DESPITE HAIL, PESTS, AND WEEDS, IOWA'S CORN AND SOYABEANS, LOOK REALLY GOOD.

There aren’t many farmers who claim to “love all things related to weeds.” Luckily for farmers in Iowa, there’s a weed-loving Extension agent at the ready to help identify and tackle tough weeds. Meaghan Anderson has served as a field agronomist in east-central Iowa for the past two years. Last year, her enthusiasm and dedication helped farmers and landowners detect and manage Palmer amaranth infestations in pollinator plots and CRP plantings.

This year, Anderson is back in the fields, keeping an eye out for Palmer amaranth and other pests as well as evaluating hail damage. Here’s what she’s seeing in the corn and soybean fields of eastern Iowa.

Palmar amaranth was spotted in fields in Linn County as well as Muscatine County. “We’re just approaching the best time to identify Palmer amaranth, so I’ve only seen a few locations with it so far this year,” says Anderson. “I suspect the hot, drier weather we’ve had has been good for its development, so more identifications will happen this summer.”

Marestail also looks like it could be an issue this season, comments Anderson. “Farmers have reported having trouble managing marestail, so I’ll be monitoring populations,” she says. “I think some farmers may need to consider a fall herbicide application if the populations in their fields germinate in the fall.” In addition to weeds, hail has been another issue for growers in Anderson’s region. “Hail damage was spread over several counties, but the most significantly damaged area was mostly small and spotty in Linn County,” she says.

Overall, Anderson says the corn crop is off to a good start for 2017. “I thought corn seemed more uneven early and also had some armyworm issues, but most looks really nice now,” she says. “I don’t think anyone would object to some more rain as long as it doesn’t bring hail with it.” The counties she covers are 1¼ inches below the climatology rain average for June.

In Washington County, Anderson is also noticing a fair amount of urea burn from sidedress applications. 

For soybeans, Anderson says some suffered from stand loss and damage from HG 14 herbicides used preemergence, pest feeding (armyworms and slugs), and crusting. “Most problems have been resolved at this point,” she says. “Corn and soybeans look really good after what seemed like a long planting season.”

According to the latest data from the USDA, 79% of Iowa’s corn crop is in good to excellent condition, on track with last year’s condition and up from the five-year average of 72%. Soybeans are trailing last year slightly with 74% in good to excellent condition compared with 77%, but still pacing ahead of the five-year average of 69%. BY JESSIE SCOTT.

U.S JUNE HOG HERD HIGHEST IN MORE THAN 50YEARS.

CHICAGO, June 29 (Reuters) - The number of hogs on U.S. farms during the March-May quarter climbed 3.0 percent from a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture report on Thursday, implying abundant supplies through the coming year.

Thursday's outcome was the largest on record for the period since 1964, maintaining a string of quarterly record highs dating back to March 2016.

Still, analysts viewed the data as neutral for Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures on Friday because the results were close to expectations.

Analysts attributed the herd expansion to improved producer profits, affordable feed and the need for more supplies to accommodate at least two new packing plants scheduled to come on line later this year.

A record number of baby piglets that survived during the quarter helped farmers to be more efficient and boosted herd sizes.

USDA's report showed the U.S. hog herd as of June 1 at 103.0 percent of the year-ago level or 71.650 million head.

The result topped analysts' average forecasts and was the most for the quarter since USDA began compiling data for the period in 1964.

Analysts, on average, had expected 71.597 million head, or 103.3 percent of the year-earlier herd.
The U.S. breeding herd was 102.0 percent of the year-ago level, at 6.069 million head, up from 5.979 million last year.

The average trade forecast was 6.069 million, or 101.5 percent of the previous year.
The June 1 supply of market-ready hogs for sale to packers was 104.0 percent of a year earlier, at 65.581 million head, up from 63.302 million last year. Analysts, on average, had estimated a 3.5 percent rise, or 65.490 million.

Allendale Inc chief strategist Rich Nelson called the record hog herd size "shocking," but said it would have no effect on the market. Industry observers for several months had expected record production and most of the results came in line with expectations, he added.

The industry will monitor whether two new hog plants will be operational by September to handle the massive supplies ahead, said Nelson.

"Any delays in the start of the two plants will be clearly taken as bad news by the industry," he added.
Bob Brown, an independent market analyst in Edmond, Oklahoma, agreed that the "numbers came in pretty much as expected - nothing outlandish."

Nearby CME hog futures will likely follow prices for market-ready, or cash, hogs and not focus on trading months further out associated with Thursday's report, said Brown. (Editing by Richard Chang). BY THEOPOLIS WATERS.

US inspectors will make sure Chinese chicken imports are safe, Agriculture secretary says

• Tight U.S. food inspections should give American consumers confidence in the safety of new Chinese chicken imports, Secretary Sonny Perdue says.

• The Agriculture secretary is set to travel to China on Wednesday to formally mark the return of U.S. beef there after a 13-year hiatus.

• Tight U.S. food inspections should give American consumers confidence in the safety of new Chinese chicken imports, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told CNBC on Tuesday.
  In last month's trade agreement with China, the U.S. agreed to allow Chinese cooked poultry to enter U.S. markets in exchange for China bringing back U.S. beef imports.

• "We're talking about cooked chicken," said Perdue, indicating uncooked chicken generally poses a greater food safety risk. "The good thing about it is our food safety inspection agency, in the USDA, does a marvelous job."

• Perdue, a former governor of Georgia, also said Chinese chicken won't hurt American poultry producers. "I don't think there's really any fear of major chicken poultry protein coming the U.S."

The secretary, who is not related to the family that owns Perdue Farms, is set to travel to China on Wednesday to formally mark the return of U.S. beef to the Chinese market after a 13-year hiatus. China banned U.S. beef imports after the discovery of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Washington state in late 2003.

• "Those concerns were not justified. I think it was a single animal that came from Canada that had the BSE, or the mad cow disease. And we felt like the suspension of imports from the U.S. was a difficult and wrong decision," Perdue said. "We've had no experience and no evidence of ... [ mad cow disease] in over 13 years." BY MATHE J BELVEDERE.

DEPLOY A DRONE TO SCOUT FIELDS AND MORE.

With so many farmers having to deal with such a wet spring, drones have been an efficient way to identify areas that needed to be replanted and even ones that can’t be replanted. A drone is also a great tool to help identify weather-related damage without adding compaction to fields.

“The advantage of using a drone is that each picture is georeferenced, which allows a farmer to get accurate measurements for his claims adjuster with scientific evidence to back up that claim,” says Landon Smith, PrecisionHawk.

As you scout your fields this season, Smith says utilizing a drone can help you stay on top of potential issues.

“I recommend flying each field at least once a month to collect data that can be used to compare/contrast with previous data,” he says. “Whether that information is from a drone or your prescriptions, you can evaluate your crop’s progress (or lack of) easily with a drone.”
It can also help you be proactive when it comes to managing weeds.

“PrecisionMapper released an algorithm that allows you to determine weed pressure in your field,” says Smith. “With this information, you can increase your efficiency in spot spraying and identifying problem areas while they are still manageable and in some cases invisible to the naked eye.”
You can also use it to home in on areas that could benefit from improvements.

“For example, collecting data with standing water in your field will allow you to identify problem areas and come up with a solution to address them in the future, such as tiling,” says Smith.
The usefulness of a drone isn’t limited to the fields.

“Grain bins are slowly being emptied in anticipation of this year’s crop,” he says. “Rather than climb a bin, flying a drone over it is a safe alternative to identify problems or evaluate necessary maintenance.”  BY LAURIE BEDORD.

10 AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF LETTUCE.

1. Low Calorie Content and Almost Zero Fat.

Lettuce has only 12 calories for one shredded cup.
This is why it is so good for weight loss.

2. Helps Weight Loss

Lettuce contains fiber and cellulose. Besides filling you up, fiber improves your digestion. Improving your digestion may not sound like a good thing for losing weight, but it is actually essential for long term weight control.

Fiber also helps remove bile salts from the body. When the body replaces these salts it breaks down cholesterol to do so. This is why lettuce is also good for your heart!
3. Heart Healthy

Lettuce’s vitamin C and beta-carotene work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. This prevents the build up of plaque.
4. Omega-3 Fatty acids.

