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GMO WHEAT CONCERNS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
GM wheat concerns...
Steve Wirsching, USW/Mexico, informs us that last Friday, when he was in Costa Rica
visiting with MOLCRISA (the largest wheat buyer in that country), they asked if the U.S. could provide any assurances of "GMO free wheat." MOLCRISA has a soft wheat (SRW) buyer that is exporting products to
Europe and they needed certification of GMO free wheat. "I indicated that there are no GMO SRW varieties currently being grown for the export market," Steve reports, "however, their customer wants
something in writing." We turned to John Pitchford, USDA, who immediately faxed a letter to MOLCRISA, answering their concerns and assuring them that GM wheat has not been commercialized in the U.S.
More GM wheat concerns...
Alvaro de la Fuenta, USW/Santiago, sends word of recent concerns from Peru. "The following is a translation of a message received today from Alejandro Daly, Manager, Peruvian
millers committee," Alvaro informs us. "Dear Alvaro: Yesterday, on the occasion of World Consumer's Day, 3 associations conducted conferences where they indicated that it is possible that
food products being marketed in Peru may be produced from imported GMO corn, wheat and soybeans. Without a doubt, USW must have import information regarding this matter, which is why I would appreciate your
informing me if U.S. wheat has such characteristics. I urgently require this information, as it is quite likely that I will be receiving calls from the press, soon. Unquote." Alvaro got the word
to the Peruvian millers immediately. KOREA BECOMING KEY PLAYER IN GM FOOD ISSUES
Korea is becoming an important factor in the foreign acceptance and international trade of genetically modified food products. The USDA Annual Grain and Feed report for
Korea, issued this month, explains that the issue "has the potential to influence demand for U.S. corn." Recently the Korea Corn Processing Industry Association purchased 105,000 metric tons of Chinese corn.
"The reason stated for the purchase were," according to FAS, "high quality corn, low price and non-GMO guarantee."Soybeans are also affected. A news report from London indicates that South Korea's
Agricultural and Fishery Marketing Corp. tendered for 25,000 tonnes of non-genetically modified, optional-origin soybeans for October delivery. "This is a special tender. It's the first time for non-GMO
soybeans," a company official said. The long lead time is meant to give suppliers "enough time to prepare," the official added. The bidding deadline is Mar 31, at 1100 Seoul time. The officials said
a decision would probably be made within 2 days after that. He said the non-GMO soybeans would be used for producing tofu. Won Bang Koh, USW country director for Korea, reports that they have distributed the U.S. FGIS
statement verifying that GM wheat is not commercialized in the U.S. so wheat is not yet an issue. "But USW has to continue to monitor as very important issue because if GM wheat is coming from U.S., it will
seriously impact our market share in Korea," he reports. As the country recovers from the economic crisis, the quantity of wheat import also has recovered. Koh reports that flour consumption increased 8.4%
during calendar year 1999 with an 11.1% increase in wheat imports on the arrival basis compared to previous year. MEXICAN WHEAT MARKET SUMMARY
Mitch Skalicky and Steven Wirsching, USW/Mexico, report that Mexican domestic wheat production for the year 2000 is forecast
at 3.1 million tons. Production in the northwest, the bread basket of Mexico, is estimated at 2.4 million tons. Of this total, analysts are estimating that as much as 1.4 million tons will be durum with
about 1.25 million tons of that originating in the state of Sonora. Given the relatively low level of pasta consumption in Mexico (5.1 pounds/person), it is expected that a large volume of this total will be
exported to North Africa, Europe, and Central and South America.Regarding wheat imports, Mexico is once again expected to remain as one of the top 3 or 4 buyers in the world of U.S. wheats. Competition
continues to exist for the premium quality bread wheat markets with BIMBO and GRUMA still showing a preference for Canadian bread wheats. However, changes in management along with recent USW programs in 1999 and
2000 have opened the doors and given the U.S. an excellent opportunity to move U.S. bread wheats, both HRW and HRS, into these two major Mexican buyers' mills. An example of recent activity with BIMBO: In February,
Dr. Bert D'Appolonia, Professor Emeritus of North Dakota State University, conducted a wheat and flour quality seminar for Bimbo's milling and baking divisions, to identify the wheat flour quality parameters required by
BIMBO and to suggest wheat classes from the United States that would meet these quality parameters.
