Around the Dome
Dwayne O’Dell, Director of Government Relations
The crop and livestock
update in late July pointed
toward large corn and
soybean crops, as both have
been rated primarily good
to excellent with very little
heat stress as yet. However,
forecasters predict a warm
August and September, which
may affect final production totals. The futures market
has pulled back due to condition reports as well as a
late June acreage report. USDA data indicates about
94 million acres of corn and 83.7 million acres of
soybeans. Projected yield per acre estimates corn
at 168 bushels and soybeans at 46.7 bushels. The
average farm price for corn is projected at $3.10$3.65, and soybeans at $8.75-$10.25 per bushel.
These lower priced feeds have not turned around
the livestock arena. Futures reports are at or near
a 5-year low for both feeder and slaughter cattle.
Slaughter cattle are pegged at 109-112 throughout
the fall, with feeder cattle at the 130-140 price level.
Cattle on feed numbers in June showed a 3 percent
increase over last year. Exports are up nearly 5
percent; however, expansion in the beef sector is
expected to continue through 2017 and then flatten
out in 2018.
important legislation, as a federal judge in Spokane,
Washington, sided with environmentalists who
brought a lawsuit under this act for what they claimed
was inappropriate storage and handling of manure.
This legislation would do three things:
•Reaffirm and clarify congressional intent
regarding the inappropriateness of subjecting
agricultural by-products to the RCRA
•Codify the EPA’s regulation regarding the
treatment of agricultural by-products under RCRA
•Prevent farmers who are already engaged in
legal action or are making a diligent attempt to
work with state authorities or NRCS to address
nutrient management issues from being targeted by
citizen lawsuits
This legislation is supported by AFBF, as well as
Dairy Farmers of America, NCBA, National Pork
Producers and the National Turkey Federation.
GMO disclosure legislation passed the U.S. House
of Representatives 306-117. The vote included 205
Republicans and 101 Democrats. The legislation
was signed by the President and will prevent stateby-state labeling issues. This will prevent consumer
confusion and protect agricultural innovation.
Additionally, Senators Lee and Booker have
introduced legislation called the Commodity
Checkoff Improvement Act of 2016, which would:
•Prohibit checkoff boards from entering into
contracts with lobbyists or special interest groups
•Prohibit conflicts of interest within a checkoff
•Prohibit checkoff funds from disparaging
other products
You probably know by now that the United
Kingdom has decided to pull out of the European
Union at some point. The British pound fell to a 30year low, as the U.S. dollar strengthened 11 percent
and was at a 4-month high as of late July. All of this
may affect U.S. markets for agricultural products, as
the U.K. represented almost 15 percent of E.U. sales.
New U.K. leader Theresa May will face challenges,
but she appears poised to provide sound leadership,
AFBF opposes this bill and believes this issue is
which should even out market volatility in the coming being introduced as “place holders” for amendments
months. Strength in the U.S. dollar will affect export in the upcoming Farm Bill.
trends in U.S. corn and soybean markets.
In the US. Senate, Senators Manchin and Capito
In the United States Congress, Congressman
are championing a bipartisan effort to support rural
Dan Newhouse will be introducing HR 5685 to
broadband. They were joined by 24 other senators
clarify congressional intent under the 1976 Resource
see O’Dell, page 27
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This is
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 5