Missouri corn grower Rob Korff recently had the opportunity to tell United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon about the important strides American farmers have made to produce more abundant, affordable food.
Korff, who is vice chairman of the Missouri Corn Growers and chairman of the National Corn Growers Association Biotechnology Working Group, took part in a United Nations food security meeting and discussion on June 12 in St. Louis.
“Beginning with a description of my family’s farming operation, I explained how technology has made corn production more efficient and stabilized yields,” said Korff. “Technology has reduced the amount of herbicides and pesticides needed, requiring less energy per bushel produced, thus reducing our carbon footprint.”
Korff shared facts and figures about how advances in precision farming and biotechnology have helped U.S. farmers produce more food on less acreage and stressed that it can help other countries do the same. “I believe biotech has been fully tested and is safe for consumption. It is allowing farmers to produce a more secure, abundant and affordable food supply,” he said. “As education and awareness spread, technology, and more specifically, biotechnology will be the answer to feeding our rapidly expanding world population.”
In ancient times messengers were treated with great respect because they were a vital lifeline regarding world events that could make or break your business or even your nation. Apparently times have changed.
Recently, DTN interviewed the increasingly infamous Michael Pollan, author of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” who is also featured in the new documentary Food Inc., and the resulting article drew a considerable amount of attention and criticism from the Ag community.
So much so that Urban Lehner, Editor and Chief of DTN, felt compelled to write a column explaining why the Ag-Centered media outlet would provide a forum for such a food heretic.
In his own words, “When DTN writes about such people as Michael Pollan whose views are contrary to those of the majority of our readers, it isn’t because we think all their views are correct. It’s because we think such people have the power to shape the political environment in which agriculture will operate in the future.” Lehner said. “Pollan’s views certainly aren’t those of most Midwestern commercial farmers. Among other things, he sees corn as an agent of evil, responsible for much of what’s wrong with the modern American diet. But when those farmers call him an idiot they make the classic mistake of underestimating a formidable opponent.”
Lehner likened the running of Pollan’s comments to the same reason DTN weathermen predict stormy weather…forewarned is fore-armed. Having been exposed to Mr. Pollan’s message as well as its’ effect on consumers and more importantly on decision leaders in Washington, D.C., I can guarantee you the threat of his growing influence is real.
“The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” the New York Times best seller written by Pollan, is swallowed by many well-reasoned consumers as foodie gospel. DTN and Urban Lehner deserve the industry’s gratitude for alerting us to the hurricane on the horizon. His advice that farmers all should read his book is solid. If you don’t want to contribute to Mr. Pollan’s personal wealth buy a copy and share it with friends…lots of friends.
USDA’s planted acreage report out this morning estimates the second largest corn crop since 1946 at 87.0 million acres, up 1 percent from last year but 7 percent below 2007.
Analysts are calling the report bearish for corn futures, according to Dow Jones, which quotes Country Hedging analyst Sterling Smith saying, “We do have a monster crop out there.”
Analysts said the report showed that the USDA underestimated acreage in its March planting intentions report. The trade has for weeks been expecting a loss of corn acreage of 1 million acres or more, although in recent days there has been increased talk about a more modest reduction or even an increase.
For soybeans, USDA says farmers have planted a record-high 77.5 million acres, up 1.8 million acres from last year and up 1.5 million acres - almost two percent - from the March estimate. Despite the increases in both crops, total U.S. crop area is down 1.2 percent from last year.
The corn crop is also doing better than last year in some of the major states. The Iowa Corn Growers Association reports that crop conditions are far better than last year. “According to the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, nearly all corn planted in Iowa has emerged with 81% of the crop rated excellent and an average height of 37 inches- well above “knee high by the 4th of July.” The extended weather outlook seems favorable for near-perfect corn growing weather.”
Progress in the states where corn planting was delayed by wet weather is behind normal, but the crop is still in good shape. Illinois and Indiana are reporting the crop running a little slow but the condition is rated around 60 percent good to excellent.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking comments until July 6 on a proposed petition to deregulate genetically modified (GM) corn that improves ethanol production.
The petition for deregulation, submitted by Syngenta Seeds Inc., is in accordance with APHIS’ regulations concerning the introduction of genetically-engineered organisms and products and is available for the public’s review and comment. As part of the decisionmaking process, APHIS also has prepared a draft environmental assessment and plant pest risk assessment for review and comment.
APHIS will make a determination of nonregulated status if it can conclude that the organism does not pose a plant pest risk. If APHIS grants the Syngenta Seeds petition for deregulation, the genetically-engineered corn and its progeny would no longer be regulated articles. The product could then be freely moved and planted without the requirement of permits or other regulatory oversight by APHIS.
