Agribusiness Update for Monday 4/01/13

This is the Agribusiness Update...I’m Greg Martin...

National Agricultural Statistics Service has released the Prospective Plantings report which indicates the nation’s farmers plan to plant a record-high combined 174.4-million acres of corn and soybeans. Corn growers intend to plant 97.3-million acres. The planned acreage is slightly higher than last year and six-percent higher than in 2011.

A new parody song has been produced by a Kansas State University alum, Derek Klingenberg. In just three weeks - the video has more than 175-thousand views on social networks. Klingenberg says he searched the Number One pop song and then decided to promote agriculture and educate others on ag through the parody.

USDA has announced that Cheryl Cook, acting chief information officer since last April - has been appointed to that position. Johnie Jones has been appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for USDA Rural Development. Mike Schmidt is now the Farm Service Agency Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs. And Susan Keith is now the Deputy Administrator for the Packers and Stockyards Program.

That’s today’s Agribusiness Update from the Ag Information Network.