China buys US corn for first time in 4 years
CHICAGO, April 28 (Reuters) - China purchased 115,000 tonnes of U.S. corn this week, its first purchase in nearly four years that confirmed weeks of rumors that the country was seeking foreign supplies to tamp down rising domestic prices.
Analysts largely saw the purchase as pushing China into opening its doors to cheap foreign corn at a time of planting delays in the country's major corn area in the northeast.
"I think this is a test run to see if China will open its doors to imports," said grains analyst Dan Basse of research firm AgResource Company based in Chicago.
He said that if China indeed allowed imports, the country could book up to 2 million tonnes of U.S. corn for shipment in the current marketing year ending Aug. 31.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said exporters had reported the sale to the department and that the cargoes would be shipped by end of the current marketing year on Aug. 31.
Chicago Board of Trade May corn futures rose as much as 4 percent, outperforming other commodities such as soybeans and wheat that were weighed by Standard & Poor's downgrading of Spain's debt rating.
At 1:01 p.m. CDT (1801 GMT), May corn was up 6-1/2 cents at $3.54 per bushel.
The corn sold to China was expected to be shipped from the Pacific Northwest, the shortest sea route from the United States to Asia, at the end of May and was priced between $230 and $240 per tonne, on a cost-and-freight basis, traders said.
China last purchased corn from the United States in the 2006/07 marketing year (Sept/Aug), booking 2,700 tonnes to rank 48 in the list of U.S. corn importers, USDA data shows.
China's last major purchase of U.S. corn was in 1998/99 when it booked more than 200,000 tonnes.
China's purchase comes at a time when the country has been selling corn from its reserves in a bid to tamp down rising domestic prices, traders and analysts said. China has also been striving for self-sufficiency in the feedgrain.
The traders and analysts were uncertain about whether there would be further regular purchases from China, or if China would only be buying sporadically and in small quantities to meet needs from its hog and poultry industries as they arise.
"We'll have to watch what their weather is like," said Bill Nelson, economist with Doane Advisory Services, referring to wet weather in parts of China's corn-growing region.
EYE ON CHINA CORN STOCKS, PLANTING
"We'll also need to keep an eye on their stock level," Nelson said, about China's corn ending stocks from the 2009 harvest.
U.S. corn was competitively priced for exports and that prices in China were relatively high, said analyst Don Roose of USA Commodities in West Des Moines, Iowa.
"Corn in China is about $7 (per bushel) and U.S. corn is very competitive," he said, adding that it was uncertain if the purchase by China was the first of many more to come.
"This story had been circulating for a long time. At this stage, no one knows if this is the start of something or if China is just buying to fill in the blanks," he said.
Traders and analysts said there was speculation in the market that the sale to China could be a "test" to whether China would issue import permits and allow these cargoes to land there as a way to help cool rising domestic prices.
The traders said that if China did not allow the 115,000 tonnes of corn to land, the cargoes could easily be diverted to other destinations like Japan and South Korea.
One senior export trader said the sale would have been unlikely if the importer had not secured all the necessary approvals from the Chinese government. (Additional reporting by Mark Weinraub and Sam Nelson in Chicago and Christopher Doering in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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The Horse Owners Workshop
Join us at 6:30 p.m. at the Nelson County Fairgrounds on April 15.
The Purina HOW® Horse Owner’s Workshop, which will be held at more than 1,000 Purina dealers across the country, is the largest grassroots educational workshop in the industry that provides horse owners with up-to-date information on equine nutrition, veterinary issues, health and maintenance care, training techniques, the latest gear and more.
Across the nation, horse owners will have the opportunity to ask questions of leading equine experts, attend a workshop, learn the latest in equine care and nutrition and meet other horse enthusiasts at their local Purina dealer.
Along with local dealership prizes, coupons, rebates and special offers, horse enthusiasts can sign up for the HOW® Horse Owner’s Workshop Sweepstakes. One lucky grand prize winner will receive a custom-built trailer provided by Twister Trailer; a $1,000 Wrangler® Jeans gift certificate; a $1,000 Carhartt® gift certificate; one ton of Purina® Premium Horse Feed; and a generous assortment of horse products from other industry leading companies.
Free meal for all in attendance. Join us on April 01, 6:30 p.m. at Nelson County Fairgrounds.
Call (502) 348-3949 for more information.
Local woman worried about Bernheim deer
By FRANK JOHNSON | The Kentucky Standard
A dispute over the diet of two deer at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest has brought its management into legal conflict with a concerned Nelson County citizen.
Elaine Matthews has taken up a crusade on behalf of the deer on display near the park’s education center, claiming Bernheim Forest is mistreating the deer by underfeeding them.
At the heart of Matthews argument is the percentage of protein in the animals’ diet. According to her research, the 10 percent protein feed provided at Bernheim is far too low.
“They have set a low standard,” she said. “It may work for the majority … but it doesn’t work in certain cases.”
