Thursday March 15 Ag News

Nebraska Beef Council Meeting Notice

The Nebraska Beef Council Board of Directors will hold a special board meeting via conference call on Friday, March 16th at Noon CST to receive an update on the Board of Director elections.



Nebraska Farmers Union District 6 Spring Meeting

Friday, March 16, 2012 - 6:30PM, ‘No Wake Restaurant’ at Summit Lake—Tekamah, NE. 

Directions:  From Hwy 32 turn South on Co Rd G (about 4m east of Craig Intersection).  Go 0.3 miles & stay right on Co Rd G (turns into Co Rd GH) for just over 1 mile.  ‘No Wake’ will be on your right hand side.

Agenda:  Livestock Friendly, NFU Convention (Omaha) Update, 2012 Farm Bill, Veteran Farmer Program,  Keystone XL Pipeline

Call Paul Poppe at 402-380-4508 or Graham Christensen at 402-217-5217 for more info.  Bring family &/or a friend.



ASA’s Wellman Testifies on Soybean Farm Bill Priorities Before Senate Agriculture Committee

The importance of passing a farm bill this year, a comprehensive and revenue-based safety net, the integrity of crop insurance, and the critical need to maintain planting flexibility were the common and consistent themes Thursday as American Soybean Association (ASA) President Steve Wellman testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on commodity programs and risk management. The hearing comes as ASA’s leaders gathered on Capitol Hill for the association’s Washington board meeting.

First on ASA’s list of priorities is the passage of a farm bill in 2012, and Wellman highlighted the industry’s willingness to accept its fair share of cuts in the interest of deficit reduction. “We recognize that deficit reduction is a national priority, and that agriculture should do its fair share in helping to bring down federal spending,” he stated. “We supported the deficit reduction efforts of leaders in both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees last fall, when they committed to cut $23 billion from the cost of the next farm bill. We believe this level of cuts will still allow the Committees to write new farm legislation that continues to provide an adequate safety net to producers.”

Wellman also advocated strongly for the committee to maintain the integrity of crop insurance. “Soybean producers actively participate in crop insurance, and repeatedly express opposition to any restructuring of the program or reductions in its baseline for deficit reduction,” Wellman stated. “We applaud the decision by the leaders of both the Senate and House Committees last fall to leave crop insurance untouched in developing a farm bill proposal that met [the committee’s] deficit reduction target.”

To complement crop insurance, Wellman underscored many of the high points of the association’s 2011 Risk Management for America’s Farmers proposal. “The best complement to income protection under the existing crop insurance program,” he stated, “would be a revenue-based program that partially offsets losses that exceed a specified revenue threshold.”

Finally, Wellman touched on the industry’s need to protect the ability of soybean farmers to plant for the marketplace, rather than for government programs. “I would like to reemphasize the importance of maintaining planting flexibility and avoiding the possibility of planting distortions under any alternative programs the Committee may consider in restructuring the farm safety net,” he said. “The avoidance of farm program-induced planting distortions and allowing producers to respond to markets while managing risk has been the most valuable policy provided under the current farm program and must be maintained.”



Johanns, Ag Committee Members: No bonuses for MF Global Executives

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) and members of the Senate Agriculture Committee today wrote Louis Freeh, the trustee overseeing the bankruptcy of MF Global Holdings Ltd., arguing against awarding bonuses to the company’s top executives, “who should be held accountable for the failure of their company.”

“It is difficult to understand why you would even consider paying anyone a bonus while nearly $1.6 billion in customer money is still missing,” Johanns and the committee members wrote. “And it is absolutely outrageous to propose paying bonuses to the very people who were responsible for the firm’s operational, legal, and financial management at the time customer money disappeared … the failure of leadership in this case is truly unprecedented.”

Media reports suggest Freeh planned to ask the bankruptcy judge overseeing MF Global’s case to approve bonuses for several company executives.

MF Global’s bankruptcy last year, the eighth largest in U.S. history, resulted in an estimated $1.6 billion in missing customer funds. Thousands of farmers, ranchers and small business owners are still owed tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Executives of the now-collapsed firm testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee in December and indicated that they didn’t know where the money went.

