UPI Farming Today

USDA to help develop Sept. 11 memorials

The Agriculture Department will provide nearly $1 million in grants to help develop memorials to the people who were killed in terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Officials said Monday they will provide 12 grants totaling $933,000 to groups in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

Grants will range from $236,000 down to $13,000, and will go to develop the memorials and to provide training to officials who will maintain the memorials.

Recipients include the New York Parks and Recreation Department, which will develop "groves of healing" in all five boroughs.

Another recipient is the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, which wants to develop a tree-planting program throughout the county where a flight destined for Washington crashed.

"This week, as we all take time to reflect and honor the courage of so many, we also pay tribute to the victims, their families and communities who have suffered from these tragedies," Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said.

"These living memorials, through community involvement and tree plantings, will provide a long-lasting tribute to honor the heroes of Sept. 11."

In Virginia, the National Forest Service is working with officials from the Pentagon, American Forests and Arlington County, Va., to develop additional memorial sites.

Grant recipients were chosen based on how local proposals would fit in with the concept of having trees and other plants included in their designs.

As currently planned, all of the memorial sites are scheduled to open to the public by Sept. 30, 2003.

Drought relief:

The Agriculture Department is expanding emergency hay and grazing rights through its Conservation Reserve Program to farmers across the United States.

The program provides relief for farmers and ranchers in areas hit hardest by drought and other natural disasters. Prior to Monday's declaration, the relief only applied to farmers in 18 states.

Farmers must have suffered at least a 40 percent loss of normal moisture and forage for the preceding four-month period to qualify.

"Extreme weather conditions have impacted so many farmers and ranchers this year, particularly livestock producers," Veneman said. "It is our hope, that in the American tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, program participants in areas not affected by these disasters will make their acreage available for haying or grazing, or donate hay to those in need."

Ventura/Cuba:

Lame duck Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura is demanding an apology from federal officials who are critical of his desire to visit Cuba for the U.S. Food and Agribusiness Exhibition.

Ventura said he is trying to help promote U.S. agriculture interests by visiting the exhibition in Havana. But Assistant Secretary of State Otto Reich recently criticized Ventura for visiting a Communist country and hinted Ventura was more interested in "sexual tourism" than anything else.

"I found Assistant Secretary Reich's comments offensive and at the very least he and President Bush owe my wife and children a personal policy," Ventura said.

Farmer stress:

Iowa State University extension service officials have started up a new project meant to provide counseling and other psychiatric support services to farmers who are struggling.

The Iowa Rural Mental Health Initiative has been in place for nearly a year. It pays for uninsured rural residents to visit psychiatrists and social workers and also sponsors support groups for farmers.

Officials say the program has helped about 1,500 farmers and their families cope with the stress brought on by tightening financial conditions.

Crop progress:

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday 19 percent of the soybean crop is dropping leaves, compared to 7 percent last week, 20 percent at this time last year and a 20 percent average for the past five years. Forty-five percent of the crop is in excellent or good condition, with 29 percent fair and 26 percent poor or very poor.

For winter wheat, 9 percent of the crop is planted, compared to 7 percent last year and 7 percent the past five years.

For corn, 78 percent of the crop is dented, compared to 63 percent last week, 79 percent last year and 79 percent the past five years. Of that, 29 percent of the crop is mature, compared to 16 percent last week, 31 percent last year and 30 percent the past five years. Forty-one percent of the crop is excellent or good, with 28 percent fair and 31 percent poor or very poor.

For cotton, 52 percent of the crop's bolls were opening, compared to 40 percent last week, 52 percent last year and 51 percent the past five years. Fifty-three percent of the crop is excellent or good, with 29 percent fair and 18 percent poor or very poor.

For sorghum, 74 percent of the crop is coloring, compared to 66 percent last week, 85 percent last year and 80 percent the past five years. Of that, 44 percent is maturing, compared to 33 percent last week, 49 percent last year and 44 percent the past five years. And 25 percent of the crop is harvested, compared to 32 percent last year and 28 percent the past five years. Twenty-two percent is excellent or good, with 33 percent fair and 45 percent poor or very poor.

For spring wheat, 75 percent of the crop is harvested, compared to 66 percent last week, 95 percent last year and 88 percent the past five years.

For barley, 82 percent of the crop is harvested, compared to 71 percent last week, 95 percent last year and 89 percent the past five years.

For rice, 33 percent of the crop is harvested, compared to 24 percent last week, 34 percent last year and 32 percent the past five years. Sixty-eight percent is excellent or good, with 29 percent fair and 4 percent poor or very poor.

Grains:

Grain futures were significantly higher at the close Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Soybeans, corn and wheat rose in anticipation the Agriculture Department's supply/demand report will show increased demand for U.S. crops.

Also helping to boost wheat was word Australia agriculture officials are downgrading their own crop due to damage caused by drought.

Oats also were higher.

The prices:

Soybeans: Sep 5.73 1/2 up 8 1/2, Nov 5.71 up 11, Jan 5.74 1/4 up 11, Mar 5.74 3/4 up 10 1/2.

Corn: Sep 2.78 3/4 up 5 3/4, Dec 2.89 1/4 up 6, Mar 2.95 up 6, May 2.95 3/4 up 5 1/4.

Wheat: Sep 4.15 up 11 1/2, Dec 4.22 up 12, Mar 4.30 1/4 up 11 3/4, May 4.06 up 9 1/2.

Oats: Sep 2.05 1/2 up 7 1/2, Dec 2.00 3/4 up 5, Mar 1.95 up 5 1/4, May 1.90 1/2 up 6 1/2.