Falls from Tractors and Trailing Equipment Safety Facts and Tips

Runovers caused by falls from tractors and trailing equipment are one of the most common forms of unintentional injuries that happen on the farm or ranch. Many of these lead to serious injury and death. Falls from farm machinery are particularly common for the older farmer and children. Falls from machinery can be prevented by adopting these basic practices.

• Wear shoes and boots with slip-resistant soles and heels.

• Keep platforms, foot-plates and steps clear of mud, snow, manure or other debris.

• Before moving, check the tractor and trailing equipment to see that no one has climbed aboard without your knowledge.

• Remove tools or other items that may cause a tripping hazard from the operator platform.

• Don't use working farm equipment as a place to baby-sit children. Arrange for proper childcare.

• Never allow anyone to ride on the drawbar or towed machinery.

• Insist that no one ride on farm equipment except those required for its operation, instruction, or diagnostics.

• Reduce speed on rough, uneven or hilly ground.

• Watch for obstacles.

• Wait for the tractor to stop before getting off. Set brakes and step down using handholds or rails. No one should jump off a moving tractor. Whenever possible, equip tractors with a Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) cab. They are more comfortable, give overhead protection, and prevent falls from tractors.

Inspection

• Are shoes or boots in good condition with non-slip soles?

• Are platforms and steps free of debris?

• Are tools or other items removed from operator platform?

• Is the cab equipped with a Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS)?

Source: Information supplied by the National Safety Council’s Agricultural Division, the National Education Center for

Agricultural Safety (NECAS) – www.necasag.org or 888-844-6322.

FC Morning Market Commentary

This morning our corn and soybean markets are trying to bounce a bit after yesterday’s sharply lower trade.  Technically (read: on the charts) the market appears oversold – with no new fundamental news changing either the supply or demand sides of the equation.  These ‘oversold’ conditions are the reasons (or are the excuses) for why corn and beans are a shade higher so far this morning. 

Weather… more of the same.  The forecast over the next couple weeks (which takes us into the 3^rd week of June) looks like above normal precip and normal to below normal temps.  This of course looks great for crop development. 

Opening Calls

Corn steady to 1c higher

Soybeans 1c lower to 2c higher

Have a great day!

Dustin Weiner

@fccoopgrain

FC Morning Market Commentary

The corn and soybean markets were mixed at the 7:45 break this morning with corn and old crop beans lower, and new crop beans higher. The weekly export sales report showed corn exports on the high end of estimates; soybeans were net positive, but within expectations. Both are supportive to corn and beans, but with weather continuing to stay favorable, we will likely see a mixed trade into next week. The 3-day forecast shows Iowa receiving additional rainfall. On June 11^th the USDA will release the monthly Supply & Demand estimate – few changes from last month are expected.

Opening Calls:

Corn steady to 2 cents lower

Beans mixed: Nearby 6 cents lower, November a penny higher

Have a great day!

Joel Pudenz

Farmers Cooperative Company

FC Morning Market Commentary

Corn and bean futures are all weaker this morning after yesterday afternoon’s crop conditions report confirmed to us that this corn crop is indeed off to a great start.   You combine that with a forecast that looks non-threatening and it’s no surprise that prices are struggling to hold in here.  I stuck a couple of maps down at the bottom of these comments that show both the 1-month and 3-month temperature outlooks for the U.S..  The big thing there is the lack of high heat…  These types of predictions will be watched closely as eyes start to turn towards the pollination window. 

Opening Calls

Corn down 3 to 4 cents

Soybeans down 6 to 8 cents

Have a great day!

Dustin Weiner

@fccoopgrain

FC Morning Market Commentary

Good Morning and welcome to June.  Markets are pretty simple to explain this morning….everything is lower on good weather.  Corn down 4-5 and soybeans down 5-8.  First weekly crop ratings on corn will be out this afternoon, with large % of good/excellent expected.  Depending on amount of soybeans emerged, it may be another week before soybean ratings begin. 

