EAST PEORIA — The 2012 Crops Conference sponsored by Beck’s Hybrids, Illinois Central College, and Classic Country 1290 WIRL will be held Monday, March 5, at the ICC Performing Arts Center on the East Peoria Campus. The conference will include presentations for area farmers and agricultural leaders specific to their operations in central Illinois.

Presenters include agronomist Gordon Roskamp talking about pesticide resistance, Fabian Fernandez discussing micronutrients for crop production, and Mike Plumer on cover crop management. Other features will include a crop and pest overview by Matt Montgomery as well as a commodities outlook for 2012 by Pete Manhart. Another highlight will be the Central Illinois weather update and forecast by WEEK News 25 Chief Meteorologist Chuck Collins.

The event runs 9 a.m. until 2:45 p.m., and registration begins at 8:30. Cost is $10 which includes continental breakfast, and a two-meat buffet lunch.

WIRL Agribusiness Director Deanna Thomas will broadcast her noon show live from the event. Certified Crop Advisors may be eligible for 4.5 CEU’s (applied for). Registration deadline is Wednesday, February 29. Seating is limited. To register, go to www.icc.edu/pdi/crops  or call (309) 690-6900.

NAFB – President Barack Obama is expected to present a budget proposal today (Monday) that will trim the federal deficit in the next 10 years. In the Senate, Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad says he is at peace with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s decision to not bring a 2013 Senate budget resolution to the floor.

Folks on Capitol Hill are still wrangling over the payroll tax holiday, which expires at the end of this month.  House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has indicated Republicans would reject any tax hike as a way to pay for a full-year extension of the payroll tax holiday. Going into the weekend, it appeared negotiations over extending the payroll tax cut were going poorly.

NAFB – Data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates U.S. farm exports set a record during 2011. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says this record demonstrates once again—that American agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy. Agricultural exports for calendar year 2011 were a robust 136.3-billion dollars as international sales rose a record 20.5-billion dollars.

According to the Secretary, – these figures indicate how demand for the American brand of agriculture continues to soar worldwide, supporting good jobs for Americans across a variety of industries. Every one-billion in agricultural exports supports 84-hundred American jobs, meaning that U.S. farm exports helped support more than one-million U.S. jobs in 2011.

The Secretary continued, – that gets to the innovation of our American farmers, ranchers and growers. American agriculture continues to apply the latest in technology and achieve a nearly unparalleled level of productivity. In fact, U.S. agriculture is the second-most productive sector of our economy in the past few decades outside of information technology.

The Secretary concluded, – exports of almost all major U.S. commodities rose in calendar year 201l. Grains were the biggest contributor to the overall record, reaching an all-time high of 37.7-billion dollars, a 9.2-billion dollar increase over 2010. Cotton experienced the biggest year-to-year increase, up 44 percent.

NAFB – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making ready to conduct the 2012 Census of Agriculture. The department has mailed out the National Agricultural Classification Survey which asks landowners whether or not they are farming and for basic farm information. Responses will be used to compile the list of farmers and land owners who will receive the census form. The Census of Agriculture is conducted every five years and is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them.

National Agriculture Statistics Service’s Census and Survey Director Renee Picanso says – we are asking everyone who receives the NACS to respond even if they are not farming so we can build the most accurate and comprehensive mailing list to account for all of U.S. agriculture in the Census.

NACS is required by law as part of the U.S. Census of Agriculture.  By this same law, all information reported by individuals is kept confidential. NASS will mail the 2012 Census of Agriculture later this year and data will be collected into early 2013.

NAFB – Under USDA’s Blueprint for Stronger Service, Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse has announced a package of technology enhancements from the Farm Service Agency. These enhancements include Web access for handheld and smartphone users, as well as a more efficient and timely option for receiving news and critical program information. Now available are: loan deficiency payment rates, posted county prices, FSA news releases and AskFSA, the agency’s online self-help knowledge base.

By signing up for free online communications through GovDelivery, farmers and ranchers can receive news, via e-mail, directly to their home or farm office or to their mobile devices—allowing them to receive immediate notification of farm program news that is pertinent to their agricultural operation.

Scuse says – the mobile website is an added convenience for farmers and ranchers and an effective, efficient way for USDA to deliver news, program information and reliable guidance on a variety of agricultural issues. To access FSA’s mobile website visit www.fsa.usda.gov/mobile. To sign up for FSA’s GovDelivery electronic news service, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/subscribe.

NAFB – The second anniversary of the Let’s Move program was celebrated in Dallas, Texas last week. First Lady Michelle Obama joined students, Top Chef chef’testants and the Dallas Cowboys to highlight the Dallas Independent School Districts efforts to foster healthy, nutritious school environments. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says – the schools honored for their HealthierUS School Challenge achievements are at the core of the nation’s efforts to combat childhood obesity.

The First Lady announced that 2,862 schools have now met the HealthierUS School Challenge, surpassing a goal of her Let’s Move! initiative. Participating schools voluntarily adopt USDA standards for food they serve and agree to provide nutrition education while offering greater opportunities for physical activity. The Dallas Independent School District has the most gold schools of any district in the country.