Romaine lettuce has a two to one ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. That’s a great ratio.
The fat content in lettuce is not significant UNLESS you eat a lot–but we actually suggest you do!
5. Complete Protein

Romaine lettuce’s calories are 20 percent protein. Like all whole foods, much of this protein is complete, but the amount can be increased by combining with balancing proteins.

Question: What does a 400 pound gorilla eat at the salad bar?
Answer: Anything he wants to!
I don’t imagine gorillas gain all that muscle by just eating lettuce but here is a short video of one doing that very thing!

Gorilla Eating Lettuce

6. Helps with Insomnia
The white fluid that you see when you break or cut lettuce leaves is called lactucarium.
This has relaxing and sleep inducing properties similar to opium but without the strong side effects. Simply eat a few leaves or drink some lettuce juice.
7. Lettuce is Alkaline Forming

The minerals in lettuce help remove toxins and keep your acid/alkaline balance in order. Once you are balanced on this level there are a host of benefits including greater energy, clearer thinking, deep restful sleep, and youthful skin. To browse more benefits check out Benefits of An Alkaline Body.
8. Low Glycemic Index

Lettuce has an average glycemic index of 15, but because it has so few calories, its glycemic load is considered zero. Foods with low glycemic indexes are great for anyone watching their blood sugars for medical reasons, or for weight management.
Of course, lettuce has no refined or white sugars and the host of problems that come with them.
9. Whole Life Food

Lettuce is almost always eaten raw, providing us with many micronutrients not found in cooked or processed food. Eating raw food also adds vital energies not recognized by nutritional science.
Large food corporations have not found a way to package lettuce long term or stick it in cans or boxes. Let’s hope they never do!
In fact, lettuce is one of the few foods which can be found organic and prewashed already in bins for you to eat immediately.
10. Lettuce Tastes Great.

Even though lettuce is very low in calories, many varieties still have a sweet taste. To maximize benefits from your food you should really WANT to eat it with your whole body–not just your mind saying it is good for you. If you like the bitter taste you can find more bitter lettuce options, too! BY DIANA HERRINGTON.

WHEAT FUTURES DECLINE OVERNIGHT; TRUMP VISITS IOWA TO TALK TRADE, ETHANOL

1. Wheat Lower Overnight as Investors Who Were Long Book Profits
Wheat futures were lower in overnight trading as those who were long the market, or bet on higher prices, sold contracts and booked profits after prices hit two-year highs. Corn and soybeans were little changed.

The price had been rising for the past several days as dry weather threatens U.S. spring wheat. The crop was rated 41% good or excellent as of Sunday, down from 45% a week earlier and 76% a year ago.

Adverse weather also is expected to curb overseas production of the grain, leaving many to wonder how much of the grain will actually be produced this year.

Still, global inventories at the end of the 2017-2018 marketing year are expected to be at record highs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That will, at the very least, temper enthusiasm from bulls until more is known about global production.  

Wheat futures for July delivery fell 5¼¢ to $4.67¼ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Kansas City wheat lost 4¾¢ to $4.69½ a bushel.
Corn futures added ¾¢ to $3.70¾ a bushel in Chicago.

Soybean futures for July delivery rose ¼¢ to $9.28 a bushel. Soy meal was unchanged at $300.90 a short ton, and soy oil fell 0.01¢ to 32.01¢ a pound.

2. President Trump Expected to Visit Cedar Rapids Wednesday to Talk Trade, Ethanol
President Donald Trump is expected to visit Iowa today along with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

With those two in tow, it’s likely the topic will be on trade, and judging by the venue, Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, it’s likely it will have something to do, in part at least, with agriculture.

There’s a lot to talk about. Trade is always a hot topic, as is ethanol. Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa said on a conference call that he doesn’t believe Trump will announce ethanol-blend obligations during his visit today, but he said it’s possible they’ll be announced sometime this week.
The plan is to talk to those in the agricultural program at KCC then hold an evening rally at the convention center in Cedar Rapids.

Trump has long expressed his support for the ethanol industry. In February, he sent a letter to attendees of the National Ethanol Conference saying he valued “the importance of renewable fuels to America’s economy and our energy independence.”

He said at the time he’d work with the Renewable Fuels Association to boost the industry and reduce regulations that have harmed ethanol producers.

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3. Tropical Storm Cindy to Hit Gulf, Extremely Hot Weather Expected in Nebraska
The weather maps are all shades of color along the Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Cindy makes its way to land.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for much of east Texas, Louisiana, and parts of Alabama and Mississippi, according to the National Weather Service. Further inland, flash flood warnings and tornado watches have been issued.

In the Midwest, hot weather is again creeping into parts of Nebraska. While the heat won’t be as intense as the 120˚F. temperatures in the southwestern U.S., parts of Nebraska may see heat indexes in the triple digits this afternoon, the NWS said, which could stress newly planted corn and soybeans.
The good news is, scattered thunderstorms are expected in parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois starting today and stretching into tomorrow evening, the agency said. BY TONY DREIBUS.

4 STEPS TO MINIMIZE DRIFT POTENTIAL WHILE SPRAYING.

Herbicide-resistant weeds in corn and soybeans threaten your bottom line. Fortunately, help is on the way. Soybeans that tolerate new formulations of dicamba are on the market, and soybeans that tolerate 2,4-D and HPPD inhibitors are in the works. However, these new products and increased use of older ones raise herbicide-contamination concerns. Off-target management by drift and volatilization is also a potential threat. If you grow row crops in areas where specialty crops (such as grapes and tomatoes) are grown, you need to be even more vigilant.

Here are four steps you can take to minimize drift potential and to avoid product contamination.

1. Monitor Wind Speed

“Keep in mind, when you’re making those applications, wind speed has a huge role in off-target movement,” says Greg Kruger, cropping system specialist at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As wind speed doubles, off-target movement at 90 feet downwind increases 700%, says Kruger.
“There is no substitute for common sense. If the wind is blowing, droplets will move,” says Kruger.

2. Manage Boom Height

Doubling the boom height from 18 inches to 36 inches can boost off-target movement 90 feet downwind by 350%, says Kruger. “The higher the boom, the longer it takes for the droplets to reach the ground,” he says.

Kruger says you should monitor speed. As it increases, so does the boom height, generally. “As you go faster, boom height goes up, but so does drift potential,” he says.

3. Maintain Distance From Susceptible Vegetation

If downwind distance is doubled from 100 to 200 feet, just 20% as much drift exists at 200 feet as at 100 feet, Kruger says.

4. Control Droplet Size

You can’t control wind direction, neighbors, or wind speed, but you can control droplet size. “One of the easiest things you can do is to control the pressure,” Kruger says. By dropping the pressure to create larger droplets, you will significantly reduce drift potential.

It’s a Balancing Act

New nozzle designs are specifically built and engineered to reduce drift, says Bob Wolf, co-owner of Wolf Consulting and Research in Mahomet, Illinois. Reducing drift is a necessary part of an effective application, but there are trade-offs.

“When selecting a nozzle, consider both drift potential and the ability of the nozzle to provide proper coverage to control weeds or targeted pests,” says Wolf.

Selecting the right nozzle to provide proper coverage for optimal pest control while simultaneously minimizing spray drift with larger drops is a balancing act.
That’s your challenge: to find the proper droplet size.

“Nozzle selection has the greatest influence on particle size. The nozzle type you select is going to be the biggest way you can change the droplet size and drift potential,” says Kruger.

Nozzles that worked well with older chemistries won’t necessarily provide the same coverage with new chemistries.

“Most labels are going to have some sort of indication in terms of spray nozzles,” Kruger says. BY KACEY BIRCHMIER.

ANTICIPATING THE JUNE 1ST CORN STOCKS ESTIMATE.

The USDA’s release of the Quarterly Grain Stocks report on June 30 will provide an estimate of corn stocks in storage as of June 1, 2017. Since many of the consumption categories for corn can be derived from data provided during the marketing year, this estimate provides the ability to calculate the magnitude of feed and residual use of corn during the third quarter. The calculation offers the basis for evaluating the probable feed and residual use during the entire marketing year and imparts information on the potential size of ending stocks. While the information imparted by the June Acreage report released on the same day will likely eclipse the Quarterly Grain Stocks report, the estimated corn stocks have important implications for the current marketing year.