FC Morning Market Commentary

Corn and soybean futures are lower this morning - actually grains in general are weaker as this afternoon’s weekly planting progress report is expected to show good progress.  Feels like corn planting should be right around 90% complete (87% is the 5yr average) while soybean planting should be around 60% complete (55% is the 5yr average).  As you can see in the weather map below ,wetter weather is coming in the 6-10 day forecast while the short term forecast calls for a few more days of general dryness which for all intents and purposes should put an end to the planting season.  The crops are off to a good start and the markets are starting to reflect that…

Generally speaking this looks like a rough start to the short 4-day trading week.  The funds are long both corn and soybeans and with excellent weather forecasts it will be a tough battle if we are to see much in the way of higher prices.  This is a choppy time of year, one change in an extended weather forecast and the market can move aggressively one way or the other – usually making everybody look foolish in the process.

Opening Calls

Corn down 5 to 7 cents

Soybeans down 10 to 15 cents

Have a great day!

Dustin Weiner

@fccoopgrain

FC Morning Market Grain Commentary

The markets are slightly weaker this morning – corn was able to trade steady/mixed early on last night while soybeans (esp. old crop) spent most of the night in the red.  The weather forecasts generally aren’t offering much for the bulls to go on – yes, there is a system coming through starting tomorrow but generally speaking the corn belt will get a 3-4 day break from precip which should allow planting to progress before another rain comes.  Also – these rains are welcomed with open arms for those with all/most of their corn in the ground. 

Planting in the corn belt this week has been progressing quickly to say the least.  Depending on how heavy the storms aretomorrow – we could easily see corn planting progress on Monday afternoon’s report somewhere between 50% and 60% complete (maybe even higher?).  The market has learned over time not to underestimate the ability of the American Farmer to get his crop in the ground…

Opening Calls

Corn 2 to 3 cents lower

Soybeans 3 to 6 cents lower

Have a great day!

Dustin Weiner

@fccoopgrain

FC Morning Grain Report

The markets last night were a little higher – this looks like a nice little correction after yesterday’s severe drop.  If you looked at weather models this morning, even though the next 5 days look warm and dry - I suppose you could say overall the forecasts are a touch wetter than they were yesterday which would be friendly to prices. The next rain event looks to have just moved up a day or so (coming next Wednesday instead of next Thursday??).  Also in supportive news, Ukraine unrest seems to be on the front page again today, causing traders to put a little risk premium back in the market.  All of this together has helped the market stay positive so far today.

 

The soybean chart had some major damage done yesterday with the +50c drop in July futures prices.  If the market can hold here at these levels, and maybe recover some of those losses - that would be a good sign.  If not, there could be another leg down in this thing. 

 

Overall for today we expect the markets to be choppy with a decent chance we close higherahead of the weekend.  A lot can change in a weather forecast over 48 hours – for better or worse – and nobody wants to have too much risk on the table.  This market could get squirrelly just before the 1:15 close. 

 

Opening Calls

Corn steady to 2c higher

Soybeans 3 to 6 cents higher

 

Have a great day!

FC Morning Market Commentary 04.25.14

Good morning!

The corn and soybean markets were both higher last night – it appears that the weather forecasts have turned a little wetter which is expected to delay corn planting (hence higher prices).  Monday afternoon we will have another planting progress report which will likely show U.S. corn somewhere around 20% planted, which would be a little behind the average of 32% but nothing too concerning.  Well… with next week’s forecast now looking wetter, it will be hard to gain ground on planting progress that week.  This means the Monday after that could show us well behind the average which will start to approach 50%.

In other friendly news (friendly to prices) – tensions in the Black Sea are escalating once again, which is directly supporting wheat. 

It is a little too early to talk about (let’s get the crop in the ground first) but El Nino chances keep moving up and up (which bring cool, wet weather to the US Midwest).  The chart at the bottom of this email shows the probability for El Nino to show up this July/August/Sep – it looked only possible back in January but now it looks very likely.  If realized, this would likely push corn and soybean yield forecasts higher. (link)

Opening Calls

Corn 3 to 5 cents higher

Soybeans 7-10 cents higher (old crop), steady new crop

Have a great day!

