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Skype Capable of Real Time Language Translation
Skype, now owned by Microsoft, may soon be able to translate speech in real time. The company demoed this new kind of magic on stage. It would allow people to converse in their native (but different) languages.
Skype is one of my favorite broadcast tools. I use it every day and cannot wait to see how it might handle a conversation translation about on farm conditions in China, Ukraine, Argentina, and Brazil.
Flying Old Glory
The Flag Code — History and Text
On June 22, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved House Joint Resolution 303 codifying the existing customs and rules governing the display and use of the flag of the United States by civilians. Amendents were approved on December 22nd of that year. The law included provisions of the code adopted by the National Flag Conference, held in Washington, D.C. on June 14, 1923, with certain amendments and additions. The Code was reenacted, with minor amendments, as part of the Bicentennial celebration. In the 105th Congress, the Flag Code was removed from title 36 of the United States Code and recodified as part of title 4.
Title 4 United States Code (excerpt)
6. Time and Occasions for Display.
(a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
(b) The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
(c) The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed.
(d) The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on...
- New Year’s Day, January 1
- Inauguration Day, January 20
- Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, the third Monday in January
- Lincoln’ s Birthday, February 12
- Washington’ s Birthday, third Monday in February
- Easter Sunday (variable)
- Mother’s Day, second Sunday in May
- Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May
- Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May
- Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4
- Labor Day, first Monday in September
- Constitution Day, September 17
- Columbus Day, second Monday in October
- Navy Day, October 27
- Veterans Day, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas Day, December 25
- and such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States
- the birthdays of States (date of admission)
- and on State holidays
(e) The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration building of every public institution.
(f) The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place on election days.
(g) The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every schoolhouse.
Accuracy of USDA Forecasts of Corn Ending Stocks
Two University of Illinois ag economist have looked at the accuracy of USDA forecasts of corn ending stocks. You may read the full report on the accuracy of USDA ending stocks for corn on the Farm Doc Daily website. The post is written by Darrel Good and Scott Irwin.
In it the two summarize the accuracy of WASDE forecasts of marketing year ending stocks of U.S. corn from 1990 to last year’s harvest by marketing year. They also discuss the implications for the May 2014 WASDE ending stocks estimates that was just released by USDA. Three main implications emerge. First they report, WASDE ending stocks projections for U.S. corn across the forecasting cycle are basically unbiased, if having a slight tendency towards under-estimation of the final number. Second, the first WASDE estimate of ending stocks for U.S. corn, always released in May before harvest, has a large potential range of errors. This is sensible since the ending stocks forecast at this early point in the forecasting cycle reflects both production and usage errors. Third, there is a clear tendency for the USDA to "smooth" the changes in projections of year ending stocks later in the forecast cycle.
Here’s the bottom line part for the price of old crop corn.
This tendency suggests the WASDE ending stocks forecast for the 2013-14 marketing year released earlier this month (1.146 billion bushels to be left in the bin this fall) may be over-estimated. Intriguingly, this is the reverse of current market expectations that year ending stocks for 2013-14 will exceed the current USDA forecast. It is a price positive change.
Now let’s delve further into the report. Again the 2013-14 marketing year ending stocks are now forecast at 1.146 billion bushels. Historical forecast errors suggest there is a 50 percent probability actual year ending stocks will be between 1.121 billion and 1.267 billion bushels. There has been a slight bias towards under-estimating year ending stocks in this report in the past, with an average error of 49 million bushels. This bias seems to support the market's expectation that USDA has over-estimated marketing year exports, and therefore, under-estimated year-ending stocks.
This last segment supports trade sentiment of a higher ending stocks number for corn and this would put pressure on price to go lower.
However, some previous University of Illinois analysis suggests errors in forecasting year ending stocks late in the marketing year are more highly correlated with errors in forecasts of feed and residual use. There is a positive relationship between the change in the ending stocks forecast in May and the error in the May forecast. If the May ending stocks number goes up, it is more likely to be an associated with an even larger final ending stocks figure. The same is true if it goes down. If the April to May WASDE ending stocks figure falls, then it is associated with an even smaller final ending stocks figure.
While the fit is not great, the relationship is interesting write Darrel Good and Scott Irwin. You may read their work on the Farm Doc Daily website.
Here’s the bottom line part for the price of old crop corn.
This tendency suggests the WASDE ending stocks forecast for the 2013-14 marketing year released earlier this month (1.146 billion bushels to be left in the bin this fall) may be over-estimated. Intriguingly, this is the reverse of current market expectations that year ending stocks for 2013-14 will exceed the current USDA forecast. It is a price positive change.
Now let’s delve further into the report. Again the 2013-14 marketing year ending stocks are now forecast at 1.146 billion bushels. Historical forecast errors suggest there is a 50 percent probability actual year ending stocks will be between 1.121 billion and 1.267 billion bushels. There has been a slight bias towards under-estimating year ending stocks in this report in the past, with an average error of 49 million bushels. This bias seems to support the market's expectation that USDA has over-estimated marketing year exports, and therefore, under-estimated year-ending stocks.
However, some previous University of Illinois analysis suggests errors in forecasting year ending stocks late in the marketing year are more highly correlated with errors in forecasts of feed and residual use. There is a positive relationship between the change in the ending stocks forecast in May and the error in the May forecast. If the May ending stocks number goes up, it is more likely to be an associated with an even larger final ending stocks figure. The same is true if it goes down. If the April to May WASDE ending stocks figure falls, then it is associated with an even smaller final ending stocks figure.
While the fit is not great, the relationship is interesting write Darrel Good and Scott Irwin. You may read their work on the Farm Doc Daily website.
