As most of you know, the label for Transform WG insecticide was revoked at the end of last year. A Section 18 is pending which would allow the use of Transform in cotton, but it is very possible that we will not have access to Transform in 2017. Even if the Section 18 is granted, there might be significant restrictions on its use. So what is the plan to manage tarnished plant bugs in cotton if Transform is not available? Really, my strategy Continue reading
Corn: It has been a wild ride in the commodity markets this week. Corn, like the other grains, has had its fair share in the roller coaster ride this week. In fact, September corn futures opened Monday at $3.80 and closed today at $3.92. The gain of $0.12 can be attributed mostly to the fear of what will happen to U.S. corn acres along with a spillover effect from the soybean trade. The Midwest has received rainfall in key growing areas that is delaying the planting of corn. Continue reading
JACKSON, Tenn. – Neonicotinoid seed treatments provide significant economic benefits in Mid-South soybean production, according to a 10-year study conducted by scientists from four universities.
The results of the meta-analysis, published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, come as neonicotinoids, a widely-adopted class of insecticides, face increased scrutiny from both environmental groups fearing their impact on pollinators and regulators who question the economic advantage they provide. Neonicotinoids are currently being reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Continue reading
The Tennessee Field Office of USDA NASS has released the 2015 Tennessee Cotton Estimates and it can be viewed at Cotton15_TN.
A fair share of our cotton is emerging, recently planted, or will be planted in the next week. It’s a good time for a few reminders about thrips control. Continue reading
Three Section 18 requests have been submitted to the EPA related to insecticide use in field crops. Below is a brief update on the status of those requests. Continue reading
May 10th Supply and Demand Estimates and Profitability Outlook
This link to Supply & Demand Estimates & Profitability Outlook contains a summary of the USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. Domestic balance sheets for corn, soybeans, cotton, and wheat are displayed along with price reaction in futures markets for each commodity on the day of the report release. Additionally, supply and demand estimates for key importing and exporting countries are provided for the current month along with change in estimates from the previous report. The Profitability Outlook section contains estimated returns per acre for each commodity based on 2015 Tennessee state average/trend yields and current price offerings (note: cotton prices include a seed and hauling rebate). Variable expenses are based on the University of Tennessee Extension 2016 Row Crop Budgets. Prices are updated monthly; expenses are updated as warranted during the year and may be different than the expenses contained in the 2016 Row Crop Budgets. This section provides an estimation of the current relative profitability amongst major row crops in Tennessee.
The report is prepared monthly by Dr. Aaron Smith and Chuck Danehower.
Tennessee farmers expect to harvest 27.4 million bushels of winter wheat during 2016 according to the Tennessee Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The expected crop for 2016 would be up 2 percent from the previous year. Farmers seeded 440,000 acres last fall with 380,000 acres to be harvested for grain. Based on crop conditions as of May 1 and assuming a normal growing season, farmers expect a yield of 72.0 bushels per acre, up 4.0 bushels from 2015. Acres for other uses totaled 60,000 acres and will be used as cover crop or cut as silage or hay. Continue reading at PR_MAY16_TN.