It is said that 'knowledge is the bedrock of existence'. As such, this blog serves to freely inform the general public about the importance of agriculture. The blog also serves to educate people on the different products that could be used on plants and animals to boost their growth and minimise loss and mortality.
Case IH is giving producers new options for connecting their operations to trusted advisers this spring. Offered through AFS Connect data sharing, Case IH is collaborating with four cloud-based agronomic decision-making companies that will allow producers to wirelessly transfer two-way data between the Case IH AFS Connect farm management system and third-party service providers. These include Decisive Farming’s My Farm Manager, DuPont Pioneer’s Encirca services, Mapshots’ AgStudio, and AgIntegrated’s OnSite technologies.
“Producers have indicated that they want seamless, secure transferability of agronomic data between their machines and their trusted advisers,” says Leo Bose, Case IH AFS marketing manager. “These new service providers, along with the AFS Connect data sharing feature provide just that, allowing producers to make the most of their agronomic data and drive daily management decisions.”
Bose also says that Case IH plans to add more data-sharing service providers in the future. Agronomic service providers interested in learning more can visit developer.cnhindustrial.com.
SERVICE PROVIDER BREAKDOWN
My Farm Manager. This web platform focuses on precision agronomics, crop marketing, and information management services that are geared toward farm profitability, sustainability, and ease of use. My Farm Manager connects producers and service providers, including agronomists, grain elevators, and equipment dealers, with sensors and data to manage and optimize the entire farming operation.
Encirca. This service from DuPont Pioneer combines the latest technologies for weather, soils, and agronomy with a producer’s field operations data to comprehensively manage whole-farm practices. These proprietary analytics and a personal adviser help producers make timely management decisions to control costs and maximize crop yields.
AgStudio. This MapShots software features powerful, yet easy-to-use tools for managing large amounts of agronomic crop production data. From automating soil testing to planning and recommending variable-rate fertility and seeding, AgStudio software is a crop record-keeping and agronomic data management software for producers and their advisers.
OnSite. These technologies from AgIntegrated enable the flow of information between disparate system software, data, and equipment. Custom apps streamline the collection of as-applied, as-planted, and yield files in order to facilitate the transfer of prescription files to equipment in the field.
Learn more by contacting your Case IH AFS certified dealer or by visitingcaseih.com/afs.
No one knows tool or shop supply innovations better than farmers. That’s why we asked a team of farmer handymen to evaluate a toolbox of shop advances that are typically only marketed to other industries for this Successful Farming Product Test Team report.
ELECTROMAGNETIC DRILL PRESS
Bobby Huffman has a lot of favorite tools. “I’m a tool junkie,” the Edina, Missourian admits. “I have a lot of tools I love, but I’m very partial to my magnetic drill press.”
The tool that Huffman refers to is designed for the construction trades for drilling holes in I-beams, framework, and bridges. These drills employ an electromagnet on their base, which, when activated, attaches the tool to metal with a strength that makes it impossible to remove manually.
The drill Huffman put to work, an Evomag42, offers nearly 2,900 pounds of magnetic strength. “It will not move, even when used vertically to drill through thick steel,” Huffman testifies. Case in point, he had used the Evomag42 to drill 15⁄8-inch holes through vertical I-beams being used to make a homemade hydraulic press. “The holes it drilled (using annular bore cutter bits) are dead-on round and smooth. No burrs are left when it’s finished,” he notes.
As for its use on farms, Huffman is convinced this is a tool operators would use and wonder how they got along without it. The Evomag42, which is part of a line of electromagnetic drills from Evolution Power Tools, has a ¾-inch arbor that accommodates either up to ½-inch-diameter twist bits or 15⁄8-inch annular cutters. The tool’s rated drilling depth is 2 inches. The Evomag42 sells online for between $585 and $774.
THERMOMETER GUN
James Fred had been using a cheaper remote temperature-sensing device that “proved handy for mechanical work,” says Fred, who is part of Fred Farms near Rochester, Indiana. “I didn’t realize its limitation until using a more advanced gun like this.”
