For nearly 30 years, the annual Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll has tracked changes in rural social networks.  This year’s Farm Poll introduced three sets of questions about agritourism, or the act of visiting a working farm or agribusiness for enjoyment, education or active involvement.  Although less than 1% of Iowa farmers currently host entertainment activities like festivals or corn mazes, 34% of respondents agree that Iowans should get more involved in agritourism.

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds entered the agritourism arena this summer by hosting our first Latham Country Fair. Also, this summer I had the pleasure of touring Hansen Dairy, which makes a significant contribution to northeast Iowa through its agritourism activities.

Agritourism is a means to increase farm income and to expand tourism in rural areas, according to the 2010 Farm Poll.  And, several leaders in our area couldn’t agree more.  That’s why, beginning in January, I’ll be serving on a committee with the Hampton Chamber of Commerce that will explore how agricultural businesses can help expand tourism right here in Franklin County.

Exploring ideas that will provide entertainment, while educating the public about agriculture, truly fascinates me.  Rural Sociology courses were among my favorites in college, so it’s no wonder that I’m especially intrigued by the Farm & Rural Life.  If this topic also interests you, read more about results from the 2010 Farm Poll here:  http://www.soc.iastate.edu/extension/farmpoll.html.

Today I received an email from the American Soybean Association (ASA), asking soybean leaders and supporters to contact their elected representatives about estate tax reenactment and the biodiesel tax incentive. 

Tomorrow ASA farmer-leaders will be in Washington, D.C., participating in a press conference at the National Press Club about the need for Congress to enact estate tax legislation before Dec. 31.  If it’s not enacted by this date, the estate tax rate will revert to the 2001 rate of up to 55% with only a $1 million exclusion. This means it will be especially difficult to pass along farms, ranches and small businesses from one generation to the next.

Also tomorrow ASA members will participate in a biodiesel fly-in to urge members of Congress to extend the biodiesel tax incentive. Biodiesel is a key market for U.S. soybean oil and has been a key factor in supporting domestic soybean prices in recent years. It also reduces our dependence on petroleum and creates jobs.

If you’d like to contact your elected officials about either of these issues, click here.

(Source: American Soybean Association)

As farmers across the Midwest finalize their 2011 seed purchases, the decision of whether to plant more corn or soybeans is weighing heavily on their minds.  It’s going to be an interesting acreage battle as U.S. farmers get ready to plant, according to an article posted today by Wallaces Farmer.

Chad Hart, grain marketing economist for Iowa State University stated in the article, “The 2010 crop is the third largest corn harvest in U.S. history. It’s the largest soybean crop the U.S. has ever had. However, demand has built up so much on these crops that it’s putting real pressure on prices to move upward.”

Market prices for soybeans are predicted to be $13 or higher and corn is predicted to be $6 as the new calendar year approaches. As grain prices go up, input costs tend to follow. Fertilizer prices have already started rising with demand for Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (N,P and K) strong. Weather conditions allowed a lot of anhydrous ammonia to be applied across the Corn Belt this fall, indicating a lot of acres will be planted to corn next spring. With so many corn acres locked in for 2011, Hart says that some of the increase in soybean production will come from double-cropping in the southern areas of the Corn Belt and in southern states.

To read this article in its entirety, click here.

Regardless of whether farmers choose to plant hybrid seed corn or high-tech soybeans, Latham® has a full lineup of top-quality products.  We take pride in working with our farmer-customers to help them choose the corn and soybean products that will help position them for increased profitability in 2011.