The study, "Freshman Economics: Subsidy Reform Would Help More Farmers in Freshman Districts," shows that farmers in 36 out of 55 freshman congressional districts would receive more support from USDA by shifting "direct" payments to provide more funding for voluntary USDA conservation programs. The study, "Freshman Economics: Subsidy Reform Would Help More Farmers in Freshman Districts," shows that farmers in 36 out of 55 freshman congressional districts would receive more support from...

Nearby contracts retreated on the higher-than-expected 2007 corn planted acreage estimate from the USDA, technical selling and long liquidation, analysts said. The acres data is also down 3.059 million acres from the March intentions estimate of 67. Profit taking, spillover weakness from corn and commercial selling managed to apply mild pressure to pull futures off their highs near midday, traders said. The market briefly soared to its upper 50-cent trading limits on the tighter supply...

But his biggest challenge these days is the glut of honey imported annually from countries such as China, Vietnam and Argentina, where it can be mass-produced faster and cheaper than Grose could ever dream of doing in this rural, southwestern Oklahoma community of 840. But his biggest challenge these days is the glut of honey imported annually from countries such as China, Vietnam and Argentina, where it can be mass-produced faster and cheaper than Grose could ever dream of doing in this...

The Sell in May and go away crowd has been watching from the sidelines and is an illustration why using a mechanized market system can be folly. As we look forward to the back half of 2007, maybe observation and analysis will give us a clearer picture of what is happening in the areas that affect our investments. Many years ago in an economics or marketing class I remember hearing how a farmer who grew the wheat only received a nickel out of the 25-cent loaf of bread. Not since 1944 has...

Indiana Crops Improve 07/02/2007 Scattered showers and pop-up thunderstorms moved across portions of the state during the past week, improving soil moisture and crop conditions. Fifteen percent of the soybean acreage is blooming, compared with 3 percent last year and 10 percent for the 5-year average. Ten percent of the corn acreage has silked, compared with 4 percent last year and 7 percent for the 5-year average. Corn condition is rated 55 percent good to excellent, compared with 59...