The gun he is referring to is the 12-voltDeWalt Max Infrared Thermometer, which provides an accuracy of ±1.5% to gauge temperatures from -20°F. up to 932°F. from an area that is 1½ inches in diameter from as far away as 12 feet. What sets this DeWalt gun apart from the previous temp device Fred was using is the fact that it offers visual and audio alarms to alert the user to a problem. Plus, it features LED hot and cold spot indicators. “With it, I could sweep the gun across an area to pick up hot spots, for example,” Fred explains. “Plus, I can customize that hot-cold alarm setting to a range. So if I were looking for a bearing that was getting hot on an operating machine, I could narrow the range to eliminate high temps (given off by an engine, for example) to readily find that problem bearing.”
The other feature Fred appreciates about the advance temp gun is that it has data storage for recording temperature readings. “I can compare the temperature of a bearing with other bearings, for example. The laser spotting light makes it easy to pinpoint exact locations from a distance. I could use it to get a reading off of an engine radiator if I was double-checking the temperature gauge on an engine. Other times, I used it to get a rough reading of building temperature by spotting the exhaust fans in my dairy barns,” he notes.
The 12-volt DeWalt DCT414S1 includes a color-coded display, audio alarms, and backlit screen so it can be easily read in any light condition, including those in full sunlight. The device retails for $128.99 for the gun alone or $209 for the gun, battery, and case.
PORTABLE BAND SAW
Corded portable band saws have been a staple in the building trades for years. Recent advances in battery capacity and motor ability (due to brushless motors) by Milwaukee have created a cordless band saw that readily fits the portable needs found on farms.
“This tool is so impressive in what it can do in the field,” says Tom Boswell of Rezac Land & Livestock near Onaga, Kansas. “It is a serious tool that makes surprisingly quick work of cutting metal.”
Boswell and his crew put the Milwaukee M18 Deep Cut Band Saw to the test in a wide variety of jobs on their operation. “It came in particularly handy when we used it to erect a grain leg and bin this past summer,” he says.
In that regard, Boswell points out that the saw ran nearly all day between charges even with constant use. “It certainly has the power to lug through any cutting job,” he says. “The Milwaukee blades that come with the saw are very impressive.”
A huge feature of the Milwaukee design is its industry-leading 5×5-inch cutting throat. “That comes in handy when making fence with well-drilling pipe,” Boswell notes.
The 15-pound saw runs off an 18-volt, 4-amp-hour battery that powers a Powerstate electronically controlled brushless motor at speeds up to 280 feet per second. The suggested retail price for the saw alone is $546 or $1,019 with two batteries and a case. The tool carries a five-year warranty.
SUPER MAGNETIC JIGS
Designed for professional welders, Magswitch’sPivot Angle 200 and Multi Angle 1000 MagVise are two devices that are surprisingly strong, easily adaptable to a wide variety of uses, and could quickly become as necessary as C-clamps on a farmer’s welding table, Bobby Huffman observes.
“To be honest, I really didn’t think I’d use them that much,” he admits. “But as I put them to use during the evaluation, I quickly found that they became my go-to welding jigs.”
Part of an extensive line of super-magnetic devices sold by Magswitch, the Multi Angle 1000 boasts a holding strength of up to 1,000 pounds on thick steel by twisting a handle, yet it only weighs 3½ pounds. The tool provides multiple common angles to accommodate most welding approaches.
“When I turned that handle, it was stuck down tight. Even a big guy would be hard pressed to move it,” Huffman says.
The Pivot Angle 200 didn’t offer as much holding power (up to 200 pounds of magnetic strength), but it features a pivoting joint that allows the jig to be positioned at any angle from between 25° and 270°. The elbow joint locks and unlocks quickly with a lever.
“It certainly was easy to position and was dead-on when it came to holding at a precise angle,” he says.
Twisting levers engage individual magnets of the Pivot Angle, which are located at either end of the arms (silver items in the image). Those magnets are designed to hold flat, round, and odd-shape pieces.
“I was surprised by the strength of the magnets. Although they were weaker than the Multi Angle, they still held steel in place for welding, drilling, cutting, or grinding,” Huffman says. The Multi Angle 1000 retails for $174.99; the Pivot Angle 200 sells for $410.