U.S. WHEAT MAKES HEADLINES IN SINGAPORE
And the news is good. Recent articles by Reuters wire service and the Straits Times gave
rave reviews to a week-long study by nine noodle experts to determine which wheat varieties Asian consumers find most palatable."Asians take pride in more than 100 varieties of noodle, all different in taste,
shape and texture, and many of them chomp noodles, in soup or lightly fried, three times a day," Reuters reported. "Now, the United States is sponsoring research to bridge the gap between its farmers and Asian
consumers." The noodle research project, a collaborative effort between USW/Singapore and the Singapore Polytechnic's Asian Noodle Technology Development Centre, brought in experts from Indonesia, Thailand,
Malaysia and the Philippines to examine 17 different types of U.S. wheat for the right noodle color, texture and bite. Although the study's findings are important to U.S. wheat growers, it isalso helpful that
the Asian market knows their preferences are an important consideration in the U.S. wheat industry. The positive media generated by the study conveys those assurances. "With competitors coming from
Australia and China, farmers in the U.S. would be at an advantage if they knew what kinds of wheat Asians prefer," the Straits Times reported. "The findings will be sent to the U.S. to guide farmers in
choosing the type of wheat they should grow." PROSPECTIVE PLANTING, STOCKS SUMMARY
U.S. SPRING WHEAT ACREAGE MAY BE LOWEST SINCE 1988
Spring wheat acreage this year in the U.S. may be the lowest since 1988, according to USDA's
March 31 Prospective Plantings Report. The USDA estimates that 14.8 million acres of spring wheat will be planted this year (13.8 million acres of hard red spring) down 4% from last year. U.S. durum wheat planting
intentions are pegged at 3.61 million acres, which would be down 11% from 1999. All wheat planted area is expected to total 61.7 million acres in 2000, which would be down 2% from 1999 and the lowest level since 1973.
U.S. CORN, BEAN, SUGARBEET ACREAGE ESTIMATED TO BE 1% HIGHER
U.S. corn, soybean, and sugarbeet acreages are pegged to be 1% higher than last year. If the soybean acreage estimate is realized, it would be the
largest planted area for soybeans on record. U.S. CANOLA PLANTING INTENTIONS UP 41%
U.S. producers intend to plant 1.52 million acres of canola in 2000, which would be 41% more than in 1999 if realized.
This is the first year that USDA is estimated U.S. canola planting intentions, and state intentions for ND and MN. PLANTING INTENTIONS IN MINNESOTA
Hard red spring wheat intentions are estimated at 2.1
million acres, up 5% from 1999. All wheat acreage in MN is pegged at 2.125 million acres, up 4%. Soybean acreage in MN is estimated at 7.3 million acres, 4% higher than last year and a new record if realized. Corn
acreage at 7 million is estimated at 1% lower; barley, 35% higher (from 200,000 acres to 270,000 acres); oats, 6% higher; sugarbeets, 2% higher; dry beans, 22% lower; oil sunflower, 25% higher; confectionery sunflower,
20% lower; hay, 2% lower. PLANTING INTENTIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA
ND farmers plan to increase plantings of canola, soybeans, barley, corn and springwheat for the 2000 season, and plant less durum wheat, oats,
oil and non-oil sunflowerand dry edible beans. These estimates are based on a survey by USDA's ND Agricultural Statistics Service and reflect grower intentions as of the first two weeks in March. This is the first
time canola has been included in the Prospective Plantings report, but flax has been dropped. Other crops not included in the report are potatoes, rye, dry peas and lentils. Specific planting intentions with comparisons
by crop: * Hard Red Spring Wheat: 6.1 million acres, up 3% from 1999 plantings, but down 9% from 1998. The record high acreage was 9.6 million set in 1996.
* Durum Wheat:
2.9 million acres, down 16% from 1999 and the lowest since 2.75 million acres in 1997.
* Winter Wheat:
110,000 acres seeded last fall, up from 60,000 the previous year. This is the highest planted acres since 150,000 acres in 1993.
* All Hay: 2.9 million acres for harvest, same as last year but 12% above 1998.