ILLINOIS' Darrel Good Not Convinced Corn Prices Should Go Lower
USDA’s latest projections raised corn exports by one-hundred-fifty million bushels. It means shippers will need to load-out a lot of corn over the next three months says University of Illinois Ag Economist Darrel Good.
The ILLINOIS number cruncher wrote about corn consumption in his May 12, 2014 Weekly Outlook, "Although other factors may have contributed, corn prices declined following the release of the new WASDE ending stocks projections. Given the surprisingly large level of consumption of U.S corn that has unfolded this year and planting season weather that may pose a threat to both planted acreage and yield in some areas, the price weakness appears to be premature".
Read more from Darrel Good's article on the FarmDocDaily website.
Political Support for Bio-Diesel
Support for biodiesel made from soybeans is coming to a head in Washington, D.C. Farmers, politicians, and biodiesel producers want continued support of the renewable fuel.
EPA's McCarthy Understands Corn Relies on the RFS
New RFS rules are likely to be released in June. Todd Gleason reports EPA believes it understands the importance of the rule to the nation's corn farmers.
Yield Loss & Delayed Planting
University of Illinois Extension Agronomist Emerson Nafziger has penned an article on delayed planting and yield loss. You can read it online http://t.co/6coHa5jIBc
Glauber on the U.S. Grain & Oilseed Supply
USDA's Joseph Glauber talked with members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting earlier this week. The discussion considered ending stocks, rebounding corn and soybean supplies, exports, and the Lock Up.
Washington Watch
This week I am working from the farm broadcaster's annual spring event in Washington, D.C.
Arrived Reagan National at 11:29 today. Was checked into the hotel and having lunch within 40 minutes thanks to a quick ride on the light rail line. The left of this photo shows the subway entrance near my hotel and the food trucks.
I overheard someone saying they followed the Gyro truck online and that it had been a week since it was at this station.
Arrived Reagan National at 11:29 today. Was checked into the hotel and having lunch within 40 minutes thanks to a quick ride on the light rail line. The left of this photo shows the subway entrance near my hotel and the food trucks.
I overheard someone saying they followed the Gyro truck online and that it had been a week since it was at this station.
Delicious lunch choice for $7.00.
More Illinois Counties Confirmed Cry3Bb1 WCR Resistant
SOIL INSECTICIDE + Bt PYRAMID A BAD IDEA
The resistance is getting stronger in Illinois. It's been just over a decade since the introduction of Bt hybrids capable of fending off the western corn rootworm. University of Illinois Extension Entomologist Mike Gray says six counties in the state are affected, with more to come.
Palmer Amaranth Untreatable 10 Days after Emergence
University of Illinois Weed Scientist Aaron Hager is urging farmers to diligently control a new weed species in the state. Palmer amaranth plants reached a 4-inch height less than 10 days after emergence. Palmer is very hard to control after it is taller than four inches. You can read more from Aaron Hager on the weed in The Bulletin.
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| This greenhouse demonstration compares the growth rate of palmer amaranth compared to waterhemp at 4 days post emergence and 16 days. Palmer becomes nearly untreatable after reaching a height of 4 inches, usually less than 10 days after emergence. |
Tough to Predict U.S. Growing Regions Weather
There are a handful of meteorologists on the planet that follow weather in all the places farmers grow commodity crops like corn, soybeans, wheat and rice. Each is likely to tell you the most difficult forecast to produce is for the Midwest.
Visit tStorm Weather's Website
Check out Farmers from around the Globe
Farmer Derek Klingenberg likes to make videos. He does a great job.
#WeAreFaming
CME Grain & Oilseed Trading Limits to Change Regularly
The CME Group Inc said today it will implement a new system for setting daily price limits for U.S. grain and oilseed futures starting next month. It will regularly change the limits to markets including corn, soybeans and wheat. These will reset twice a year with the change based on underlying price levels. CME will also remove price limits for all grain and oilseed options.
Both changes are set to take effect the first trading day of May which begins the evening of Wednesday April 30th. The semi annual adjustment of the limits will widen the trading range during periods of higher prices and narrow the limits when market prices are lower.
The reset dates will be the first trading day in May and the first day in November.
On May 1, the initial daily limit for corn will drop to 35 cents a bushel from 40 cents, rise to $1.00 from 70 cents for soybeans, and drop to 45 cents a bushel from 60 cents for CBOT soft red winter wheat.
Both changes are set to take effect the first trading day of May which begins the evening of Wednesday April 30th. The semi annual adjustment of the limits will widen the trading range during periods of higher prices and narrow the limits when market prices are lower.
The reset dates will be the first trading day in May and the first day in November.
On May 1, the initial daily limit for corn will drop to 35 cents a bushel from 40 cents, rise to $1.00 from 70 cents for soybeans, and drop to 45 cents a bushel from 60 cents for CBOT soft red winter wheat.
10pm on Saturday Night
It can be lonely on the farm. However, it sure looks like Twitter is letting guys striving for the same thing talk in realtime when they're busy. This 'screen shot' is a 10pm Saturday night conversation from a western Illinois farmer. He simply asked for a roll call of who was still in the field. The answers came back from across the Midwest.
No Signs of Weakening Soybean Exports
U.S. grown soybeans are being shipped out of the nation at an astounding pace and, as you'll hear from University of Illinois Ag Economist Darrel Good, there doesn't appear to be any slowdown in the movement.
Corn Consumption Continues to Exceed Projections
Farmers are going to the field this spring feeling much better about the price of corn. Todd Gleason has more on the reasons why things have gone from dire to acceptable.