The Nebraska Soybean Board has elected new officers. Lisa Lunz is the new chairman, Greg Greving of Chapman vice chairman, Bill Miller of Upland secretary and Greg Peters of Dewitt treasurer.
Iowa Corn renews sponsorship of Indy Car race
November 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Pioneer have renewed their sponsorship of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 for 2010.
This marks the fourth trip to Iowa for the Indy Car Series. The race will be held on Sunday, June 20th at the Iowa Speedway near Newton.
Banker: Still a tough road ahead for pork industry
November 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment
At the recent Ag Bankers’ Conference in San Antonio, one of the chief topics of discussion of the financial crisis facing the pork industry.
Kent Bang is a regional vice-president for Bank of the West, based in Omaha. Bang says it’s clear the industry needs to reduce supply even further. “I think that’s underway—we’re reducing and probably over the last year and a half have pulled back maybe six percent,” says Bang, “but I believe we’ve probably got another six percent or so to pull back in order to turn this thing to where we can match supply with current demand.”
Asked where he thinks the cuts will come from, Bang replied, “I think that there is some significant pullback of people—very large producers that are going to stay in the business, but close down maybe five or ten percent of their least efficient facilities and reduce numbers. But unfortunately, this has been a long enough down-cycle and there’s been enough detriment to this industry from a financial standpoint that it will be liquidation or exit the industry for some of the players.”
Bang says some producers could see black ink next summer, but for the most part, it looks like a break-even year.
“If you look at the futures, I think that’s the best indication and that would say that we’ve got another 30 or 60 days of very significant losses in this industry to work through,” he says, “but looking out at the futures as an indication, there’s four or five months this summer that should show some profit for the industry.
“So I think overall—unfortunately—I think 2010 is going to be a near break-even year for them,” Bang says. “I say ‘unfortunately’ because coming after two years of very significant losses that’s going to be very difficult to manage through.”
Bang made his comments at the recent Ag Bankers’ Conference in San Antonio.
EPA’s ethanol blend decision due next week
November 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The EPA’s December 1st deadline for its decision on increasing the ethanol blend rate is fast approaching–and DTN reports there are several possible scenarios that could play out.
Some sources report that EPA is considering allowing up to a 15 percent maximum blend beginning with 2001 model cars. That would equate to around 80 percent of all cars on the road today.
Another scenario has EPA leaving the blend rate at 10 percent, which would force Growth Energy or some other group to resubmit the request for an increase. That, in turn, would allow enough time for some pending studies to be completed for EPA to use in its decision-making process.
Iowa Senator Charles Grassley says if EPA doesn’t approve of the waiver for a higher blend, Congress has to get involved. In Grassley’s words “we’re up against an E-10 stone wall.
“We have to cross that wall or we’re not going to keep the mandates that are already in the law,” Grassley says. “If they don’t do what I think is very reasonable—to go to E15—then I think Congress has to intervene.”
Congress is not likely to intervene in the three weeks before Christmas because the focus is on health care legislation. If the higher blend’s approved and refiners say they won’t sell it, Grassley says that issue would have to be settled in Congress and he would hope the industry would cooperate.
Obama Administration’s Feed a Neighbor Initiative
November 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment
US Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack helped launch the Obama Administration’s United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor Initiative on Tuesday – a week after USDA’s Household Food Security report identified 17 Million U.S. families struggling with food insecurity last year. The Secretary says the growing food insecurity issue has many ramifications and that’s why President Obama is calling on everyone to be engaged in helping.
I am thankful
November 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Commentary
On this Thanksgiving day, I have much for which I am thankful. I realize this year has presented many challenges to many of you across the Heartland and beyond, but overall, for my husband and me it has been a very good year.
I am thankful that America’s annually produce 7.9 billion pounds of turkey, 709 million pounds of cranberry sauce, 1.8 billion pounds of sweet potatoes, 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkin and 795 thousand tons of green beans.
As the holiday season begins, it is my intention to take the time to say “thank you” more often. I hope you’ll do the same.
Lenders ready to help diary and pork producers get through
November 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The latest numbers from USDA project net farm income to be down almost 30 percent this year compared to last. The two main reasons for that decline are pork and dairy and the big question for those two industries is can they survive…and that boils down to will their creditors stick with them? Doug Stark is president and chief executive officer Farm Credit Services of America; he says they are working with producers to help them get through this crisis.
Governor raises Wisconsin road limits temporarily
November 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle has issued an executive order raising load limits on most highways for farmers hauling to processing or storage through the end of December.
The wet conditions this fall have led to a tremendous delay in the harvest in the Badger State, as of Sunday, 41 percent of the corn crop was still in the fields. Doyle’s order will allow farmers to haul loads exceeding weight limits by up to 15 percent providing the vehicle meets all other requirements for size, operation and driver qualifications.
The exemption does not apply to roadways with special weight restrictions and most interstates. It does allow overweight loads on I-39 between Highway 51 and I-90/94 in northern Dane and southern Columbia Counties.
All weight limits will be in effect December 24th through the 27th for the Christmas holidays.
Groups urge USDA/Congress to dissolve NAIS funds
November 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
A coalition of 100 agricultural groups—led by R-CALF USA—has sent letters to the USDA and Congress urging that the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) be dissolved.
The letters point out that the 2010 Ag Appropriations bill reduced NAIS funding to just over five million dollars, without specifying how those funds would be spent. The coalition asks that the NAIS funding be used to withdraw any pending NAIS rules initiated by USDA, to pay existing contractual obligations and to dissolve the program.
R-CALF and other organizations oppose the NAIS program, saying it will burden small farmers with high costs of implementation in favor of larger, vertically integrated systems.
Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa says he doesn’t think it’s wise to dissolve all the funds, “I think that we ought to allow people on a voluntary basis to do it and if it takes some money from the federal government to help that voluntary program along I think we ought to go down that road.”
The ag groups are also calling on USDA to compile all the comments taken in the NAIS listening sessions it held across the country this spring and summer. Grassley agrees, “When the public’s business is public, that’s exactly what it means. It ought to be made public. There’s no point in keeping things like that secret.”
Grassley is against mandatory animal ID but in favor of a voluntary system.
Feed a Neighbor national initiative
November 25, 2009 By 1 Comment
US Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack helped launch the Obama Administration’s United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor Initiative on Tuesday – a week after USDA’s Household Food Security report identified 17 Million U.S. families struggling with food insecurity last year (2008). Vilsack says the numbers most surely have gone higher this year, “It’s likely, given the recession, that the 2008/2009 figures which will be published next year, will paint an even more unsettling picture. And these really aren’t just numbers. It’s important to recognize that these are people, these are children who are at risk of going to bed hungry every night.”
Vilsack says Thanksgiving shines a light on the needs of this growing number of Americans, “It’s time for us to remember that, unfortunately, that 49 million Americans may not be able to celebrate Thanksgiving in the way they ought to be able to celebrate it. 6.7 million households representing 17 million (plus) American citizens may have very little to eat during the Thanksgiving holiday.”
Vilsack says the growing food insecurity issue has many ramifications and that’s why President Obama is calling on everyone to be engaged in helping.
Vilsack says the increased funding for USDA’s food and nutrition programs, serving more than 36 Million Americans is a start, but it’s not enough as local food pantries and food programs across the nation are unable to meet the growing needs. The administration says it will work with faith-based organizations in its comprehensive approach to the problem.
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