http://corncommentary.com The blog about corn farming and American agriculture Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:57:12 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en As Americans celebrate Independence Day this weekend, it is a good time to reflect on our need to increase our energy independence. Jay Hakes, author of "A Declaration of Energy Independence," says American Energy Independence means energy security, energy abundance and energy self-sufficiency. Energy Independence is a civilization changing idea, ... http://corncommentary.com/2009/07/03/celebrate-energy-independence/ The Environmental Protection Agency this week announced a 60 day extension of the comment period on the proposed rule revising the national Renewable Fuel Standard program, commonly referred to as RFS2. The original comment period was to end on July 27, 2009 and will now end on September 25, ... http://corncommentary.com/2009/07/03/more-time-for-rfs2-comments/ I sincerely hope Grocery Manufacturers Association is getting interest on their money they have invested with large PR firms to create the Food vs. Fuel red herring that continues to blame ethanol for higher food prices. Truth is nationwide, food prices continue to trend downward. Retail food prices at the supermarket ... http://corncommentary.com/2009/07/02/grocery-manufacturers-have-some-explaining-to-do/ 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 ... http://corncommentary.com/2009/07/02/missouri-corn-grower-at-the-united-nations/ President Obama announced his National Rural Tour yesterday during an interview with National Association of Farm Broadcasting past president Michelle Rook with WNAX Radio in Yankton, SD. "Over the next few weeks and months, top officials from my administration will fan out across the country to hold a series ... http://corncommentary.com/2009/07/01/obama-cabinet-kicks-off-rural-road-tour/ 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 ... http://corncommentary.com/2009/07/01/a-round-of-applause-for-urban-lehner-of-dtn/ Just another 12 billion bushel crop? It seems to be getting to be a familiar story. Poor planting conditions result in late planting for a significant part of the corn belt, followed by plenty of corn to do business as usual. For the folks that make their money second guessing ... http://corncommentary.com/2009/06/30/corn-farmers-have-done-their-job/ 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 ... http://corncommentary.com/2009/06/30/monster-corn-crop/ It's bad enough that EPA official Margo Oge has never been on a farm, but a YouTube video of her testimony before a House panel last month reveals something much worse - she apparently doesn't know how much corn it takes to make a gallon of ethanol, or how many ... http://corncommentary.com/2009/06/29/epa-official-wrong-on-corn-for-ethanol/ Update: Link fixed. I went to go see Food Inc. last Friday, even though I do not believe that one must see a film in order to criticize it. Often, the film's producers give one enough information to make a prudent decision. And there was plenty of evidence going into ... http://corncommentary.com/2009/06/29/food-incs-fact-problem/