The supply of corn available during the first half of the 2016-17 marketing year is the base for estimating June 1 stocks. Corn stocks at the beginning of the quarter were estimated at 8,616 million bushels in the March Grain Stocks report. Currently, the Census Bureau estimates for corn imports are only available through April. In the first half of the marketing year, corn imports totaled 26 million bushels. Imports for the third quarter might have been around 12 million bushels. By combining imports with the beginning stocks, total available supply for the second quarter comes in at 8,628 million bushels.

An estimate of corn exports for the third quarter is based on the cumulative weekly export inspections estimate available for the entire quarter. Cumulative marketing year export inspections through May totaled approximately 1,738 million bushels. During the first eight months of the marketing year, total Census Bureau corn exports were greater than cumulative export inspections by 45 million bushels. Assuming the margin is maintained through May, corn exports through three quarters of the year equaled 1,783 million bushels. Since exports in the first half of the marketing year totaled 1,095 million bushels, the estimate for third-quarter corn exports equals 688 million bushels.

The Grain Crushing and Co-Products Production report released on June 1 estimated corn used for ethanol and co-product production during March and April of 2017 at 893 million bushels. Weekly estimates of ethanol production provided by the Energy Information Administration indicates ethanol production increased by 5.5% in May 2017 from the preceding year. By calculating the amount of corn used to produce ethanol from these May numbers, corn used for ethanol production in May was approximately 449 million bushels. Total use for the quarter is estimated at 1,342 million bushels.
Corn used to produce other food and industrial products during the 2016-17 marketing year is projected at 1,470 million bushels by the USDA. Using historical corn use data, typically around 75% of the final marketing year food and industrial products use occurs in the first three quarters of the marketing year. If this historical pattern holds and the USDA projection is correct, corn use for the first three quarters of the marketing year totaled 1,102 million bushels. Corn use during the first half equaled 689 million bushels, which set the third-=quarter use estimate at 413 million bushels.

The current USDA projection for feed and residual use sits at 5,500 million bushels. The historical pattern of feed and residual use in corn may provide some indication of the third-quarter use. For the five previous marketing years, use during the first three quarters of the marketing year ranged from 90.5% to 94.2% of the marketing year total with an average of 91.6%. Third-quarter feed and residual use ranged from 15% to 21% of the total use over this time span. For this analysis, the 91.6% average during the first three quarters of the previous five marketing years is used to calculate expected feed and residual use during the third quarter. If the USDA projection is correct, feed and residual use during the first three quarters of the 2016-17 marketing year totaled 5,038 million bushels. Feed and residual use equaled 3,797 million bushels in the first half. Therefore, the third-quarter estimate totals 1,241 million bushels.

By adding the estimates for exports and domestic uses, the total use of corn during the third quarter is estimated at 3,684 million bushels. The total use estimate for the third quarter places June 1 corn stocks at 4,944 million bushels. At this level, June 1 stocks come in 222 million bushels larger than the estimated 2016 June 1 corn stocks.

A June 1 corn stocks estimate that supports the USDA projection of 5,500 million bushels of feed and residual use during the 2016-17 marketing year is considered neutral for corn prices. An estimate of corn stocks that deviates more than 100 to 150 million bushels from market expectations would provide an indication of changes in domestic feed and residual and alter expectations for ending stocks. This analysis indicates an estimate near 4,944 million bushels should not change expectations that feed and residual use is on track to meet the marketing year projection. BY TODD HUBBS

TOP 7 AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF TURMERIC.

Antioxidant

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which is known as a powerful antioxidant. This means it targets dangerous free radicals in the body and reduces the damage they are able to cause DNA and cells. When cells are healthy the body is healthy, which means turmeric offers general wellness benefits, as well as targeting specific health problems.

Anti-Inflammatory

Curcumin also has anti-inflammatory qualities. This makes it effective for fighting heart disease, osteoarthritis pain, and other health problems related to inflammation (researchers believe there are many links between inflammation and chronic illness). Curcumin is believed to reduce certain enzymes in the body known to trigger inflammation.

Heart Health

Turmeric reduces the risk of blood clots and prevents the build up of plaque in the arteries, which helps in the battle against stroke and other clot-related problems. There are also studies showing turmeric is beneficial for reducing bad cholesterol and improving good cholesterol, both of which play a role in a person’s heart health.

Slows the Progression of Alzheimer’s

Researchers studying the effects of curcumin in relation to Alzheimer’s cite the health of those living in regions that consume turmeric in high quantities. People in India aged 70 and older have a much lower rate of Alzheimer’s disease than those in the same age group in the United States. Many believe this difference is due to the high intake of Indian curries, which are made with turmeric. Further research points to turmeric’s ability to remove amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain, which is believed to put people at risk for developing the Alzheimer’s.

Natural Painkiller

An article in the July 2009 issue of Time magazine points to a study conducted at the University of Arizona. Researchers found rodents injected with a material known to cause joint pain suffered less when the injections were paired with curcumin. The article also cites anecdotal evidence singing the praises of turmeric for fighting a variety of pain that would otherwise be treated with over-the-counter pain medication.

Skin Health

Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory benefits can be beneficial when applied topically, too. It is considered an effective treatment for psoriasis and other skin disorders, and it is a natural antiseptic and can be used to treat burns and cuts.

Cancer Fighter

The jury is still out on just how effective turmeric is for fighting cancer. Some health experts point to its anti-inflammatory benefits and draw conclusions based on the link between inflammation and the development of cancer. Free radicals and cell damage are believed to be linked to cancer, too, so if turmeric is able to work as an antioxidant it has a secondary anti-cancer effect.

According to well-known holistic health practitioner, Dr. Andrew Weil, turmeric reduces the carcinogenic compound that form when meat is fried, grilled, or boiled by up to 40%. Dr. Weil also believes turmeric is effective for fighting melanoma and in halting the spread of breast cancer.

There are also preliminary studies showing turmeric could be beneficial for preventing breast, prostate, skin, and colon cancer. Since turmeric is safe and offers a variety of general heath benefits, you have nothing to lose by adding it to your diet in moderate amounts. If you plan to use concentrated doses of curcumin in your cancer treatment plan, be sure you inform your doctors to prevent any interference with other components of your treatment. NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

SIX HIDDEN HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHERRIES.

With a wide range of health benefits, cherries -- and more specifically, tart cherries -- are an oft-overlooked superfoods. But whether it's insomnia, joint pain or belly fat you're dealing with, cherries may be just what the doctor ordered. Here's why.

Cherries battle belly fat. Researchers found that tart cherries have significant weight management benefits for animals, including reduced belly fat. In the study, rats that received whole tart cherry powder mixed into a high-fat diet didn't gain as much weight or build up as much body fat as rats that didn't receive cherries. Their blood also showed much lower levels of certain inflammation markers linked to heart disease and diabetes. And, in addition, they had significantly lower blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides than their cherry-deprived counterparts.

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Cherries cut your chance of getting gout. If you have ever felt the agonizing pain of a gout attack (swollen toes and all) it quickly becomes something you don't want to experience again. For gout sufferers, tart cherries may be another solution to add to their anti-gout arsenal. A 2012 study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism found that patients with gout who consumed cherries over a two-day period (yes, just two days!) showed a 35% lower risk of gout attacks compared to their fruit wary counterparts. In addition, the risk of gout flares was 75 per cent lower when cherry intake was combined with the uric-acid reducing drug, allopurinol. And if you are wondering if you will have to start your own cherry farm, the participants consumed just ½ cup (or 10-12 cherries) up to three times per day.

Cherries combat post-workout soreness. Find yourself having trouble walking down the stairs (or even sitting down) after a hard workout? If you're looking for a healthy way to fight post-exercise soreness, cherries fit the bill. Studies suggest a cup and a half of tart cherries or one cup of tart cherry juice can significantly reduce muscle inflammation and soreness (remember that a good workout actually causes muscle damage, resulting in inflammation).