Go to regulations.gov for information on how to submit comments.
Members of Congress and administration officials are trying to work out a compromise, but it looks like the comprehensive climate change bill may have to wait until after the 4th of July before it makes it to the floor for a vote.
House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) set up a meeting last week with several White House officials, including climate and energy czar Carol Browner and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, as well as bill sponsor Henry Waxman (D-CA) over the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Peterson told reporters last week that he believes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “wants the farmers’ concerns to be addressed” in the bill “she wants them to be on board with what we’re doing.”
So far, agriculture is far from being on board with the bill. The American Farm Bureau Federation last week called for drastic changes in the bill before it is considered by Congress, saying it could result “in the economic equivalent of unilateral disarmament” if the government’s optimistic assumptions don’t hold true.
The National Pork Producers Council sent a letter to the House Agriculture Committee last week saying the bill will raise the cost of pork production. “In particular, producers fear the impact that H.R. 2454 will have on the cost of electricity, diesel fuel, grain, propane, animal health products, fertilizer, chemicals, farm equipment and materials such as steel and concrete that are necessary for the continued operations of their farms and well-being of their animals,” said NPPC.
Farm groups were hoping the agriculture committee would make changes in the bill before it went to the floor, but apparently they needed to do that before a June 19 deadline, and that did not happen. Now any changes will have to be made when the bill comes up for a vote.
Peterson is reportedly trying to work out a compromise, despite expressing frustration on Friday. “I’m tired of going around in circles,” he said. He is being seen as the main roadblock to getting the bill passed, with media reports calling him all kinds of tough names. My personal favorite, from the Wall Street Journal, calls him “a Marlboro-smoking free spirit who scoffs at warnings about climate change.” Another good one from the New York Times says the 10-term congressman from western Minnesota is “described as as “tough,” “stubborn,” “smart,” and “skillful” by his colleagues, a “champion” by farm groups and a “bully” by those on opposing sides.”
Mark’s recent post about Washington Elites not knowing about agriculture reminded me of a YouTube video from a Congressional hearing with Margo Oge, head of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, about the proposed Renewable Fuels Standard. Thanks to the Renewable Energy Group (REG Fuel), Inc. for sending me the link.
Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) questions Ms. Oge about her experience with agriculture and if she understands the impact her rulemaking might have on U.S. farmers. While she has been with EPA for 29 years and in her current position for 15 years, Oge admits she has never been on a farm. “My great-grandfather and grandfather were farmers in Athens, in Greece where I grew up, but I have not spent any time on farms in the United States, if that is your question,” she says. But, she has spent lots of time talking to farmers and ethanol producers who come to meet with her in Washington DC, so that should be good enough - right?
Corn farmers and two veteran corn-state congressmen are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider new rules on ethanol in light of the phenomenal productivity and declining environmental impact of America’s largest crop.
Reps. Leonard Boswell (D-IA) and John Shimkus (R-IL) said farmers don’t get enough credit for growing more corn every year on the same amount of land with less energy and fewer resources. The congressmen spoke at a Capitol briefing sponsored by the Corn Farmers Coalition, an alliance of national and state corn-grower groups.
Boswell, chairman of a House Agriculture subcommittee that oversees commodities exchanges, called on the Agriculture Department to resume measuring how much pesticide and fertilizer farmers use in their fields. The federal agency suspended its authoritative annual Chemical Usage Survey after 2005 in a budget cut. The survey found the amounts per bushel had been declining for years.
“The Agriculture Department does a good job of collecting some data we need to make policy on energy and environmental issues,” said Boswell. “But in other areas, we’re flying blind, including the use of nitrogen fertilizer — a number which figures prominently in the crucial debates we’ve having about the environmental benefit of making ethanol from corn. We shouldn’t have to guess.”
Shimkus, a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, called on the EPA and the California Air Resources Board to carefully weigh corn’s explosive productivity while using the same amount of land and fewer chemicals per bushel as these agencies calculate the environmental impact of growing corn for ethanol in their biofuel regulations.
“I see farmers constantly boosting their production on the same amount of land,” Shimkus said. “So I have to wonder whether EPA and the California Air Resources Board are carefully considering the latest yield trends in their land-use calculations. I think we need to take a careful look at that.”
Having the correct information, good models and current data will assure we don’t make unwarranted decisions that hurt family farmers. Specifically, agencies need to know about corn’s declining environmental impact, said Mark Lambert, director of the Corn Farmers Coalition.
