Just like corn growers across the nation, Virginia farmers are expanding their production to take advantage of record-high corn prices driven by the growing ethanol market. Nationwide, corn growers are planning to plant 15 percent more corn this spring, for the largest possible crop since 1944. Tobacco plantings are also expected to increase slightly, as flue-cured tobacco producers said they would put in 18,000 acres, 6 percent more than they planted last year. But growers have said they...

Crop report forecasts banner year for Illinois corn, soybean farmers. The department boosted its soybean price forecast by 50 cents from last month and raised the corn price forecast by 40 cents. Grain prices also continue to climb as growing ethanol and bio-fuel production boost demand. Farm officials say high prices and a good crop are a rare combination for Illinois farmers. They say high prices usually follow droughts, meaning farmers have less grain to sell. The U-S Department of...

Username: * Password: * Remember me Register. A USDA crop report issued on Friday, March 30, forecast record corn supplies in the 2007 crop year, causing limited down moves in corn on two successive trading days, as well as related volatility in wheat and soybean prices for several days, according to a memo sent to investors. A USDA crop report issued on Friday, March 30, forecast record corn supplies in the 2007 crop year, causing limited down moves in corn on two successive trading days,...

soybeans and smaller-than-expected soybean planting intentions were judged to be supportive of soybean prices, with some calling the news 'widely bullish,'" said Good. The USDA now expects the 2006-07 marketing year domestic soybean crush to reach only 1.765 billion bushels, 15 million less than the projection that has been in place since November and only 26 million bushels larger than last year's crush. If soybean acreage is near intentions, about 66. Domestic use is expected to be...

Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it would look for melamine contamination in imported wheat gluten, corn gluten, corn meal, soy protein, rice bran and rice protein, used in manufactured food for humans and livestock. Rice protein tainted with melamine was also found in pet foods from at least five manufacturers who obtained the protein from one supplier, U. The agency said on a call with reporters late Tuesday that it had no intention of banning imports of wheat gluten, rice...

Because the report's decade-long estimates cannot possibly predict 10 years of changes in weather, economics or policy, its out-year numbers are little more than guesses. And third, with stocks of America's chief food and feed grain balanced on a pinhead, Congressional aggies should at least discuss the possibility of including a modest (farmer-owned?) grain reserve in the 2007 Farm Bill to ensure domestic supply and stable prices. While most farmers and ranchers spent February focused on...