@fccoopgrain

FC Morning Grain Market Commentary

Good morning!

The weekly export sales report was out this morning and it was pretty much as expected.  Corn sales were decent – right in the middle of the range of guesses.  Soybeans sales were near zero (but still a touch positive) which is actually right in the middle of the range of guesses.  New crop soybean sales were a little disappointing, which could cause new crop prices to lose a little ground to old crop today. Old crop soybean meal sales were big, which will offer support to beans.  Overall – not much to see here. 

Generally speaking corn and wheat are both trading weather, and they both view the weather forecasts as friendly.  Wheat is rallying thanks to dry weather in the plains while corn is rallying thanks to wet weather in the corn belt.  Long term, this moisture we have been getting will likely be viewed as bearish to corn prices (we need the rain) – but not until we know the crop is in the ground.

Opening Calls

Corn 1 to 3 cents higher

Soybeans 3 to 6 cents higher

Have a great day!

Dustin Weiner 

@fccoopgrain

FC Hosts Iowa Central Community College Students

On April 15, 2014, we hosted 15 students and their instructor from Iowa Central Community College at our Farnhamville location.   

Kathy Carlson and Tyler Farnham started the morning by showed them a brief presentation on FC and our history. They shared facts about the company, and tips on pursuing a career.  The ICCC group were then given a tour of the Farnhamville location.  The students were able to see the behind the scenes of the grain and agronomy departments and what makes a co-op function.  Along the tour they were also able to go inside the new fertilizer shed and see the technology that’s being utilized in today’s operations.  They wrapped up the tour with being given a new FC hat and all took a minute to pose for a class photo in front of their bus!

Thank you to ICCC for spending the morning with us, we enjoyed having you!

FC Market Commentary 21 Apr 14

The markets started Easter Sunday higher last night – mainly in soybeans – but gave way to selling pressure and this morning we now see corn, beans and wheat all in the red.  The talk overnight was that risk premium was being taken out of the markets as the situation in Ukraine seems to have improved.  Leaders from the U.S., EU, Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement last week, at least making an attempt at a peaceful resolution.  This is allowing the grain markets to relax a bit. 

This afternoon, after our markets close, we will get the weekly planting progress report.  The market is expecting corn planting to be somewhere around 10% complete.  This is close to our average and will confirm the market sentiment that planting, so far, is “normal”.  Between good prospects for the 14/15 crop and Ukraine improving – corn has struggled to stay positive lately.  Last night May corn traded to the lowest level since the March stocks report…

The outside markets are mixed with Crude Oil lower at this time (DN 25 @ 103.12) along with a higher US Dollar (138.06 vs. Euro) and the US stock market is higher (UP 8).

Opening Calls

Corn down 4 to 5 cents

Soybeans down 7 to 10 cents

Have a great day!

@fccoopgrain

Safety Tips for Planting Crops

Six tips to keep in mind in preparation for planting:

1. Transport Safely: Be mindful as you transport equipment on public roadways. It is recommended to provide the traveling public with many signs to warn them you’re moving more slowly than they are. Newer equipment features a wide variety of warning systems, such as flashing lights, extremity markings and slow-moving vehicle signs. It is also recommended to bringing older equipment up to date to meet modern standards.

2. Follow the Label: When applying products like herbicide, pesticide, or fungicide, it is important to read the label thoroughly. Do not overlook precautionary statements, such as those urging you to wear long sleeves or protect your eyes. Keep a book of product labels handy in case a chemical gets on your skin or in your lungs. Not keen on keeping a book? Just snap photos of the label on your phone.

3. Maintain Equipment: Keep every piece of equipment on your farm serviced. Even if you serviced a machine before putting it away last season, that does not mean it will be in perfect condition when you take it to the field this year.