Related:  Trustee Seeks More Client Payments
The trustee overseeing the liquidation of MF Global Holdings Ltd.'s brokerage Thursday proposed additional payments to commodities clients of the failed broker-dealer, including the first to those with accounts frozen on non-U.S. exchanges.

The trustee asked the bankruptcy judge overseeing MF Global to approve a further distribution of up to $685 million, adding about 10 cents on the dollar to the existing recovery target of 72 cents for funds held by customers on deposit with the failed firm.

James Giddens, the trustee unwinding MF Global's U.S. brokerage business, has recovered about $5.3 billion of the nearly $6 billion in futures customers' segregated funds held at the brokerage.

To date, he has returned about $3.9 billion to customers via a series of bulk transfers arranged by CME Group Inc. (CME) in the weeks following MF Global's demise last year.

The latest request includes around $600 million held as segregated assets for clients trading on U.S. exchanges and another $50 million to so-called 30.7 customers related to U.S. customers trading overseas. An additional $35 million of customer property is earmarked to a domestic delivery class, which Giddens identified as physical customer property that has been or will be reduced to cash.

An estimated $1.6 billion in client assets remain out of reach, with some money missing and other funds held up by proceedings in other countries.



Eight UNL Faculty, Staff Honored with Holling Awards for Teaching Excellence

Eight University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty and staff members received the 2012 Holling Family Awards for Teaching Excellence in Agriculture and Natural Resources.  The annual awards honor outstanding teaching in the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  This year's recipients are:

Senior Faculty Teaching Excellence: Erin E. Blankenship, professor, Department of Statistics; Charles (Chuck) A. Burr, extension educator, West Central Research and Extension Center; Randy W. Pryor, extension educator, Southeast Research and Extension Center; Jerry D. Volesky, extension specialist, West Central Research and Extension Center.

Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence: Lindsay M. Chichester, extension educator, Southeast Research and Extension Center; Matthew L. Spangler, assistant professor, Department of Animal Science.

Teaching Assistant Teaching Excellence: Kim Cluff, instructor, Department of Biological Systems Engineering; Pamela S. Fellers, instructor, Department of Statistics.

Blankenship has taught undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the mathematical statistics sequence since fall 2008. She is known for engaging students in the statistical concepts and ideas they need to succeed as ordinary citizens or statisticians and researchers. She developed nontraditional classroom activities, including low-stakes writing assignments that encourage statistical thinking and applications.

Burr is known statewide for high quality programming, teaching and leadership. He was project coordinator for the “Enhancing the Value of Water Through Management Education,” which provided irrigators and others with knowledge to maximize benefits of limited water supplies and to help center-pivot irrigators apply water more efficiently. The project, which comprised 10 presentations, resulted in significant pumping-cost savings for participating irrigators and water conservation for the state.

Pryor uses a variety of teaching methods including on-farm demonstrations, conferences, tours and workshops to help producers lower input costs, reduce water use and maintain or increase yields and profitability. He has led programs on irrigation management, no-till and atrazine. Also, he has worked with industry and producers on the innovative Field to Market carbon footprint project and he has been involved the last four years in the Nebraska Ag Water Network.

Volesky has successfully developed a range-extension program that delivers a relevant, complete education package to rangeland users ranging from youth to adult and from cattle ranchers to multiple-use managers. His innovative and interactive methods engage participants and have a significant impact on sustainability of private and public rangelands.

Chichester has increased local programming and provided regional leadership for issues critical to the beef industry. She teaches consumers about beef as safe and nutritious food using a variety of innovative approaches. She seeks opportunities to partner with businesses and producers. Chichester is a member of the Nebraska-Iowa Animal Welfare Team which is addressing critical issues related to consumer perceptions.

Spangler coordinates the Nebraska Beef Industry Scholars program, an undergraduate certificate program drawing students from many majors across the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. In addition to coordinating the program, he teaches the sophomore/junior industry tour, recruits students to the program and secures funding.

Cluff has been a teaching assistant for three years for the Agribusiness Entrepreneurship in Food Products Marketing class. He also is the instructor for Biological and Environmental Transport Processes. Cluff encourages students to excel in addition to being an excellent student himself.