* Barley: 1.9 million acres, up 41% from last year's record low but 5% below 1998's acreage.
* Soybeans: 1.75 million acres, up 30% from last year. If plantings are realized, this will be a new
record high, up from 1.5 million in 1998.
* Canola: 1.2 million acres, up 40% and the highest since estimates were started in 1991.
* Oil Sunflower:
1.05 million acres, down 16% from last year and the lowest since 900,000 acres were planted in 1996.
* All Corn:
1.0 million acres, up 22% from last year and equaling the recent high of 1.0 million acres set in 1992.
* Oats: 620,000 acres, down 5% from last year and the lowest since 530,000 acres in 1996. Acreage
intended for grain is 350,000, 6% above last year.
* Dry Edible Beans: 610,000 acres, down 3% from last year and 19% from the record high acreage of 750,000 in 1998.
* Non-oil Sunflower:
300,000 acres, down 33% and the lowest since 280,000 planted acres in 1996.
* Sugarbeets: 251,000 acres, virtually the same as last year's record high 251,600 acres planted.
U.S. BIOTECH PLANTINGS DOWN SLIGHTLY
In the USDA's planting intentions survey, randomly selected farmers across the U.S. (except Alaska and Hawaii) were asked if the intended to plant seed that, through
biotechnology, was resistant to herbicides, insects, or both. According to the March survey, of the 74.9 million acres U.S. producers intend to plant to soybeans in 2000, 52% will be seeded to herbicide resistant
varieties, down only slightly from 57% planted to biotech varieties last year, and still more than the 42% in 1998. Corn producers intend to plant 25% of their corn acreage to biotech varieties, compared to 33% last
year and 30% in 1998. It's estimated that 19% of corn acreage will be Bt corn, compared to 25% last year and 21% in 1998. Biotech-developed herbicide-resistant corn acreage is estimated at 4%, the same as last year but
1% less than in 1998. USDA estimates that 2% of corn acreage will be planted to stacked-gene varieties, or varieties that contain both insect and herbicide resistance. If realized, this would be down from 4% in 1999 and
in 1998. USDA GRAIN STOCKS REPORT IN LINE WITH EXPECTATIONS
All wheat stored in all positions on March 1 totaled 1.41 billion bushels, down 3% from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 423 million
bushels, down 10% from last year, while off-farm stocks, at 989 million bushels, are up 1% from a year ago. Durum wheat stocks in all positions on March 1 are down 8% from a year ago. On-farm durum stocks are
down 11% from 1999, and off-farm durum stocks down 2% from a year ago. Corn stocks in all positions on March 1, are down 2% from March 1, 1999. On-farm corn stocks are down 8% from a year ago, while off-farm stocks
were up 9% from a year ago. Soybeans stored in all positions on March 1 are down 4% from March 1, 1999. On-farm stocks are down 10% from the same period a year ago, while off-farm stocks were 4% higher.
ND MARCH GRAIN STOCKS
All wheat stocks, including durum, other spring and winter wheat, were down 9% from last year in ND. Barley stocks were down 34% from a year ago; corn stocks down less than 1%; and oat
stocks sharply down by 30 percent. Soybean stocks were down 8% from last year. This is the second highest on record, trailing only 1999 March stocks. MN MARCH GRAIN STOCKS
All wheat stocks in MN as of March
1 in all positions at 58.7 million bushels were down 1% from March 1 of 1999. On-farm stocks accounted for 53% of the total. Barley stocks in all positions were up 2% from a year earlier. Soybean stocks in all positions
were unchanged, and corn stocks in MN were up 1% from a year ago, with on-farm storage accounting for 74% of the total. EARLY BIRDS: KEEP CROP INSURANCE PLANTING DATES IN MIND
There are scattered reports of producers already seeding. But early birds should keep the
initial planting date (IPD) under their crop insurance policies in mind, says Kathleen Gilbertson, with the Risk Management Agency's Regional Service Office, Billings. If a crop is planted prior to the
IPD and something happens to it prior to the final planting date, the producer will have to replant it at his own expense.