4. Store Fuel Properly: Store fuel away from your machine shed. If problems arise and a fire erupts, keeping your fuel tank a safe distance away from buildings will offer the best protection.

5. Stay Healthy: Spending long hours in the field does not mean you should skip meals or rest. Without an adequate amount of sleep and proper nutrition, you will be operating at a reduced level in the fields. Follow the recommended guidelines for sleep and diet. To stay well rested, the Centers for Diease Control and Prevention suggest between seven and nine hours of sleep per night for adults. To make sure you’re eating right, use the U.S. Department of Agriculture MyPlate guide.

6.  Watch for Children: Large pieces of equipment that make a lot of noise will attract a child’s attention. Avoid carrying your children on your farm equipment.

Source: http://www.unitedsoybean.org/topics/production/six-farm-safety-tips-to-keep-in-mind-this-planting-season/

FC Morning Market Comments

Good morning!

The markets ended up mixed overnight, with soybeans trading higher for most of the session only to fall back towards steady at the 7:45am pause while corn followed a similar – but less volatile arch. Soybeans once again made new contract highs last night, it will be interesting to see if they try to test those again during the day session today. 

The weekly export sales this report came out this morning and sales made last week were about as expected for both corn and beans.  There were once again extremely small but still net positive old crop export soybean sales made last week.  AKA – no cancellations.  This should support old crop beans once again.

The 6-10 day forecasts (at the bottom of this email) show above normal temps and precip for next week for most of the Midwest.  Sounds like rain this weekend followed by warmer temps – which isn’t all bad.  This forecast is viewed by the trade as favorable for planting this spring (read: a little bearish to prices).  You will also see in the new drought monitor released this morning that parts of Iowa are seeing improvement – and with rain coming this weekend hopefully that will continue.

*** REMEMBER – NO MARKETS TOMORROW ***.  The CBOT is closed for the Good Friday / Easter holiday.  They will resume again Monday morning. 

Have a great day and weekend!

@fccoopgrain

FC Morning Comments

Good morning!

The soybean markets continues to impress with another rally overnight – making new contract highs (old crop).  The big bullish story yesterday (which appeared to carry-through into the night session) was the NOPA crush report which showed a surprisingly large amount of beans crushed last month.  12 million bushels more than we crushed in Feb and 16mb more than we crushedlast March.  The market is trying to ration demand and this report shows demand may actually be increasing – hence the higher prices.

The issues in Russia/Ukraine have not gone away, in fact they may be escalating.  Of course no one really knows what will come of this but tomorrow officials from U.S./EU/Russia/Ukraine are meeting in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss possible resolutions. 

The weather for the US corn belt is showing a rise in temperatures with normal to above normal precip in the 6-10 day forecasts (maps below).  This should help get corn planting rocking and rolling in many areas.  Some private analysts are predicting (based on the weather forecasts) that the US will be 40% done with corn planting by the end of April which would be a great start!

Corn prices seem to be stuck – soybean and wheat prices have been firm, corn demand has been strong, Ukraine is still having issues – all of this should be friendly to corn prices.  However, improved planting weather and the ability of the US farmer to plant corn faster than he ever has before has the market cautious about getting caught long. 

The outside markets are higher this morning with Crude Oil higher at this time (UP 103 @ 104.78) along with a higher US Dollar (138.37 vs. Euro) and the US stock market is higher (UP 72).

Opening calls

Corn steady to down 1c

Soybeans 8 to 15 cents higher (led by old crop)

Have a great day!

@fccoopgrain

---

FC Morning Market Comments 04.14.14

Good morning!

The markets rebounded overnight, bouncing up from Friday’s lower close.  The wheat market seems to be leading the charge higher (up double digits) likely due to ongoing weather concerns in US wheat country along with escalating tensions in Russia/Ukraine.  Winter wheat crop conditions were already poor (at a 12-yr low) thanks to the drought in the Southern Plains – and now with freezing temps in the forecast for tomorrow morning it looks like they could get worse.