The disagreement has resulted in a legal scuffle. Matthews, representing herself, filed a lawsuit of injunctive relief in Bullitt County against Bernheim executive Mark Wourms. In turn, the park’s lawyers have made a motion for the suit to be dismissed.
Wourms said his staff is providing high-quality care to the animals and would not step away from its program.
“We are very proud of the care we give to our deer … there is a misunderstanding and misinterpretation. This passion is misplaced,” Wourms said.
The two animals in question are 17-year-old Fuzzy and 13-year-old Briana. The two had been abandoned at birth and have spent their entire lives under Bernheim’s care.
“They have been alive for 17 and 13 years because of that care,” Wourms said.
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture extension professor Tom Barnes earned his Ph.D. in deer nutrition and said a diet of 14 percent is average. However, for deer at the advanced age of the ones taken care of by Bernheim, Barnes said he would not be concerned about the 10 percent protein given to the animals.
Barnes has had no contact with either Matthews or Bernheim, but said the most important thing to note is the age of the deer.
When he studied for his Ph.D. in Texas, very few of the animals cared for by him and his colleagues ever lived past age 10 or 11. He called the 13- and 17-year-old pair “super-grandparents” and said the simple fact that they have lived so long is a testament to the treatment they have received.
Matthews has offered to provide money to pay for the more expensive feed, but has been rebuffed by the park administration. This is something she said baffles her. Wourms said the reasoning is very clear.
“It may sound generous, but it comes with the strings attached that she thinks we need to change our care,” he said. “We are not willing to do that with these deer that we have been caring for for 17 years.”
Matthews said she doesn’t understand Bernheim’s steadfast refusal, saying there is no harm in increasing the level of protein in the deer’s diet. However, according to Barnes and Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources big game manager Tina Brunjes, a sudden change would “shock” the bacteria in the animals’ stomachs, not used to the higher protein food.
“It could cause an animal to go into decline in a heartbeat,” Barnes said.
Among deer experts, the consensus is that a 16 percent protein diet is necessary for deer in certain stages of their life. If they are young, pregnant does or bucks growing antlers, that level or higher is necessary. Essentially, the deer at Bernheim have reached a point where their growth has plateaued and such a protein-rich diet is no longer necessary.
However, there is some debate about so-called “maintenance diets” of 10 percent protein. Information from Deerfarmer.com supplied by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife states that besides the aforementioned categories, 16 percent is optimal in cases where a spectrum of ages and genders are being fed, which is not the case in Bernheim.
Matthews insists otherwise.
“From every deer breeder, rancher, nutritionist and rehab person I have talked to, it is 16 percent for all deer,” she said. “It would be like if I put you in a cage in Kroger and you are surrounded by healthy fruits and vegetables and all I feed you is potato chips and coke.”
However, Brunjes said one of the people Matthews contacted happened to be an acquaintance of hers, a nationally recognized deer expert at the University of Mississippi. According to Brunjes, he told Matthews that there was nothing wrong with the maintenance diet fed to Fuzzy and Briana.
Matthews maintains that they are being systematically underfed, that concentrating on meeting the bare minimum necessary is not a good policy.
“I know older people need optimal nutrition, and I hope the state of Kentucky would believe in optimal nutrition,” she said.
In correspondence with Matthews, Laurie Davison, director at the Salato Wildlife Education Center, stated she has confidence in the staff at Bernheim.
“I have worked with the staff of Bernheim for many years and have found them to be extremely professional in all dealings,” she said.
For now, Matthews’ suit remains in legal limbo and Bernheim has turned away any compromise she has offered. It has become a personal struggle for Matthews, who said her multiple personality disorder means she has literally become the deer.
“I am now actually the voice of the deer because they can’t speak. Now that I am the deer, I am speaking for them,” she said.
A Bullitt County judge will see Matthews and Wourms in court again April 22, but the deer will stay behind in the Bernheim enclosure that has been their home for the duration of their lives.
A dispute over the diet of two deer at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest has brought its management into legal conflict with a concerned Nelson County citizen.
Elaine Matthews has taken up a crusade on behalf of the deer on display near the park’s education center, claiming Bernheim Forest is mistreating the deer by underfeeding them.
At the heart of Matthews argument is the percentage of protein in the animals’ diet. According to her research, the 10 percent protein feed provided at Bernheim is far too low.
“They have set a low standard,” she said. “It may work for the majority … but it doesn’t work in certain cases.”
The disagreement has resulted in a legal scuffle. Matthews, representing herself, filed a lawsuit of injunctive relief in Bullitt County against Bernheim executive Mark Wourms. In turn, the park’s lawyers have made a motion for the suit to be dismissed.
Wourms said his staff is providing high-quality care to the animals and would not step away from its program.
“We are very proud of the care we give to our deer … there is a misunderstanding and misinterpretation. This passion is misplaced,” Wourms said.
The two animals in question are 17-year-old Fuzzy and 13-year-old Briana. The two had been abandoned at birth and have spent their entire lives under Bernheim’s care.
“They have been alive for 17 and 13 years because of that care,” Wourms said.
