Cotton

Corn Acres Top 95 Million, But There's a Silver Lining in USDA's March Acreage Report

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 18:05:59 GMT

USDA’s first survey-based acreage report of the year confirmed one thing: U.S. farmers plan to plant considerably morn corn acres than they did in 2024. But even with corn acres coming in above 95 million, and nearly 1 million acres more than what the trade anticipated, the corn market seemed unfazed by the news.

USDA’s March Prospective Plantings report estimates U.S. farmers will plant:

95.3 million acres of corn, up 5% from 2024
83.5 million acres of soybeans, down 4% from last year
45.4 million acres of wheat, down 2% from 2024
9.87 million acres of cotton in 2025, down 12%.

Total corn and soybean acres in the March report equal 178.8 million, which is up 1.1 million from a year ago.

The corn acreage came in above the average trade guess, which was 94.361 million, but the USDA survey results were below the soybean prereport estimates, which was 83.76 million acres. Why weren’t traders more surprised by USDA’s large acreage number for corn?

“I think it’s probably because there was also the expectation that no matter how high the number on corn plantings that it would be the smallest number of the year on corn plantings,” says Chip Flory, host of “AgriTalk” and Farm Journal’s economist. “So, the trade was leaning up on the corn number, but don’t rule out it having a negative impact by the end of the day.”

Ben Brown, an extension agricultural economist at the University of Missouri , says even though 95.3 million is above the average trade guess, it’s not as high as what some expected.

“There have been whispers that managed money traders were anticipating a number in the upper 95s or even 96-million-acre range for corn,” says Brown. “Those whispers pushed new corn down 9 cents per bushel last week and new crop soybeans up 22 cents per bushel. If true, today’s planting intentions report would have been disappointing to them and trigger a reversal of last week’s movement. It is still a relatively large corn acreage number.”

According to USDA’s report, total corn acreage is expected to be up 5%, with some of the biggest increases coming in the South.

Arkansas: Up 42%
Mississippi: Up 41%
Tennessee: Up 29%

“Iowa was the biggest amongst the I-States at over a half a million acres higher,” AgMarket.net’s Matt Bennett told AgDay’s Michelle Rook . “That’s no surprise. As I’ve been in Iowa several times this winter. I’ve heard over and over that they’re going to be heavy corn growers have told me that personally that it just didn’t work for them to plant soybeans. Then, if you add up Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, you’re over 1.1 million acres of additional corn.”

Bennett says the entire Midwest is seeing higher corn acres in 2025, as well.

“I understand that profit margins are still raised or thin. It’s just that we all know that U.S. growers love to plant corn first of all, and second of all, with $10 cash beans for the bids for beans, t that was a big factor for a lot of these folks,” Bennett added in his interview with Rook.

Shift in Acreage and Potential Impact on Yield
If farmers want to search for something positive in USDA showing such a large number of acres being planted in corn this year, Flory says you don’t have to go far. And that’s the fact that some of the large acreage shifts are coming in the fringe acres, which could bring down the national average yield on corn.

“The movement of acres from cotton and spring wheat to corn should make it tough to get to the 181 bu. per acre for a national average corn yield that USDA currently has penciled in,” Flory says.

If you dig into the details of USDA’s acreage report, and look at where the acres went, the 2025 principal crops planted acreage number fell in the Plains, but corn acres actually increased in some of those states.

“We haven’t hit the USDA trend line yield the last seven years causing many to wonder if the trend has changed and drawing the ire of many producers, so, the 181 bu. per acre number is already under question,” says Brown. “However, where corn increases matters. Of states with an average yield over 181 bushels per acre, which is 14, 13 of them had an increase in corn acreage relative to 2024. One could thus then make the case- we have increase corn acreage in states with state wide yield averages better than 181 bu. per acre.”

Soybean Acres Slip

The pretrade estimates were wide for corn, ranging from above 96 million to below 93 million. For soybeans, the range was 82.5 million to 85.5 million. USDA’s actual report number came in at 83.5 million, which was only 1 million acres higher than the lowest trade estimate. So, why did the soybean market trend lower after the report? Flory says it’s the opposite of corn.

“There was an attitude that the bean number would be the biggest we see this year, so the trade was leaning down on the bean number,” Flory explains.

Biggest Surprises Out of USDA’s Reports
The fact that the March 31 reports included Prospective Plantings and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) means the markets have a lot of information to digest. But what are the biggest surprises?

Here’s Flory’s list:

That the market surveys did a fantastic job of identifying the March 1 corn, soybean and wheat stocks. Wheat stocks are a touch heavy but not enough to make a difference.
Also, USDA printed a cotton plantings number below 10 million. “I think that’s important, even if the market doesn’t — wow,” Flory says.
Spring wheat at 10 million seedings is a bullish number.

For Brown, the biggest surprise wasn’t in acreage; it was the fact the March Grain Stocks report didn’t produce any shocks to the market.

“Maybe it’s adrenaline- but I was surprised the stocks report was as accurate as it was as it can be full of surprises especially for corn,” says Brown “However, corn came in spot on and the smallest surprise in the corn quarterly stocks since I started tracking in 2018/2019. Beans and wheat were also relatively small surprises.”

Brown says the total prospective acreage number wasn’t really a surprise, but he does question if U.S. farmers will hit that total this year.

“I just don’t know if producers will break their necks to plant everything this year,” says Brown.

Brown also points out sorghum was able to increase acreage in 2025 vs 2024 by 265,000 acres.

“Sorghum prices have been relatively weak compared to corn- but it is dry in Kansas and that could incentivize people to plant more of crops that do better in dry conditions,” says Brown.

Your Next Read:
Where Did the Acreage Shifts Come From and What Does it Mean for Prices?

EXCLUSIVE: Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins Provides Timing Update on $10 Billion in Emergency Relief Payments

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:36:23 GMT

Time is running out for USDA to issue the nearly $10 billion of economic relief payments to farmers . Congress approved a 90-day window to release those payments, and in an exclusive interview with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins Thursday morning, we asked when exactly those payments will be released. Rollins confirmed to Farm Journal that those payments will be released before the current deadline.

“Congress gave us until March 21, that is the ideal deadline,” Rollins said. “It looks like we’re going to be able to beat that, so it should be just around the corner.”

As USDA works to release those payments within the next few weeks, according to some sources, producers are banking on the payments, even making business decisions based on projected payment calculations.

