By David Nicolai, University of Minnesota Extension

Congressman Collin Peterson today announced an agreement on the conference report for the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. This farm bill will make historic investments in our food and farm economy.

The bill will expand food security programs, protect our vital natural resources, promote healthier foods and local food networks, and reform commodity and biofuel programs to reflect the priorities of the nation. Final language will be available next week. Initial details include the following:

Ensuring Food Security

More than 6,300 acres already offered for enrollment in Minnesota's Back Forty
Pheasant Habitat Program

Despite the expiration of 79,677 Conservation Reserve Program acres in Minnesota since Oct. 1, 2007, interest in CRP remains as evidenced by the 6,365 acres already
offered for enrollment in the new State Acres For wildlife Enhancement conservation practice, the Minnesota Back Forty Pheasant Habitat program.

Cool temperatures and wet soils continued to limit spring fieldwork across much of the state, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Statewide, on average, there were 1.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. As of May 4, land preparation and plantings for corn and soybeans remained well behind the 5-year average for that date.

The average temperature for the week was 43.1 degrees, 7.4 degrees below normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday were rated 0 percent very short, 1 short, 67 adequate, and 32 surplus.

The McLeod County Board voted unanimously Tuesday (May 6) to approve a conditional-use permit allowing Skyview Dairy, about two miles east of Hutchinson, to expand from 1,620 to 2,582 animal units.

The state Pollution Control Agency is reviewing two additional state-required permits before the Luthens family-owned farm can begin its expansion. The farm has 1,157 dairy cows and wants to grow to 1,850 cows. The plan also includes the addition of three total confinement barns and two pole barns.

By Krishona Martinson, University of Minnesota Extension

Moisture content of hay at time of baling is the single biggest hay fire risk factor. Since 2000, there have been over 900 livestock and poultry barn fires in Minnesota, resulting in over $26 million in damages (Minnesota Fire Incident Reporting System). Although not specifically tracked by MFIRS, some of these fires have been caused by spontaneous combustion of hay that was baled too wet.

By Lizabeth Stahl and Jeffrey Gunsolus, University of Minnesota Extension

Keeping herbicide applications on target is always a good thing, from your neighbor’s perspective as well as from control, economic, health and environmental standpoints. Drift management strategies help minimize pesticide movement off-target.

Prices received by Minnesota farmers for soybeans for April averaged $11.70 per bushel, an increase of 40 cents from the March price according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Corn was up 54 cents to an April price of $5.10 per bushel.

The all hog price for April was $42.10 per cwt., an increase of 70 cents from the March price. The all beef cattle price for April was $77.60 per cwt., a decrease of $2.20 from the March price.

The all milk price for April, at $18.70 per cwt., was down 30 cents from March.

By Jeff Coulter and David Nicolai, University of Minnesota Extension

By David Bau, University of Minnesota Extension

A proverb in grain marketing states that two-thirds of the grain is sold in the bottom third of the market. I used data collected by the Minnesota Agricultural Statistics Service for corn and soybeans to see if this proverb holds true in Minnesota.