Chefs have played a vital role in the Let’s Move! initiative, teaming up with schools all across the country to work with school chefs on healthy school meals and teach kids about the importance of a nutritious diet.

NAFB – The Humane Society of the United States has filed supplemental complaints with both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Trade Commission regarding alleged false and misleading statements made by Seaboard Foods in its response to a recent undercover video made by an HSUS employee at one of the company’s Oklahoma pig breeding facilities. According to HSUS, the video shows breeding sows confined in gestation crates and showed workers hitting animals, duct-taping their splayed legs to their bodies and jabbing their eyes.

In its initial response to the HSUS complaints, Seaboard defended its use of gestation crates as standard “U.S. industry practices.” The HSUS alleges Seaboard makes grossly false and misleading statements about animal welfare to shareholders, potential investors and the public, including that the company uses the “most humane practices.”

Jonathan Lovvorn, chief counsel and senior vice president of animal protection litigation for the HSUS, says – locking animals in gestation crates is simply indefensible, as is misleading investors and the public about that abuse.

NAFB – The Department of Agriculture has released its monthly World Agriculture supply and Demand Estimates for the month of February.  Here are highlights of that report.

WHEAT:

U.S. wheat ending stocks for 2011/12 are projected lower this month. Exports are raised 25 million bushels supported by the stronger-than-expected pace of sales and shipmentst. Ending stocks for all wheat are projected 25 million bushels lower at 845 million. Based on prices reported to date and the lower expected carryout, the 2011/12 projected season-average farm price is raised 20 cents on the bottom end of the range to $7.15 to $7.45 per bushel.

Global wheat supplies for 2011/12 are projected 2.1 million tons. Global trade is raised slightly for 2011/12 with world imports increased 0.7 million tons. Global wheat consumption is reduced 1.0 million tons mostly reflecting a 1.6-million-ton reduction in India food use. Global wheat feeding is nearly. Global ending stocks for 2011/12 are raised 3.1 million tons to a record 213.1 million. As projected, 2011/12 global wheat stocks would be 2.4 million tons higher than the previous record in 1999/2000.

COARSE GRAINS:

U.S. feed grain ending stocks for 2011/12 are projected lower this month as increases in corn and oats imports are more than offset by higher expected corn exports. Corn ending stocks are projected 45 million bushels lower at 801 million. The projected range for the season average farm corn price is narrowed 10 cents on both ends of the range to $5.80 to $6.60 per bushel.

Global coarse grain supplies for 2011/12 are projected 3.1 million tons lower. Global barley production is raised with Argentina production up 0.7 million tons on higher reported area and yields for the crop that was harvested during late 2011.

Global coarse grain trade for 2011/12 is raised. Global coarse grain consumption is raised. Saudi Arabia is expected to rebuild stocks as world barley production has rebounded from a 40-year low in 2010/11. Global coarse grain ending stocks for 2011/12 are lowered. At the projected 125.4 million tons, global corn ending stocks would be the lowest since 2006/07.

RICE:

No changes are made on the supply side of the U.S. 2011/12 rice supply and use

balance sheet. On the use side, the export forecast is lowered 1 million cwt from a month ago to 89 million—all in long-grain. The rough rice export projection is lowered 1 million cwt to 32 million, while forecast combined milled- and brown-rice exports are unchanged. The reduction in the export projection is due primarily to the slower-than-expected pace of sales and shipments to date. The decrease in the export forecast resulted in an increase in ending stocks of 1 million cwt, down almost 9 million from the previous year. Long-grain and combined medium- and short-grain rice stocks are forecast at 21.6 million and 15.2 million cwt, respectively.

The projected U.S. average milling yield for 2011/12 is reduced to 70.00 percent. The 2011/12 long-grain, season-average price range is projected at $13.40 to $14.00 per cwt, down 10 cents per cwt on the low end of the range and down 50 cents per cwt on the high end with the midpoint down 30 cents. The combined medium- and short-grain price range is projected at $15.20 to $15.80 per cwt, down 20 cents per cwt on both ends of the range with the midpoint unchanged. The all rice season-average price range is forecast at $13.90 to $14.50 per cwt, up 10 cents per cwt on the low end of the range, but down 30 cents per cwt on the high end, and down 10 cents at the midpoint. Global trading prices have been trending down in recent weeks.

Global 2011/12 projections of rice production, consumption, trade and ending stocks are raised from last month. The U.S. rice crop is lowered slightly, resulting entirely from the decrease in the average milling yield. Global exports are raised by 1.4 million tons.

Global ending stocks are up slightly from last month to 100.1 million tons mainly due to an increase for the Philippines.

OILSEEDS:

U.S. soybean supply and use projections for 2011/12 are unchanged this month,

leaving ending stocks at 275 million bushels. Soybean exports are projected at 1.275 billion bushels, down 226 million from last year. Lower soybean crop forecasts and reduced export projections for Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay are expected to be offset by additional U.S. sales and exports during the second half of the marketing year.

