3 Big Things Today, February 11

Grains, Beans Slightly Lower in Overnight Trading; Perdue Receives Vilsack Backing. 

1. Grains, Beans Lower Overnight as Stronger Dollar Furthers Export Concerns

Grains and beans were modestly lower overnight, reversing earlier gains, as the value of the dollar rose, curbing purchasing power for overseas buyers.
The value of the dollar was up 0.4% in overnight trading. A stronger greenback effectively makes products traded in the U.S. currency more expensive for importers.

Investors are already concerned about exports as South American production ramps up and the Trump administration exits the Trans Pacific Partnership and considers revamping the North American Free Trade Agreement, which will curb demand for U.S. products.
Corn futures for March delivery fell a penny to $3.58¾ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Soybean futures declined 2½¢ to $10.22 a bushel overnight. Soy meal futures lost $1.80 to $332.80 a short ton, and soy oil rose 0.1¢ to 33.95¢ a pound.
Wheat for March delivery declined 2¾¢ to $4.18 a bushel in Chicago, while Kansas City futures fell 3½¢ to $4.26 a bushel.
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2. Perdue is First Trump Nominee to Receive Endorsement From Predecessor

Secretary of Agriculture nominee Sonny Perdue became the only Trump cabinet nominee to receive an endorsement from his predecessor when Tom Vilsack yesterday said he would be a solid choice for the position.
Vilsack said in a statement that Perdue is committed to U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers and knows the challenges faced in rural communities.
“He will, I am sure, work hard to expand opportunity in rural America,” Vilsack said in a statement.
Perdue will be supportive of the Forest Service and will pay attention to the “many and varied” interests overseen by the department, including efforts to supply children with safe and affordable food, Vilsack said.
“Finally, his familiarity with our great Land Grant University system, including minority serving institutions, places him in a good place to advocate for the work at those colleges and universities in research and th
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3. Winter Storm Moving East From Wyoming Into South Dakota, Nebraska

A winter storm warning has been issued for much of Wyoming for a storm that’s headed into South Dakota and Nebraska today.
The National Weather Service office in Rapid City, South Dakota, issued the warning, along with a winter weather advisory and a winter storm watch for much of northern Wyoming, southwestern South Dakota, and northwestern Nebraska.
“Snow will slowly diminish and shift south this morning, lingering over far southwest South Dakota this afternoon,” the NWS said in a statement this morning. “Another strong disturbance will move into the region late tonight and support increasing snow chances over the area through Thursday.”
Up to 1 foot of snow is expected in the Black Hills and another 6 inches may be possible in other parts of the region, the agency said.

SoyRoy: Marketing Simulation Game to Help Growers

I was involved with The University of Nebraska 17 years ago in developing a marketing computer simulation game called Winning the Game. The game was developed by Dr. Roger Selley based on my theories about soybean marketing. In the game, participants were given the challenge of marketing a simulated lot of soybeans based on a theoretical number of acres supposedly produced on a typical Nebraska farm.
               
The game was very popular with farmer participants. Farmers evaluated their production potential and sold a make-believe crop at whatever time and amount their judgment told them would result in the best return on their farms. At the end of the day, results were calculated on a laptop and winners announced. There was a lot of friendly comparison going on among contestants. You probably wonder whatever happened to Winning the Game. If the game was so interesting and so popular why was there not a sequel?
               
The quick answer is that there were several modifications over the years. In the process of improving the game, changes were tried that involved doing the calculations by computer and eventually having contestants making all of their inputs online. The eventual goal was to have software available and free so that farmers could have their own copies to use in making management decisions at home. That proved to be a bigger challenge than anticipated. We discovered that farmers had a wide range of abilities when it came to using electronic tools.
               
The software is now finally completed and ready for general implementation. There are two series of meetings being planned in eastern Nebraska to introduce the latest version of game to the farming public. Information on locations and times are available at local cooperative Extension offices. I am happy to say that I will participate at the location at the ARDC at Mead, Nebraska, on Tuesday, February 7. The workshops were developed and sponsored by the Nebraska Corn and Soybean checkoff boards. If the software is as successful as we hope, our intention is to make it free of charge to farmers nationwide.   

source: successful farming

Ogun State recruits 2,968 Women for School Feeding Programme

Ogun State Government has recruited 2,968 women as food vendors for the State’s Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP).