Pro Farmer Washington policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer says the only issue that could impact that timing is a possible government shutdown. If the government shuts down beginning March 15, and those payments haven’t been released yet, that could impact the March 21 deadline.

Wiesemeyer also reports based on history, the initial payment will likely be around 85% of the projected total, with a supplemental payment likely coming in the summer. Most expect the per acre payment rates to be in line with what staffers on the House Ag Committee released last year, which are:

Corn: $43.80
Soybeans: $30.61
Wheat: $31.80
Cotton: $84.70
Rice: $71.37

Payment Cap
Like other recent disaster programs, the payment limit for farmers will depend on how much of a farmer’s income is derived from agriculture. However, this program is based on average gross income rather than adjusted gross income (AGI).

The payment cap will be:

If < 75% of average gross income from 2020 to 2022 is from agriculture, then the limit is $125,000
If 75% or more of average gross income from 2020 to 2022 is from agriculture, then the limit is $250,000
USDA says standard FSA “actively engaged in farming” requirements apply

While USDA will determine the finalized per acre payments, these are the estimated American Relief Act payments for farmers.

(Lindsey Pound )

Update on Timing of $1 Billion to Combat Avian Flu
Led by Rollins, USDA announced on Wednesday plans to invest up to $1 billion in new funding to combat impacts of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and soaring egg prices.

“The important piece is not just this immediate short-term goal of getting the cost of eggs down and repopulating our layers and locking our barns down,” Rollins told Farm Journal on Thursday. “But much more importantly, perhaps, is figuring this out for the long term, so we’re not having the same conversation over and over and over again.”

The avian flu plan, which USDA rolled out on Wednesday, includes five major points:

Dedicate up to $500 million to help U.S. poultry producers implement “gold-standard” biosecurity measures. USDA has developed a successful pilot program, called Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments, to identify and implement more safety measures. USDA will pay up to 75% of the cost to address any identified biosecurity vulnerabilities at poultry farms.
Make up to $400 million of increased financial relief available to farmers whose flocks are affected by avian flu, and USDA will assist farmers in receiving faster approval to begin safe operations again after an outbreak.
USDA is exploring the use of vaccines and therapeutics for laying chickens. While vaccines aren’t a stand-alone solution, they will provide up to $100 million in research and development of vaccines and therapeutics, to improve their efficacy and efficiency. This should help reduce the need to depopulate flocks, which means killing chickens on a farm where there’s an outbreak. Note: USDA hasn’t yet authorized the use of a vaccine. Before making a determination, USDA will consult state leaders, poultry and dairy farmers, and public-health professionals. The agency will also work with trading partners to minimize potential negative trade effects for U.S. producers and to assess public-health concerns.
USDA will take other actions to lower the price of eggs. For starters, it will remove unnecessary regulatory burdens on egg producers where possible. This will include examining the best way to protect farmers from overly prescriptive state laws, such as California’s Proposition 12, which established minimum space requirements for egg-laying hens.
USDA will consider temporary import options to reduce egg costs in the short term. They will proceed with imports only if the eggs meet stringent U.S. safety standards and if they determine that doing so won’t jeopardize American farmers’ access to markets in the future.

As for the $500 million that will go toward beefing up biosecurity efforts, Rollins says that will happen immediately.

“The team is putting together right now the guardrails for that, but I think they’re almost finished, and that money should be moving out very quickly,” Rollins told Farm Journal. “That biosecurity money is based on a pilot program where 150 different egg laying farms were piloted on specific biosecurity measures. Of those 150, only one has seen the avian flu. Once they implemented, there’s a massive audit that USDA comes in. They help audit. We’re hiring a whole bunch of new folks to come on board to do that — and new epidemiologists to help us work through all of the science on this, and hopefully you see that immediately.”

Where is the $1 Billion Coming From?
At a time when the Trump administration is looking to save money, not spend, we asked Rollins where exactly is the $1 billion of funds going to be sourced.

“We’ve repurposed funds from other programs within USDA, so this is not spending new money,” Rollins said. “Clearly, we’re in an era where President Trump’s vision is to really streamline government, but this is not that. This is outside that lane. This is a really, really important issue. You know, it’s affecting every single American, not just our poultry producers. And so there’s short-term and long-term fixes here now.”

Some of that money, however, is coming from savings from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“We are pulling it from multiple different pots. But yes, there’s no doubt that we’ve been able to find some serious savings in DOGE,” Rollins said. “We’ve canceled almost a thousand DEI trainings that were across USDA.... All of it adds up, and we’ve really pulled a lot of that money back. And now putting it where we think it really helps farmers and ranchers.”

What Will It Take for the Ag Economy to Recover

Rollins is set to give the keynote address at USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum on Friday. Rollins told Farm Journal there are a lot of farmers hurting in this economy, saying “it’s one of the worst for that industry that we’ve seen in decades.”

Considering 64% of ag economists think the row crop sector of agriculture is in a recession , we asked Rollins what it will take for the ag economy to recover.

“There’s no doubt, to your point, a lot of our producers in the different lanes are really hurting. Listen, we’ve got to get the cost of input down. We have got to get our export markets opened up around the world. I mean, we’re facing this year a $45 billion trade deficit,” said Rollins.

Rollins says when President Trump left the White House in 2020, there wasn’t a trade deficit. And she says the growign trade deficit is something President Trump wants to address.

“Just think about the amount of ag production that we were once moving out across the world that was keeping our farmers whole and making sure that they could make some kind of a profit,” said Rollins. “That’s not there anymore. Obviously, inflation, the cost of energy has absolutely decimated our producers. The input cost is up 30%. So when you’ve got all of these different factors that are basically piling on at one time, it’s it’s no surprise that sorghum, cotton and so many others are really hurting right now. And we’ve got to do something about that.”

As input prices remain elevated, and commodity prices are below break-even for some, Rollins says she and President Trump are aligned in what needs to happen to bring relief to farmers.

“My perspective, and the president’s perspective, is how do we achieve this through broader access to markets, broader access to capital, making sure that that the cost of inputs goes down. Hopefully with our energy plan, we see that happening almost immediately. And I think that will move into a different era for prosperity for ag, but there’s no doubt it is a dire, dire forecast right now without significant change.”

