Corn Cam -- Watch the Corn Grow

Thursday afternoon, May 26, 2011:  After a sunny, relatively warm day on Thursday . . . good progress:

Compare to the Tuesday, May 24th photos!  But so far today (Friday), it's cloudy and a little drizzly.  Hopefully we'll see some sun over the Memorial Day weekend.
Local cash bids today . . . .
Rock Valley (Farmers Elevator) (May 2011): Corn $7.24  Soybeans $13.52
Sioux Center (Farmers Coop) (May 31st delivery):  Corn $7.34 Soybeans $13.60

Today at the Animal Welfare Conference

Animal Neglect charges -- Webster City, Iowa The Associated Press reported that on May 18, a search warrant was executed by the Hamilton County, Iowa Sheriff's Office at 1835 White Fox Road and 1878 N. Stonega Ave., which resulted in John Patrick Thompson, 56, from Webster City, being charged with a total of 22 counts of livestock neglect and 14 counts of duty to dispose of dead bodies (animal carcasses).  Eleven head of livestock were seized from the property and are being cared for by the Animal Rescue League and a local farmer at undisclosed locations.  As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation of the commission of a come and any defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  Iowa Code chapter 717 contains the provisions regarding animal abuse and neglect charges. 

So, what role does ISU Extension play in educating producers about animal welfare?  How do we assess the needs and design programming to assist livestock producers about these issues?  These are some of the questions we'll be discussing today.

Corn progress

Reporting to you from Council Bluffs, Iowa (on Day 2 of the Animal Welfare conference).  Yesterday morning as I drove to Council Bluffs, heavy rain followed me the entire way.  Sioux City reported 2.81" rainfall, with a 5.61" total for May 2011 (so far!).  These wet, cool conditions have kept folks out of the field.  However, the Rock Valley forecast for today is sunny at 67 degrees and several nice days ahead.  Nevertheless, reports from earlier this week (May 20th) indicate that northwest Iowa farmers were 94% complete with corn planting, catching up with the rest of the state.  Emerging corn was at 33 percent statewide. Not surprisingly southeast Iowa leads in emergence at 55 percent.  Northwest fields were 22 percent.   Soybean planting was at the midway point with the statewide planting at 47 percent done.  Here in far northwest Iowa, I haven't seen any soybeans emerging yet, but I'm keeping my eyes open.  As of last weekend, northwest Iowa growers have planted 41 percent of their intended bean acres.  I'm still in southwest Iowa at the animal welfare conference -- but it's a beautiful, sunny day, and I'll be checking the corn progress as soon as I return to northwest Iowa.

Local cash bids today . . . .
Rock Valley (Farmers Elevator) (May 2011): Corn $7.25  Soybeans $13.60
Sioux Center (Farmers Coop) (May 31st delivery):  Corn $7.34 Soybeans $13.70

Animal Welfare Professional Development Conference in Council Bluffs, Iowa

Today I'm attending an Animal Welfare Professional Development conference.  I believe that this is an important issue in farm & agribusiness management.  Iowa is being attacked for legislative efforts to criminalize animal welfare "whistleblowers."  Personally, I believe that there are better strategies to respond to concerns about livestock animal welfare.  I look forward to further discussions of best management practices and effective communication regarding the care, housing and treatment of animals in livestock agriculture.

Corn Cam - Tuesday morning, May 24

Local cash bids today . . . .
Rock Valley (Farmers Elevator) (May 2011): Corn $7.00  Soybeans $13.35
Sioux Center (Farmers Coop) (May 31st delivery):  Corn $7.11 Soybeans $13.50

Corn Cam 2011 -- May 23

Wow, what a difference a few days makes!  After being away for several days -- we had rain and sunshine, encouraging these young plants.  Check out the growth!
Local cash bids today . . . .
Rock Valley (Farmers Elevator) (May 2011): Corn $7.25  Soybeans $13.40
Sioux Center (Farmers Coop) (May 31st delivery):  Corn $7.35  Soybeans $13.56

Northey Opposes Increase in Corn Futures Trading Price Limits

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey made comments to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission that expressed his concern with a proposal to increase daily price limits on corn futures trading.  Northey said the proposal could expose farmers to increased volatility and increased margin calls as they seek to exercise risk management.  Northey notes that although corn prices are currently high, it wasn't that long ago (July, August 2010) that corn futures traded under four dollars.  Northey expressed concern that the proposal is “creating a permanent solution to what may be a temporary situation” and says that the current high price levels should be sustained for a much longer time period, before raising the price limits would be justified.   The proposal would increase the daily price limit for corn contracts from 30 cents per bushel to 50 cents per bushel.  Northey stated that, "For most participants, this proposal runs counter to the basic premise of using the futures markets to reduce risk."  The entire text of Northey's statements can be reviewed here at the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship website.

Corn Growth Stages

This website on Corn Growth Stages shows a good diagram of the various growth stages, and allows you to click on each stage to get a detailed description!  Enjoy!

Corn Cam -- May 19, 2011

Thursday morning, May 19:

 

Local cash bids today . . . .
Rock Valley (Farmers Elevator) (May 2011): Corn $7.27  Soybeans $13.51
Sioux Center (Farmers Coop) (May 31st delivery):  Corn $7.28  Soybeans $13.60

Weather today: Mostly cloudy, scattered showers, high of 67 degrees.

An "undercover video" bill is still alive in the Iowa legislature.  I think it's a mistake for Iowa livestock producers to push for this bill -- my personal opinion.  It makes it look as though there is something to hide.  The vast majority of livestock producers provide the highest quality of care for their livestock.  Livestock producers, for the most part, care about the health and well-being of their animals.  There are better ways to deal with this problem.

Corn Cam -- Watch the Corn Grow

Wednesday afternoon, May 18 -- big changes in the past 24 hours:

Corn Cam and Planting Update

Last evening -- after 12 hours of sunshine -- there was obvious growth and more emergence.

I'll stop again this afternoon, and try to post an update.

Learn more about corn growth development by ordering a copy of "Corn Growth and Development" from Iowa State University.  Click here for ordering information!

I saw fields being planted last night and again this morning here in far northwest Iowa -- although the report is that Iowa is 92% complete as to corn planting. 

This morning's cash bids for corn . . . .
Farmer's Elevator, Rock Valley (May 2011): $7.13
Farmer's Cooperative Society, Sioux Center: $7.25 (May 31 delivery)
Cash bids for soybeans . . . .
Farmer's Elevator, Rock Valley (May 2011): $13.37
Farmer's Cooperative Society, Sioux Center: $13.56 (May 31 delivery)

Weather today -- sunny with a high of 69.  But, looking for cloudy weather tomorrow and a chance of thunderstorms.

Tulip Time

And by the way -- it's Tulip Time in northwest Iowa.  Tulip Festival is at the end of this week -- May 19-21.  Not all of the tulips blooming -- it's been so cool.  But, looking at this picture I snapped this afternoon, it should be a colorful display for those who make the trip to Orange City.

Corn & Soybean Cam -- May 17th

I've selected a cornfield in Garfield Township, Sioux County, Iowa -- the far northwest corner of Iowa -- and I'll regularly stop to photograph and post so you can see the progress.  There are no beans planted yet! (it's been a cool spring) --but once there are, I'll select a soybean field in the same vicinity. 

Some local cash bids today . . . .
Rock Valley (Farmers Elevator) (May 2011): Corn $6.77  Soybean $12.92
Sioux Center (Farmers Coop) (May 31st delivery):  Corn $6.90  Soybeans $13.10

It's a beautiful, sunny day -- predicted high 71 degrees!