In one study a group of marathon runners drank tart cherry juice or a placebo drink twice daily for seven days prior to their race. The cherry juice group reported significantly less post-race muscle pain. Remember to have it immediately post workout (i.e. with your whey protein) when your muscles are primed to absorb excess insulin in the bloodstream.

Cherries provide natural osteoarthritis relief. If you can't shake the pain and discomfort of swollen joints and you are frustrated with the side effects of the standard prescription of ice and NSAIDs you can choose to stock up on tart cherries either in juice, pill or fruit form.

In a study of twenty women ages 40 to 70 with inflammatory osteoarthritis, researchers found that drinking tart cherry juice twice daily for three weeks led to significant reductions in important inflammation markers - especially for patients who had the highest inflammation levels at the start of the study, It certainly beats the side effects of many pain medications.

Cherries reduce stroke risk. Researchers from the University of Michigan Health System found that tart cherries provide cardiovascular benefits equal to some medications, and can improve the result even when taken with prescriptions. They believe that anthocyanins -- the pigments that give the tart cherries its red color -- may activate something called PPAR in bodily tissues, which in turn regulate fat and glucose levels and therby reduce risk factors for high cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes. Not a bad gig for such a small fruit!

Cherries help you get some sleep. Perhaps the most common complaint that I hear from new patients has to do with sleep. Whether it stems from unbalanced hormones, excess stress, a busy mind or unhealthy habits, a large portion of us are left tossing and turning each night in desperation--but cherry juice could help. In one study participants drank 30ml of cherry juice 30 minutes after waking and 30 minutes before their evening meal, thereby boosting their exogenous melatonin intake by 85mcg/day.

The results? There were significant increases in time in bed, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency total with cherry juice supplementation. So reach for some cherry juice instead of the sleeping pills! I recommend drinking half to one cup an hour before bed. NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

7 HEALTH BENEFITS OF EATING PINEAPPLE

Pineapples are some of the most popular tropical fruits in the world. They are sweet, juicy, and delicious. More importantly, they are very healthy and nutritious. It is no wonder many people who want to have a healthy lifestyle include these fruits in their diets. To know more about them, here are some of the many health benefits of eating pineapples.

1. Packed with Vitamins and Minerals

Pineapples are loaded with vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. It is also rich in fiber and calories. On top of it all, this fruit is low in fat and cholesterol. All the nutrients it contains promote good health.

2. Prevents Cough and Colds

Since pineapples are rich in vitamin C, it can fight off viruses that cause cough and colds. Even when you are already infected with such ailment, pineapples can help you. These fruits have bromelain, which is effective in suppressing coughs and loosening mucus. Eating pineapples while taking the right medications prescribed by the doctor for your sickness can help you recover more quickly.

3. Strengthens Bones

Pineapples are also popular for their ability to build and maintain strong bones. This is because these fruits contain manganese, which is a trace mineral that your body needs to build bones and connective tissues. In fact, if you consume a cup of pineapple, you can already get 73 percent of your total body requirement for manganese.

4. Keeps Gums Healthy

People are always very concerned with their teeth that they sometimes fail to give importance to the gums, which are equally essential since they hold the teeth in place. If a person has unhealthy gums, his/her teeth would be in bad condition, and eventually will fall out. Eating pineapple will strengthen your gums that will help keep your teeth healthy and strong.

5. Lowers Risk of Macular Degeneration

Pineapples are known to prevent different kinds of ailments. One example is macular degeneration. This disease, which is the primary cause of vision loss in adults, is caused by damage to the retina. Reading, recognizing faces, and doing daily activities can become a lot more difficult because of this problem. Including pineapple in your diet can lower risk of this disease by as much as 36 percent. This is because this fruit contains beta carotene that is good for our sense of sight.

6. Alleviates Arthritis

Since these fruits have anti-inflammatory qualities, eating pineapples can greatly alleviate the pain of arthritis while at the same time improve the condition by strengthening the bones. Apart from arthritis, it can also improve other similar conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and gout.

7. Improves Digestion

Bromelain found in pineapples work to neutralize fluids to ensure that they are not too acidic. It also helps regulate the secretions in the pancreas to aid in digestion. Apart from that, since bromelain has protein-digesting properties, it can keep the digestive track healthy. NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

9 AMAZING BENEFITS OF WATER MELON

The health benefits of watermelon include the prevention of kidney disorders, high blood pressure, the prevention of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, heat stroke, macular degeneration and impotence.
The question is, why is there so much craze for the watermelon? At first glance, it may seem like nothing more than a big ball of water.  We all know that there is nothing more refreshing than a big, chilled wedge of watermelon on a hot, summer day and it does sport a stylish scientific name of Citrullus Lanatus, but what’s the real reason so many people flock to grocery stores every summer to buy a big, awkward fruit like this one? Well, it is hard to narrow it down to a single reason; there are actually a lot of them.

Watermelons are considered a vine-like flowering plant that is actually native to Southern Africa, and it is there that the wild varieties are in the greatest abundance, ranging from super sweet to bitter, and varying in size as well. They moved north to Egypt, and were cultivated in the Nile River Valley, and eventually moved east into China, roughly 1,000 years ago. Now, watermelon is grown around the world, and in 44 of the 50 states in America. It is specifically selected to grow larger and juicier, resulting in the huge fruits that many of us are familiar with. The green outer rind is hard and fleshy, and rarely eaten, while the interior is soft, red or pink flesh containing the many seeds; this is the part of watermelon which is typically eaten.

As for accessing the total medicinal benefits of watermelons, it is highly dependent on the variety of watermelon and the ripeness. Beta carotene and lycopene is usually bio-available in the highest quantities once the watermelon is completely ripe, and don’t be afraid to eat some of the watermelon rind; there are quite a few nutrients in there as well, particularly the roughage and fiber.

Nutritional Value of Watermelon

The long list of healthy or beneficial effects of watermelons are mainly derived from its unique nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds. These include significant amounts of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, fiber, protein, and a very large amount of potassium. Furthermore, they contain vitamin A, vitamin B6, niacin, thiamin, and a wide variety of carotenoids and phytonutrients, including lycopene!
These components of watermelons contribute to its major impact on health; let’s explore some more details of those benefits below.

Health Benefits of Watermelon

Kidney Disorders: Watermelons contain a lot of potassium, which is very helpful in cleaning or washing out the toxic depositions in the kidney. Moreover, it is helpful in reducing the concentration of uric acid in the blood, thereby reducing the chances of kidney damage and the formation of renal calculi in that organ. Added to this, being high in water content, it induces frequent urinating, which is again helpful for cleaning of the kidneys. Also, the anti oxidants present in watermelon ensure good health of the kidneys for a long time, and reduce signs of premature aging like wrinkles and age spots on the skin.

Prevents Heat Stroke: Watermelon is effective in reducing both your body temperature and blood pressure. Many people in tropical regions eat this fruit every day in the afternoon during the summer to protect themselves from heat stroke. In India, you will find the fruit being sold by vendors in almost every street during the summer season. The high amount of water contained in watermelon also stimulates a release of excess liquid in the form of sweat, which cools your body further during hot summer days.

High Blood Pressure: The good amount of potassium and magnesium that is present in watermelons is very beneficial in terms of bringing down blood pressure. Potassium is considered a vasodilator, meaning that it releases the tension of blood vessels and arteries, thereby stimulating increased blood flow and reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system. The carotenoids present in these fruits also prevent hardening of artery walls and veins, thereby helping to reduce blood pressure and the chances of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and atherosclerosis.

Prevents Cancer: Watermelons have been in the public eye more and more in recent years, primarily because of their impressive level of lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient compound that is increasingly being linked to cancer prevention. As the years go by and the studies continue to bring in consistent results, lycopene has been shown to significantly reduce the risks of prostate, breast, colon, lung, and endometrial cancer. All in all, between the antioxidant potential of vitamin C and the impact of lycopene, watermelon is a great anti-cancer fruit!