Deputy Governor of the state, Yetunde Onanuga who revealed this at the formal launching of the programme in Abeokuta, applauded the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for partnering state governments to implement the HGSFP designed to ensure that pupils in classes one to three in the Nation’s primary schools enjoy one free nutritious meal per day.

According to her, “qualitative education and the well-being of the pupils are two sides of the same coin that any responsive government must take seriously. We will always say that education of the youths guarantees the future of any society; but we must also remember that only healthy body can make whatever knowledge received meaningful and of positive impact in the future. In fact, you cannot teach a hungry child”.

She expressed that the HGSFP initiative would also ensure increased access, enrollment, attendance, retention and completion in schools.

Onanuga further explained that this programme would enhance the state’s employment generation and poverty alleviation policy.

“There is no doubt, this is an intervention designed to eradicate poverty in our households as the women will make additional income from taking on catering businesses in their communities. This can be done on weekends and when schools are not in session”, she said.

Also speaking at the event, the Programme Manager, Ogun Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Tinuola Shopeju, informed that the programme would take off on January 31, 2017 in 874 of the 1,554 public primary schools in the state.

Stakeholders criticize Federal Govt’s Task Force

Stakeholders of the agricultural sector have criticized the federal government’s task force initiative to beat down food prices across the country.

The Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had set up a Task Force at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday to urgently consider measures that would ensure a steady flow of produce to the market and reverse recent price increases.

Giving the directive at the FEC meeting, Osinbajo expressed concern at some of the inflationary rates of food prices, he noted that the Task Force will explore options to promote availability and affordability of food items to Nigerians.

In a chat with AgroNigeria, the stakeholders questioned the practicability of the initiative.
The Chief Executive Officer, Cellulant Nigeria Limited, Bolaji Akinboro asserted that the only way to reduce prices is to invest properly in the country’s agricultural system.

“The only way to reduce prices is to invest properly in Nigeria’s agriculture system- starting from research all the way down to the farm gate. All we need is money and clear policies –money for the development of our research institutions, for our extension systems for our quality control system and certification systems, cold storage systems, warehouse receipt operations, to support the farmers, and lots more”, he said.

He expressed that the government needs to investment more to provide for the country’s teeming population.
“We can’t defy the laws of economics, for a country of almost 200million souls that is investing less than 100 billion naira in its agriculture system. It is only hunger that we will get in return”, he said.

The stakeholders asserted that there was huge informal trans-border trade going on across the country’s major food gateways into the sub-region.

According to the Managing Partner Jaraja E-commerce Limited, Ajibola Alfred “a survey conducted by the NEPC sometime ago showed that there are about 42 border markets and 44 loading points in the major market corridors across Nigeria through which traders carry on informal trading activities.

The report indicated that most of the agricultural, minerals snide even manufactured products are taken through these markets and loading points. The government can start by reducing the amount of food through those points to increase availability and reduce the level of speculation”.

Speaking on the need for government to invest in research and development, Ajibola noted that a country that does not pay attention to research and development will keep searching for development.

They also encouraged the use of rail transport to move the products to avoid bottle necks of road blocks, bad roads which contribute to post harvest losses and ultimately increase in prices of foods.

Dogara trains 803 women, youth on agriculture

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, has sponsored the training of 803 women and youth on agriculture at the Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin Kowa, Gombe state.

The beneficiaries who were drawn from Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas of Bauchi state, undergoes a two weeks training on agricultural product and practices under his zonal intervention projects.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training at the college premises in Dadin Kowa, the speaker said he conceived the programme to encourage the youth to embrace agriculture and key in into the federal government initiative to diversify the economy through the sector.

Mr. Dogara who was represented by a member representing Tafawa Balewa LGA at the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Aminu Tukur, urged the trainees to make good use of the opportunity provided to them in order to contribute positively to the development of the country.

In her remarks, Provost of the college, Professor Fatima BJ Sawa, said the beneficiaries were trained on production and processing of arable crops, plants, poultry and fisheries.

She urged the trainees to put into practice what they were taught, adding that the college has set up a committee to monitor the trainees.

