The acreage reports are based on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of March from a sample of more than 86,000 farm operators across the United States. Acreage of crop expected to increase due to high prices, demand. Local officials attribute the increase to the high corn prices, partly driven by a growing ethanol demand and strong export sales. Others are hoping it will also be a good year for the crops. With the drought-like conditions farmers experienced last year, the weather...

Published by Jessica Duncan April 9th, 2007 in Climate Justice, Transportation, Politics, Oil, Poverty, Resources, Clean Cars, Renewable Energy While the 1990s were marked by Food for Oil, The first quarter of the Twenty-First Century will be marked by Food AS Oil, and the implications of this for food security and food sovereignty are significant. Published by Jessica Duncan April 9th, 2007 in Climate Justice, Transportation, Politics, Oil, Poverty, Resources, Clean Cars, Renewable Energy...

But the booming ethanol industry is expected to gobble up 50 percent more corn this year to feed hungry ethanol plants, competing with the food sector. Bruce Babcock, professor of economics and director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, thinks meat will increase 2 percent to 7 percent, with beef at the lower end of the spectrum since cattle can graze and eat dried distillers' grains --- a byproduct of ethanol production --- and pork on the top end. The intent is to keep...

Another implication that must be watched is if there is a need for 90-day corn for replanting in the Midwest later this year, supplies could be really tight. Ask any producer; replanted corn rarely does as well as corn planted around the normal planting date. Granted, a better hybrid corn seed will be planted this year, but this all means we will have to have a picture perfect summer growing season or the U. I believe it will be extremely difficult to buy acres now that nitrogen is above...

We all drive more eco friendly cars and the world is a better place, right? We all know the E85 cars get slightly fewer miles per gallons than their 100% fossil fuel counterparts do, but the fuel cost less and you can chalk it up to a wash in savings, so no real argument there. We all drive more eco friendly cars and the world is a better place, right? We all know the E85 cars get slightly fewer miles per gallons than their 100% fossil fuel counterparts do, but the fuel cost less and you...

Aflatoxin contaminated corn can not be used for food and feed purposes, but can be used for ethanol production. However, aflatoxins could also be detrimental in fermentation and their potential hazard to health and to the environment when ethanol is used, as fuel is unclear. Future research may indicate it is necessary to remove or reduce aflatoxin levels in corn for use in ethanol production. Yu mentioned that the gene encoding for ADTZ enzyme can be engineered into fermentation organism...