It is expected to pass and be signed into law. The payments, if the bill passes, may be collected as early as Oct. 1, 1998. Currently, the payments are made in two installments-one in December or January, the other in September 1999. Pro Farmer suggests that the reason is that some farmers who rent their land provide the landowner with all of the AMTA payments. If they're on a one-year lease, there may be muddy waters as to how this may impact negotiations on 1999 rents.
Worst news is still the price.
Barley Tour saw a dramatic improvement in quality over the previous five years in North Dakota and Minnesota, according to one tour-goer. Scab was present in most fields, and running rampant in many, he added, but on average the crop was declared very good. According to George Flaskerud, NDSU Extension Crops Economist, quality is key to spring wheat marketing decisions at harvest, with scab and protein likely determining the net price. If premiums are small, consider short-term storage, as protein premiums usually peak from September to November. By then, discounts for quality should be lower and protein premiums should still be substantial.