LEAF BLOWERS ON STEROIDS
Cory Hall and his son Bryson (Bryson is shown below) were dubious about a leaf blower having any use on the farm. “Oh boy, the one we tested could do far more than just blow leaves around,” Cory says. “I can definitely see it being useful to blow off a combine or to clean out a truck box or shop floor without having to drag cords or an air hose around.”
The blower that the Winterset, Iowa, farm team evaluated was introduced a year ago by WORX as part of a line of yard tools powered by that company’s new 56-volt battery advance. The blower, tabbed the Turbine, turns out a blast of air at 125 mph at volumes up to 465 cubic feet per minute (cfm).
That doesn’t compare to the pressure turned out by an air hose nozzle. But, as Cory notes, the WORX Turbine is cordless, plus it weighs just over 8 pounds. “I was really surprised when I picked it up – it was so light,” Bryson notes. “I didn’t expect much at first, but when I used it to blow corn out of a truck box, it was blasting kernels feet away.”
The Turbine is one of two high-voltage cordless blowers on the market. Echo is selling a 58-volt blower that turns out a 120-mph blast at a volume of 450 cfm. Both the Echo and WORX blowers employ brushless motors that are noted for converting more battery power to work.
“Full blast was impressive,” Cory notes. “But I liked the fact that I could vary the airflow with a speed control in case I was in a confined area and didn’t want to blow up so much dust or when just moving a light load of dirt or debris.”
One of the unique features of both the WORX and Echo blowers is that they consume air from the back of the tool through a fan for a direct stream. Typically, leaf blowers suck in air from their sides, which can hinder flow. This flow feature, combined with the higher battery capacity, results in their higher air velocity.
“I was definitely impressed in that regard,” Cory says explaining that he could effectively clean off a combine and its engine cavity at the end of the day. The WORX Turbine retails for $199.95, including a battery, charger, nozzles, and three-year warranty.
FAST-FIX HYDRO HOSE
For the past year Jerl Joseph, who farms with his son, Eric, near Hampton, Nebraska, has put to the test a hydraulic hose repair product designed for the mining, logging, and electrical utility industries. The Quick-Fix kit offers thermoplastic hydraulic hose (either 3⁄8- or ½-inch diameters) that doesn’t require an expensive crimper to make repairs. “Instead, you use this high-density plastic two-piece holding die that is clamped down with a C-clamp or a locking pliers,” Joseph explains. “The kit includes a hose cutter that is similar to that used to cut PEX plumbing pipe except it’s more heavy duty.”
When making a replacement, he explains that you cut the length of hose needed with the cutter. “Quick-Fix said it didn’t leave debris or frayed edges behind, and so far the cutter works as they said it would,” Joseph says.
Next, the end of the hose is clamped into the die and the appropriate coupling is screwed into the hose using an open-end wrench. All the couplings that come with the kit are reusable, which certainly is a big advantage to the system, Joseph notes. “There is a two-part fitting. You screw the first portion of the fitting into the hose. Then you use two open-end wrenches and screw in and tighten the second part of the fitting.”
The manufacturer claims that a person can make a replacement hose in around 10 minutes. “The first time I used the system, it was maybe more than that as I got used to making a repair,” Joseph says. “But after that, I could make a replacement in that 10-minute time.”
One of the hoses Joseph created was a replacement for a conventional hose that ruptured on a tractor loader. “That is some pretty hard use for a hose – loader work, that is,” Joseph adds. “That hose has been in use a year or more with no problems.” Nitta Corporation guarantees its 3⁄8-inch hose has an operating pressure of 3,480 psi, and the ½-inch size withstands up to 2,900 psi. “All hoses have a minimum burst pressure of four times their recommended operating pressure and an operating temperature range of -40°F. to 212°F.,” adds Larry Johnson of Nitta. “The fitting and adapters that come with a kit cover the vast majority of needs on farm machinery.”
The ½-inch hose kit Joseph tested retails for $329; the 3⁄8-inch kit sells for $299.
INSPECTION CAMERA
James Fred always wanted a mechanic’s inspection camera (borescope), but he could never convince himself to make the investment.
