Gary Nabhan in Boulder at Abbondanza and the Importance of Seed Diversity

"I don't feel comfortable being around people who share all the same values that I do."---Gary NabhanWith views of the Rocky Mountains in the background, I listened to Gary Nabhan speak common sense about agriculture last Sunday afternoon in an informal outdoor setting at one of my favorite local organic farms here in Boulder County, Abbondanza Organic Seeds and Produce.World-renown conservation

U.S. Weekly Grain Market in Review for May 27, 2011

~May 27, 2011~Compared to last week, grain and soybean bids were mixed to slightly higher. Soybeans found support from unfavorable weather in the forecast for the Midwest and higher crude oil prices. Weekly export sales for soybeans were disappointing coming in at at a total of 157,100 tonnes. Soybean meal sales came in at 137,500 metric tonnes which was better than expected. Net oil sales were

Canada's Wheat Market Restructuring

photo: flickrLegislation is underway to change the way in which Canada's wheat is marketed. In 2012, the Canadian Wheat Board will no longer be in control, a system which has been in place for eight decades. CWB has been in charge of buying and selling all wheat produced in Canada. It employs approximately 2,000 people in Winnipeg and was responsible for $850 million in GDP in 2005. Richardson,

Farm Photo: Artificial Insemination 1935

photo: Shorpy'sAugust 1935. Prince George's County, Maryland. "One step in artificial insemination." If you like animals, and working with your hands, we have the perfect opening -- apply within. (And, smoking permitted!) 35mm nitrate negative by Carl Mydans for the Farm Security Administration.

Two Impending Shocks to Current Farmland Prices: Falling Crop Prices or Rising Interest Rates

photo: flickrNote that this post is taken from a report by Jason Henderson and Brian Briggeman for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, "What are the Risks in Today’s Farmland Market?"Capitalizing Future RevenuesIf historical relationships hold true, Midwestern cropland values hinge on farm revenues, interest rates and their relationship with the capitalization rate. Assuming average

Tractor and Combine Sales Trends in the U.S., Canada, and Russia

photo: flickrU.S.According to AEM, total farm tractor unit sales are up 1.5% during the first four months of 2011 and self-propelled combine sales are up 34%.CanadaAccording to AEM, total farm tractor unit sales are down 5% during the first four months of 2011 and self-propelled combine sales are up 20%.RussiaAccording to Rosagromash, self-propelled combine shipments for the first quarter of this

ADM Invests Big in Uruguay Port

photo: wikipedia ~ Nueva Palmira, UruguayArcher Daniels Midland Co is investing more heavily in South American grain shipping. Within two years they plan to handle 2.8 million metric tons of goods at the Nueva Palmira port in Uruguay.Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) announced the construction of a port terminal at Nueva Palmira, Uruguay, to meet corn, soy, wheat and soybean meal

More Agricultural Water Gets Highjacked for Urban Development. This time for the Growth of Colorado Springs.

photo: wikipediaColorado has announced its biggest water project in many decades. Colorado Springs growth is being limited by its water supply, so it has begun a piped in project from an Arkansas River reservoir to its south, located at Pueblo.Colorado Springs metro area population now stands at 647,758 which is a 21% increase since 2000. This project will increase its water supply by one-third.

The UN's Population Changes Expected through 2100

According to the UN, the world’s population will surpass 7 billion at the end of October, a few months earlier than had been expected. The global total will continue to rise slowly until 2100, when it will flatten out at 10.1 billion. During the period of fastest growth, in the late 1980s, the world’s population was rising by over 88m a year. Now annual growth is down to 75m and by 2050 it will

Agriculture News May 23, 2011

Today's Note: Ohio just experienced their wettest April in history, Illinois their wettest since 1895, and Wisconsin the wettest in 30 years. Early crop insurance estimates that South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio each are looking at nearly $1.5 billion in crop losses. Corn Belt yields may be curtailed by 964 million bushels, according to WeatherBill. So much for the required perfect weather

Map of Largest Fruit-Producing States in the U.S.