Diabetes: Diabetic patients, who are supposed to have a low energy and low sugar diet, often complain about starving since they don’t get to eat their staple diets, which gives them the feeling of being half fed. Watermelons can be a good supplement for them. In spite of being sweet in taste, a thick wedge will give you very few calories, since ninety nine percent of its total weight is composed of water and roughage. Moreover, the various vitamins and minerals such as potassium and magnesium help in proper functioning of insulin in the body, thus lowering the blood sugar level. Arginine, another component found in watermelons, is very effective at enhancing the impact of insulin on blood sugar. Diabetic patients can also have curries, steaks, and salads made from water melon rinds, which are even lower in sugar.

Heart Care: Lypocene, a carotenoid found in abundance in watermelon, improves cardiac functions. Beta carotene, known for its remarkable antioxidant and anti-aging properties, also keeps you young at heart and prevents age-related cardiac problems. The roughage in water melon and its very low energy, along with help from vitamin-C, carotenoids and potassium (potassium cuts the risk of a heart attack), helps to reduce cholesterol and keep your heart safe from a variety of dangerous conditions.Macular Degeneration: Don’t worry about eye health and macular degeneration if you eat plenty of watermelon, because between the beta carotene, vitamin-C, lutein, and zeaxanthin, your eyes are well protected. They will ensure protection of your eyes from age-related blindness and degeneration, and these antioxidants will protect your eyes from other age-related ailments such as drying up of eyes and optical nerves, as well as glaucoma.

Impotence: Arginine, present in watermelon, is beneficial in curing erectile dysfunction, and the stimulating nature of the chemical can boost libido, reduce frigidity and give a kick start to your love life, after you enjoy a few slices of watermelon together!

Other Benefits: Lypocene is found to be effective in repairing damaged tissues. Watermelon seeds are rich in beneficial fats and proteins. Watermelons also contain phytonutrients which have very good effects on the health and proper functioning of internal organs, eyes, and the secretion system.

One of our visitors Berrada Ali wrote “I have been traveling from Agadir to Marrakech in Morocco yesterday (August 8, 2008), and en cours de route, I bought a watermelon. During a hot dog day, I don’t feel good. I measured my blood pressure with a handy apparatus -a tension meter- the result was: 7.8/15.2 for diastolic and systolic pressure. Then, I ate half a kilogram of watermelon, of a variety well known in the region of Southern Morocco – a Mediterranean variety. Almost immediately, I measured my blood pressure and the result was: 8.2/12.3 for diastolic and systolic pressures! The drop in my blood pressure could not be the effect of any agent other than the watermelon!” NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

KOLA NUTS: WHAT RE THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS

You may be surprised to learn that the kola nut (aka kolanut) is the origin of the word “cola,” and the tree on which it grows is believed among some Nigerian tribes to be the first tree on earth. This nut is how the first cola recipe received its caffeine kick -- along with real coca leaves. No wonder people thought it was “medicinal.” Today, your typical cola recipe uses an artificial flavoring plus added caffeine, but you can still find real kola nuts being used in higher end sodas, in products like energy bars, and as a natural medicinal remedy. 

The kola nut, also know as cola acuminate, is a caffeine-rich nut that is native to tropical Africa. In these regions, the nut is considered a symbol of hospitality and kindness. Though nearly tasteless on their own, kola nuts are often chewed before meals to help promote digestion and to help counteract possible ill effects from tainted drinking water.

Kola nut is a stimulant in its own right, containing 1.5% - 2% caffeine, plus theobromine, which increases cerebral circulation. Theobromine is the alkaloid compound that can be found in chocolate and is thought to contribute a sense of alertness and well-being. This combination of caffeine and theobromine may be a contributing factor for the mild sense of euphoria that’s often reported after chewing the nuts.

In addition to being a stimulant, kola nut can help increase oxygen levels in the blood and promote better concentration and a “clearing” of the head. Kola nut also serves to "drive" other herbs into the blood. It is why you will see this ingredient used in Jon Barron’s tinctures -- to help increase the effect of the entire formula, such as his Men’s Formula and Women’s Formula.

The kola nut may also help prevent and fight infections. Research published in the 2004 edition of “Phytotherapy Research” showed that kola nut was effective at reducing the growth and development of members of the mycobacterium species, the bacteria responsible for illnesses such as meningitis and tuberculosis.

One of the oldest medicinal uses for the kola nut is to use it as a natural remedy for chest colds. And modern research has shown that it is effective in this regard. The kola nut helps by enlarging the alveolar ducts and sacs (small air bags in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with the blood), as well as by improving the strength of the fibers in the lung tissue.

Kola nuts may even offer a natural weight loss benefit. In a study published in the Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences, it was found that steady intake of kola nut by rats can actually reduce food intake, and therefore body weight, without altering water intake. This is thought to be due to the caffeine in the nuts reducing the rats' appetites. Other studies have found that intake of kola nut can increase the body's metabolic rate by as much as 118%. Kola nut extracts also contain nonsteroidal plant compounds that have the ability to induce death of cancerous prostate cells and may modulate prostate growth and function.

 Kola nuts are often ground into a powder. Because the whole nut stores caffeine much better than the powder form, it is recommended that the nut be ground right before use or preserved in tincture form. Kola nut powder can be added to coffee to increase the caffeine content, and can also be drunk in tea. The powder is also sometimes taken in capsule form. NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

LIGHTHIZER WARNING: BUY GMOs OR EXPECT A FIGHT.

The Trump administration will attack overseas regulations that restrict the export of GMO crops and other products resulting from American technological innovation, said U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer at the first meeting of a newly created interdepartmental task force on rural America. “We are going to bring cases at the WTO and other venues, we’re going to insist that any barrier be science-based, and the United States will increase exports,” he said.

For decades, U.S. policy has called for international trade rules to be based on fact rather than prejudice. The agribusiness community often points to science-based regulation as a way of removing obstacles to the export of genetically engineered crops. While dozens of reviews have maintained that GE crops are safe to eat, they still face significant public opposition in Europe and other places.

President Trump’s executive order creating the task force directed it to look for legislative, regulatory, and policy changes that promote agriculture, including those that “advance the adoption of innovations and technology for agricultural production and long-term, sustainable rural development.” The order identified 13 areas for examination. First on the list is removing “barriers to economic prosperity and quality of life in rural America.” Second is the advancement of agricultural technology.

Lighthizer said one of the top priorities for his office is the removal of trade barriers that cannot be defended scientifically. Exports generate 20¢ of each dollar of U.S. farm income. If other countries unfairly block U.S. exports because of the technology behind them, he said, “there is a reluctance to incorporate that technology into our own production at home.”

U.S. officials routinely urge other nations to approve commercial sales of biotech crops. In the past couple of years, China has been accused of dragging its feet on the approval of new U.S. GE strains. Corn prices in this country fell when China rejected more than 1 million tonnes of U.S. corn earlier this decade because the cargoes included an unapproved GMO variety from Syngenta. In a class-action lawsuit currently under way in Kansas City, farmers have blamed Syngenta for selling the seed, approved by U.S. regulators, before it was cleared by China for import.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who chairs the task force, said rural America lags urban areas in recovering from the 2008–2009 recession. One in four rural children lives in poverty, the highest rate in three decades, he said. “The president understands that prosperity and recovery have not been uniform. … We’ve got technology issues, we’ve got infrastructure issues, we’ve got health issues.”
One in seven Americans lives in rural areas. “We understand that rural development is not urbanization,” said White House agriculture adviser Ray Starling. The task force, he said, will focus on “taking what we have in rural areas and making it more prosperous.”

Perdue announced that the task force will have four working groups and that its members will represent 22 federal departments and agencies. He gave the task force an October 22 deadline for a report. “It will be an operational plan,” he said, with proposals that can be put to work. “The president is very expectant of action.”

The task force plan “can be informative and consultative with going forward in the [2018] farm bill,” Perdue told reporters afterward. Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Housing Secretary Ben Carson, White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, and Lighthizer sat with Perdue at the head table for the task force’s first meeting, which took place in the glass-roofed “patio” of the USDA administration building. Deregulation was a common theme in their remarks. BY CHUCK ABBOTT.

PERDUE NAMES LEADERSHIP IN ACTING ROLES AS USDA REORGANIZATION TAKES SHAPE.