“Knowing what I know now about their usefulness, I would buy one,” Fred says talking about his review of the DeWaltMAX 9MM inspection camera. “First off, I was surprised how sharp the images were from such a small camera. These images were in color, as well.”
This particular DeWalt borescope employs a 9-millimeter camera positioned at the end of a 3-foot-long flexible cable. Color images are displayed on a 3½-inch screen, which is detachable. “I really appreciated that feature,” Fred points out. “I could take the screen off and set it down for easy viewing while manipulating the cable (as he does in the above image with the screen resting on the tractor tire).
“The camera has three times the zooming capacity, so I can zero in on a problem once I find it. The only improvement is that I would have liked the camera lighting to be brighter.”
Another feature Fred likes is the ability to record the video or still images on an SD card. “I can look at larger images on a computer screen, which is really revealing for when I’m looking inside an engine,” he says.
DeWalt offers cameras with 5.8- and 17-millimeter lenses. The 9-millimeter model DCT411S1 kit evaluated by Fred retails for between $260 and $390 online (includes a battery, charger, and inspection tools).
FARMERS ON COMMODITY CLASSIC PANEL SHARE WAYS TO BREAK THROUGH YIELD BARRIERS.
Ever wonder how to break though yield barriers? Or maybe how to tweak your crop rotation to make sure it’s firing on all cylinders? A panel of farmers at an event sponsored by Stoller at this week’s Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, did just that.
1. Plant Soybeans Early
So far, a warm winter in many areas may give you the idea to pull out your planter this month. Don’t.
Still, you may be able to plant soybeans earlier than you think. Dan Arkels, Peru, Illinois, has planted soybeans in northern Illinois as early as April 17. That’s two weeks earlier than what is considered normal in that area.
Planting soybeans by that date – protected from early-season stressors by a seed treatment – gets plants off to an early start in soaking up sunshine and churning out photosynthesis. “The faster you can get (to the point) where the plant is blossoming by June 21 (summer solstice), the better off you will be,” Arkels says. In the case of the April 17 planting, plants were setting blossoms by June 9, he says.
Just don’t go overboard. “I would not plant earlier than April 15 in my area,” Arkels says.
2. Scout, Scout, Scout
During the growing season, Zack Rendel, Miami, Oklahoma, checks his fields several times a week. A drone is a tool that enables him to do this. “It can warn you if something bad is going on in the field,” he says.
Still, he says a drone is no substitute for getting out and walking fields. “There are some things that I can’t see with a drone, so I still need to get boots on the ground,” he says.
3. Plant On-Farm Test Plots The Right Way
Perry Galloway, Gregory, Arkansas, has lots of on-farm tests plots on his farm. It enables him to evaluate products touted by companies for performance on his farm. He does it on one condition, though. “If I do it, companies have to be there. I have a lot to do (during test-plot establishment),” he says. Company reps who assist during this busy time can help ensure the test plot is established correctly so it can yield accurate results.
“One way I learn is by side-by-side evaluations with different products,” adds Arkels.
4. Feed Your Corn Several Times
“I am a firm believer in multiple applications (of nitrogen) on corn and not a lot at one time,” says Arkels. “You get the most bang for your nitrogen (N) dollar that way.” Arkels applies liquid UAN preplant and then sidedresses N up to V8 corn, and then he often comes back with a foliar application later in the season.
Manure is also a valuable tool. “Our fields are heavily manured from a nearby dairy,” says Steve Albracht, a Hart, Texas, farmer. Besides fertility, manure also aids soil health, he says. “We have seen it increase organic matter and water-holding capacity,” he says.
5. Scrutinize Your Crop Mix
Low corn prices are making sorghum viable again in some areas. “A lot of people consider sorghum the red-headed stepchild of crops,” says Rendel. “They just put it out and go.”
Managed properly, though, grain sorghum can play a valuable role in a crop rotation. It’s particularly important to manage it through sugarcane aphid outbreaks with an insecticide, he says. “Sorghum is very similar to corn in how we treat it,” he says. “If we get a drought in mid-August, it will push through and yield. It is a drought-tolerant crop.”
The Federal Government has assured stakeholders in the poultry industry that it is committed to providing them relief measures.