During the the first Cabinet meeting in President Trump’s second-term, which was held Wednesday, President Trump floated 25% tariffs on the European Union.

“Obviously, tariffs always come up. I’m always saying, ‘let’s be very, very careful and intentional how we move here,’” Rollins said about the first Cabinet meeting. “The border came up, immigration deportations came up. So all the things that the ag community is concerned about that came up, course, I’m at the table. My job is to ensure that that our community’s voice is heard, but also to help effectuate the president’s vision. And we’re moving forward on all fronts.”

You can listen to the complete interview with Secretary Rollins below.

Your Next Read:
EXCLUSIVE: As DOGE Works to Stop ‘Wasteful Spending,’ Ag Secretary Rollins Says Vital Farm Programs Aren’t at Risk

Congress Approves CR, Includes $31 Billion in Farmer, Disaster Aid and Farm Bill Extension

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:50:13 GMT

With little if any drama like the House, the Senate easily cleared the 118-page continuing resolution (CR) early Saturday morning with a vote of 85-11 (four members did not vote). The measure funds the government through March 14. The CR includes nearly $110 billion in disaster and farmer aid ($21 billion ag disaster and $10 billion in farmer aid), and a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill.

The Senate vote came hours after the House passed the measure on a 366-34 vote, well above the two-thirds majority threshold required under that chamber’s suspension of the rules procedure, with no Democrats voting no along with 34 Republicans. Texas Dem Rep. Jasmine Crockett voted “present”.

Debt Ceiling

GOP leaders dropped a two-year suspension of the statutory debt ceiling that was in a previous CR version and that helped push the bill through both chambers. Democrats opposed inclusion of the debt limit provision, arguing it would make it easier on Republicans next year to cut taxes and ram through other partisan priorities. Cutting the debt limit language was enough to convince Democrats to go along with the stripped-down bill, even though it excluded their priorities contained in an i nitial 1,547-page bipartisan measure .

One ag sector lobbyist said, “Ag groups need to start playing the game… those who always vote no on everything… why not actively oppose them… they don’t support farm bills anyhow.”

Breaking Down the Votes

Here is the list of House Republicans who voted no on the CR that contained $31 billion in ag sector assistance:

House no votes on CR

(House of Representatives)

Some notable representatives who voted against the CR include Nancy Mace (South Carolina), Thomas Massie (Kentucky), and Chip Roy (Texas). The reasons for voting against the CR varied among representatives, with some citing concerns about high levels of spending, lack of reforms, or opposition to giving the current administration additional funding.

Here is the list of Senate Democrats who voted no:

Senate no votes on CR

(U.S. Senate)

Farmer Aid in the CR

This is a breakdown of the $31 billion in farmer assistance via the CR:

Farmer aid breakdown

(House Ag Committee)

Possible Payment Amounts to Farmers

The farmer aid should be available 90 days after the legislation’s enactment. Farm CPA Paul Neiffer estimated per acre payment amounts via the Economic Loss Assistance program based on his knowledge of the provisions.

Possible payments as calculated by Farm CPA Paul Neiffer

(Lindsey Pound )

While USDA will make the final calculations, based on Neiffer’s estimates, producer payments look like this per acre, using the following calculation: (USDA’s Projected Cost of the Crop – National Projected Returns) x Eligible Acres x 26% = Total Payment.

Corn: $43.80
Soybeans: $30.61
Wheat: $31.80
Cotton: $84.70
Rice: $69.66

Neiffer says there is a payment limit of $125,000 dollars, which is down from the $175,00 originally proposed in the FARM Act. He says it’s also key to note with the updated relief, if 75% of your total gross income comes from farming, which includes wages and interest and dividends, then you qualify for the double payment.

Related Story: Poll Results: 71% of Farmers Say Congress Should Approve Economic Aid Before Year-End

House Ag Committee Fact Sheet Details Payments

The House Ag Committee released a fact sheet on the farmer economic assistance that is provided in the current Continuing Resolution (CR), modeled off of Rep. Trent Kelly’s (R-Miss.) FARM Act (HR 10045). There is a list of eligible commodities, a payment formula, administrative provisions, and estimated payment rates.

House Ag panel staffers say please keep in mind that the payment rates in this document are estimates and “almost certain to change slightly once implemented. These rates are the best approximation based on the data cited in text. This does incorporate the minimum payment rate provision. You’ll see that those crops receiving payments via the minimum payment provision have an asterisk.”

The House Ag panel had the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M analyze the impact of the economic assistance provided through this provision. Their findings suggest that the funds will improve ending cash position on their Representative Farm system by nearly 20% by the end of 2025.

Farmer aid

(House Ag Committee)

Your Next Reads:

Poll Results: 71% of Farmers Say Congress Should Approve Economic Aid Before Year-End

Ag Gets Potential Christmas Gift from Congress: Continuing Resolution Includes $31 Billion in Aid for Producers

A Farm Bill Extension Without Economic Aid for Farmers Sparks Intense Negotiations and Debate in Congress

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:44:47 GMT

A one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, tied to the continuing resolution (CR), has sparked intense negotiations over economic assistance to farmers. Initially, leaders considered diverting Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds intended for the National Resources Conservation Service in exchange for farmer aid. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) opposed this, aligning with President-elect Donald Trump’s intent to dismantle the IRA in the next Congress.

Sensing an opening, Democrats pushed for concessions in return for their support, proposing initiatives like 100% federal funding for Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, duty-free trade benefits for Haiti and Africa, funding for museums honoring women and Hispanics, and re-entry support for former inmates under the Second Chance Act.

AFBF Calls for a No Vote If Congress Ignores Ag Recession 📰 https://t.co/ejlB4kQZh4 https://t.co/WaArdCYkdw
— American Farm Bureau (@FarmBureau) December 14, 2024

Farm-state lawmakers, pushed by farm group lobbyists, said they would not support a CR without farmer aid. American Farm Bureau Federation publicly called on lawmakers to oppose the stopgap bill if it doesn’t include farm aid. “I call on members of Congress who represent ag to stand with farmers by insisting the supplemental spending bill include economic aid for farmers and voting it down if it doesn’t,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said Saturday.

The Dilimma

Democrats know Johnson wants farmer aid language and must rely on them to help pass it, perhaps a majority of votes. House GOP leaders may have to take the CR up under suspension, meaning it will need a two-thirds majority to pass. If congressional leaders release CR bill text today, the House may not vote until Thursday. If so, the Senate could follow on Thursday or more likely on Friday.

