Monday December 30 Ag News

SNOW AFFECTS WINTER GRAZING
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Snow has covered a lot of winter pasture acres for quite a few days already this winter.  How has it affected your winter grazing?  Stay tuned for some ideas.

It seems to me that it has been colder and snowier than usual, at least for early in the season.  If this is correct, it can affect the ability of your cattle to get the nutrition they need from grazing corn stalks or winter pasture.

When cattle graze, they often select plant parts like corn husks and grain or grass leaves that contain higher amounts of protein or energy than do the coarser stalks and stems.  With all this snow, it can become difficult or impossible for them to make these selections.  So your cattle eat what they can get to easily.  The end result may be a diet that is less nutritious than usual.  If this goes on for very long your cattle might lose weight and go out of condition.

So – what can you do about it?  Obviously, you can’t turn on a heater to melt the snow.  Instead, you need to estimate how much different your animals’ diets are from normal and provide supplements to replace those nutrients that are unavailable because of the snow.

This isn’t difficult.  Normally you probably supplement your cattle after they have grazed the best plant parts.  All the snow does is force you to begin a little sooner or increase the amount they receive by a small amount.

Of course, I assume you normally supplement correctly.  If your cows usually are a bit fat following winter, maybe they don’t need the extra supplement.  But if you usually end up with cows with just enough weight to be healthy, some extra might be needed this year.

That little extra might make all the difference this snowy winter.

FEEDING MOLDY HAY
Moldy hay.  No matter how hard you try, eventually you have mold in some of your hay and need to decide about feeding it.  Here are some guidelines.

Feeding moldy hay to livestock is a tough decision.  Although all hay contains some mold, when mold becomes easily noticeable the decisions become important.

Usually, mold makes hay less palatable, which can result in lower intake or even in animals refusing to eat the hay.  Many other problems from mold occur because of mycotoxins produced by certain mold fungi.  This also is part of the decision problem since not all molds produce mycotoxins and the amount produced by those that do is unpredictable.

Direct negative affects of moldy hay are difficult to document.  Horses may be the most sensitive to mold among common livestock.  For instance, mold spores often contribute to respiratory and digestive problems like colic or heaves in horses.  Cattle apparently are less affected by mold, but certain molds can cause mycotic abortions or aspergillosis.  People, too, can be affected by mold spores.  Mold can cause a condition called farmer’s lung, where the fungus actually grows in lung tissue.  So try to avoid breathing in many of these spores.

The best course of action often is to minimize feeding moldy hay to more sensitive animals, like horses or pregnant cows.  This may require a keen eye or sensitive nose when selecting hay to feed each day.  Mixing moldy hay with other feedstuffs can dilute problems sometimes, but be careful that you don’t make your animals sick by tricking them into eating bad hay that they normally would refuse.

Mold is a difficult problem to deal with.  Common sense and good observation often are your best decision aids.



NEBRASKA AGRICULTURAL PRICES

Preliminary prices received by farmers for winter wheat for December 2013 averaged $6.55 per bushel, a decrease of 21 cents from the November price according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The preliminary December corn price, at $4.45 per bushel, decreased 1 cent from the previous month.

The preliminary December sorghum price averaged $7.30 per cwt, an increase of 15 cents from November.

The preliminary December soybean price, at $12.90 per bushel, was up 40 cents from last month.

The preliminary December dry edible bean price, at $40.00 per cwt, was down $3.20 from November.

The December alfalfa hay price, at $153.00 per ton, was down $4.00 from last month. The other hay price, at $120.00 per ton, was up $7.00 from last month.



Iowa Monthly Prices

The preliminary December 2013 average price received by farmers for corn in Iowa is $4.30 per bushel according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Agricultural Prices report. This is a decrease of $0.09 from the November price and $2.62 lower than December 2012.

The preliminary December Iowa average soybean price, at $12.90 per bushel, is up $0.20 from November, but $1.40 lower than the previous December.

The preliminary December oat price is $4.25 per bushel, up $0.01 from November and $0.10 above December 2012. 