The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, according to a release signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Laolu Akande gave this assurance during a second meeting held within a week with the stakeholders in the ailing agricultural sub sector.
The poultry industry has been bedeviled by an outbreak of Avian Influenza which affected almost 4 million birds in 2015, among other challenges.
“The poultry industry is a local industry that needs to be protected urgently,” the Acting President said at the meeting where specific measures were tabled and considered on how the FG can be of help.
Osinbajo noted that the poultry industry should be a major plank of the agriculture sector even as he assured that the government would give it all the help it deserves.
He maintained that support for the local industry would check poultry related importation which is currently a drain on the country’s Foreign Exchange could be a thing of the past.
The leader of the delegation of the Poultry Association of Nigeria at the meeting, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, remarked that poultry contributes 25% of the Agricultural Gross Domestic Product of the Nigerian economy which amounts to N1.6Trn.
The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has urged all social societies, clubs and council of Chiefs in Egbaland, to develop strategies to utilise the huge export potentials in agricultural products common in the area.
The monarch gave the directive in his closing remarks at the Seminar tagged “Self reliance through agriculture for a secured future” held at Centenary Hall, Abeokuta on Wednesday, in continuation of the week-long Globacom sponsored 2017 Lisabi Festival.
Oba Gbadebo said Nigeria should produce her food to reduce her dependence on some foreign food items, adding that products like black soap, coconut oil, shea butter, livestock and plantain chips were lucrative agro businesses that could be profitably invested in.
Other speakers at the seminar called on households to be involved in livestock, fisheries, horticulture and food crop production, noting that home backyards should be utilised for agricultural purposes.
The panelists who lauded the partnership between Lagos and Kebbi State governments which led to the Lake rice initiative, advised other states to emulate such partnership in order to harness Nigeria’s vast arable and fertile land to feed ourselves.
The panelists included Animal Scientist, Dr. Olukemi Adenusi, Prof. Lukman Aderibigbe, Prof. Funmilayo Adebambo and a Director in Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. A.O. Ajayi, while the Ogun Area Manager, Globacom, Mr. Femi Iwalaye; represented the company at the event.
As the co-owner and sales manager of Crop Copter, Brett Haas has worked with UAV users nationwide to capture accurate data that is timely.
“In the past, we have struggled to cover the acres in a day needed to use UAV imagery in a scalable way,” says Haas, who is also a central Illinois farmer. “We knew we needed to cover more ground and fly more hours in a day, but the quality of the data and accuracy couldn’t be compromised.”
Rather than build a longer-flying UAV, the latest version of Crop Copter’s EZ Health 4.0 can now capture images at speeds in excess of 70 mph while still maintaining image quality and spatial accuracy. The company has integrated this NDVI camera onto the DJI Inspire 2, which can travel up to 58 mph. By combining EZ Health with an Incident Light Sensor, it can use more of the daylight hours to gather data than the typical 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. recommended window for NDVI flights.
“This idea of speed vs. size has been extremely successful in planter technology during the last couple of years, and we knew it would work,” says Haas. “We can essentially cover twice the acres with the same accuracy and image quality and fly earlier and later in the day.”
EZ Health will continue to use its own software, allowing for immediate on-site processing of data.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- If you gauge this year’s Commodity Classic by the attendance of nearly 9,400, America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show sure seems like another successful event.
At times, walking the aisles, watching the ‘full house’ attendance at the Ag Connect stage that Successful Farming helps operate and visiting with farmers from around the country and world, it gives the feeling that agriculture is in a boom stage.
Even some seed and grain equipment dealers were reporting very strong business results, so far this year.
The sentiment at this year’s winter convention seems to be measured but optimistic.
2017 could be a make or break year for some farmers, but most believe they will be planting corn again in 2018.
Scott Wettstein, Lidgerwood, North Dakota says that according to the stats given here at the Commodity Classic, farmers are all optimistic about the future of agriculture.
“After the Presidential election and last year’s good crop, apparently has something to do with that. Personally, I’m optimistic that we are going to raise another nice crop like last year,” Wettstein says. “I’ve been saying this for three years, but I’m thinking there is going to be another opportunity to sell corn above breakeven.You have to be ready to jump on that.”
