There may still be corn left standing in the snow, but USDA says the 2009 corn crop was a record setter. In today’s crop production summary report, USDA projects U.S. corn production at a record 13.2 billion bushels, up from 12.9 billion bushels projected in USDA’s December forecast and 1 percent above the previous record of 13.0 billion bushels set …
Thanksgiving Tweets for Farmers
Food, feed, fiber and fuel – American farmers do it all and today is a day to give a Thanksgiving tweet for all they do. On Twitter, many agriculture advocates are taking part in tweeting the hashtag #thankafarmer today from 10 am to 12 pm CST. Twitter users are also expressing their gratitude with a #thankafarmer twibbon. The twitter efforts …
Farm Bureau Pleased with Climate Bill Delay
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is pleased with a decision by Senate leadership last week to delay consideration of climate change legislation until the spring of 2010. During a recent interview before the delay was announced, AFBF president Bob Stallman said the agricultural organization opposed the climate change bill that was passed by the House, despite provisions included that …
Corn Crop Still Strong and Good for Ethanol
Even though USDA lowered its forecast for 2009 corn production in the latest report out today due to lower yields, farmers are still expected to see record yields and production is still expected to be the second highest on record. Corn production is forecast at 12.9 billion bushels, down 1 percent from last month but 7 percent higher than 2008. …
Poll Finds Support for Corn Ethanol
A nationwide survey conducted for the National Corn Growers Association finds broad public respect and trust for family farmers and support for corn as food, feed and fuel. Ninety-five percent of those polled agreed that farmers are trusted messengers on issues such as agriculture, corn products and ethanol – and ethanol itself was supported or strongly supported as a good …
More Corn for Ethanol
The U.S. Department of Agriculture increased the forecast for the nation’s corn crop by two percent in the September crop production report out Friday morning. The forecast is now an even 13 billion bushels, just 100 million bushels short of the 2007 record crop. The soybean crop, already expected to be the biggest ever, was boosted another one percent in …
Ethanol Report on RFA CEO at Farm Progress Show
This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features an interview with Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen during a visit to the 2009 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois on September 2. Dinneen discusses the need to increase the amount of ethanol allowed in gasoline above the current 10 percent, the Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking on the expanded Renewable …
Studying New Feedstocks for Biofuels
The “World’s Largest Urban Farm and Research Test Facility” is studying a wide variety of new feedstocks that hold promise for future sources of both ethanol and biodiesel. Agricenter International recently offered a closer look at the new crops being grown there by the Memphis Bioworks Foundation AgBioworks program and BioDimensions, Inc. Among the crops that were planted this season …
EPA Officials Visit Iowa Biofuels Plant
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) hosted officials from the Environmental Protection Agency last week for a tour of agriculture and biofuels in Iowa. Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, and Margo Oge, Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality, represented EPA on the visit that included the BioCentury Research Farm in Boone, an Iowa …
Ethanol in Focus at Farm Progress Show
Everywhere you go at the 2009 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois this week, people are talking about ethanol. Over at the corn grower tent marked by 30+ foot high corn stalks and an E85 blimp hovering overhead, they have information about how the carbon footprint of corn production has declined substantially in recent years and they are encouraging farmers …