Losses Hurricane Ian and WASDE Report on Grains
**University of Florida economists have refined the estimate of agricultural losses due to Hurricane Ian at $1.03 billion.
www.morningagclips.com reports, this is an estimate of the total value of seasonal crops, livestock, nursery and aquaculture products that will not be harvested or marketed as a result the category 4 storm that made landfall September 28th.
Preliminary reports in October estimated between $787 million and $1.56 billion in losses.
**The USDA’s February World Ag Supply and Demand Report is out and this month’s 2022/23 U.S. corn outlook is for lower corn used for ethanol and larger ending stocks.
The season-average corn price received by producers was unchanged at $6.70 per bushel.
The soybean outlook projects lower soybean crush and higher ending stocks.
Wheat is largely unchanged, with minor revisions to domestic use and ending stocks.
**A bipartisan group of Senators recently introduced legislation to merge USDA broadband programs.
The legislation would streamline and bolster USDA Rural Development broadband programs and ensure their funding is targeted to rural areas that need it most.
South Dakota Republican Senator John Thune says, "Our bipartisan legislation would help bridge the digital divide by improving USDA's ReConnect Program.
The bill would also improve coordination between USDA and the FCC on broadband programs.