All hay prices in Iowa averaged $176.00 per ton in December, down $8.00 from November and $22.00 per ton less than December 2012.  Alfalfa hay prices fell $25.00 per ton from one year ago, to $195.00 and other hay prices were $15.00 per ton lower than last year, at $130.00.  

Iowa dairy farmers received an average of $22.40 per cwt for milk sold in December, up $0.20 from November, and $0.70 per cwt above one year ago.


December Farm Prices Received Index Down 4 Points

The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in December, at 180 percent, based on 1990-1992=100, declined 4 points (2.2 percent) from November. The Crop Index is 6 points (3.1 percent) lower and the Livestock Index is down 1 point (0.6 percent). Producers received lower prices for corn, oranges, wheat, and hogs but higher prices for soybeans, milk, eggs, and rice. In addition to prices, the overall index is also affected by the seasonal change based on a 3-year average mix of commodities producers sell. Decreased marketing of corn, cattle, soybeans, and calves more than offset the increased monthly movement of wheat, milk, broilers, and cotton.

The preliminary All Farm Products Index is down 19 points (9.5 percent) from December 2012. The Food Commodities Index, at 185, declined 3 points (1.6 percent) from last month and 1 point (0.5 percent) from December 2012.

All crops:
The December index, at 186, decreased 3.1 percent from November and is 18 percent below December 2012. Index decreases for feed grains & hay and food grains more than offset the index increase for oilseeds.

Food grains: The December index, at 223, is 2.2 percent below the previous month and 17 percent below a year ago. The December price for all wheat, at $6.59 per bushel, is down 26 cents from November and $1.71 below December 2012.

Feed grains & hay: The December index, at 192, is down 0.5 percent from last month and 35 percent below a year ago. The corn price, at $4.31 per bushel, is 4 cents lower than last month and $2.56 below December 2012. The all hay price, at $168 per ton, is down $3.00 from November and $21.00 from last December. Sorghum grain, at $7.44 per cwt, is 6 cents higher than November but $4.76 lower than December last year.

Cotton, Upland: The December index, at 123, is down 0.8 percent from November but 4.2 percent above last year. The December price, at 74.5 cents per pound, is down 0.8 cents from the previous month but 2.7 cents higher than last December.

Oilseeds: The December index, at 230, is up 1.8 percent from November but 9.4 percent lower than December 2012. The soybean price, at $13.00 per bushel, increased 30 cents from November but is $1.30 lower than December 2012.

Livestock and products:
The December index, at 172, is 0.6 percent below last month but up 4.2 percent from December 2012. Compared with a year ago, prices are higher for cattle, market eggs, milk, calves, and turkeys. Prices for broilers and hogs are lower than last year.

Meat animals: The December index, at 167, is down 1.8 percent from last month but 4.4 percent higher than last year. The December hog price, at $62.10 per cwt, is down $1.50 from November and 30 cents lower than a year ago. The December beef cattle price of $130 per cwt is unchanged from last month but $6.00 higher than December 2012.

Dairy products: The December index, at 167, is up 1.2 percent from a month ago and 5.0 percent higher than December last year. The December all milk price of $21.80 per cwt is up 20 cents from last month and $1.00 higher than December 2012.

Prices Paid Index Down 1 Point
The December Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW) is 213 percent of the 1990-1992 average. The index is down 1 point (0.5 percent) from November and 4 points (1.8 percent) below December 2012. Lower prices in December for complete feeds, concentrates, supplements, and potash & phosphate more than offset higher prices for LP gas, feeder pigs, diesel, and self-propelled machinery.



PED-Positive Submissions: Cases Continue to Rise

The total number of swine accessions and diagnostic case submissions testing positive for the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED) virus now stands at 1,764, according to data collected by USDA APHIS VS NVSL National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) and cited by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV).

By farm class, this figure for the total number of positive laboratory swine accessions/diagnostic case submissions as follows between the weeks of 15 April and 15 December: suckling, 379 (+24); nursery, 340 (+29); grower/finisher, 538 (+23); sows/boars, 215 (+7) and 308 (+38) unknown. The total is up 119 from the previous week.

