The Environmental Protection Agency recently released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding sorghum and advanced biofuels. Growth Energy says the release had to do with the life-cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions associated with biofuels that are produced from grain sorghum oil extracted at dry-mill ethanol plants. The agency says in evaluating the product, the GHG emissions of producing biofuels from distillers’ …
Lower Milk Prices in 2018?
As America’s dairy farmers look to 2018, they’re wondering whether or not higher prices are on the horizon. A Dairy Herd Dot Com article says a massive herd, large domestic supply, falling domestic demand, and a strong dollar all show that prices may slip before they improve. Mike North of Commodity Risk Management says there’s a growing supply of product …
Beef and Pork Production Hit Record High Numbers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says domestic red meat, beef, and pork production all hit new monthly highs in November. In fact, for the first 11 months of 2017, red meat production is three percent ahead of last year’s record pace, totaling 47.571 billion pounds so far this year. Year-to-year beef production is four percent higher and pork production is …
Farmland Values Still High Despite Low Commodity Prices
Industry experts are scratching their heads over the relatively high price of farmland while commodity prices are still low. The two factors often have a strong correlation between each other. Farm Futures Dot Com quotes Steve Bruere, President of the land-brokerage firm Peoples Co. of Iowa as saying, “Strong farmland values defy logic in a lot of ways.” He says …
Cruz Proposal Could Harm Renewable Fuels
Texas Senator Ted Cruz made a recent proposal to cap the cost of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) as a way to control the cost for refiners that blend renewable fuels into the nation’s gasoline supply. A DTN report says capping the cost of RINs at ten cents each would basically all but eliminate the Renewable Fuels Standard mandate for biodiesel …
Packer Capacity an Ongoing Concern
Packer capacity has been an ongoing concern with the large hog supplies. Steve Meyer of EMI Analytics says this has been a historic time. Historic A small plant opened in the fall of 2016 in Missouri and another facility opened in Minnesota this past April. Facilities Another addition to U.S. packer capacity is expected to be online in the fourth …
Less Corn Acreage More Soybeans Predicted for 2018
2018 should see less corn acreage worldwide—that according to U.S. market analyst Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics. Acreage Fewer corn plantings and more soybean plantings seem likely to pressure soybean market prices lower. That, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts record soybean acres in 2018 in the United States. Meanwhile, Zuzolo says soybean demand, which has been increasing, …
Farm Bureau Established Relief Fund for Puerto Rican Farmers
The Puerto Rico Farm Bureau has established the Puerto Rico Agricultural Relief Fund to help address the agricultural losses inflicted this past September by Hurricane Maria. The hurricane struck Puerto Rico head-on, devastating as much as 80 percent of the island’s farm production. Puerto Rico’s farm families are now facing enormous challenges rebuilding their farms. These include dairy and livestock …
Producers Looking to D.C. for Disaster Aid
Florida citrus growers were optimistic after the House passed an $81 billion disaster package by a vote of 251-169. However, Politico says House Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas says it’s unlikely that the upper chamber will take up the disaster bill before the end of the year. The bill faces strong opposition from Democrats, who say the bill doesn’t …
Group Files FTC Complaint Against HSUS
The Center for Consumer Freedom filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission regarding the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS). The non-profit CCF says the Humane Society is responsible for a deceptive advertising campaign, and they also passed along 77 donor complaints submitted through its website, Help Pet Shelters Dot Com. The Center for Consumer Freedom says HSUS drove …