Tuesday, April 3, 2012

From Harry Stimson- Buchanan County Realtor

Iowa land values. $10,500/acre is the highest I've seen filed in Buchanan County. -- Harry Stimson (@HarryStimson)

Twitter Feed- Buchanan County, IA

Following a motorcycle with a dog in a sidecar #awesomesauce -- Jon Blin (@jjbcattleco)

Crop Professionals on Early Planting- Day 4

News From The Coffee Shop asked several Crop Professionals across Northeast Iowa to shed some light on the unusually early Spring weather and  discuss the risks and rewards associated with getting seed in the ground early.
Thanks for tuning in over the past week to read what the local pros are saying about early planting! 

Call, text or email News From The Coffee Shop and let us know what topic you'd like covered next, 319-327-0806 or prburmeister@gmail.com

By Brett Vogel, Vogel Crop Services
      Pioneer Seed Professional - Independence, IA
      brett.vogel@plantpioneer.com
      319-240-8979


Frost Damage risk
Although the growing point on corn is below the soil surface until the five leaf collar stage (V5), new growth often has trouble emerging through frost-damaged tissue, resulting in buggy-whipped plants. Frost damage to plants that are 6 in. or shorter can reduce yield by 9-15%, and is likely related to the subsequent unevenness in the stand and completion among plants.  

When a corn plant was one leaf stage behind neighboring plants early in the season, its yield was reduced by 20%. In comparison, when a corn plant was two leaf stages behind neighboring plants early in the season, its yield was reduced by 51%.


Crop Insurance Dates

Early planting before April 11 for corn and April 21 for soybeans will cost you prevented planting dollars.

Early April planting has been a topic of discussion.  Is it a good or bad idea?  The past few years early planting has been very popular due to warm soil conditions.  According to University of Illinois agronomist Emerson Nafziger. "Once soil conditions are good for planting in April, there probably should be little hesitation in getting started."  Soil temperature is not a consideration.  
If conditions are favorable and the 7 – 10 day forecast is good there is no reason not to get started on planting.  Your biggest factors are a May frost (latest frost date for Waterloo IA is May 1 50% and May 12 10% chance according to ISU Extentions Office) and pest control.  Consider all factors and do what fits your operation.  Be aware as the temperatures increase and we gain GDU’s corn growth becomes rapid.  My biggest concern with the warm weather is growing to fast and catching that late May early June wind storm and getting green snap.  

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Monday, April 2, 2012

From Ben Donnelly- Benton County, IA

Three big rigs working dirt in the same field between Brandon & Mt. Auburn!

New Advertising Page & Contest


Be sure to check out the new contest on the Advertising tab at the top of the page!

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION

I'm taking KU tonight, love Coach Cal but the #Big12 is built off toughness, it wins championships #NationalChamps -- Royce White (@Highway_30)

Ask the Tax Man

Andy Biebl DTN Tax Columnist






Question:
Our family formed two LLCs last year. The first LLC holds the farm land, and is owned by all family members (brothers and their spouses, nephews, and non-farming siblings). The second LLC is the active farming entity, and is owned by those who are actively involved in production. The operating LLC pays rent to the real estate LLC under a straight cash rent arrangement. Our attorney thinks that perhaps the wives do not have to pay self-employment Social Security tax on their share of the rent income from the real estate LLC, but that those who are active in the operation should pay Social Security tax on their share of the rent. Is that correct?

Answer:
First, congratulations on your structure. You've recognized that all in the family can share in the return on the land investment (the rent), but only those involved in production participate in that income. As to your question, your attorney might be confusing the passive loss restrictions in the income tax part of the code with the self-employment Social Security tax (SE tax) rules. As a starting point, real estate rentals are exempted in the tax code from SE tax. A landlord, including an entity, collecting cash rent and providing no other services to the tenant entity, even a related party, would meet that exemption from SE tax for all partners/members of the LLC. That matter was cleared up in the Eighth Circuit McNamara decision 12 years ago.