No states have reported their first positive results in the last week and so the total number of states affected remains at 20. Those states with 20 or more positive tests are: Iowa, 621; North Carolina, 268; Oklahoma, 267; Minnesota, 177; Kansas, 133; Indiana, 53; Ohio, 48; Illinois, 40; Colorado, 35; Pennsylvania, 28 and Texas, 23.

For the most recent week, Iowa once again leads the 'league table' in the number of new positive results, accounting for 62 of the total of 119 new cases, followed by Minnesota with 24 and North Carolina with 10.

In mid-June, the reporting system was adjusted. For the weeks prior to 16 June, laboratories were able to provide diagnostic case submissions as well as the number of premises testing positive for the PED virus (PEDv). Since 16 June, the data refer only to diagnostic cases submissions ('swine accessions').

From the week of 16 June to week of 15 December, the total number of biological (swine) samples testing positive is 5,137, up from 5,487 the previous week (+349). The most-affected states by this measure are: North Carolina, 1,569; Iowa, 1,090; Oklahoma, 988; Kansas, 609; Minnesota, 425; Ohio, 175; Illinois, 141; Colorado, 115 Pennsylvania, 84; Texas, 74 and Indiana and Missouri, both with 68. Other states, where positive, reported 50 positives or fewer.

In the most recent week reported (week of 15 December), the following states reported one or more positive results: Colorado (4), Iowa (121), Illinois (11), Indiana (1), Kansas (4), Minnesota (45), Missouri (32), North Carolina (95), Nebraska (1), Ohio (6), Oklahoma (24) and Pennsylvania (4).

The total number of environmental samples testing positive for PEDv has been reported weekly since the week of 16 June. The total has reached 1,282, which is 67 more than the previous week's figure. The totals for each state are as follows (with the increase in brackets: Colorado, 18 (=); Iowa, 163 (+7); Illinois, 38 (+6); Kansas, 162 (+11); Michigan 1 (+1), Minnesota, 418 (+12); Missouri, 35 (+14); North Carolina, 68 (+3); Nebraska, 8 (+4); New York 1 (=); Ohio, 47 (=); Oklahoma 256 (+9); Pennsylvania, 9 (=); South Dakota, 2 (=); Tennessee, 3 (=); Texas, 1 (=); Virginia, 2 (=); unknown, 50 (=).



OSHA Shouldn’t Go Against the Grain
Senator Mike Johanns
Nebraska’s vast horizon where blue sky meets rolling farmland is occasionally interrupted by towering silos that stand as proud reminders of Nebraska’s rich agricultural heritage. No doubt, grain bins and family farms go together like the State Fair and 4-H.

So, you can imagine the surprise by one of Nebraska’s family farms when the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) showed up and declared their grain bins separate from their farming operation. Their surprise was two-fold. First, everyone who has spent any time on a farm knows that grain storage is not only a normal, but an essential, part of many farm operations. Secondly, OSHA had no business setting foot on that farm because the law prohibits OSHA from enforcing regulations on small farms, specifically farms with fewer than 10 employees – this farm had just three.

It has been this way since 1976, when Congress first passed the small farms exemption. So while farms have been exempt from OSHA regulations for more than 35 years and grain storage has been a part of farming for generations, the agency has decided to ignore history and distort definitions to do an end-run around the law.

And here’s the kicker. That regulatory overreach came with a $132,000 fine for that Nebraska family.

This latest example of wrongful regulatory overreach further reinforces suspicions by the agriculture community that the Obama Administration is singling out America’s ag producers. I often hear from farmers and ranchers who must deal with agencies like EPA and OSHA going around the legal process by creatively interpreting the law or setting their own rules to expand their jurisdiction.  Of course farmers and ranchers care about safety.  And a safe working environment is especially important to small farmers and ranchers, whose families are often the only ones on the payroll.

I recently called on the Department of Labor, OSHA’s parent agency, to halt all activity in conflict with the long-held congressional direction regarding small, family owned farms and to send a clear signal that America’s ag producers are not going to be unfairly targeted.  It’s time they stop the irony of claiming these farmers and ranchers are in the wrong, when in reality, OSHA is the one violating the law.