Wettstein adds, “This low price environment is pushing us back to old-school farming. We have to do everything right. You can’t just plant it and go to the lake.” I’m optimistic that we will make it through another year. it’s not going to be easy. You’re not going to be able to plant the crop and forget about it.”
Bob Huttes, a Roca, Nebraska, farmer that grows corn and soybeans, says while he remains an optimist, he senses an uneasiness amongst farmers at this year’s Commodity Classic.
“Things are not good out there in farm country. Everyone that I know have cashflows that are suffering. It’s about as bad as I’ve ever seen it. I have farmed through some difficult livestock times, but we made it through somehow. And I’m hopeful for the future of agriculture,” Huttes says.
However, the southeast Nebraska farmer admitted that his operation just bought another farm and is investing in technology, for the first time.
“We’re late innovators. We’re adopting the global positioning systems into our tractors with auto steer. This is all happening as one generation of our family is handing the operation to the next generation,” Huttes says.
Mark Westfall, a Woodstock, Ohio, farmer says that he has always noticed in his career that challenging economies can be looked at with optimism.
“There is more opportunity in tough times than there is good times, if you are financially solid. During those good times, everybody is bidding against you to buy anything and everything,” Westfall says.
Wasteful adds, “I’ve been farming for 47 years, and our biggest strides forward have been in really difficult times."
It’s looking more and more like the new farm bill will be a blessed one.
It’s been well reported that Sonny Perdue, the candidate for the position of USDA Ag Secretary has prayed for rain for his farmer constituents. His friends describe him as “a good Christian fella.”
Now, Mike Conaway, House Ag Chairman, addressing farmers at the Commodity Classic convention, received multiple ovations openly discussing his reliance on God to help folks in agriculture endure the tough economic times.
“I live a Judeo-Christian model. Jesus Christ is my personal savior. I try to live up to it everyday, and we all need to – for our country and the world,” Conaway says.
“To keep this Republic, we need to focus more on the core values that build this country. We need to take inventory of our blessings. Can God bless the 54 million babies aborted in this country? Can God bless the language used in our society that comes out of Hollywood that we call entertainment?” Conaway asks.
He and his wife attended the latest women’s march in Washington, D.C.
“It was a great event that was tainted by the signs that women were wearing describing body parts. This was a crude, krass way imaginable. Think about the deterioration of the family unit and the impact this behavior has on our young children,” Conaway says.
As he claims his confidence in completing a new farm bill in 2018, on time for the first time in 16 years, with meaningful reforms made to current programs and attention given to Midwestern and Southern farmers alike, Conaway paused to bless a sneezing reporter.
On regulatory relief, Conaway pointed out that God started us all out with 10 regulations, why add more?
The Texas congressman then reminded the audience that the top 20% of the U.S. socioeconomic level spend more on food than the bottom 20% population of the socioeconomic level make in disposable income.
“The families who I am going to be focused on are the bottom 20%, when constructing the farm bill. We have the most affordable food supply in any developed country. I am not going to screw that up,” Conaway says.
It’s the single mom, living paycheck to paycheck, regardless of being on food stamps or not, that Conaway will be thinking about while working on a new farm bill.
“I think that we have a good ally in the White House. President Trump has said time and time again that he wants a farm bill done on time,” Conaway says.
NO DRAMA
Conaway is going to work real hard to construct a farm bill without the drama, he told a general session of the farmer’s convention, Commodity Classic in San Antonio.
“If you want the drama of short-term program extensions or expirations and permanent law – all that drama that we normally get on the farm bill – then I need you to go to a different theatre,” Conaway says.
The certainty of farmers to be able to give their bankers and creditors that next five-year look is important. "Colin Peterson, House Ranking Member, and I are committed to getting it done on time. We will need the public’s health to get the Senate moving forward," he says.
FARM BILL SPECIFICS
With a low commodity price environment, Conaway sees it easier to explain to lawmakers of the importance of a farm bill safety net than it was in 2014.
There is support to get a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and a farm bill done, Conaway says. “If it is easier to get them done together, we’ll get them done together. If they have to be done separately, we’ll do that instead," Conaway says.
