The 2012 annual convention of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association and North Dakota Corn Council is underway at the Holiday Inn of Fargo.

North Dakota Congressman Rick Berg spoke to producers during this morning’s opening session.  One of the topics he mentioned was working with producers to correct a corn test weight concern regarding crop insurance…

Congressman Rick Berg

National Corn Growers Association Chairman Bart Schott, a producer from Kulm, North Dakota, is the scheduled luncheon speaker.  He recently ventured to Panama to check out construction of the new shipping canal in that country.

NCGA Bart Schott

Afternoon activities at the convention include a panel presentation on drain tile, and a market update from Mike Krueger, President of The Money Farm.

Area soybean growers put together a strong educational line-up for the 2012 Northern Soybean Expo at the Fargo Holiday Inn.

 Former Iowa Ag Commissioner Mark Pearson shared his insights on Tuesday morning about what’s ahead for agriculture. Wells Fargo Ag Economist Michael Swanson also gave attendees his economic predictions in an era of unpredictability. 

 North Dakota State University Agribusiness Professor Bill Wilson is offering an afternoon presentation on changes in agricultural trade and marketing.  Dr. Wilson was named Distinguished University Professor in 2007.

 Roger Bernard, a policy analyst for Informa Economics,  wraps up the event with a presentation on farm policy and trade issues.  Bernard came to Informa with nearly 30 years of experience in print and broadcast journalism.

ND Soybean Growers President Jason Mewes

 The North Dakota Soybean Council hosts the annual Expo.  The event is free and no registration is required.

For South Dakota:

Corn for grain was the leading valued crop of 2011, at $3,953.1 million, up 36 percent from 2010. Soybeans were ranked as the second highest valued crop, at $1,716.7 million, all hay, third, at $1,000.6 million; followed by all wheat, fourth, at $799.5 million; and alfalfa hay, fifth, at $793.1 million. Other crops and their 2011 values were: winter wheat, $474.1 million; other spring wheat, $323.4 million; all sunflowers, $221.5 million; other hay, $207.5 million; oil sunflowers, $182.2 million; non-oil sunflowers, $39.3 million; sorghum for grain, $37.0 million; oats, $14.7 million; proso millet, $7.5 million; dry edible beans, $6.8 million; all barley, $2.9 million; durum wheat, $2.0 million; and flaxseed, $1.5 million.

The 2011 value of production decreased from 2010 for non-oil sunflowers, dry edible beans, spring wheat, oats, proso millet, durum wheat, and flaxseed. Crop values increased for corn, soybeans, all wheat, all sunflowers, oil sunflowers, sorghum for grain, all hay, alfalfa hay, other hay, winter wheat and barley. Crop values are computed by multiplying the marketing year average price by total production.

Source: USDA NASS SD Field Office