USDA: Cotton production to rise slightly over ‘08; some Southern farmers expect record yields

October 9th, 2009 Ag report forecasts record corn, soybean cropsDES MOINES, Iowa — Record harvests are being forecast for corn and soybean farmers despite earlier concerns over a cool growing season. In a report released Friday, the National Agricultural Statistics Service forecasts record yields for corn and record production for soybeans.

October 8th, 2009 Vilsack: USDA must sharpen its research focusWASHINGTON — The USDA must sharpen the focus of its science and research efforts to emphasize areas where it can make an impact on society, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday. "USDA science needs to change to respond to ...

October 6th, 2009 Ag. secretary: Dairy industry must restructureBATH, S.D. — The struggling U.S.

October 5th, 2009 Farm protests over milk prices yields no resultBRUSSELS — Hundreds of dairy farmers drove their tractors into Belgium's capital, pelted police and snarled traffic Monday but left without any new short-term commitment from EU farm ministers to ease the financial pressure caused by plummeting milk prices. Twenty of 27 member nations demanded more protection from the volatile world market, and Germany led the call for more money.

September 30th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Punjab Wednesday asked the central government to announce minimum support price for cotton immediately as the marketing season of the produce will start shortly. Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has sent a letter in this regard to union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran, a state government spokesperson said here.

September 21st, 2009 USDA calls most of Calif. a drought disaster areaFRESNO, Calif.

September 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The cabinet Thursday approved the allocation of Rs.1,473 crore for the Cotton Corp of India (CCI) to meet the losses it has incurred in procuring cotton under the minimum support price (MSP) scheme. "The implementation of the decision will not only ensure remunerative returns to the cotton growers without quantitative restriction but also enable CCI for smooth conduct of MSP operations during the cotton season," the government said in a statement.

July 21st, 2009 Texas agriculture losses reach $3.6 billionLUBBOCK, Texas — Drought in Texas has led to an estimated $3.6 billion in crop and livestock losses, and without ample rains, the year's final tally could top the state record set in 2006, Texas agriculture officials say. Crops and rangeland are scorched from lack of rainfall and record triple-digit temperatures throughout parts of Texas — the nation's second-largest agriculture state behind California.

June 30th, 2009 Farmers plant more corn than expected in 2009ST. LOUIS — Farmers planted an unexpectedly large crop of corn and soybeans this year, easing some fears of rising food costs.

June 30th, 2009 Report: Cotton acres hit lowest level since 1983NEW ORLEANS — U.S. farmers planted their fewest cotton acres since 1983 — just over 9 million — amid a continued swapping of acres for better priced and less-costly-to-produce crops such as corn and soybeans.

June 29th, 2009 GANDHINAGAR - With the monsoon delayed by nearly a fortnight, farmers in the central and northern regions of Gujarat have delayed sowing of cotton and groundnut crops. "There is hardly any pre-monsoon activity in the central and northern regions, particularly in Mehsana and Ahmedabad districts, where sowing for cotton and groundnut could have started a fortnight earlier," said an agriculture department official.

June 10th, 2009 Sunflower growers get insurance against low pricesBISMARCK, N.D. — The federal government is expanding an insurance program for sunflower farmers — two years after almost killing it — in a move that could help protect growers against fluctuating prices and low crop yields.

April 23rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Egypt has withdrawn, with effect from April 8, a temporary import fee it imposed on cotton yarn and textiles in a move that would benefit India, one of the leading producers of cotton yarn. Egypt in January 2009 imposed a fee of 25 percent on CIF value (cost, insurance and freight) on cotton yarn and textiles for a period of one year.

February 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government Thursday approved allocation of funds to the tune of Rs.5 billion (Rs.500 crore) for cotton growers as 'reimbursement of losses'. 'The cabinet today (Thursday) approved allocation of Rs.5 billion in the current fiscal, as cotton prices fell below the minimum support price (MSP) in domestic markets to meet an earlier commitment it made to cotton farmers,' an official statement said.

December 22nd, 2008 NEW DELHI - Textiles exports may fall short of the target and even witness negative growth, the government said here Tuesday. 'Recession in the US and European markets has slackened demand and exports, which grow at 11.5 percent in the first four months, may go negative,' Textiles Minister Shankar Sinh Vaghela told reporters.