OSHA and other regulators need to stand with America’s ag producers rather than standing in their way.

The negative impacts of this latest overreach and the broad implications for our ag producers is clear. The way OSHA is doing it speaks to an even larger issue. This Administration is in hot pursuit of an overly aggressive regulatory agenda. An agenda that is being pursued outside of the legal process that allows for Congressional review and public comment, and outside of the law itself.

I’m going to continue working to ensure Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers can operate free from unnecessary and unlawful obstacles brought on by Washington bureaucrats – and to keep an ever-watchful eye on this Administration’s pursuit of an all-encompassing, costly regulatory agenda.



Iowa's Young Livestock Producers Network

Colin Johnson is a young Iowa farmer who moved back to the family farm in 2009, started a family and began managing a cow-calf operation. He understands the struggles of young and beginning livestock farmers -- because he is one. He says Iowa farmers and ranchers are independent by nature and sometimes reluctant to seek advice. The day-to-day activities of a livestock operation don't allow much time to analyze the operation or connect with peers for learning or social interaction.

Livestock producers say they like to learn from other producers. They want to have more discussions and opportunities to interact with their peers -- beyond those in their neighborhood. Johnson said support for young and beginning producers is increasing across Iowa -- from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, commodity groups and agricultural organizations.

Johnson also coordinates the Beginning and Young Livestock Producer Network, an Extension and Outreach initiative started in 2012. He is an extension program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and worked with the Iowa Pork Industry Center prior to returning to southeast Iowa. A primary responsibility of these roles is providing education in ways that help producers enjoy more success.

BYLPN targets livestock producers under age 35, as well as aspiring livestock producers. ISU Extension and Outreach's objective is to develop a network of producer peer groups across Iowa, connect participants with educational and mentor opportunities, and provide support to the groups as members take over leadership responsibilities.

An ISU Extension and Outreach management team is spearheading the effort and working with local commodity groups and county extension councils to establish regional peer groups and develop programs. BYLPN is an Extension and Outreach strategic initiative and receives funding from the Vice President for Extension and Outreach.

As 2013 ends, there are eight peer groups across Iowa ranging in size from 12 to 30 young and beginning producers. Each group is made up of producers from a five to eight county area and determines its focus, whether that is dairy, swine, cow-calf or general livestock production. Organizers suggest groups meet quarterly and schedule dates around seasonal workloads. Meetings are often attended by young producer couples interested in learning together and enjoying the social aspects of the peer group.

The northwest Iowa peer group is interested in learning and talking about the business side of livestock production, the economics and financial management, according to Vernon Knaack, Correctionville member. Their meetings have included speakers addressing topics ranging from production practices to risk management and credit access and local tours of allied industries.

The southwest Iowa cow-calf oriented peer group encourages group members to give peer demonstrations and visits to member operations -- because the operations are all different and it gives members a chance to discuss what each producer is doing and why. Randy Dreher, Audubon member, said he always comes away with something he can apply to his own operation.

The northeast dairy peer group members are seeing the benefits of gathering and reviewing farm data against benchmarks, and participating in a variety of financial and production education. Monica and Brian Enyart, Postville, say the peer group is a comfortable group to interact with because members are all at the same stage of life and have the same questions and same problems. Without this interaction, they'd keep doing things the same way and getting the same results. The group allows them to evaluate what they are doing, see what others are doing, and learn about different or better ways of solving their problems.

Learn more about the Beginning and Young Livestock Producer peer groups at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowabylp/ .



WORKSHOPS ASSIST IOWA VETERANS WHO WANT TO FARM

Iowa veterans who want to trade the battlefield for a farm field can participate in to one-day workshops designed to help make their dreams become reality.

The newly formed Farmer Veteran Coalition of Iowa (FVCIA) is hosting workshops February 20 in Ottumwa, February 22 in Waterloo, March 13 in Red Oak and March 15 in Storm Lake. The workshops will provide vets interested in Iowa agriculture with networking opportunities and education.

The workshops will follow a format similar to the group’s successful statewide conference that was held December 14 in Des Moines and funded by a special project grant from the Policy Initiative at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. More than 60 veterans and agency officials attended the December conference, including more than 30 aspiring or beginning farmers.