Contact your agent to get the applicable IPD in your county. RECENT NEWS ON CORN AND SOYBEANS, 03/29/00
Extension Service, North Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota
Stop Skips when Planting to Prosper
Those nasty little skips in the field caused by planter problems or stand losses from pests can really cost you. Reductions in soybean stands can rapidly add up where two
foot skips through 50% of a row will often yield only 94% of normal (6% yield loss right off the top) according to Extension research run at Purdue University. Longer skips such as three foot spaces in 50% of a
row can result in only 87% of normal yield (13% yield loss) and four foot skips over 50% of a row will knock down the yield to only 85% of normal (15% yield loss). Target toward your best soybean stands ever this
year by making sure seed placement down the row is optimized based on correct planter calibration and operation as well as use of quality seed, correct planting depth and good plant population.
Farm Future Found in Its History?
Now the history of farming as catalogued by the USDA can be accessed through the Web at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/speccoll/collect/history/index.htm.The new site developed by the National Agriculture
Library out of Beltsville, MD has documents from the inception of USDA in 1862 (and even before) to present. Original letters, reports and other papers of USDA officials and agricultural historians along with
other materials collected can be viewed. The materials also include photographs and videotapes within the reorganized collection. A searchable guide aids in navigating the site and includes highlights of
items in the collection and historical photo images and graphics. Welcome to farming found at your fingertips! Whether the Weather will Change, Fair Weather Friend is Farsighted
The
reorganized Web site by University of Minnesota's Extension agricultural climatologist, Dr. Mark Seeley, is the hot spot to be to find out if that fickle foe called weather is about to change crop plans. The
comprehensive site provides all the latest crop weather information, including links to drought forecasts and weekly historical and current comments. Set a bookmark to check out this site during corn and soybean
crop planning and planting at: http://www.climate.umn.edu.Jump into Irrigated GPS
Get ready to slowly see all agricultural systems evolve toward global positioning systems (GPS), even your irrigation pivot. Lindsey Manufacturing Company has begun
incorporating GPS into its Zimmatic irrigation systems. Product testing in 1999 will continue this year and include use of the GPS on controlling the guidance on steerable corner arms, field mapping and more
accurate water and chemigation applications. Check out the future at: http://www.zimmatic.com
under "what's new." If you don't have a pivot to play with GPS, punt and check out some of the possibilities with images from the Carterra satellite. One company, Space Imaging, has black and white images that go to one-meter resolution. Their four-meter resolution images using multispectral (color) can even be displayed in near-infrared band to allow a visual/quantitative analysis of crop vigor. Price ranges are normally around $30-45 per square mile. Make a track in space yourself to:
http://www.spaceimaging.com
Efficacy and Economics Edge Decisions on Roundup Ready
A recent report on corn experiments conducted in 1997 and 1998 in Missouri and Illinois evaluated crop injury, weed control, corn yield and net
economic returns by programs using glyphosate (Roundup)-resistant corn (Weed Tech., 2000, Vol.14:57-65). The studies compared acetochlor (Harness/Surpass) PRE followed by glyphosate with or without atrazine
(Aatrex, others) (POST) as compared to total POST programs of glyphosate alone or mixed with acetochlor, atrazine, or both, along with other comparison treatments on shattercane and common cocklebur. In the total
POST treatments, most mid-POST applications were better visually (free of weeds) than early-POST applications as both weed species mentioned can germinate throughout the growing season and more weed culprits could be
apprehended in the field. The early season weed competition could, however, drastically cut yields up to 23% in some mid-POST only cases. Either early POST or the treatment of a PRE followed by an early POST
could yield better than the simple mid-POST application if timed correctly. Treatments with two herbicide applications generally gave greater weed control, yield and profit even when figuring in higher seed costs
for glyphosate-resistant corn due in part to the greater flexibility in glyphosate POST spray decisions. In Mississippi, a field study on the efficacy and economics of glyphosate-resistant,
sulfonylurea-tolerant and conventional soybeans over two years on several weed species revealed that POST only programs generally were as effective as PRE plus POST programs (Weed Tech., 2000, Vol.14:204-211). In
this research, glyphosate applied sequentially resulted in good yields with good returns followed by the conventional soybeans using a standard herbicide program and then by the sulfonylurea-tolerant soybeans.
