The high price of soybeans on the futures market these days might take some acres intended for grain sorghum this year back to beans according to Josh Gaddy, Chief Agronomist with Murphy-Brown:
“We think that its going to pull some of the acres that were slated to go to sorghum back to soybeans. Yet there are still a lot of the agronomic challenges in our area like nematodes and pigweed that sorghum does a good job of addressing, so acres with those types of problems will stay in sorghum.”
As far as Murphy-Brown’s commitment to sorghum production in the Carolina’s, Gaddy explains that commitment is as strong as ever:
“On our own farms we are planting different varieties and making some comparisons.”
Murphy-Brown is also contributing funding to the NC State grain sorghum trials across the state.
With the price of corn so high, grains sorghum is being substituted for corn in hog feed, in an effort to keep the cost of production low.
US Postal Service Working on Ways to Keep Rural Post Offices Open
Megan Brennan, the Postal Service's chief operating officer, laid out a plan to keep rural post offices operating despite a severe budget crunch for USPS:
“We would maintain the current post off ices with access to post office boxes and lobby service, but with reduced window hours to match customer use. With this new option, we believe that rural post offices can be preserved.”
Pink Slime Fallout Partially to Blame for Lower Beef Demand
Beef demand took a hit from the flap over lean, finely textured beef (LFTB), domestically which has all but disappeared from the market as food service and grocery chains stopped using the product. Rabobank analysts note that processors have used LFTB, which averages about 95 percent lean, to increase the lean component in ground beef. Loss of the product likely will lead to an increase in beef imports to meet the demand for lean product for grinding. LFTB only accounted for about 2 percent of total U.S. beef volume, and much of the impact should fade within a few months.
The Latest on the Savannah River Expansion
A panel created to represent South Carolina's interests in the Savannah River has made a move to set limits on a dredging project. The Savannah River Maritime Commission on Tuesday recommended that dredging be limited to a depth of 45 feet. The Georgia Ports Authority has proposed dredging to 47 feet, but the panel said that would be harmful to fish in the area.
Small Grain Field Days Continue Today
The second of three small grain field days is scheduled this afternoon at the Granny Branch Farm near Aurora, North Carolina in Beaufort County. Forty-two varieties will be on trial, as well as hessian fly and rust issues addressed. Registration starts at 4:00 pm with tours starting at 4:30, concluding around 6:30 with a meal served afterward. For more information or directions, visit our CALENDAR.
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