The U.S. season-average soybean price range for 2011/12 is narrowed to $11.10 to $12.30 per bushel compared with $10.95 to $12.45 last month. Soybean oil prices are forecast at 50.5 to 54.5 cents per pound, and soybean meal prices are projected at $290 to $320 per short ton, both unchanged from last month.

Global oilseed production for 2011/12 is projected at 452.5 million tons, down 4.9 million tons from last month. Brazil soybean production is forecast at 72 million tons, down 2 million due to lower projected yields.

Global oilseed trade for 2011/12 is projected at 110.5 million tons, down 2.6. Global oilseed ending stocks are projected at 71.2 million tons, down 3.6 million from last month. Reduced soybean stocks in Brazil and Argentina account for most of the change.

SUGAR:

Projected U.S. sugar supply for fiscal year 2011/12 is increased 86,000 tons, raw

value, from last month, due to higher production more than offsetting lower imports. Florida cane sugar production is increased 130,000 tons. Imports are decreased 44,000 tons, as a 219,000-ton decrease from Mexico more than offsets a 100,000-ton increase in re-export imports and a 75,000-ton increase attributed to corrected import data from U.S. Customs. Total use is decreased 170,000 tons. Domestic food use is lowered 250,000 tons. Exports and deliveries for re-export products are increased a combined 80,000 tons in line with the increase in re-export imports.

For Mexico, official data for 2010/11 show lower imports, higher domestic use, and lower ending stocks than estimated last month. For 2011/12, Mexico’s projected domestic use is raised and ending stocks are raised commensurately. Also, Mexico’s 2011/12 imports of sugar due to the U.S. sugar re-export program are increased. The net result of these changes is lower 2011/12 sugar exports.

LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, AND DAIRY:

The 2012 forecast of total red meat and poultry production is lowered from last month as reduced broiler meat production is expected to more than offset higher forecast beef, pork, and turkey production. Lower expected broiler weights are underpinning the reduced forecast, with hatchery data continuing to point toward fewer birds for slaughter during most of 2012. Beef production is raised from last month. Pork production is raised. Egg production is lowered slightly for 2012.

The beef export forecast for 2012 is reduced slightly but poultry exports are raised. The pork export forecast is unchanged from last month. Import forecasts are unchanged from January. Beef and pork trade estimates for 2011 are unchanged but poultry exports are raised.

Cattle prices for 2012 are raised from last month, reflecting tight supplies of fed cattle. The hog price forecast is unchanged. Broiler prices are raised, reflecting lower production, and turkey prices are raised on current price strength. The egg price range is narrowed.

The milk production forecast for 2012 is raised as milk cow numbers and milk per cow forecasts are raised. Fat-basis trade estimates for 2011 are increased due to both stronger-than-expected imports of butteroil and exports of cheese during November. The skim-solids export estimate for 2011 is raised largely on relatively strong November exports of whey and skim milk powders. This strength is expected to carry into this year, thus the skim-solids export forecast for 2012 is raised as well.

With higher forecast 2012 production, cheese and butter prices are lowered. The nonfat dry milk price is lowered to reflect slightly weaker early year prices. The whey price forecast is raised. The lower cheese price is expected to more than offset the higher whey price, resulting in a reduced forecast Class III price. Lower butter and NDM prices result in a lower Class IV price. The all milk price for 2012 is lowered to $18.00 to $18.70 per cwt.

COTTON:

The 2011/12 U.S. cotton estimates reflect marginally lower domestic mill use

compared with last month. The total cotton supply is unchanged. Domestic mill use is lowered 100,000 bales The export estimate is unchanged. Ending stocks are raised 100,000 bales to 3.8 million, for a stocks-to-use ratio of 26 percent. The forecast range for the average price received by producers of 87 to 93 cents per pound is narrowed 1 cent on each end.

The 2011/12 world cotton estimates include sharply higher supplies, due to higher beginning stocks and production. Beginning stocks are raised 1.6 million bales as world production is raised 505,000 bales. Forecast world consumption is reduced slightly. World trade is raised. World ending stocks are now forecast at 60.8 million bales, an increase of nearly 14 million bales from the beginning level. The stocks-to-consumption ratio of just over 55 percent is sharply higher than the past two seasons and about equal to the 2008/09 level.

NAFB – The agriculture industry in Afghanistan is widely believed to be a key in stabilizing that war-torn nation. That’s why ADAPT: The Agricultural Development for the Afghanistan Pre-deployment Training program was established at Fresno State University in the heart of California’s fertile Central Valley. That’s where hundreds of U.S. Army troops, Marines, and other government personnel head for a crash course on Afghanistan’s most vital industry: agriculture.

Paul Sommers, ADAPT’s project director says – the food insecurity situation is chronic there. If we can get them a little bit more secure with their food supply, get them through that hungry season just a little bit better that means they’re on the road to stability, and growth. Sommers believes – this is critical to winning the war on terror.

Even the poorest of farmers will be brought into the 21^st century as these units will be able to link them, through a special app that works on smartphones and tablets, called “e-Afghan Ag. The online resource connects to agriculture experts in the U.S. and in Afghanistan, who can provide information, feedback, and possible solutions to the situations faced by Afghanistan’s farmers.