Unlocking the farm aid package is the key to a broader CR deal. Both sides want to get aid to farmers, but they differ on the funding mechanisms. Republicans rejected a Democratic offer to include about $10 billion in aid to farmers while moving several conservation/climate programs into the farm bill baseline, which technically scores as deficit neutral. Republican leaders opposed continuing the conservation programs beyond their 2031 expiration, as they’d like to claw back as much of the 2022 law’s climate-related spending as possible once they have full control of the House, Senate and White House next year. Democrats in turn rejected a GOP counteroffer of $12 billion in unoffset economic aid, saying it came at the expense of some of Biden’s requested $21 billion in emergency agricultural assistance for farmers and ranchers impacted by natural disasters

The American Soybean Association (ASA) and other farm groups announced opposition to any year-end spending package that excludes economic assistance for agricultural producers. ASA President Caleb Ragland emphasized the urgent need for aid as farmers grapple with inflation, soaring input costs, and declining commodity prices.

Ragland, a soy farmer from Kentucky, called on congressional leaders to re-engage in negotiations to deliver both economic and disaster relief. He warned that failing to act would exacerbate the financial struggles of farmers, potentially leading to widespread impacts on rural communities and the broader U.S. economy. Soybean prices have fallen 40% over two years, with many farmers citing an insufficient safety net to weather the crisis.

ASA and other agricultural groups argue that without meaningful support, the nation risks an escalating agricultural recession that will reverberate through households across the country.

Meanwhile, the National Cotton Council (NCC) said it also strongly opposes any supplemental spending package that lacks meaningful short-term assistance for farmers. An NCC statement said the failure of Congress to provide short-term support to producers will mean that many farm families will go out of business in 2025, leading to devastating impacts throughout the rural economy. “We urge Congressional leadership to return to the negotiating table to find a path forward on economic assistance. If not, we will vigorously oppose a supplemental spending package that does not provide the immediate support our producers need. The current stalemate is a completely unacceptable outcome,” said NCC Chairman Joe Nicosia.

American Cotton Producer Chairman David Dunlow of North Carolina said, “Our producers will lose as much as $300 per acre on this year’s harvest due to soaring production costs and low market prices. Unfortunately, political gamesmanship has resulted in legislators turning their back on farmers during our hour of greatest need.”

Senate Democrats Respond

House Ag Committee Ranking Member David Scott (D-Ga.) and Senate Ag Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) issued a statement ( link ) condemning Republican Leadership for rejecting a $10 billion farm bill extension proposal. They said the Democrats’ plan aimed to provide economic aid and bolster conservation programs without diverting funds from disaster relief. They warned that the GOP’s counteroffer falls short, jeopardizing farmers’ livelihoods and risking widespread foreclosures.

Congressional Democrats are proposing $9.8 billion in economic assistance to farmers that is completely paid for and doesn’t add a penny to the deficit. This is real help that will reach farmers by the spring planting season. pic.twitter.com/9ty2uSKDFJ
— Senate Ag, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee Dems (@SenateAgDems) December 11, 2024

“For weeks, congressional Democrats have provided a pathway to a farm bill extension that will deliver tens of billions of dollars in economic assistance and investments in farm bill programs that farmers rely on,” Stabenow said in a statement. “Republican Leadership turned down this $10 billion proposal, rejecting needed economic assistance and increased conservation spending for decades. It is important to stress that this proposal is paid for and does not take any funding away from the critical natural disaster aid that has been requested. Their eleventh-hour offer fell short of what farmers need, shortchanged critical farm bill programs, and steals from critically needed assistance to address recent natural disasters. We can and should do both economic and disaster assistance, not pit one against the other.”

Senate GOP Lashes Out

House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson (R-Pa.) and Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), ranking on the Senate Ag panel, criticized Democrats for neglecting rural needs and announced their opposition to any package lacking robust farmer assistance.

.@FarmBureau calls for prioritizing emergency assistance for farmers.

"We lost 141,000 farms in five years and if Congress fails to include economic aid for farmers, the sad reality is that we’ll lose more."

Read the statement: https://t.co/lQuJ35f2R1
— Senate Ag Committee Republicans (@SenateAgGOP) December 14, 2024

”America’s farmers have lost over $30 billion this year. And for the last few months we have led many of our colleagues in raising the concerns of the farm community in meetings, in hearings, on the House and Senate floors, and in private conversations with other Republicans and Democrats. We are deeply disappointed to learn that congressional leadership is failing to provide our farmers with the economic assistance they need to weather the crisis they are currently facing,” Boozman and Thompson said in a release “Last week, Republican leaders offered Leader Schumer and Leader Jefferies a $12 billion economic aid package for our nation’s farmers, which they rejected. It appears that congressional Democrats have not learned the lessons of the most recent election and continue to neglect the needs of rural America.”

The 5 Spectacular Perks of Cottonseed for Dairy Heifer Feed

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 14:57:12 GMT

It has long been the darling of the lactating cow ration. Dairy nutrition research dating back as far as the 1920s touts the multitude of benefits that cottonseed delivers to milking cows.

But don’t forget about cottonseed for heifer feed. Depending on price and other feedstuff availability, cottonseed can be a versatile staple for heifer rations, too. According to Cotton Incorporated , the commodity research and marketing organization for U.S. cotton growers, more than 50% of the annual supply of whole cottonseed is consumed by dairy cattle.

The beauty of whole cottonseed for dairy rations of all kinds lies in its “triple-20” nutrient profile. It contains 20% or more protein, fat, and fiber on a dry-matter basis. In one unique package, it contains the chemical composition of forage, grain, and protein supplements, and can be substituted, within limits, for any of these ration components.

What’s more, the fat in whole cottonseed is rumen-protected, so it will not interfere with fiber digestion like free oils and fats. Its lower heat increment compared to starch-based ingredients makes it a popular energy source to support heat-stress abatement. And some research has shown that the fat in whole cottonseed also improves reproductive performance, a benefit for growing heifers.

Cotton Inc. notes that the crude protein in whole cottonseed is a “true protein,” which makes it superior to non-protein nitrogen (NPN) in high-forage diets.

Whole cottonseed also can serve as an excellent forage extender. The fuzzy, white portion of the seed – called linters – looks like leftover cotton fibers. But it’s actually cellulose, a highly effective fiber source.