(Washington, DC, June 16, 2017) – Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today named three individuals who will take on leadership roles as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues the reorganization announced on May 11, 2017.  In accordance with a directive in the 2014 Farm Bill, USDA created a new Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs as part of a realignment of several mission areas.  The reorganization also included a reconstituted mission area reporting to a newly-named Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation.  The U.S. Forest Service, given its size and importance, will be the only agency to report to the Under Secretary for National Resources and Environment.  For these three mission areas, Perdue has named Acting Deputy Under Secretaries, who will serve in their roles until the Senate confirms permanent presidentially-nominated appointees.

“Today we continue our progress of making USDA the most effective, the most efficient, and the best managed department in the U.S. government,” Perdue said.  “These three career USDA employees have already shown the leadership and expertise needed to deliver the highest quality service to our customers – the people of American agriculture.  I welcome them to the leadership team and I thank them for their dedication to agriculture.”

Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs

Jason Hafemeister, until now serving as the Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, will now be Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.  He has been involved in agricultural farm and trade policy for over 25 years, including almost 20 at USDA and with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.  Hafemeister’s responsibilities have included serving as the lead U.S. negotiator on agriculture in the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Doha Round negotiations, the Central America Free Trade Agreement, and China’s accession to the WTO.  He was instrumental in finalizing the recent agreement to allow the importing of U.S. beef to China.  Hafemeister received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley, a master’s degree from the University of California at San Diego, and a law degree from Georgetown University.

Agricultural trade is critical for the U.S. farm sector and the American economy as a whole.  U.S. agricultural and food exports account for 20 percent of the value of production, and every dollar of these exports creates another $1.27 in business activity.  Additionally, every $1 billion in U.S. agricultural exports supports approximately 8,000 American jobs across the entire American economy.  As the global marketplace becomes even more competitive every day, the United States must position itself in the best way possible to retain its standing as a world leader.

Farm Production and Conservation

Dr. Robert Johansson will serve as the Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, while also concurrently remaining USDA’s Chief Economist, a position he has held since July 2015.  Since 2001, he has worked as an economist at USDA, in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget, and at the Congressional Budget Office.  In 2011 he was appointed senior economist for energy, environment, and agriculture on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers where he also participated in the White House Rural Council and the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Dr. Johansson served as Deputy Chief Economist at the USDA from 2012 to 2014.  He received B.A. in economics from Northwestern University and then served with the U.S. Peace Corps as an extension agent in several African countries from 1990 to 1995.  After returning to his home State of Minnesota, he entered the graduate program in Agricultural Economics at the University of Minnesota and received his M.S. in 1997 and Ph.D. in 2000. His research has spanned a wide range of issues, including biofuels policy, water quality and quantity policies, regulatory economics, food security, and regional modeling of agricultural systems.

The Farm Production and Conservation mission area will focus on domestic agricultural issues.  Locating the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service under this domestically-oriented under secretary will provide a simplified one-stop shop for USDA’s primary customers, the men and women farming, ranching, and foresting across America.

Natural Resources and Environment

Dan Jiron will fill the role of Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment.  With more than 29 years of public service and natural resources management, Jiron was appointed Associate Chief of the Forest Service in July 2016.  Prior to this appointment, Jiron served in many leadership positions, including Regional Forester of the Rocky Mountain Region; Deputy Regional Forester in the Pacific Southwest Region; Forest Supervisor of the Santa Fe National Forest; District Ranger on the Salt Lake Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; District Ranger on the South Park Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forest, Comanche, and Cimarron National Grasslands; Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs of the Intermountain Region, National Press Officer in Washington, D.C.; and aide to United States Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado.  Jiron earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and a Master’s degree from Regis University of Denver.
Under the reorganization plan, the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment will retain supervision of the U.S. Forest Service.

Rural Development

As previously announced, Perdue has named Anne Hazlett to lead the Rural Development agencies at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Hazlett, whose title will be Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, will oversee the Rural Utilities Service, the Rural Business Service, and the Rural Housing Service.  She most recently served as Chief Counsel to the Majority on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Hazlett’s position represents an elevation of Rural Development, which had previously been in the portfolio of an under secretary, who in turn reported to the deputy secretary of agriculture.  Instead, Rural Development will now report directly to the Secretary of Agriculture. BY SUCCESSFUL FARMING STAFF.

SOYROY: MY DADS FARM REMAINS SUSTAINABLE.

My parents bought the farm, where I now live, in the late 1940s.

Having just survived the Great Depression and the greatest drought in 100 years, my dad was understandably conservative in many ways.

The farm he bought was quite hilly with many erosion problems that made farming difficult. However, my dad was anxious to make improvements as soon as the finances would allow. It was not long before government programs started, so it was possible for my dad and others in his situation to get cost-sharing on erosive land to implement needed improvements.

I jokingly tell people that I farm in a place where 7% slope is considered flat. That is not too far from the truth.

Dad was aggressive in getting his conservation practices under way. He was the first in the area to install terraces on the hilly fields. He did the work himself with a borrowed disk plow behind his Oliver 70.

It was not many years until neighboring farmers saw the advantage of terraces drained by grass waterways. Ditches disappeared. Runoff from fields was virtually reduced to an acceptable level. The improvements worked notwithstanding the cost of installation and upkeep. Distances between terraces were not enough to be an issue when farming the odd-shape fields.

The first fields were planted using two-row equipment. That machinery was gradually replaced with four-row planters and cultivators.

Finally, a switch was made to six-row, 30-inch production equipment. This worked well for a long time, because there was just enough room between terraces to plant two rounds or 12 rows between the shortest terrace channels.

Some time later, there was a major switch to no-till, which also changed the row-spacing issue. For a long time, most farmers were content with the old planting patterns.

This changed in the decade 2000. Planting equipment, several times as large, made it possible to cover considerably more land in the same amount of time.

By this time, tillage equipment had almost disappeared from the scene in many locales. However, the environment in the fields did not necessarily mature along with the other crop inputs and production machinery. The larger machinery made it possible to cover up the erosion damage caused by the farmers who were planting and spraying erodible land. Modern application equipment made it possible to replace nutrients lost to erosion.

Sadly, many of the recent innovations have been neutralized by planting too much too fast. At some point, the farming business is going to pay for being in too much of a hurry.

But for now, when a quick thunderstorm went through Cass County, Nebraksa, on Thursday and dropped 1.3 inches of rain, the value of conservation structures and practices was again illustrated in a big way. BY ROY SMITH.

RECENT CATTLE MARKET MOVES SUPPORT TAKING ACTION, ANALYST SAYS.

The cattle market has been entrenched in an uptrend since last October, accelerating upward in recent months.

Cash prices remain active and demand strong. The U.S. dollar is trending lower, and there is renewed optimism that export activity will stay strong. This is due, in part, to exports to China (something that has not occurred since 2003). At the same time, recent technical activity suggests futures may have topped.

Chart activity shows upward price acceleration and a key reversal. A bearish key reversal is when the market trades to a new high, exceeds the previous day’s trading range, and finishes below the previous day’s close. In other words, a wider trading range and a negative finish.

August live cattle futures recently posted a very prominent bearish key reversal. In addition, a double-top is also in place. A double-top is when a market establishes a contract high, corrects downward, rallies back to the previous high, and then fails.

August futures peaked at $127.50 on May 4, dropped to under $117.00 by late May, only to rally back to $127.65 on June 6, the day prices peaked and posted the bearish key reversal. Since then, August futures has dropped and is trading under $118.00.

It may be difficult to execute strategy with current future prices well below the current cash market. Current cash prices may be as much as $15.00 or $20.00 higher than deferred futures.

Keep in mind that futures contracts reflect future price expectations, and not today’s cash market. Price charts can often aid in the decision to move forward with strategy. The recent signals are really nothing more than the reflection of market participants anticipating future price expectations. Heed the chart warnings.

Two strategies come to mind: Sell futures and purchase a call option. Or, purchase a put, which provides a price-flooring mechanism and leaves the upside open for price appreciation. These two strategies accomplish the same basic task of shifting risk, should prices move lower.

While no strategy is perfect, doing nothing works extremely well as long as prices trend higher. However, when prices trend lower, doing nothing can be an extreme strategy that allows for the absolute worst outcome.

The key is a balanced approach, shifting risk with the right tools at the right time. Recent technical signals in the cattle market suggest it is time to take action.
 
