Interest rates set by the PUC for customer utility deposits and over/under billings in 2009 are substantially lower than current rates.
NEWS RELEASE, Dec. 1, 2008 -- Texas electric and telephone customers who are over billed will be paid 3.21 percent interest in 2009 under rates established Monday by the Public Utility Commission. Customers will receive 2.09 percent interest on utility deposits.
The 3.21 percent rate for over billings is based on the 90-day prime commercial paper rate over the last 12 months.
The 2.09 percent rate for deposit refunds is based on the average yield on 26-week Treasury bills during the past 12 months.
The final order is available on the PUC Web site by going to the filings interchange under control number 35141.
Editors Note: the current over-bill interest rate is 5.21%. The current utility deposit interest rate is 4.69%.
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What To Watch Out For To Avoid Hay Purchase Scams.
Back when hay used to be sold over a cup of coffee and a handshake, hard cash changed hands when the trailer was loaded. In the new era of email and money orders, things get a little more complicated.
In the last several years, con artists have developed some tricky schemes to separate a hay grower from his hard earned money, and in some cases, his hay as well.
The most common scams involve fraudulent checks or money orders. Some of the fakes are so good, banks have cashed them before discovering the fraud. The smart move here, though, is to hold any deliveries or pick ups until the funds have cleared the bank.
More complex schemes involve the scam artist sending money orders in amounts larger than the cost of the hay. The scammer then asks the grower to send money to a hauler who is an accomplice to the scam. The grower sends his check to the hauler, who, of course, never shows up.
The Hay Barn, is an internet classified ad site for hay, hay equipment, and haying services. It helps buyers and sellers across the globe arrange sales, and it has a page of details on current scams, and a listing of known scam artists.
The site lists several clues that you might be dealing with a scammer:
- Offering payment by cashier's check or money order only.
- Insisting on paying more than you're asking.
- Asking you to send cash on to a 3rd party, such as the hay shipper
- Poor spelling and odd word choices (not a native English speaker)
- Lack of knowledge or interest in the hay itself
- Unusual name, unusual e-mail address
- Refusing to speak by phone; insisting on corresponding by e-mail only
Treat any transactions that follow these patterns suspiciously, and insist on having money in hand before loading the trailer.
Growers who do fall victim to scammers should contact the Sheriff's Department immediately.
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Athens cattle prices Friday were up across the board over the previous week, while the head count was down considerably.
ATHENS,TX, 12/19/08 -- Compared to last week: Feeder steers 3.00-5.00 higher. Feeder heifers steady to 4.00 higher. Slaughter cows 2.00-4.00 higher. Slaughter bulls steady. Bulk supply Medium and Large 1-2 400-600 lb feeder steers and heifers. Slaughter cows made up 15 percent of the offering, slaughter bulls 1 percent, replacement cows 7 percent, and feeders 77 percent. The feeder supply included 63 percent steers and 37 percent heifers. Near 22 percent of the run weighed over 600 lbs.
Cattle and Calves: 660
Week Ago: 1,060
Steers:
Medium and Large 1: 300-400 lbs 105.00-111.00, few to 127.00; 500-600
lbs 86.00-90.00; 600-700 lbs 79.00-81.00. Medium and Large 2: 300-400 lbs 90.00-100.00; 400-500 lbs 87.00-95.00, individual to 111.00; 500-600 lbs 79.00-84.00; 600-700 lb calves 72.00-78.00; 700-800 lbs 68.00-73.00. Medium and Large 3: 400-500 lbs 80.00-84.00.
Heifers:
Medium and Large 1: 300-400 lbs 87.00-89.00; 400-500 lbs 81.00-85.00. Medium and Large 2: 300-400 lbs 80.00-84.00; 400-500 lbs 75.00-80.00; 500-600 lbs 75.00-79.00; 600-700 lb calves 70.00-74.00.