Fellers is known for her enthusiasm and innovation. Since August 2009, she has served as a graduate instructor, including the primary instructor for seven sections of Introduction to Statistics. Fellers was an inaugural member of the new teaching assistant mentor program, which involves pairing a new teaching assistant with an experienced mentor. Fellers' generosity with her fellow graduate student instructors has enhanced students' learning in many sections beyond her own.

The Holling program was made possible by a gift from the Holling family to honor their pioneer parents. John Holling was a 1912 electrical engineering graduate of UNL and his brother, Gustave Holling, attended the College of Agriculture before farming the family's land in the Wood River area.



AMPI selling Cass-Clay brand and plant

Ownership of the Fargo (North Dakota) area’s leading dairy brand is changing, but consumers won’t notice the difference, say representatives of the two companies involved in the sale.  Today, Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) announced it has entered into an agreement to sell its Cass-Clay Creamery to Kemps, LLC.

Terms of the sale call for Kemps to acquire rights to the Cass-Clay brand, recognized in the Upper Midwest for quality fluid milk, ice cream and cultured products such as yogurt and sour cream. Kemps will also acquire the Cass-Clay milk processing operation in Fargo, N.D., where it will continue to manufacture and market the complete line of dairy products. The dairy farmer-owners of AMPI will remain the exclusive milk suppliers for Cass-Clay products.

“We are excited about building on the heritage of the Cass-Clay brand,” said Jim Green, president and CEO of Kemps. “We look forward to providing fresh Cass-Clay milk from local farms for years to come.”

AMPI and Kemps representatives say the sale is a “win-win” for both loyal Cass-Clay consumers and the local dairy farmers who supply milk to make the popular products. Minnesota-based Kemps is respected in the dairy industry for its strengths in consumer brand management. AMPI’s dairy producers are regarded for their expertise in efficiently producing quality milk on family-owned farms.

“This sale allows each company to do what it does best,” said Ed Welch, CEO of the Midwest milk marketing company based in New Ulm, Minn. “It allows the dairy farmer-owners of AMPI to focus on maintaining a steady flow of the quality, wholesome milk that is the essential ingredient in making the Cass-Clay dairy products consumers crave.”



Swine Day Returns to Iowa State University

For the first time in several years, the Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC) and Iowa State University (ISU) are sponsoring a daylong educational opportunity specifically for pork producers. Iowa Swine Day is set for June 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Iowa State campus and features practical information on a variety of topics that can be applied on the farm.

IPIC director John Mabry said similar events were held some time ago with great success, and that helped organizers decide to bring back the event this year. Iowa Pork Producers Association and ISU Extension and Outreach also are assisting with the program.

"This program offers an in-depth look at a number of current topics by recognized experts," Mabry said. "All sessions are in Benton Auditorium in the Scheman Building on the Iowa State campus, and each 30-minute session is followed by a question and answer segment. There are no breakout sessions."

Cost is $25 per person when registered by June 15, and increases to $35 per person after that date. The fee includes lunch, refreshment breaks and a copy of the conference proceedings. See more information, including links to the registration options, on the conference website: http://www.aep.iastate.edu/iowaswineday/homepage.html.

Each program topic provides essential information for today's pork producers and others in the industry, and speakers were selected for their knowledge and understanding of those topics.

The list of topics and speakers includes:
-- Managing risk in uncertain times -- Shane Ellis, ISU economics
-- Preventing and managing pit foaming -- Steve Hoff, ISU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
-- What is being learned and done in the battle against the PRRS virus: Are we winning? -- Derald Holtkamp, ISU Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine
-- How to prioritize your biosecurity practices -- Alex Ramirez, ISU Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine
-- Capturing energy savings through proper ventilation management -- Jay Harmon, ISU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
-- Motivating and keeping employees -- Darra Johnson, Murphy-Brown, LLC, Ames
-- Practical and effective ways to improve feed efficiency and reduce feed cost -- John Patience, ISU Animal Science
-- U.S. pork exports: Opportunities and risks -- Dermot Hayes, ISU Economics
-- The 101 of swine welfare: What should I know? -- Anna Johnson, ISU Animal Science



Iowa Corn Invites Consumers To “Join The Team”

Iowa Corn invites consumers to “Join The Team” this spring and summer for great prizes from the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

“We are excited to offer the Join The Team promotion again,” said Deb Keller, a farmer from Clarion and chair of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. “This promotion allows Iowa’s corn farmers to say thank you to consumers for supporting the corn industry and corn-based ethanol.”

