Citing the importance of animal traceability in responding to food safety threats and livestock disease outbreaks, Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson and Minnesota State Veterinarian Dr. Bill Hartmann today sent a joint letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to resume the discussion about implementing a national animal identification system.

Minnesota hog producers had an inventory of 7.4 million hogs and pigs on June 1, 2009, down 1 percent from last year but up 1 percent from the March figure, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Minnesota Field Office.

Breeding hogs totaled 580 thousand head, unchanged from a year earlier and market hogs and pigs at 6.82 million head, were down 1
percent from a year ago.

STATE PIG CROP UP 3 PERCENT FROM 2008

Prices received by Minnesota farmers for soybeans for June averaged $11.70 per bushel, an increase of $1.20 from the May price according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office.

Corn was up 4 cents to a June price of $3.85 per bushel.

The all hog price for June was $44.00 per cwt., a decrease of $0.90 from the May price.

The all beef cattle price for June was $77.40 per cwt., a decrease
of $2.10 from the May price.

The all milk price for June, at $11.70 per cwt., was down $0.10 from May.

The preliminary U.S. All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by

Warm weather and timely rains promoted crop progress across much of the state, according to the NASS Minnesota Field Office. Crop growth and condition generally improved last week as high heat and humidity marked the first full week of summer. Daytime highs, early in the week, climbed into the mid 80s to low 90s across central and southern
Minnesota. The warm, moist air sparked scattered showers and
thunderstorms. Some stronger storms in the central and south dropped
hail in localized areas. There were 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork
during the week.

The Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau recognize 114 Minnesota farms as 2009 Century Farms. Qualifying farms have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and are 50 acres or more. Century Farm families receive a commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by the State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau presidents and Governor Pawlenty. Since the program began in 1976, over 8,700 Minnesota farms have been recognized as Century Farms.

2009 Century Farm families are listed by county, then by the farm’s city, family names and year of original purchase:

Calling the plight of pork producers a financial crisis, Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey sent a joint letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week urging him to use existing federal funds to purchase $50 million of pork products for use in federal food programs.

Emerald ash borer remains a source of buzz around the state this summer, and concerned homeowners want to know what they can do to protect their ash trees from this new invasive pest.

One great source for detailed information about treatment options in Minnesota is the University of Minnesota Extension website at www.extension.umn.edu. To make it easier for residents to determine the best course of action, scientists from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and University of Minnesota Extension offer the following tips:

Topsoil moisture improved slightly, but some portions of the state
remain short, according to the NASS Minnesota Field Office. Large areas of rain moved across much of Minnesota last week; however, amounts varied from several hundredths to in excess of two inches. Statewide, 21 percent of topsoil was rated short and 4 percent was rated very short of moisture.

May 2009 milk production totaled 784 million pounds in Minnesota, up 2.9 percent from the 762 million pounds produced in May 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Minnesota Field Office. April milk output was revised to 751 million pounds.

Minnesota’s production per cow averaged 1,675 pounds in May 2009, up 30 pounds from last May. The revised April rate was 1,605 pounds per cow. The average number of milk cows on farms in Minnesota during