Slaughter Cows:
Boners, 80-85%, 1200-1600#, Avg Dress 41.50-48.50
Boners, 80-85%, 1000-1200#, Avg Dress 40.00-47.00
Lean, 85-90%, 1000-1200#, Avg Dress 35.00-39.00
Lean, 85-90%, 800-1000#, Avg Dress 35.50-39.50
Lean, 85-90%, under 800#, Avg Dress 25.00-33.00
Slaughter Bulls:
Yield Grade 1-2 1300-2100 lbs 48.50-56.00
Low Dressing 1000-1300 lbs 45.00-47.50
Replacement Cows:
Medium and Large 1-2: young 650-920 lb cows 3-8 months bred 53.00-74.00 CWT; middle aged 860-1280 lb cows 5-8 months bred 53.00-59.00 CWT; aged 820-1295 lb cows 5-8 months bred 35.50-48.00 CWT.
Source: Texas Dept of Ag Market News-USDA Market News, Amarillo, TX
806/372-6361 - email: amarillo.lgmn@usda.gov
www.ams.usda.gov/LSMarketNews
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Holiday stockpiling over the last month resulted in slower hay sales this week.
AMARILLO, Dec 24, 2008 -- Hay sales have been extremely limited during this
holiday period as most of the users have procured adequate supplies to get them
through the holidays, which is normal during this time of the year.
Prices as a whole remain mostly steady, but spot sales on small bales of high quality alfalfa have begun to climb considerable as supplies dwindle. Late cutting fine stemmed products (clippings) have particularly jumped in recent weeks, with some deliveries quoted at over 300.00 per ton on a delivered basis. Users of high quality small square bales are being forced to turn to 3x3 bales in an attempt to find suitable products.
The contracting season for corn silage is quickly approaching and it will be
interesting to see how the declining input costs as well as commodity prices
affect the number of acres of corn silage and hay in the Panhandle and North
Texas. Another item that will no doubt have some effect in the upcoming year on
hay use and on the amount of acres of hay will be the declining milk prices and
the impending culling of cows.
Many areas around the state have endured dry conditions, forcing early
supplemental feeding, and depleting hay supplies. Winter grazing of wheat, oats
and rye pastures have been limited due to dry weather in many areas of the
state. North Texas wheat pastures are in desperate need of moisture, especially
those in the Western part of the region. There already have been reports of
cattle being pulled off of wheat pastures that had looked good early in the
fall. The much needed moisture at this point would not bring much relief until
February at the soonest in the North Texas wheat fields due to cold weather, but
would help Eastern and Central rye and oat pastures immediately.
The state of Texas Department of agriculture has the Hay and Grazing Hot Line
set up for buyers and sellers, number is 1-877-429-1998. The web site for TDA
is www.tda.state.tx.us. Prices for hay and pellets quoted per ton except where
noted.
Panhandle:
Alfalfa: Small Squares: Delivered: Supreme quality 292.00-312.00; Premium to
Supreme quality 230.00-250.00, 7.00-8.50 per bale; Good to Premium quality
200.00-230.00, 6.50-7.00 per bale. Large Squares: Delivered: Supreme to Premium
quality 200.00-260.00; Good to Premium quality 175.00-200.00.
Chopped Alfalfa: Delivered to feedlots: North: 195.00-200.00. South: 200.00-
215.00.
Coastal Bermuda: Small squares: Delivered: 7.00-7.50 per bale. Large rounds:
Delivered: Premium quality: 140.00, 85.00 per roll; Good quality 125.00-135.00;
65.00 per roll.
Prairie Hay: Small squares: Delivered: 175.00-190.00; 7.00 per bale. Large
squares: Delivered: 140.00-160.000. Large rounds: Delivered: 85.00 per roll.
Sorghum-Sudan Grass: Large squares and rounds: Delivered: 100.00.
Wheat: Delivered: Small squares: 4.65 per bale. Large rounds: 130.00.
Hay Grazer: Large rounds: Delivered: 90.00-140.00.