As members of this VIP team, consumers will be entered to win exclusive prizes, learn about special offers, and receive timely information about Iowa Corn activities around the state. Team members only have to sign up once to be entered to win.

Join The Team by visiting www.iowacorn.org/jointheteam. 



Lt. Gov. Reynolds and soybean leaders participate in trade mission to China and Thailand

Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds is joining several leaders of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) as they depart Friday, March 16, on an eleven-day trade mission to China and Thailand. The purpose of the trip is to further strengthen ties with those two nations and promote the U.S. soybean industry in two very important regions of the world.

ISA representatives on the trip include Dean Coleman, board president; Mark Jackson, president-elect; Kirk Leeds, CEO; and Grant Kimberly, director of market development.

Other participants include Brent Bunte, CEO of NEW Cooperative and Rolly Svoboda, general manager of Pro Cooperative. Also partnering on the trip is AGP, a major processor of soybeans in the U.S.  Jim Rodenberg, AGP corporate communications manager, will serve as photographer and be reporting for the group.

The Iowa Soybean Association began planning this trip last fall, and the recent trip to Iowa by Vice President Xi allows the opportunity for this trip to continue the dialogue between Iowa and China. During that highly publicized trip, Vice President Xi met Lt. Gov. Reynolds and other members of this ISA trade delegation. His trip included a visit at the Kimberley family farm at Maxwell. Grant Kimberley, who is participating in the trade mission, is one of the members of that farm family.

China is the world’s biggest soybean importer and consumer, and Iowa is the U.S.’s leading soy-producing state. In 2011, 55 percent of the soybeans grown in the U.S. were exported; of those, approximately 60 percent were purchased by China. In other words, approximately one in every four rows of U.S. soybeans goes to China.

During Vice President Xi’s recent U.S. trip, Chinese leaders signed agreements to purchase 492.3 million bushels (13.4 million metric tons) of U.S. soybeans, with an estimated value of $6.7 billion.

“Chinese Vice President Xi’s visit was a historic event for our state, and we have come to China to solidify the strong relationships that were forged in Iowa,” says Lt. Gov. Reynolds. “As the leading producer of U.S. soybeans, we are proud of the role that Iowa and its crops have in nourishing strong ties between our two countries.”

Leeds says, “Iowa’s soybean farmers are committed to a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with China. We want to say ‘thank you for your business’ and to continue to build upon these strong relationships, as we provide a safe, reliable and sustainable source of soybeans for China.”

On the itinerary is a full day of meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal by-products. The group will also meet with current and potential customers.

Following China, the group will spend three days in Thailand, where their itinerary includes visits to a large feed company and a soybean crushing facility, as well as hosting an industry reception and dinner.



USDA Announces Additional Choices for Beef Products in the Upcoming School Year

In response to requests from school districts across the country, the USDA announced today that it will offer more choices to schools in the National School Lunch Program when it comes to purchases of ground beef products.

USDA only purchases products for the school lunch program that are safe, nutritious and affordable – including all products containing Lean Finely Textured Beef. However, due to customer demand, the department will be adjusting procurement specifications for the next school year so schools can have additional options in procuring ground beef products. USDA will provide schools with a choice to order product either with or without Lean Finely Textured Beef.

USDA continues to affirm the safety of Lean Finely Textured Beef product for all consumers and urges customers to consult science based information on the safety and quality of this product. Lean Finely Textured Beef is a meat product derived from a process which separates fatty pieces from beef trimmings to reduce the overall fat content.

By law, USDA has two primary responsibilities as part of its mandate to provide safe and nutritious food to the American people. Through the Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA ensures that safety of the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and processed egg products. Through the Food and Nutrition Service and the Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA provides food and nutrition assistance through several domestic programs, including the National School Lunch Program.

