UnitedSoybean

Obama reiterates desire to move beyond corn-based ethanol

In a letter to farm-state governors, President Barack Obama has reiterated his desire to move beyond corn-based ethanol.

Obama was responding to a letter he received earlier this year from the Governors’ Biofuels Commission. That letter described the threat the biofuels market faces because of dwindling private investment and the recession.

In his reply, Obama said he wants to see new types of biofuels commercialized as quickly as possible, but that corn-based ethanol needs to remain viable in the meantime.

Brownfield story

Scientists unite in support of biodiesel

So far more than 80 scientists have gone online and added their names to the list of biodiesel supporters. Scientists who sign the petition are agreeing that biodiesel can reduce dependence on petroleum, help address climate change and boost domestic economies. By signing the declaration, they also pledge their support for further investment and research.

Brownfield story

Ag export forecast raised slightly

The USDA has raised its export forecast slightly. That’s after an earlier forecast that exports were to be down $20 billion to $95.5 billion. The new forecast is for exports to be at $96 billion, primarily because of $1.5 billion jump in oilseed exports.

Brownfield story

Still a lot of questions over final acreage numbers

Because of planting delays, there's been a lot of talk in the futures market about farmers switching acreage from corn to soybeans but University of Illinois Extension Economist Darrel Good says it's hard to say how much switching is actually taking place.

Good tells Brownfield there may only be about a million acres switched from corn to beans this year.

Brownfield story with audio

Conference: agriculture must be at climate change table

Agriculture provides one of the biggest solutions to climate change and farmers should be provided greater incentives to mitigate climate change. That’s according to Ajay Vashee, president of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers. Speaking from the site of a one-day conference Wednesday in Denmark involving more than fifty countries, Vashee tells Brownfield that a general consensus was reached.

Brownfield story with audio

Soybean, wheat export inspections top estimates

It was another mixed week for grain and oilseed export inspections. Corn inspections for the week ending May 21 were below pre-report estimates, while soybeans and wheat were just above analysts' expectations.

Wheat was reported at 18.976 million bushels, up 3.896 million from the week ending May 14.

Corn came out at 27.511 million bushels, soybeans were pegged at 16.993 million bushels, 743,000 more than the prior week and sorghum totaled 1.399 million bushels.

Brownfield story

25 x ’25 Alliance wants more ag input on climate change bill

The 25 x ’25 group says the measure, as written, fails to capitalize on solutions that agriculture and forestry can provide. It wants the House Ag Committee to be given the opportunity to provide input that will insure the legislation has a workable offset program.

Free trade agreements pushed by Grassley, pork producers

The National Pork Producers Council is pushing for passage of the Panama Free Trade Agreement, saying it will level the playing field for U.S. pork producers.

Iowa GOP Senator Charles Grassley, referring to pending FTAs with Panama and Colombia, agrees.

“We’ve let their products come in practically duty-free for the last three or four decades, so we get a chance to have a free trade agreement with Colombia to get our products into their country duty-free; we ought to take advantage of that,” Grassley told reporters Tuesday.

Brownfield story with audio

U.S. corn planting now at 82% complete

According to the USDA, U.S. corn planting made a big jump last week. As of Sunday, 82% of the crop has been planted, compared to 62% last week and the five year average of 93%. That's following a much improved weather pattern in key areas of the Eastern Cornbelt with Illinois now at 62% and Indiana at 55%.

Soybean planting is just under the halfway mark at 48%. That's up 23% from last week but 17% behind the five year average.

Brownfield story

Rural bankers more optimistic about rural Midwest economy

According to Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, the Rural Mainstreet Survey’s confidence index, which tracks expectations for the rural economy six months out, rose significantly from April to May. Goss says bankers are clearly getting more optimistic in their economic outlook.

Brownfield story