TODAY ON AGDAY
SEPTEMBER 19, 2012
GAS PRICES:
Good morning I’m Clinton Griffiths. The government says the "pain at the pump" is going to continue and that's our top story on AgDay.
SIEMENS WIND POWER:
In other energy news - one of the big wind-turbine companies says it will lay-off more than 600 workers because of the uncertainty over a production tax credit. The federal subsidy expires at the end of the year. Siemens Energy announced the layoffs yesterday at its plants in Iowa, Kansas and Florida. The company blames Congress for failing to renew an energy tax credit. The biggest cuts will come from its plant in Fort Madison, Iowa. About 400 people build wind turbine blades at the site. Siemens says there's been a significant drop in new wind turbine orders due to the sluggish economy.
FARM BILL:
As the September 30th Farm Bill deadline draws closer, legislators are under a time crunch to get it passed. According to Ohio State University economist Matt Roberts, the past few farm bills derived from the Asian financial crisis. That situation caused low prices and weak demand but he says this year the drought is taking center stage.
STINK BUGS:
As if the drought wasn't enough this year, many farmers are dealing with additional pest pressure.
The mild winter didn't help control the bugs. One in particular is getting a foothold. Chuck Denney has details in this report from the University of Tennessee.
CROP WATCH:
It's not pests, but an aggressive weed that's causing problems for some farmers out west. Mike Hoffman has details in cropwatch.
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