Cold weather made a surprising sweep through Alabama over the weekend, but local agriculture experts say it could be two or three weeks before any costly effects are seen. With corn crops, Luker said the older stalks, usually those that are 8 inches or higher, will have the more severe damage. If they have a limited amount they can cover them, but if they have a big field of crops, there s nothing we can tell them to do. For the wheat, it s almost harvest time and once the heads have...

USDA trimmed the feed usage category for corn by 125 million bushels, to 5.850 billion bushels as livestock operators are feeding less higher-priced corn to animals and are substituting other grain, such as wheat, in animal rations. Analysts said it's likely the market will only be influenced for a short time on the report's finding, leaving traders to look to other influences for price direction. Corn carryover was seen at 877 million bushels, above with the 826 million-bushel trade...

With corn out-yielding soybeans four to one, a yield loss of 10 percent seems insignificant, especially considering the futures price for corn is more than $4 per bushel, while soybeans are priced at $8 per bushel. More corn also means the potential for more drying, harvesting, storage and handling costs as more bushels are taken out of the field. Nitrogen prices, relative corn and soybean prices, level of nitrogen used and so forth stand to impact the breakeven price when comparing...

Corn plants with less than six leaves on them still have their growing tips below the ground and will be protected, Erwin said. Area crops and gardens could be in danger if temperatures fall below freezing during the next couple of days. One natural defense the young plants have going for them is that with the recent warm temperatures, the ground is still very warm. Wheat is nearing its harvest time and is at an important point in its development, but it is a hardy plant. Though the plants...

LOUIS (AP) -- Monsanto co., the world's largest seed company, said Wednesday a booming market for corn-based ethanol has fueled its corn seed sales and boosted profits by 23 percent in the second-quarter. But the profit margin on corn helped offset the pinch on other crops, delivering a net gain for Monsanto's seed division, Crews said. Monsanto supplies seeds for corn and other grains that are designed to yield more crop per acre. The company also makes and sells agricultural chemicals...