FVCIA chair Ed Cox is an attorney with the Drake University Agricultural Law Center. He said that the statewide conference followed by four regional meetings will reach a group whose interest in farming is increasing nationwide.

“This is a distinct group of farmers, who have different challenges as well as opportunities due to their experience in the military and eligibility for different veteran programs,” said Cox, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

“The veterans in attendance covered the agricultural spectrum and are very diverse. Some are returning to family farm operations, while others are looking for land and capital to start growing specialty crops or value added enterprises. The thing they all have in common is a history of service and a desire to continue that service by providing secure, healthy food to their communities."

About 40 percent of military service members are from rural communities, and interest from Iowa vets in finding jobs in agriculture has been high. Given a higher than average jobless rate for young vets, and the need for economic development in rural communities, Cox said the farmer veteran assistance program offers a win-win situation for Iowa.

Farmer veterans had an opportunity to connect with more than 20 veteran and agricultural service providers who also attended the statewide conference. They also attended sessions on the challenges and opportunities of starting a farm business as well as finding employment in agriculture and rural Iowa.

Cox said conference evaluations showed that veterans want networking time and educational materials. The most requested topics for additional information related to conservation and sustainability issues, including management intensive grazing and on-farm energy production.

The workshops will feature educational presentations about farm business development, sustainability, legal issues, and any other concerns vets may have.  The attendees also will have the chance to meet with service providers from USDA, Veterans Affairs, the ISU Beginning Farmer Center, the Drake Agricultural Law Center, and more. Details on these meetings will be available at www.iowafarmerveteran.org.



Future Iowa Ag Leaders Go to China
China's developments in its food and agricultural systems and the increasing purchasing power of its middle class led the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) team to identify China as its international trade mission destination for 2013. Composed of 24 talented Iowa agricultural-professionals, the group departed with 10 days ahead of them to develop a deeper appreciation for the opportunities and complexities of this rapidly growing market.

"The I-LEAD international trade mission shows our next leaders how important trade is to Iowa and the United States," said Shannon Textor, Iowa Corn Growers Association market development director, who accompanied the team. "Building relationships with key customers, like China, is a top priority in growing trade opportunities. We need to understand the opportunities and challenges and make sure they understand that we grow and produce safe and reliable food and grain."

In coordination with the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the U.S. Grains Council developed an aggressive schedule covering ground from Beijing to Hebei Province, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. From seeing U.S. distiller's dried grains with solubles distributed at New Hope Feed Mill to witnessing a grain ship full of U.S. corn unloading in Guangzhou to conducting meetings with port managers to discuss plans to expand grain capacity, the mission saw the dynamism of the Chinese market and worked to enhance current trade relationships.

The class was also able to commemorate the 30 year anniversary of the sister state relationship between Hebei Province and Iowa. They met with Hebei government officials to recognize the importance of their continued cooperation and partnership for years to come. The Council encourages and supports agricultural initiatives like I-LEAD, which strengthens the understanding of the global marketplace and fosters new relationships with U.S. agricultural trading partners.



Beef 2013 Wrap-Up & Look Forward to 2014...
Glynn T. Tonsor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University

Tis the season for analysts to look back at the nearly completed calendar year and to engage in speculation regarding the forthcoming year. In that spirit, I first encourage readers to make use of the growing list of available resources that summarize the situation experienced by cattle producers in 2013.[1] It is important to pause, look back and appreciate core fundamentals including historically tight beef supplies and beef demand strength that underlying the current economic situation. 

Given that foundational perspective the remainder of this piece will be devoted to outlining, albeit from what I usually describe as a cracked and cloudy crystal ball, key things I encourage producers to monitor in 2014. Namely, expect in 2014:

... uncertainty "outside" the cattle industry to persist.
        While weather uncertainty may have improved over the past several months, multiple topics including federal budget debates, regulations, farm bill details, and a host of other issues beyond the control of individual producers continue to underpin an environment of higher uncertainty than most producers are likely comfortable with. This uncertainty in 2014 will reduce and delay investment (e.g. constrain expansion of the beef cow herd) as well as decrease desire to "stay the course" by some entities operating in sectors with excess capacity concerns (e.g. feedlots and processors).