California, Florida, and Washington are Nation’s Largest Fruit-Producing StatesCalifornia accounts for about half of U.S. bearing fruit acreage, Florida almost one-fourth, and Washington around one-tenth. Michigan, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas are also important fruit-producing States and together account for over one-tenth of the Nation’s fruit acreage. California is the largest

Farm Inputs Versus Return

Included in the Seventh District 1st Quarter of 2011 Farmland Price report (Chicago) was information of farm profitability as related to recently higher farm input costs. This report includes the states of Iowa, most of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.From the fourth quarter of 2010, corn prices increased 18 percent and soybean prices increased 12 percent.Compared with a year ago, corn

A Lovett Farm Song

Lyle Lovett lives in his grandparents 1911 farm house near Klein, Texas. The town bears the name of his grandmother's family. The house is a small, one-story frame house of a style called pier and beam, which means that it sits on blocks. It has clapboard siding and is painted white, and has a wide front porch with columns. It is surrounded by shade trees, and there is a pond in front of it. The

Home Beer Brewing

In case you were curious about what is involved in brewing your own beer, this six minute video describes it pretty well. The couple doing the explaining just happen to live here in Boulder and Julie Zielinski has one of my favorite hip food blogs, d.i. wine & dine. Check it out.

The Young and Hopeless Greek Return to their Cheaper Countryside. Could it Happen here?

photo: flickrFarming in Greece outside Marpissa on Paros. 2006.Recently, the UK Guardian ran an article, "Greek crisis forces thousands of Athenians into rural migration - Debt, unemployment and poverty is causing mass unrest and thousands to seek a cheaper lifestyle outside the capital.""Athens has failed its young people. It has nothing to offer them any more. Our politicians are idiots … they

U.S. Weekly Grain Market in Review for May 20, 20

~May 20, 2011~Compared to last week, grain and soybean bids were higher. All grains closed with sharp gains as bullish fundamentals returned to the market. Slow planting pace in the Eastern Corn-belt and flooding in the Delta has buying interest returning to corn. Temperatures across the Midwest have been cool and wet with concerns lingering over plantings and germination.Soybeans followed corn

Wheat Reliance by the Middle Eastern Nations

The WSJ describes the impact of higher wheat prices upon the Middle Eastern nations, in particular:Wheat is the biggest dietary staple in much of the Middle East, providing cheap nutrition in bread, pasta and couscous. Tunisians eat more wheat than anyone on the planet: 478 pounds per person a year, compared to 177 pounds in the U.S. Egyptians and Algerians also eat more than twice as much wheat

Fewer Cows to Produce more Milk through 2020

Note that this graph and paragraph project the expectation of the USDA: After a 4-year increase during 2005-08, milk cow numbers fell in 2009 and 2010 and are projected to continue year-to-year declines in 2012-20. Milk production is projected to continue rising in 2012-20, as continued technological and biological developments increase milk output per cow. Cow numbers decline at lower rates

Farm Cash Rental Rates in Middle America

Note that this post features information about farm cash rents from the Seventh Federal Reserve District's First Quarter 2011 report on Farmland values and credit conditions and from the Iowa State Extension Service. The Seventh district includes all of Iowa, most of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. ---KMDistrict cash rental rates for agricultural land in 2011 jumped 16 percent higher

Mato Grosso Deforestration Rapidly Accelerates

Who Says "They Ain't Mak'n Farmland Anymore"?Rhett A. Butler @ mongabay.com reports that Brazil has confirmed a big jump in Amazon deforestation, increasing 27% from August 2010 to April 2011, by using preliminary satellite information.INPE's rapid deforestation detection system (DETER) recorded 593 square kilometers of forest clearing during the past two months, an area of rainforest 10 times

