Release No. 0122.18

Contact: Wayne Maloney
202-720-6107
Wayne.maloney@wdc.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2018 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today  announced that seed cotton producers, who want to participate in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2018 crop year, may now submit applications. The signup period begins today and ends on Dec. 7, 2018.

In accordance with changes to ARC and PLC made by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, farm owners with generic base acres and recent planting history of covered commodities have a one-time opportunity to allocate all of the generic base acres on their farm.

“ARC and PLC are a vital part of the safety net that ensures American agriculture remains competitive and producers are able to manage risk,” said USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Richard Fordyce. “USDA encourages any cotton producer to look into these important safety net programs,”

Farms with generic base acres that were planted or approved as a prevented planted commodity during the 2009 through 2016 crop years, are eligible to allocate generic base acres. This includes upland cotton. Continue reading at Seed Cotton Program.

HAY CUTTING IN FULL SWING

Spotty showers did little to slow field work last week. Row crop farmers were busy spraying for pests, while forage producers worked on their second cutting of hay. Pasture condition declined slightly as pastures in drier areas began to show signs of stress due to lack of moisture. There were 6.3 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture rated 8 percent very short, 33 percent short, 53 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 6 percent very short, 28 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Hay Supplies rated 1 percent very short, 19 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_07_30_18. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-07-30-2018.

Corn, cotton, soybeans, and wheat were up for the week.

This week commodities strengthened on easing of trade tensions with the
E.U. and supportive weather forecasts. Trade will remain at the forefront of
agricultural markets as the U.S. Administration is currently negotiating new
deals with China, E.U., Canada, and Mexico.

To assist farmers with declines in commodity prices, as a result of retaliatory tariffs, the USDA announced $12 billion in support. Details remain vague, however the USDA will use the Commodity Credit Corporation, Farm Service Agency, Agricultural Marketing Service, and Foreign Agricultural Service to enact and administer three general programs: 1) Market Facilitation Program through Farm Service Agency – payments to agricultural producers; 2) Food Purchase and Distribution Program through the Agricultural Marketing Service – purchase of surplus supplies and distribution of the supplies to nutrition programs and charities; and 3) Trade Promotion Program administered by the Foreign Agriculture Service – market expansion (through trade promotion). Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.

STATES CROPS IN MOSTLY GOOD CONDITION

The State’s crops are in mostly good condition though rains have been spotty even within counties, causing top and sub-soil moistures to start decreasing. The tremendous amount of rain earlier in the season has helped with current soil moisture levels. Some tobacco is starting to be cut and pastures are in mostly good condition. There were 5.4 days suitable for field work. Topsoil was 5 percent very short, 21 percent short, and 69 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was 5 percent very short, 20 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_07_23_18. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-07-23-2018.