text:
WILLAg Newsletter | January 28, 2018
It was a pretty good week for corn and soybean futures in Chicago. However, given the last six months of trade that's not a huge accomplishment.
Presented below you'll see two thoughts on where the markets might be headed. "Bad Weather Rising" lays out Scott Irwin's longer term contrarian view. He's of the opinion the markets over the next five years will reflect a higher mid-point. Irwin's colleague at the University of Illinois, Todd Hubbs, takes the shorter term 'marketing view'. His price outlook is less attractive. Again, one view is long-term and the other is short-term. Both have implications for farm and marketing decisions.
Further down in this letter you'll find an article reposted from farmdocDaily. In it Iowa State's Keri Jacobs details how the new tax law will impact grain marketing. You've likely heard a great deal about the 20% tax break farmers will receive if the first sale of their grain goes through a cooperative. Jacobs offers insight into how this works and the potential impact it will have on agricultural infrastructure.
There's something a bit fun in today's letter, too. The first corn harvest of 2018 in the United States has already taken place! Well, it's actually the 2017 corn crop. Last Thursday I slammed my brakes on just outside of Jacksonville, Illinois to stop and watch Jon Brickey harvest five acres with an 1160 Case combine (he thinks 1969 vintage). I took a few photos and a made a little video.
Thank you for supporting WILLAg programming!
Bad Weather Rising
An agricultural economist at the University of Illinois is looking for a long-term recovery in the commodity markets. Commodity prices have been low since 2014, but the price of farmland has remained fairly strong. This is an indication thinks University of Illinois' Scott Irwin that those buying farmland believe his contrarian view that prices will recover say to $4.00 for corn, $10.75 for soybeans, and $4.75 for all wheat. That's at least one way to reconcile the firmness of land values. These long-run investors, whether they be farmers or outside investors, are looking for higher averages to restore profitability.
Irwin says there are two reasons for commodity prices to increase. One of them is slow. It's the return of better economic conditions across the planet. The other he says is fast and violent, "I think it will be a series, in a fairly short period of time, of really poor weather that will be the big event that pulls us out."
The ag economist is looking for the return of a more normal frequency of bad weather in the United States. Noting that the last twenty-plus years have been the best series in terms of corn belt weather since 1895.
Commodity Week
- Merrill Crowley, Midwest Market Solutions
- Curt Kimmel, Bates Commodities
- Wayne Nelson, L&M Commodities
access past Commodity Week programs in the archive
Can Corn Prices Get Above the Current Range
Todd Hubbs, Agricultural Economist - University of Illinois
read the farmdocDaily article
March corn futures continue to trade between $3.48 and $3.60. This has been the case since the release of the November USDA supply and demand tables. It continues today despite the bearish information contained in USDA's end of year reports released January 12. Todd Hubbs says corn prices continue to stay in relatively narrow range, and that pattern may remain for the next several weeks.
Listen to Todd Hubbs discussion of his farmdocDaily article with Univesity of Illinois Farm Broadcaster Todd Gleason
The University of Illinois grain markets specialist says the present outlook projects ample corn supplies in 2018. This will likely keep corn prices in the current range until information on spring planting is released. USDA's Prospective Plantings report is due March 29th. Hubbs says a typical price pattern suggests a price rally in late spring or early summer associated with a weather issue. Summer weather and the impact it has on corn production will eventually determine the 2018 corn price.
Hey, Alexa! Teach your Amazon Echo to play WILLAg.
Do you want your Amazon Echo to play WILLAg and NPR programming at your voice command? It's easy to set up!
First, enable NPR One. Just say, "Alexa, enable NPR One," or search for NPR One in the Alexa app's skill store. Then, follow the prompts to launch into your customized listening experience. After you have enabled NPR One follow these steps, and WILLAg will be at your beck and call!
To listen to the Closing Market Report: "Alexa, ask NPR One to play the Closing Market Report."
To listen to the Commodity Week: "Alexa, ask NPR One to play Commodity Week."
To stream WILL's live broadcast: "Alexa, play AM580."
To listen to The 21st (WILL AM580's talk show): "Alexa, ask NPR One to play the 21st."
To listen to any of our podcasts like the Bandwagon: "Alexa, ask NPR One to play the Bandwagon."
http://www.sfarmmarketing.com/wp/
Pre-register and find full details of the upcoming Strategic Farm Marketing winter meetings at www.sfarmmarketing.com. Meetings run through mid-February. Be sure to check the full schedule online for a program near you.
The New Tax Laws & Marketing Grain to Cooperatives
A Discussion of the Sec 199A Deduction and its Potential Impacts on Producers and Grain Marketing Firms reprinted from farmdocDaily.
by Keri L. Jacobs
The newly passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 introduced substantive changes to individual and entity-level tax rates and deductions, many of them welcomed by individuals and corporations. One section of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) in particular–IRC § 199A Deduction for Qualified Business Income of Pass-Through Entities (Sec 199A hereafter)–is getting a lot of attention, raising questions and eyebrows for its potential impacts on grain marketing decisions. In essence, language in this section of code gives producers marketing grain a significant incentive to sell to a cooperative rather than a non-cooperative firm.
The purpose of this article is to highlight the primary features of the Sec 199A deduction causing concern and discuss potential implications for producers and grain marketing firms. Note that at one month into the new tax year, there are ongoing efforts directed at modifying the language in the code to correct the unintended effects on producers and grain marketing firms.
What Does Sec 199A Do?
Sec 199A is a deduction that applies to income earned from the business activities of pass-through entities, like S corporations, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and so forth. These are businesses whose income is not taxed at the entity level, but passed-through to its owners. The intent in crafting Sec 199A was two-pronged: 1) to ensure that these pass-through, non-corporate entities had a deduction similar to the reduction in the corporate tax rate, which dropped from a maximum of 35% to a flat rate of 21%, and 2) to retain, for cooperative organizations, a prior deduction that was removed: Domestic Productions Activity Deduction (DPAD), or Sec 199. This is not a typo: Sec 199A replaces Sec 199 of the 2001 Bush tax cuts. Note that the DPAD was a jobs-creation deduction and available to manufacturing firms across many sectors, including agricultural cooperatives marketing farmers' domestic production of grain.
The Sec 199A deduction for pass-through entities is based on qualified business income (QBI). There are restrictions on what qualifies as a business activity for this deduction (many services, for example, do not), and both the definition of qualified business income and calculation of the actual deduction are complicated. But in simple terms, the deduction is 20% of the qualified business income, subset to a wage limitation. Though complicated, this portion of the code is not contentious.
Sec 199A has a second feature, and this is the part that leaves open a number of questions about unintended consequences. In addition to the deduction related to qualified business income, it provides a 20% deduction on 'qualified cooperative dividends.' Typically we think of qualified cooperative dividends as the annual allocation of profits from a cooperative to its members–these are better called qualified cooperative patronage allocations. In this new law, those are indeed included in the payments eligible for 20% deduction and also not hugely controversial. However, another payment by cooperatives to its members is also included in the definition of 'qualified cooperative dividends': per unit retains (more correctly called per unit retains paid in money, or PURPIM). Per unit retains, in the simplest terms, are the payments from cooperatives to members for their grain or other agricultural production. Note the deduction applies only to the marketing or pooling functions (grain and other agricultural products) and does not include purchases by members for agronomy, seed, fuel, etc.
Per unit retains were defined as 'qualified cooperative dividends.' As a result, a producer selling grain can receive a 20% deduction of gross grain sales (before farm expenses) from taxable income less capital gains if s/he is a member selling to a cooperative. If instead the sale is to a non-cooperative marketing firm or processor (e.g., ADM, Cargill, or any number of independent grain marketing firms), the deduction is 20% of the net income. At the surface, this creates a significant effective basis gap between otherwise equal basis bids for grain or other agricultural commodities. A simple example, abstracting from the complexities of QBI and marginal tax calculations shows the potential.
A farmer has $500k in gross grain sales (140,000 bushels) and $100,000 in net farm income, all from selling grain. If she markets through a cooperative, she anticipates a patronage allocation of $0.025 cents per bushel, or $3,500.
Choice A: She markets the crop to an independent grain firm or processor and, through Sec 199A, she deducts up to 20% of her QBI: 20% x $100,000 = $20,000 potential deduction.
Choice B: If she markets the crop to her cooperative, she deducts up to 20% of gross sales (20% x $500,000 = $100,000) because they qualify as per unit retains, plus 20% of any qualified patronage allocation (20% x $3,500 = $700). The potential deduction is $100,700.
At a 22% marginal tax rate based on selling to an independent marketing firm or processor (Choice A), the deduction difference between these two choices is $80,700, which equates to $0.12 per bushel in taxes. Estimates from tax professionals working with producers is that the tax effect may range from $0.05 - $0.20 per bushel.
It is clear to see why producers are eager for clarification on this law and why independent grain firms and processors want it changed. Facing equivalent cash bids in the market, the signal is pretty clear that it is advantageous to market to a cooperative.
What if it stays as written?
