The conditions, although not as bad as this time last year, come at a crucial time for the corn and soybean crops, said Perry Aasness, state executive director of the U. Aasness said it's too soon to know the drought's toll on state crops, although this is a crucial time for corn, which is beginning to fill in kernels. Most crops have matured more quickly than in recent years because of warm weather this spring, with earlier harvests a strong possibility. More than three quarters of the...

It is now widely accepted that the future of ethanol is cellulosic: Rather than distilling corn for ethanol to fuel our cars, accepted wisdom is now that we will be able to replace a large fraction of our current fuel consumption with ethanol distilled from agricultural and forestry waste, as well as dedicated energy crops, such as switchgrass and hybrid poplar. It is now widely accepted that the future of ethanol is cellulosic: Rather than distilling corn for ethanol to fuel our cars,...

Drought-stressed corn silage can have from 75 to 90 percent of the feed value of normal corn silage. Drought-stressed corn silage typically has higher sugar content, less starch, higher crude protein, higher crude fiber and more digestible fiber compared to normal corn silage. Any corn that has pollinated and stays alive will use any rain to fill grain and that will add to the value of the crop for feed. If a fresh cut sample tests above 3,000 parts per million, fermented feed should be...

More and more farmers are planting corn as demand for the grain-based ethanol sets off rallies in field corn prices, causing them to increase about 50 percent over the past year. That s the largest single increase from year to year in my 30 years in this business, said Smith, who is the fourth generation of his family in the popcorn business. Dale Opheim, of Graettinger, is growing 1,500 acres of popcorn under contract with American Pop Corn co. and other popcorn companies, and said he...

Page1 of 2 The great biofuel fraud By F William Engdahl That bowl of Kellogg's cornflakes on the breakfast table or the portion of pasta or corn tortillas, cheese or meat on the dinner table is going to rise in price over the coming months as sure as the sun rises in the East. Page1 of 2 The great biofuel fraud By F William Engdahl That bowl of Kellogg's cornflakes on the breakfast table or the portion of pasta or corn tortillas, cheese or meat on the dinner table is going to rise in price...

Farmers are hoping for a weather turnaround over the next few weeks as the state's largest cash crops, corn and soybeans, enter their final development stages. Most parts of the state had adequate moisture during spring planting, but by late June, dry conditions began to hurt crops. The latest crop report out Monday says only 21 percent of the state's farmland has adequate soil moisture. Agriculture Department's statistics office for Minnesota, says the rain failed to slow the crop...

DUGGER Published: July 31, 2007 LOKWII, Kenya As the United States Congress debates an omnibus farm bill, it is considering a small change that advocates say could make a big difference to the world s hungriest people: allowing the federal government to buy some food in Africa to feed the famished, rather than shipping it all overseas from America. DUGGER Published: July 31, 2007 LOKWII, Kenya As the United States Congress debates an omnibus farm bill, it is considering a small change that...

Soybeans and corn gained in Chicago yesterday after the government reported that crop conditions unexpectedly declined for a third week in the U. Brazil's real, which is near its strongest since September 2000, has gained 15 percent against the dollar this year, making exports from Latin America's biggest economy less competitive. crop more attractive to foreign buyers, and amid worsening Midwest crop conditions. Still, Pan said planting intentions were uncertain and acreage would depend...

Increased labor, packaging and transportation costs all play a role in rising food prices, EPIC said. A 33 percent rise in crude oil prices which translates into a $1. This is expected to be the largest crop in over 60 years. Ethanol Group Responds to Schwan Foods Hike of Pizza Prices. OMAHA, NE -- Numerous studies have shown that rising energy costs have a significantly greater impact on food prices than a rise in corn prices, according to the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council...