Higher prices, rising risk
Corn prices were hovering around record highs Friday morning, and farmer Terry Sestak of Tabor was thinking about signing a contract with his local grain elevator to sell some of his crop and lock in a good price.
That way, if prices tank this summer, Sestak will be assured that he'll get the higher price for at least some of his harvest this fall. But if the price jumps above $6 a bushel, Sestak won't get as much money as he would if he had waited. During the past year, corn prices have gone up 66 percent, while soybean prices have gone up 83 percent. Wheat prices have nearly doubled.
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S.D. farmers wonder how long good times will last
Keith Alverson heads into 2008 looking at robust prices for the corn and soybeans he grows with his father and uncle near Chester.
Two dollars for a bushel of corn - the benchmark price for years - seems like a quaint artifact from a bygone era. The value of crops common in the Upper Midwest - corn, soybeans, wheat - have doubled and tripled from those old standards.
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In defense of American Farmers
The American farmer: salt of the earth, backbone of the nation, foundation of democracy -- and Public Enemy No. 1.
If you think that last description is out of place, you haven't been paying attention to the clamor over who's to blame for global warming and world food shortages. The American farmer -- and agricultural states such as Wisconsin -- are now the chief targets of some organizations searching for scapegoats.
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Heartburn in the Heartland
Comments of Bart Chilton, Commissioner CFTC
Every year, family farmers and ranchers face more risks than most other professions face in a lifetime. Myriad forces completely beyond the control of producers are an ever-present fact of life: droughts, hurricanes, or other weather-related natural disasters; commodity gluts created by foreign nations who excessively subsidize their exports; unfair competition from abroad by producers who don’t have our high (and costly) labor and environmental standards; and rising fuel, fertilizer, and other input costs. The deck is stacked against family farmers and ranchers; their declining numbers give ample evidence of this. They have, however, an inspirational, entrepreneurial attitude—hoping for the best in the face of uncertainty and never-ending labor—that dates back to the founding of our nation. Each year, with their undying spirit, hope and imagination of a better future, those that can return to the fields and pastures do so to try once more. This cycle of hope, ingenuity, and hard work represents the quintessential American farmer and rancher.
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Texas A&M Economist Says "Safety Net" Crucial Element in Farm Bill
A "2008" Farm Bill…long, long ago called a 2007 Farm Bill is still doable. Just got to find the money.
Dr. Joe L. Outlaw, Texas AgriLife Extension economist, has crunched a lot of numbers on many farm bills, and after more trips to Washington, D.C., than he can count regarding this latest one, you can see his frustration that there isn't a new farm law…yet. But it is still possible.
But that's only if the U.S. Congress can get down to real business after its two-week Spring Break, as lawmakers finally return to work the week of March 31.
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Calving season underway at the Ulmer farm
Although the snow had completely disappeared in the Fullerton area with the mid-March warm temperatures, the landscape was again given a white coating by a heavy, wet snow that started on the evening of March 20.
“You know it's going to snow, the cows have started to calve,” quipped Gary Ulmer, as he commented on the change in weather.
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This is one bill that’s ‘past due’
It was set to expire six months ago, but the 2002 farm bill is still law. Earlier this month Congress voted to extend the bill for a second time through April 18, following months of disagreements on the shape of a new bill. After failing to approve a new version of the farm bill in 2007, Congress extended the expiration for the 2002 bill from September until March 15.
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Delayed Farm Bill Leaves Alabama Farmers Idle
In the nation's capital both houses of Congress have forced Alabama farmers to sit idle while lawmakers hammer out the new 5-year farm policy. The farm bill is the farmer's bible, a set of guidelines that gives growers an idea what they should plant, how much and the kind of prices they can expect for their crops.
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Farmers waiting for ‘other shoe to drop’ on commodity prices
In the 30 years he’s been farming, John Thaemert says there have been three years when he felt as optimistic about the wheat outlook as he does in 2008.
Two days before Thaemert, the president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, said that, nearby spring wheat futures briefly touched an astounding $25 a bushel on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange.
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Guest Opinion: The time is past due for Congress to get this Farm Bill done
Politics is never an easy game. Those directly involved know that to get something accomplished in Washington you need to roll up your sleeves and settle in for the long haul. In light of this, farmers appreciate the effort the House went to early last year to pass it’s version of the farm bill. The Senate, in the 12th hour, also passed a bill. But we are now moving into the New Year and the farm bill is still not complete.
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Farm Bill Top Topic at Sugarbeet Convention
Sugarbeet farmers are meeting in Orlando, Fla., this week at their annual convention and the talk of the pending Farm Bill is taking top billing.

"There is not a single issue that's more important to sugar farmers than the swift approval of a new Farm Bill," says Steve Williams, a Fisher, Minn., farmer and president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association (ASGA). "The farmers I've spoken to over the past few weeks are growing increasingly frustrated that finalizing the Farm Bill has stalled, even though both bills passed by the House and Senate have won accolades from nearly everyone."
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New farm bill worthy of support
Our hard work has paid off, and the finish line is in sight. After months of difficult negotiations, the U.S. Senate in December overwhelmingly passed a new farm bill, 79-14.
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Montana senators praise $286 billion Farm Bill
Montana senators praised the $286 billion farm bill passed by the Senate Friday, saying it is good for the state. The bill includes many provisions that will benefit farmers in the High Plains.
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Isakson Praises Passage of Farm Bill
U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today praised the Senate’s passage of a new five-year Farm Bill that continues to provide a safety net for farmers, increases conservation programs, provides incentives for renewable energy production and establishes a permanent disaster program.