The above example is meant for illustration, and there are a number of factors that might mitigate the true differential created by the law, and these are producer-specific. Still, contemplating its preservation, a cascade of questions emerge regarding grain and agricultural product movements, local capacity, optimal organizational structures for farmers, and the fate of independents. Below are my thoughts summarized in the two broader questions I receive, vetted with trusted colleagues and grain marketing experts. The perspective I provide here applies to agricultural producers and grain marketing in the Midwest, but certainly there are related or larger impacts for other types of ag cooperatives throughout the country.
Do cooperatives have the storage and transport capacity to handle agricultural products if all producers sell to a cooperative? What happens if not? What will be the local price impacts?
Generally speaking, it is unlikely that cooperatives have sufficient facilities currently to handle the harvest grain movements and other seasonal gluts that arise in the Midwest. But storage is a local phenomenon and each region will be different. In Iowa, for example, approximately 72% of the 1.4 billion bushels of licensed grain warehouse capacity (state and federally licensed) is held by a cooperative. If one considers on-farm storage, the argument could be made that this law wouldn't create a significant grain-movement challenge in a number of parts of Iowa. In Kansas, approximately 70% of the grain storage is held by cooperatives or on-farm. Cooperatives in both states use ground piles to manage harvest gluts, and if this law sticks, that challenge may be exacerbated in the short term. But cooperatives and producers would respond to the economic incentives to invest in grain storage in that case. Condominium grain storage is another option for producers to mitigate storage constraints.
Grain storage facilities aside, a number of mitigating origination options are already used. In regions where processors and ethanol plants exist, producers use 'direct-ship' contracts to haul grain directly to a processor even though it is sold to the cooperative. Without recent data regarding the proportion of grain moving this way, it is hard to say whether we will see a significant change in those patterns, and even if so, grain movements and prices will find an equilibrium. Independent grain firms and processors likely will seek to establish marketing arrangements with cooperatives as a way to secure footing locally in the grain business.
Local price impacts are another unknown. On the one hand, some independents and corporations received a nearly 40% reduction in taxes (from 35% to 21%) via Sec 199A that cooperatives, which pass through member-based income to patron-members did not. The argument has been made that they can use those tax savings to be price competitive in the eyes of producers making the marketing decision. On the other hand, local capacity constraints at cooperatives may depress local basis, particularly during harvest, which partially mitigates the tax-differential created by Sec 199A.
Cooperatives typically do not turn away grain from members, which is why we observe large grain piles on the ground during harvest. Producers individually will need to weigh the potential tax deduction benefit with other costs associated with marketing grain: hauling distance, local basis differential, differentials in wait times at grain dumps, and so on. If net farm income is expected to be low, the per-bushel estimated tax difference created by Sec 199A dissipates.
Will producers form their own cooperatives or independents reorganize as a cooperative?
In local areas without grain/oilseed marketing cooperatives, the potential exists to see producers forming closed cooperative organizations to capitalize on the Sec 199A deduction. More likely, however, is that existing cooperatives acquire or build assets in those areas, or as mentioned above, form marketing arrangements with existing firms. In much of the Midwest, existing cooperatives are of sufficient size and capitalization and have the spatial presence to respond much faster to the need for capacity and changing grain dynamics than a start-up could accomplish. Alongside the temptation to form a cooperative, the new tax code creates incentives for producers to reconsider their own operation's structure, potentially reorganizing as a C corporation or S corporation or changing from one to the other. Those details aren't discussed here, but are complicating factors in determining how the farm economy might change if Sec 199A holds as written.
Effects on grain cooperatives
Producers will be impacted not only by the farm-level deduction of Sec 199A but, as members of cooperatives, stand to notice positive changes related to their cooperative's patronage allocations and equity redemption. The tax savings to cooperatives on non-member business and the supply-side of their business are just like those for other corporations, and the new tax rate is 21% instead of a maximum of 35%. However, if the Sec 199A deduction for producers marketing through a cooperative holds, all producers selling grain to a cooperative will choose membership, effectively eliminating any non-member marketing business. That aside, tax savings on cooperative profits related to input supply or other non-marketing functions could be used to accelerate the cooperative's equity redemption which gets income into the members' hands more quickly. Alternatively, the tax savings could be used to improve facilities and service offerings to benefit members.
For those wanting more details, the fact sheet "Impact of Tax Reform on Agricultural Cooperatives" (Briggeman and Kenkel, 2018) dives into the expected changes in cooperative patronage allocation and member-level returns from the law using simulation.
The questions that fall out of the reality of the Sec 199A code as written are important ones, as their answers weigh on the potential for significant changes in the structure of the agricultural supply chain for crops, in grain movements, and in farm-level incomes.
In a statement on January 12, 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach wrote, "The aim of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was to spur economic growth across the entire American economy, including the agricultural sector. While the goal was to preserve benefits in Section 199A for cooperatives and their patrons, the unintended consequences of the current language disadvantage the independent operators in the same industry. The federal tax code should not pick winners and losers in the marketplace. We applaud Congress for acknowledging and moving to correct the disparity, and our expectation is that a solution is forthcoming. USDA stands ready to assist in any way necessary."
The agricultural industry–cooperatives, too–anticipated that the existing DPAD deduction would not stand in the tax reform negotiations, but thought a similar provision would replace it. Few, if any, anticipated that a cooperative deduction would be expanded to the producer-level, or believe it will stand as written. Organizations such as the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) are working jointly on a revision with Congress. Tax professionals, agricultural businesses, and producers are waiting for clarification on whether the law will stay as-is or be changed, and will then await guidance from the IRS on interpretation.
1969 Case 1160 Shucking Corn in January
Jacksonville, IL - Jon Brickey of Murrayville, Illinois decided to take advantage of the 50-degree weather January 25, 2018, to shuck corn with his vintage 1969 (circa) Case 1160 combine. University of Illinois Extension Farm Broadcaster Todd Gleason happened to be passing by and stopped to visit.
subscribe to this newsletter
Todd E. Gleason, WILLAg.org
(217) 333–9797 or tgleason@illinois.edu
If you've been listening to the daily Closing Market Report you'll know that many of the analysts have been on the road for the winter meeting circuit. I hope you get a chance to catch up with some of them or maybe me. I'll be out next week with the folks from Farm Credit Illinois. You may see the dates and times here. These are crop insurance and marketing meetings. Strategic Farm Marketing will be doing a similar program. You may see their winter meeting list later in this letter. The farmdoc team will be out, too. Although that'll happen in mid-February. Registration is already open for the "2018 Resilient Farm Roadshow | Building habits to become profitable Farm Managers".
If you or your organization is still planning an event contact me at (217) 333–9697 or tgleason@illinois.edu. I'll be glad to talk with about bringing a WILLAg Marketing Panel to your meeting. Or if you'd prefer, just to give you the contact information for the University of Illinois ag economist, weed scientist, entomologist, or plant pathologist of your choice. I can also put you in contact with any of the analysts you hear on WILLAg.
Todd Gleason, ILLINOIS Extension Farm Broadcaster
College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
- Bill Mayer, Strategic Farm Marketing
- Joe Vaclavik, Standard Grain
- Mike Zuzolo, Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting
It is dry in the United States from Texas to Illinois.
Frankly, that's not a big deal right now or a marketing plan. It could become something later on in the year, but the odds don't really correlate in any fashion. Here is proof from the USDA NASS National Average Yield database. What you see is the average national corn yield for each year since 2010 imposed on a January Drought Monitor map. The U.S. Drought Monitor is produced through a partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Spring rains, more often than not, alleviate dry conditions. You may view the National Average Corn Yield database going back to 1866 (24.3 bpa) using this link. Here's a quick view of the National Average Yields database for corn going back to 2002.
Returning to the New Era Corn Price Mid-Point
The agricultural economists at ILLINOIS believe there are three recent historical commodity price eras. For grain prices, these run from post World War II to 1973, from 1973 to 2006, and from 2006 to the present. What they've found to date is that grain prices, unadjusted for inflation, tend to move within a range during these eras.
The current range for corn is something like $3 dollars per bushel on the low end and $8.00 on the high. The highs come less frequently, usually driven by a weather-related shortfall. Consequently, prices spend more time on the lower end of the range than the top end. However, he doesn't really know why the prices are so range-bound, "My own personal view is that it reflects relatively stable supply and demand dynamics. These are food commodity markets that don't change very rapidly in terms of who's producing and who's consuming. As long as economic growth is not wildly high or low, we'll tend to bounce around in a range."
The mid-point of that range in Illinois since 2006 has been about $4.50 for corn. However, Irwin says corn prices over the last four years have averaged about $3.50 per bushel. He thinks this means corn prices are due to go higher. Marketing on that belief is difficult says Scott Irwin, "If you believe conventional wisdom, you should prepare for and project sub $3.50 corn prices for as far as the eye can see. This is not my view. I will be the first to admit prices have gone lower, longer than I expected when we came off the highs, but I still believe a projected average price over the next five years closer to $4.00, rather than $3.25 or $3.50 is more realistic."
