News Bits
The 2023 U.S. corn and soybean harvests remain ahead of average following another week with generally friendly weather for activity. Most forecasts do have the potential for delays this week, including the chance of the first major snow storm of the year in parts of the northern U.S. Plains and Midwest.
The USDA says that as of Sunday, 59% of the U.S. corn crop is harvested, compared to 54% on average, with 76% of U.S. soybeans harvested, compared to the five-year average of 67%.
77% of winter wheat is planted and 53% has emerged, close to the respective normal rates.
41% of cotton is harvested and 90% of bolls have opening, both near average, with 29% of the crop rated good to excellent, down 1% on the week.
91% of rice is harvested, compared to 93% typically in late October.
67% of sorghum is harvested and 96% of the crop has reached maturity, faster than the usual rates.
31% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are called good to excellent, 2% less than last week.
The USDA's weekly national crop progress and condition reports run through the end of November.
National Cooperative Bank news release
Arlington, VA -- National Cooperative Bank, known for providing banking solutions tailored to meet the needs of cooperatives and their members nationwide, released its annual NCB Co-op 100®, listing the nation's top 100 revenue-earning cooperative businesses.
In 2022, these businesses posted revenue totaling $319 billion, a 25% increase from 2021. The NCB Co-op 100 remains the only annual report of its kind to track the profits and successes of cooperative businesses in the United States.
The following are the ten largest serving agricultural producers (overall rank..2022 revenue in millions...headquarters state):
1. CHS Inc.: $47,800...Minnesota
2. Dairy Farmers of America: $24,517...Missouri
3. Land O'Lakes, Inc.: $19,226...Minnesota
4. GROWMARK, Inc.: $14,577...Illinois
10. CoBank: $7,444...Colorado
11. Ag Processing Inc.: $7,312...Nebraska
12. AgriBank: $6,697...Minnesota
18. Agtegra Cooperative, Inc.: $3,390...South Dakota
19. Central Valley Ag Cooperative: $3,330...Nebraska
25. Landus Cooperative: $2,396...Iowa
To view the entire list click here.
Source: Council for Agricultural Science & Technology (CAST)
Today is National Pumpkin Day so it's time to celebrate the vibrant and versatile gourd that has carved its place into our culture, traditions, and even the realm of science. With their rich history, pumpkins not only take center stage on Halloween but also play an integral role in scientific research.
Pumpkins have been the subject of recent research for their potential use in various applications. Studies have investigated the functional food potential of pumpkin seeds, the bioactive elements present in cold-pressed oil from different pumpkin varieties, and the purification, structure, and biological activity of pumpkin polysaccharides. In addition, recent research has explored the use of pumpkins in fields such as medicine and biodegradable materials.
On National Pumpkin Day, let's enjoy the aesthetic charm of pumpkins in our holiday decorations and pumpkin-flavored treats and appreciate their growing role in scientific advancements. Pumpkins continue to prove their versatility, from enriching our cultural traditions to contributing to our understanding of health and nutrition.
Whether you're carving a pumpkin for Halloween, savoring a pumpkin-spiced latte, or exploring the latest research articles, the pumpkin remains a captivating and multi-faceted symbol of autumn.
Source: USDA news release
In 2022, 12.8 percent of U.S. households (17 million) were food insecure at some time during the year, meaning they had difficulty providing enough food for all their members because of a lack of resources. The prevalence of food insecurity in 2022 was statistically significantly higher than the 10.2 percent recorded in 2021 and the 10.5 percent in 2020.
USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS) monitors the food security status of households in the United States through an annual nationwide survey. Very low food security is a more severe form of food insecurity in which the food intake of some household members was reduced and normal eating patterns were disrupted.
The 2022 prevalence of very low food security was 5.1 percent, statistically significantly higher than the 3.8 percent in 2021 and the 3.9 percent in 2020.
Editor's Note: Regardless of food insecurity, or whatever one would like to label not being able to afford sufficient food, the administration's policies are making it worse not better. Check out the articles on curtailing water to Western growers and decreasing your herbicide choices and losing more crop yield to weeds; both policies being championed by the Biden administration.
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