West Texas:
Alfalfa: Small Squares: FOB: Premium to Supreme quality 230.00-280.00, 7.50-
10.00 per bale; Good to Premium quality 200.00-230.00; 7.00-7.50 per bale.
Large Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme quality 220.00-260.00; Good to
Premium quality 190.00-230.00; Good quality 160.00-190.00.
North, Central and East Texas:
Alfalfa: Small Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme quality 240.00-300.00,
7.00-10.00 per bale; Good to Premium quality 6.00-7.00 per bale. FOB: Good to
Premium quality 5.00-7.00 per bale in the barn. Large Squares: Delivered:
Premium to Supreme quality 230.00-260.00; Good to Premium quality 180.00-230.00.
Coastal Bermuda: Small Squares: FOB: Premium quality 6.00-8.50 per bale; Fair
to Good quality 5.00-6.00 per bale. Large rounds: FOB: Premium 70.00-90.00;
Good quality 50.00-70.00; Fair quality 40.00-50.00 per roll.
South Texas:
Coastal Bermuda: Small squares: FOB or delivered locally: Good quality 5.00-
7.50 per bale. Large rounds: FOB: Good quality 50.00-70.00; Poor quality 30.00-
40.00 per roll.
See the full report at http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/am_gr310.txt
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Texas A&M economist see very little change for cotton prices in the coming year.
COLLEGE STATION – The current economic crisis coupled with decreased demand won’t spark any immediate rally for cotton prices heading into 2009, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service economist.
"There are a couple of things that suggest cotton prices are going to be sideways and struggle to go higher,” said Dr. John Robinson, cotton marketing economist. “Corn will likely go a bit higher since the last two years there’s been this battle for acreage. Cotton has taken a cut in acres because prices didn’t get high enough and that was predictable. Net returns suggested people were better off planting more soybeans, wheat, etc. Cotton is much worse off now.”
Just six months ago, cotton prices were at 80 cents a pound, but now have fallen in the mid 40s. And large U.S. carryover stocks continue to loom, with ending stocks for 2008-2009 increased 900,000 bales, totaling 7.1 million bales.
“U.S. new-crop cotton is currently all going into the loan program, which has also been the case in four out of the last five years,” Robinson said. “U.S. cotton sits in there, while the Chinese uses their cotton, then Indian cotton and all of these other countries that don’t have a loan program, they can get rid of it.”
When those countries do buy U.S. cotton, typically during the May-July period, traditionally it sparks a minor upward trend in price, Robinson said. He predicts it will be June before there might be some positive trends affecting cotton prices.
"We’re not really out of this financial crisis panic-mode yet,” he said. “Real estate prices are not through unwinding and we’ve got a new administration that will be settling in. It will take quite a few months for normalcy to return. Cotton is going to continue to suffer because people are watching their spending and not buying clothes and automobiles, in which cotton is used for the interiors.”
These factors will likely lead to ‘sideways prices’ and if cotton does rise in price, “it won’t rise enough to compete with corn or soybeans,” Robinson said. He also predicts a cut in Texas cotton acreage due to competing crops such as wheat, corn and soybeans receiving more favorable prices.
Input prices continue to be high due to expensive seed and chemicals. One bright spot is the recent decline in fuel prices. If fertilizer does become cheaper, Robinson predicts more farmers will increase corn plantings over cotton, particularly in the eastern cotton belt.
To beat the current market, Robinson has some advice for cotton farmers: Stick to a sound marketing plan to avoid price risk. That can include a combination of elements.
“Basic tactics like forward contracting, selling at harvest, marketing pools, or USDA loan program are things to be looking at,” he said. “Hedging with futures and options can complement or substitute for these basic tactics.”
Robinson also encourages producers to think about taking loan deficiency payments now, marketing their cotton and buying “cheap call options as insurance against missing out on higher prices in 2009.