Your attorney is probably thinking of the "self-rental" regulations built into the passive loss restrictions. Passive losses are generally only deductible to the extent of passive income. To prevent taxpayers from too easily creating passive income on self-rentals, the regulations say that leasing land to a business in which you materially participate does not create passive rental income that can offset other passive losses. Those rules are generally unimportant to farm landlords, as most do not have other passive loss activities. But the SE tax exemption is important, and all of the LLC land entity owners will receive that exemption on their share of the rent.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

From Tyler Krug- Benton County, IA

#Spring has sprung at #KrugFarms, oats are up, calving, and planter preparation -- Tyler Krug (@TylerKrug)

Grinder/Mixer Sells for record high

Gehl 125 grinder/mixer sold for $13,000 on northeast Iowa farm retirement auction yesterday...new record auction... -- Greg Peterson (@MachineryPete)

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Job Posting

La Porte City- Blackhawk County, IA

Tractor Sales

1959 JD 330S tractor sold for $22,500 on west-central IL consignment auction March 20th -- Greg Peterson (@MachineryPete)

Winning Lottery Ticket

BREAKING NEWS: BNO NEWS confirms winning ticket sold in Maryland -- Michael van Poppel (@mpoppel)

Crop Professionals on Early Planting- Day 3

News From The Coffee Shop asked several Crop Professionals across Northeast Iowa to shed some light on the unusually early Spring weather and  discuss the risks and rewards associated with getting seed in the ground early.

Be sure to check back over the next week to read what the local pros are saying! New valuable insight will be released daily!

By Robert Hanson, Pioneer Seed Professional - Vinton, IA
      robert.hanson@plantpioneer.com
      319-560-9933

Understanding and managing early planting risks is a crucial step to achieving a productive stand. Corn is very sensitive to cold stress in the early season. The damage to stand establishment is greatest if the crop is planted into cold soil (typically below 50°F) or if planting is followed by snow, cold rain or an extended cold spell. Of all management practices that affect stand establishment and in turn, yield, the planting date decision often has the greatest impact. 

Pioneer has conducted early-planted research trials over several years across a wide range of geographies, soil types and tillage systems. Results from these as well as public research trials indicate that emergence is maximized when soil temperatures are 50°F or above at planting and followed by a warming trend through emergence. For that reason, growers who plant early should pay close attention to soil temperature, moisture and the near-term forecast.

Another key to facilitate rapid and uniform emergence is to manage crop residue in the fall and/or in front of the planter units. Growers should also check behind the planter to ensure they are achieving uniform planting depth and good soil-to-seed contact, and delay planting until the soil is sufficiently dry to minimize compaction.

Additional Info: Historical Frost Date for spring:
90% likely by 4/14
50% likely by 4/27

The take home is this: 
1)     We have warm enough soil currently to plant into, but look at the forecast….?
2)     There is still a strong likely-hood of killing frost.
3)     Crop Insurance re-plant does not kick-in until 4/11
4)     Planting date is major consideration in final yield. Why go too early???


Here's a helpful nugget that may useful in helpingyou make your planting dates decision...
Click Here- You will need to have a google account to view this link

Friday, March 30, 2012

Twitter Feed- Benton County, IA

A bad day in the country beats a good day in the city #truth -- Tyler Krug (@TylerKrug)

Congrats to Adam & Traci Brayton

Traci Brayton via Facebook
There will be 3 of us in October. We're having a baby! October 1, 2012

Morning Commodity Prices

Bob Utterback- Ag Web Radio
CORN MAY 627.5 +23.5
BEANS MAY 1392.75 +37.25
LCAT APR 122.6 +0.1
LHOG APR 83.675 +0.65

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Pro Farmer's Reaction to USDA Report


March 30, 2012
By: Pro Farmer, Pro Farmer Editor
 
** PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS REPORT **
  • CORN: 95.9 mil. acres; trade expected 94.7 mil. acres
    -- compares to 91.921 mil. acres in 2011
  • SOYBEANS: 73.9 mil. acres; traders expected 75.5 mil. acres
    -- compares to 74.976 mil. acres in 2011
  • ALL WHEAT: 55.9 mil. acres; traders expected 57.6 mil. acres
    -- compares to 54.409 mil. acres in 2011
  • SPRING WHEAT: 12.0 mil. acres; traders expected 13.4 mil. acres
    -- compares to 12.394 mil. acres in 2011
  • DURUM WHEAT: 2.2 mil. acres; traders expected 2.3 mil. acres
    -- compares to 1.369 mil. acres in 2011
COTTON: 13.2 mil. acres; traders expected 12.74 mil. acres
-- compares to 14.732 mil. acres in 2011


That's a big number for 2012 corn planting intentions! It beat the average pre-report trade estimate by about 1.5 million acres and even topped the top end of the pre-report trade guess range.