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Farm Bill Expanding Ag Industry's Marketing
Northwest farmers and ranchers are one step closer to receiving some extra help from the Feds. The 2007 farm bill is focusing on small crop growers. It will mean $2 million in new prorams with fruit and vegetables and expanding marketing for the agriculture industry. Mark Barrett of Barrett Orchards says, It is good to the point that at least when we do have needs and some of our needs are helping us market our crops better, then we're getting recognized."
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Gov. Rounds Calls for Farm Bill Action
The 2007 Farm Bill negotiations must continue to move forward, and a 2007 Farm Bill should be passed this year, urges Gov. Mike Rounds.
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New farm bill should be Congress' top priority
PEOPLE ON THE South Plains have no trouble seeing how important farmers are to our nation, but it seems like too many people in other parts of the country just don't get it. Unfortunately, some of them are members of Congress.
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Senators Blast National Media on Farm Bill
Some of the non-stop criticism of farmers and farm programs by media outlets in recent years might be a little easier to take if the tone wasn’t so condescending.
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Permanent AG disaster needs to be part of 2007 Farm Bill
Congress is on the verge of passing the first farm legislation ever that contains a permanent AG disaster provision and it's action that has been long overdue.
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Farm Bill Will Help Us Move To A "Clean Energy Economy"
The ingenuity of rural America is the great untapped resource in our move to a clean energy economy," said Senator Ken Salazar (D-Colo) as the second day of floor debate on the 2007 Farm Bill continued in the Senate Tuesday.
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Farm proposal would aid Washington farmers, say senators
U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both D-Wash., say they applaud the 2007 Farm Bill approved Thursday by the Senate agriculture committee.
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Texas is depending on a strong farm bill
This fall, as Texans turn their attention to Friday night football, we would be wise to set our sights on work in Washington that stands to impact another Texas tradition--agriculture. Leaders in Washington are fast at work on a big piece of legislation with even bigger impact on our state and one of its strongest industry sectors.
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Murphy: Five Minutes With Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau Federation President
Few farm leaders strike a stronger stance or cut a bigger profile on agricultural issues than Bob Stallman, AFBF president. Though bullish on the pending 2007 farm bill, he cautions that some big challenges still face the nation’s farm community.
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Farm bill a "heck of a deal" for consumers
The United States has an excellent system of independent family farmers. Survival of the family farm is critical to the future economic viability of rural America, and across the nation, strong family farms mean food safety and security, at a low cost to consumers.
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Farm bill's effects ripple through region
RAlthough it's referred to as the farm bill, the $614 billion Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2007 that passed the House last week will affect more than just the agricultural industry.
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Ag leaders give Conrad feedback on new farm bill
Farmers, ranchers and agriculture leaders joined U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad and North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson today (Aug. 9) for a hearing on new national farm legislation now in the Congress
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Sugar program faces threat
Proposed legislation to abolish the U.S. sugar program would hurt the nation and the Red River Valley, sugar industry leaders say.
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Romney views changed on USDA, farm subsidies
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney says he no longer advocates the "virtual elimination" of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Will AGI Rule Foul U.S. Ag?
How the Proposed AGI Rule Fouls American Farm and Ranch Families. The current AGI rule has been dubbed the "Scotty Pippen Rule" because it is designed to prevent extremely wealthy, non farmers, such as professional basketball players, entertainers, and media moguls, from receiving benefits under U.S. farm policy.
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Retain Farm Bill Direct Payments
The 2007 Farm Bill has taken center stage in Congress. Central to the Farm Bill debate is providing a farm safety net that will provide the United States with the food security it deserves.
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Washington experts should get outside the Beltway
It must be fun to sit in an office in Washington and dream up zingers like “Milking the Customers: The High Cost of U.S. Dairy Policies,” or “Ripe for Reform: Six Good Reasons to Reduce U.S. Farm Subsidies and Trade Barriers.”
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Farm Bureau leaders travel to Washington, D.C.
Leaders of the Hunt County Farm Bureau trekked to the nation's capital in late March to confer with congressional representatives and officials in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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The government is forcing us to eat junk food and get fat
Poor people in America are fat? Do you realize what a strange statement it is for a country to have a major obesity problem among its poorest citizens?
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More than meets the eye in farm bill debate, K-State's Flinchbaugh says
Barry Flinchbaugh leaves little doubt where his loyalties lie when the wizened "gnome of Manhattan" gives one of his two-hour tours de force on the past, present and future of U.S. farm policy.
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Analyst Comments on Newspaper's Focus on U.S. Farm Programs, Spending
Editor's note: The following is a guest commentator column written by Jeff Harrison, who served on Capitol Hill for 13 years, in both the House and Senate, most recently as counsel to then House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) and as Legislative Director to U.S. Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minn.).He is currently part of Combest & Sell consulting group.
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Two views of new farm bill
The 2007 Farm Bill will focus on renewable energy, but any similarities to the current legislation are yet to be determined, two key figures in the debate over the legislation said this week.
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Washington Post Farm Policy Stories:
A Case Study in Urban Legend: Part 1
The Washington Post (the Post) Stories Are Cynical, Misleading, Inaccurate, Contradictory, Misplaced, and the Product of Ulterior Motives.
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Washington Post Farm Policy Stories:
A Case Study in Urban Legend: Part 2
The Post's Problem with Direct Payments Is In Conflict with Its Problem with LDPs and Its Views on Conservation and the WTO.
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Washington Post Farm Policy Stories:
A Case Study in Urban Legend: Part 3
The Post's Problem with LDPs Is in Conflict with Its Views on Direct Payments and Boils Down to Nothing More Than Opposition to Any U.S. Farm Policy.
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Washington Post Farm Policy Stories:
A Case Study in Urban Legend: Part 4
U.S. Farm Policy Is About Providing America with the Safest, Most Abundant, Most Affordable Food Supply in the World And About U.S. Jobs, Economic Growth, and Global Competitiveness.
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