While USDA sets national nutritional guidelines for school meals, school districts make local decisions on what food to feed kids to meet these guidelines. On average, schools in the National School Lunch Program purchase approximately 20 percent of their food through USDA, and approximately 80 percent of food served is purchased directly by schools or school districts through private vendors. Schools purchase food from the department through the USDA Foods Program, which provides more than 180 nutritious food items that are fresh, frozen, packaged, canned, dried, or in bulk. USDA procures these products based on the demand from schools to help meet the menu planning needs, student taste preferences, school nutrition goals, and local wellness initiatives.

USDA ensures all food purchased for the National School Lunch Program meet stringent food safety standards, which includes rigorous pathogen testing. Purchase specifications are continually reviewed, microbial test results are evaluated, new food safety technologies are considered, and food safety experts are consulted to determine the adequacy of our food safety requirements.



NCBA Statement on USDA Announcement on Lean Finely Textured Beef

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today, March 15, 2012, that school districts  will have choice whether to include lean finely textured beef in purchases of ground beef for the National School Lunch Program. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President J.D. Alexander issued the following statement in response to the USDA announcement.

“Cattlemen and women nationwide firmly agree with USDA’s commitment to ensuring the health and safety of the food served to more than 31 million schoolchildren every day. The fact remains that lean finely textured beef is a 100 percent beef product produced from beef trimmings that yields an additional 10-12 pounds of lean, nutritious beef from every beef animal. The production of lean finely textured beef prevents lean, nutritious beef from being wasted. This lean beef product, like all beef, is naturally rich in nutrients like zinc, iron, protein and B vitamins. It can be added to other cuts of beef to produce ground beef. Lean finely textured beef offers affordable nutrition for kids, which is critical given shrinking school budgets, rising food costs and the fact that for many kids, school lunch is the best chance at getting a well-balanced meal during the day. Hands down, lean finely textured beef is a safe, nutritious product that school districts can choose to include in their school lunch plans.

“When I go to work every morning, my top priority is to raise healthy cattle because healthy cattle are the foundation of a safe, wholesome and nutritious beef supply. Like all beef producers, I take pride knowing the safe, wholesome and nutritious beef from my operation in Nebraska is served on dinner tables, in school cafeterias and in restaurants nationwide and around the globe. It is truly unfortunate and a severe disservice to our nation’s beef producers and all consumers that media outlets have resorted to misleading the American public and sensationalizing this safe, lean beef product. As school districts and parents work to make decisions about the food they serve their children, they should feel confident, regardless of the type of beef they choose, that they are serving the safest, most wholesome beef product in the world.”



NCGA Extends CUTC 2012 Early Registration Deadline

The National Corn Growers Association announced today that the early registration period for 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference has been extended by one week and will now close on Friday, April 6.  The biennual event will be held June 4-6 in Indianapolis. With a theme of "Back to the Grind," CUTC will feature the cutting-edge technologies and new uses that continually improve and dynamically change the corn industry.

"The deadline extension means that more attendees will have access to the valuable savings that early registration offers," said NCGA Research and Business Development Action Team Chair DeVonna Zeug. "CUTC remains at the forefront of technology, fostering innovative ideas and important networking connections necessary to move the industry forward."

The 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference adds a third tier of presentation options offering participants information on and analysis of the latest on mycotoxin research. These new offerings have been included to complement work on the Aflatoxin Mitigation Center of Excellence, which continues to emphasize the importance of developing methods to mitigate and control mycotoxin development in all phases of production and processing. 

Increasingly recognized as an important industry networking event, CUTC offers attendees the chance to meet hundreds of valuable business contacts, identify potential new customers and learn how new technologies will enhance the value of corn. CUTC poster presentations will again provide an ideal showcase for the latest research and present students with a challenging competition.

CUTC will be held at the Westin Indianapolis Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. Visit www.corntechconf.org for updates as additional information becomes available.



