UnitedSoybean

Environmental group files legal challenge to RFS2

The Clean Air Task Force on behalf of the Friends of the Earth has filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency over its final rule for the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard or “RFS2”. Clean Air Task Force wants EPA to reconsider two elements of the rule.

First off, the environmental group contends under the 2007 Biofuels Mandate, Congress requires biofuels to provide a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline and diesel.

The suit also claims the RFS2 is flawed in that it does not take into account the so-called “global rebound effect.”

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president, Bob Dineen calls this “tortured logic”. Dineen says this is similar to the indirect land use argument for which he says there is no scientific basis.

Brownfield story

Showcase spotlights budding ag companies

Seventeen agriculture related companies vied for investors this week at the Ag Innovation Showcase in St. Louis.

“These are companies that have a technology, have some proof of concept and are looking to take it to the next level and/or to take it to commercialization,” said Vicki Gonzalez, CEO of the Nidus Center and one of the program organizers.

The event culminated with the presentation of the 2010 Ag Innovation High-Yield Award. That honor went to Pasteuria Bioscience, Incorporated, which is marketing a treatment to control nematodes.

Brownfield story with audio

Four from Senate Ag Committee on Financial conference

As expected, Ag Committee Chair Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas is on the conference committee along with Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. Joining them are Democrats Tom Harkin of Iowa and Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

The House has yet to name their conferees.

Brownfield story

Grassley has plan for biodiesel tax credit

Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa says he and other Republicans have a plan to introduce a stand-alone tax extenders bill to get the biodiesel tax credit and other important measures through if the massive Jobs Bill fails. Grassley says he’s had enough of the inaction by Democratic leaders, “The Democratic leadership continues to attach this non-controversial issue to political hot potatoes.”

Brownfield story

Another quiet week for grain and oilseed export inspections

According to the USDA, wheat inspections for the week ending May 20 were above pre-report estimates, while corn was within projections and soybeans were under all expectations. Inspections of corn, soybeans and wheat were less than what’s needed weekly to meet USDA projections for the 2009/10 marketing year.

Soybeans were pegged at 3.901 million bushels, down 5.072 million from the prior week and 14.782 million lower than last year. So far this marketing year, soybean inspections are 1.324 billion bushels, compared to 1.070 billion a year ago.

Brownfield story

U.S. corn planting nearly complete

As of Sunday, USDA reports 93% of corn has been planted, up 6% from last week, 13% more than this time last year and 4% ahead of the five year average. 71% of the crop has emerged and 71% of corn is in good to excellent condition, up 4% from last week.

For soybeans, 53% is planted, up 15% from a week ago and 9% ahead of a year ago but 4% slower than the five year average. 24% has emerged.

Brownfield story

Upper Midwest land values increase

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says for the year ending April 1, the value of good agricultural farmland in the upper Midwest rose 4%.

Annual gains by state; Illinois up 4%, Indiana up 7% and Iowa increased 8%.  As a reflection of milk prices, Wisconsin recorded a 1% decline for the year but values increased 2% in the last three months. Bankers expect land values to stabilize across the region during the second quarter.

Brownfield story

MO biodiesel incentive reduced, but survives

The Missouri biodiesel incentive fund took a cut in the legislature – along with a number of state agencies and programs – because of the tight financial times right now. But Dale Ludwig, executive director of the Missouri Soybean Association, tells Brownfield they appreciate the  $13.3 million dollars they got, “If it weren’t for the state incentives, we’d basically have most of the (biodiesel) plants, maybe all the plants shut down here in the state of Missouri.”

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Another strong week for corn export sales

USDA reports old crop corn sales for the week ending May 13 were larger than expected, while soybeans, soybean oil and wheat were inside projections and soybean meal was below all estimates. Physical shipments of soybeans were more than what’s needed weekly to meet USDA projections for the 2009/10 marketing year but corn and wheat fell short.

Soybeans were pegged at 478,500 tons (17.6 million bushels), an increase of 82% from the week before and double the four week average. The primary buyer was Mexico at 122,200 tons. So far this marketing year, soybean sales are 1.401 billion bushels, compared to 1.232 billion a year ago.

Brownfield story

Weed pressures mounting

What concerns Bill Johnson, professor of weed science at Purdue University is the fact that farmers just have not had an opportunity to get post emerge herbicides applied in a timely manner.

One group in particular being challenged Johnson says are those who have no-till soybeans yet to plant and have not had an opportunity to apply a burn down.

Brownfield story with audio