USDA forecasts huge corn, soybean harvest, but farmers see little benefit as prices stay low

October 9th, 2009 US cotton production to hit 13 million balesNEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast on Friday that cotton production will increase slightly from last year, to 13 million bales, with record yields expected for some growers in the South.

October 9th, 2009 USDA: Cotton production to rise slightly over '08NEW ORLEANS — U.S. cotton production is forecast to reach 13 million bales, slightly more than a year ago, with farmers in parts of the South expecting 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.

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

September 16th, 2009 US farmers on verge of giant corn harvestDES MOINES, Iowa — Darrel McAlexander has been farming for 43 years and he's never seen his corn crop look so good. "This is probably the best corn crop I've raised," McAlexander said from his farm in the southwestern Iowa town of Sidney.

September 8th, 2009 RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil reaped 134.34 million tonnes of grain in the 2008-09 harvest, the second biggest production in its history, state-owned food company Conab has said. Grain production in the last 12 months was scarcely less than the 2007-2008 harvest, when the country set a record of 144.12 million tonnes.

September 2nd, 2009 Fewer farmers buying at annual ag equipment showDECATUR, Ill. — Danny Bradshaw climbed out of the cab of a New Holland tractor Wednesday morning impressed but already certain he wouldn't spend the more than $200,000 all that horsepower and high-gloss blue paint would cost.

August 28th, 2009 Sector Snap: Fertilizer cos. drop on farmer woesNEW YORK — A near-record corn crop is going to cut demand for fertilizers, said a UBS analyst Friday as he downgraded two fertilizer companies, just as the government sees U.S.

August 12th, 2009 Metals rise on weak dollar, upbeat outlookNEW YORK — A weaker dollar and a more upbeat outlook on the economy sent prices for gold, copper and other metals slightly higher. Investors put their money to work in stocks and commodities Wednesday, and pulled out of safe-haven assets like Treasurys and the U.S.

July 9th, 2009 Scientists hope tiny insect can help save soybeansSIOUX FALLS, S.D. — An insect no bigger than a comma is being studied as a natural predator that farmers could use instead of chemicals to protect the nation's soybean crop from aphids.

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 25th, 2009 Corn catch-up: Crop planted late after wet springST. LOUIS — Across much of the nation's Corn Belt, growers like Richard Borgsmiller finally have their crops in the ground, after spring rains swamped their fields and put them weeks behind schedule.

June 11th, 2009 Lower crop supplies could mean higher food pricesCrop prices could rise this year because of dwindling supplies of U.S. corn and soybeans, raising fears of grain shortages and higher food costs for consumers.

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.