Corn growers want Ag Dept to address drought
A St. Louis-based corn farmers group wants the Agriculture Department to create a task force to study the ways in which the federal government can best help farmers deal with financial losses caused by drought.
The National Corn Growers Association sent a letter this week to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, saying the losses caused by dry weather conditions in 2001 and 2002 are more drastic than could have been predicted.
Damage caused by drought include substantial losses in crop yields, forced liquidation of cattle herds, increases in crop pests and diseases, critically low water supplies and decimated forage.
"We believe it is imperative that the U.S. Department of Agriculture use its full authority and the maximum resources available to help mitigate the losses being suffered by farmers and ranchers," association President Tim Hume wrote.
Agriculture Department officials note they have approved some emergency aid to farmers through various programs meant to help them get low interest loans. But Hume said that is insufficient.
Hume said he thinks any task force needs to get the views of farmers being hit by drought before reaching any conclusions on possible solutions.
"We believe it is important for the department to receive input from affected producers as to the extent of the drought, its effects and practicable actions for the mitigation," Hume said.
How severe are drought conditions across the United States?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported Thursday drought expanded and became more intense in the eastern Corn Belt, while not changing throughout the West.
The Drought Monitor noted expansion of "abnormally dry" conditions in the lower Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, with "moderate" drought conditions developing north of the lower Ohio River.
The worst parts of the United States remain in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, and a part of Virginia, where "exceptional" drought conditions remain.
Animal acts:
Illinois Gov. George Ryan has signed a measure that includes provisions making it illegal for people to have sexual contact with farm animals.
The bill in question takes effect Jan. 1, 2003, and deals with many issues related to sexual assault. One part makes sexual contact with an animal a felony punishable by up to three years in prison, or up to five years if the sex act takes place in the presence of a minor or if the animal suffers injury.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals officials in Illinois said they urged the Legislature to include the farm animal provision after learning that existing Illinois law did not explicitly prevent sex with animals.
The new law also will give judges the ability to require people convicted of animal intercourse to undergo psychological counseling.
Zimbabwe:
Members of the British Parliament said they believe Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has lost the moral right to govern, in part because of the way he has tried to forcibly take farmland from white farmers.
The Commons foreign affairs select committee said it thinks tough sanctions are needed against Zimbabwe along with restrictions on overseas travel by the country's ruling elite.
Mugabe is trying to seize farmland from white landowners, claiming he wants to return it to the country's black majority. Many of those white farmers are refusing to leave and food shortages are being made worse by the lack of farm production.
Labeling:
The National Farmers Union wants farmers and ranchers to cooperate in sending comments to the Agriculture Department on voluntary country-of-origin labeling guidelines.
The farmers union supported measures creating the guidelines, which would create labels informing people just where their food products came from -- particularly if it came from outside the United States.
The concept was included in the farm bill approved earlier this year. But rules implementing the labeling are not yet set. Agriculture Department officials are taking comments from the public until Aug. 9. Officials hope to have a process in place by Sept. 30, 2004.
River improvements:
The National Corn Growers Association is pleased with a federal study calling for modernization of the lock and dam system on the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers.
The Army Corps of Engineers notes the current system is nearly 70 years old. The study is the result of nine years of work in reviewing the current system.
"Farmers are losing millions of dollars a year, and the United States is losing its competitive edge in world markets because of the inadequate and antiquated river infrastructure," association corn board member Greg Guenther said.
Grains:
Grain futures were higher at the close Thursday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Soybeans, corn, what and oats all benefited from hot, dry weather conditions that were stressing crops.
The prices:
Soybeans: Aug 5.68 1/2 up 1, Sep 5.58 3/4 up 4 3/4, Nov 5.41 1/2 up 5, Jan 5.41 up 3.
Corn: Sep 2.49 1/4 up 2, Dec 2.58 3/4 up 2 1/4, Mar 2.63 1/4 up 1 1/4, May 2.67 up 1.
Wheat: Sep 3.34 3/4 up 3/4, Dec 3.45 up 1 1/4, Mar 3.52 3/4 up 2 3/4, May 3.44 up 3 1/4.
Oats: Sep 1.78 off 1/2, Dec 1.70 off 3/4, Mar 1.68 1/2 off 3/4, May 1.67 off 3 1/2.