In addition to whole cottonseed, additional components of the cotton plant can make worthy and economical contributions to dairy heifer rations. Cottonseed hulls and gin trash are high-fiber, low-nutrient-dense co-product options that can be swapped with straw to add bulk to heifer rations.

Cottonseed meal – the “leftovers” after oil is expressed from whole cottonseed – is a high-protein feedstuff containing about 40-45% protein on a dry-matter basis and 1.2% supplemental phosphorus. It can be a cost-effective substitute for soybean meal, but caution must be taken when feeding it to young heifers due to the potential for gossypol toxicity.

Gossypol is a naturally occurring insecticide in the cotton plant that can adversely affect red blood cells in cattle. For this reason, cotton products should not be fed to pre-weaned calves at all. That’s particularly true for cottonseed meal, which will contain higher concentrations of gossypol than whole cottonseed. Some nutritionists advise against feeding cotton products to calves 4 months of age and younger.

Extension dairy experts at University of Georgia recommended that a good source of available iron in the ration can reduce the risk of gossypol toxicity. They suggested young ruminants may safely be fed 5-10 mg. per pound of live weight of gossypol. As an example, a 700-pound heifer consuming 3.10 pounds of whole cottonseed per day would consume about 7 grams of gossypol.

As an on-farm commodity, the ubiquitous ration applications of whole cottonseed make it an attractive feedstuff choice for dairies seeking to simplify commodity sourcing details and storage organization. And its powerful nutrient package makes for easier ration building, particularly for heifer grower formulations.

Good buys on cottonseed can be snagged by nimble brokers who track its rapidly fluctuating values. The average price/ton of whole cottonseed currently ranges from about $300 in Alabama to $515 in the Pacific Northwest. But within the last 5 years, the price has been as low as $150/ton according to Cotton Intelligence Monthly , and values in the $200-300/ton range have been common.

The industry newsletter noted that, compared to the historical price relationship to cash corn, soybean meal or distillers dried grain, cottonseed values are often below average and competitively priced. Up-to-date marketing information and brokerage assistance for whole cottonseed can be found online at the Cottonseed Marketplace .

More of the Same

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:29:20 GMT

Same song, second verse. Cotton’s economic and declining acreage troubles in 2008 are predicted to hold in 2009, with many growers still undecided about how much, if any, of the crop to plant.

The undercurrent of how to deal with challenging times flowed through many of the speeches and private conversations at the Beltwide Cotton Conference in San Antonio, Texas, in early January. “This past year’s market will not soon be forgotten by the cotton industry. Uncertainty and volatility have been the rule, rather than the exception,” said Gary Adams, National Cotton Council (NCC) economist, speaking at the gathering.

Due to the softening world economy, USDA projects cotton demand for the marketing year ending July 31, 2009, to be 116.6 million bales, down from 123.4 million bales in 2008. China’s textile mills are expecting a production decline for the first time since 1998. USDA looks for world textile mill production to drop 5.5% this marketing year, the largest decline in history.

Adams noted that cotton could face increased competition from polyester. China’s supported cotton prices recently hit more than 160% of polyester prices. In India, prices of the two are about equal, making polyester appealing to some potential cotton users.

In December, Mark Lange, NCC president and CEO, thought he saw signs that cotton acreage would at least stabilize in 2009. With rebounding soybean prices, however, he now doubts it will happen. He also worries that tight credit could crimp cotton acreage, since per-acre input costs for cotton run higher than for soybeans.

Lange also voiced concern about growers who were caught when merchant Paul Reinhart, Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October. Reinhart says it had about 450 “unperformed” contracts with U.S. farmers and merchants. “Reinhart closed with a lot of contracts to producers exposed. A lot of growers have been really hurt. They are looking at their legal options,” Lange told the gathering.

World trade problems. Larry McClendon, NCC chairman, said the ongoing battle in the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks could hurt all of U.S. agriculture by handing advantages to developing nations, such as China and India. The WTO proposed decreasing the $48 billion of annual so-called trade-distorting support in the U.S. to $14 billion without increasing U.S. market access. At that point the contentious talks collapsed, but they’ll restart in coming months.

“We would not have U.S. cotton programs anymore if we went to that level. It would dismantle the program,” McClendon said.

“India and China have 50% of the world production of cotton, yet they’re not on the radar screen when it comes to Doha and cotton. All the rules are on one side and there are zero rules on the other side,” he said.

China, which is not bound by WTO rules, currently pays its growers about 80¢ per pound for cotton, McClendon noted. “Here in the U.S., we’re just
doing our best to get to 60¢,” he said.

Opposing Doha Round proposals unites cotton farmers with other U.S. groups, such as the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Corn Growers Association, Lange said. “I think what we’re saying is being heard. We’re in a difficult position. It’s difficult to say this is flawed and can’t go further. U.S. agriculture is largely united on this. If we made these cuts, there would be no U.S. support programs,” he said.

It all points to continuing tough times for U.S. cotton farmers. Looking back at the events of 2008 reminds everyone just how fast economic realities change in today’s climate.
“At current stock levels, short-term optimism for cotton is difficult to find. However, as this past year so clearly illustrated, the landscape can and does change quickly,” Adams said.

You can e-mail Charles Johnson at cjohnson@farmjournal.com .

North Dakota's Exports to China Plummet, California Holds Strong

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:06:14 GMT

The trade battle between the U.S. and China continues to weigh on agriculture. Fresh data from U.S. Department of Agriculture puts it into perspective, showing some states saw exports decrease more than 80 percent to China in 2018.

“When USDA released the final December data and completed the 2018 calendar year worth of agricultural export data in March, we wanted to see what ag exports were actually like in 2018, and if the numbers were as bad as we expected,” says Veronica Nigh, an economist with American Farm Bureau Federation .

Nigh says the numbers show the U.S. lost $10.4 billion worth of ag exports to China from 2017 to 2018, which is a 53% drop in a single year. While North Dakota saw exports drop 94% and Alabama lost 87% in ag exports to China in a single year, Nigh found states like California and Wyoming were unfazed overall by the loss of a major market.

