA-NASS Crop Progress report.

U.S. farmers made a 21% gain planting soybeans over the last 7 days, up to 74%. Though that’s still 1% off the previous average, farmers in many large soybean-growing states made some of the largest strides. In Missouri, 48% of the crop was in the ground as of Sunday, compared to 22% a week ago and, in Illinois, 73% of the beans are sown compared to 47% a week ago.

After starting off on a brisk pace, corn planting was slowed by moisture through much of May. But, the last week of the month treated farmers better, allowing many to see the finish line. Farmers in all 18 of the major corn-growing states saw progress advance into the 90s, with those in Minnesota and North Carolina finished planting. Emergence is ahead of the normal pace thus far, with 85% of the crop poked through compared to the 80% previous 5-year average. Soybean emergence, at 46%, is just ahead of the normal clip.

But, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. There’s a lot more variability in planting progress than what USDA reported Tuesday, farmers say. “Crop conditions vary a lot around here as well. Some of us were able to get corn in around the 20th of April and that corn looks good for the most part. Corn that was planted after the rains started setting in seem a little stunted,” says Agriculture.com Marketing Talk member BKsandFarmer. “I was hoping it would stay dry another day so I could replant some bean acres flooded out a couple weeks ago, but it’s raining now. If the weather pattern stays the same, it may be a challenge to spray this year. Like most guys, I won’t curse the rain just yet.”

Replanting soybeans is also on Marketing Talk member jdmcfarm1’s schedule after he had 600 acres get nipped by frost and flooded out. “Unless they were planted way too early, the cold and wet of early May destroyed them here,” he says.

BP announces enhancements to oil cleanup plan

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Oil company BP’s latest plan to cap the undersea well now gushing oil into the Gulf of Mexico has been modified to collect more crude and to prepare for a possible hurricane, the company said late Monday night.

The first enhancement is the addition of a separate riser to take oil and gas to a vessel on the surface. This riser will use hoses and manifold that were deployed for the failed “top kill” operation method of pumping mud to plug the leak.

This enhancement will be available for deployment by mid-June, the company said, and is intended to increase the efficiency of the containment operation.

The enhancement will be in addition to placing a custom-built cap to fit over a piece of equipment called the “lower marine riser package,” scheduled to be deployed this week. That process will involve a clean cut of the riser package, and warm water will be circulated around the cap to prevent the freezing that hindered a previous dome-cap effort.

If successful, the procedure will allow BP to collect most — but not all — of the oil spewing from the well. The long-term solution is the drilling of a relief well that will be in place by August.

The next enhancement, expected to be implemented in late June or early July, is a free-standing riser ending approximately 300 feet below sea level.

Oil and gas will be directed to this riser and a flexible hose will be attached to a containment vessel.

This enhancement will allow the company to disconnect during a hurricane and then reconnect.

Hurricane season begins Tuesday.