News Briefs

Wheat, Sorghum Groups to Hold Joint National Meetings in 2005
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and the National Grain Sorghum Producers (NGSP) recently announced plans for their first annual joint conference. The North American Grain Congress in 2005 will feature combined sorghum and wheat annual conventions.

Set for Feb. 20-22, 2005, in Reno, Nevada, the North American Grain Congress will include an opening reception on Sunday evening, Feb. 20; continue on Monday, Feb. 21, with a general session, breakout sessions, an information fair and an auction event for Wheat-PAC. Tuesday will feature board meetings for NAWG, research presentations focusing on sorghum, and will conclude with an awards banquet.

“We believe integrating these two conferences will benefit many of our producers who grow both sorghum and wheat, as well as allow for greater information exchange and coverage,” says Tim Lust, NGSP executive director.

Daren Coppock, NAWG CEO, adds that combining the two conferences will also benefit producers and corporate sponsors through increased efficiencies. NGSP and NAWG staffs are continuing to work out the details of the 2005 conference.

Meanwhile, the 2004 Sorghum Industry Conference is slated for Feb. 15-17 at The Peabody Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas; and, the 2004 Wheat Industry Conference and Exposition will be held Jan. 23-28 in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Hyatt Regency. Registration details can be found on the NAWG web site, www. wheatworld.org.

Workers Comp Insurance now available to all Minnesota Crop Producers
The Farmers Insurance Pool is now offering competitive workers comp insurance to all farmers in Minnesota, no matter the crops grown or whether you have full time, part-time or seasonal labor.

The Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association and growers from two other cooperatives established the Farmers Insurance Pool in 1980 to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage at competitive and affordable rates.  The insurance pool cannot sell workers’ compensation insurance in North Dakota, since a person in North Dakota may only purchase worker’s comp insurance through the state. 

For more information online, go to www.farmersinsurance pool.com/contact.html or call Brenda Lang toll free at 888-217-5100

2004 USDA Crop Reports
Grab a pen and write the following potentially market-moving USDA crop reports on your 2004 calendar.

Jan. 12: Crop production, annual crop production, grain stocks, winter wheat seedings estimates

Feb. 10:  Crop production and supply and demand estimates

March 10: Crop production and supply & demand estimates 

March 31:  Grain stocks report, prospective plantings report

April 8: Crop production and supply & demand estimates

May 12: Crop production and supply & demand estimates

June 11: Crop production and supply & demand estimates

June 30: Acreage report, Grain stocks report

July 12: Crop production and supply & demand estimates

Aug. 12: Crop production and supply & demand estimates

Sept. 10: Crop production and supply & demand estimates

Sept. 30: Grain stocks report, Small grains summary

Oct. 12: Crop production and supply & demand estimates

Nov. 12: Crop production and supply & demand estimates

Dec. 10: Crop production and supply & demand estimates 

No need to adjust nitrogen rates for wheat varieties

You don’t need to adjust fertilizer nitrogen rates for different varieties of hard red spring wheat, according to new University of Minnesota research. 

Minnesota wheat growers are interested in nitrogen fertilizer for both environmental and economical reasons. And this interest in improving the efficiency of fertilizer nitrogen raised questions about matching nitrogen rates to specific varieties, says George Rehm, soil scientist with the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

“This was a logical question since the protein percentage in grain varies in modern varieties,” Rehm says. Since nitrogen is a major component of protein, logic might say that some wheat varieties require more nitrogen for optimum yields than others.

To find some answers, field research supported in part by the Minnesota wheat checkoff was conducted with the cooperation of six wheat growers in 2002 and 2003. In these field trials, five rates of nitrogen were applied to three modern varieties (Knudson, Alsen and Oxen) and one traditional choice (P2375).

Wheat yields in 2003 were excellent, Rehm says. At three of four sites, optimum yield was in the range of 100 bu. per acre. The optimum rate of fertilizer nitrogen was about 120 lb. per acre when wheat followed crops other than sugar-beets and soybeans.

The optimum rate decreased to about 100 lb. per acre when wheat followed a soybean crop.

The study also illustrated the value of nitrogen in the tops of sugarbeets, Rehm says. At this site, the wheat yield was 100 bu. per acre; but use of fertilizer nitrogen did not increase yield.

At all test sites, the optimum rate of fertilizer nitrogen was the same for all varieties. Therefore, there appears to be no need to adjust recommended rates of fertilizer N for variety,” Rehm says.

The Minnesota wheat checkoff is directed by the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council.