“What we saw as we looked across the data was diversity in production and exports is king,” says Nigh. “For those states like North Dakota, for whom soybeans is a really large component of their total exports, they got hit really hard when China added the additional 25% tariff. So, when we look across all the states, those states that have a pretty high concentration in a single commodity, for which China was able to find a competitor’s product, they got hit pretty hard in 2018.”

Nigh says soybean exports to China eroded by $9 billion in 2018. Commodities like wheat, dairy products and hides and skins saw total losses of more than $100 million from 2017 to 2018.

She says when you dig into the exports of a state like California, producers growing and producing commodities like dairy, cotton and fruit and vegetables saw immense pain from the tariffs and trade war. However, when you look at the total impact, it was unchanged, as those lost markets were masked by other export markets that excelled in 2018.

“The largest export item from California to China is tree nuts, and in 2018, we saw exports of tree nuts to China almost increase by 50 percent, in spite of the tariffs,” says Nigh. “That’s a pretty interesting story that’s masking the declines we are seeing in other products.”

She says it goes back to a diversity of products and exports. The more one state grows and exports, the better off the state’s producers are faring in the current tense trade environment.

“That diversity of production and exports is masking a lot of what’s happening on the ground,” says Nigh. “Some producers actually did fairly well in the Chinese market in 2018, whereas other felt the trade war pretty hard.”

Another state showing resiliency with ag exports in 2018 was Arkansas. Data shows exports shot up 240% last year. Nigh says sorghum exports attributed to such strong growth, as those shipments and purchases were made prior to the additional 25% tariff applied last spring.

Producers feeling the effects of the trade war most are searching for answers; answers as to when the trade war will finally cease. The answer to that question doesn’t seem to be easy, as U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told lawmakers in mid-March, the possible trade agreement in writing has grown to 110-120 pages. While it’s not a done deal, China is starting to dabble in the U.S. market again, buying commodities impacted the most by the trade war.

“I think it’s possible we are close enough to a trade deal, that China might already be buying US products,” says DuWayne Bosse of Bolt Marketing . “Look at our lean hog market as an example. Pork cutouts rallied in March with a sharp rally in lean hog futures. Ethanol stocks dropped 530 million gallons during that same time. Did China already start buying our products? If China knows they are going to sign a trade deal soon, why not buy a few US commodities or futures contracts before the deal is signed?”

USDA’s data showing the massive drop in ag exports to China is alarming to many economists; some fearing its market share that may take decades to regain. However, Bosse is more optimistic.

“I believe we can gain all the lost market share back eventually,” says Bosse. “Any trade deal at all should be good for U.S. agriculture. Remember U.S. agriculture had a great deal before. Maybe I’m overly optimistic, but if China is serious about narrowing the trade surplus, buying a lot of U.S. ag products makes the most sense. “

He admits regaining the lost market share in China won’t happen overnight, especially not for soybeans.

“I would not recommend holding all your old crop soybeans waiting for a China deal,” says Bosse. “I look at a trade deal with China as a friendly new crop story. The time to sell 2018 soybeans was last spring.”

Deal or no deal, Bosse says time is running out to see a cease-fire between the U.S and China. As carryout of major commodities grow, cash prices are still showing prices below break-even for some producers. If prices don’t improve soon, farmers will be planting into even more uncertainty than last year.

Sen. Roberts: 'We're Going to Get Farmers a Good Farm Bill'

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 01:56:39 GMT

After months of waiting, agriculture is expected to get a first taste of the Senate version of the farm bill later this week. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) hopes to release the language by the end of the week, with a possible mark-up on June 13. It’s also possible the full Senate will vote on the bill before the July 4 recess.

After the House farm bill vote was derailed by the Freedom Caucus over damands for a vote on a conservative immigration package, Roberts says farm country shouldn’t expect major changes from the Senate. Instead look for minor tweaks and improvements that he says makes the bill stronger and immune to strong partisanship.

“This is not a time for a revolutionary farm bill.” - Sen. Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts

“This is not a time for a revolutionary farm bill,” said Roberts. “This is my eighth farm bill. So it’s not my first rodeo and it’s not the first rodeo of the distinguished ranking member Senator (Debbie) Stabenow, as well, and we worked together in the past to produce a bipartisan bill and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

He says it’s that bipartisanship that’s key to getting the number of votes needed to pass the hurdles of Washington. He thinks the urgency behind the economic hardship in agriculture should also help push the bill across the aisle, including Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) throwing her support behind it in order to get the needed 60 votes.

“Our situation is so dire and with the trade policy having a question mark after it, farmers want predictability not uncertainty,” Roberts told U.S. Farm Report. “I’ve got to have 60 votes. We have to have 60 votes. All of us in agriculture have to have 60 votes in the Senate. You’re not going to do that unless you reach across the aisle and you make it a bipartisan bill.”

Unlike the House version of the farm bill, Roberts made it clear that the Senate doesn’t support work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP), as he says the states already have the authority to make those changes.

“The law - right now - is a state can have work requirements,” said Roberts. “Kansas has a work requirement, and so I don’t think we’re going to change that. I think we’re going to have existing law, we’ll make some efficiencies.”

He told U.S. Farm Report that some of those efficiencies can be to protect the program by ensuring the integrity of the program. He says that includes possible changes to bonus payments and other work-arounds.

“We’re going to have to clean up that bonus program and to get that done, I think we can say here is a SNAP program that everybody can agree would be the program that we can pass,” he said.

He says crop insurance is the one item that he continues to hear about from farmers. He says the Senate version will include changes to the program, but he thinks the program will make the crop insurance portion of the bill stronger in the end.

“You say anything about crop insurance you’re talking about land values coming down, so that’s the number one thing that we’ll protect in the farm bill,” - Sen. Pat Roberts

“We’ll protect crop insurance,” said Roberts. “We are trying to make some corrections in it and a more accurate way of determining crop insurance, but we are not going to cut crop insurance.”

Roberts says this isn’t the year to make drastic changes to the crop insurance program, as agriculture can’t afford that right now.

“You say anything about crop insurance you’re talking about land values coming down, so that’s the number one thing that we’ll protect in the farm bill,” said Roberts.

The Senator did point out with current commodity prices, he thinks more farmers will switch to Price Loss Coverage (PLC) under the 2018 farm bill. He says it’s certainty and predictability those in agriculture need right now; and it’s that certainty he wants agriculture to know is being worked on in Washington.

