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daily ag news stories

05/17/2012

11 BILLION AND COUNTING - A report released Wednesday by National Crop Insurance Services shows the number of payments going out to insurance-covered farmers from weather-related crop losses is sitting around $10.7 billion right now, and that number's not topped out yet, an NCIS report shows. Even though it's still climbing, that number's already 25% higher than the previous record of $8.76 billion set in the flood year of 2008.

HEALTHY EATING NOT COSTLY - One of the biggest barriers to eating well can be cost. At least a lot of people have that perception. But new research by some economists at the Agriculture Department indicates fruits and vegetables are not as expensive as some less healthy options.

SEED CHANGE - Pioneer Hi-Bred will sell its soybean products by seed count per unit, rather than by weight, beginning in the fall of 2012 for varieties sold throughout North America for the 2013 planting season. The number of soybean seeds sold per unit by Pioneer will be 140,000.

ANOTHER DELAY - CME Group says it will now trade grains for 21 hours/day, starting no earlier than June 4. Trading hours will be 5 p.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday-Friday.

Provided by IFB® News Service