California leads U.S. milk production; Ohio dairy herd numbers drop
California continues to lead the U.S. in number of milk cows and overall milk production, while Ohio lost 130 licensed dairy herds in 2013.
Nearly 432 million acres planted to biotech crops in 2013
Eighteen million farmers in 27 countries chose biotech crops in 2013 to the tune of 432 million acres.
What triggered high milk prices? Exports
As a percentage of total U.S. production, we are now exporting more dairy products than corn. (We exported the equivalent of 31.2 billion pounds of milk, or more than the total annual milk production from New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania combined.)
Deere hits record first quarter earnings of $681 million
Coming off a booming year, lower farm income expectations in 2014 will slow sales of John Deere agricultural machinery in the U.S. and Canada. Deere expects sales to be down 5 to 10 percent for the year.
Chesapeake Energy targets growth of 2-4 percent
Chesapeake Energy is estimating 2014 production growth of 2 to 4 percent, targeting an average daily production rate of 680,000-695,000 barrels of oil equivalent.
N.Y.-based Dairylea merges with Dairy Farmers of America
Members of Dairylea Cooperative Inc. approved a proposed merger with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA).
Beef expansion continues, but profit margins will still be tight
CattleFax expert: Cattle prices are expected to average $135 compared to $126 during 2013, an increase of 7 percent.
Vilsack and Sherrod Brown team up to push farm bill as economic driver
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the 2014 farm bill in a sweep through Ohio Jan. 31 that included the Ohio Farmers Union annual meeting in Columbus.
Cash prices will barely cover direct costs of raising corn
There's been shift in profit centers on some Midwestern dairy farms for a couple years, one that is likely to shift again in 2014.
House, Senate approve $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill; ag research gets boost
This is the first comprehensive spending proposal for the federal government since the 2012 omnibus spending bill. The good news is that the bill increases discretionary funding for major ag programs.