“I want farmers to know that we’re going to get them a good farm bill,” said Roberts. “I want to them to know they can go to their banker or their lender - whoever it is - and sit down with that individual and say ‘hey, I’m going to be all right next year. Then I want to do that thing that they do best, whether you’re a farmer, a rancher or a grower or people up and down Main Street, we’re going to be fine. We’re going to compete and we’re going to get this trade policy worked out.”

First Thing Today: Weekend Rains Pressure Grain and soy Markets

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 04:42:07 GMT

Good morning!

Weekend rains pressure grain and soy markets... Corn futures are down 6 cents and soybeans are posting losses around 16 to 17 cents after weekend rains. Winter wheat futures are down 5 to 7 cents, while spring wheat is 4 to 9 cents lower to start the week. The U.S. dollar index and crude oil futures are both marginally lower.

Rains fall over the weekend, though some dry spots remain... Over the weekend, rains fell across much of the Midwest, but accumulation varied widely, with southern and western Iowa, eastern Nebraska, northern Missouri and far southern Illinois remaining on the dry side. Rains were most significant from eastern Iowa to northern Indiana and in central and southeastern Ohio. More rains are possible for the Midwest midweek. A heat advisory remains in effect for southwest South Dakota today, but cooler temps are expected for the Corn Belt and Northern Plains from July 29 to Aug. 2, according to the National Weather Service. However, the precip outlook is dry for these areas as the calendar flips to August.

Week ahead features spending bill action, possible health care vote, FOMC meeting... The House returns for one last session before the August recess. A four-bill “minibus” spending package is the major item of business expected on the floor, with many amendments and late-night votes expected. Over in the Senate, appropriators are expected to continue to mark up spending bills, and senators could take a procedural vote on health care legislation. In other events next week, the House ag panel on Wednesday has a hearing on reworking the North American Free Trade Agreement, while the Senate ag panel will hold a hearing Tuesday on risk management tools for the 2018 Farm Bill. The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) holds a two-day meeting (Tuesday and Wednesday). No interest-rate policy change is expected.

Spring wheat tour starts today... The Wheat Quality Council’s U.S. spring wheat tour kicks off Monday in Fargo, North Dakota today. Tuesday brings the first day of yield estimates, with final yield estimates issued Thursday around 1 pm CT.

Crop issues lead to a surge in Chinese corn buys for June... China imported 380,000 MT of corn in June, according to customs data, a dramatic six-fold increase from year-ago and well above May’s 42,219 MT. China’s ag ministry slashed its corn crop estimate to the lowest level in four years in June in response to drought that damaged crops and caused some farmers to shift some acres to other crops. In addition, heavy rains in southern areas of the country snarled grain transport, pushing up freight prices and further tightening supplies. China’s imports of ethanol and distillers dried grains remained minimal as restrictive tariffs remain in place. But its ethanol exports surged to 18,324 cubic meters, 10 times year-ago levels.

Chinese bean buys well above-year-ago halfway through 2017... China imported nearly 7.687 MMT of soybeans last month, which was a 6.74% decline from year-ago levels. Brazil supplied 6.418 MMT of that total, with Argentina shipping China 712,845 MT of soybeans last month. China’s soybean imports for the first half of 2017 stand at 44.808 MMT, up 14.19% from year-ago. So far this calendar year, the U.S. has shipped Brazil 19.062 MMT of beans, a 17.05% gain from year-ago. Brazil’s shipments to the country are also up from year-ago at nearly 23.196 MMT.

China bringing in a lot more cotton than last year... China imported 72,413 MT of cotton in June, a marginal decline from year-ago, with the U.S. supplying 28,714 MT of that business, a gain of 23.2% from year-ago. Halfway through the calendar year, China has brought in 639,057 MT of the fiber, a 48.25% surge from year-ago. The U.S. has supplied 360,597 MT of that cotton, representing a 206.39% surge from shipments at this point in 2016.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgrades its U.S. and U.K. growth projections... The IMF cut its U.S. growth projection to 2.1% from 2.3% for 2017 and to 2.1% from 2.5% for 2018, citing both weak growth in the first quarter of this year and the assumption that fiscal policy will be less expansionary than previously expected. The report cites “difficult-to-predict U.S. regulatory and fiscal policies” and the continued uncertainty surrounding the Brexit negotiations as key factors. The IMF forecast global economic growth of 3.5% for 2017 and 3.6% for 2018, unchanged from its April outlook.

Wanting to boost trans-Atlantic trade after Brexit... U.K. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox will hold talks with U.S. counterpart Robert Lighthizer today and with Mexico’s Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo later in the week. Fox says a transitional agreement would help U.K. businesses making investment decisions but that such a deal would need to end before the country’s next election in 2022.

Bearish report data could outweigh better-than-expected cash action... August live cattle futures start the week at nearly a $4 discount to cash cattle trade that got underway Friday in across the Plains around $120. Of note, extreme heat on the Central and Southern Plains late last week and through the weekend stressed livestock. But buying interest may be limited as USDA’s Cattle on Feed Report showed the number of cattle on feed and marketings above expectations (well above for placements). In addition, USDA’s Cattle Inventory Report showed more herd expansion than we expected.

Cash hog prices softened last week... The cash hog market posted the first weekly decline since late April last week, signaling the market may have put in a seasonal high right on schedule. August futures already have a hefty cash drop factored in, which should limit pressure on futures.

Overnight demand news... Saudi Arabia bought 900,000 MT of animal feed barley. Algeria issued an international tender to buy a nominal 50,000 MT of milling wheat from optional origins, but the country often buys more than it tenders for. Zambia will export 100,000 MT of corn to three east African states. Bangladesh tendered to buy 50,000 MT of wheat. Jordan issued a new tender to buy 100,000 MT of animal feed barley from optional origins.

Today’s reports:

10:00 a.m., Weekly Export Inspections -- AMS
2:00 p.m., Cold Storage -- NASS
3:00 p.m., Crop Progress -- NASS

First Thing Today: Firm Pegs Corn Crop Well Below USDA

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 04:42:07 GMT

Good morning!

Corrective trade lifts grain and soy futures overnight... The grain and soy markets enjoyed some corrective short-covering overnight. As of 6:30 a.m. CT, corn futures are mostly up 2 to 3 cents, soybeans are 5 to 6 cents higher, and wheat futures are up 2 to 4 cents in most contracts. The U.S. dollar index is marginally lower while crude oil futures are marginally higher.

