Trump intrudes on spring planting for second year in a row
Besides weighing potential market prices against the cost of fuel, fertilizer and seeds, farmers have a new factor for their planting decisions: Will it assure them of a trade war payment? President Trump’s suggestion that if his trade deals with China and other nations are slow to bear, “aid will be paid by the federal government,” could encourage farmers to plant more land this spring than would otherwise be justified.
U.S. years away from large supply of African swine fever vaccine
Researchers have identified a promising candidate for an African swine fever vaccine but the United States remains two to five years away from having a large supply, said Agriculture Undersecretary Greg Ibach. Speakers at the USDA’s annual Ag Outlook Forum said China, hit by an ASF epidemic, would struggle to rebuild hog herds in the near term.
USDA outlook: Record corn crop to swell U.S. stocks, soy exports to recover
U.S. farmers will harvest their largest corn crop ever this year, fueled by the largest plantings since 2013 — growing so much corn that carry-over stocks will be the largest in more than three decades, according to USDA’s projection at its annual Ag Outlook Forum.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Brazil says it can ship beef to U.S. (Reuters): Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Dias said the United States has reopened its borders to shipments of fresh beef from Brazil, one of the world’s largest beef producers, ending a ban that began in June 2017.
Hormel says no to ractopamine (Meat+Poultry): Meatpacker Hormel joined other pork processors in saying it will not buy hogs for slaughter that were fed or exposed to the feed additive ractopamine, banned by China and the EU.
JBS accused of ‘cattle laundering’ (Guardian): The world’s largest meat company, JBS, based in Brazil, faces growing public pressure to ensure it does not buy cattle from farms created by illegal deforestation in the Amazon region.
Unexpected rise in Deere earnings (Bloomberg): Farm and construction equipment maker Deere reported an unexpected increase in earnings and said farmer confidence has improved amid hopes of relaxation of trade tensions and larger ag exports.
ON THE USDA CALENDAR
Monday
– USA Rice holds annual Government Affairs Conference, through Wednesday, Washington.
– National Potato Council holds annual Potato D.C. Fly In, Washington.
– USDA releases monthly Cold Storage and annual Crop Values reports, 3 p.m. ET.
– International Sweetener Colloquium, sponsored by International Dairy Foods Association and Sweetener Users Association, continues through Wednesday, La Quinta, California.
Tuesday
– Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen is lead witness at Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the proposed fiscal 2020 budget for the Forest Service, 10 a.m. ET, 366 Dirksen.
– USDA releases monthly Food Price Outlook, 9 a.m. ET.
– USDA issues State Stories, noon ET. The monthly report provides “an assessment of winter weather on crops, livestock, fruit trees; consideration for moisture, snow cover, temperatures, and crop condition; and the effect of weather, insects, diseases, etc., on crops and livestock.” The material is republished in the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin.
– Global Food Safety Initiative holds annual GFSI Conference, through Friday, Seattle.
Wednesday
– House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, “Innovative wood products: Promoting rural economies and healthy forests,” 10 a.m. ET, 1300 Longworth.
– House Ways & Means Chairman hearing, “US-China trade and competition,” 10:30 a.m. ET, 1100 Longworth. .
– University of Arizona Extension holds Latino Farmer Symposium, Yuma.
Thursday
– Forest Service Chief Vick Christiansen is lead witness at House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on proposed fiscal 2020 budget for the agency, 1 p.m. ET, 2008 Rayburn.
– Commodity Classic, a combination of a trade show and annual meetings for groups representing wheat, corn, soybean and sorghum growers, through Saturday, San Antonio, Texas. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will speak on Friday morning.
– International Grains Council releases monthly Grain Market Report, London.
– USDA releases Chicken and Eggs Annual and annual Trout Production reports, 3 p.m. ET.
Friday
– Final day for landowners to offer large tracts of land for inclusion in the Conservation Reserve. This was the first general signup in three years for the program, which pays landowners an annual rent to take fragile cropland out of production for 10 years or longer.
– USDA releases monthly Agricultural Prices report and Cold Storage Annual and Poultry Slaughter Annual reports, 3 p.m. ET.
Saturday
– South Carolina presidential primary election.
– American Frozen Food Institute holds annual AFFI-CON, through March 3, Las Vegas.
Sunday
– Food Research and Action Center holds annual National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, through March 3, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
– National Farmers Union holds 118th annual convention, through March 3, Savannah, Georgia. The convention will elect a president to succeed Roger Johnson, who is stepping down after 11 years. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will speak during the general session on Monday, March 2.
