Weather conditions increase the possibility of Aflatoxin in corn

Due to the weather conditions over the last few months in the US there is a worry of aflatoxin in the corn. Aflatoxin does not cause yield loss, but it does affect the quality, and quality loss is covered by farm level crop insurance plans contained in the COMBO. The levels of aflatoxin to monitor are above 20 parts per billion. The grain should be inspected and tested before it is put into storage, as federal crop insurance will not cover grain losses that was in storage. Read more...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers

US$30 billion cut from agriculture

The President and the Lawmakers are looking to cut some US30 (€21.151 ) billion or more in agricultural spending as part of a deficit reduction deal. The farmers know it has to be done, but they fear too many cuts could cause a sharp decrease in crop prices, sending them back to the days of the 1980's farm crisis.

Negotiators will be looking at three main targets in their budget negotiations, the direct payments which pay farmers regardless of crops they grow. Crop insurance and Conservation money. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers

Corn, Soybean farmers could be rewarded for participating in Federal Crop Insurance Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced today that it has published a proposed rule in the Federal Register  that would reward farmers participating in the federal crop insurance program for good performance.

"This proposed Good Performance Refund will benefit qualifying farmers and ranchers across rural America and strengthen the federal crop insurance program," says RMA administrator, William J. Murphy. "It encourages producers to use the best available management practices in order to qualify for the refund in future years and rewards good performance by returning a portion of the out-of-pocket costs paid for crop insurance premiums back to those who have paid into the program and have had limited or no losses."

Under the proposed program, payment amounts would vary by producer and will be based on each qualified producer's history in the program. RMA estimates that the average refund amount per producer this year will be about $1,000. The program has a proposed maximum limit at $25,000, with a minimum payment of $25. The first year of the proposed program will use data from 2009 and prior crop years because not all 2010 data is finalized. Read more...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.