Farm Photo: Stacking Hay in Minnesota in 1910

photo: Minnesota State Historical SocietyHay stack and wagon. 1910. Creator: Louis Enstrom(Thursday is Luddite Day here at big picture agriculture)

Deere Growth Continues Rapidly as it Builds its Seventh Plant in China

North American sales are 60% of Deere's market share and sales in this region fell 7% in April year-on-year, the first fall in ten months. Some think that tractor and combine sales have been nearly fully realized here, but overseas sales continue to be strongest. The second quarter Deere report showed that equipment sales rose 17% in the U.S. and Canada, but jumped 45% elsewhere.After last

The First Quarter of 2011 Farmland Price Report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Note that this post features highlights from the Seventh Federal Reserve District's First Quarter 2011 report on Farmland values and credit conditions. This district is made up of five states, which includes all of Iowa, and most of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. ---KMThe surge in District farmland values continued, with a 16 percent increase for the first quarter of 2011 compared

Counting Sheep

photo: Wikipedia1,2,3... 5,530,000 head of sheep here in the United States in early 2011. This number is down two percent from 2010 and sheep inventories in the U.S. have been in steady decline for many years.China, Australia, India, and Iran have the largest modern flocks of sheep. New Zealand's smaller flocks are globally important since they are the world’s largest exporter of frozen and

Who Else Exports Corn?

An expected small increase in feed grains used for ethanol is more than offset by expected declines in feed use and U.S. exports. Record high corn prices and plentiful supplies of distillers’ grains are expected to encourage feeders to reduce feed grain use. Declining world corn trade and increased exports from Argentina, Russia, and Ukraine will likely temper U.S. exports. Global coarse grain

Global Ending Stocks of Vegetable Oil are Expected to Fall 16% in 2010/11 Resulting in Extremely Tight Supplies

From the May 2011 USDA Oil Crops Outlook Report:"This fall, a lower domestic supply and larger stocks in South America could dampen U.S. soybean export demand." A combination of corn demand for mandated ethanol by the U.S. government and soybean use for biodiesel production is leading to reduced soybeans on the market in the U.S. this coming season, raising soybean prices in the U.S. and making

Recession Causes Fewer New Food Product Introductions

New food product introductions shrink for second consecutive year.U.S. food and beverage product introductions increased for most of the last decade and a half. Product introductions include new varieties or package sizes of existing items, as well as new products. A record 24,236 new products were introduced in 2007. In 2009, however, U.S. food and beverage product introductions fell by 3,519 to

Wheat Update and Outlook

The USDA's Wheat Outlook report mentions high corn prices as displacing wheat acreage a number of places around the globe even though wheat prices are also high. The report is counting on favorable weather in Russia, the Ukraine, and Kazakhstan to pick up the slack from lower production in other areas. That is concerning, as this area is prone to droughts. Next, please find highlights from the

A Map Showing Government Payments to Farmers

While the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program and Federal crop insurance are both part of the farm safety net, they do not necessarily serve the same farmers. Looking at counties that received at least $20 in direct payments per cropland acre in 2008, or $20 in crop insurance indemnity payments averaged over 2007 to 2009, clear geographic patterns emerge.Direct payments tend to be higher in the

A Visit to Andrew Weil's "True Food Kitchen" and His Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid

Being an Andrew Weil fan from way-back, I was privileged to dine recently at one of his "True Food Kitchen" restaurants. The restaurant's menu offers foods that Dr. Weil promotes as healthy eating choices.At True Food Kitchen, we celebrate simplicity. We practice sustainability. We believe that simple, fresh, pure ingredients create the most memorable and satisfying meals. And while our healthy

Movie Trailer: Bag It

Website: Bag It

Agriculture News May 14, 2011

Corn farmer Noah Hultgren does a damn good job defending the farmer against all of the "bad guy" rhetoric in the media. "Once in a lifetime" flood submerges farm land — the area constitutes 1 percent land seeded with major crops in the United States... Rice will be the crop most affected, with farmland responsible for 10 percent of the U.S. rice crop unlikely to be planted. Kudos to the Guardian

