Feds to fund Conn. agriculture projects
The Agriculture Department will provide grants totaling $6 million to help boost various environmental and rural development projects.
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced the release of money for the projects on Monday while spending the day touring Connecticut, where the various projects are located.
The bulk of the money is a $4.71 million water loan and grant combination to help design and construct a 500,000-gallon water storage tank, a water booster pumping station and 32,000 linear feet of water main to connect the Fall Mountain Lake area with the water system in Plymouth, Conn.
Another $760,000 will be provided by the federal government to help Connecticut improve soil, water and air quality on working farms.
Funding is part of the Agriculture Department's environmental quality incentives program and will provide financial and technical aid to farmers and ranchers for improved conservation practices.
"Farmers and ranchers are the best stewards of the land, and this administration continues its commitment to enhancing conservation efforts on working farmlands," Veneman said.
An elderly housing complex in East Granby, Conn., also will benefit from federal funding, as $460,000 in rural rental housing loan funds will pay for improvements to the 72-unit structure.
Grants also include a $63,000 rural business development gift to the Connecticut Agriculture Department to improve the Noank Aquaculture Cooperative to increase oyster production.
Also receiving money will be the Mortlake Fire Company Inc., which will use $5,000 to purchase hydraulic rescue equipment.
During her day in Connecticut, Veneman provided farmers with information about farm bill implementation, international trade opportunities and President Bush's Homeland Security Department.
Corn-Mexico:
The Agriculture Department's foreign service said crops in corn-growing regions of southern Mexico are threatened because the areas remain dry.
Officials noted monsoons were neither generous nor evenly dispersed through mid-July, which pushed soil moisture levels to near harmful ranges.
The foreign agriculture service said the greatest danger is that the small areas suffering intense dryness could expand with total rainfall declining throughout the summer months.
"Newer corn varieties adjust more efficiently to negative influences in the environment by slowing their rate of development," the foreign agriculture service said. "Stretching out development over more days will help, but precipitation amounts must climb toward their daily norms to prevent negative effect upon yield."
Sunflower oil:
The Senate is being asked to consider a measure that would equalize the loan rates between oil and confectionary types of sunflowers.
The bill sponsored by Sens. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., was introduced last week. It would amend federal law to clarify the rates applicable to marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments for other oilseeds.
"A higher loan rate for confectionary-type sunflowers has the potential to price U.S. producers and processors out of the world market in addition to favoring planted acreage of confectionary-type over oil-type sunflowers," Roberts said.
Fair-Milk 'n' Moms:
The Midwest Dairy Association is sponsoring its first-ever Milk and Moms Day on Saturday as part of the Iowa State Fair.
The event is meant to promote dairy products and milk consumption, while praising mothers who serve milk to their children.
People attending the fair in Des Moines, Iowa will receive "Got Milk?" gift packages, and also can nominate their mothers to be milk's Mom of the Fair. The winning mother will receive tickets to Kansas City Chiefs professional football games.
Crop progress:
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday 88 percent of the soybean crop is blooming, compared to 76 percent last week, 88 percent at this time last year and 88 percent for the past five years. Forty-three percent is excellent or good, with 32 percent fair and 25 percent poor or very poor.
For corn, 91 percent of the crop is silking, compared to 77 percent last week, 90 percent last year and 91 percent the past five years. Of that, 8 percent is dented, compared to 8 percent last year and 6 percent the past five years. Forty-one percent of the crop is excellent or good, with 30 percent fair and 29 percent poor or very poor.
For winter wheat, 91 percent of the crop is harvested, compared to 88 percent last week, 92 percent last year and 91 percent the past five years.
For cotton, 85 percent of the crop is setting bolls, compared to 73 percent last week, 88 percent last year and 85 percent the past five years. Of that, 8 percent is opening, compared to 7 percent last year and 7 percent the past five years. Fifty-seven percent is excellent or good, with 30 percent fair and 13 percent poor or very poor.
For sorghum, 58 percent of the crop is headed, compared to 49 percent last week, 67 percent last year and 61 percent the past five years. Of that, 25 percent is coloring, compared to 22 percent last week, 32 percent last year and 27 percent the past five years. Twenty-six percent is excellent or good, with 31 percent fair and 43 percent poor or very poor.
For spring wheat, 15 percent of the crop is harvested, compared to 8 percent last year and 12 percent the past five years. Thirty-two percent is excellent or good, with 40 percent fair and 28 percent poor or very poor.
For barley, 7 percent of the crop is harvested, compared to 7 percent last year and 12 percent the past five years. Forty-three percent is excellent or good, with 38 percent fair and 19 percent poor or very poor.
For oats, 50 percent of the crop is harvested, compared to 36 percent last week, 39 percent last year and 47 percent the past five years.
For rice, 62 percent of the crop is headed, compared to 48 percent last week, 71 percent last year and 56 percent the past five years. Of that, 8 percent is harvested, compared to 6 percent last year and 6 percent the past five years. Sixty-four percent is excellent or good, with 31 percent fair and 5 percent poor or very poor.
For peanuts, 94 percent of the crop has pegged, compared to 89 percent last week, 93 percent last year and 91 percent the past five years. Sixty-six percent is excellent or good, with 27 percent fair and 7 percent poor or very poor.
Grains:
Grain futures were mixed at the close Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Soybeans declined due to weather patterns including heavier weekend rain and cooler temperatures that could result in increased oilseed production in the United States and in India.
Corn rose in anticipation of the crop condition report from the Agriculture Department.
Wheat rose on the spring wheat harvest in the northern Plains and influence from corn.
Oats were mixed.
The prices:
Soybeans: Aug 5.59 1/4 off 2, Sep 5.49 off 6, Nov 5.35 off 6 1/4, Jan 5.35 3/4 off 6 1/4.
Corn: Sep 2.53 1/2 up 3/4, Dec 2.63 3/4 up 3/4, Mar 2.68 up 1, May 2.70 3/4 up 3/4.
Wheat: Sep 3.38 up 1, Dec 3.49 1/4 up 1 3/4, Mar 3.55 1/4 up 1 1/2, May 3.47 1/2 up 2 1/2.
Oats: Sep 1.77 3/4 off 1/4, Dec 1.72 1/4 up 2, Mar 1.67 3/4 off 1 1/4, May 1.65 1/2 off 1.