Conaway added, “The only people I’ve talked to who want to separate the two are people who want to kill the farm program.”
Going forward, Conaway needs the commodity groups to get their policy wishes to him. Getting new money will be hard to get, the Texas Congressman admitted.
Listening sessions will be held for farmers as the year progresses.
FARM BILL OBSTACLES
One of the roadblocks to getting the farm bill pieced together will be a proposal by House Speaker Paul Ryan for welfare reform in 2018. Because the SNAP program is a large piece of welfare reform, it will be part of that process.
Other specific fixes to the current farm bill involve cotton, dairy, and the county-by-county variability factors of the ARC crop insurance program.
“We’ve put in a budget request for the same amount of funding that was used for the 2014 Farm Bill. We have to respect that the country is $20 trillion in debt. If somebody is going to ask me for new money for something, they will have to tell me how we are going to pay for it,” says Conaway.
Tax reform is a big issue to tackle. “I would ask to keep your powder dry on tax reform; we don’t know the details on the new Administration’s tax program," Conaway says.
On trade, it’s imperative that President Trump’s trade advisers get on top of this issue.
“Trump's top trade advisers told me that even though the imbalances of import trade have been the focus, they realize that exports have an impact on the trade deficit. I nodded in agreement and said, ‘There you go,’ ” Conway says.
Climate change remains one of the greatest challenges of the present age even as its effects and threats continue to plague the nation’s ecosystem. However, plans are underway by the Federal Government to issue a $20 billion bond to raise funds to tackle these challenges in the country.
This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr Bukkar Hassan, during the ministry’s 2017 budget defense with the House of Representatives committee on climate change in Abuja.
Hassan said the ministry would execute 31 projects nationwide with each of the six geopolitical zones getting its own fair share of the projects.
Speaking on this budgetary allocation, the Chairman of the committee, Sam Onuigbo expressed that the N8.1 billion set aside to combat climate change in the budget was insufficient.
According to Onuigbo, “Nigeria’s investment pales rapidly into insignificance” when compared with the budgetary allocations of other countries for climate change.
“We have noted with profound concern that modest amount deliberately set aside by the budget office for agencies to tackling climate change and also lay the foundation for the nation to benefit from investment opportunities that abound in this exercise”, he added.
He however informed that the National Assembly was working on a bill to make the Executive arm create an enabling regulatory framework to facilitate investment in climate change.
Meanwhile the World Bank has said that Nigeria needs about $140 billion by 2030 to effectively take action on climate change.
The Practical Manager, Africa Environment and Natural Resource at the World Bank, Benoit Bosquet, who disclosed this during a Climate Change Knowledge Immersion workshop organised by the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment informed that measures should be taken urgently to address this challenge as agricultural production in many regions will decrease in many regions due to temperature, desert warming and rising of the sea level.
Speaking further on the impacts of climate change, Bosquet noted that the underprivileged in the society were likely to suffer the aftermaths more, particularly women, children and elderly citizens.
According to a report posted on the website of the United Nations for Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), world food prices rose slightly in February, boosted in particular by cereals.
FAO Food Price Index averaged 175.5 points in February, its highest value in almost two years, marking a 0.5 percent increase from its revised January value and 17.2 percent above its February 2016 level.
“The FAO Cereal Price Index rose 2.5 percent from January, led by increasing prices for wheat, even as maize and rice prices also posted modest increases” the report revealed.
The increase pushed food prices on international markets to their highest level since February 2015.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index bucked the trend, declining 4.1 percent amid slowing global import demand for palm oil, along with higher soy crop forecasts for Brazil and Argentina, two important exporting countries.
According to FAO , meat Price Index rose 1.1 percent, buoyed by higher bovine meat prices as ranchers in Australia rebuilt their herds. The Dairy Price Index rose slightly, led by butter and whole milk powder.
“The FAO Sugar Price Index rose 0.6 percent in February, as ongoing supply tightness in Brazil was only partly offset by expanded beet plantings in the European Union” it said.
FAO on thursday also released its first forecast of global wheat production in 2017, projecting 744.5 million tonnes, which would signal a 1.8 percent decline from its record 2016 level.