The First Quarter of 2011 Farmland Price Report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Quarterly Survey of Agricultural Credit Conditions in the Eleventh Federal Reserve DistrictsThe theme of concerns from bankers in this region was drought. A positive development is higher livestock prices. The other main concern echoed by bankers across the region is higher fuel and input costs. The Eleventh District includes Texas, northern Louisiana and southern New Mexico.Here are key points

The First Quarter of 2011 Farmland Price Report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

"With robust farm income, farmland values posted sharp gains akin to the swift rise in 2008. Across District states, cropland values surged 20 percent above year-ago levels, particularly in Kansas and Nebraska. Bankers also reported a sharp jump in cash rental rates that echoed the rise in cropland values, especially for irrigated acreage."The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has released its

U.S. Weekly Grain Market in Review for May 13, 2011

~May 13, 2011~Compared to last week, soybeans saw solid gains throughout the week for the exception of corn which posted sharp losses and wheat trading two sided. Grain buyers came out after the weekend with renewed buying interest ready to buy wheat and corn, as conditions continue to deteriorate for hard red wheat. Outside markets all posted sharp gains in crude oil, precious metals as the

Using the term "Demand Destruction" is Like Scratching a Fingernail across the Chalkboard

I made a faux pas recently. Because, I used the uncouth urban dictionary term demand destruction in the same sentence as corn. You see, real economists do not say demand destruction. At times like this when things get outtacontrol, we can always count on our friends, Scott Irwin and Darrel Good, over at the University of Illinois - Urbana, to set us straight. Recently, they wrote to explain the

Canadian Farmland Prices are Up 2.1 Percent During the Last Half of 2010

A new report from Farm Credit Canada has been released reporting farmland price increases during the last six months of 2010.National trendThe average value of Canadian farmland increased 2.1 per cent during the last six months of 2010, following increases of 3.0 and 3.6 per cent in the previous two reporting periods. When combined, the increase in the average value of farmland across Canada rose

U.S. Farm Productivity Versus Energy Use

The above graph speaks volumes in demonstrating the productivity and efficiency gains which have been achieved by our modern agricultural system over the past fifty years. Farm output is 158% higher today than sixty years ago. The U.S. population has gone up nearly 400% during the past century while food and clothing prices have remained low. In addition, we have been able to export large amounts

What Would Darwin Say? On Growth Subjects with a Map of High-fertility Human Populations

The oft-repeated phrases which state something along the lines of this... food production must increase by 70-100% in the next 40 years to feed the world's growing population... make many presumptions. I cringe whenever an article begins that way, and too often, articles on the subject of food security do.There are just too many variables, motives, and politics involved in feeding the world's

Macro Economic Focus: What is Financial Repression and Why Should You Care?

Today I'd like to focus on an important macro economic subject which was the subject of PIMCO's Bill Gross May Newsletter.The Caine Mutiny (Part 2)​Low policy rates and the increasing negative real yields that they engender as inflation accelerates represent an immediate threat to investment portfolios.Bond prices don’t necessarily have to go down for savers to get skunked during a process of “

Dry Bean Production is Falling in the U.S.

photo: flickrNote: The following is from the USDA's outlook report on Vegetables and melons... Dry beans are another food which is becoming more expensive due to the corn ethanol program. This food is an excellent healthy source of protein and contributes to our nation's food security. Not mentioned in the report is that dry beans are a more affordable protein and given the current recession,

FOCUS on Latest FAO Report: High Red Bean Prices in Central America

In Central America prices of main staples at high levelsPrices of red beans, an important source of protein in the diets of the subregion, remained generally stable in March and April, reflecting new supplies from the 2011 secondary season harvest, but were still at very high levels, twice those of a year ago. The increased level of price is a consequence of the reduced 2011 main crop season