Admittedly, Irwin has more confidence in his ability to predict the mid-point than the movement of prices. Mostly he says the upward moves are predicated on weather problems.
Annie's Project
Women involved in agriculture and wanting to learn more about managing risk on the farm can sign up for Annie's Project classes this winter. Annie's Project was originated by Ruth Hambleton before she retired from Illinois Extension.
Annie's Project – Education for Farm Women is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational programs (Annie's Projects) designed to strengthen women's roles in the modern farm enterprise. Currently, classes are being taught in 33 states. Annie's Projects foster problem solving, record keeping, and decision-making skills in farm women.
The six educational sessions of the course include topics from the five risk areas. As Annie's Project has been localized to meet the needs of farm and ranch women across the country, topics or emphases may vary.
Financial Risk – women and money, basic financial documentation, interpreting financial statements, enterprise analysis, USDA programs, and record keeping systems
Human Resource Risk – communication and management styles, insurance needs, and succession planning
Legal Risk – estate planning, farmland leasing, and employee management
Market Risk – access to market information and grain or livestock marketing
Production Risk – Natural Resources Conservation Service, web soil survey, and crop insurance
a partnership of Illinois Public Media & University of Illinois Extension
ifr18019–020
Scott Irwin, Agricultural Economist - University of Illinois
The agricultural economists at ILLINOIS have been championing a new era for grain prices since the rise of ethanol as a major player in the U.S corn market. Todd Gleason has more on why.
Scott Irwin is an agricultural economist…
2:44 radio
2:57 radio self-contained
Scott Irwin is an agricultural economist from the University of Illinois. He and his colleagues believe grain prices have achieved a new higher plateau era. An era that started just after Congress mandated renewable fuels be ramped up in the U.S. gasoline supply over a ten year period beginning in 2005. Irwin says it is the third such era.
Irwin :25 …within a range during these eras.
Quote Summary - The periods that I call eras of grain prices run from post World War II to 1973, from 1973 to 2006, and 2006 to the present. What we have found to date is that grain prices, unadjusted for inflation, tend to move within a range during these eras.
The current range for corn is something like $3 dollars per bushel on the low end and $8.00 on the high. The highs come less frequently, usually driven by a weather related short-fall. Consequently, prices spend more time on the lower end of the range than the top end. However, he doesn't really know why the prices are so range-bound.
Irwin :29 …tend to bounce around in a range.
Quote Summary - No real good answers for that. My own personal view is that it reflects relatively stable supply and demand dynamics. These are food commodity markets that don't change very rapidly in terms of who's producing and who's consuming. As long as economic growth in not wildly high or low, we'll tend to bounce around in a range.
The mid-point, by-the-way, of that range in Illinois since 2006 has been about $4.50 for corn. However, Irwin says corn prices over the last four years have averaged about $3.50 per bushel. He thinks this means corn prices are due to go higher. However, marketing on that belief is difficult.
Irwin :38 …closer to $4.00, rather than $3.25 or $3.50 is more realistic.
Quote Summary - If you believe conventional wisdom, you should prepare for and project sub $3.50 corn prices for as far as the eye can see. This is not my view. I will be the first to admit prices have gone lower, longer than I expected when we came off the highs, but I still believe a projected average price over the next five years closer to $4.00, rather than $3.25 or $3.50 is more realistic.
Looking for Anaplasmosis in Beef Cattle
Researchers at the University of Illinois are working with beef cattle producers in the southern third of the state to determine the prevalence of a disease that causes cows to become listless and die.
A cattle disease called anaplasmosis has been ramping up in southern Illinois, or at least that's the way it appears. In short, it causes severe anemia. Illinois Extension's Teresa Steckler, with funding from the Illinois Beef Association, has been pulling blood samples from herds in the area. She's trying to determine if the strain of anaplasmosis is one called Mississippi that can be controlled by a vaccine, or if it is something else, "I'm just trying to see, with the movement of cattle throughout the United States, if we have a new strain? Is there a new agent transmitting the disease or is it just the tick that is causing the transmission? Is that linked to our deer population or some other population which the ticks may feast on and then move on to the cattle? It is related to the increase, and the guys are reporting to me, the big black horse flies".
Cattleman, like Loy Hosselton in southern Illinois, don't think there has been an increase in the tick population, but say the number of black horse flies has been on the upswing. Hosselton's a vet and had ILLINOIS pull samples from his herd of about 50. He says herd-health is something that takes constant attention, even when the signs are there, "When they lose one head, they often times just throw that up to chance when it could be the sign of something more sinister".
Something like a blood parasite that causes anaplasmosis. Something the University of Illinois is working to prevent through research and education.
Those in the southern 27 counties of Illinois can contact Teresa Steckler to schedule a blood draw from their herd. The work is sponsored in part by the Illinois Beef Association.
Corn, Soybeans, and Wheat Acres in Illinois
Between 1996 and 2017, the sum of acres planted to corn, soybeans, and wheat have varied within a tight band for the state of Illinois. It has ranged from 22.0 million to 22.7 million acres for the three crops. Over this period acreage planted to wheat has been small and declining. It has decreased from 1.7 million in 1996 to just half-a-million in 2017. University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Gary Schnitkey says most of the acreage switches in the state have been between corn and soybeans.
These are the historical facts for Illinois. In 1998, corn and soybean acres were each at 10.6 million. With some yearly variations, corn acres then increased and soybean acres generally decreased from 1998 to 2012. In 2012, 12.8 million acres of corn were planted and 9.0 million acres of soybeans. Since then, corn acres have decreased and soybean acres have increased. Corn acres declined from 12.8 million in 2012 to 11.2 million in 2016. Soybean increased from 9.0 million to that same 11.2 million over the same period.
IFES 2017: Crop and Livestock Price Prospects for 2018
read farmdocDaily article
by Todd Hubbs, Commodity Markets Specialist - University of Illinois
Crop prices will remain below the high levels seen in the early part of this decade due to large global inventories. Global economic growth continues to build on the momentum seen over the last year. Growth in China and emerging market in Asia is projected to remain strong throughout 2018. The prospects of improved growth support commodity demand, but the significant changes to trade policy could mitigate some of this demand growth in export markets. Lower prices are expected to continue in 2018 barring a shortfall in one of the major production regions. The following price outlook analysis assumes a good 2018 growing season.
Corn prices continue to struggle with large crops and five consecutive years of growth in ending stocks. Domestic corn demand continues to see moderate growth in corn used for ethanol which has been supported by record levels of ethanol exports. Growth in livestock production and low corn prices provide support for increased feed usage during the 2017–18 marketing year. The potential for greater than 5.5 billion bushels in feed and residual use would be the largest amount since 2007–08. Corn exports currently lag the pace of last marketing year's 2.29 billion bushels and are projected at 1.95 billion bushels by the end of the current year. Planted acreage of corn is expected to increase slightly in 2018 to 90.8 million acres. Assuming a trend yield near 172.3 bushels would result in a 2018 crop near 14.4 billion bushels. A projected total use of 14.5 billion bushels would result in the 2018–19 marketing year ending stocks near 2.44 billion bushels, a slight decrease from 2017–18 projections. Prices are expected to average near $3.30 during the current year and near $3.40 during the 2018–19 marketing year if production develops as expected.
Soybean prices remain strong relative to corn and wheat prices. U.S. soybean ending stocks continue a five-year pattern of growth with 2016–17 ending stocks ending at 301 million bushels. The lower than initially projected ending stocks benefited from very strong export numbers driven by continued growth in exports to China. Soybean exports are projected to exceed 2.2 billion bushels during this marketing year, up from last marketing year's 2.174 billion bushels. Expanded soybean acreage and a 49.5 bushel yield for the 2017 crop are expected to increase 2017–18 marketing year ending stocks to 480 million bushels. Planted acreage of soybeans is expected to increase moderately to 90.6 million acres in 2018 due to the low prices of corn and wheat and the lower cost of producing soybeans relative to corn. A yield near 48.5 bushels would result in a 2018 crop about 52 million bushels smaller than the 2017 crop. With total use projected at 4.32 billion bushels, a further increase in U.S. stocks is expected by the end of the 2017–18 marketing year. Prices are expected to average near $9.20 during the current year and near $8.80 during the 2018–19 marketing year if world production develops as expected.
U.S. wheat acreage is expected to continue declining. Planted acreage decreased to 46.01 million acres in 2017. U.S. wheat production decreased by 508 million bushels in 2017 with average yield down by 6.3 bushels per acre. Soft red winter wheat production decreased to 202 million acres on 230,000 fewer acres nationally. Soft red winter wheat production is down 49 percent from 2010–2017 in Illinois. During the same period, wheat acreage in Illinois declined by 450,000 acres. World wheat production in 2017–18 is expected to decline slightly from the record levels of 2016–17. Foreign wheat production is expected to increase for the fifth consecutive year. U.S. stocks of wheat in all classes are projected to decline to 935 million bushels after hitting 1.18 billion bushels in 2016–17. U.S. soft red winter wheat ending stocks are expected to grow by 7 million bushels in 2017–18. The average price received for the 2017 crop is expected to be near $4.60. The Illinois price at harvest is expected to be near $4.75.