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture extension professor Tom Barnes earned his Ph.D. in deer nutrition and said a diet of 14 percent is average. However, for deer at the advanced age of the ones taken care of by Bernheim, Barnes said he would not be concerned about the 10 percent protein given to the animals.
Barnes has had no contact with either Matthews or Bernheim, but said the most important thing to note is the age of the deer.
When he studied for his Ph.D. in Texas, very few of the animals cared for by him and his colleagues ever lived past age 10 or 11. He called the 13- and 17-year-old pair “super-grandparents” and said the simple fact that they have lived so long is a testament to the treatment they have received.
Matthews has offered to provide money to pay for the more expensive feed, but has been rebuffed by the park administration. This is something she said baffles her. Wourms said the reasoning is very clear.
“It may sound generous, but it comes with the strings attached that she thinks we need to change our care,” he said. “We are not willing to do that with these deer that we have been caring for for 17 years.”
Matthews said she doesn’t understand Bernheim’s steadfast refusal, saying there is no harm in increasing the level of protein in the deer’s diet. However, according to Barnes and Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources big game manager Tina Brunjes, a sudden change would “shock” the bacteria in the animals’ stomachs, not used to the higher protein food.
“It could cause an animal to go into decline in a heartbeat,” Barnes said.
Among deer experts, the consensus is that a 16 percent protein diet is necessary for deer in certain stages of their life. If they are young, pregnant does or bucks growing antlers, that level or higher is necessary. Essentially, the deer at Bernheim have reached a point where their growth has plateaued and such a protein-rich diet is no longer necessary.
However, there is some debate about so-called “maintenance diets” of 10 percent protein. Information from Deerfarmer.com supplied by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife states that besides the aforementioned categories, 16 percent is optimal in cases where a spectrum of ages and genders are being fed, which is not the case in Bernheim.
Matthews insists otherwise.
“From every deer breeder, rancher, nutritionist and rehab person I have talked to, it is 16 percent for all deer,” she said. “It would be like if I put you in a cage in Kroger and you are surrounded by healthy fruits and vegetables and all I feed you is potato chips and coke.”
However, Brunjes said one of the people Matthews contacted happened to be an acquaintance of hers, a nationally recognized deer expert at the University of Mississippi. According to Brunjes, he told Matthews that there was nothing wrong with the maintenance diet fed to Fuzzy and Briana.
Matthews maintains that they are being systematically underfed, that concentrating on meeting the bare minimum necessary is not a good policy.
“I know older people need optimal nutrition, and I hope the state of Kentucky would believe in optimal nutrition,” she said.
In correspondence with Matthews, Laurie Davison, director at the Salato Wildlife Education Center, stated she has confidence in the staff at Bernheim.
“I have worked with the staff of Bernheim for many years and have found them to be extremely professional in all dealings,” she said.
For now, Matthews’ suit remains in legal limbo and Bernheim has turned away any compromise she has offered. It has become a personal struggle for Matthews, who said her multiple personality disorder means she has literally become the deer.
“I am now actually the voice of the deer because they can’t speak. Now that I am the deer, I am speaking for them,” she said.
A Bullitt County judge will see Matthews and Wourms in court again April 22, but the deer will stay behind in the Bernheim enclosure that has been their home for the duration of their lives.
Cattle Meeting at Bardstown Mills
Join us for Purina cattle nutrition discussion with an emphasis on the new formulations in the Wind and Rain minerals. Free meal for all in attendance. Be there on April 06, 6:30 p.m. at Bardstown Mills.
Purina’s Wind and Rain™ All Season Minerals
Purina’s Wind and Rain All Season minerals have been specifically designed to include multiple nutritional formulations to meet cattle need regardless of forage quality.
Purina’s Wind and Rain™ High Magnesium Minerals
Purina’s Wind and Rain High Magnesium minerals are designed to provide readily available formulations that cattle will eat prior to seasonal grass tetany concerns. Purina’s Wind and Rain formulations help ensure more consistent intake and adequate levels of available magnesium.
Purina’s Wind and Rain™ Fescue Minerals
Purina’s Wind and Rain Fescue minerals are designed to address special mineral deficiencies associated with fescue. Purina’s Wind and Rain formulations provide more consistent intake based on forage quality changes through the season.
Purina’s Wind and Rain™ Fly Control Minerals
Purina’s Wind and Rain Fly Control minerals are designed to reduce fly populations. Flies cause significant discomfort for cattle. As part of an integrated fly control program, Purina’s Wind and Rain with Altosid (MTH), helps restore cattle comfort while reducing factors that cause poor performance, and decreased grazing time.
Wildlife Meeting from Bardstown Mills
Join us for this free wildlife seminar. Speakers will be on hand to talk about food plots for deer and turkey, nutrition by Purina, and representative from the state of Kentucky will have a Q&A session. Free meal for all in attendance. Join us on April 01, 6:30 p.m. at the Nelson County Fairgrounds off New Haven Rd. (Hwy 31-E).Call (502) 348-3949 for more information.
