Pesticide Looneys and Conspiracy Theorist

Recently, Delta Farm Press wrote an article debunking many myths surrounding pesticides and GMO crops.  Of course they were ready for some responses from the community on this subject.  To see some of the responses click here.

Now think a little about what was said.  The only logical conclusion is that these people haven't done their research.  Instead of getting their facts and thinking about it logically, they responded with emotion.  Let's take a look at some of these responses and clear some things up.

One person wrote, "China, who purchases a large quantity of corn, has refused to purchase this year because of its GMO status.  Now farmers who have these crops are (affected) because they can't sell them.  The current battle now is should these seed companies be held liable because farmers can't sell them.  It all goes back to pesticides.  Research GMO and the companies that make them.  Your point of view is misinformed.  Do some research."

According to the USDA, which anyone can look up, overall US corn exports has increased by 300 million bushels since the beginning of the year.  And farmers don't trade their products with foreign nations.  Traders do that.

Then their's this.  "It would seem that ignoring the scientific evidence of the impact to humans from endocrine disrupting ag chemicals, that ignoring the scientific research showing the impact on humans from the cancers and immune diseases these and other ag chemicals cause and even ignoring the yield data, showing NO yield increases and in most cases LOWER yields from GMO crops you, the Penton Press Group continue to further the agenda of corporate chemical America.  It is sad ... and criminal.  But congratulations are in order:  you are now fully, legally, accomplices to their crime."

There is no evidence that if you use crop protection products properly that any of what this reader brings up would happen.  Also, to suggest standard practices in farming is somehow illegal is beyond the pale.

What would happen if we band GMO's and pesticides?  Sit back and think before reacting to that question.  Farmers work with a horribly tight deadline to feed the world.  To sustain humanity day upon day, year after year, decade after decade.  They have to deal with changing and unpredictable weather and now growing radicalism and regulation.

What would happen?  Millions would starve to death and global wars would break out.  What sounds more criminal to you?

Closing Grain Futures

Just real quick I thought you would be interested in the closing grain futures from March 17th, 2014.

• May corn closed at $4.79, down 7 cents
• May soybeans closed at $13.91 and 3/4, up 3 and 1/4 cents.
• May soybean meal closed at $446.60, up $2.60.
• May soybean oil closed at $41.89, down 40 points.
• May wheat closed at $6.74 and 1/2, down 12 and 3/4 cents.
• April crude oil closed at $98.08, down 81 cents.
• May cotton closed at $92.03, down 16 points.
• April gold closed at $1,372.90, down $6.10.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 16,247.22, up 181.55 points.

Wheat Exports

Wheat needed a little help to meet what the USDA estimated it would make.  That help came from abroad.  According to Brownfield Ag News for America Egypt bought 60,000 tons of US soft red winter out of 300,000 tons.  Japan bought 29,000 tons of US dark northern spring and 20,800 tons of US hard red winter wheat.  South Korea's Nonghyup Feed Inc. bought 65,000 tons of optional origin feed wheat and Jordan purchased 50,000 tons of optional origin wheat.

Also, according to Reuters, Strategie Grains lowered its 2014 European Union soft wheat production estimate to 137.7 million tons.  Up 2% from 2013, but down from the 138 million tons estimated in December stemming from concerns about the crops in Great Britain and Bulgaria.