Livestock markets continue to respond to the growing demand for meat globally and lower feed costs. Prices in the livestock sector look to level out after declining from the highs seen in 2014 and the subsequent supply response. Production levels are expected to increase in 2018.
U.S. beef production is expected to increase 4.6 percent in 2018 on higher levels of feedlot placements in last half of 2017 and the beginning of 2018. Beef production is forecast at 27.6 billion pounds in 2018, up 1.2 billion pounds over 2017. Beef export markets continue to exemplify U.S. competitiveness in foreign markets. Exports are projected at 2.97 billion pounds, up from 2.85 billion in 2017. Recent strength in export markets has been driven by strong demand from Japan. Domestic per capita beef consumption is projected to increase in 2018 to 59.2 pounds, up 1.9 pounds from 2017. Strong demand in 2017 moved cattle through feedlots at a rapid pace. Fed cattle prices look to move lower in the first half of 2018 on large supplies. Fed cattle prices average near $122 in 2017 but look to average near $117 in 2018. Feeder steer prices averaged $145 in 2017 and are projected to be around $142 in 2018.
U.S. pork production is projected to increase in 2018 to 26.9 billion pounds, up 1.2 billion pounds from 2017. Delays in hog slaughter levels in the fourth quarter of 2017 are projected to push first quarter pork production in 2018 up 4.7 percent of 2017 levels. Pork exports in 2018 are expected to increase from the 5.6 billion pounds exported in 2017 to 5.9 billion pounds. While increased exports to Mexico helped to support the export pace thus far in 2017, lower export levels to Japan and China is currently a drag on pork exports. Domestic pork supplies in 2018 are forecast at 52.1 pounds per capita, up from 50.4 in 2017. The average hog price is expected to decrease to $45.00 in 2018, down from $49.01 in 2017
What Is Up with Soybean Yields
read farmdocDaily arcticle
by Scott Irwin, Agricultural Economist - University of Illinois
Soybean yields in the U.S. have been very high the last four years. The U.S. average yield set new records in a stair-step fashion each year between 2014 and 2016. The 2016 yield reached the remarkable level of 52.1 bushels. While not a record, the 2017 yield (based on the November 1 USDA estimate) was 49.5 bushels, the second largest ever. On top of the high U.S. average yields are the numerous reports of field-level yields in the 70s, 80s, and even a few in the 90s.
The high soybean yields of recent years have sparked a debate about what is driving the exceptional yields. In thinking about this debate it is important to understand that there are only three possible sources of soybean yield gain. The first is weather during the growing season. The second is genetic improvement in soybean varieties. The third is a management, which encompasses all aspects of the soybean production process. Genetic improvement and management sometimes go hand-in-hand so that one requires the other.
It is a not an easy task to disentangle the complex and sometimes interacting impacts of weather, genetics, and management on soybean yields. One approach is to use a crop weather regression model to estimate the separate impacts of weather and technology on soybean yield, where technology is the combined impact of genetic improvement and management. I estimated this type of model for U.S. average soybean yields over 1970–2017. A linear time trend was used to represent technological change and summer precipitation and temperature variables were used to represent growing season weather. The modeling results showed that U.S. average soybean yields in 2014, 2015, and 2017 could be explained by a continuation of the linear improvement in technology and good growing season weather. The exception was 2016, when yield was substantially higher than what could be predicted based on a linear technology trend and good weather. It is not clear from this exercise whether we should view the 2016 yield like a 100-year flood or a permanent jump in soybean yield potential.
Agronomic data can be helpful in further disentangling genetic improvement from other sources of soybean yield gain. One recent study collected seed for over 150 soybean varieties released from the 1920s through the 2000s. Using randomized trials from across the country in 2010 and 2011, the study estimated "pure" genetic improvement in soybean yields. The results indicated a linear progression of soybean genetic yield gain from 1970 through 2008. This indicates that the historical pattern of soybean genetic gains in yield have been steady and marked jumps in the rate of improvement are rare. Soybean variety test results from the Department of Crop Sciences at the
University of Illinois provide relevant data through 2017. The yield of conventional soybean varieties relative to the older Williams variety shows no change of trend in recent years. Overall, there is little evidence to date that soybean genetics have been improving at a faster rate in recent years.
If we dig into the soybean yield data for the U.S. state-by-state an interesting pattern emerges that points to important changes in management practices. In general, soybean trend yields in the Southeastern U.S. have been growing at a much faster rate than in other growing regions. This non-linear trend appears to be related to a number of management practices, which can be roughly described as having the purpose of replicating Midwestern growing conditions. This includes planting much earlier in the past, planting earlier maturing indeterminate varieties, including corn in the crop rotation to increase organic matter in the soil, and using raised bed production systems. These management practices have allowed soybean yields in the Southeast to largely catch up with those in the rest of the country.
In sum, the data indicate that the biggest factor explaining high soybean yields in recent years is simply exceptionally good growing season weather. Improved management practices, particular in the Southeastern U.S., have also certainly contributed. A jump in the rate of genetic improvement in soybeans was not likely a big contributor to the surge in soybean yields.
U.S. Crop Acreage Still Moving to Soybean
Todd Gleason reports on the move away from wheat and towards soybeans.
Corn is king in the United States. Soybean has been on a swift move upward. And wheat acreage has been on the decline for about 40 years. About half-way through those 4 decades two important things happened. Congress passed the 1996 farm bill - often called Freedom to Farm because it eliminated the last vestiges of supply controls for program crops and Monsanto introduced Round-Up Ready soybeans, that was 1995. The latter made it a whole lot easier to raise beans and the former, says University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Gary Schnitkey, let farmers react to the market.
From 1996 to 2012 U.S. farmers increased soybean acreage by 20 percent, corn acreage was up a bit more, but not much, and wheat acreage plummeted 36 percent. Schnitkey says much of the change can be explained by just looking at the relative profitability of the crops. Corn and soybeans are more profitable than wheat. Most would likely say the reason wheat acreage has declined in the U.S. is because of the ethanol build-out. It is, but it's also not says Schnitkey, "You can attribute that to a number of factors. Probably the bigger one is that corn has increased its yields at a pace relatively faster than wheat. This has caused the relative profitability of corn to be higher than wheat and corn has taken over the feed grain market.
This has caused the relative profitability of corn to be higher than wheat and corn has taken over the feed grain market.
Wheat is/was the primary feed grain for much of the world. In the United States corn is fed to livestock and used to make ethanol. It is best managed when rotated with other crops, the most profitable of which is soybean.
This past year U.S. farmers planted about 90 million acres of corn and 90 million acres of soybeans. It is a new trend, says the University of Illinois ag economist, driven by continued strong export growth for soybean. The United States is projected to export over 50 percent of the soybean crop this marketing year.
Soybean acreage has substantially gained on corn acreage since 2012. While last year the acreage planted was equal, U.S. farmers actually harvested about 6 million more of the soybean acres than they did of corn. So, by harvested acreage soybeans are the number one crop in the United States and it's not that first time that has happened. The soybean was king in 2015 as well.
IFES 2017: Crop and Livestock Price Prospects for ...


The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to connect with family and friends, and many people like to share in the joy of the season by giving small gifts to their neighbors. Have you found that your kitchen often fills with holiday cookies, chocolates, and other delicious treats during the month of December? These treats might be tasty, but they are not good for your health.
Fruit Basket: A traditional holiday treat is to put oranges in the toe of the Christmas stockings. Stick with the holiday theme and give your friends and neighbors a basket full of oranges or other fruits that you enjoy. They will be grateful to have a healthy snack at their fingertips.
Homemade Organic Whole Grain Bread: Nothing says love more than a piping hot loaf of homemade bread. When the weather starts to get cold, a loaf of bread is a great way to connect with your neighbors. Use this healthy homemade bread recipe to give the gift of health to your neighbors.
Homemade Sweets: You can give your neighbors sweet treats, just make sure to be careful about the ingredients that you are using when you make the treats. We have a variety of festive recipes for you to try, such as our Lemon Coconut Truffles.
Books: A good education about health and wellness is a great way to support your friends and family. If someone is interested in improving their health, consider giving them the perfect Christmas gift: the Unravel the Mystery Bundle Kit. This kit includes the main guide, as well as a recipe book to help them get started on their journey to a healthier lifestyle.
Wrapping Paper: Everyone needs a few rolls of wrapping paper during the holiday season, and this is one way to share in the festive season without giving edible items. Watch for sales on rolls of wrapping paper, and give a roll to each person on your list as an early Christmas gift to help with their own holiday wrapping.
Remember, the holiday season is the opportunity to reflect on the true reason for the season: to celebrate the birth of Christ. So, make sure to include a note about the meaning of the season, so that you can uplift and inspire the people that receive your gifts.