Charlie Arnot on "Consumers' Perceptions and Role in Understanding Current and Future Ag Production Practices"

This 27-minute talk, "'Consumers' Perceptions and Role in Understanding Current and Future Production Practices," by Charlie Arnot, CEO, Center for Food Integrity (Kansas City, Missouri), is from the 2011 Annual Conference of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, April 11 - 14, San Antonio, Texas. Arnot talks about today's efficiencies in the agricultural system, the public's perceptions

Canada Reports Significant Fall in Canola and Barley Stocks and a Rise in Corn Stocks

Canadian Stocks of principal field crops at March 31, 2011As of March 31, total stocks of canola and barley fell significantly compared with the same date in 2010. By contrast, total stocks of corn for grain rose slightly above March 2010 levels, the result of increased production in 2010.Total stocks of canola were 4.9 million metric tonnes, down 22.8 % or 1.4 million metric tonnes from March 31

The Growing Popularity, Production, and Consumption of Blueberries

source: flickrA member of the genus Vaccinium, blueberries are related to many commercially important and popular fruit species, like cranberry, lingonberry, and huckleberry. Blueberries are mainly native to North America and are lauded for their health benefits.Demand for blueberries in the United States has grown, with fresh and frozen per capita consumption both increasing over the last three

Farming in Vietnam: Fruits of Success

Japanese Farmer and Philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka: One Straw Revolution

For more information go to Wikipedia: Masanobu Fukuoka

TED: Louie Schwartzberg Films the hidden Beauty of Pollination

Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg shows us the intricate world of pollen and pollinators with gorgeous high-speed images from his film "Wings of Life," inspired by the vanishing of one of nature's primary pollinators, the honeybee.

U.S. Weekly Grain Market in Review for May 6, 2011

~May 6, 2011~Compared to last week, grain and soybeans closed lower. The markets posted losses most of the week with the most declines noted on Thursday on negative news. Crude oil was down sharply falling below 100.00 a barrel, precious metals also had a sell off as gold was down over 50.00 an ounce with the dollar higher finding renewed support. This all leading to sharp losses in the grain

Tilapia, Cellulose Food Filler, Early Humans Ate Grass, Abundant Rice Production, Rapidly Expanding Human Population and More News

Here are some news articles from this week that you don't want to miss:1. I have referred to slack in our food and agricultural system many times and was surprised to find this article @cnbc this week: Food for thought: How energy is squandered in food industry By Shelly K. Schwartz, CNBC.comOne of the reasons energy use in the food system is growing so rapidly is that there are more of us to

Agricultural Trade Between the U.S. and Mexico

About two-thirds of U.S. agricultural imports from Mexico consists of beer, vegetables, and fruit. These imports are closely tied to Mexico's historical expertise in producing alcoholic beverages and a wide range of fruits and vegetables, along with a favorable climate whose growing season largely complements that of the United States.Mexico is a major participant in international agricultural

Product Differentiation: Company Rivalry for Seed, Pesticide, and the Farm Machinery Industries

NOTE: The following article is from Choices and the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association.IMPACTS OF PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION ON THE CROP INPUT SUPPLY INDUSTRY By Mark KrauseIn the last issue of Choices, Olson, Rahm, and Swanson (2010) describe changes in the plant input supply industry using the framework of Michael Porter’s Five Forces model. They illustrate with examples, particularly

Top Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Animal Health Products by Market Capitalization

Recently, the livestock industry has campaigned that antibiotics added to feed save greenhouse emissions because less grain input is required, making more efficient production of meat. Also, this week, Jason Henderson, Kansas City Federal Reserve banker, has proposed that the BRIC nations will be achieving our efficiency in livestock production which would also imply greater use of antibiotics in

Photo: Wisconsin Farm 1955

A scenic farm in Jefferson Co., Wisconsin. 1955.(Thursday is Luddite Day at big picture agriculture)source: usda

Flooding Photos and NOAA Flood Map

At least 130,000 acres (52,609 hectares) of rich, bottom farmland were sacrificed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this week by blowing a two-mile hole in the Birds Point levee (three blasts in three days) in Southeast Missouri to protect the town of Cariro, Illinois, population 2831. It will take many months for the land to dry out, with some permanent damage expected. Add to this event many

So Who's Right and Who's Wrong? Henderson or Grantham?