That's a small number for 2012 soybean planting intentions! It fell short of the average pre-report trade estimate by about 1.5 million acres and is even below the bottom end of the pre-report guess range.


Click Here to Read Full Article

USDA Repot- Grain Stocks

Corn stocks below expectations at 6.01 bil. bu.; soybeans below at 1.37 bil. bu. and wheat below at 1.2 bil. bu. #pfnews -- Julianne Johnston (@JuliJohnston)

USDA Report- History Lesson

Today's #USDA grain stocks report for corn was the first stocks report of the past 4 that wasn't bearish. Shows demand for corn is there! -- ADM Grain Toledo (@ADMgrainToled)

USDA Report- Old Crop Corn

I'm hearing old crop up 20-30. I bet if those hold we lock limit cob today. Closed most short CK & CN calls yesterday #luck -- John (@AgOptionTrader)

USDA Report

Don't miss coverage of the #USDA prospective planting and grain stocks reports at 7:30 am http://t.co/mwDmnf5G #market #grains #plant12 -- Farm Journal (@FarmJournal)

Our reply: We'll bring you tidbits from the report and what it means for market direction.

Crop Professionals on Early Planting- Day 2

News From The Coffee Shop asked several Crop Professionals across Northeast Iowa to shed some light on the unusually early Spring weather and  discuss the risks and rewards associated with getting seed in the ground early.

Be sure to check back over the next week to read what the local pros are saying! New valuable insight will be released daily!

By Jake Baldwin, Syngenta Seed - Manchester, IA
      563-920-6621

Risks :
1.) Frost or seasonal temperature would be a major concern. If we would have a killing frost, the chances of getting the same hybrid you planted the first time won't be available.

2.) Waiting to plant until April 24 might not be what you are looking for either.  With the ground being as warm as it is we could have major pest issues, namely rootworm. Rootworm hatch off of heat units. We could very well see these before the corn plant is expressing protein to protect itself .

Rewards :
1.) April 11 crop insurance is in effect.

2.) Better use of soil moisture.

3.) Corn that is planted without insecticides will have a better chance of survival.

4.) Depending on the weather, selling 1st half September corn.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Hydroponics at their finest!

From Amy Burmeister, Buchanan County, IA

New website- Starmont FFA

http://starmontffa.weebly.com/

Buchanan, Clayton, & Fayette Counties

Crop Professionals on Early Planting- Day 1

News From The Coffee Shop asked several Crop Professionals across Northeast Iowa to shed some light on the unusually early Spring weather and  discuss the risks and rewards associated with getting seed in the ground early.

Be sure to check back over the next week to read what the local pros are saying! New valuable insight will be released daily!



 
By Adam White, Pioneer Seed Professional- Rowley, IA
      319-325-1421

I am sure we have all heard of people around the state and throughout the Midwest that are already planting corn.  As we look ahead at the next 7 days, the weather still seems to continue the above average temperature trend which will most likely encourage more growers to get into the fields. 

We might not have any problems and this may be the year to get seed in the ground even earlier than normal, but looking at historical data, maybe we should still use a little caution.  Besides the fact that crop insurance will not cover replant on any corn planted before April 11th or beans planted before April 21st, there are a few other dates to keep in mind. In both Cedar Rapids and Waterloo when looking at historical numbers, there is still a 90% chance that we will see temperatures fall to 28 degrees after March 31st.  As for 32 degrees, there is a 90% chance that we will see that after April 10th in Cedar Rapids and after April 17th in Waterloo.

Looking at it another way,  here is an Iowa map that highlights the historical average last killing spring freeze dates across the state (30 year average). 

 I have had conversations with some different farmers that are still cautious, but many of them have made the comment that this year just seems to feel a little bit different with the overall mild weather.Like every year, it will be interesting to see how things turn out between the crops that are planted really early, those planted somewhat early, and the crops that will still be planted on a normal schedule.

I don’t have any answers, but it is kind of interesting to take a step back and look at things on a more historical basis. 

Hy-Vee makes the right decision

RT @ksgrains: HyVee didn't buckle under the media hype & chose 2 listen 2 customers who want choice! http://t.co/2SeY15UT #pinkslime #LFTB -- BEEF Magazine (@BEEFMagazine)