text:
Q: Can I re-download the Adobe Flashplugin 11 installer (Update Manager)? The download did not finish and the install failed. My update history lists the installer as installed; it wasn't. From now on I will do proprietary software downloads and installs at home. My home computer had no problem with the Flashplugin installer download and install and it's a slower computer. My Internet service is a lot faster than the one at the Coffee Shop and it's steadier, too. Can I get a second shot at the Adobe Flashplugin installer download?

A: You could try to uninstall it and reinstall, either in Software Center or by command line:
sudo apt-get remove  flashplugin-installer
sudo apt-get install flashplugin-installer

A: Although the other poster is correct and you can remove and reinstall the package, you could instead download the gzip file from URLs a bit like e.g: http://archive.canonical.com/pool/partner/a/adobe-flashplugin/adobe-flashplugin_11.2.202.378.orig.tar.gz (the URL will change depending on your architecture and Flash version: check the directory index to be sure you've got the right one.)
With a gzipfile already available, you can simply reconfigure the package using:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure flashplugin-installer

This puts you into interactive mode, where you can specify the location of the downloaded gzipfile.
Reconfiguring is technically the right way to do it, especially if other packages depend on flashplugin-installer and so would be uninstalled to, or if you've already (while hacking around?) got a local download of the gzipfile: it's quicker to install that, rather than downloading it again.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
WATCH! VFNtv & the Daily Radio Program First Hour May 14, 2015
VFNtv Programs
Trouble Watching Program Click Here -Mobile Users
WATCH OR LISTEN NOW!
Answer to Prayer: House of Representatives Pass Bill to Ban Abortion after 20 Weeks
A mighty praise report is ringing out from the seats in the House of Representatives as the Pain Capable Unborn-Child Protection Act was passed. According to CBN, the bill passed, 242 to 184. "Almost every Republican voted for it and almost every Democrat against it." In a video clip showing the different viewpoints of those present, Democrats were voicing concern for the rights of women, while Republicans were defending the cause for the voiceless: the unborn life. From here, the bill will go before the Senate and then ultimately before the desk of the President.
There was a day when taking the life of another seemed right. We look back to 1973 and the decision of Roe vs Wade wondering how a people could pass such an argument deciding to legalize the killing of life. There will be a day that a generation will look back on these days wondering the same thing, asking how a person could justify such an idea. Pray for the continuation of this bill to pass the Senate and for the President not to veto it. Hear the full report of what is taking place, and so much more. Also shared in this segment: Roe v Wade, voting, abortion, pro-life, human life, and prayer. Greg and John shared in this segment.
Secular Blogger Murdered for Free Speech?
We understand that America is a nation of laws and it is governed by the Constitution. In the nation of Bangladesh, a blogger was allegedly killed by being beat to death for expressing his beliefs. People didn't like what he was saying. According to the BBC, Ananta Bijoy Das was a blogger for a website that "criticized religious intolerance". Looking at these events would cause one to casually respond, 'that will never happen in America." Some statements made by the President can raise additional concern. Hear more of what has taken place, the importance of the laws within America, what the President has stated, and so much more. Also shared in this segment: Radical Islam, the Constitution, Free Speech, 1
stAmendment, the Bill of Rights, and blasphemy. Greg and John shared in this segment.
Is there any Similarity between Hitler and those in America in trying to restrict Religious Freedom Protected by the First Amendment?
Many can agree on the heinous and outright murderous actions that were done through the Nazi Party by the leadership of Adolf Hitler, which ultimately resulted in the extermination of 6 million Jews. Few are aware of some of the events that led up to these outcomes. In his book, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, Eric Metasas details the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the events that took place between the church, Hitler, and an emboldened man with a voice of truth; Bonhoeffer.
Adolf Hitler was an outright evil man. So were those that Hitler chose to surround himself with. Martin Bormann, Heinrich Himmler, and Joseph Goebbels were just a few of these leaders. Metasas describes in his book how anti-Christian these men were. The methodologies that these men implemented causes even greater concern. "They hoped to accelerate the timetable for open warfare with the church, but Hitler was in no hurry. Whenever he attacked the church, his popularity waned…..Now was the time to pretend to be pro-Christian" (pp. 165-168). In other words, when they openly came against the church, there was backlash. They had to slowly carry out their plans that displayed they stood with the church. Doesn't this sound eerily similar to the events that took place in Houston, Texas when the mayor of Houston openly called for the sermons of pastors only to retract her statements after receiving backlash? Houston Mayor Annise Parker ultimately rescinded her original intentions with the statement, "I don't want to have a national debate about freedom of religion." At first glance we can say that this could never happen, while we are seeing evidence openly expressed that it already has happened.
To carry these realities another step further, when we look at Hitler's approach to what the church's beliefs were, and how he responded, again there are similarities being carried out today. Metasas writes, "Hitler's attitude toward Christianity was that it was a great heap of mystical out-of-date nonsense. But what annoyed Hitler was not that it was nonsense, but that it was nonsense that did not help him get ahead….In time, he felt that the churches would change their ideology" (pp. 165-168). Why would someone want to change the beliefs of the church? Do the warning bells ring loudly when looking at what Hillary Clinton stated, "Deep-seated… Religious Beliefs…have to be changed."?
It's important to remember that although Hitler brought about indescribable evil, he was only in power for 8 years that ultimately resulted in his death from a cyanide pill. Regardless of who is in power, it is only for a season. God is still on His Throne and is still in control. Hear more about how Hitler sought to bring change to the church in Germany, the leadership around him, and so much more. Greg and John shared in this segment.
VFNRP
V1F2N3P4R5O6G7R8A9M0
WATCH! VFNtv & the Daily Radio Program Second Hour May 14, 2015

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Events in your area Get in touch
Thinking of fostering?
What is Fostering?
How do I become a Foster Carer?
Find a Fostering Service
Preparing to Foster Guide
Fostering Quiz
Already fostering?
Fostering Support & Advice
Legislation for England
Facing an Allegation
Fostering and Finances
Transfer between Fostering Services
Moving on & Permanency Options
Fostering and Education
Foster Carer Training
Fostering Services
Information for Fostering Service Providers
Supporting Foster Carers
Recruitment and Retention of Foster Carers
TOWIE stars join the DfE as fostering ambassadors.
Posted on 22nd October 2019 by fosterline
Debbie Douglas and her daughter Lydia Bright from the reality TV show The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) have joined the Department for Education (DfE) as fostering ambassadors.
Debbie, 54, and her partner Dave Bright have fostered more than 250 children over the past 22 years, while also raising 4 biological children, including Lydia.
Debbie and Lydia have been asked by Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson to join existing ambassador and celebrity chef Lorraine Pascale in encouraging foster carers from a broader variety of backgrounds to step up to the task.
Children and Families Minister, Edward Timpson, said:
As someone who grew up as part of a large foster family, I know only too well that fostering can be one of the most rewarding experiences, as well as having a life-changing impact on a child.
Debbie is an inspiration to many, not least the hundreds of children she has taken in. I'm delighted that she and Lydia have agreed to come on board as fostering ambassadors. I know that together we can encourage more people from a wide variety of backgrounds to open their hearts and homes to children waiting to be fostered.
In the role, Debbie and Lydia will be using their first-hand experience to encourage people to consider becoming foster carers, and dispel some of the myths that make some people believe they would not be suitable, such as work arrangements or relationship status.
Debbie was first inspired to foster in 1993, thanks to a chance meeting with a foster mum in a pizza parlour.
And more than 20 years and 250 children later – from newborn babies to teenagers – she has not looked back.
Debbie Douglas said:
It is an honour to be asked to become a fostering ambassador, and I can't wait to get started. I'm looking forward to working with the Department for Education to encourage more people to think about fostering children.
I have such an incredible family, with so many children and young people. It hasn't always been easy, but I wouldn't change it for the world. It's big and it's a lot of fun, especially this time of year.
Some of the children Debbie has looked after have come to her with heart-breaking stories – of alcohol or drug use, neglect or abuse. But she does not give up on them and, in the end, only 4 placements have not worked out.
Lydia Bright, Debbie's daughter, said:
I'm so honoured to be asked to be a fostering ambassador alongside my Mum. Fostering has had such a huge impact on my life – I'd love for others to experience that.
Growing up was like being on a constant school trip – bunking up, sharing things and just being part of a huge fun family. I'm really proud of my Mum – she's my hero, and our extended family is now so big I can't imagine not having all these siblings around.
Debbie and Lydia join current Fostering Ambassador Lorraine Pascale, who began in the role a year ago and has been using her experiences as a fostered child to champion foster care as widely as possible.
It is the latest in a series of government measures aimed at encouraging people from a broader range of backgrounds to become foster carers.
The government has also changed the law so that care leavers can stay with their foster family until their 21st birthday, and is investing more than £100 million through the Children's Social Care Innovation Programme to support vulnerable children.
If you are considering becoming a foster carer and would like your questions answered, call Fosterline on 0800 040 7675 to speak to one of our qualified advisors. Those that are already fostering can also call Fosterline to help and advice.
