Home News Livestock Crops Markets Hay, Range & Pasture Home & Family Classifieds Resources This Week's Journal

hplc photo gallery



High Plains Journal"Special Edition" 2009 Relay For Life Team Photo Gallery



Breaking News

State funding of livestock market reporting cut

By Jennifer M. Latzke

According to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, as of July 1, there will no longer be state-funded market reports of feeder cattle, bred cows, slaughter cows and bulls in the state.

Currently, KDA reports the livestock sales at Pratt Livestock Auction, Pratt, and Farmers and Ranchers Livestock, Salina. As of July 1, those markets will no longer have state-funded reporters.

Glenda Shepler, KDA Statistics director, explained the discontinuation of the Pratt and Salina market reports is a budgetary issue. The Kansas Legislature required KDA to submit budget cut proposals for each department, and these cuts would save the department a little more than $10,000 per year. The overall budget from the State General Fund for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, as recently passed by the Legislature and approved by the governor, amounts to a little more than $10.45 million for fiscal year 2010. While there has been no public announcement of the budget cuts, as of press time, High Plains Journal confirmed this decision with KDA.

The general fund allocation for KDA for FY 2010 was reduced by 15 percent from FY 2009, and an additional 3 percent in funding cuts will be necessary due to unfunded mandates from the Legislature. Potential cuts to agency programs were discussed throughout the 2009 legislative session, according to KDA, but they were not solidified until the week of June 15. A total of $88,841 will be cut from the state ag statistics program, according to KDA officials. The state of Kansas faces a $328 million budget shortfall as fiscal year 2009 closes June 30, and cuts to the 2010 budget are likely to change if state revenue continues to come in under projection, according to KDA. [Read More]

 

Top News

Reduction in hog breeding herd needed to increase prices

By Jennifer Bremer

The weak economy has also affected many sectors of the agriculture industry, with the pork industry being no exception.

University of Missouri-Columbia agriculture economist Glenn Grimes said the major problem pork producers are faced with is cost--cost of feed and inputs as compared to market price.

Grimes told pork producers during the World Pork Expo, held recently in Des Moines, that key driving forces for the pork markets include oil prices, biofuels policy and the economy.

"High oil prices led to high gasoline prices, high ethanol prices, high corn prices and red ink for the livestock industry," said Grimes. "A weak economy is doing the same in reverse."

He said it is important for pork producers to look at all of their inputs and make decisions. He advises and thinks there will be a decrease in the sow herd to help build up the price again.

"Since 1930, the U.S. has reduced sow inventory by 42 percent and increased annual pork production by 245 percent," he added. "Efficiencies and production (pigs per litter) has increased dramatically--from 6 pigs per litter in 1930 to more than 9 pigs per litter in 2005." [Read More]


Experts say pest becoming global nuisance

ARS develops sequence system

ARS scientist studies plant invasion

National Plant Germplasm System aids in disease research

FCC acting chairman Copps releases report on broadband strategy for rural America


Featured Item

equipment for the farm image

ALLIS CHALMERS 6070 1984

ALLIS CHALMERS60701984 1984 ALLIS-CHALMERS 6070 Tractors - 40 HP to 99 HP 18.4X28 (90%), 11.2X24 (40%), DUAL HYD, AC460 LDR, 5FT BUCKET

Call SCHMIDT & SONS INC—316-445-2103




Jun July - 2009 Aug
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1

Sale

2
3
4
5
6

Sale

7

Sale

8

Sale

9
10

Sale

11

Sale

12
13
14

Sale

15

Sale

16
17

Sale

18

Sale

19
20

Sale

21

Sale

22

Sale

23

Sale

24
25

Sale

26
27
28
29

Sale

30

Sale

31
Jul, 6   DeWitt Auction Co
Sikeston  MO

Jul, 7   United Country Entz Auction
Putnam  OK

Jul, 8   Del Peterson & Assoc
Fort Dodge  IA

Jul, 8   Southwest Auction Co
Howe  TX

Jul, 8   Results Auction Service, LLC
Pretty Prairie  KS


Jun July - 2009 Aug
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

Event

18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Jul, 17 (3 Days)  Four State Farm Show
Pittsburg, KS   


Jun July - 2009 Aug
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Event

12

Event

13

Event

14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Jul 11   Bobby Edmond Horse Sales Special Riding Horse Sale
Amarillo  TX

Jul 12   Bobby Edmond Horse Sales Open Horse & Tack Sale
Amarillo  TX

Jul 13   Western Video Market
Reno  NV


FROM OUR WRITERS
Ken Root

Ken Root

Political climate change


The climate change front moved through a couple of years ago. We all felt it, as even Republican presidential candidate John McCain acknowledged

More from the archives of Ken Root
Sara Wyant

Sara Wyant

Ready for new carbon markets and greenhouse gas regulations?


Watching the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approve sweeping climate change legislation proved once again that Otto von Bismark was right when he said:

More from the archives of Sara Wyant
Jennifer Latzke

Jennifer Latzke

2009 crop year uniform grain and rice storage agreement policy part of amendment


With the publication of the Marketing Assistance Loan and Loan Deficiency Payments final rule on April 6, the regulation governing the MAL and LDP

More from the archives of Jennifer Latzke
Kylene Orebaugh

Kylene Orebaugh

Improvements help alfalfa producers' performance soar


By Kylene Orebaugh If the alfalfa producers from the early 1900s were to step into the shoes of a farmer in 2009, they

More from the archives of Kylene Orebaugh
Holly Martin

Holly Martin

Belt tightens, strangles cattlemen


In these economic times, everyone is tightening belts. But occasionally, the belt-tightening can cut off circulation, strangling and crippling a vital part.

More from the archives of Holly Martin
Larry Dreiling

Larry Dreiling

Farmer, physician, soldier donates land for wildlife


Southeast Russell County, Kan., around the township of Dubuque, is a part of the world where arid short grass and lush tall grass meet.

More from the archives of Larry Dreiling
Jennifer Bremer

Jennifer Bremer

Positive attitude helps Angus breeders make proper management decisions


A positive attitude is the best solution for the Jager family of southeast Iowa, because they recently received some not so positive news about

More from the archives of Jennifer Bremer
Doug Rich

Doug Rich

Preserve the idea of conserving land forever


The conservation work that Chris McClelland has completed on his farm in Jefferson County, Kan., over the last 10 years began with an idea

More from the archives of Doug Rich
Trent Loos

Trent Loos

And so it was


The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 individuals who were willing to risk everything for the future of what would become the United

More from the archives of Trent Loos
Jerry Nine

Jerry Nine

Just a scoop full


(June 24)--Just when I thought it was bad--on fat cattle, because of the price--when I called the feedlot this week I was informed that

More from the archives of Jerry Nine
users count
You are among : 224 visitors.

Journal Links




Market Snapshot

Inside Futures
27-2009-1
Editorial Archives

Browse Archives

home pages
OnRequestEnd