Professor Fatima urged other youth in the country to imbibe farming and other agricultural practices.

She added that the college has trained over 1, 450 people on various agricultural areas in the last one year.

3 Big Things Today, February 10

Soybean, Grain Futures Decline Overnight; Ethanol Production Rises Again to Record. 

1. Grains, Beans Again Lower Overnight After Rising in Day Session

Soybeans and grains again swung to overnight losses as overseas investors are seemingly more worried about export demand than their U.S. counterparts.
Prices recently have declined overnight but rebounded during the U.S. trading session. Societe Generale said in a note to investors that a trade war with China would be harmful to soybean prices in Chicago and would benefit those in South America.

President Trump has suggested he would put levies on imports from certain countries, though his focus since taking office has been on Mexico rather than China. Talk about imposing a border levy on Mexican goods has some agriculture groups worried that it will slow exports of U.S. goods.
Soybean futures for March delivery fell 2¾¢ to $10.34 a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soy meal futures lost $2.10 to $333.90 a short ton, and soy oil rose 0.17¢ to 34.48¢ a pound.
Wheat for March delivery declined 2¼¢ to $4.31½ a bushel in Chicago, while Kansas City futures fell 1¾¢ to $4.38¾ a bushel.
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2. Ethanol Production Jumps to Record For Fourth Time in Five Weeks

Ethanol production jumped to a record for the fourth time in five weeks in the seven days that ended on January 27, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Output in the U.S. totaled a record 1.061 million barrels a day, on average, up from 1.051 million the prior week, the EIA said in a report. Production returned to a record after falling off slightly in the week that ended on January 20.
Stockpiles of the biofuel, meanwhile, rose to the highest level in nine months. Inventories rose to 21.87 million barrels, up from 21.728 million the prior week, the highest since April, according to the EIA.
The increased ethanol production is good news for farmers as producers used 108.9 million bushels of corn in the week, according to data from INTL FCStone Chief Economist Arlan Suderman.
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3. Winter Storm Hovers Over Black Hills; Little Snow Expected in Iowa, Nebraska

A winter storm warning is still in effect for parts of northeastern Wyoming, southwestern South Dakota, and northwestern Nebraska, according to the National Weather Service.
“Snow is expected to be moderate at times late this afternoon and evening over the Black Hills area and especially over southwestern South Dakota,” the NWS said in a report this morning.
From 2 to 6 inches is expected to fall in the area with higher amounts likely over parts of the Black Hills, the agency said. The storm began yesterday but seems to have stalled out and is hovering over that specific region for now.
Some light snow is expected for parts of western Iowa and eastern Nebraska today, but little accumulation is expected, according to the NWS.

Obaseki to make Edo state foremost Agribusiness hub in Nigeria

Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki has disclosed plans to make the state the focal point for agribusiness in Nigeria.

The Governor who made the disclosure during a 3-day agribusiness workshop at the Randekhi Hotel in Benin City with the theme: “Harnessing resources and opportunities to optimize agribusiness in Edo State” expressed that his administration would be initiating strategies that could enhance agricultural development, create jobs and guarantee food security.

“While we must continue to encourage small farm holdings to improve and obtain modern technology, we must address the policy of mechanization, characterization using technology’’, he explained.

He also informed that the state government had promised to work with the federal government to revitalize arable lands for optimum use.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Wells Sam Calos Farm, Hosa Okunbor, has commended the initiative of the state government on agricultural development and food security.

He however urged all the stakeholders to work with the state government towards achieving the agricultural development plan.

Enugu Community appeal to Govt to repair Farm Roads

The people of Agabi Kingdom, Ihuokpara, in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, have appealed to the state government to repair the bad roads which continues to impede agricultural development in the community.

Addressing the crowd at the Enugu yam festival recently held in Ihuokpara, the traditional ruler, Igwe Fidelis Ogbu Nwatu, Eze Agabi II of Agabi Kingdom lamented that the deplorable state of the roads in the community.

“Our community is a big farming agent in the state. We farm rice, Fadama III participants are in this community, yam, cassava and other vegetables. Our market attracts people from Enugu, Akpugo, Agbani, Nara, Ugbawka and other neighbouring communities, all of who need good road to enter Ihuokpara”, he said.

