Leader Page 03/09/10

GRAIN OUTLOOK - A new report from FAPRI indicates U.S. corn production will total 13.134 billion bushels this year. Soybean production is estimated at 3.213 billion bushels. FAPRI's numbers are the last major forecast ahead of this month's Prospective Plantings report.

LAND REPORT - A panel of professional farm and financial managers will address the subject of farmland lease rates, trends, and the variety of arrangements being used during the 2010 Illinois Land Values Conference to be held in Bloomington on March 18. The Conference is sponsored by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Early word is that land values are staying strong across Illinois.

BRAZIL TARIFFS - Brazil detailed on Monday its planned retaliation against the United States over U.S. cotton subsidies but said Washington still had a chance to settle the trade dispute through negotiations. The Brazilian government published on Monday a list of U.S. goods subject to import tariffs that will go into effect in 30 days, unless the governments can reach a last-minute accord.