... the unexpected to become typical.
        While it is nearly impossible to predict events such as the beta-agonist use controversy (recall the surprise debate in 2012 around lean finely textured beef), producers are encouraged to recognize the trend of the public asking more questions about how their food is produced is likely to continue. Along with this trend is an increasingly complex situation around new technology development, adoption within the industry, and acceptance by the public. The entire food production system will continue to struggle with this.  

... composition of beef consuming households to continue adjusting.
        As per capita beef supplies hit historically low levels in 2014 the make-up of households remaining active beef consumers will change.       That is, there will not be a uniform reduction of consumption across all prior purchasers. Understanding this not only in aggregate both domestically and globally, but in less aggregated forms across product types and buyer characteristics will become increasingly important. Fortunately beef demand was rather robust in 2013, in part because of these non-uniform adjustments, and I remain cautiously optimistic that this trend will continue in 2014.[2]

... national policy debates within the industry to continue.
        The past year involved continued debates on national issues including animal identification and country of origin labeling. Given the above noted public interest in food production and the diversity of views and situations characterizing operations in the U.S. beef industry related deliberations are bound to continue.  

... ongoing prospects of trade deals being passed or adjusted to continue.
        It is well established that U.S. cattle producers operate in an increasingly global marketplace. The ability of the industry to send its products to the highest value market outlets and the comparative interest in countries worldwide to expand or adjust their meat consumption patterns will progressively influence economic prospects for the U.S. industry.

In summary, 2014 appears likely to be another interesting year offering profitable opportunities to many stakeholders in the beef-cattle industry. Regardless of your agreement with this or the specific issues raised here, I encourage everyone to stay informed and make use of available resources to guide decision making throughout the upcoming year.



U.S. Corn Imports on the Rise in Latin America

U.S. corn exports to Latin America continue to grow. According to the USDA, the Western Hemisphere's accumulated U.S. corn imports are more than 67 million bushels ahead of last year at this same time. Mexico, the second-largest U.S. corn market, is the largest contributor to this market change, importing 39.4 million bushels more than last year.

"It is exciting to see how free trade agreements lead to increased exports for farmers," said National Corn Growers Association Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team Chair Jim Zimmerman. "The work done on a policy level is having a direct impact upon markets for corn. Right now, farmers clearly understand the importance of fostering all markets, particularly given the incredible abundance grown in 2013. Tearing down the barriers that allow our customers abroad access to our supply only makes sense for American agriculture and America's economy."

While Mexico dwarfs other importers, both Colombia and Peru show significant increases of U.S. corn imports. These two dramatic turnarounds can be attributed to free trade agreements that removed trade barriers and made U.S. corn a more attractive and competitively priced product.



CWT Assists with 6.9 Million Pounds of Butter and Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 8 requests for export assistance from Bongards Creameries, Maryland Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, and Tillamook County Creamery Association to sell 5.936 million pounds (2,693 metric tons) of butter and 914,919 pounds (415 metric tons) of cheddar cheese to customers in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The product will be delivered in December 2013 through June 2014.

Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 130.324 million pounds of cheese, 97.580 million pounds of butter, 44,092 pounds of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 40 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 3.400 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by helping to maintain inventories of cheese and butter at desirable levels. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.



Rains Arrive Over Argentine Corn, Soy Crops

Rains fell across Cordoba, one of Argentina's key soybean and corn-producing provinces, over the weekend. Precipitation is expected to spread across the heart of the grain belt over the next couple of days, ending a hot, dry spell of nearly two weeks that was beginning to stress plants.

Ample showers fell on some parts of Cordoba Saturday and Sunday. Bengolea in the south of the province got 3 1/2 inches, but many other areas enjoyed only lighter rains, further east in San Francisco just three-fourths of an inch fell.

But showers are forecast to spread across most of the key grain-producing regions in the next few days. According to the Argentine Agricultural Technology Institute (INTA), the outlook for the next nine days is for moderate showers across Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Santa Fe and Entre Rios provinces.