USDA releases crop data for Ohio; wheat acreage increases by 25 percent

MARION, OH – The USDA’s recently released acreage report shows Ohio growers planting an estimated 3.2 million acres of corn in 2008, an 8.7 percent decrease from 2007 when 3.6 million acres were planted.

Ohio follows national trends as the USDA reports corn planted area in the U.S. is estimated at 87.3 million acres, down 7 percent from last year.

Despite the decrease, corn planted acreage is the second highest since 1946, behind last year’s total of 93.6 million acres.

Further, USDA reported that corn stocks in all positions on June 1, 2008 totaled 4.03 billion bushels, up 14 percent from June 1, 2007. Of the total stocks, 1.97 billion bushels are stored on farms, up 8 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 2.06 billion bushels, are up 21 percent from a year ago.

In Ohio, planted wheat acreage has increased 25 percent from 820,000 acres in 2007 to 1.1 million acres this year, according to the USDA. Nationwide, wheat acres are up nearly 5 percent.

“Growers around the world responded to the market signals from feed grains and oilseeds. The global wheat crop is in good shape and we will see an increase in feed wheat in many countries taking some pressure off of U.S. corn demand. We still have a significant part of the growing season left to determine the final corn crop, but the USDA report indicates U.S. farmers are once again doing their part in providing feed, food, and fuel,” said Dwayne Siekman, executive director of the Ohio Wheat Growers Association and the Ohio Corn Growers Association.

USDA’s first estimate of production and yield based on actual crop estimates will be released Aug. 12. Presently, with an estimated yield of 148.9 bushels per acre, total corn 2008 supply (production and carry-in) would be 13.2 billion bushels, meeting all currently estimated demands and providing a carry-out that is more than 5 percent of supply.


OWGA Encouraged with Farm Bill Passage


Marion, OH – The Ohio Wheat Growers Association (OWGA) applauds the recent passage of the 2008 Farm Bill by the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

“OWGA has been working diligently over the last two years in developing a more reform minded Farm Bill and Congress has delivered,” said OWGA President Mark Wachtman. “The leadership that U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the first Ohioan to sit on the Senate Agriculture Committee in four decades, has shown during the development of the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program cannot be overlooked.”

Today’s market environment demonstrates the need for the ACRE program. With commodity prices above historical levels and rising input prices, the optional ACRE program allows producers to better manage their farm’s risk.

The ACRE program has been characterized as one of the most significant reforms to farm programs in decades. The program offers a choice to farmers as they can either stay with the current programs that offer little protection in revenue reductions and lower yields as opposed to ACRE that better protects against volatile crop prices, natural disasters, and rising production costs. The ACRE program is not only reform for producers, but taxpayers save over $1 billion over five years as well.

“OWGA thanks the members of Ohio’s congressional delegation who supported the 2008 Farm Bill as a measure of much needed reform in today’s agriculture climate,” added Wachtman.

Ohio Wheat Growers Association elects new officers

MARION, OH - The Ohio Wheat Growers Association (OWGA) has elected new officers for 2008. Board member Mark Wachtman of Napoleon in Henry County was elected president. Wachtman formerly served as vice president of the board.

Former OWGA President Jay Griffith was elected vice president. Griffith is from Luckey, Ohio in Wood County.

David Brewer of Sycamore in Crawford County retains his role as treasurer, while Bryan Bush of Edison in Morrow County is secretary.

OWGA was founded in 1993 to educate and assist producers, industry representatives and legislators to improve the profitability and marketing strategies for the Ohio wheat industry. Incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1998. Our mission is to ensure the sustainability of wheat production in Ohio through diversification and value-added enterprises.

Many factors drive up grain prices

MARION, OH – Ohio wheat growers are responding to the needs of a rapidly changing world, which is one reason why wheat prices have recently increased.

The Ohio Wheat Growers Association (OWGA) says the low cost of the U.S. dollar is one reason why U.S. grown commodities are more attractive to developing markets. Wheat growers in the U.S. have historically exported more than 40 percent of its wheat crop and more than 25 percent of its soybean crop; in the last three years, wheat acres have increased due to demand.

“Overseas demand for U.S. wheat is forecast to hit a 12-year high of 1.2 billion bushels in 2008,” said OWGA President Jay Griffith. “Soybean exports are expected to total slightly more than 1 billion bushels — 113 million bushels below the 2007 export record.”

In addition, crop failures worldwide have affected wheat prices. Wheat production in South America, Australia and Western Europe has been cut from five to 20 percent in each of the past two growing seasons.

At issue as well are investments in commodity trading. The potential for high risk, high profit in the commodity industry has attracted investment bankers and high capital portfolio managers who have dumped huge amounts of money, especially in the U.S. market.