He called on the governor to provide good roads that will enable the people contribute to feeding the world.
Also speaking at the event, the President General of Umuokpara, Alexander Nnamani, informed that the people of the community had been marginalized because of the bad roads.

“We have been marginalized badly in terms of roads, people cannot access our community easily and our people are predominately famers. During the rainy season, nobody comes home and our parents are in pains. When they produce things in their farms, no road to take them out to sell and make money.” he said.

Scent leaf: beyond the kitchen

The scent leaf Ocimum gratissimum  is not just a kitchen-friendly herb used in numerous culinary creations. The plant  which hails from Africa and grows in  other tropical regions, also has reputed health benefits.

In Nigeria, The Yorubas call it Efirin, the Igbos call it Nchanwu, the Ibibios call it Ntong and the Hausas, Daidoya.

Here are some amazing benefits of the scent leaf Ocimum gratissimum

• Scent leaves can be used to treat stomach ache, diarrhoea, chronic dysentery and vomiting.
• Scent leave aids digestion
• When left to dry and burnt, this leaves could serve as a mosquito repellent.
• Scent leaves seeds can be infused for treating urinary infections, gonorrhoea infection, vaginal douches for vaginitis.
• Scent leaves are high in calcium,phophurus , iron, potassium, carbon and vitamin A.
• The essential oil of this leaf contains eugenol, thus having antibacterial properties.
• Mashed scent leaves are also used in treating skin diseases such as ring worms.
• Scent leaves can also be used in treating aches and reliefs from colon pains.
• Scent leaves can also be used in the prevention and treatment of malaria, cough, catarrh and fever.
• Scent leave has immense health benefits such as easy bowel evacuation and weight management.

Obaseki, Investors, Others Inspect Fertilizer Plant In Auchi, Okpella

Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has assured Edo people that the abandoned fertilizer plant at Auchi would be up and running in the next three months, creating the first set of employment to the people.

Obaseki made the disclosure while speaking with Journalists on Saturday shortly after he made an on-the-spot assessment visit to the site with the Managing Director of the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund along with other investors in Auchi, Etsako West local government area.

“Well as you can see for yourselves, this is the type of industry they said they built for us when they said they were going to industrialize Edo.

“We have come with some investors, Mr. Uche Orji is the Managing Director of the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Funds and you know that they have a programme for fertilizer and agriculture in the country.

“So we have brought them to come and see this facility and to see what we can do to reactivate it; that is the purpose of our being here”.

He said “depending on how quickly we can move with investors; we have some interests from the private sector who understand the fertilizer business and we will get them to come and invest with us. From the positive indications, we believe that we can get this factory running before April,’’ Obaseki said.

On his part Orji, lamented the loss of billions of naira by Edo state these years saying, “with this type of facilities in the state, Edo state has been missing lots of opportunities with a factory like this,’’ he said.

According to him, “once the governor and the investors have agreed, I don’t think it will take too long to get this plant running”.

“Our objective as the governor has mentioned, is to put the raw materials into this plant and have it to start working,’’ Mr. Orji said.

He said “the president has presidential initiative for fertilizer, and the idea is instead of importing finished fertilizer, we bring in the component and blend it locally.

“If you do that, price will come down significantly and luckily, Edo is a state that has lots of raw materials needed.

“So this should be a natural advantage for Edo state to start which will employ alot of people.

“It will also at the same time, bring alot of advantages with it; bring down the prices of fertilizer for the farmers that is the idea of the presidential special programme,’’ he said.

Mr. Thomas Etu, President Fertilizer Producers Association of Nigeria, who described the abandoned fertilizer plant as a great facility said “with some little investments, this factory will be up and running in the next two to three months”.

Etu said that, “with the presidential initiative on ground, it is a place that jobs would be created, as we are looking at a minimum of one thousand people being on a train of shifts running in this factory and the prices of fertilizer would come down and become affordable to the farmers at N5,500.

“While the product will be sold here at the plant at N5,000 per bag;  so it is a great opportunity and we should be thanking the governor for showing interest to look at this plant and see how it is going to be beneficial to everybody in the state,’’ he said.