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V * „ • ' v , McHENRY PLAINDEALER Section A Wednesday, August 7,19>S Page 7 Nation Timely rains boost farm predictions United Press International PARK RIDGE, 111. - The Ameri­ can Farm Bureau Federation has projected this year's corn crop at nearly 8 billion bushels and a soy­ bean crop in excess of 1.8 billion "bushels, a spokesman for the farm organization said today. The AFBF said it attributed the improved crop outlook to recent widespread rains. The farm organi­ zation's report is based on field sur­ veys conducted last week in major . corn and soybean producing states. "Timely rains through most of the corn belt and east-southeast por­ tions of the country will save virtu­ ally all of the crop from further deterioration and ultimately, could improve yields on those fields where the corn has not fully filled," said Dean Brown, AFBF commod­ ity specialist. Survey resists showed a projected average yield of 107 bushels of corn • per acre from 74.75 million acres resulting in an estimated 7.99 billion bushels. That compared with 7.656 billion bushels in 1984 from nearly 3 million fewer acres. The estimate for Iowa's corn crop was about 1.5 billion bushels with a 114 bushel per acre yield, Brown said. "The corn estimate can be consid­ ered as fairly neutral news, not large enough to depress market prices, but too large to provide any strength to an already weak mar­ ket," said Brown in assessing the market outlook. "We expect soybean production to exceed 1.8 billion bushels, averag­ ing about 29.2 bushels per acre, from an estimated 62.4 million har­ vested acres," Brown added. "Ideal weather conditions for the next four to six weeks could push the produc­ tion even higher, perhaps equalling the 1984 crop of 1.86 billion bushels." The Iowa soybean crop is estimat­ ed at 262.4 million bushels with a 32 bushel per acre yield, he said. "Soybeans have benefitted more than corn from the recent rains," Brown said. "The bean crop has avoided most of the stress and dam­ age caused by the dry weather in North Central Iowa and Southeast- ern Minnesota. "Whereas relief has come too late . - for much of the corn to recover in % these area«,*beana iw developing C additional pods and filling satisfac- torily," he added. C Brown said the projected soybean £ crop should have a neutral impact on the market, but he cautioned that any improvement in the crop could produce additional weakness in the C market. I : Weather favors : Wisc> crops too "United Press International MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin's crops showed general improvement last week, helped by cooler-than- ^normal temperatures and rainfall "across much of the'state, the Wis­ consin Agriculture Reporting Ser­ vice said. The most noticeable improve­ ments occurred in corn and third crop hay, officials said Monday. . Soil moisture ratings for the state 'improved for the second straight >week and were the best recordings since the end of May. As of Aug. 2, 58 percent of crop reporters said their local soils were : short of moisture and 42 percent said the soil moisture was adequate. - The previous week's ratings were 64 percent short and 36 percent adequate. Farmers had about 5.9 days suit­ able for field work this past week. The general condition of Wiscon­ sin's crops was rated 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 49 percent fair, •38 percent good and 1 percent excellent. The state's corn crop was rated 3 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 46 percent good and 7 percent excellent. The ratings show modest improvement from last week's report in the general condition of crops as well as the corn crop. Crop conditions across the state remain highly variable as shown by the ratings. The cooler temperatures slowed corn development last week. As of Aug. 4,66 percent of the state's corn crop was in silk. This put it behind last year's crop, but was just ahead of normal. About 13 percent of the state's corn acreage has advanced to the dough stage -- slightly ahead of last year's crop and the five-year average. The second cutting of hay was estimated at 76 percent complete, while the third cutting was estimat­ ed at 4 percent complete. Progress in both hay harvests is ahead of last year and the five-year average by considerable margins. Reports from correspondents in­ dicate a significant improvement in the hay crop has occurred because of the rainfall the last two weeks. Herbicide may lead to potato ban United Press International AUGUSTA, Maine - Officials may have to quarantine large por­ tions of Maine's potato harvest to determine if as many as 150 farm­ ers illegally used an unregistered herbicide. As much as 300 gallons of the herbicide Fusilade -- enough to cov­ er 4,500 acres -- was believed used this spring by northern Maine pota­ to farmers to help control weeds in the potato fields. But while the chemical is ap­ proved for use in Canada and autho­ rized in the United States on certain crops, it is unregistered for use on potatoes, state Agriculture Depart­ ment officials said today. "We're hoping this doesn't turn out to be the watermelon story in Maine," said department spokes­ man Robert Deis, referring to an incident in which thousands of Cali­ fornia melons were recalled earlier this summer after being tainted by pesticides. The Food and Drug Administra­ tion has begun testing soil and pota­ to samples taken from fields where Fusilade was believed sprayed. The testing could lead to ? partial quar­ antine on the crop and stiff fines lodged against farmers. Agriculture Commissioner Stew­ art Smith has initiated meetings with industry pfficials to ensure no potentially contaminated- potatoes are shipped until the results of the FDA investigation are final. "We are briefing industry leaders on what we know," Smith said. "We're talking to put a plan in place and be sure no potatoes go out car­ rying residue. We want to guaran­ tee Maine potatoes ase safe." Officials said the health risks as­ sociated with eating potatoes sprayed with the chemical are un­ certain. Fusilade has been on the market for about three Vears and is manufactured in Great Britain, offi­ cials said. It's believed the Maine farmers began using the herbicide after hearing success stories from their Canadian counterparts. The farm­ ers under investigation were not identified and officials said they were also scanning 1984 chemical purchase orders. Maine's 900 potato growers plant­ ed more than 80,000 acres of tubers this year. 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