Yields, however, were equivalent when the same standard herbicide program was used under the same seasonal conditions on the plots which in this case was on a silt loam soil with a pH of 6.4 and 1.6% organic matter that
had timely preplant rainfall. Like the corn experiments mentioned earlier, these soybean trials showed that when weed control was good and the herbicide costs were comparable, variety yield potential and seed
costs must be factored into the final economic analysis. Electronic Newsletter compiled by: D.A. McWilliams, NDSU/UM Extension Crop Production Specialist, dmcwilli@ndsuext.nodak.eduNDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied
Science, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Sharon D. Anderson, Director, Fargo, North Dakota. LAWMAKERS WORK ON SUPPLEMENTAL, FARM BILLS
Lawmakers Work on Supplemental, Farm Bills. The House of Representatives neared passage of an ever-growing supplemental appropriations bill for 2000, but Senate passage
remained in doubt. Repeated reports of an imminent Senate Appropriations Committee meeting to approve the bill contrasted with statements from Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) that the supplemental spending
should simply be part of normal 2001 appropriations legislation. Meanwhile, House Agriculture Committee staff were busily preparing for a conference with Senate counterparts on crop insurance legislation. As for the
farm assistance spending planned in both the House and Senate budget resolutions, one high-ranking lawmaker in a position to set farm policy direction told AgricultureLaw.com flatly that another year of additional
Freedom to Farm payments is in store. It is not certain, though, that the wording of the budget resolution will strictly require this format for delivering new benefits, so Democrats will likely force votes on
alternative ways to make the payments. NEWS IS GOOD FOR NITROGEN PRICES, NITRATE CONVERSION; OPTIONS SIMILAR TO LAST
YEAR
Nitrogen (N) fertilizers remain relatively low in price despite recent increases in gasoline and diesel fuel prices. One reason for the current price
scenario is oversupply, says a soil scientist at North Dakota State University. Until the supply situation reverses, buyers--namely farmers--can expect bargains."Transportation costs for moving N fertilizers
will probably have some impact on the retail price of fertilizers, but the cost of the fertilizers themselves will be stable through spring," says Dave Franzen, extension soil science specialist at NDSU. "The
industry people I have talked to see no change in the supply condition until crop prices improve and farmers become more aggressive in their purchases." But will farmers necessarily purchase more fertilizer
then? Franzen says the relationship between crops prices and N fertilizer sales seems to create a paradox: Farmers tend to use N fertilizers more efficiently when crop prices fall, so even when crop prices rebound,
there is less demand due to the efficiencies producers have achieved. More Good News
"Between the fall of 1999 and mid-March 2000, there has been lower-than-normal snowfall and rain in the state," Franzen
says. "This is good, because the warmer weather has most likely contributed to higher nitrate conversion on those acres where N fertilizer was applied. If precipitation this spring is normal, or below normal, crops
should be able to make full use of fall-applied N." Franzen says N fertilizer options for 2000 are similar to last year, and in many locations, producers have better options due to the drier seedbed conditions.
The following application guidelines are based on reports and observations of soil conditions around the state:
a. Anhydrous ammonia--Anhydrous ammonia can be applied before seeding in a
separate trip across the field or at the time of seeding if a special boot is rigged so that ammonia does not contact the seed. When seeding and fertilizing separately, the fertilizer direction should be at an angle to
the seeding direction. Ammonia moves 2 to 3 inches in all directions away from the point of application, even if it is applied as a liquid using a "cold-flo" converter, so if the ammonia is applied at 5 inches
or shallower, some seed contact is inevitable. Planting at an angle reduces the number of plants that will be affected by the ammonia band. When fertilizing at seeding, the boot should place the ammonia at least 3
inches laterally from the edge of the seed pattern. One common problem in light, fluffy dry soils and cloddy soils is placing the ammonia too close to the surface. If the ammonia is placed 3 inches or less from the
surface, significant losses of ammonia through volatilization are possible. Placement 4 inches or deeper is a better option. Keep safety in mind when handling ammonia by making sure supplies of fresh water, gloves and
goggles (unvented) are within easy reach on tanks.