"By selling now, collecting a loan deficiency payment and buying a call, you are only left having to watch the New York Futures Market.”
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EPA exempts poultry growers from "emergency release" reporting of naturally occurring releases of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.
The National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association issued a joint statement welcoming the Dec 15th announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granting an exemption for poultry farms from having to report naturally occurring air releases of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide as an "emergency release" under the CERCLA and EPCRA emergency reporting framework.
The exemption affects a majority of the family farmers engaged in poultry live production that operate in the United States.
“We have always felt that reporting requirements under the CERCLA and EPCRA programs were never meant to address the release of naturally occurring substances that originate from the breakdown of animal waste,” the poultry groups said. “We believe EPA heard our concerns and has come to a reasonable compromise that addresses the needs and requirements of the regulated community, emergency responders, and the public at large. We particularly appreciate the efforts of EPA to minimize the reporting burdens on thousands of family farms related to the CERCLA and EPCRA programs.”
The three groups filed a petition in August of 2005 to exempt poultry growing operations from EPCRA and CERCLA emergency reporting requirements for ammonia emissions that originate from poultry production operations. The petition for the reporting exemption was based on the fact that ammonia emissions from poultry houses pose little or no risk to the public, and emergency reporting would be an additional burden on emergency response personnel. Furthermore, farmers have no reliable means of knowing how much, if any, ammonia their farms are emitting on a daily basis.
The reporting exemption for the EPCRA program granted today applies to poultry farmers whose operations house fewer than 125,000 broilers, 55,000 turkeys or 30,000 laying hens.
The EPA intends to provide guidance to assist facilities that house more than these numbers. The announcement today also provides poultry farms an exemption from filing emergency planning reports under the CERCLA reporting program regardless of the size of their operation.
“The EPA understands that most family farms across the country do not have the scientific data or financial means to measure or file these burdensome emission reports,” said Paul Bredwell, vice president of environmental programs for U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. “The technical data to make that determination will hopefully be available after completion of the National Air Emission Monitoring Study.”
The National Air Emission Monitoring Study (NAEMS) was established by a voluntary agreement between the EPA and the pork, dairy, egg, and broiler industries to address the lack of scientific data on air emissions form livestock.
This study is currently underway at 24 agricultural facilities across the United States, and is scheduled to be completed in mid-2009. The exemption granted today by EPA does not impact future regulation of poultry farms under the Clean Air Act, should the NAEMS demonstrate the need for such regulation.
The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Tucker, Georgia, is the world’s largest poultry organization, whose membership includes producers of broilers, turkeys, ducks, eggs and breeding stock, as well as allied companies. USPOULTRY focuses on research and education, as well as communications to keep members of the poultry industry current on important issues.
The National Chicken Council, Washington, D.C., represents integrated chicken producer-processors, the companies that produce and process chickens. Member companies of NCC account for approximately 95 percent of the chicken sold in the United States.
The National Turkey Federation, Washington, D.C., is the national advocate for all segments of the turkey industry. NTF provides services and conducts activities which increase demand for its members’ products by protecting and enhancing their ability to profitably provide wholesome, high-quality, nutritious products.
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The Florida Times-Union is reporting that Pilgrim's Pride is planning to lay off 505 of the 1,400 employees at its Live Oak plant in Florida.
Company spokesman Ray Atkinson, in addressing the layoff, is quoted as saying "What we're doing is eliminating the second shift."
The report goes on to say that the elimination of the second shift is part of the Pilgrim's Pride bankruptcy reorganization plan.
The advocate emailed Mr. Atkinson, asking if the company will take the same approach at the plant in Mt. Pleasant. His response follows:
The action in Live Oak, Fla., is part of our continuing efforts to reduce costs and operate more efficiently. We are always looking for ways to improve our efficiencies and reduce costs, but at this point we don't have any immediate plans for additional layoffs or closures.
See the complete story from the Florida Times-Union
here.
