The final numbers aren’t in on how producers finished 2016, but I suspect it will be a mixed bag with some producers doing OK based on above-average yields, good job marketing and containing production cost. Other producers may be struggling with average- to below-average yields, average prices and higher production costs. Another group may finish in between, operating around the breakeven point. Continue reading at Southeast Farm Press.
Corn, cotton, soybeans, and wheat were down for the week. The markets played the role of the Grinch this week as all four commodities were down substantially since last Friday. Continued advantageous weather in South America and a new high in the USD Index were the primary contributors to declining prices. Many analysts are predicting a bin busting harvest for Brazil and Argentina. For the South American soybean crop, January, February, and March weather will be very important as these are the critical filling and harvesting months. Additionally, if a record crop is produced concerns may arise due to inadequate infrastructure and logistics to get the crop from the principle growing regions to port. Continue reading at Tennnessee Market Highlights.
Ryan Blair, County Variety Testing Coordinator
The 2016 TN Cotton Variety Trial Results Publication (PB1742) is now available online. This document contains detailed results from all harvested trails in the 2016 University of Tennessee Cotton Variety Testing Program. Continue reading
Corn, soybeans, and wheat were down; cotton was up for the week. Since July 20, March 2017 corn futures have traded between $3.25 (August 31) and $3.69 (October 20). The sluggish rebound off the contract low and tight trading range has been limited by record yields and production. Currently, there is limited news for traders to digest and act upon as last week’s USDA WASDE report was largely uneventful. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.
The USDA, NASS Tennessee Field Office has released the 2016 Wheat County Estimates for Tennessee. They can be read at wht16_tn.
The 2017 Tennessee Grain & Soybean Producers Conference is being held at the Dyer County Fairgrounds in Dyersburg, TN on Thursday, February 2nd. On-site registration begins at 7:45. The programs ends after lunch following the Keynote Address by Harrison M. Pittman, Director, National Agricultural Law Center (University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture) on “Ag Law Update: Recent & Emerging Issues for the Ag Industry”. Preliminary Agenda (updated)
The twelfth annual Middle Tennessee Grain Conference set for Thursday, January 26 at Coffee County’s Fairgrounds in Manchester offers farmers insight to a number of emerging corn, soybean, and wheat production concerns. The conference is scheduled to get underway with registration beginning at 7:30 am. Registration is $20 at the door or $10 if participants pre-registering by Noon, Monday, January 23 through their local UT Extension office. Registration fees include the program and materials, refreshments, lunch, a copy of the conference proceedings, and a grain conference cap. View Program
The 2017 TN Cotton Variety Guide is now available 
online. This document summarizes results from the 2016 University of Tennessee Cotton Agronomy program and serves as a precursor to a full release of trial results in PB 1742 to come within the next few days. Summary tables from the 2016 season were calculated from five Official Variety Trials (OVTs), four large, replicated on-farm trials and fifteen County Standard Trials (CSTs) scattered throughout TN’s cotton producing counties. To access the document click the adjacent image or the hyperlinks above or below.
Special thanks to all those who participated and/or contributed to the program during the 2016 growing season. See more here: W285
