The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) global outlook for grains is forecasting an increase of 50 million bushels in the amount of corn used to produce ethanol this year. USDA Outlook Board Chairman Seth Meyer says factors contributing to the expected increase are higher gasoline consumption growth, reduced sorghum used to produce ethanol and higher expected blending. “We’ve been …
Secretary Perdue Shows Support for Renewable Energy
During his first visit to Iowa as Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue made his support for renewable energy and ethanol perfectly clear. “Do you know who I work for?,” the Secretary asked the local FFA officer who wanted to make sure he supported renewable energy. “I work for a fellow by the name of Donald J. Trump. Did you hear …
Ag Secretary to Visit Iowa Cattle Producer and Ethanol Investor
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will travel to Nevada, Iowa tomorrow to tour Couser Cattle Company, give his first major farm policy speech, and host a farmer’s town hall meeting. Couser Cattle Co. is a diversified operation that annually feeds and finishes 5,000 to 6,000 head of cattle and farms 5,000 acres, producing both corn seed and soybean seed. …
Perdue Confirmed as Agriculture Secretary
The U.S. Senate has formally confirmed the nomination of George Ervin “Sonny” Perdue III to serve as the 31st Secretary of Agriculture. The final vote Monday was 87 to 11. Perdue, an agribusinessman, veterinarian, state legislator, and former governor of Georgia, grew up working on his family farm in central Georgia, making him the fourth agriculture secretary who has worked …
Corn Planting is Underway
#Plant17 is officially underway now with the latest crop progress report issued yesterday from USDA. Corn planting at three percent nationwide as of April 9 is a point behind last year at this time but exactly on target with five-year average. Texas, where National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Wesley Spurlock farms, is well ahead of both last year and …
USDA Predicts Record Soybean Acres, Less Corn
The first estimate for crop plantings this year by USDA is calling for less corn but more soybeans. According to the 2017 Prospective Plantings report, producers surveyed across the United States intend to plant an estimated 89.5 million acres of soybeans in 2017, up 7 percent from last year and a new record. Planted acreage intentions for soybeans are up …
Ag Secretary Closer to Confirmation
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Thursday moved the Trump Administration one step closer to a full cabinet by voting to favorably report nominee Sonny Perdue to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, which means he will now be considered by the full Senate for confirmation. Committee chairman Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) is pleased Perdue’s nomination is …
Terry Brandstad Addresses Ag Outlook Forum
The distinguished speaker at this year’s USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum was former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who was recently nominated as ambassador to China. Branstad took time during his speech to praise incoming Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and share his thoughts on the future of agriculture and economic development in rural America. “Simply put, American agriculture is tied to …
USDA Sees Increased Corn Use for Ethanol
USDA’s February World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report shows an increase in corn use for ethanol this marketing year. This month’s 2016/17 U.S. corn outlook is for increased food, seed and industrial (FSI) use and reduced stocks. Corn used to produce ethanol is raised 25 million bushels to 5,350 million based on the most recent data from the …
Confirmations Continue to Crawl Along
Confirmation hearings for Trump administration cabinet members have been moving slowly, so it may be toward the end of February before Sonny Perdue is confirmed as Secretary of Agriculture, but he has been meeting with lawmakers in the meantime. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) “had a good conversation” with the former governor of Georgia last week where they discussed “regional differences …