Although some of us here in Iowa will feel that the rains over the weekend were beneficial – the market is trading this cool wet weather as something that is friendly to prices as corn planting will have to wait a little while longer.  Speaking of planting, the USDA’s first planting progress report will be out this afternoon and the market is expecting the US to be just under 5% planted on corn.  This number would be pretty close to normal, and it’s probably too early to get worked up over planting delays…

Opening Calls
Corn 2 to 4 cents higher
Soybeans steady to 5c higher

Have a great day!

@fccoopgrain

Should you plant corn today?

Farmer Cooperative Company's Todd Claussen explains some issues to be aware of if planting corn today (April 11, 2014) in Iowa.

FC Market Commentary for April 11, 2014

Good morning!

The news wire is extremely quiet this morning as new fundamental news is hard to come by.  As mentioned yesterday, the stories regarding China defaulting on soybean purchases are still out there and are likely the reason that soybean prices suddenly feel so heavy. 

The weather looks great out there… for the next day and a half or so.  After that a cooler and wetter forecast will take hold.  The moisture of course will be welcomed with open arms.  I also stuck a chart on the bottom of these comments reflecting increased chances of an El Nino this summer. Generally speaking, an El Nino would be good for the crops here in the U.S. Midwest (cooler, wetter summers) – it just needs to get here in time.

Opening Calls

Corn steady to down 2 cents

Soybeans down 6 to 9 cents

Have a great day!

@fccoopgrain

FC Market Commentary for April 8, 2014

Good morning!

The overnight electronic trading session was a quiet one last night with both corn and beans hovering close to their closes yesterday.  Yesterday afternoon was the first weekly planting progress report (of course, only for states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, etc. etc. are reporting this early).  The weekly crop conditions report was delayed a day and will be out this afternoon.

Tomorrow of course is the April S&D, as I mentioned yesterday the trade seems to agree that the carryouts (aka projected ending stocks) in both corn and soybeans will shrink a bit when compared to the March report – but there are still questions as to how we will get to those numbers, especially in soybeans.    Exports.  Imports.  Domestic crush.  Residual usage.  All of those categories will likely be tweaked just enough to spit out a carryout somewhere between 135mb and 145mb.  The current average trade guess on soybean carryout is 139mb (it was 145mb last month).  The current average trade guess on corn carryout is 1.403bb (it was 1.456bb last month).

The outside markets are mixed with Crude Oil higher at this time (UP 86 @ 101.30) along with a lower US Dollar (137.92 vs. Euro) and the US stock market is slightly lower (DN 7).

Opening Calls

Corn down 2 cents

Soybeans mixed, down 1c to up 1c

Have a great day!

@fccoopgrain

Safety Tips - Handling Diesel Fuel

This week's safety tip discusses the proper handling of diesel fuel. As farmers throughout the Heartland, and across the nation, start getting their equipment ready for the planting season there are some important safety tips to remember when handling diesel fuel.

There are three primary concerns associated with diesel fuel:

Flammability: Diesel fuel is not nearly as flammable as gasoline or other common fuels (such as ethanol or propane) but it can catch fire and can be very difficult to extinguish. Do not smoke around diesel fuel.

Skin Exposure: Diesel fuel can be absorbed through the skin very easily. It can cause skin irritation, redness and even burns. If the diesel is not cleaned off, it will adsorb into the skin and cause symptoms identical to inhalation  

Inhalation: If diesel vapors are inhaled it can cause dizziness, nausea and increased blood pressure, among other symptoms.

What can you do to limit the harmful effects of diesel fuel?

When fueling diesel powered vehicles or machinery, do so in a well-ventilated area.

If vehicles must be used indoors or in enclosed spaces, extra ventilation should be provided to remove diesel exhaust.

Wear gloves when working with diesel! Viton gloves have been shown to be most effective in protecting against diesel exposure.

DO NOT USE VINYL OR BUTYL rubber gloves with diesel, as they offer no protection.

Maintain diesel vehicles and routinely check emission control devices.

Stay safe! Together we can!