Cool, wet forecast for much of the country... The National Weather Service forecast for Aug. 6-10 calls for cool, wet conditions across the bulk of the country. The exceptions include the Northern Plains where stressful dryness is likely to continue and areas west of the Rockies where heat is expected. The forecast is likely to remain a source of pressure for the corn and soybean markets.

Firm pegs corn crop well below USDA... INTL FCStone on Tuesday estimated the U.S. corn crop will yield an average 162.8 bu. per acre this year for a 13.590 billion bu. crop. The brokerage estimates the U.S. bean crop will yield 47.7 bu. per acre for a 4.235 billion bu. crop. For comparison, USDA in July estimated the U.S. corn crop at 14.255 billion bu. on an average yield of 170.4 bu. per acre. For soybeans, the department estimated production at 4.260 billion bu. with an average yield of 48.0 bu. per acre.

Uneven monsoon rains causing problems in India... While monsoon rains have brought India 1% more rain than normal so far this season, some areas are dealing with drought while others are dealing with flooding since distribution has been erratic. This has raised concerns about the country’s summer crops and led to talk India may need to increase imports of edible oils, sugar and pulses while restricting its exports of cotton, rice and feed ingredients. The India Meteorological Department details that while 58% of the country has received normal rainfall this year, the remaining 42% has received either excess of deficient rains.

Traffic again flowing on Mississippi River... The Mississippi River reopened to vessel traffic on Tuesday afternoon after a barge collision forced its closure just north of St. Louis for around 14 hours, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Repairs to the lock were reportedly completed faster than anticipated.

Congress has a lot to do on a tight schedule... There are seven legislative days in the Senate until the August recess. There are just 12 days with both chambers in session until the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. Issues in focus include the need for a fiscal year 2018 budget, budget resolution and a debt-limit hike. GOP leaders have begun their multi-month focus on tax reform.

Administration readying to probe China’s trade practices... The White House is preparing to investigate China’s trade practices and suspected violations of American intellectual property, according to reports. He Weiwen, a former Commerce Ministry official and longtime trade expert who is now a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing research group, told the New York Times that the Chinese government would study any American trade case before deciding how to respond and whether to seek intervention from the World Trade Organization. “China thinks that the bilateral trade relation is governed by WTO rules, not American domestic law,” He said.

Democrats offer Cuba trade plan amid hurdles in Congress... Lifting the economic embargo against Cuba is the goal of legislation offered by a group of Democratic senators. “It is well past time for the United States to abandon the failed policy of trying to isolate Cuba,” Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said. “Decades of experience have proven the embargo will never improve the lives of the Cuban people. Instead, this policy only serves to shut U.S. exporters out of a natural market for American agricultural and manufactured goods.” The so-called U.S./Cuba trade Act of 2017 has little chance of becoming law.

EPA now looking into dicamba situation... Directions on use of the chemical dicamba are being reviewed in the wake of hundreds of reports of crop damage from chemical drift, a spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed to Reuters. “We are reviewing the current use restrictions on the labels for these dicamba formulations in light of the incidents that have been reported this year,” said EPA spokeswoman Amy Graham said. EPA approved new formulations of dicamba late last year for two years as older formulations were known to drift from their initial target field. Scores of states are investigating damage reports from dicamba and some states have taken action to either bar its use or set restrictions on conditions under which it can be used.

Ethanol producers looking to alternative uses... Yesterday, Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Green Plains Inc. both said they will convert some fuel ethanol capacity into beverage and industrial alcohol production in addition to idling some mills as the ethanol producers continue to struggle with overcapacity and thin margins. In June, Pacific Ethanol announced it would by a beverage grade facility in Illinois.

ICAC expects slight decline in ending stocks from 2016-17 levels... The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) yesterday raised its 2017-18 global cotton production forecast by 320,000 MT from July to 24.89 MMT, which is a 1.860-MMT drop from year-ago levels. But consumption is also expected to climb from year-ago, which is expected to contribute to a 100,000 year-over-year decline in ending stocks to 18.80 MMT.

Stock market gains help lift cattle futures... The cattle complex enjoyed solid gains yesterday as traders noted the ongoing surge in the equities markets and futures’ discount to the cash index. And after a slow start to the day in terms of beef movement, load counts improved to 121 by the end of the day on mixed prices. Meanwhile, traders are still waiting for cash cattle trade to get underway.

Some positive signals for lean hog market... The pork cutout value fell $1.11 yesterday and movement picked up to an impressive 399.86 loads. Also encouraging, cash hog bids were mixed on Tuesday, with bids climbing in the western Corn Belt and Iowa/Minnesota markets but softening in the eastern Belt.

Overnight demand news... Japan says it will import 39,540 MT of feed-quality wheat and 14,345 MT of barley for livestock use via a simultaneous buy and sell auction. Bangladesh issued an international tender to buy 50,000 MT of milling wheat.

Today’s reports:

9:30 a.m., Weekly Ethanol Production -- EIA
2:00 p.m., Broiler Hatchery -- NASS

John Deere Introduces Easier Mid-mount Mower Decks

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:30:29 GMT

An AgWeb.com Farm Equipment Special John Deere is introducing easy-to-attach mid-mount mower deck designs with their new 60D and 72D AutoConnect™ mower decks, available for the 3000 TWENTY (3120, 3320, 3520 and 3720) Series Compact Utility Tractors.

The AutoConnect mower decks feature the ability to physically drive over the mower deck and automatically connect the PTO drive shaft.

According to the company’s new product announcement, the AutoConnect feature automatically connects the mower deck to the tractor and hooks up the difficult to reach PTO shaft when the customer drives over the top of the mower. This means consumers can install their mower deck in seconds without leaving the tractor seat, virtually eliminating all frustration typically associated with this task. Removing the mower deck is just as simple.

“Based on customer input, John Deere brings yet another industry exclusive innovation to the market with the new AutoConnect mower decks,” said John Arthur, Strategy Manager, Property Owner Segment. “Combined with existing attachment systems like iMatch AutoHitch™ , Quik-Park™ Loaders and rock-shaft assist backhoes, the new AutoConnect mid-mower decks solidify John Deere’s position as the market leader in easy-to-use compact tractors and attachments.”

According to the company, the AutoConnect mower decks will be available beginning this month at John Deere dealers nationwide.