Fosterline Confidentiality Policy
FosterTalk Data Protection Policy
FosterTalk Safeguarding Children Policy
FosterTalk Safeguarding Adults Policy
FosterTalk Comments, Compliments & Complaints Policy
© Fosterline 2019 is a trademark registered to the Department for Education.
Our trained advisors are available weekdays 09:00 to 17:00
Please leave a message click here
Alternatively leave a voice mail on
We will contact you the next working day without fail


text:
Mariaparochie [ma'riaːpaˌrɔxi] is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel. The greater part of it belongs to the municipality of Tubbergen while a small part, with the local church, belongs to Almelo. Mariaparochie lies about 4 km northeast of Almelo.

In 1918, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church was built and enlarged in 1923. In 1936, there was a settlement around the church. The village is twinned with Harbrinkhoek, but both still have separate place name signs, statistical entries and postal codes.

References

Populated places in Overijssel
Almelo
Tubbergen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Adding a 3mm domed crystal to the front and a 3mm flat crystal to the back of any watch. This adds a magnification to the face.
The 3mm front crystal has a 3mm dome. It is mounted 1mm into the watch so the net height is 5mm. The back crystal is 3mm and also has a 1mm mount height. The net for the back is 2mm. The total added to the thickness of the watch is 7mm. The 48mm watch is 12mm high and with the thicker crystals it becomes 19mm high.


Today I'm giving away this gorgeous FREE motivational printable. It's what I currently use as my desktop wallpaper on my laptop to keep me motivated to keep working towards my dreams!
I hope you like it. Simply sign up for The Bajan Texan monthly newsletter where I share tons of DIY, home decor, recipes, entertaining and home management inspiration.
Sign up here for the newsletter and get you will get a link to download this printable right in your inbox.


Driving directions, location maps, field weather, amenities, and nearby establishments to youth and recreational Lacrosse fields in San Francisco, CA.
Sorry, no indoor Lacrosse venues found for San Francisco, CA.
Sorry, no lighted Lacrosse venues found for San Francisco, CA.


text:
Note, however, that in the htsΔG mutation lacking the MARCKS doma
Posted on May 31, 2017 by srci2769
Note, however, that in the htsΔG mutation lacking the MARCKS domain, we do not observe significant protrusions but we do observe increased growth.
It is possible that some actin-capping activity is retained in this mutant based upon prior in vitro biochemistry on vertebrate Adducin proteins ( Li et al., 1998) and this is sufficient to suppress protrusion formation (see also Discussion). If loss of the actin-capping activity of Hts promotes the formation of actin-based filopodial extensions from an existing nerve terminal, then overexpression of Hts-M should block this process. We overexpressed high levels of Hts-M presynaptically and examined synapse morphology at muscles 12 and 13. These muscles are innervated by motoneurons that form large diameter type Ib boutons as well as small caliber type Epigenetics inhibitor II and type III nerve terminals (Figure 7A). Overexpression
of Hts-M severely impacts the extension and growth of the small-caliber type II and type III synaptic bouton arborizations ( Figure 7B). The motoneurons navigate to the NMJ but fail to extend on the muscle surface. In addition, the morphology of the remaining type III terminals is clearly altered ( Figure 7B, arrows). By contrast, the large-caliber type Ib boutons are present and elaborate at the nerve terminal. The quantification of the total length of type III terminals on muscle 12 reveals a significant, 2.7-fold reduction ( Figures 7C and 7D). These data support the hypothesis that check details the actin-capping activity of Hts/Adducin may control the shape and
extent of nerve terminal growth, particularly of the small-caliber synaptic arborizations. Interestingly, the small-caliber nerve terminals (type II and type III) are the most dynamic structures in the neuromuscular system and are strongly influenced by changes in neural activity ( Budnik et al., 1990). This raises the possibility that Hts activity might be regulated to control synaptic growth. The spectrin-binding and actin-recruiting functions of Adducin, as well as its subcellular localization, are controlled by phosphorylation in several tissues in vertebrates. For example, in resting platelets, dephosphorylated Adducin is complexed with the submembranous Cell press spectrin skeleton where it may cap actin filaments and inhibit filopodia formation. During platelet activation, Adducin becomes phosphorylated, released from the submembranous spectrin skeleton, and aggregates in the cell interior. It is believed that the translocation of Adducin removes actin-capping activity from the membrane and enables the observed change in platelet cell shape that includes the formation of numerous filopodia (Barkalow et al., 2003). By extension, we might expect to observe phosphorylated Hts/Adducin at synapses undergoing actin-based extension and growth. We tested this possibility using available phosphospecific antibodies.
Also, the overexpression of DN-TORC1 resulted in a significant re
Also, the overexpression of DN-TORC1 resulted in a significant reduction in CRE activity that was enhanced by CaMK I or CaMK IV in cortical neurons under control conditions and after OGD (Figure S4C). This finding suggested that CaMK I and IV may be able to activate CREB (via phosphorylation at Ser133) and TORC. Endogenous CaMK IV is predominantly restricted to the nucleus, whereas overexpressed CaMK IV was localized in both the cytoplasm and nucleus (Figure S4D). To determine the role of endogenous CaMK IV, we confirmed its involvement in the regulation of OGD-induced TORC activation by means of RNA interference
(RNAi) experiments. Treatment with rat CaMK IV-specific miRNA decreased the level of CaMK IV, not CaMKI (Figure S4E). We found that the knockdown of CaMK IV resulted in the inhibition of TORC1 activity (Figure S4F) and
aggravated cell Adriamycin solubility dmso injury after OGD (Figure S4G). Furthermore, transfection of human CaMK IV, which is resistant to miRNA for rat CaMK IV, reversed the CaMK IV protein level and attenuated the cell injury by CaMK IV knockdown (Figures S4E and S4G). These results suggested that CaMK IV may upregulate www.selleck.co.jp/products/cobimetinib-gdc-0973-rg7420.html CRE-mediated transcription in a CREB Ser133- and TORC1-dependent manner. Indeed, the overexpression of DA-CaMK IV significantly decreased neuronal injury after OGD (Figure 4E). On the basis of these findings, CaMK I and CaMK IV were identified as negative regulators of SIK2. CaMK I and IV are activated by binding elevated Ca2+ levels to calmodulin, Ca2+/calmodulin, and Ca2+ influx, principally through NMDARs, activated cytoplasmic, and nuclear CaMKs. However, it was reported that different
subtypes of glutamate receptors have opposite actions on neuronal survival (Hardingham et al., 2002, Liu et al., 2007 and Peng et al., 2006). To determine the involvement of different types of glutamate receptors on TORC1-mediated transcriptional activity after OGD, we administered several types of glutamate receptor antagonists. Treatment with either an NMDAR antagonist, AP5, or an NR2A antagonist, too NVP-AM0077, attenuated OGD-induced TORC1 activity. In contrast, other types of glutamate receptor antagonists such as CNQX, L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, nifedipine, or the NR2B-containing NMDAR-specific inhibitor Ro25-6981 did not show any effect on TORC1-mediated transcriptional activity (Figure 5A). Treatment with NVP-AAM0077 inhibited the nuclear localization of TORC1 (Figure 5B) and SIK2 degradation after OGD (Figure 5C). Although the subunit specificity of NVP-AAM0077 is debated (Neyton and Paoletti, 2006), these findings suggested that the activation of NR2A-containing NMDARs results in the degradation of SIK2 following CaMK I/IV activation, leading to enhanced TORC1 activity after OGD.
The block was trimmed to include
the area of interest and
the area of interest and 10 μm serial sections were cut using a diamond Histo-knife with Nintedanib order an ultramicrotome. Relevant regions were selected for thin sectioning and remounted on blank epon blocks using a small amount of fresh epon and allowed to polymerize overnight. Thin sections were collected on formvar-coated slot grids and stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. Grids were viewed using a JEOL 1200EX electron microscope and photographed using a digital camera. For Coracle labeling prior to electron microscopy, animals were fixed in 2.5% paraformaldehyde/0.5% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer, and primary antibody labeling was performed with 1:10 anti-Coracle in 0.1% selleck kinase inhibitor PBS-TX. We used peroxidase conjugated goat anti-mouse
at 1:200 in 0.1% PBS-TX, followed by detection using 1:20 diaminobenzidine in 0.1% PBS-TX with NiCl2 and 3 μl of a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. The reaction was terminated by several rinses in PBS. Preparations were then mounted as above and photographed on a Zeiss A1 microscope fitted with a Zeiss digital camera and software prior to sectioning for TEM. We are grateful to Dr. Yuh-Nung Jan for discussion of results prior to publication. We thank Drs. Kendal Broadie, Lynn Cooley, John Fessler and Lisa Fessler, Cynthia Hughes, Mark Krasnow, Maria Martin-Bermudo, Ben Ohlstein, Emma Rushton, the Bloomington Stock Center, and Developmental Studies all Hybridoma Bank for fly stocks and antibodies. We thank members of the Grueber lab for contributing
to analysis of GFP trap lines and Rachel Kim and Payal Jain for work on establishing EM protocols. We thank Drs. Jane Dodd, Oliver Hobert, and members of the Grueber lab for comments on the manuscript, and Dr. Qais Al-Awqati for helpful discussion. This work was supported by NIH NINDS R01 NS061908, the Searle Scholars Program, the Klingenstein Foundation, and the McKnight Endowment Fund (W.B.G.). "
"Neurons are highly polarized cells comprised of specialized membrane domains that function in reception, integration, and propagation of electrical activity. Neurons are broadly divided into somatodendritic and axonal compartments, each of which are further organized into distinct subdomains that differ in their composition of ion channels, adhesion molecules, and cytoskeletal scaffolding proteins (Lai and Jan, 2006). One of the most prominent subdomains is the nodal region comprised of the nodes of Ranvier, the flanking paranodal junctions, and the juxtaparanodes (Salzer et al., 2008 and Susuki and Rasband, 2008). This organization is critical to the function of myelinated axons in saltatory conduction. Disturbances of domain organization and function are increasingly appreciated to contribute to axonal pathology in myelin disorders.