Futures trading is not for everyone. The risk of loss in trading is substantial. Therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
 
Futures and options trading involve significant risk of loss and may not be suitable for everyone. Therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Hypothetical performance results have many inherent limitations. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown. No representation is being made that scenario planning, strategy or discipline will guarantee success or profits. The data contained herein is believed to be drawn from reliable sources but cannot be guaranteed. Reproduction of this information without prior written permission is prohibited. This material has been prepared by a sales or trading employee or agent of Stewart-Peterson and is, or is in the nature of, a solicitation. Any decisions you may make to buy, sell or hold a futures or options position on such research are entirely your own and not in any way deemed to be endorsed by or attributed to Stewart-Peterson. Stewart-Peterson refers to Stewart-Peterson Group Inc. and Stewart-Peterson Inc. Stewart-Peterson Group Inc. is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as an introducing broker and is a member of National Futures Association. Stewart-Peterson Inc. is a publishing company. A customer may have relationships with both companies. Accordingly this email is sent on behalf of the company or companies providing the services discussed in the email. BY BRYAN DOHERTY.

EYE ON AGRICULTURE: FRESH FOOD FOR ALL AT STICK AND STONE FARM.

For farmers Chaw Chang and his wife and business partner, Lucy Garrison, not only does the term describe the Full Plate Farm Collective they’re a key part of, it’s also an accurate snapshot of their daily lives. With four children ranging in age from infancy to ten years old, the two are continuously working, both on the agricultural and the home front.

Stick and Stone did not start out looking the way it does today, Chang recalled. When he and Garrison purchased the land on Route 96, between Jacksonville and Ithaca, it was brushland that hadn’t been farmed in years. Today, certified organic vegetables like green beans, winter squash (including butternut, acorn, spaghetti and delicata), beets, carrots and cooking greens (such as kale and collards), along with a selection of Asian vegetables and greens, are raised on the Ulysses farm and acreage in the neighboring community of Enfield.

“We grow a lot of things that people haven’t tried before or might not have even heard of,” Chang said. “We’re a conduit for people to feel like they have a connection with farming.”

Chang asserted that Stick and Stone, with the various ways they market their crops, is one of the most diversified farms in the area. For example, rather than operating as an individual CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), the farm is a key part of Full Plate Farm Collective, a multi-farm collaboration. This works well for the farms involved because it lets them each focus on a specific set of crops, rather than needing to grow everything themselves, and share other resources like equipment.

Additionally, having a CSA allows Chang and Garrison to acquire more capital in the beginning of the growing season. Having this cash flow has allowed them to take more risks and increase the scale of their farming.

“I’m not sure I could, or would have, gotten a loan for that amount of money from a bank,” he elaborated.

Stick and Stone sells their produce wholesale too. Chang was one of the first farmers to reach out to local restaurants, encouraging them to include fresh, local vegetables on their menus. Since then, Stick and Stone has expanded their wholesale market to include Wegmans and GreenStar Natural Foods Market.

Their third vegetable venue is the Ithaca Farmers Market, during both summer and winter.
“The Farmer’s Market gives us another outlet for our products,” Chang said. “Having multiple outlets ensures that we will sell all the vegetables we grow.”

Because vegetables are highly perishable, they have to be sold quickly for a farmer to make money. Unfortunately, he observed, lots of vegetable farmers go out of business because they grow more than they can sell.

Keeping their main focus on the Tompkins County area was a mission-driven decision for the couple.
“We like having the CSA so we can feed the people in our community directly,” Chang noted.
Chang and Garrison also try to keep the emphasis on face-to-face, or phone, interaction with their consumers and buyers. They purposely chose not to have an individual website for the farm (though Full Plate Farm Collective has one), are minimally involved with Facebook, and don’t feel a need to increase their presence on social media.

“Maintaining and paying for these doesn’t interest us,” Chang said. “We want to engage with the community in a real, personable way rather than a virtual one.”

In another value-driven decision, Full Plate Farm Collective has partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension in a non-profit program called Healthy Food for All. The program enables WIC and Food Stamp-eligible households to purchase a farm share at half the regular cost and receive fresh, quality vegetables each week. HFFA participants can take advantage of free cooking classes to gain skills and learn how to prepare the variety of produce in their share.

Chang is a strong advocate for land stewardship, serving on the Tompkins County Farm Bureau and the Agriculture Committee for the Town of Ulysses. The town is updating their zoning laws and he wants to ensure that the new laws are ag-friendly and that local farmers are represented fairly.

Another issue that is on his mind is climate change, which has led to more extreme weather in recent years and has had a significant impact on farming as a whole. Climate change has already resulted in huge, unpredictable losses for farmers, he said.

“We’ve had two 100-year floods and one of the worst droughts on record,” Chang said. “What should have happened in 500 years, has happened in three to four years.”

Rain is the biggest problem, he contended, both in terms of crops and the surrounding environment. More rain requires farmers to do more cover cropping and use more drain tiles in their fields. This converts what would have been ground water into surface water, resulting in more water in the surrounding ditches which then overflow and cause damage to the roads. Other problems include more leaching of nutrients from the soil and increased insect and disease pressures on the crops.

Many people seem to think life is easy for today’s farmers, Chang observed. However, this simply isn’t true. He and Garrison have to deal with all sorts of modern-day work problems, including taxes, regulations and workers’ compensation. A farmer needs to be well-versed in all aspects of business, technology, science and human resource management, along with having a complex understanding of plants and animals.

“We’re not specialized like other professions,” he said. “We need a broad knowledge base. Most people don’t have this complexity of knowledge.”

Chang has clearly put a lot of thought into why farming is such a good fit for him personally.
“I’m production, rather than service-oriented,” he said. “I’m independent. I like to feel like I’m being productive every minute I’m working.” BY SUE HENNINGER.

TRUMP CONSIDERS ALLOWING IN ARGENTINE BIODIESEL, BEEF.

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- President Trump has conditioned the entrance of Argentinian biodiesel and beef into the American market.

In May, the U.S. officially announced that it suspected antidumping of Argentinian biodiesel, and it would suspend those biodiesel imports until it ends an investigation.

Separately, Argentina’s beef had a prior allowance for imports set by the Obama administration, but it is now under revision by Trump’s White House.

In the meantime, as the Argentinian authorities pressure to get the biodiesel barrier lifted, U.S. officials have come up with a trade compromise.

The U.S. is willing to reopen its borders to Argentina’s biodiesel if that South American country approved seed developed by U.S. companies on a quicker time frame.

The deals that could theoretically hurt domestic sales for U.S. meat producers and impact the U.S. biodiesel market are seen as two very differrent cases, according to Don Roose, president of US Commodities Inc. (West Des Moines, Iowa).

The trade practice is seen as unfair on biodiesel imports, as the U.S. program was to be a program to use oil products – not end products – to meet the standards. Thus, the imports of U.S. vegoil will probably need to increase to satisfy the biodiesel mandate. The beef imports from Argentina are a completely different situation. For now, the U.S. believes the trade practices are fair, explains Roose in an email to Agriculture.com.

The conditions, confirmed by U.S. Trade Secretary Wilbur Ross, are the faster approvals of seed and changing the criteria for the releases. The result of those negotiations would be known after a meeting between Ross and Argentina Production Minister Francisco Cabrera.

The government of Argentina already sent a bill to Congress last year with a new seed law that would get faster releases and would enforce payments of royalties. Currently, Argentinian farmers are not used to paying royalties when they do personal use of the seeds they grew. The new law would impose fines.

Regarding the biodiesel dispute, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus, the same companies that have biofuel plants in Argentina and the U.S., have issued arguments in favor of the imports, testifying in the case at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

For both companies, the American biodiesel market grows because of the official mandate of incorporating biofuels and the imports are in line to follow U.S. legislation. They do not see any “unfair competition.”

Nearly 90% of Argentina's biodiesel exports go to the U.S. with a value of $ 1.2 billion in 2016. The sales had grown 150% in that year compared with 2015.
“The biodiesel industry in Argentina would be seriously hurt if the U.S. decides to cut biodiesel imports,” analyzed Pablo Adreani, a market expert from AgriPac, a consultancy in the city of Córdoba, for Agriculture.com. Even with the investigation, the imports continued this year with a volume of 504,000 metric tons. For Adreani, the imports would continue until a decision is made and would reach 608,840 tons by the end of June.

