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ED
MCQUEEN,
DIRECTOR OF MARKET INFORMATION |
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Sorghum checkoff
begins
Collection of
the national sorghum checkoff began July 1. Within three years of the
start of collections, a referendum must be held for producers to vote on
the checkoff. Sorghum is holding a delayed referendum because, at this
point, there is no credible list of U.S. sorghum growers. Although no
refunds will be made unless a referendum fails, requests for potential
refunds must be made within 60 calendar days after each and every
assessment is paid. The assessment is based on 0.6% of the crop’s
value. A 13-member National Sorghum Board will be named.
Besides grain sorghum, the checkoff is due on sorghum forage, hay
or haylage, billets or silage totaling 5,000 tons or more.
In 2007, Kentucky produced grain sorghum valued at $4.17 million
dollars on 12,000 harvested acres. USDA forecasts 10,000 acres will be
harvested in 2008.
Milk production is
climbing
Despite higher feed
costs, USDA expects milk production to increase in 2008 about two
percent, to 189.3 billion pounds. The effect of this year’s soaring feed
costs will not be apparent until 2009. Milk production is forecast to
rise about 0.5 percent in 2009 to 190.3 billion pounds. The milk cow
inventory in 2009 is expected to be about 9.23 million head, down
fractionally from the 2008 forecast of 9.26 million.
Pork supply
could be peaking
The recent USDA
Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report indicates the U.S. will have record hog
slaughter in the fourth quarter, but supplies will shrink in 2009 due to
a reduction in the breeding herd in response to high feed costs.
Breeding inventory, at 6.07 million head, was down one percent from
last year, and down one percent from the previous quarter. Market hog
inventory, at 61.6 million head, was up 7 percent from last year. The
March- May 2008 pig crop, at 29.0 million head, was up four percent from
2007.
Beef exports
growing strongly
Despite high beef
prices and delays in opening South Korea to U.S. beef, exports this year
are expected to be 1.650 billion pounds, a 15 percent increase from
2007. First-quarter exports were already strong at 360 million pounds, a
34 percent increase from the first quarter in 2007. Exports increased 29
percent year-over-year in April as well. Exports to Canada and Mexico,
the two largest export markets, are expected to be higher than in 2007
and expand further in 2009. U.S. exports are forecast by USDA to
increase 13 percent to 1.87 billion pounds in 2009.
Beef imported into the United States is expected to fall nine
percent in 2008, to 2.755 billion pounds. |