US Ethanol Stocks Ease from Record High

Domestic ethanol inventories were drawn down by 27,000 barrels (bbl) to 22.043 million bbl for the week-ended March 9, though that was still 10.6% higher than the level seen a year ago, according to data released Wednesday by the Energy Information Administration.

Before last week's draw, total U.S. ethanol stocks had risen by 4.985 million bbl, or about 29.2%, since Dec. 9, 2011, when the string of builds began, to a record high of 22.07 million bbl as of March 2.

Total supplies fell as ethanol production from domestic plants fell 14,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 1.5%, to 892,000 bpd last week and down 0.3% from a year ago.

However, implied demand, as measured by refiner and blender net inputs, rose 18,000 bpd or 2.3% to 818,000 bpd from the prior week and was up 3.2% from a year ago level. Refiner and blender net inputs represent a major portion of implied demand for ethanol.

Ethanol production for the week ending 3/9/12 averaged 892,000 barrels per day (b/d) – or 37.46 million gallons daily.  That is down 14,000 b/d from the previous week.  The 4-week average for ethanol production stood at 904 b/d for an annualized rate of 13.85 billion gallons.

On the co-products side, ethanol producers were using 13.525 million bushels of corn to produce ethanol and 100,394 metric tons of livestock feed, 90,575 metric tons of which were distillers grains.  The rest is comprised of corn gluten feed and corn gluten meal. Additionally, ethanol producers were providing 4.1 million pounds of corn oil daily.

Elsewhere, the EIA reported that implied demand for motor gasoline rose by 153,000 bpd to 8.415 million bpd for the week-ended March 9, though that's nearly 5% down from a year-ago level. Four-week average gasoline demand at 8.4 million bpd was down 7.2% from the level seen a year ago.



Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the U.S. - Korea Trade Agreement

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement about the U.S-Korea Trade Agreement, also known as KORUS, which enters into force today.

"Today is a monumental day for American farmers and ranchers. Under the new U.S.-Korea trade agreement, two-thirds of the tariffs imposed on U.S. food and agricultural products exported to South Korea are being eliminated. Over the next few years, as additional barriers fall and more U.S. businesses market products to Korea's expanding economy, American agricultural exports should grow by $1.9 billion and help support nearly 16,000 jobs here at home. The trade agreement with Korea is the most significant for the United States in decades. Now the world's 12th largest economy, with a GDP of over $1.4 trillion and a population of about 49 million, Korea is already the fifth largest export market for U.S. farm products.

"For America's farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses the timing could not be better. U.S. agriculture is currently experiencing one of its best periods in history thanks to the productivity and resourcefulness of American farmers and agribusinesses.

"Much of the record growth these past few years is related to President Obama's leadership on trade. Last year, the President insisted that we get this agreement with Korea right—alongside pacts with Colombia and Panama—forging a better deal for America's workers and businesses that led to strong bipartisan support in both houses of Congress. In 2010, the President committed to double U.S. exports in five years. Two years later, we are on pace to meet that goal. Recent figures show the number of jobs supported by American exports have grown 1.2 million since 2009, while total U.S. exports hit a record $2.1 trillion last year, up 34 percent from 2009.

"Strengthening our partnership with growing markets in the Asia Pacific region, such as South Korea, is integral to the strength of the U.S. economy in the decades ahead. Along with other efforts to promote American exports, the trade deal with South Korea helps level the playing field for American businesses and will help put folks back to work. Across the economy, it will add $10 billion to $12 billion to annual U.S. Gross Domestic Product. Increased exports mean higher incomes for farmers and ranchers, more opportunities for small businesses owners, and jobs for people in rural communities and port cities—the people who grow, package, ship and market American agricultural products."



Analysts Lower Brazil's Soybean Estimate... Again

Agroconsult, a local farm consultancy, Wednesday cut its forecast by 2.8 million metric tons (mmt) to 67.1 mmt on the assumption that farmers in Rio Grande do Sul will lose half their crop to La Nina-induced dryness.  The Agroconsult figure is the lowest yet, dipping well below the 68.5 mmt forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The south has been plagued by a dry spell, which ran from November to late February in some areas, causing average Brazil-wide yields to drop 14% on last year to 39.7 bushels per acre, according to Agroconsult.