Argentinian beef was banned in the U.S. in 2001 because of a mad cow disease outbreak of that time.The average volume exported annually was 35,000 tons with a quota of 20,000 tons duty-free. The beef was then used for hamburgers, but experts now see a possibility of exporting higher value and niche products, like kosher. BY LUIS VIEIRA.

THE U.S DOLLAR IS LOWER, HELPING AG COMMODITIES PUSH HIGHER.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The CME Group’s farm futures finish off the daily highs, but still stronger, as extreme heat forecasts heat up risk premium talk.

At the close, the July corn futures finished 4 1/4¢ higher at $3.77 1/4, while December futures closed 3 3/4¢ higher at $3.95 3/4.

July soybean futures settled 1 1/2¢ higher at $9.23, November soybean futures closed 3 3/4¢ higher at $9.31.

July wheat futures finished 6 1/4¢ higher at $4.35 3/4.

July soy meal futures finished $0.50 per short ton higher at $301.10. July soy oil futures closed $0.08 higher at 31.39¢ per pound.

In the outside markets, the Brent crude oil market is $0.74 per barrel higher, the U.S. dollar is lower, and the Dow Jones Industrials are 24 points lower.

Michael Rusch, Sales Director- Ag/Commercial | Stewart-Peterson, says that the corn futures are staging a rally, sending contracts through their range highs that served as a resistance barrier since early March.

"Dec corn is making the biggest technical move, up 6 cents to 3.98, above its double top at 3.95-3/4. Jul corn is up 6-3/4 cents to 3.79-3/4, eclipsing that contract’s range high of 3.79-1/2,” Rusch says.
Rusch adds, "Dryness in ND and SD supporting spring wheat, funds heavily short, dollar index making new lows, above normal temps in the forecast for the next 2 weeks. Our advisors were a bit surprised expecting corn to be lower due to better than expected crop conditions yesterday.Double digit gains in wheat and soybeans are also noted."

“We believe that this is a sign of long-awaited short-covering by the funds as weather forecasts begin to warrant weather premium across the grain and oilseed complex,” Rusch says.

Crop progress is adequate, but widely variable following a delayed planting program in the eastern Corn Belt, and now drying conditions in the central and northern Corn Belt, Rusch says.

Soybean futures jumped higher in early trade, as contracts attempt to climb back to their previous trading ranges following a price fallout to end the month of May, Rusch says.

Jul beans peaked at 9.34-1/4 on gains of 9-3/4 cents; Nov got to 9.39-3/4 on gains of 11-3/4 cents before stalling.

“High heat forecast for the Dakotas and depleted top soil moisture being reported in NE and IA where emergence in some counties is already questionable, is supporting today’s market strength. The revival precedes Friday’s USDA monthly Supply/Demand reports,” Rusch says.

Monday’s Grain Market Review

On Monday, the CME Group’s farm markets close up slightly.
At the close, the July corn futures settled ¼¢ higher at $3.73, and December futures finished 1¢ higher at $3.92.

July soybean futures finished ¾¢ higher at $9.22; soybean futures settled 2½¢ higher at $9.28.
July wheat futures finished unchanged at $4.29.
July soy meal futures closed $1.30 per short ton lower at $300.60. July soy oil futures closed 0.30¢ higher at 31.31¢ per pound.

In the outside markets, the Brent crude oil market is 36¢ per barrel lower, the U.S. dollar is lower, and the Dow Jones Industrials are 7 points lower.
Pete Meyer, PIRA Energy grain analyst, says the markets seem to be struggling for new information at the moment.

“Additionally, the heavy supplies from South America continue to limit any upside, despite concerns over eastern Belt wetness and dryness in the Plains,” Meyer says.

On Monday, private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture export sales of 120,000 metric tons of soybeans for delivery to unknown destinations. Of the total, 60,000 metric tons is for delivery during the 2016/2017 marketing year, and 60,000 metric tons is for delivery during the 2017/2018 marketing year.

The marketing year for soybeans began September 1. BY  MIKE MCGINNIS.

FARMLAND SALES HARD TO FIND AS GROWERS HOLD TIGHT, KEEPING LAND VALUE FAIRLY STABLE.

Four years ago there wasn’t enough farmland to go around. Growers were looking to expand their holdings, outside investors who’d never set foot in the state of Iowa much less in a cornfield, and people looking to bolster their retirement funds were snapping up land as fast as aging farmers hoping to spend their retirement on a Florida beach could sell it.

It was a perfect storm for both sellers and buyers.

Things are much different today, brokers told Successful Farming. Demand is still strong, but nobody’s selling as land values have declined amid falling crop prices, leading to what dealers are saying is the fewest available farms for sale in a generation. That, in turn, has kept prices afloat despite declining crop futures.

“We don’t have very much for sale,” said Sam Kain, the national sales manager for Farmers National in West Des Moines, Iowa. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years and this is as few as I’ve ever seen. Farmers had a few good years, the conservative ones anyway, were able to put money aside and now there’s no pressure to sell, at least not for the time being. All we’re seeing selling is estates.”

The lack of available land has kept the price of farms up despite corn prices being down by more than half from their peaks in 2012. The average per-acre value of farmland in the U.S. in 2016 was $3,010 an acre, down from only $3,010 an acre the prior year.

In Iowa and Illinois, the biggest producers of both corn and soybeans, the average price of farmland was $7,850 and $7,400, respectively. The value in Iowa fell 1.9% year-over-year while Illinois prices declined 1.3%. Missouri and Wisconsin land values rose while those in Minnesota and Indiana were unchanged.

“The lack of supply is keeping farmland values fairly stable,” said David Klein, the vice president and managing broker of Soy Capital in Bloomington, Illinois.

Land values are holding steady likely because farmers who saw they could get $12,000 an acre for less-than-stellar land in 2012 or 2013 are now only being offered $8,000 to $10,000. While that would’ve been a pretty penny prior to the boom five years ago, it doesn’t carry the same luster it once did.

The good news for farmers looking to purchase more land is that their competitors – investors – aren’t in the market right now because the rate of return on the land isn’t strong like it was in 2012 when corn and soybean prices were high, Klein said.

That means some farms, though many with marginal land, can be had for a decent price. Also popular is land on which wind farms can be built, especially in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, said Klein.
“The biggest price decreases have been in the farmland that’s kind of like a fixer-upper house, which can use some cleaning up and has drainage issues or needs conservation work to give it some curb appeal,” he said. “The I-states have a lot of expansion projects going on right now. If you took a flight to central Illinois just north of Decatur, there are wind turbine foundations being built.”

Companies are building wind farms in northwestern Iowa, and more are on the way, Klein said.
Real estate industry professionals said the best bet for growers who want to expand their holdings by purchasing land close to their current farms is getting to know their neighbors in case something comes available. Hiring a broker also doesn’t hurt because they have resources most people don’t.
It’s unlikely, however, that growers will find many good deals in the current environment of strong demand and little availability, said Ernie Goss, an economics professor at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

Goss said surveys conducted by his department are showing that farmland prices will hold up better than income as commodity futures likely won’t rise much for at least a couple of years unless there’s a significant weather event. Foreclosures haven’t increased to an alarming degree, so those waiting for their neighbors to throw in the towel might have to wait a long time.

It’s likely those who want to buy farms and have a chance to do so know they aren’t getting the best deal in the history of land transactions, but many are willing to spend the money to get what they want as long as the land is close to their current holdings and decent quality.

Demand for land likely will stay strong for a while as long as interest rate are still low and consolidation within the industry continues, Klein said. That means those hoping to expand will have to keep a keen eye out for anything in their area that becomes available since their neighbors are holding tight to their farms.

“Overall, farmland values have remained stable through the first half of the year,” Klein said. “Stabilizing crop prices, limited supply, and low interest rates are contributing to land prices stabilizing, as are areas that have alternate uses rather than just agricultural. The highest quality square tillable farms are selling very well, but there are so few available.” BY TONY DREIBUS.