Agriculture

Jeffery S. Hall, FSA State Executive Director, reminded farmers that enrollment for the 2009 Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment (DCP) Program for farms with base acres began on Dec. 22 both online and at local FSA Service Centers. Sign-up will continue until June 1, 2009. The June 1 deadline is mandatory for all participants. USDA will not accept any late-filed applications.

Forage producers around the world have struggled over the last year with high fertilizer prices. I’ve had many tell me, “I can’t afford to fertilize my hay or pastures this year. I’ll go broke.” While there is some truth to this statement, in the long term, you will definitely “go broke” if your forage crops don’t have the necessary nutrients for sustained growth. I don’t claim to be a soil science expert, but I would like to provide some basic principles on how to manage the nutrient inputs and outputs on your farm.

The prices of fertilizer inputs have increased at an astounding rate the last two years. With the decrease in commodity prices, fertilizer inputs cost may now be the dominate factor in determining a profit. Efficient and wise use of fertilizers and the nutrients in the soil become important in determining the crop grown as well as its profit.

Below are listed points one should consider to make the fertilizer purchased and the nutrients in the soil profitable for you.

Corn is not the only way to make ethanol. Scientists can also make the alternative fuel from the fiber of straw, wood and even corn cobs, scientists told state lawmakers, through a process called cellulosic—or fiber cell wall—technology.