“There is a quiet technological revolution happening at every stage of the growing cycle — from the advanced equipment and new planting techniques farmers use to cut energy use and preserve the soil to the bioengineered seeds that require fewer pesticides and less water. But policy-makers can only make the right decisions about food, fuel and the environment if they have all these facts.”
Those who trade futures contracts electronically for corn, soybeans and ethanol can sleep in a little longer and still catch the tail end of the overnight session on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT).
Electronic trading hours for CBOT grains, oilseeds and ethanol contracts will be expanded in the morning by one hour and fifteen minutes, until 7:15 a.m., starting July 1.
The new electronic trading hours will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 a.m. central time Sunday through Friday for futures and options on futures for full and mini-size where offered corn, wheat, soybeans, soymeal, soyoil, rice, oats and ethanol contracts. Daytime electronic and open outcry hours will remain from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. weekdays.
It’s June 1 and according to USDA, 93 percent of the corn crop is now planted, about four percent below average for this time of year. Mostly everyone is done or at least over 90 percent - except Illinois, Indiana and North Dakota, which all got about 20 percent more planted last week.
Illinois now has 82 percent of the corn crop planted, Indiana stands at 78 percent and North Dakota at 84 percent. Meanwhile, soybean planting is running significantly behind in all of those states at this point and corn emergence is only about half of what it should be by now. But, nationwide, emergence is at 73 percent which is two percent ahead of last year at this time, although still behind the five year average by 13 percent.
Despite that, the experts are optimistic. “As we proved last year, we can’t really write this off until the planting season’s over, and we have seen a good turnaround in corn,” said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. “We are looking at a good crop despite all the problems getting it in the ground with 70 percent rated good to excellent and only four percent poor to very poor.” Last year at this time just 63 percent was rated good to excellent.
Sustainability is about more than just the environment. As important as that is, we cannot have sustainable production without taking into account economic and community sustainability.
The folks at Farmers’ Ethanol in Ohio call that the triple bottom line - profit, people and planet. The company is dedicated to transforming the corn ethanol industry by combining energy and food production within the same facility.
The fermentation and distillation process is similar to a conventional plant, but the facility will be fueled by the steam heat from a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generator.
The ethanol plant will be capable of producing 23 million gallons/year. In addition to providing the heat for system processes, the CHP generator will provide 7.5MW of green electricity. The generator is fueled by the methane produced by an anaerobic digester. The anaerobic digester is fed the waste from the distillation process and the wastes from 2,000 dairy cattle and 10,000 beef cattle being raised on the site. The cattle will get part of their daily food ration from wet distillers grain (WDG) which is a by product of the ethanol fermentation.
Interesting concept they believe can be “franchised” around the country and adapted to different feedstocks.
Korff, who is vice chairman of the Missouri Corn Growers and chairman of the National Corn Growers Association Biotechnology Working Group, took part in a United Nations food security meeting and discussion on June 12 in St. Louis. 
Analysts are calling the report bearish for corn futures, 
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking comments until July 6 on a proposed petition to deregulate genetically modified (GM) corn that improves ethanol production.
House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) set up a meeting last week with several White House officials, including climate and energy czar Carol Browner and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, as well as bill sponsor Henry Waxman (D-CA) over the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Peterson told reporters last week that he believes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “wants the farmers’ concerns to be addressed” in the bill “she wants them to be on board with what we’re doing.”
Corn farmers and two veteran corn-state congressmen are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider new rules on ethanol in light of the phenomenal productivity and declining environmental impact of America’s largest crop.
Boswell, chairman of a House Agriculture subcommittee that oversees commodities exchanges, called on the Agriculture Department to resume measuring how much pesticide and fertilizer farmers use in their fields. The federal agency suspended its authoritative annual Chemical Usage Survey after 2005 in a budget cut. The survey found the amounts per bushel had been declining for years.
Shimkus, a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, called on the EPA and the California Air Resources Board to carefully weigh corn’s explosive productivity while using the same amount of land and fewer chemicals per bushel as these agencies calculate the environmental impact of growing corn for ethanol in their biofuel regulations.
Electronic trading hours for CBOT grains, oilseeds and ethanol contracts will be expanded in the morning by one hour and fifteen minutes, until 7:15 a.m., starting July 1.
Illinois now has 82 percent of the corn crop planted, Indiana stands at 78 percent and North Dakota at 84 percent. Meanwhile, soybean planting is running significantly behind in all of those states at this point and corn emergence is only about half of what it should be by now. But, nationwide, emergence is at 73 percent which is two percent ahead of last year at this time, although still behind the five year average by 13 percent. 
The folks at