This latter category presents the interesting possibility that su
This latter category presents the interesting possibility that such neurons might respond to closed areas of texture, congruent with the idiosyncratic shape of their RFs. The primary visual cortex is organized into iso-orientation domains punctuated with pinwheel regions that
vary in orientation preference over short distances (Blasdel, 1992; Bonhoeffer and Grinvald, 1991; Bosking et al., 1997). Neurons tuned http://www.selleckchem.com/products/MLN-2238.html for medium curvature (Figure 6, middle row) may inherit their shape tuning from such domains of heterogeneous orientation tuning. Consistent with this, we found that orientation-tuning maps measured with smaller elements generally varied continuously in their preferred orientations, showing transitions from one orientation to another, as one might expect when pooling from neurons near an orientation pinwheel
in earlier areas. In contrast, straight-tuned neurons (Figure 6, bottom row) exhibited fine-scale orientation maps that were constant in their orientation preference, as would be expected if these neurons inherited their tuning properties from homogenous orientation domains. This hypothesis is also consistent with the conclusion that the RFs of central EPZ-6438 ic50 V4 neurons correspond to a constant-sized sampling of the V1 cortical surface (Motter, 2009). Our control experiments show that these findings are robust against the spatial characteristics of the primitives that made up the curved stimuli. Previous assessments of spatial invariance were made using the most and least preferred stimuli, either with local curved stimuli (Pasupathy and Connor, 1999) or with larger pattern stimuli (Pasupathy and Connor, 2001), else and found consistent selectivity across shifts in position half the RF size or more. Models inspired by these earlier findings utilized linear pooling mechanisms to achieve feature selectivity followed by nonlinearities such as "soft-max" selection to gain spatial invariance (Cadieu et al., 2007). The soft-max operation can be parametrically
varied to yield a simple averaging operation at one end (no spatial invariance) to taking the "max" operation on the other (full spatial invariance). Consistent with the earlier studies, we find that both straight- and curve-preferring neurons do preserve a relative preference for the stimuli that are, on average, most and least preferred (Figure 3A, bottom right panels). However, the more detailed examination in our study leads us to conclude first that shift invariance is much more limited than previously appreciated, at least for local curved elements, and, further, that much of the response across the RF is well explained by linear pooling of local orientation responses. We note that the variation in curvature tuning that we observe is consistent with previous studies using closed form contour stimuli (Carlson et al.
3 and 4 However, although estimates of peak aerobic and anaerobic
3 and 4 However, although estimates of peak aerobic and anaerobic performance
illustrate asynchronous, age-, sex-, growth- and maturation-related differences in exercise metabolism they provide few insights into the aerobic–anaerobic MEK inhibitor review interplay in the muscles during growth and maturation. The ability of young people to recover faster than adults following high intensity exercise is well documented.5, 6 and 7 This might be explained by children and adolescents having enhanced oxidative capacity, faster phosphocreatine (PCr) re-synthesis, better acid–base regulation, and lower production and/or more efficient removal of metabolic by-products than adults.8 But some researchers have critiqued the high intensity exercise models used to compare children and adults and concluded that young people's faster recovery is simply a direct consequence of their body size and their limited capacity to generate power.9 Boys have higher relative rates of fat oxidation than men at a range of exercise intensities and the exercise intensity that elicits peak fat oxidation is higher in boys than in men.10 and 11 Sex differences in substrate utilization have been reported.12 but age-related data in females are conflicting and have been attributed to menstrual cycle variations between girls and women.13 and 14 In boys, high rates of fat oxidation decline during maturation and
selleck inhibitor the development of an adult fuel-utilization profile occurs in the transition
from mid-puberty to late-puberty and is complete on reaching adulthood.10 and 15 Timmons Florfenicol et al.12 have suggested that children have an underdeveloped depot of intramuscular fuels rather than an underdeveloped glycolytic flux. Boisseau and Delmarche16 hypothesised that maturation of skeletal muscle fibre patterns might account for the development of metabolic responses to high intensity exercise during growth and maturation. The interpretation of muscle biopsy studies of young people is, however, confounded by large interindividual variations in fibre profiles and few, mostly male, participants.17 Patterns which have emerged suggest that muscle fibre size increases linearly with age from birth to adolescence and, at least in males, into adulthood.18 The percentage of type I fibres decreases in healthy males from age 10–35 years but clear age-related fibre type changes have not been consistently demonstrated in females although this might be a methodological artefact as few data on young females are available.17 and 19 In underpowered experimental designs, statistically significant sex differences in the percentage of type I fibres have not been reported during childhood and adolescence. However, there is a consistent trend with adolescent boys and young male adults exhibiting 8%–15% more type I fibres in the vastus lateralis than similarly aged females in the same study.
However, our data chart clearly the emergence of optimal decision
However, our data chart clearly the emergence of optimal decision making as observers are offered a chance to become familiar with the category statistics. This notion was also supported by fMRI analyses, which identified voxels
that responded to the interaction between volatility and decision Carfilzomib research buy entropy predicted by the Bayesian model in the ACC. One interpretation of these data is that the ACC contributes to choices that are informed by information about the rate of change of the environment, in line with previous lesion (Kennerley et al., 2006) and fMRI (Behrens et al., 2007) work implicating this region in making optimal use of past reward history to inform decisions. Analysis of brain activity at the time of the feedback also supported this contention. Using an ROI-based analysis, we found that the ACC region activated in concert with environmental volatility at the time of feedback in Behrens et al. (2007) was sensitive to "optimal updating" signals defined by the three-way interaction among angular update, estimated variability, and volatility. One
interpretation consistent with previous work is that at outcome time, the volatility of the environment is encoded in the ACC in a fashion that dictates the extent that subjects will learn from each outcome (Behrens et al., 2007); in the decision period, ACC activity is only modulated by the optimal level of uncertainty at times when subjects employ this optimal strategy (in this task, when the environment
is stable). We additionally FG-4592 manufacturer found strong optimal updating signals at the time of feedback in the posterior cingulate gyrus, a brain region implicated in the representation of uncertainty about rewards (McCoy and Platt, 2005), and in the choice to make exploratory decisions (Pearson et al., 2009) in the nonhuman primate. Admittedly, our current data do not indicate the mechanism by which, or the cortical locus at which, participants switch between strategies. Indeed, one possible also candidate is the anterior insular cortex, where decision-related fMRI signals were predicted by all three strategies, and which has been previously implicated in controlling the switch between behavioral modes (Sridharan et al., 2008). However, this remains a topic for future investigation. Together, our findings suggest that participants adapt their decision strategy to the demands of the environment, moving toward statistically optimal behavior when the environment permits learning about stable and predictable categories (Nisbett et al., 1983). By contrast, in volatile environment, agents adopt a cognitive strategy that is fast and computationally frugal, and relies on maintenance processes subserved by the PFC.
While the monkey was fixating the point, a visual object (tilted
While the monkey was fixating the point, a visual object (tilted bar) was presented as a sample. The monkey had to remember the sample. After a delay period, a search array with two to six bars, one of which matched the sample, was presented. The monkey was required to find the matching target. No constraints were placed
on eye position during search behavior, so that the monkey could make several saccades (Figure 1B). The monkey had to indicate the target that had been found, by fixating it for a certain period (550 ms for monkey F and 750 ms for monkey E, see Figure S1 online for the time during which the monkey gazed at a distracter before choosing the matching target) to obtain a juice reward. The sample was behaviorally relevant in the DMS task, whereas it was made irrelevant RAD001 order in a control task (Figure 1C). Thus, the search arrays in the control task were composed of two to six objects: one of them was a triangle, and the others were circles. The task was just to choose the pop-out triangle irrespective of what the sample was. The DMS and control tasks were run in click here separate blocks of trials.
