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United Nations declares 2015 as International Year of Soils

USDA celebrated kickoff with Soil Science Society of America

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

As part of the celebrations surrounding the International Year of Soils, each month will have a theme involving soil and other parts of everyday life. The Soil Science Society of America will publish a monthly video highlighting some of soil’s unspoken value including its role in food security and ecosystem functions.

January’s theme is Soils Sustain Life.

January’s video discusses how soil is formed and what it provides to the earth. Jim Toomey, who narrates the video, describes soil as “one of the four things that we can’t live without,” including water, sunlight, and air.

The video also talks of things such as soil’s Ecosystem Services; promoting how soil is where food is grown, it filters water, and even how materials used to build houses come from soil.

The International Year of Soils is an initiative by the Global Soil Partnership. The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization and United States Department of Agriculture are both participating in the celebrations.

"Most people don't realize that just beneath our feet lies a diverse, complex, life-giving ecosystem that sustains our entire existence," said Jason Weller, chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). "We are helping producers unlock the power of soil health as part of an important and very successful national campaign. Our campaign demonstrates our renewed commitment to soil conservation and soil health."


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US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops

Video: US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops


A dry August and a “flash drought” in the ECB (Eastern Corn Belt) the driest top 10 to 15 years in 150 to 160 years (Ohio the driest in 133 years) plus disease is taking a bite out of the 2025 U.S. corn and soybean crops.
It's going to be an early harvest. This could be the start of the 89-year drought cycle that may have been delayed until 2026 as La Nina maybe returning.
The USDA September crop report is all about record corn ears and record soybean counts but the October USDA crop report will be about pod and ear weights.
Stats Canada reported higher forecasts for the 2025 Canadian Prairies all wheat and canola crops vs. last year based on satellite imagery but are they overestimating production?
The 2025 Great ON Yield Tour and Quebec crop tours are projecting corn and soybean crops below the 10-year average.
China's Vice Commerce Ministry Li Chenggang visits Washington this week as we continue to connect the dots is a positive sign towards a China/U.S. trade deal. But will U.S. farmers have a winter without China as they buy more soybeans from Uruguay/Argentina? U.S. Northern Plain soybean farmers are seeing red with flat prices at $8.97/bu!
U.S. corn exports on record pace up 99% vs. last year.
Fund short covering continues in corn futures bottom is in!