Cryin' in our Corn

Farms.com

Corn: Mid-Session Corn Market Report for 2/10/2011
March corn opened unchanged on the session at 698 and established an early range of 696 1/4 to 704 1/2. Follow-through buying after yesterday's bullish USDA ending stocks news plus strong weekly export sales news helped support the early rally today as the market shook off negative outside markets to move to the highest level since July of 2008. Weekly export sales came in at 1.107 million tonnes for the current marketing year and 104,500 for the next marketing year for a total of 1.212 million tonnes. Cumulative corn sales stand at 61.3% of the USDA forecast for 2010/2011 (current) marketing year versus a 5 year average of 61.8%. Sales of 639,000 metric tonnes are needed each week to reach the USDA forecast. The European Union is proposing to temporarily suspend its import tariffs on feed wheat and barley in order to secure feed due to high prices and tight supply. Keep in mind; world coarse grain supply at the end of the season is expected to be at just 50 days supply, the lowest since 1973. For the US, ending stocks represent just 18 days supply; a record low.
*Disclaimer: The information in the Market Commentaries was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed therein constitutes a solicitation of the purchase or sale of any futures or options contracts.

Further Market Commentaries can be found at CME Daily Market Commentaries

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WA Legislative CaLL to ACTION

Your calls of support are needed NOW to help get HB 1124 on the Executive Calendar and voted out of the House Ag & Natural Resources Committee (AGNR). Please take the time to call all of the Democratic members on the AGNR Committee and ask them to support moving HB 1124 out of Committee. The testimony that was provided by WCA members on January 18th was very helpful to explain the impacts that Cougars are having on livestock production in the affected 6 County Pilot areas. It is essential that we focus on the Human safety aspect. WCA members in Klickitat County please contact your local law enforcement officers that have been working with you and ask them to call in as well. We also need phone calls from the Glenwood School District. I was told that the Glenwood School was locked down recently due to a cougar near the School grounds. Do not wait to make you phone calls!! This is an urgent issue and one that requires immediate action. The Pilot expires this year and if this bill does not pass the management tool of dogs in the Pilot Counties will go away. As you speak with the Legislative members and their Staff share your concerns of not being able to manage other predators.
CALL NOW DO NOT WAIT!!!!!!!!
House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

Blake, Brian (D) Chair MOD F 105 (360) 786-7870
Stanford, Derek (D) V. Chair MOD E 204 (360) 786-7928
Chandler, Bruce (R) * LEG 427B (360) 786-7960
Wilcox, J.T. (R) ** MOD G 106 (360) 786-7912
Buys, Vincent (R) MOD D 204 (360) 786-7854
Dunshee, Hans (D) MOD F 103 (360) 786-7804
Hinkle, Bill (R) MOD G 104 (360) 786-7808
Kretz, Joel (R) LEG 335A (360) 786-7988
Lytton, Kristine (D) MOD B 203 (360) 786-7800
Orcutt, Ed (R) LEG 122F (360) 786-7812
Pettigrew, Eric (D) LEG 434B (360) 786-7838
Rolfes, Christine (D) MOD D 105 (360) 786-7842
Van De Wege, Kevin (D) LEG 434A (360) 786-7916

*Ranking Minority Member **Asst. Ranking Minority Member
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Schedule of Public Hearing: SB 5611, 5631, and 5633 and Work Session.

Agriculture & Rural Economic Development* - 2/10/2011 10:00 a.m.

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 3
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED ON 2/3/2011 AT 8:17 AM

Public Hearing:
SB 5611 - Regarding the use of designated agricultural lands.
SB 5631 - Concerning miscellaneous provisions regulated by the department of agriculture.
SB 5633 - Exempting agricultural fair premiums from the unclaimed property act.

Work Session: Public comment of proposal to merge the State Conservation Commission into the Department of Agriculture.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

Winter Planning for High Production in Irrigated Pastures

Winter Planning for High Production in Irrigated Pastures

In irrigated pasture management there are many places to spend money, but four common areas make the greatest economic impact on pasture and grazing income. The economic impact areas include: pasture fertility, pasture fencing, pasture seeding and irrigation improvements. This article will concentrate on pasture fertility.

In a recent test, cool season irrigated pasture maximum production under “ideal conditions” was measured. Water and fertility were closely managed. The pasture test plot was clipped and weighed repeatedly during the growing season. The test showed under “ideal conditions” irrigated pasture production can approach 20 tons of dry forage per acre. It is exciting to think of the possibility of pasture producing 20 tons of forage. However, the economics of doing this on a large scale would not be practical or profitable as the plot was extremely moist at all times and maximum production used a great deal of fertilizer.

The largest management variables in achieving high cost-effective levels of irrigated forage production are fertility and fertility timing. A pasture populated with modern forage varieties can use 300 pounds of available nitrogen during the annual growing season. The economic feasibility of applying 300 pounds of available nitrogen is not cost effective. Fertilizer could cost more than the forage gain. There is a logarithmic increase in forage production with available nitrogen until roughly 150 pounds of nitrogen per acre. After 150 pounds of available nitrogen a gradual leveling off of production is observed. It is recommended to divide fertilizer into three applications, early, mid-season and approximately August 1st. It is not recommended to apply 150 pounds of available nitrogen in one large application.

Studies show timing of fertilizer application is important in irrigated pasture production. An application of approximately 70 pounds of available nitrogen when annual centigrade degree days reach 200 show an increase annual pasture production by 30% when compared to applications later in the growing period. Degree days are regionally variable and should be calculated using public access weather stations near the pasture site. For example 200 degree days is in mid-January in the Walla Walla region while it takes until the first part of February in the Yakima region.

Best management practice includes the use of soil samples annually, prior to developing a fertility management plan. Having 70 pounds of available nitrogen available at 200 degree days is important. A second application of 50 pounds of nitrogen should be applied to irrigated pasture around the time when the region is cutting hay for the first time. June 1st in the Yakima region, is advised. The third application of 50 pounds of nitrogen should be timed around August 1st to capture the second growth curve of cool season forage species and aide in meristem production for the next season. Sulfur and phosphorus can be important fertility additions. Consult professionals in your area to plan fertility management.

Answering the key question, is it economically feasible to fertilize irrigated pastures with 150 pounds of available nitrogen, the answer is yes. Several years ago, when nitrogen fertilizers were higher than $1,000.00 per ton, the numbers showed fertilizing at this level was profitable. At today’s nitrogen prices (approximately $550.00 per ton) it is feasible, profitable and intelligent to spend money on soil testing and fertilizer in irrigated pastures. Every dollar spent on fertilizing results in $19 to $35 of forage production, depending on forage plant species, population and several other variables. A fertility plan should be one of the highest priorities in a managed intensive grazing program.

Previously published: WA Cattlemen's Association Ketch Pen-January, 2011
Authored by: Frank Hendrix, WSU Extension Educator-Livestock, Pasture Mgmt

Read more on pasture improvement & Frank's work:
~ Intensive Grazing Trials
~ Is Improved Pasture Economically Viable
~ Easier Irrigation