Farmland Forecast
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Farmland Forecast

Farm Land 2013 - Boom or Bubble?

(FarmWealth) An “overvalued market” is not necessarily an “asset bubble,” but let’s start there because you can’t have a conversation, attend a seminar or read a newsletter about land prices this winter without the term “bubble” being front and center. The November 2012 Chicago Fed Letter on the causes and consequences of asset price bubbles provides the following definition of an asset bubble, “according to current economic theory, a bubble exists when the market price of an asset exceeds ... << MORE >>

How Does USDA Compile Crop Progress Reports?

(AgWeb) This week, an AgWeb reader in Hancock County, Iowa, wrote: "We have obliged with our crop conditions, and that is helpful to all of us. But everyone is asking where USDA comes up with their numbers. Can you obtain any remarks from them? We would all appreciate this."

In response to that question, AgWeb reached out to Julie Schmidt, agricultural statistician with the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), for more information about how weekly planting progress, crop ...
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Crop Progress: Corn Planting Complete and Conditions Improving

Corn planting in the top 18 corn producing states finished over the past week as farmers now look to complete soybean planting. A slow start to the planting season due to excessive rainfall will draw attention to crop conditions throughout the growing season.

As of June 16, 2013 corn that has emerged was at 92%, down 5% from the five year average and down 8% from the previous year. Corn conditions were 8% of the crop in poor ...
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WASDE: World to Offset U.S. Corn Loss

The June WASDE offered minor changes to the May WASDE report. Corn prices have taken the biggest hit this month, as major rainfalls have stalled planting and put a strain on farmers. We expect reductions to the 2013/14 corn balance as the worse planting season in over 20 years is reflected by the USDA.

Increased competition from Brazil has caused the U.S. market to decrease its soybean exports. A decrease in wheat production have increased the price for ...
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The Importance of Bees in Agriculture

Bees are one of the most helpful little creatures on our planet, although more commonly seen as a nuisance. In the United States, “Close to 100 crop species…rely to some degree on pollination services provided by this one species—collectively, these crops make up approximately 1/3 of the U. S. diet, including the majority of high-value crops that contribute to healthy diets,” states May Berenbaum, professor at the University of Illinois. National Geographic estimates one in every ... << MORE >>

Picture of the Week: Grain Storage

More than 300,000 farms across the U.S. have one or more grain bins located on them. From 2011 to 2012, farmers added 300 million bushels of storage nationwide. Storage bins give farmers a competitive advantage to time the market and thus increase revenue. This picture comes from southern Minnesota depicting four grain bins along a railway.

Remember, we are always looking for agricultural pictures from anywhere in the world. Submit pictures to farmlandforecast@colvin-co.com


Prevented Planting Tips and Facts for Corn & Soybeans

(Corn&Soybean Digest) Spring rains and flooded fields have delayed or prevented planting for many farmers in Minnesota. If farmers have multi-peril crop insurance and have not been able to plant by their crop's final planting date, they do have options. For most of Minnesota, the final planting date for corn is May 31. For the northern counties it is May 25. The final planting date for soybeans in Minnesota is June 10. The late planting period extends ... << MORE >>

Family Office Exchange Finds Business Owners Were More Comfortable With Illiquid Assets Than Non-Business-Owning Families in 2012

(GlobeNewsWire) Ultra-high-net-worth families that own businesses are more comfortable investing in illiquid companies than families that no longer have a business, according to a new survey by the Family Office Exchange (FOX), a global network of wealthy families and their advisors.

The Private Wealth Management Survey, conducted in conjunction with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, compared the asset allocations of business owning families and those that formerly ...
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After Drought, Rains Plaguing Midwest Farms

(NewYorkTimes) About this time last year, farmers were looking to the heavens, pleading for rain. Now, they are praying for the rain to stop.

One of the worst droughts in this nation’s history, a dry spell that persisted through the early part of this year, has ended with torrential rains this spring that have overwhelmed vast stretches of the country, including much of the farm belt. One result has been flooded acres that have drowned corn and ... << MORE >>

Crop Progress: Farmers Fight the Wet Weather to Plant 95% of the Corn Crop

Planting progress in the top 18 corn producing states progressed by 4% this past week and is only 3% behind the five year average of 98%. Farmers have done tremendous work catching up to the average due to the setback from heavy rains the last few months. With almost the entire corn crop planted at 95% and improved weather forecasts for this upcoming week, corn planting looks to be completely finished within the next couple of weeks. ... << MORE >>