b. Urea--Warm temperatures, residue levels, soil moisture, wind speed, relative humidity and the time interval after application are all
important following a urea application. Urea placed on the soil surface undergoes soil enzyme transformation to free ammonia and carbon dioxide, which may result in the loss of a large portion of N if not incorporated
by rainfall or a tillage operation. Placement under the soil surface takes care of this concern. Many growers apply urea at seeding with a planter boot that separates the fertilizer from the seed. Separation by at least
1 inch is necessary to avoid seed damage. Other growers apply urea in a separate trip 2 to 3 inches below the seeding zone. Many more growers broadcast urea and either incorporate it with tillage or count on
precipitation to move the urea into the soil. Generally, with soil temperatures cooler than 50 F, cloudy days, calm winds and dry conditions, urea can remain on the soil surface for five to seven days with little
loss--but these ideal conditions are rare. Warmer planting-time soil conditions, breezy winds, a little dew in the morning and some residue cover can convert substantial amounts of urea to ammonia in just a few days. It
is safest to plan tillage within two days. If application is made to no-till fields, harrowing is better than doing nothing, although the soil needs to be loose for harrowing to cover any pellets. Use of a urease
inhibitor can give growers another 10 days of safety before the fertilizer needs to be incorporated. A urease inhibitor has an additional cost, but so does N loss.
c. Ammonium
sulfate--Growers with low sulfur soil test levels in areas of the state registering high amounts of rainfall last year may want to consider a sulfur application for small grains this spring. There are several sources of
sulfur available, but those with immediately available sulfur are preferable over those that must rely on "sleepy" soil microorganisms for transformation to sulfate. Growers considering a sulfur application
should look first to coarser-textured hilltops and eroded slopes because those are areas most likely to need sulfur due to leaching. The N in ammonium sulfate has some volatility potential, but the sulfur does not.
Sulfur can sit on the soil surface a long time with no losses. If ammonium sulfate remains on the soil surface for several weeks without rain, a few pounds of N will be lost, particularly in high pH soils, but these
losses are probably not worth an extra tillage.
d. Manures--Manures should be incorporated as soon as possible. Manures contain some free ammonia that is available to crops if incorporated.
Also, as manure decomposes additional ammonia may be produced and lost through volatilization. Manure application should be made as evenly as possible. This is often not practical to expect on many farms, but
livestock/crop farmers who develop a viable means of producing compost will benefit from a high-quality, highly spreadable manure. Compost has excellent fertilizer properties and can be spread at most any rate with
aspinner spreader for accurate and even application.
e. Legumes and Previous Crop Credits--Remember to take previous crop credits when following legumes or sugarbeets. These residues release
N early in the growing season. The amount of credits to take can be found in the NDSU Extension Service publication titled "North Dakota Fertilizer Recommendation Tables and Equations Based on Soil Test Levels and
Yield Goals" (SF-882), which is available from county extension agents or via the Internet
(http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/soilfert.htm).Application of N with the Seed--Although there is a tradition of applying fertilizer with small grain seed
at planting, there are limits to how much fertilizer can be placed with the seed. Fertilizer contains high levels of salt and may contain materials that produce free ammonia, both of which are harmful to seed
germination. All current publications from the NDSU Extension Service on wheat, canola, field peas and lentils, and soybeans, as well as publications on other crops, contain guidelines regarding crop tolerance and
performance when fertilizer is applied with the seed. These publications are also available from county extension agents and via the Internet (http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/soilfert.htm). UNIFORM SEEDING DEPTH AND SOIL MOISTURE IS CRITICAL TO GRAIN YIELD
March 30,2000
Fast emergence and uniform stands are keys to peak grain yields. And starting off with seeds planted at a uniform depth in moist soil is an essential
first step toward a uniform stand of grain that is vigorous and highly competitive, says a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer. Vern Hofman of the NDSU Extension says tillage should be avoided if spring
moisture continues to be limited. Read more at http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/. ALFALFA WINTER INJURY, WINTER
KILL POSSIBLE IN NORTH CENTRAL, NORTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA March 30,2000
Alfalfa producers located in areas of North Dakota that received snow along with
the cold temperatures during the first full week of March probably don't have to worry about the condition of their crops. But producers whose alfalfa didn't benefit from that protective blanket of snow may be looking
at some potentially serious instances of winter injury and perhaps even winter kill. Read more at
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/. |