Behavioral performance was influenced by the expected reward magnitude and the search array size (Figures 1D and 1E for monkeys F and E, respectively). Correct choice rate in the DMS task was higher in the large reward trials than in the small reward trials in both monkeys, though the difference was significant only in monkey F (monkey F, p < 0.01; monkey E, p = 0.15; Fisher's exact probability two-tailed test). The correct choice rate was decreased as the search array size increased (correlation between correct choice rate and array size; monkey F, large reward trials, r = −0.57, p < 0.01, small reward trials, r = −0.58, p < 0.01; monkey E, large reward trials, r = −0.68, p < 0.01, small reward trials, r = −0.64,
p < 0.01). These data indicate second that the monkey's performance was facilitated when the large reward was expected, while it was reduced when the search array size was larger. Consistent with this interpretation, the time taken to find the target (choice latency) was significantly shorter in the large reward trials (monkeys F and E, p < 0.01, Wilcoxon rank-sum test) and increased as the search array size increased (correlation between choice latency and array size; monkey F, large reward trials, r = 0.21, p < 0.01, small reward trials, r = 0.15, p < 0.01; monkey E, large reward trials, r = 0.38, p < 0.01, small reward trials, r = 0.35, p < 0.01). On the other hand, correct choice rate in the control task was almost 100% and was not influenced by the reward magnitude (monkeys F and E, p > 0.05, Fisher's exact probability two-tailed test) or the search array size (correlation between correct choice rate and array size; monkey F, large reward trials, r = 0.16, p > 0.05, small reward trials, r = −0.16, p > 0.05; monkey E, large reward trials, r = 0.05, p > 0.05, small reward trials, r = 0.07, p > 0.05).
The variation in d2– was the only modification that accounted wel
The variation in d2– was the only modification that accounted well for all our observations, including the development of a large steady state
current in the presence of 10 mM glutamate for fast recovering channels (B2P6; compare Figure 2C and Figure 1C). Similarly to our observations for chimeric receptors, the peak current-concentration relation was not changed by variation in the exit rate from AD2 ( Figure 2D). In contrast, reducing see more bound lifetime on the background of slow recovery (by changing the rates k– and kd–) could not produce the fast recovery of wild-type GluA2 and B2P6. Although slower recovery is possible by slowing dissociation on a fast recovering background, this is accompanied by major shifts and distortions of the concentration
response relation ( Figure 2F). This scenario reproduced well the findings of previous PARP inhibition reports where mutations at the jaws of the LBDs alter the stability or lifetime of all glutamate bound states ( Robert et al., 2005 and Weston et al., 2006b). However, apparent affinity was altered little in our chimeras, ruling out changes in resting state affinity as the sole explanation for the physiological difference between AMPA and kainate receptors, and between our chimeras. The similar rate of entry to desensitization for AMPA and kainate receptors, and similar peak open probability, rules out significant changes in the transition AR – AD, but variation in the reverse transition (d1–) could conceivably produce different recovery rates – perhaps corresponding to different re-association kinetics of the active LBD dimers. We repeated the simulations, varying the rate of exit from the AD state, again on two backgrounds, slow and fast exit from the AD2 state ( Figure 2G). These simulations failed to give a wide range of recovery rates. Rather, the simulated currents strongly resembled the results of manipulations that stabilize the D1 dimer interface (data not shown). The variation in exit from AD on a background of fast recovery resembled the others effect of the L483Y mutant or allosteric modulators
such as cyclothiazide ( Sun et al., 2002). The same manipulation on a slow background reproduced the effects of stabilizing the GluK2 D1 dimer interface with mutations ( Chaudhry et al., 2009b). More complex covariations of multiple rate constants (or more realistic activation mechanisms) could potentially also recreate our observations. However, the kinetic behavior caused by variation in the lifetime of a deep desensitized state is quite distinct from the effects reported in previously published studies (see above). This distinction drew us to investigate differences between GluA2 and GluK2, located away from previously described sites that could differentially stabilize a glutamate-bound, deep desensitized state.
Next, we compared the laminar distribution of Lhx6+ cells in both
Next, we compared the laminar distribution of Lhx6+ cells in both mutants and we found that they had very similar defects: reduced numbers of Lhx6+ cells in Rapamycin manufacturer the MZ and SVZ, and an increase in the number of Lhx6+ cells in the CP, especially in the lower CP ( Figures 3A″–3C″ and 3E). Thus, both Cxcr7 and Cxcr4 had similar functions in maintaining interneurons within
the MZ and SVZ migratory streams and in controlling the timing for interneuron invasion into the cortical plate. While Cxcr4−/− and Cxcr7−/− mutants share very similar interneuron laminar positioning phenotypes in the cortical plate, these deficits may arise from distinct alterations in migration dynamics. To further explore the migration behaviors of Cxcr4−/− and Cxcr7−/− interneurons in vivo, we performed real-time imaging of Lhx6-GFP+ cortices from control (Cxcr4+/− or Cxcr7+/−), Cxcr4−/−, and Cxcr7−/− embryos at E15.5. We first examined the transition from tangential to radial migration as interneurons migrated from either the MZ or the SVZ into the CP. In the MZ, Cxcr4−/− and Cxcr7−/− mutants demonstrated a 3-fold and 2.4-fold increase in the number of Lhx6-GFP+ interneurons U0126 switching from tangential to radial migration, respectively ( Figures 4A–4C and 4G; Movies S1–S3). In the SVZ, Cxcr4−/− mutants displayed a 2-fold increase in the number of Lhx6-GFP+
interneurons switching from tangential to radial migration and no effect was detected in the Cxcr7−/− mutants ( Figures 4D–4F and 4H; Movies S4–S6). Therefore, the laminar deficits from both mutants were mainly due to an increased number of Lhx6-GFP+ cells moving from either the MZ or the SVZ into the cortical plate. Next, we studied the tangential
migration rate of Lhx6-GFP+ cells that were maintained in the MZ and SVZ during the 20-hour live-imaging session. Compared to controls, Cxcr7−/− mutants exhibited a substantial decrease in tangential migration rate in the MZ and SVZ; and Cxcr4−/− mutants displayed a modest decrease in migration rate in the SVZ ( Figure 4I). Thus, TCL the decreased migration rate may underlie the reduced extent of interneuron migration into the dorsal cortex observed in both mutants during early embryonic stages. Finally, we explored the migration behaviors of Lhx6-GFP+ cells after they entered into the cortical plate. Cxcr4−/− and Cxcr7−/− mutants displayed major differences in interneuron motility and leading process morphology. Cxcr4−/− mutants exhibited a significant increase in the number of motile cells and in the leading process length of tangentially oriented cells, while Cxcr7−/− mutants showed a significant decrease in the number of motile cells and in the leading process length of both radially and tangentially oriented cells ( Figure 5 and Movies S7–S9).
6 months after injury
and the other 7 at between 2 and 5
and the other 7 at between 2 and 5 years. At 5 years, the change in KOOS in the early ACL reconstruction group was 42.9 units and the change in the comparison group was 44.9 units (mean difference 2.0 units, 95% CI −8.5 to 4.5 units). There were no between-group differences for any of the KOOS subscales, SF-36, numbers returning to pre-injury activity level (n = 14 in early ACL reconstruction, n = 12 in delayed optional ACL reconstruction group), or radiographic osteoarthritis (n = 9 in early ACL reconstruction group, n = 4 in delayed optional ACL reconstruction group). Conclusion: After rupture of the ACL ligament early ACL reconstruction surgery did not provide better results than providing a program of rehabilitation BKM120 purchase with the option of having delayed surgery. Not all young active adults who rupture their ACL ligament require ACL reconstruction surgery. Identifying the best treatment approach for an acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a holy grail for clinicians and researchers. ACL reconstruction has long been considered the treatment of choice for young, active people
with an ACL injury. Surprisingly there are few randomised studies comparing the efficacy of surgery to other treatments. A recent systematic review suggests one in three Modulators people may not return to their previous level of sport after surgery (Ardern et al 2011). In the Frobell study a comprehensive assessment of knee impairments, activities, participation, and PF-06463922 molecular weight contextual factors was completed. There Amisulpride was no difference at 5 years between people who had early ACL
reconstruction surgery and those who had rehabilitation with the option of delayed surgery, which echoed earlier positive results from the same cohort when they were assessed at 2 years (Frobell et al 2010). People who never had surgery also did just as well as people who had early or delayed surgery. Therefore, for a young, physically active adult with an acute ACL rupture, structured rehabilitation with the option for delayed surgery may be an appropriate approach, and may help avoid unnecessary surgery without compromising short- to medium-term outcomes. Patients who had early surgery had more stable knees when compared to those who had rehabilitation with or without delayed surgery. Damage to the meniscus, rather than the ACL injury or treatment provided, may be a critical factor in the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (Oiestad et al 2009). There may be risk in delaying or avoiding surgery, because there is more chance for an unstable knee to sustain meniscal injury. While no differences were found in radiographic signs of osteoarthritis at 5 years, subtle changes associated with long-term disability and disease may not be visible on X-ray (Chu et al 2010). Five years follow-up may not be long enough to make judgements about the efficacy of operative or non-operative treatment in stalling the progression of osteoarthritis.