OWGA urges consumers to keep in mind that high prices don’t correspond with high profits for farmers.

“It’s also difficult for farmers to get fertilizer and fossil-fuels at an affordable price,” Griffith said. “High prices of grain have not uniformly meant high profits for farmers. Hopefully a weather-friendly growing and harvesting season will mean good profits for growers and reasonable prices for consumers.”
 

Ag Director Boggs applauds marketing program


BUCYRUS, Ohio – A law that created the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program will lead to a lot of opportunities for growers in the state, according to Ohio Agriculture Director Robert Boggs.

Boggs made his comments at the Ohio Wheat Growers Association (OWGA) annual meeting in Bucyrus on January 23.

Research funded by the voluntary Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program will benefit wheat, barley, rye and oat growers in the state. Boggs pledged support from the administration on establishing the program in the state, and he applauded OWGA for working with the state legislature for years to pass the measure.

“The decision by your organization to take control of your own destiny is a big step forward and an example for Ohioans of going back to core values … of making decisions based on long-term considerations … and by helping one’s own lot,” Boggs said.

Gov. Ted Strickland signed the marketing program into law on December 21, 2007. It goes into effect 90 days after it was signed.

Ohio wheat growers are number one in the country in soft red winter wheat production. Ohio is one of the largest flour milling states in the country and grains are a vital part of the economy. Marketing program funds will be used for market development, research, education and promotion.

Ohio Wheat Growers honor Reinhard, Mumper

BUCYRUS, Ohio – Ohio wheat growers recently honored State Rep. Steve Reinhard (R-Bucyrus) and retiring State Sen. Larry Mumper (R-Marion) as 2007 legislators of the year.

The legislators were awarded plaques on Jan. 23 during the Ohio Wheat Growers Association (OWGA) annual meeting in Bucyrus.

“We’re honoring these legislators because they were a vital part in passing Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program and for the work they’ve done for Ohio growers as members of agriculture committees,” said OWGA President Jay Griffith.

Gov. Ted Strickland signed the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program legislation into law on Dec. 21, 2007. It goes into effect 90 days from the time it was signed.

Ohio wheat growers are number one in the country in soft red winter wheat production. Ohio is one of the largest flour milling states in the country and grains are a vital part of the economy. Marketing program funds could be used for market development, research, promotion and education.

Wheat growers help farmers get disaster assistance

MARION, OH – Ohio Wheat Growers Association (OWGA) President Jay Griffith traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with representatives of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) to help growers whose crops have been damaged by natural disasters.

Griffith joined the NAWG delegation in visiting congressional offices supporting a disaster assistance program for the nation’s wheat growers. As a result of grower involvement in the policy making process, Congress has approved federal funds to cover areas that have been designated as eligible for disaster payments.

The cut-off date for agricultural disaster assistance programs approved last year was extended in the omnibus appropriations measure to Dec. 31, 2007. Previously, only disasters incurred between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007, would have qualified for the assistance. The USDA announced in late December that it is now issuing disaster assistance payments for producers who qualify.

Sign-up for the assistance began Oct. 15 and is ongoing. Producers must have carried crop insurance to qualify for the disaster assistance program and can only apply for program assistance for one of the three years covered. At that time, USDA indicated it was only compensating producers for quantity losses and would move forward with quality loss compensation in early 2008.

This disaster assistance program was included in a supplemental spending bill finalized in May 2007 and was the result of more than two years of work by NAWG and other agricultural organizations on behalf of their members who have suffered drought, floods, fires and freezes in recent seasons.

General Assembly passes small grains marketing program
 

COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio wheat, barley and oat growers stand to benefit from research funded by a voluntary marketing program passed Wednesday night by the Ohio House of Representatives. The Ohio Wheat Growers Association worked with State Rep. Steve Reinhard (R-Bucyrus) in passing the measure.

“Establishment of the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program will assure that Ohio wheat producers remain competitive in an ever-more complex global marketplace,” said Ohio Wheat Growers Association (OWGA) President Jay Griffith.

Gov. Ted Strickland signed the bill in December; the marketing program will go into effect 90 days after it becomes law.

Ohio wheat growers are number one in the country in winter red wheat production. Ohio is one of the largest flour milling states in the country and grains are a vital part of the economy.

Senate passes Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program

COLUMBUS, OH - The full Ohio Senate has passed the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program with a unanimous vote of 30 to zero on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Eleven co-sponsors were added to the bill, including Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland).

The House is expected to vote on the measure in December.

Ohio is one of the largest flour milling states in the country. Winter wheat and other forms of grains processed in Ohio are found in almost every grocery aisle in the country.