Jason Henderson, economist based at the Omaha Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, has come out with a new publication titled, "Building U.S. Agricultural Exports: One BRIC at a Time." Increasing agricultural exports is an obvious goal of this administration trying desperately to improve our nation's balance sheet.Normally, a low dollar aids our nation in increasing agriculture

Graph Showing Ethanol production with Corn Price

Increased ethanol production has created a new source of demand for corn that affects prices, acreage allocations, exports, and the livestock sector. Corn prices rose in tandem with ethanol production, resulting in higher incomes from corn production. Although costs for users of corn such as livestock producers, the food industry, and foreign buyers increased with ethanol production, other

R.I.P. Rosie

Rosie - June 1996 - May 2011"puppy"

Global Grain Consumption in the Developed vs. Developing Nations

Strong economic growth in emerging economies is a critical determinant in the rise in food prices. Demand is also rising for feed grain in emerging countries as the consumption of meat increases with rising income levels.source: Bank of Japan

Vegetable Farming in the U.S.

photo: usdaThe following is a very small excerpt from the latest USDA Vegetable and Melon report. [pdf]Vegetable and melon production is a diverse, complex, management intensive, and little-subsidized business in the United States. It is also among the more financially successful components of U.S. agriculture. Today, the industry faces an array of challenges:• Chronic farm labor shortages•

What Does Jeremy Grantham Have to Say About the Agriculture Sector?

In my post last week, "Agriculture and the Oil Supply," I linked this Jeremy Grantham - CIO of GMO Capital report. This outlook of Grantham's has had the blogosphere all abuzz and I do encourage you to read the whole thing if you haven't already. (Doomer Porn warning!)Today, I will excerpt the part about agriculture, as Grantham's outlook is quite interesting, especially for those of us whose

Dakar Agricole 2011: Self-Sufficiency Equals Food Security and Global Trade Implications

Note: Harwood D. Schaffer at the University of Tennessee's Agricultural Policy Analysis Center attended and made a presentation at the international "Dakar Agricole 2011" conference earlier this month which focused upon food security in the poorer nations in view of recent decade trade practices and the resulting effects upon food security during times of high and volatile commodity prices. At

U.S. Farm Data Maps: Density, Farm Payments, Product Value, Off-farm Incomes, Internet Access, Minority Operators, CSAs, Agritourism, Over age-65

Map of Percent of U.S. Land in Farms in 2007Map Showing the Average Value of Agricultural Products Sold in the U.S. in 2007Map of U.S. Government Payments Per Farm Operation in 2007Map of Percent of U.S. Farm Operators working off-farm in 2007Map of Percent of U.S. Farms with less than $10,000 in Sales in 2007Map Showing Number of Farms in U.S. in 2007Map Showing Percent of Farms with High Speed

Farm operations' use of input procurement and marketing practices

As part of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), farm operators are asked about use of various practices to procure inputs and to market outputs. The 2008 ARMS asked farmers about their marketing practices (such as using production contracts or collaborative marketing) and input procurement (such as locking in prices or negotiating discounts) to elicit information about how

Agriculture News May 1, 2011

1. As of April 21, U.S. exports of barley, corn and sorghum are tracking close to 2009/2010 export levels despite increases in grain prices. DDGS exports are up 25%, however.2. Farmers throughout the Midwest are nervous about delayed corn and soybean planting due to continuing cool, wet weather and flooding. A significant part of this area has received from 150% to 200% of normal rainfall this