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Government survey focusing on irrigation needs and development, will be mailed out to farmers and ranchers Jan 12th of next year.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2008 – Water is the source of life and the U.S. agricultural industry depends upon this precious resource to meet the world’s growing need for food, feed, fiber and fuel. U.S. agricultural producers will soon have the opportunity to speak out about their water use when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey.
“By providing a single source of comprehensive, up-to-date information on irrigation and water use across the agricultural industry, this survey will aid in efforts to promote efficient irrigation practices and ensure the long-term sustainability of our nation’s water resources,” said Carol House, deputy administrator of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The irrigation survey, which is a supplement to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, will for the first time include a focus on nursery and horticultural operations. NASS will collect information about irrigation water use during 2008, including application methods, equipment, facilities, expenditures, crop acreage and yield.
This information is used by industry, government, and producers themselves, aiding in the development of improved technology, better equipment, more efficient water use practices, and sound programs and policies.
“The nation’s agricultural producers are the first and best stewards of our land and water resources,” House said. “This survey provides them with a voice to help shape the future of their industry and demonstrate their commitment to the conservation and efficient use of water resources.”
On Jan. 12, 2009, NASS will mail the irrigation survey to 35,000 producers nationwide. Recipients are required to complete and return their forms by Feb. 17, 2009. As is the case with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is protected by law. NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.
“As we did with the Census of Agriculture, we are reminding producers that the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey is their voice, their future and their responsibility,” House said.
For more information about the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey, call (800) 727-9540 or visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.
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Pilgrim's Pride is requesting a bankruptcy judge to let it keep fighting a circuit court ruling favoring chicken suppliers that poses a "staggering" threat to the company's viability.
In 2002, A group of Texas farmers sued the company, claiming the poultry processor had too much control over their contracts for growing broiler chickens.
Pilgrim's Pride, in it's defense, denied any wrongdoing, and said the growers had the burden to prove the arrangements had unduly damaged their profitability.
In July of this year, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the growers didn't need to prove an "adverse effect on competition" to prevail in their lawsuit.
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Texans are working safer and staying healthier, according to a report by the Texas Department of Insurance.
AUSTIN, TX - Employers in private industry in Texas reported a total of 69,320 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work for 2007, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. This was a 4.6 percent decrease from the 72,660 cases reported in 2006.
The Survey of Occupational Injury and Illnesses for 2007 revealed that there were 94.3 injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time equivalent employees in Texas. This rate was 9.7 percent lower than the rate of 104.4 in 2006 and is lower than the national rate for 2007 of 122.
The median days away from work for Texas in 2007 was 9, which is higher than the 8 days for 2006 and higher than the nationally reported median days of 7.
The annual BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses is conducted in cooperation with the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC). The TDI-DWC collects survey data in order to assist employers, safety professionals, and policymakers in identifying occupational safety and health issues in the state.
This is the third release in 2008 reporting on 2007 data from the BLS workplace safety and health statistical series. The first release, in August 2008, covered work-related fatalities from the 2007 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. In October 2008, BLS reported that there were 252,784 nonfatal injuries and illnesses in Texas, in 2007. The data are based on the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses with a sample of approximately 10,000 Texas employers. This release covers the circumstances of the injuries and illnesses, as well as the characteristics, of the employees involved in the 69,320 of those cases that required days away from work.
There were a few notable shifts from 2003 to 2007 for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses numbers and rates.
- The number of cases with days away from work for 2007 was slightly lower (.02 percent) than 2005, but reflected substantial decreases (6.4 percent) from 2004 and (15.6 percent) from 2003.
- Although Texas experienced a rate increase in 2006, the 2007 injury and illness rate for cases with days away from work has been remarkably reduced by 25 percent from 2003. The 2007 rate also shows a considerable decline of 14.3 percent from 2004 and 6.5 percent from 2005.
To see the full report, complete with data tables, go to http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/news/2008/news2008197.html
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