Jim Wiesemeyer (wiesemeyer@gmail.com), Washington DC agricultural insider, Virginia, spoke recently about US agriculture. Email him for free daily insights. Jim offered insights on E-15, Aviation fuel, and projections for the US Farm Bill. Jim is optimistic that Congress will pass a US ag farm provision for year-round E-15 Ethanol. While some Congress members are opposed, the majority want this legislation passed. The effect on corn markets may be slow though because it takes time to build new facilities for increased ethanol production. The aviation fuel (45Z) seems to be stalled. It is set to expire soon (2029) but no rules have been made. This would be a boon for USA agriculture if 45Z was a reality. It will stay stalled until a new farm bill is enacted. The 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit provides a tax incentive for producing low-emission fuels including Sustainable Aviation fuel made from grain. Jim also reported on the USDA crop estimates. Currently the way USDA collects ...

  Tommy Grisafi, a Chicago Board of Trade stock broker discussed grain markets recently. Grisafi says farmers should watch seven things this year when pricing crops. First, watch China and the trade tariffs. A federal judge ruled that all tariff money collected had to be paid back but that could take years of litigation. Second, is the weather in South America. Watch for an indication or scare of a South American drought which could push crop prices up short term. Drought scares are an opportunity to sell. The same goes for USA drought which are more common and are still lingering throughout the country. Third, watch the corn export demand which has been higher. Grisafi says to market your crops when you can lock in a profit and do not wait too long. Fourth, get crop insurance. With todays high crop inputs for fertilizer (20-25% higher), machinery (25-40% higher), pesticides, and Labor; farmers are in a squeeze between lower crop prices and higher input costs.  Fourth, watch y...

Dave Stark, molecular biologist and CEO with Holganix says microbes boost plant nutrition four ways by making plant available nitrogen (N), by unlocking soil fertility, helping plants create robust roots, and by breaking down nutrients in plant residue. Soil biology is a real asset to farmers which should be enhanced.  Microbes have many soil functions. A healthy diverse microbial system improves soil structure, improves water drainage, stores more soil water, and consumes parasites and pathogens; releasing soil nutrients. Generally, about 50% of applied fertilizer gets into the plant, as it is first recycled through soil microbes. Microbes process nutrients to make them plant available.  Nutrient efficiency on N is only 40-65%, on phosphorus (P) 15-25%, and on potassium (K) around 30-50%. Farmers operating cost for fertilizer is around 36% for growing corn and only about half or less of applied fertilizer is efficiently used. Soil biology and soil microbes improve nutr...

Soil and plant nutrients are vital for optimizing crop yields. Some are free while others require extensive fertilization using the 4R's (Right Rate, Place, Form, and Time). Due to higher fertilizer and application costs, agronomists prioritize the 4R's. For conventional farmers, Nitrogen (N)-Phosphorus (P)-and Potassium (K) seem to be the big three nutrients. These three macronutrients consume most of the fertilizer budget, especially on corn and small grains. Nitrogen (N) is used to make protein, P is used for DNA, RNA, cell walls, and for energy transfer (ATP). Potassium (K) is used like money in the plant, involved in nutrient exchange and balancing electrical charges. Next, secondary nutrients are Calcium (Ca)-Sulfur (S), and Magnesium (Mg). Calcium (Ca) is a major regulator of plant hormones and growth. Calcium carbonate or lime is used to balance pH, just slightly acid. Sulfur (S) is needed with nitrogen to make essential amino acids for protein synthes...